posted
Hi everyone. I took a trip to the mall today for a tasty Orange Julius, when what should I happen to discover sitting on the new releases shelf of the bookstore? The brand spanking new encyclopedia. So I thought I'd thumb through it and report back. This isn't a comprehensive report, just first impressions.
First, some facts. 128 new pages according to the cover, and it shows. The encyclopedia is quickly becoming rather monsterous in size. If this goes on, I wouldn't be surprised to see it split into two volumes. Entries that have been updated are marked by an asterisk, which is nice. DS9 is fully accounted for, up to and including the series finale. "Equinox" does not appear to be included, however. (Though I checked this by looking up "Nova class", so it is possible that some information might have made it.)
And now...well, let's start with the disappointments, as those stand out more. No list of new starships. (Though they are represented in entries. It also might be possible that the list in the old section might have been updated, I didn't think to check it until later.) No new ships added to the size comparison chart. And the Dominion cruiser is still upside down! No nice side diagram of Breen ships, just a smallish screenshot. The Centaur is represented by the poorly constructed DS9 tech. manual picture.
However, it wouldn't be fair to judge the book solely by these things. There is quite a bit to recommend it. Nice diagrams of Son'a and 8472 vessels, as well as the new Starfleet craft from "Insurrection". And of course, the real meat and potatoes of the thing, the entries. I only had time to skim, of course, but it looks pretty comprehensive.
Personally, I plan to pick it up. Being a softcover, it's cheaper than what I bought my second edition hardcover for. Besides, all that new information is hard to pass up for the compulsively obsessive, such as myself.
------------------ "And much of Madness, and more of Sin, and Horror the soul of the plot." -- The Conqueror Worm, by Edgar Allan Poe
The First One
A lovely little thinker, but a bugger when he's pissed
Member # 35
posted
So you saw the softcover version? I was going to get the hardcover one. . . there are differences between the two, apparently.
------------------ "The next time the workplace seems especially hectic, remind yourself it could be worse: you could have two-dozen sharp-toothed creatures chewing on your nipples." - James Lileks
posted
Is it worth the money if obvious errors haven't been corrected? Anyway, I have ordered it and I will be patient. It is supposed to take a few weeks.
------------------ "Invaders from the fifth dimension!" - or: the canon proof that subspace is the same as hyperspace Ex Astris Scientia
posted
Are the differences between hard- and softcover versions significant?
------------------ Elim Garak: "Oh, it's just Garak. Plain, simple Garak. Now, good day to you, Doctor. I'm so glad to have made such an... interesting new friend today." (DS9: "Past Prologue")
posted
Well, Frank asked me this too. There weren't any copies of the hardcover at the store I went to.
Regarding the Centaur class: No. It's a "Federation starship". Which is true, if obvious. On the other hand, there isn't any mention of the kitbash hypothesis either.
Regarding the scout: I couldn't say. I did skim past it, but just to look at the picture.
------------------ "And much of Madness, and more of Sin, and Horror the soul of the plot." -- The Conqueror Worm, by Edgar Allan Poe
posted
Hey Sol, can you scan in the cutaway of the USS Prometheus if the book has it? Thanx...
------------------ "All you people, can't you see, can't you see How your love's affecting our reality Everytime we're down You can make it right And that makes you larger than life"
posted
well, I wont be getting this for just an extra 128 pages... - I'm gonna wait for a new edition - where (wishfully thinking) everything will be corrected like an upside-down Jemmie cruiser!
Andrew
------------------ "All is full of love, all around you" - Bj�rk
posted
I went to the Barnes and Noble in Walnut Creek. I got the following information- Softcover released in August 1999. Primary author-Denise Okuda Hardcover will be released in October 1999 [01-Oct-99]. Primary author-Michael Okuda
posted
I went to the Barnes and Noble in Walnut Creek. I got the following information- Softcover released in August 1999. Primary author-Denise Okuda. This version has 736 pages. Hardcover will be released in October 1999 [01-Oct-99]. Primary author-Michael Okuda. This version has 800 pages.
Source for number of pages is from Amazon.com.
If the information from Amazon.com is correct, there has been addtions made to the hardcover version which resulted in 64 more pages.
posted
I bought the new encyclopedia today, and honestly I think it's a rip off. All the new information is in a separate section in the back instead of being intergrated with the 1997 edition. The stuff from the 1997 ed. is exactly the same, even the ship list is. The supplement doesn't have a ship list for all the new ships either.
Here's a list of some of the new ships though.
�USS Billings, no registry or class given. �USS Centaur, no registry or class given. �USS Cort�z, I don't know if anyone knows the class for this ship, but the encyclopedia 3 (enc3) doesn't mention one. �The Dauntless has entry has a nice msd showing it has 7 decks. �The Delta Flyer section has a top and side digrams and a 3/4 view of the cockpit. �USS Destiny, no registry or class given. �The USS Farragut seen in "Chrysalis" is Excelsior-class. However, not established, the enc3 assumes, like many, that it is Excelsior-class since it was seen in the episode. �USS Fredrickson NCC-42111 Excelsior-class �USS Gettysburg, no registry or class given. �The holoship is still simply referred to as holoship. �The USS Intrepid mentioned from "In The Flesh" doesn't have a registry in the entry. �USS Magellan, no registry or class given. �USS Majestic, Miranda-class, no registry given, although on my personal list I have it as NCC-38160. �USS Musashi, no registry or class given. �USS Nautilus NCC-31910 Miranda-class, already known of course. �USS Olympia, no registry or class given. �There's a msd of the Prometheus showing is can land on planets. The shot of it's dedication plaque has an error though saying... Starfleet Registry NX-74913. �USS Raven NAR-32450, no class given. �USS Republic, no registry or class, its entry suggests it's the same Constitution-class ship that Kirk served on as a cadet. �USS Saratoga, no registry or class given. �USS Sarek, no registry or class given. �Starfleet Scout ship, no class given. �USS Sentinel, no registry or class given. �USS ShirKahr (one word) NCC-31905 Miranda-class. �USS Sitak, no registry given, Miranda-class. �USS T'Kumbra, no registry given, Nebula-class. �USS Ticonderoga, no registry or class given. I believe however that it is NCC-75227 and is the ship that the scout ship came from. �USS Valiant NCC-74210 Defiant-class. �USS Valley Forge NCC-43305 Excelsior-class.
I know some that I listed were already known, I just wanted to point out all the ships anyway.
The S�o Paulo wasn't given an entry, only mentioned in the Defiant's entry.
------------------ "Let's make sure that history never forgets the name...Enterprise." Federation Starship Datalink - Yet another site based on the popularity of starships.
[This message has been edited by Hobbes (edited September 25, 1999).]
I wonder when it will hit the shelves here. I only have the earlier edition on CD-ROM so I can't wait to buy it(!) How much was it?
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