Mark A. Altman

Mark A. Altman is a television writer-producer and author best known for his work in science fiction entertainment and his extensive writings about pop culture franchises, particularly Star Trek. He co-authored the bestselling two-volume oral history "The Fifty-Year Mission: The Complete, Uncensored, Unauthorized Oral History of Star Trek" with Edward Gross. As a television producer, he has worked on series including Castle, Agent X, and The Librarians. Altman served as a writer and producer for the science fiction television series Pandora and has written numerous books analyzing and documenting popular franchises. His journalism work includes serving as the founding editor of Geek Monthly magazine and writing for publications like Film Threat. Beyond his television work, Altman has established himself as an authority on science fiction and genre entertainment through his speaking engagements at conventions and his commentary work for home video releases of various properties. He continues to work across multiple aspects of entertainment including producing, writing, and documenting pop culture.

Readers appreciate Altman's deep research and insider access, particularly in "The Fifty-Year Mission" Star Trek books. On Amazon and Goodreads, fans note his ability to uncover lesser-known stories and present comprehensive behind-the-scenes details. What readers liked: - Thorough documentation and rare interviews - Clear organization of complex production histories - Balance of business and creative perspectives - Inclusion of contradictory accounts that let readers draw own conclusions What readers disliked: - Dense presentation of information can be overwhelming - Some repetition between chapters - Occasional focus on industry drama over creative content - Limited perspective on more recent Trek productions Ratings across platforms: Amazon: 4.6/5 (1,200+ reviews) Goodreads: 4.3/5 (900+ reviews) Reader quote: "Like sitting down with Trek veterans and hearing their unfiltered stories firsthand" - Amazon reviewer His TV work receives less reader engagement, with minimal reviews on standard platforms.

Nobody Knows Anything: Renegade's Guide to Filmmaking - A nonfiction guide to working in the film industry, drawing from Altman's experiences as a producer and filmmaker.

Free Enterprise: The First Adventure - A novel adaptation of the film Free Enterprise, following two filmmakers who meet their idol William Shatner.

They Shouldn't Have Killed His Dog: The Complete Uncensored Ass-Kicking Oral History of John Wick, Gun Fu, and the New Age of Action - An oral history of the John Wick franchise featuring interviews with cast, crew, and industry professionals.

Nobody Knows Anything (But Me) - A memoir and industry analysis examining changes in the entertainment business over several decades.

So Say We All: The Complete, Uncensored, Unauthorized Oral History of Battlestar Galactica - A comprehensive behind-the-scenes look at both the original and reimagined Battlestar Galactica series.

The Fifty-Year Mission: The Complete, Uncensored, Unauthorized Oral History of Star Trek - A two-volume historical account of the Star Trek franchise from its inception through modern iterations.

Larry Bond writes naval military thrillers and techno-thrillers focused on modern warfare scenarios. His works contain detailed technical specifications and military tactics similar to Altman's attention to detail in sci-fi franchises.

Andy Mangels specializes in media tie-in novels and behind-the-scenes books about television series and movies. His work documenting entertainment franchises parallels Altman's focus on pop culture history and analysis.

Edward Gross collaborates on oral histories and companion books for science fiction properties. He has co-authored with Altman on multiple projects and maintains a similar approach to documenting entertainment franchises through interviews and archival research.

Joe Schreiber writes tie-in novels for major media properties including Star Wars and Star Trek. His work in established sci-fi universes shares common ground with Altman's expertise in franchise storytelling.

Rich Cohen produces non-fiction works examining entertainment industry history and popular culture phenomena. His analytical approach to cultural topics mirrors Altman's style of dissecting and contextualizing media franchises.