Ships of the Line - Doug Drexler & Margaret Clark

Ships of the Line

By Doug Drexler & Margaret Clark

  • Release Date: 2014-12-02
  • Genre: Adventure Sci-Fi
Score: 4
4
From 19 Ratings

Description

In celebration of one of science fiction's most beloved franchises, an updated edition of the acclaimed Ships of the Line hardcover collection.

They dared to risk it all in a skiff of reeds or leather, on a ship of wood or steel, knowing the only thing between them and certain death was their ship. To explore, to seek out what lay beyond the close and comfortable, every explorer had to embrace danger. And as they did so, what arose was a mystical bond, a passion for the ships that carried them. From the very first time humans dared to warp the fabric of space, escaping from the ashes of the third World War, they also created ships. These vessels have become the icons of mankind's desire to rise above the everyday, to seek out and make the unknown known. And these ships that travel the stellar seas have stirred the same passions as the ones that floated in the oceans.

While every captain has wished that their starship could be outfitted in the same manner as the sailing ship H.M.S. Beagle—without weapons—that proved untenable. From the start, Starfleet realized that each vessel, due to the limited range of the early warp engines, must be able to stand alone against any attack. Thus arose the idea, taken from the days of wooden sailing ships, that every Starfleet vessel must stand as a ship of the line. Through the actions of their captains and crews, countless starships have taken on that role. Here we remember some of those ships and their heroic crews.

In celebration of one of science fiction's most beloved franchises, this updated edition of the acclaimed Ships of the Line hardcover collection now includes dozens of additional images brought together for the first time in book format—spectacular renderings featured in the highly successful Star Trek: Ships of the Line calendar series. With text by Star Trek's own Michael Okuda, the story of each of these valiant starships now comes to life.

™, ®, & © 2014 CBS Studios, Inc. STAR TREK and related marks are trademarks of CBS Studios, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Reviews

  • SHIPS Alright.

    4
    By JC Alvarez
    As a hard-core and dedicated fan of STAR TREK in all its various incarnations, there is nothing more appealing and exciting than when an art book is freshly minted and is able to provide a unique look into the world that Gene Roddenberry has created. For the diehard fan, any additional glimpses whether in art form or technical illustrations that feature the iconic vessels that inhabit Roddenberry's universe – those are truly a special treat. The annual "Ships of the Line" calendars beautifully capture the majesty of the hero ships from the "Enterprise" through to "Voyager" and venture further into the final frontiers of "Deep Space Nine" and beyond. The large format end-to-end illustrations are wonderfully imaginative and capture the detail that makes these wonders so real to so many fans all over the world. As a printed feature this updated and revised "Ships of the Line" tome is a genuine diamond and for any enthusiast it will bring hours of enjoyment. As an ebook version here on iBooks, it leaves much to be desired. The presentation has little creative initiative and the images themselves are not even in a hi-res formate that makes them exciting to look at. The picture notes lifted right from the printed version are placed underneath without much enthusiasm – the ebook presentation could have benefitted from an iBooks publication that could have been more interactive. Not exactly a collectors dream, it won't break the bank, but it has little character, and deserves a better send off.