As I observed about the first volume, this intimidatingly thick book is actually a fast and entertaining read. One thing that did puzzle me is that part 1 implies this book will pick up at the point in time where the first volume ends (around 1991), when in fact there’s quite a bit of overlap, and even a little outright repetition. Nevertheless, it’s all interesting subject matter and most of volume 2 is new material, entertainingly told by the participants and first-hand witnesses in their own words.

Even better than the first volume.

Sure I watched the original series but Next Generation, Deep Space 9, Voyager and Enterprise, that was my Star Trek.

Once again it is just packed with insights some readily known others scathing. But it still manages to make me wonder how the shows ever made it to the screen. There was so much interference by the creators, studios, networks that all managed to dumb down the product.

What rally made me unhappy was how the powers that be consistently underestimated the audience.

I loved this series of books. If you like knowing what happened on the set an in the writers room, then you'll love these books.

Highly recommended.

http://eric-the-mailman.blogspot.com/2018/05/the-50-year-mission-next-25-years-book.html

Book highlighted the dangers of a corporation tapping into Star Trek Well too many times, office politics & the decreasing quality on successive series culminating with Enterprise. Ugh.
Author interviewed cast writers, producers, executives & behind the scene crew on various franchises for a more balanced & nuanced big picture.

This book (and volume one as well) will be enjoyed and appreciated by true fans of Star Trek, as well as anyone who wants to know how a television series is conceived and executed. There are plenty of fascinating nuggets of information (such as why Whoopi Goldberg desperately wanted a part on Next Generation, and Stephen Hawking's appearance on the show). Both volumes of this book are very long and include discussions of in-fighting and disagreements about many issues; some of that could have been cut. But if you love Star Trek, this two-volume series is enjoyable and informative (and often mesmerizing).