Phasers on Stun!

How the Making (and Remaking) of Star Trek Changed the World

By: Ryan Britt

Narrated by: Ryan Britt

Length: 10 hrs and 53 mins

Publisher's summary

An Esquire Best Book of 2022!

Written with inside access, comprehensive research, and a down-to-earth perspective, Phasers on Stun! chronicles the entire history of Star Trek, revealing that its enduring place in pop culture is all thanks to innovative pivots and radical change.

For over five decades, the heart of Star Trek’s pro-science, anti-racist, and inclusive messaging has been its willingness to take big risks. Across 13 feature films, and 12 TV series—including five shows currently airing or in production—the brilliance of Star Trek is in its endless ability to be rethought, rebooted, and remade.

Author and Star Trek expert Ryan Britt charts an approachable and entertaining course through Star Trek history; from its groundbreaking origins amid the tumultuous 1960s, to its influence on diversifying the space program, to its contemporary history-making turns with LGBTQ+ representation, this book illuminates not just the behind-the-scenes stories that shaped the franchise but the larger meaning of the Final Frontier.

Featuring over 100 exclusive interviews with actors and writers across all the generations, including Walter Koenig, LeVar Burton, Dorothy Fontana, Brent Spiner, Ronald D. Moore, Jeri Ryan, and many more, Britt gets the inside story on all things Trek, like Spock’s evolution from red devil to the personification of logical empathy, the near failure to launch of The Next Generation in 1987, and how Trekkie outrage has threatened to destroy the franchise more than once. The book also dives deep with creators like Michael Chabon (co-creator of Star Trek: Picard) and Nicholas Meyer (director, The Wrath of Khan). These interviews extend to the bleeding edge of contemporary Star Trek, from Discovery to Picard to Lower Decks, and even the upcoming highly anticipated 2022 series, Strange New Worlds.

For fans who know every detail of each Enterprise bridge, to a listener who has never seen a single minute of any Star Trek, this book aims to entertain, inform, and energize. Through humor, insight, archival research, and unique access, this journey through the Star Trek universe isn’t just about its past but a definitive look at its future.

©2022 Ryan Britt (P)2022 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

"Britt’s scrupulous, often funny, and sometimes controversial zeal breathes new life into the canon’s obsessive discourse… Trekkies will tear through this at warp speed.”—Publishers Weekly

“Whether you’ve been watching since TOS or you’ve just gotten hooked on Discovery and Strange New Worlds, if you’re a Star Trek Fan, you’re going to want to pick up this definitive oral history of the franchise.”—Bustle

“Both longtime Trek fans and those new to the franchise will find this to be a thoroughly entertaining and informative read.”—Booklist

A deep dive into the mindset behind Trek

Very informative collection of first hand accounts about the decision making process behind different aspects of Star Trek over the years. I could tell the author is a super fan and it made listening all the better.

Great review of the Star Trek Universe

Overview of the Star Trek Universe through 2022 from interviews with primary sources. Well presented and very interesting. Divided up in chronological order. Worth your time.

Good overview but light on details

Has a Woke emphasis but a good overall review including 2020 series. The Fifty-Year Mission is more through but this is a good supplement

A new take on a much written about subject!

A
refreshingly different look at the history of Star Trek and Star Trek fandom. I highly recommend this book for Star Trek fans who want to have an overall historical understanding of all things Trek.

Engaging and Conversational

This isn't just another history of Trek novel. Britt does a tremendous job of sharing the cultural impact and tells his story in an easy, engaging way that feels like you're having a conversation with an old friend. loved it.

Worth a listen...up until he discusses new Trek.

At a certain point it becomes apparent that Paramount cut this cat a check to say how awesome Abrams and 'new' Trek are. As if Discovery and Picard are as good or as culturally relevant as TOS & TNG. New Trek is so blatantly 'created' by suits it's disgusting and the fact this author is so easily fooled by that, it makes every observation he has about TOS, TNG, DS9, VOY, and ENT questionable. People that love things because their two favorite words are slapped on them are imbeciles.