It is so incredibly hard to believe that it's been more than 25 years since the premiere of Star Trek: The Next Generation, but isn't it amazing how well the show has held up? Yes, the first season was a bit rough around the edges (as are all first seasons, in my opinion), but by the second season, there were some incredible storylines and plots being created that not only ran through this series but also carried over into the later Star Trek television series and movies.

The entire series has been remastered, and I'm looking forward to a few more years from now when I can sit down with my oldest son and start watching them together. (And, of course, I've got an even younger son who will hopefully show an interest, allowing me to watch them yet again!)

I'm a fan of the original series (ST:TOS), so I will admit that when word got out that a new Star Trek show was going to be released, I was resistant. I'd heard rumors (the ship can split into two!) and facts (no Vulcans, but a Klingon will be a primary character), and I just couldn't get around the fact that someone would try and tinker with the series! I was a big RPGer through middle and high school, and I had just about everything game related that FASA had released, including all the movie supplements. I saw no purpose in messing with something that didn't need fixing.

I was so wrong. And so happy to BE wrong!

When ST:TNG hit the screen, that first season was some good stuff... and it only got better. The special effects were amazing, the actors filled those characters in with quirks, both good and bad, and long, complex storylines unfolded over multiple seasons, culminating in a series finale that looped us back to that first episode and provided a great conclusion. As I said: great stuff, and I'm so envious of the younger generation who has yet to experience the voyages of the U.S.S. Enterprise and her crew.

I'll occasionally catch an episode here or there, but now that the movies have ended (or have they?) and no new Star Trek series is planned (or is it?), I've moved on to other franchises and interests. (Yes, I know there are still plenty of books coming out in the ST universe, but I've never been much into Star Trek or Star Wars novels – sorry.)

Occasionally, however, I do get swept back into the ST universe, and I get to experience a little wave of nostalgia for one of the numerous ST series. Today, what put a smile on my face was getting to enjoy a new book, Star Trek: The Next Generation - On Board The U.S.S. Enterprise, from Barron's, and not only is it an amazing collection of computer generated imagery and photos from the ST:TNG series, but it also comes with a CD (Mac and Windows compatible) that lets you take a virtual tour of the ship from your computer.

The book itself is 40 pages of full-color two-page spreads showing various locationss on the ship and two fold-out four-page spreads (!!!), one showing a side-profile and deck cut-away and the other showing front and rear profile details along with tons of text explanations and callouts. All of the two-page spreads provide half a dozen or more small information sections, crew bioses, equipment discussions, and much more. The entire book is written like a detailed summary of the real ship – all discussions are treated as if the U.S.S. Enterprise, its crew, its locales, and its technologies are real: Other than the introduction written by authors Michael and Denise Okuda, the book can be treated as a real-life summary of the ship and its mission. (The Okudas both worked on the actual television show, and their nice introduction to the book discusses their relationship to the show as well as the details for how the book came to be, including the computer renderings of the ship by Tobias Richter and Somchith Vongprachanh.)

So, what does the book cover? Well, there's a history of the Enterprise, coverage of some of its most well known encounters, plenty of exterior coverage (both in 2 and 4-page spreads) of the ship, and then 2-page spreads of dozens of locationss, including the bridge, main engineering, the transporter room, shuttle bay, sickbay, science labs, living quarters, Ten Forward, the holodeck, and the cargo bay... and much more. It's an oversized hardback, so the colorful photos and computer generated spreads are incredibly detailed.

I mentioned that in addition to the book is a CD that allows you to take a virtual tour of the ship. Controls on the right side of the screen allow you to zoom in and out, look left or right, and toggle back and forth to and from a full screen view. In the background you'll hear a number of subtle sounds that are triggered based on the locations you are visiting. locationss include the bridge, the transporter room, cargo bay, and Engineering among others. Each scene contain additional buttons that can be pressed (signified by the Enterprise insignia) to place you in that spot so you can look around. (For example, you can tap the insignia on the Captain's chair and get Picard's view of the bridge.)

All in all, it's a well-done book that's sure to be a hit with fans, old and young. I must admit I had a smile on my face the entire time I was taking the virtual tour... the detail is nicely done and the sound effects in the background, including that always persistent hum of the engines, were a nice touch, as well.

If you're a fan, you'll definitely enjoy the book. It's got just the right mix of photos and computer renderings and text to make it an easy and enjoyable read, and the added virtual tour is just plain fun to spend 20-30 minutes exploring.

Note: I'd like to thank Lucille at Barron's for providing a copy of On Board The USS Enterprise and images for this review.