Matt Forbeck - Star Wars vs. Star Trek: Could the Empire kick the Federations ass? And other galaxy-shaking enigmas

Forewords by
JEREMY BULLOCH (Boba Fett in Star Wars)
and TIM RUSS (Tuvok inStar Trek: Voyager)

STAR
WARS
Vs.

STAR TREK

COULD THE EMPIRE KICK
THE FEDERATIONS ASS?
and other galaxy-shaking enigmas

Matt Forbeck

Avon, Massachusetts

Copyright 2011 by F+W Media, Inc.
All rights reserved.
This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form without permission from the publisher; exceptions are made for brief excerpts used in published reviews.

Published by
Adams Media, a division of F+W Media, Inc.
57 Littlefield Street, Avon, MA 02322. U.S.A.
www.adamsmedia.com

ISBN 10: 1-4405-1262-0
ISBN 13: 978-1-4405-1262-9
eISBN 10: 1-4405-2576-5
eISBN 13: 978-1-4405-2576-6

Printed in the United States of America.

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Contents

Jeremy Bulloch (Boba Fett)

Tim Russ (Tuvok)

Sizing up the men of action including Luke Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Han Solo; Captains Kirk, Picard, and Sisko; and the rest

The ladies of the series: Princess Leia, Queen Amidala, Ahsoka Tano; Uhura, Captain Janeway, Seven of Nine; and others

The nonhuman denizens of two universes: Wookiees, Ewoks, Hutts; Klingons, Romulans, Ferengi; and lots more

The lesser villains the heroes can look good beating upand the lesser heroes the villains can test out their weapons on

A series is only as good as its villains: Darth Vader, Emperor Palpatine, Darth Maul; Khan, Nero, the Borg Queen; and the rest of the rogues gallery

The greatest adversaries are those who totally outpower the heroes

Swallow a person, swallow a planetthe creepy things with big teeth

The lamest characters in both series make us wonder what the creators were thinking: Jar-Jar Binks, Wesley Crusher, Greedo, Rom, and others

Whats the difference between hyperspace and Warp, droids and Data?

The iconic weaponry from the series to see who would have the edge in a cross-universe firefight

Both Star Wars and Star Trek have the most recognized starships in the world, from the X-wing to the Enterprise

A tour of the major planets: Tatooine and Coruscant, Vulcan and Romulus, and outward

Planets arent the only place to live out in space

From the Old Republic to the Mirror Universe, which universe has the greatest historyor the most damaged

Who has the best political system to live under?

The Force and dozens of religions and cults pervade both universes

From the music of the cantina on Mos Eisley to three-dimensional chess on the Enterprise

What treasures await those who boldly go? Whether to Hoth or Risa

Who comes out a winner in this epic clash of universes

What would happen if the two series clashed?

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Thanks to Peter Archer for approaching me about this book and encouraging me to write it. And thanks to Phil Athans for helping make it read so well.

Thanks also to Lisa Stevens, Jeremy Bulloch, Sara Char,Tim Russ, Mike Stackpole, and Ken Hite for their generous contributions.

Special thanks to George Lucas and Gene Roddenberry for creating Star Wars and Star Trek, firing the imaginations of generations of kids and adults.

Finally, thanks to my wife, Ann, and my kids, Marty, Pat, Ken, Nick, and Helen, for supporting me through all of my projects and everything else I do.

FOREWORD

Jeremy Bulloch
(Boba Fett)

Star Wars or Star Trek? Its a question I get asked all the time. I have been a fan of Star Trek since the original series, when I loved watching great characters such as Captain Kirk, Spock, Scotty, and Bones. Many years later I saw the film Star Wars: A New Hope, and no one can ever forget the opening titles with the Imperial spaceship roaring above your head. This was a major piece of cinema history. In movie theatres around the world there were audible cries of Awesome! Wow! and Cool! I knew then that Star Wars was going to be very, very special.

Little did I know that I would be lucky enough to work on Episode IIer... I think I mean Episode V, playing the small part of Boba Fett in The Empire Strikes Back, followed later by a reprise of my role in Return of the Jedi. Being involved with the Star Wars project was, and still is, one of the highlights of my career.

There is no doubt that Star Wars has a larger following, with fans from two to eighty-two years old. It is incredible to think that, after more than thirty years, Star Wars is still as popular as it was on its release in 1977. Not a day goes by without my being reminded of Star Wars and the fact that I played Boba Fett. (I must stop wearing that bucket on my head!)

I suppose I should be biased when it comes to citing a preference between Star Wars and Star Trek. But I find it difficult to make a clear choice between the two. Despite belonging to the same genre, they are also very different, retain their own merits, and have their own following of fans. No convention would be the same without an appearance from the outrageous Klingons, for example. Overall, however, I think that Star Wars just gets the nod over Star Trek, particularly for its special effects and music.

I have had the pleasure of meeting many of the Star Trek cast at various conventions around the world. One of my favorite actors from the Next Generation series is Marina Sirtis, who played the bridge officer Deanna Troi. Not only is she a very talented actress, but also she is smart enough to support the same soccer team as I do in England. Every time we meet up at an event we have a long conversation about the fortunes of our club, Tottenham Hotspur.

The Star Wars Vs. Star Trek argument is one that could go on and on indefinitely, and by coming down on the side of Star Wars, I probably risk having my jetpack bashed up by some serious Star Trek fan. Lets not forget, however, that its all fiction and there to be enjoyed. Beam me up, Scotty and May the Force be with you all!

Jeremy Bulloch

FOREWORD

Tim Russ (Tuvok)

It is difficult to find common elements in Star Trek and Star Wars to serve as a basis of comparison as to which concept is better. Star Trek began and has continued primarily as a television series. Feature films were produced afterward. In contrast, Star Wars began as a series of feature films.

The original Star Wars feature films were one story presented in a three-film arc, told in about six hours. Star Trek, a long-running TV series, was composed of many different and, for the most part, standalone stories.