How Much for Just the Planet?

Star Trek #36: How Much for Just the Planet? by John M. Ford
Worlds Apart, Book Two
Published October 1987
Read December 13^th 2012

Previous book (Worlds Apart): #16: The Final Reflection

Previous book (The Original Series): #35: The Romulan Way
Next book (The Original Series): #37: Bloodthirst

Click to purchase How Much for Just the Planet? from Amazon.com!

Spoilers ahead for How Much for Just the Planet?

From the back cover:

Dilithium.

In crystalline form, the most valuable mineral in the galaxy. It powers the Federation's starships ... and the Klingon Empire's battlecruisers. Now on a small, out-of-the-way planet named Direidi, the greatest fortune in dilithium crystals ever seen has been found.

Under the terms of the Organian Peace Treaty, the planet will go to the side best able to develop the planet and its resources. Each side will contest the prize with the prime of its fleet. For the Federation--Captain James T. Kirk and the Starship Enterprise. For the Klingons--Captain Kaden Vestai-Opari and the Fire Blossom.

Only the Diredians are writing their own script for the contest--a script that propels the crew of the Enterprise into their strangest adventure yet!

Notable quote:

"Scott's eye was caught by an unusual constellation: a ring of stars haloing a distant peak. 'Look at that now. Doesn't it awe you a little? To think that there might be a higher power than us, arranging matters?'"
- Author John M. Ford and an interesting little "dig" at Paramount and its control over the Star Trek brand.

Hmmm...

My thoughts:

Here we come to one of the true conundrums of Star Trek fiction. How Much for Just the Planet? was written by John M. Ford, author of a previous classic novel, arguably the best novel in the entire Star Trek library: The Final Reflection. In that novel, Ford examined the Klingon culture and presented an Empire that was rich in history and depth. While not the same Klingons we would later encounter in modern incarnations of Trek, the Klingons as envisaged by Ford were fascinating to say the least. Many fans were interested in a sequel to that earlier novel. To that end, How Much for Just the Planet? was written.

However, How Much for Just the Planet? is most decidedly NOT a sequel to The Final Reflection, at least not in the sense that many readers would have expected. I get the feeling that readers of this novel either love it or hate it. Simply put, How Much for Just the Planet? is Star Trek done in the style of musical comedy. The sheer number of absurd elements that Ford was able to work into the novel is mind-boggling. Everything from a pie fight to a giant inflatable starship, from Vulcan milkshake mishaps to Gilbert and Sullivan musical numbers, all is explored at some point in the pages of this novel. I will admit to actual, out-loud laughter while waiting in an airport terminal and reading one passage in particular, this one involving a Klingon captain finding that his foot is stuck in a toilet. Yes. That happens.

While Star Trek has done broad humour before, How Much
 for Just the Planet? is in a league all its own.

How Much for Just the Planet? plays with the reader's expectations about what Star Trek is and should be about. The text itself could be seen as somewhat subversive, and to that end, many fans I've talked to do not enjoy it. However, I cannot be counted among that number. I thoroughly enjoyed the novel, and while my knowledge of musical theater is limited, I still appreciated many of the references and spoofs contained in its pages. The events in the novel are nothing less than laugh-out-loud hilarious. A weaker writer would not be able to pull this off, but Ford's talents are such that the reader is all too happy to go along on the ride. Some would criticize this novel for being "unrealistic" or "absurd." Well, yes, it is both of those things. But it works brilliantly. If one is willing to give this book the benefit of the doubt, it is a hell of a lot of fun to read. While Star Trek has never been a stranger to absurd humour (see: "The Trouble With Tribbles," "A Piece of the Action," "I, Mudd," et al), How Much for Just the Planet? takes it to dizzying new heights. And those fans who are willing to accompany the author on this romp are rewarded for it. In fact, this novel has gained such a following that conventions have actually organized performances of some of the musical numbers! While I have never had the pleasure of seeing one performed, I can only imagine the sheer amount of enjoyment to be gained from such an event.

Final thoughts:

Based on a cursory sample of online comments and reviews, How Much for Just the Planet? is a novel that tends to polarize the fan-base. However, love it or hate it, this novel is extremely well-written, and while it may not be the sequel to The Final Reflection we would have loved to see, it is a riotously amazing, laugh-out-loud novel that was a true pleasure to read. While Mr. Ford may not have written the novel that many fans initially wanted to see, satisfaction can be gained by witnessing the resulting alternative. Ford is able to exercise his singular talent as an author able to challenge the expectations of his readers. As a bonus, we got an incredibly entertaining work of art out of the deal. I call that a win.

NOTE:
The text of this review has been altered to reflect the fact that I was mistaken about some earlier assumptions about this novel. I had assumed, based on reading online reviews and material concerning How Much for Just the Planet?, that Paramount had nixed the idea of a sequel to The Final Reflection due to artistic differences. However, thanks to guidance from Star Trek author Christopher L. Bennett, I have learned that this was not the case. My review has been edited to reflect that fact.

More about How Much for Just the Planet?:

• Podcast: Literary Treks 230: Golf in the Original Klingon

Also by John M. Ford:

• Star Trek #16: Worlds Apart, Book One: The Final Reflection

My next read:

Chain of Attack by the late Gene DeWeese, an Original Series novel published in 1987. Coming soon!

The Final Reflection

Star Trek #16: The Final Reflection by John M. Ford
Worlds Apart #1
Published May 1984
Read June 21st, 2011

Next book (Worlds Apart): How Much For Just the Planet?

Previous book (The Original Series): #15: Corona
Next book (The Original Series): Star Trek III: The Search for Spock

Click to purchase The Final Reflection at Amazon.com!

Spoilers ahead for The Final Reflection!


From the back cover: 

Klingon Captain Krenn is a ruthless war strategist. But on a mission to Earth, Krenn learns a lesson in peace.

Suddenly he must fight a secret battle of his own. His Empire has a covert plan to shatter the Federation. Only Krenn can prevent a war - at the risk of his own life!

About this novel:

The Final Reflection is certainly not your typical Star Trek novel.  In the opening of the story, Dr. McCoy loans Captain Kirk a novel: The Final Reflection by John Ford, newly published based on the experiences of Samuel Tagore, former Ambassador from the Federation to the Klingon Empire.  Only this framing story involves the familiar characters; the main story tells about the life of Krenn, a Captain in the Klingon defense forces.  The novel itself is mainly an exploration of Klingon culture - it's beliefs, codes, practices, and mores.  The culture as presented is much different than the one that evolves over the years in other media - rather than the "honorable viking" society shown in The Next Generation and Deep Space Nine, the Klingons of The Final Reflection are much more cultured and codified.

Reflections and Analysis:

Many fans who have read The Final Reflection have expressed dismay at the way the Klingons have been developed in "canon" Star Trek.  After reading this novel, I can't say I entirely disagree.  I first want to make clear that I am a huge fan of the television Klingons.  The efforts of (mainly) Ronald D. Moore in creating an interesting and compelling culture cannot be underestimated.  Thanks to the talents of actors such as Michael Dorn, Robert O'Reilly, Tony Todd, and J.G. Hertzler, the Klingons were brought to life every week on our television screens.  However, the Klingons as presented by John Ford in The Final Reflection would have been a treat to watch as well.  Much more calculating and strategic, these Klingons would be much more deliberate, rather than charging in with a battle cry all willy-nilly!

Krenn is presented as a sympathetic character who hails from a culture wholly alien to our own.  As such, the reader may not fully identify with him, but as the tale progresses, we find ourselves on the side of this unlikely hero.  The Final Reflection is fascinating to me in that it is one of the few Star Trek novels to present it's tale from the perspective of someone other than our regular heroes, especially from the perspective of "the other side," rather than Starfleet or Federation characters.  Other than the framing story, in which Kirk is reading The Final Reflection, and small appearances by Leonard McCoy and Spock, our regular characters are largely absent.

Final Thoughts:

If you have not read The Final Reflection, do so!  I have long been told that it is nearly the finest example of Trek literature, and having now read it, I can't disagree.  Since it was published nearly thirty years ago now, much of "canon" Star Trek contradicts the events and ideas presented in The Final Reflection, but I think that it is completely worth reading on its own merits, even merely as a "road not taken" sort of story.  I can't give this novel any less than 10/10.  I thoroughly enjoyed it, and heartily recommend it to any Star Trek fan who is hungry for genuine, well-written entertainment.

Also by John M. Ford:

• Star Trek #36: Worlds Apart, Book Two: How Much for Just the Planet?

Next Review:

Next up is Dayton Ward and Kevin Dilmore's Star Trek: Vanguard: Open Secrets.  Look for that soon!