Star Trek: The Official Guide to the Universe
The True Science Behind the Starship Voyages
Hardcover
By Andrew Fazekas
Foreword by William Shatner
Publisher: National Geographic Books
Released date: June 7, 2016

Star Trek is one of the most beloved entertainment franchises in the world, with its reach stretching 50 years of not only massive fandom, but influence on everyday life and our aspirations for the future. Even space agencies such as NASA cite the science fiction series as an inspiration. Now, National Geographic Books has created Star Trek: The Official Guide to the Universe, an informative tome that seeks to show the correlations between true science and that which is presented throughout the fictional universe.

William Shatner, who made a name for himself as the original Captain James T. Kirk on the 1960s television series, provides the Foreword to this 240-page hardcover by Andrew Fazekas, which is subtitled The True Science Behind the Starship Voyages.

Today, September 8, 2016, marks the 50th anniversary of the original Star Trek television series, and fans the world over are celebrating this most special occasion! Facebook got in the game by changing up their “Like” emojis with very cute Trek versions, and offering four different Trek profile frames. People on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram are posting selfies giving the Vulcan “Live Long and Prosper” salute. And the folks at NASA thanked the franchise for all its inspiration.

Those of us here at GoD Headquarters today celebrated with some Romulan Ale and a Star Trek marathon.

Here below, check out some of the ways in which celebrities and fans are celebrating the 50th anniversary of Star Trek and watch the video “Celebrating 50 years of ‘Star Trek’ …and Beyond” that Paramount released for the occasion.

Star Trek: Vulcan
Hidden Universe Travel Guide Book 1
Paperback
By Dayton Ward
Art by Livio Ramondelli and Peter Markowski
Publisher: Insight Editions
Release date: July 19, 2016

Of all the planets in the Star Trek universe, Vulcan is perhaps the most intriguing to fans of the franchise, thanks to its distinction as being the home world of Mr. Spock. Therefore, it makes sense that for the launch of their Hidden Universe travel guide book series, Insight Editions selected Vulcan as its first destination with Hidden Universe: Star Trek: A Travel Guide to Vulcan!

Modeled after color travel guides books by the likes of Fodor’s and National Geographic, in A Travel Guide to Vulcan!, Dayton Ward provides readers with all the pertinent information needed to properly traverse the planet and interact with locals, as well as where to eat, sleep, shop, sightsee, and much more.