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Jul 22 | Comicmix posted the second part of their extensive interview with Star Trek The Next Generation actor Wil Wheaton.
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By GustavoLeao / 14:30, 15 May 2008 / Trek Books
Review by Jeff Ayers
I still remember sitting down to watch the Next Generation episode "Yesterday's Enterprise" when it premiered and being blown away. The show kicked off a steady stream of terrific episodes, instead of the hodgepodge mix of good and bad that plagued the show up to that point. I was excited to learn that Eric Stillwell, script coordinator for TNG and a story co-credit for "Yesterday's Enterprise", decided to write about the genesis of the episode and its path from inception to the TV screen.
He begins his tale in the third season of TNG when Michael Piller took over the reins of the series. He hooked up with Trent Christopher Ganino and worked on various pitches to run by Piller. The initial ideas and how they became the filmed episode, and all of the background details are in full gear, creating a wonderful look at a time fondly remembered by fans of TNG. Eric's writing is honest and forthcoming, even about how he feels about the various cast members, Michael Piller, and, yes, Rick Berman. If behind-the-scenes books interest you or if you are a fan of this episode (and if you aren't you are sick and should see a doctor), then this is required reading.
9 out of 10
Reviewer Jeff Ayers is the author of Voyages of Imagination: The Star Trek Fiction Companion trade paperback, and webmaster of VoyagesOfImagination.com
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I'm always much more interested in Trek non-fiction writing than I usually am in any of the novels, so Stillwell's release here is very compelling.
It's like Shatner's Movie Memories; that was, in a sense, very 'educational'. I learned a lot I never knew but had always wanted to know. Same goes for Nimoy's I am Not Spock & I am Spock.
Also, the home video piece Bill and Leonard did together, 'Mind Meld', was great stuff for anyone that likes hearing all the inside-baseball, as well as anyone who's just a fan of the dichotomy between the men themselves. That chemistry isn't just between the characters; they really are buddies (which is an amazing in this business). Actually, I have the Meld DVD, and the relationship between Shatner and Nimoy in that piece has informed a lot of how Star Trek (Reborn) presents it's interpretation of the Kirk/Spock relationship.
One of the classic episodes like Yesterday's Enterprise getting this sort of treatment makes a lot of sense. I'll definately pick this one up. Hell, maybe this could turn into an ongoing thing. Like a 'Behind the Episode' series or something. In fact, I'd love to see Fields put one together for Duet as well.
I wonder how Eric's doing, by the way. He used to pop by quite often.
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The autumn days swung soft around me, like cotton on
my skin. But as the embers of the summer lost their
breath and disappeared, my heart went cold, and
only hollow rhythms resounded from within.
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