Star Trek: Fact Files (1997-2002)

[Kop]

I was wondering if anyone here collects the Star Trek Fact Files?

I collected them as a kid, but never to completion. I managed about 8 folders back then, which I still have.

Recently, I was at a car boot sale and came across 15 binders full for £5. So of course, I snapped them up. Carrying them to the car was awful, I tell ya!

But I've been going through them, and would like to know if I now have a complete collection. I know how many issues there were in the UK, but am still unsure whether what I have is complete.

From doing my research, there should be around 19 binders, but my binders are really, really full, so I think I might have the lot, just crammed into less binders. I've gone through 6 binders so far; page by page. And have noted around 10 obvious missing sheets. But it is hard to know if some of these are error (as was often the case with the fact files) or genuinely missing sheets.

I'm hoping my my original collection, and this boot sale find...I will manage the complete set.

Is there a list anywhere of all the sections, files and cards? I found one, but it ended two years before the fact files ended, so doesn't cover everything.

The fact files have obviously been succeeded by the internet, but wow...I do love a printed page, and they look absolutely amazing even today.

Thanks!

 

[F. King Daniel]

I'm pretty sure I have them all stored away, I even put hole-reinforcement stickers on them to prevent damage (and had to buy about 5 more binders due to the resulting increased page width). I recall them sending me a few missing pages at the very end which I requested, but not all. I guessed the others were misnumbers that didn't exist.

Teenage me loved them, awaited them, absorbed them. Adult me hasn't looked at them since.

 

[James Swallow]

Ah, that takes me back... I have fond memories of working on the Star Trek Fact Files as a writer and assistant editor back in the day...

 

[IronWaffle]

I only learned about these recently when stumbling on the video below. As a result, I went to archive.org to see if there were downloadable scans to get a clearer idea. Nothing complete I could find but there are several there that may be able to help you spot check.

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[Kop]

Ah, that takes me back... I have fond memories of working on the Star Trek Fact Files as a writer and assistant editor back in the day...

Wow, really, that's cool. Thanks for doing such a great job!

 

[Kop]

I only learned about these recently when stumbling on the video below. As a result, I went to archive.org to see if there were downloadable scans to get a clearer idea. Nothing complete I could find but there are several there that may be able to help you spot check.

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Thanks for this, I actually watched this the other night. Really interesting.

Once I've gone through everything, I'll post up what I have, hopefully complete.

 

[Kop]

Okay guys...it's been difficult but I have combined my bootsale find with my collection and I believe I am missing just 10, possibly 13 cards.

Now...I'm hoping this is from 1 magazine that I can track down...I know it is a long shot, but I would really appreciate it...does anybody know?

MISSING:
Section 1, File 3, Card 7C
Section 1, File 4, Card 7A
Section 1, File 4, Card 7B
Section 1, File 5, Card 5B
Section 1, File 7, Card 13B

Section 2, File 27, Card 2B
Section 2, File 40, Card Appendix 2

Section 4, File 44, Card 39
Section 4, File 50, Card 18
Section 4, File 58, Card 93

POSSIBLE MISSING:
Section 1, File 3, Card 6k (I have two different cards marked as 6I)
Section 1, File 7, Card 21E (I have two different cards marked as 21B)
Section 4, File 46, Card 1E (I have two different cards marked 1D)

If anybody knows if this is from one magazine, and if so, which one, please let me know. Thank you, much...much appreciated.

 

[Kop]

Thanks though IronWaffle, currently going through the scans to see if I can spot it. Time consuming but very useful!

 

[JD]

I only learned about these recently when stumbling on the video below. As a result, I went to archive.org to see if there were downloadable scans to get a clearer idea. Nothing complete I could find but there are several there that may be able to help you spot check.

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Thanks for sharing that. I've heard references to the Fact Files all the time on here, but I'd never actually seen what they looked like before now.

 

[Kop]

Right guys and girls...

Came across this very helpful site (and emailed the guy too, also very helpful): http://startrekcrossindex.com/FFhome.html

Cleared up a lot of things for me. Quite a few in my missing list weren't issued at all, and some were renumbered.

When it is all said and done, I am missing just 3 cards from the following issues:

Issue 113 (Section 1, File 7, Card 13B) (Sport in the 24th Century)
Issue 269 (Section 2, File 30, Card Appendix 2) (Admiral Janeway's Shuttle)
Issue 271 (Section 1, File 3, Card 7C) (A-Z of the Stars Part 4)

The hunt is on!

 

[DimesDan]

I used to collect these, but gave up somewhen in late 2001 and sent them off to get recycled around 2010 or 2011 as I hadn't looked at them in years and they were just gathering dust in my dad's loft.

Thanks for sharing that. I've heard references to the Fact Files all the time on here, but I'd never actually seen what they looked like before now.

Don't you say something similar on the rare occasions the Fact Files are mentioned around here?

 

[JD]

Maybe, I have a very bad memory, so for me if it hasn't been discussed regularly for weeks it's pretty much like I've never heard of it before.

 

[DimesDan]

Maybe, I have a very bad memory, so for me if it hasn't been discussed regularly for weeks it's pretty much like I've never heard of it before.

I would be worried if my memory was like that.

 

[JD]

I'll admit I was exaggerating a bit, but I actually have been a bit concerned at times that there was something wrong with me.
It's never gotten bad enough to go to a doctor, but the thought has crossed my mind a few times.

 

[Therin of Andor]

Section 1, File 3, Card 6k (I have two different cards marked as 6I)
Section 1, File 7, Card 21E (I have two different cards marked as 21B)
Section 4, File 46, Card 1E (I have two different cards marked 1D).

At one point, the company included a large sheet of stickers with the week's magazine that corrected various photo, caption and numbering errors. That was a fun few hours.

 

[Kop]

At one point, the company included a large sheet of stickers with the week's magazine that corrected various photo, caption and numbering errors. That was a fun few hours.

Yes, quite funny really. But glad they did.

Feel sorry for them at the end. Enterprise adding to (or messing up in some people's eyes) so much of Star Trek history.

Prequels always problematic to established canon, even if some of it had been embellished a little as that Fact Files video mentioned.

 

[Therin of Andor]

Prequels always problematic to established canon, even if some of it had been embellished a little as that Fact Files video mentioned.

I thought they worked out Earth Starfleet vs Federation Starfleet quite well, even though ENT itself hadn't really touched on the differences.

 

[Khan 2.0]

Remember getting the first file/issue (special discount price). Then the enormity of never ending collecting them put me off

 

[Therin of Andor]

Remember getting the first file/issue (special discount price). Then the enormity of never ending collecting them put me off

I looked forward to my Thursday night chore of filing all the sheets in their categories each week. After Week 1, with the free bonus folder, the only price rise in Australia was when our Goods & Services Tax came in. I bought about five issues of #1, so I had extra empty folders, anticipating that the rings of the folders might get too full too fast (the free folders only came every few months), and I was right.

People who let the issues pile up were very sorry, or never did the task.

 

[Kop]

I have not been able to find my missing 3 sheets yet. I see people selling 'complete' collections for next to nothing though, so that might be the only way to actually get a complete set these days. What I'd do with another 15 folders though...LOL...I just wouldn't have the heart to bin them. With the internet, they're a pretty niche thing I guess these days. Can't say enough how much I enjoy them though. Always go to them and just have a browse, and am still finding out new info and remembering things I'd forgotten. I do wish they're was a better way to file them though in terms of the ring binders being a little awkward at time, especially if it is a particularly full one.