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Our beleaguered editor wanted me to write something about conventions. I was reluctant.

Then a review copy of a book about Star Trek conventions came so I had to read it for the G Force. (And recycle some of it for the Denver Post.)

In a famous Saturday Night Live sketch, Captain Kirk's command to his nutso fans was "Get a Life!" Mter years of take the money and run convention appearances, William Shatner decided to find out what the conventions are really about (while still taking the money).

He shares the results in Get a Life! written with Chris Kreski (Pocket Books, $24). (I'm used to writing these prices for the Post and not thinking about them - go to the library or something.)

Shatner tries to give an historical perspective to the rise of Star Trek. He starts with Roddenberry's premiere showing of the new television series at the 1966 Tricon in Cleveland.

First held in 1940, Tricon had grown by leaps and bounds through the years, ultimately blossoming into the mother of all conventions. It was billed as 'the greatest force in the Universe.' Thousands of the planet's most rabid science-fiction lovers showed up a Tricon each year, many in costume."

Sounds pretty dramatic except Tricon was only held once and had an attendance of 850. Maybe Shatner and/or Kreski is presenting a garbled history of the World Con.

First held in 1939 with a different host city every year, it did break into the thousands (attendance 2,007) with the 1972 convention in Los Angeles.

Shatner then goes into a blow by blow account of the first Star Trek convention in 1972. Maybe this part is accurate - Shatner wasn't there but he has since talked to the women who organized it.

It might be a test of fannish enthusiasm how interesting these 40 pages of the book are. I thought it was fascinating and am even willing to believe it might be more or less true.

As the Star Trek conventions succeeded they quickly outgrew the older fannish conventions and became their own world of mediacons.

Shatner never really addresses a major difference between the two: appearance fees. He admits for years he only went to conventions to give his performance and get out of town. Unfortunately he never talks about how much money is involved.

The conventions grew into a business. The professionally-run conventions (mostly Creation Cons) are really there as shows with acts booked through the day

Fan-run conventions mix this world with the older con tradition. They are more likely to have panel discussions and other opportunities for more participation than standing in autograph lines.

Somewhere around the time James Kirk was finally killed off, Shatner began to become curious about what else was going on at the conventions. There is a goofy humor to this book as Shatner puts on a cheesey alien costume and asks people about their convention experiences.

A lot of people (fans and stars) talk to this alien freak about why they attend Star Trek conventions. (The one star who pointedly ignores him is Tracy Scoggins, Lochley of Babylon 5.)

A lot of the book is amusing - I suspect this has a lot to do with Chris Kreski, who is also the head writer on Comedy Central's The Daily Show.

There are also some touching and serious moments when Shatner gets into some depth with interviewees telling how Star Trek has helped them cope with their lives.

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