Everybody knows somebody who seems to be a little bit too interested in Star Trek; somebody who wears Star Trek costumes to the staff Halloween party; maybe even somebody who actually speaks Klingon...

These individuals probably already know that actor John Schuck not only played the Cardassian legate, Parn, in the Deep Space Nine episode "Marquis, Part II," but that he also played the Klingon ambassador in Star Trek IV and Star Trek VI.

For the rest of who didn't know, it's prominently listed under Parn on page 348 of The Star Trek Encyclopedia. This encyclopedia has 630 pages of these facts and hundreds of full color photos, diagrams, maps, layouts and lists. There are illustrations of all the various command insignia from all the series and movies.

The sheer number of entries is staggering. What is more awe-inspiring is that Michael and Denise Okuda have compiled and cross-indexed them. It is a simply massive undertaking and highlights an even more staggering problem with the Star Trek universe. Somebody has to maintain the continuity of four TV series, eight movies and dozens of novels, not to mention comic books, trading cards and scads of merchandising. Somebody out in Paramount-land has to make sure all the writers know that although both the B'rel and K'Vort class vessels share virtually identical designs, the B'rel is the smaller of the two Klingon bird-of-prey warships. It gets to be a task of mind-numbing proportions.

For the less-than-die-hard Star Trek fans out there, it's the realization of that task and the appreciation for the enormity of it that makes The Star Trek Encyclopedia an interesting book. For fans, it is essential. How else can you be sure to win playing UnTrival Pursuit: The Star Trek Edition at the New Year's Eve party?

And yes, I did already know that Armin Shimerman has played three different Ferengi.

Wayne MacLaurin is a regular SF Site reviewer. More of his opinions are available on our Book Reviews pages.