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Title: The Physics of Star Trek by Lawrence M. Krauss ISBN: 0-06-097710-8 Publisher: Perennial Pub. Date: 25 September, 1996 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $13.00 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.18 (44 reviews)
Rating: 3
Summary: Well written, with a misleading title
Comment: Although the title suggests otherwise, this is not really a book about Star Trek. Lawrence Krauss, a physicist, quotes Star Trek, but his further explanations largely neglect what can be seen in the series and, rather than that, strictly adhere to the laws of real physics. This alone is no criticism. We need popular books about physics (and this is a good one), but the title just doesn't suit it.
A typical chapter begins with examples from the series, but subsequently it becomes like a general analysis of science (and) fiction where one could easily replace "Enterprise" with "Star Destroyer" or anything else. In the chapter on warp propulsion, for instance, Krauss discusses a general theory of FTL travel without even mentioning the term "subspace" which is actually the key Star Trek's warp drive. The same happens in his reflections on the transporter. He assumes that a human being should be reduced to bits, although Star Trek's transporter is supposed to transmit the very matter of an object or person. Agreed, from the viewpoint of actual physics Krauss is right, and I would wish that he gave certain Trek authors a few repetitional lessons in physics. Anyway, I don't understand why he calls a book with rather few Trek-specific content and much more real world physics The Physics of Star Trek and not "The Physics of Science Fiction". I usually don't like to speculate, but maybe because the book sells better with "Star Trek" in the title, or does he intend to disillusion or even convert die-hard Trek fans? Well, I rather go with a positive explanation that Star Trek just covers all facets of fictional science and technology, so it was the obvious choice.
Speaking of disillusions, this book will have several for those fans who firmly believe that it just needs a bit of research until we get warp or only impulse drive or a transporter to work. Krauss makes very clear how much fuel it would take to accelerate a starship to "only" 0.5c and decelerate again (6561 times the ship's mass!), and what a resolution would be required to beam up a person's atoms from a planet surface (that of a lens as wide as the distance to the planet!). As I said, I think the book isn't supposed to spoil our fun of Star Trek, and I hope it won't have this effect on anyone. So if we keep in mind that Krauss is just talking about general concepts and not about how the technology works in Star Trek, this is a very good lecture for all who like Star Trek and all who like to know more about the limits of physics.
Rating: 4
Summary: Interesting Ideabut limited vision
Comment: This volume by Lawrence Krauss is a physicists' exploration of the scientific feasibility of "Star Trek science". As a student of science myself and a Star Trek fan for many years, I was intrigued by this book. Apart from drawing attention to curious inconsistencies (such as "how come we hear explosions in space, where there's no air to carry the sound?") this book addresses a wide range of issues, such as WARP drive, transporters, the Holodeck, Black Holes, and Data, among other things.
What this turned out to be is a nice and easily accessible introduction to modern day physics using Star Trek as a model. Overall the book is very interesting to read and often thought-provoking. Unfortunately, the book suffers from a significant limitation because of its attitude. The "Physics of Star Trek" tests the feasibility of Star Trek phenomena based on our understanding of physics today. Thus many things are deemed "impossible" because the author cannot visualize a way to make them work using 20th century science. The problem with this attitude is that it lacks vision. Had he been writing with this attitude in the 1940s for instance, he would have discounted any possibilities of having any automated thinking machines and dismissed any aspect of the computerized world that we enjoy and take for granted today. The beauty of Star Trek is that it is visionary in nature, and a fair analysis of the show needs to make some educated guesses about what the science of the future will look like and not merely confine thinking to the science of today.
Having said that, I do concede that this book is a very nice, fun to read, and interesting introduction to the science of today, and I highly recommend it to any Trek fan interested in real science!
Rating: 5
Summary: very entertaining and educational
Comment: As a Star Trek fan with a limited background in the sciences I found this book extremely helpful in describing the science in Star Trek. It was a nice easy read. I would highly recommend it to people who are interested in Star Trek and curious about its science. To those without a background in the sciences, especially physics, don't be frightened off! The book is easy to understand.
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Title: Beyond Star Trek : From Alien Invasions to the End of Time by Lawrence M. Krauss ISBN: 0060977574 Publisher: Perennial Pub. Date: 01 December, 1998 List Price(USD): $13.00 |
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Title: The Computers of Star Trek by Lois H. Gresh, Robert Weinberg ISBN: 046501299X Publisher: Basic Books Pub. Date: 05 June, 2001 List Price(USD): $14.00 |
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Title: Technical Manual (Star Trek: The Next Generation) by Rick Sternbach, Michael Okuda ISBN: 0671704273 Publisher: Star Trek Pub. Date: 01 November, 1991 List Price(USD): $16.95 |
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Title: The Ethics of Star Trek by Judith Barad, Ed Robertson ISBN: 0060933267 Publisher: Perennial Pub. Date: 27 November, 2001 List Price(USD): $14.95 |
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Title: The Star Trek Encyclopedia by Michael Okuda, Denise Okuda, Debbie Mirek ISBN: 0671536095 Publisher: Star Trek Pub. Date: 01 October, 1999 List Price(USD): $29.95 |
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