What's a good guide to Star Trek: Next Generation?

February 5, 2012 8:41 PM

What's the ST:NG equivalent of Star Trek 365?

I am raising my children in the one true faith, Star Trek. When we watched the original series they loved to pick episodes by leafing through Star Trek: The Original Series 365.

We've just moved on to the Next Generation series. What book would go along with it?

Essential qualities:
- No spoilers, as they haven't seen the show before (so not the Companion)
- Summaries of each episode
- Lots of color photographs

Desirable but not essential:
- Interesting behind-the-scenes tidbits

Suggestions?

posted by The corpse in the library to Media & Arts (7 answers total)

Do you absolutely require a book or would a website work? This site gives episode summaries but no spoilers. No really, click through - it's not as ugly as the front page would make it appear.

The Memory Alpha wiki has some "background information" sections but you'd have to scroll past the plot spoilers.

To assist in your searching, please note that it's generally abbreviated as ST:TNG for "Star Trek: The Next Generation," not ST:NG.
posted by IndigoRain at 11:31 PM on February 5, 2012

Response by poster: Thanks -- that looked weird as I typed it. And also thanks for that link, which looks good. But yes, it has to be a book.
posted by The corpse in the library at 7:29 AM on February 6, 2012

I have a copy of The Nitpicker's Guide to Star Trek: The Next Generation. I remember really enjoying the episodes and referring to the book but this may have been watching re-runs because I think it may have spoilers.
posted by jeffmilner at 1:29 PM on February 6, 2012

I really like Memories of the Future, which are episode recaps for the first season. Wil gives a lot of backstory which would be fun for the whole family to read.

He also did a brief podcast promoting the book that's worth listening to because it's just so much fun!
posted by vivzan at 10:33 AM on February 7, 2012

Response by poster: I like Memories of the Future, too, and re-read each episode after we watch it, but it's full of spoilers and has no photos. Plus it definitely isn't appropriate for the whole family to read.
posted by The corpse in the library at 10:40 AM on February 7, 2012

Response by poster: jeffmilner: "I have a copy of The Nitpicker's Guide to Star Trek: The Next Generation. I remember really enjoying the episodes and referring to the book but this may have been watching re-runs because I think it may have spoilers"

Ooh, that looks good -- but yeah, spoilers, from what I can see on Amazon. We'll read it after we've watched it, though. Thanks.
posted by The corpse in the library at 10:44 AM on February 7, 2012

Best answer: Update! Star Trek: The Next Generation 365 has come out since I asked this question. I mean in the time since I asked; as far as I know, my question wasn't what inspired the publication of the book.
posted by The corpse in the library at 3:08 PM on November 28, 2012 [1 favorite]