The Star Trek Encyclopedia
| Company type | Encyclopedia |
|---|---|
| Industry | Publishing |
| Founded | 1994 |
| Founder | Michael Okuda, Denise Okuda, Debbie Mirek |
| Products | Encyclopedia of Star Trek television shows and movies |
| Parent | Paramount Pictures (copyright holder) |
The Star Trek Encyclopedia: A Reference Guide to the Future is an encyclopedia published in 1994 that compiles in-universe details from the Star Trek television shows and movies. The work was created by Michael Okuda, Denise Okuda, and Debbie Mirek, all of whom contributed to the production teams of Star Trek: The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, and Voyager. The illustrations were provided by Doug Drexler.
Overview
This encyclopedia offers comprehensive entries on characters, planets, technologies, and starships featured in the Star Trek universe, along with concise summaries of episodes and films. Arranged in alphabetical order, it contains numerous images, many of which are presented in color in later editions.
Focusing mainly on the television series and feature films, this officially authorized publication includes some original material not depicted in any episodes or movies. Per Gene Roddenberry's definition, only television series and films are recognized as official Star Trek canon. Certain entries provide behind-the-scenes commentary, distinguished by italicized text.
In contrast to the Star Trek: The Next Generation Technical Manual, this encyclopedia refrains from extensive speculation regarding technical aspects.
Publication history
The concept for this encyclopedia was influenced by The Star Trek Chronology, a previous project commissioned by Gene Roddenberry to ensure continuity within the franchise. Michael Okuda developed a tracking system cataloging episode titles, production codes, stardates, and newly introduced elements such as starships and characters.
To date, four editions have been published: the initial edition in 1994; a second edition in 1997; a third edition released in 1999 that expanded coverage through the conclusion of Deep Space Nine, the fifth season of Voyager, and included Star Trek: Insurrection as a separate supplement; and a fourth edition issued in 2016. These editions are available in both hardcover and paperback formats.
Alongside the printed versions, Simon & Schuster Interactive released the Star Trek Omnipedia CD-ROM in 1995. This digital edition, compatible with Windows and Macintosh platforms, incorporated video clips and was unique among versions for not being published by Pocket Books. The copyright is held by Paramount Pictures.
Fourth edition
Following its 1999 publication, the encyclopedia became outdated as it did not encompass later Star Trek films such as Star Trek: Nemesis, Star Trek, and Star Trek Into Darkness, nor did it cover the final two seasons of Star Trek: Voyager or any episodes of Star Trek: Enterprise. Consequently, it was largely supplanted by online databases like the wiki-based Memory Alpha.
At the 2015 Star Trek convention held in Las Vegas, an updated edition was announced for release in 2016 to coincide with the franchise's 50th Anniversary. This expanded version consists of 1,056 pages and adds approximately 300 new pages addressing Seasons 4 through 7 of Voyager, all four seasons of Enterprise, the film Nemesis, as well as J.J. Abrams’ rebooted movies. Published as a two-volume hardcover set by Harper Design on October 18, 2016, it retailed for $150.
Co-author Denise Okuda highlighted that the 2016 edition contains two to three times more textual content than the original along with over three times the number of photographs and illustrations. This thorough revision reaffirms the encyclopedia’s status as a definitive print reference for Star Trek material through its broadened coverage of series and motion pictures.