A question on Star Trek Encyclopedia 99 (Kindle edition) that was sold on Amazon

[Koric]

Hi all,

I had a question about the old Star Trek Encyclopedia 99 (Kindle edition) that was sold on Amazon prior to 2016 paper version.

BUT before I do, I wanted to make clear I'm NOT asking for a download of it.

I just wanted to know if anyone on the forums had purchased the ebook version and if so how bad or good was the formatting on the old Kindle version sold on Amazon (the 1999 version). I never had a chance to buy the Amazon one before it was discontinued before the 2016 paper version was released. I tried to google to find some images of the formatting but couldnt find any reference photos of it.

Again Im NOT asking for the ebook, but just wanted to know if the formatting was good or that I shouldn't feel bad that I dodged a bullet on a badly formatted unusable ebook.

Many thanks in advance,
-Koric

 

[Therin of Andor]

There was also the Omnipedia on CD-ROM:
https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Star_Trek_Omnipedia

I know there were complaints about a digital version of "New Frontier" books, caused by a software update to the readers after the CD-ROMs were pressed.

Wasn't it that early eBook formatting was dependant on the device being used?

Maybe try the GoodReads reviews?
https://www.goodreads.com/work/editions/1806999-the-star-trek-encyclopedia

 

[Leathco]

I got it. The formatting was rough, pics not in the right spot or missing altogether.

 

[Koric]

Thanks guys for the replies.

I wished the old Star Trek encyclopedia the kindle version would be reposted back on the online stores for sale. I would rather have the 1999 version electronically than no encyclopedia at all. Especially considering the 2016 encyclopedia was released and now out of print, and being sold for 10 times that amount. Why not have the OPTION of an electronic version of the encyclopedia that can be added to an easily updated and restored online. I knew the 2016 one would be outdated by DISCOVERY or even Star Trek Online sadly. All that work is wasted by CROOKS selling the books secondhand for outrageous prices.

 

[Koric]

To Therin is it better to get the Omnipedia or the Star Encyclopedia 3.0 2 CD one from 1999? I have a Mac. Also Leathco can I ask you if its possible to post a pic of the Star Encyclopedia formatting on your reader for me to see? There are no reference pics online. I looked.

I use the encyclopedia as a reference when reading my ebooks and it works really well. Its too bad that star trek readers can have a more updated one. I know there is Memory Alpha and its incredible as a reference, but its so much faster and easier to have the encyclopedia as a reference on your reader as you are reading switch back and forth.

I have the Star Trek TNG tech manual on kindle.
The Art of Star Trek electronically.
I should get the TNG companion before it disappears too sadly.
As I said I would like the 1999 encyclopedia again electronically as a reference even though its incomplete still as a reference.

Even Lucasfilm did an incredible job of making the electronic ebook version of the Making of Star Wars ebooks even greater and more feature filled that the paper version of those books. CANT the powers that be at S&S or Pocket do the same for Star Trek with the Encyclopedia too? Its a shame.

Thanks,
Koric

 

[Therin of Andor]

To Therin is it better to get the Omnipedia...?

I think the Omnipedia was quite brief in areas. The hardcopy versions expanded greatly on that early work.

 

[Leathco]

Image in reader at https://postimg.cc/gL0Gv1ft

 

[Koric]

Many thanks Leathco for posting the image. It makes a PDF ebook of the encyclopedia look like a treasure. LOL. But in all honesty a fair way to do an ebook version of the encyclopedia would be to scan the text and images SEPARATE so that the images so be seen clearly. Sure it would be more work and most cost. But I feel it would be worth it.

I don't understand. Why is this work for underutilized and treated as so TRIVIAL? I see it that Michael and Denise Okuda put so much work into the encyclopedia and then update it for what reason?

Ok SO A QUESTION TO AUTHORS: Do you or dont you see the encyclopedia as a reference to YOUR works?

Am I using the encyclopedia in the right way by using it when I read certain books? Asking? Let me know.

Hopefully the encyclopedia get updated again and released ELECTRONICALLY too.

Thanks all,
-Koric

 

[Leathco]

I’d be happy with a digital version of the latest 2 piece version. I waited for a price drop on it that never came.

 

[STR]

Ive only ever seen like 2 books with pictures in them done right as ebooks. If it's not >99% text, get a hard copy. I never thought, in 2019, I'd be buying as many hardcovers as I am, but I've been needing cookbooks so that's the only way.

ST Encyclopedia would be the same thing.

 

[Leathco]

For most of my Trek books I go digital, except for a couple I have (the original Encyclopedia and the book for the CCG). However, I go hardcover all the time for DnD, and I am slowly getting a "premium" hardcover gaming book collection, getting most of the Dark Horse game compendiums (the Zelda books, Mario Encyclopedia, Final Fantasy Ultimanias) along with the Pat the NES Punk NES and SNES books.

 

[Therin of Andor]

Am I using the encyclopedia in the right way by using it when I read certain books? Asking? Let me know.
Hopefully the encyclopedia get updated again and released ELECTRONICALLY too.

I tend to use Memory Alpha and Memory Beta for such questions, keeping in mind they are played with by Many Hands. The "Talk" pages of any controversial factoids are useful. And I contribute when I see a gap or error.

A regularly updated, online subscription Encyclopaedia that is maintained by only the Okudas would work, but there is too much free competition, such as MA, to make that economically viable or profitable.

 

[JD]

The only thing that would get me to buy something like the Encyclopdia, is if it has a really unique presentation, like the Visual Dictionary that came out a few years ago, or The Star Trek Book from DK.