On September 8th, 2016, Star Trek will be celebrating its 50th anniversary. In these past five decades, the show has turned into a worldwide phenomenon, spawned five spin-off television series, 12 feature films, and has never been off the air. In The Fifty-Year Mission: The Complete, Uncensored, Unauthorized Oral History of Star Trek: The First 25 Years (Thomas Dunne Books; on-sale June 28th) Edward Gross and Mark A. Altman have penned the unbelievable true story behind the making of a pop culture phenomenon.

Hailed by Booklist as “breathtaking in scope and depth, this is a must-read for Star Trek lovers as well as anyone who wants a better understanding of how television and film production works.” Written by two veteran entertainment journalists and including a foreword by Seth MacFarlane, The Fifty-Year Mission: The First 25 Years is the first book in a two part series (The Next 25 Years will be released on August 30th). Hear from the hundreds of television and film executives, programmers, writers, creators, and cast, including William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, and Chris Pratt, as they unveil the oftentimes shocking story of Star Trek's ongoing fifty-year mission, including: • The true story behind William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy’s stormy Paul McCartney & John Lennon-like relationship

• What was in the top-secret memo Gene Roddenberry only sent to William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy and DeForest Kelley in which he accused them of threatening the future of the show with their childish antics

• Why everyone involved with Star Trek loves Lucy and how the legendary redhead comedian determined the series original fate

• The lost "prequel" film developed years before J.J. Abrams rebooted the franchise

The Fifty-Year Mission is the true bible for Star Trek fans and pop culture junkies alike. MORE ABOUT THE BOOK

This is the unauthorized, uncensored, and unbelievable true story behind the making of a pop culture phenomenon. The original Star Trek series debuted in 1966 and has spawned five TV series spin-offs and a dozen feature films, with an upcoming one from Paramount arriving in 2016. The Fifty-Year Mission is a no-holds-barred oral history of five decades of Star Trek, told by the people who were there. Hear from the hundreds of television and film executives, programmers, writers, creators, and cast as they unveil the oftentimes shocking story of Star Trek's ongoing fifty-year mission - a mission that has spanned from the classic series to the animated show, to the many attempts at a relaunch to the beloved feature films.

Make no mistake; this isn't just a book for Star Trek fans. Like Saturday Night Live's bestselling Live From New York, here is a volume for all fans of pop culture and anyone interested in the nuts and bolts of a television touchstone.