For a fan base obsessed with a fictional future, the past sure seems to matter.
More than 45 years after Star Trek took fans boldly into the 23rd century, television writer David A. Goodman has written the first detailed narrative in history-book form of events depicted in the famed science-fiction TV and movie franchise.
"This is the history of the galaxy as it's already been painted by the writers of the original Star Trek series, the sequel series, and the movies up to but not including the [2009 Star Trek] J.J.
Abrams movie," said Goodman, whose work includes writing for the most recent TV series Star Trek: Enterprise.
Star Trek Federation: The First 150 Years details the founding and early years of "the United Federation of Planets" - the interplanetary alliance that has explored the galaxy and kept members safe from Klingons, Romu-lans and other villains.
The 167-page book, to be published Tuesday, connects the dots and fills in many of the black holes of Star Trek history as seen in the live-action TV series, animated series and movies since 1966. Like a precious collection of memories, the timeline of events is important to Trekkies - and they are watching.
"If I'm going to buy an official Trek History, I expect it to be true to that history," wrote one fan on fan website Trekbbs.com.
Website Trekcore.com has already made its judgment, referring to Goodman's book as a "historical Trek masterpiece."
The book comes packed with original illustrations depicting pivotal moments and iconic characters such as Captain Kirk, Mr. Spock, Khan, Zefram Cochrane, Richard Daystrom and Solkar of Vulcan.
Inside the back cover is a pocket containing "documents from the Federation Archives," including a handwritten letter by a young Jim Kirk to his mother.
From the beginning of Star Trek, its late creator, Gene Roddenberry, often used U.S. history and world events as inspiration for his stories. Some of those themes are reflected in Goodman's work.
The key event of Goodman's history is "The Romulan War" which, he said, has echoes of the Second World War. The relationship between Star Trek's Romulan emperor and his admiral was inspired by Japan's wartime admiral, Isoroku Yamamoto, Goodman said.
