Book Challenge Update: The Physics of Star Trek

I finally got around to starting my One, Two Theme Challenge.  This is a fun tiered challenge.  My Themes are Physics, Japanese Pop Culture, Mah-jongg, Bioarchaeology, Late Medieval/Medieval Britain. (How it works: you pick at least 3 themes.  For the 1st you read one book, for the 2nd two books, and the third, 3 books.  From number two onwards you need at least one fiction and one non-fiction book.)

I have started (yay!) and finished (YAY!) my first level -  Physics.  What did I read for this exciting challenge?  The Physics of Star Trek by Lawerence M. Krauss.  Now I started reading this book a long long time ago . . . but I got super busy with PhD stuff and had to miss Dr. Krauss lecture at the U of A because I was out of town . . . and so I just never got back to it after the first two chapters.  Which is why it made it to my One, Two Theme Challenge.  To get me to finish reading it (I love Star Trek, so it seemed important).

On to the actual review.  So, I both really liked this book and really couldn't be bothered.  The author seemed a bit haphazard in his assessment of Star Trek plots and ideas.  I almost think a focused look of the science of Star Trek ? (pick any episode or movie, or may be even series) would have greatly improved the book.  Really there is very very little Star Trek in this . . . . or Star Trek context.  Its just mainly physic . . . which is cool.  It just all seemed so random and random means some sections I found fascinating and others I was like I think you missed the point. 

One very good point of the book is that the physics is talked about in an understandable way.  You do not need to be a physicist to understand the book.  It was also nice that the book both showed ways the writers got it right or were at least in the ballpark as well as how they got it wrong.  It made for a nice balance.  For a non-fiction book it is very well written and has good flow.  It is a must for Star Trek fans . . .  at least I think it is! This is the end . . .

maybe . . .

STAR TREK!

Tonight I watched Star Trek IV with friends.  My friend recently bought the whole series and we were going to have a marathon, but as PhD students with limited free time it turned into a lame extended marathon.  I mean the movies are still good, but it does not have the same zip as watching it like a true marathon.  When I was growing up my family used to have true STAR TREK marathons and it was awesome! My favorite was always Wrath of Khan . . . I love Ricardo Montalban.

I also always really like the The Undiscovered Country.

Historically Star Trek IV was always my least favorite, but I find as I get older I like it more.  I still think it doesn't quite fit with the others and that its a bit lacking in action, but it has some other interesting attributes.

For instance the story is very well written with lots of good character stuff.  However, the overly direct we need to save the whales message is really cheesy. But, Spock wearing a Karate Headband to cover his pointy ears is awesome.

Definitely watch the series (Original and STNG) and the movies if you haven't already.  If you feel they are dated, well they are.  But, they are also a perfect example of classic sci-fi.  If you think STAR TREK is too safe and sterile defiantly go with the original series, which cares much less for the prime directive and is a bit more cowboy.  This is extra true of the Star Trek reboot.

I really recommend the Star Trek reboot.  Its pretty awesome.  They really caught the feel of the original while making it more modern and action packed.  The story is really good and the casting was fantastic!  Zachary Quinto is of course fantastic as Spock.

Karl Urban did an absolutely awesome job as the doctor and probably is the most true to the original character (though he is way better looking).

Chris Pine was also good as Kirk.  He's kind of a different version then Shatner, but it works.  He also has great chemistry with his new Bones and Spock, which is key.

At first I though Anton Yelchin was a bad casting choices for Chekov after just seeing him in the previews. But, he was actually great.  The accent was spot on and he was pretty adorable.

Its great going back and watching the original movies as I'm catching all these little links and throwbacks to minuet bits of dialogue and character background from the original movies they put in the reboot. Great for a geek like me.  The reboot is also really good for novices looking for a way in as its really accessible.

See the Nimoy Blog!

I love it when people quote stuff I know . . . not so much when I don't know it . . .

I'm reading Lawrence M. Krauss' The Physics of Star Trek right now.  Its a fun book.  Lots of physics and lots of Star Trek.  I picked it up at my favorite local used bookstore The Wee Book Inn as I it seemed like finding it was fate.  I had just gotten a ticket to hear Dr. Krauss' lecture on the physics of Star Trek at the Physics conference being held at the U of A in September.  Back to the part of the book that made me excited.  It is kind of silly really but he had me at the quote that began chapter one:

"No matter where you go, there you are." - from a plaque on the starship Excelsior, in  Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country,  presumably borrowed from The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai. 

So I learned that first Star Trek writers quoted one of my all time favorite movies!  And then the book cited one of my favorite movies quoting one of my favorite movies!  Fun!  You should really watch The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension if you haven't already.