Odysseus-class starships were an experimental class of Starfleet vessels in service from approximately 2280-2311. The most distinct feature of the Odysseus-class starships were their curved engine nacelles, which gave the ship a rather boxy appearance, especially when compared to the sleeker Excelsior-class vessels. It was theorized at the time of construction that the curved engine nacelles would allow for more efficient warp-field generation. Though the Odysseus-class ships were functional, the curved nacelles never provided any significant advantage. Only eight Odysseus-class vessels were constructed, and by 2311 only two were still in service, one of them the USS Agamemnon. (ST - The Lost Era novel: Serpents Among the Ruins)