Star Trek Phase II: The Lost Series

by Judith Reeves-Stevens, Garfield Reeves-Stevens

In 1977, "Star Trek" fans shuld have been treated to a new series, "Star Trek Phase II". All the actors were signed, sets and props were designed, new models were built, scripts were written and filming was about to begin. Just two weeks before the show was to start shooting, Paramount changed tak, they wanted a motion picture instead. This book looks at these events and includes drawing board designs, blueprints, technical information, memos, sketches, photographs and original source material that has never before been seen. The entire script for the pilot episode is also included along with colour photographs of test footage filmed for the pilot. Questions such as why Spock was the only member of the original crew not to be scripted are also answered.

Genres: Star Trek, Science Fiction, Tv, Media Tie In, Reference

357 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 1996

Reviews

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this a real treasure-trove of information about the series, Star Trek: Phase II, that was in development at Paramount in the late 70s. The series was tied to Paramount's plans to launch a fourth television network with Phase II as its flagship series. Those plans falling through combined with the success of both Star Wars and Close Encounters of the Third Kind convinced the executives at Paramount to turn the series pilot into a feature film, and thus Star Trek: The Motion Picture was born. I loved seeing the production art. As a sort of hobbyist student of screenwriting, I found the two complete scripts plus story treatment included a real bounty. The only part I was less than thrilled about was the authors' choice to speculate what would have happened to the Star Trek franchise if the series had been produced. That seemed to go beyond the purview of the history they were documenting. Fortunately, they don't get too caught up in this game and I admit, it is a natural question. The thing is, if Star Trek has taught us anything over the years, it's next to impossible to predict fan reactions and what the future will bring.

[Clint Hall · Rating 3 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I skipped the word-count-stealing screenplays, but read the boring, point-form treatments.

This is a very interesting delve into what almost happened. It also raises some very interesting questions like: "Would this have ended the franchise?", "Would this have been complete crap?", "Is this what made Gene Roddenberry super nuts during the first season of TNG?", etc.

It mostly just spells out all the political BS that swirls around studios. It also shows you how hard the bellows had to blow before it lit the little candle that was "Star Trek: The Motion Picture". Fortunately, that candle flame exploded into a bonfire in the '80s and '90s.

Obviously written for Trek nerds, like yours truly.

[John Yelverton · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating insight into the "Star Trek" series that never was.

[Daniel Kukwa · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the most fascinating & aborted "what if's" in Star Trek, and SF television in general. The behind the scenes details, the episode planning, the original script for "The Child" (which was recycled into TNG's second season opener), design pictures and sketches...this is a solid piece of work that will fire your imagination. It's also nice to know that most of the ideas from this series plan didn't go to waste, as it fertilized concepts across the Trek universe, from "Star Trek The Motion Picture" to "Star Trek The Next Generation".

[Stephen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A detailed look at the failed attempt to launch Star Trek Phase II in the mid-1970’s. The first part of the book chronicles the production process, how it began, and how it morphed into the first motion picture. What is really fascinating here are the production drawings and stills from test footage for the development of the television show. There are also treatments for all thirteen episodes of what would have been the first season. They felt like they would have been a long-delayed fourth season of the original series. One has to wonder if this iteration of Trek made it to the screen, would it have failed, killing the nearly 40 years of new Trek launched by The Next Generation in 1987? It’s a distinct possibility.

[Vorik · Rating 4 out of 5]

Das Buch bietet Hintergrundinformationen zur Vorbereitung einer zweiten Star-Trek-Fernsehserie in der zweiten Hälfte der 1970er Jahre, die schließlich in der Produktion des ersten Kinofilms mündete. Von der Dicke des Sachbuches sollte man sich nicht abschrecken lassen, da es mehrere Drehbücher und Zusammenfassungen geplanter Episoden beinhaltet, die man ggf. bei der Lektüre auch überspringen kann. Interessant sind die Designentwürfe für die Enterprise und die Kulissen. Am Beispiel der Enterprise-Entwürfe wird ersichtlich, dass das Design der U.S.S. Discovery für den Neustart des Franchise mit „Star Trek: Discovery“ in 2017 auf Konzepten aus den 70er Jahren basiert. Fazit: für Fans, die wissen wollen, was hätte sein können.

[Rick Lee Lee James · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’ve ever wondered what the failed 2nd Star Trek TV show with the original crew would have been like, then this book is for you. The backstory of how the tv show became Star Trek the motion picture and then how many scripts from phase 2 showed up as episodes of Star Trek TNG. Having the actual shooting scripts is amazing for a lot of reasons, if not the least being a look into how the Hollywood sausage gets made. Strong recommendation for Star Trek fans.

[Monica Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting history of a Star Trek series that was never made. Many of the old characters (except Spock!) have signed on for a new five-year mission, and the stories and some screenplays are included. This book gives some insights into the politics of making a television show, too. I highly recommend it.

[Jean Wetmore · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an interesting look at the series that never was. A few of the stories were changed a bit and used as episodes of The Next Generation during a writers strike, most notably as the episode "The Child". Some of the information I already knew but most of it was new to me. Very good information book.

[Apostolos · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not really "finished" with this book since it seems more like a reference book, but I did skim through it and found it interesting (as a library borrowing I didn't have a ton of time with it). This seems like one of those books to own for any trek fan ;-)

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating alternate reality view of what could have been

[M Christopher · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actually a re-read of a book that's been on my shelves for years. Before the current reboot of Star Trek, before The Next Generation and the tv shows that followed it, even before Star Trek: The Motion Picture, executives at Paramount were planning to launch a new television network with a new version of Star Trek to be called ST: Phase II. Elements of this new series were picked up in TMP -- the refit Enterprise, Kirk's recall from the Admiralty, Will Decker, the Deltan navigator Ilia, and a new science officer named Xon to replace Spock (and the pricey and difficult Leonard Nimoy). But Paramount got cold feet about the network and the series' pilot was deemed a worthy story for a major motion picture. The rest of the story of Phase II was largely swept under the carpet.

This volume tells that story, complete with how the production morphed into TMP, and even provides story outlines and a couple of scripts for planned episodes (the pilot which became TMP and "The Child" which was later adapted for TNG). On the whole, though, it's not a very engaging tale and the book is really only for ST completists.

[Bryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although the book is well researched and presented, unfortunatly the subject is only worthy of the first quarter of it. Despite how exciting and interesting the Reeves-Stephens try to make the lost series sound, judging by the scripts featured in this book, it would have been pants, and probably brought an end to Star Trek completely. So although the book is well written, they really have nothing interesting to write about.

[Heather Domin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little dated, but lots of information I hadn't seen before. Really interesting.

[Sean Whelan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well done book. Tough to say what could have happened had this series actually run. Amazing how close to getting underway this series was. Really enjoyed the summaries of proposed scripts.