Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Fatal Error

Star Trek: S.C.E. #2
Fatal Error by Keith R.A. DeCandido
Published September 2000
Read January 23rd 2013

Previous ebook (S.C.E.): #1: The Belly of the Beast
Next ebook (S.C.E.): #3: Hard Crash

Originally published as an ebook. Later published as part of the Starfleet Corps of Engineers compilation Have Tech, Will Travel in January 2002.

Compilation of the first four SCE stories
Original ebook cover.


Click here to purchase the Star Trek: S.C.E. omnibus #1, Have Tech, Will Travel from Amazon.com!


Spoilers ahead for Fatal Error and the rest of the Corps of Engineers series!

 From the back cover:
For centuries, the planet Eerlik has had a thriving civilization, completely run, maintained, and administered by a giant sentient computer. But now that computer is breaking down and the desperate inhabitants are helpless to repair the damage. Only the crew of the U.S.S. da Vinci, accompanied by Geordi LaForge, can hope to fix the massive computer before the Eerlikkan society collapses entirely. Their mission grows more dangerous, however, when they discover evidence of sabotage -- and learn firsthand that hostile forces will do whatever it takes to stop Gold and his crew from saving the imperiled planet!

 My thoughts:

In Fatal Error, the second novella in the S.C.E. series, Commander Gomez and her team must attempt to repair a sentient planetary computer system named Ganitriul while at the same time dealing with insurgents bent on overthrowing said computer and the government of the planet Eerlik. While the plot is fascinating and the crisis is compelling, where Fatal Error truly shines is in its treatment of the characters.

A Bynar pair, much like 110 and 111.
I'm really starting to enjoy the characters of S.C.E.. A few of them were "minor league" players on other shows (Gomez and Duffy on TNG, and Stevens and Lense on DS9) with a few new faces thrown into the mix. In Fatal Error, I was especially interested in the outcome of the horrible loss that 110 experienced in the previous story. His mate, 111, was killed, and he must now deal with that terrible loss. The death is made all the more tragic by the degree to which a Bynar relies on his or her mate. Without 111, 110 feels incomplete in a very real sense. I believe that the series is leaning towards having him remain aboard the da Vinci, but doing so comes with severe consequences. 110 will basically become an outcast in the eyes of Bynar society. I'm curious to see where these developments will lead.

I have to admit that I kept expecting the Star Trek trope of a planetary computer going all evil and enslaving the population to rear its head, but I was pleasantly surprised when Fatal Error didn't take this route. In fact, Ganitriul was an interesting character in his own right, and I found myself genuinely caring for the life of the computer system. One of the most amusing parts in the novel is when Scotty muses about how sentient computers were dealt with in the previous century: "Shaking his head, the older man said, 'In my day, when we saw a planet that had been taken over by one'a those -- Ah, but that's neither here nor there.'" Clearly making reference to Captain Kirk's consistent tendency to destroy planet-controlling computer systems, Scotty's musings brought a smile to this reader's face.


Final thoughts:

Keith DeCandido has yet to disappoint me. I have very much enjoyed everything he has written, and Fatal Error was no exception. I'm very curious to see the outcome of 110's story, and I'm also enjoying the stories of the other characters of S.C.E.. Fatal Error provided a few more insights into the lives of the characters, and presented them with an interesting problem which required a creative solution. 110 showed his computer expertise and saved the day, even while dealing with the loss of his mate. I'm looking forward to more stories featuring these characters!


Also by Keith R.A. DeCandido:

My next read:

Continuing on with the first four S.C.E. stories this week. Next up is #3: Hard Crash by Christie Golden.



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Monday, May 13, 2013

The Belly of the Beast

Star Trek: S.C.E. #1
The Belly of the Beast by Dean Wesley Smith
Published August 2000
Read January 18th 2013

Next ebook (S.C.E.): #2: Fatal Error

Originally published as an ebook. Later published as part of the Starfleet Corps of Engineers compilation Have Tech, Will Travel in January 2002.


Compilation of the first four SCE stories
Original ebook cover


Click here to purchase the Star Trek: S.C.E. omnibus #1, Have Tech, Will Travel from Amazon.com!

This week, on Trek Lit Reviews: reviews of the first four books of the S.C.E. series, starting with The Belly of the Beast today (Monday), followed by the next three novellas released on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday!

Spoilers ahead for The Belly of the Beast!

 From the back cover:
The U.S.S. Enterprise has defeated a gigantic marauding starship from parts unknown. Now that the immediate threat has been neutralized, the S.C.E. has been called in to probe the vanquished hulk in search of both new technology and the secret of its origin. Lieutenant Commander Geordi LaForge has temporarily transferred from the Enterprise to assist Captain David Gold and the crew of the S.C.E. ship, the U.S.S. da Vinci, on this fascinating mission. LaForge works with Gold and his top-of-the-line group of technical specialists to unravel the high-tech mysteries of the supposedly dead alien vessel, only to discover that the real danger has just begun!

 My thoughts:

The Belly of the Beast is the first novella in the originally ebook-only series, SCE (Starfleet Corps of Engineers). The first I had heard of these stories were when the first dead tree-format omnibus was published. I was curious, but apparently not curious enough to pick it up and give it a try. I'm happy to be rectifying that lapse in judgement now!

The inaugural story itself is an interesting one. The SCE team is confronted with a massive mystery ship, its origins unknown. It has attacked a Federation colony, and the USS Enterprise was just barely able to escape destruction and disable the mysterious juggernaut. As the Corps of Engineers investigates further, they discover the original purpose of the ship, as well as the original company and crew. However, something sinister has taken control of the vessel. Originally thought to be neutralized by the Enterprise's attack, the horrific threat remains to terrorize the da Vinci's away teams.

Sonya Gomez in TNG's "Q Who," now
 the commanding officer of the SCE
contingent aboard USS da Vinci.
The SCE series highlights a few of the background crew we've seen in other Star Trek series. The head of the SCE contingent aboard the da Vinci is Commander Sonya Gomez, originally seen as a newly-minted ensign in season two of The Next Generation. Originally a shy, nervous junior officer, she has matured into her role as the leader of the SCE troubleshooters. Several other crewmembers we've met over the years are also a part of the da Vinci's crew, but we don't learn much about them in this volume. I'm looking forward to more stories in the line to see if they are as ably fleshed-out as Sonya Gomez is in this novella. I really enjoyed reading about her character as I have always lamented the fact that we only got to see her in two episodes of TNG. Also, something that came as a bit of a surprise to me: The Belly of the Beast marks the first appearance of Christine Vale, security chief of the USS Enterprise in many of the TNG novels leading up to Star Trek Nemesis, and later Captain Riker's first officer aboard the USS Titan. In this novella, we learn a lot about her, and hints about more of her story are dropped.

The SCE series marked Pocket Books' first experiment with ebook-only sales. Sadly, this series has been on indefinite hiatus since 2007. 2007-2008, however, saw the release of another ebook-only series: Slings and Arrows, which I haven't read myself yet. Prior to that, in 2006, an Original Series-era series of ebooks were released. Mere Anarchy was later re-released in a trade paperback omnibus. After a couple of years without an ebook exclusive release, Pocket has once again begun experimenting with ebook-only publications, with the release of 2011's Typhon Pact: The Struggle Within by Christopher L. Bennett and last year's Vanguard: In Tempest's Wake by Dayton Ward. In addition, March of this year saw a Next Generation ebook by James Swallow, entitled The Stuff of Dreams.

 Final thoughts:

A fascinating beginning to this anomalous series in Trek Lit. The mystery is well done, and the conclusion is exciting and unnerving. The story has piqued my interest enough to make me want to read more about this crew and their missions. I'm looking forward to continuing with the SCE story and learning more about the interesting group of people that have been assembled for this series.

 Also by Dean Wesley Smith:

My next read:

S.C.E. week continues with #2 from Have Tech, Will Travel: Fatal Error, by Keith R.A. DeCandido.



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Wednesday, May 8, 2013

The Vulcan Academy Murders

Star Trek #20: The Vulcan Academy Murders by Jean Lorrah
Published November 1984
Read January 22nd 2013

 Previous book (The Original Series): #19: The Tears of the Singers
Next book (The Original Series): #21: Uhura's Song


Click to purchase The Vulcan Academy Murders from Amazon.com!

Spoilers ahead for The Vulcan Academy Murders!

 From the back cover:
Kirk and McCoy accompany Spock to the Vulcan Academy Hospital, seeking experiemental treatment for a badly wounded Enterprise crew member. Spock's mother is also a patient in the hospital, and Kirk soon becomes involved in the complex drama of Spock's family...
Suddenly, patients are dying, and Kirk suspects the unthinkable -- murder on Vulcan! But can he convince the Vulcans that something as illogical as murder is possible? Until the killer is caught, everyone is in danger!

Notable quote:

Sarek and Spock, discussing his failed bonding with T'Pring in the episode "Amok Time":
Spock continued bleakly, "I looked at her picture and tried to reach her." He turned again to Sarek. "I thought the bonding was inadequate because I am only half Vulcan." 
"You are not only anything, Spock. You are more, not less, because of your dual heritage. It is fruitless to wish now that I had made that clearer to you when you were a child."

 My thoughts:

A friend of mine, whom I met on GoodReads, said that the description of The Vulcan Academy Murders makes it sound like "Star Trek does Nancy Drew." Interestingly enough, she hit it right on the money. This novel plays out exactly like a pulp detective novel. The investigator (Kirk) has his list of suspects and determines motive and opportunity for each one. One by one, the suspects are eliminated from his list, until a surprising development leads all involved to believe the murderer has been caught. But, lo and behold, they have the wrong man! Predictably, Kirk himself is placed in danger when the killer strikes again. Now, this formulaic detective story set in the Star Trek universe isn't necessarily a bad thing. After all, Star Trek itself has been many things over the years. Stories from a multitude of genres can be adapted quite well to the Trek setting. While I don't know that The Vulcan Academy Murders was the best-written detective story, I did enjoy it for the sheer genre-busting nature of it. Kirk playing detective was certainly fun, and the reactions of the Vulcans to a murder investigation were also very interesting to see.

The imposing visage of T'Pau hides a few surprises.
The Vulcan Academy Murders is fascinating in a number of other ways. Although the Vulcan it presents in its pages is subtly different from the world we see in other volumes of Trek lit, the insights it provides in the day-to-day lives of the average Vulcan are eye-opening. Of particular interest is the transition of Vulcan into a more cosmopolitan society, with large numbers of humans and other aliens taking up residence on the planet. While most Vulcans see this transition as keeping with the ideals of the Vulcan philosophy of IDIC (infinite diversity in infinite combinations), there are a few who believe that Vulcan should be kept pure and resist the influence of alien cultures. Of particular interest to me was the characterization of T'Pau, introduced in the TOS episode "Amok Time." At first, Kirk believes her to be somewhat bigoted against non-Vulcans, but her actual outlook on humans within Vulcan society ends up surprising him.

The examination of the depth of the
bond between Sarek and Amanda
is one of the highlights of The Vulcan
Academy Murders.
Another element of The Vulcan Academy Murders that I loved was the presentation of the relationship between Spock and his parents. In this novel, Sarak and Spock's relationship has improved significantly since their eighteen-year silence after Spock decided to join Starfleet. Indeed, we see things from Sarek's point of view on several occasions and learn of his true feelings of pride for his son and his accomplishments. We also learn why his parents weren't present at his "marriage" in "Amok Time" and how much Sarek has come to regret that decision. In addition, the portrayal of the relationship between Sarek and Amanda is heartwarming, and we see a bit of what led them to marry. I particularly loved Sarek's response when Spock asks him why he chose an Earthwoman to be his wife. His answer? "I did not. I chose Amanda, who happens to be an Earthwoman." This all kind of presages his answer to Spock in the 2009 film. "I married her because I loved her."

Finally, I really enjoyed the novel's take on the events of "Amok Time," specifically those concerning the actions of T'Pring, Spock's betrothed. What she did in that episode was so outrageous and unfathomable to Sarek that he realizes how terribly his son had been treated. A Vulcan bonding between mates as presented in this novel is shown to be a deep, abiding, almost spiritual thing. Spock feared that his bonding to T'Pring had not been so because he is only half-Vulcan, but Sarek assures him that the fault lay entirely with T'Pring and her twisted sense of logic. In fact, we see a true bonding in this novel between a human man and a Vulcan woman, and it truly is a thing of beauty to behold. Being in a Vulcan bonding is like taking part in a permanent mind meld. Two truly do become one, and Jean Lorrah writes this concept very well. While the couple, Dr. Daniel Corrigan and T'Mir, are bonding, the portrayal of it is exquisite:

I had shared my fantasy with you, Daniel, but you had never told me yours.
I never dared to recognize it, he discovered--and she found the thought along with him.
Beautiful.


 Final thoughts:

A fun, if somewhat formulaic detective story set on Vulcan, with some great character moments for a few of the secondaries such as Sarek and Amanda. The exploration of Vulcan relationships and what makes a Vulcan are of particular note in this novel. I'm looking forward to checking out some more of Jean Lorrah's work in the realm of Star Trek fiction. I would recommend The Vulcan Academy Murders as a fun, light read for the trekkie who wants something a little different from the usual spaceborne setting of Trek novels.

 Cover quandaries:

The scene depicted on the cover never actually occurs in the novel. While the creature, ostensibly a Le-Matya, does appear and threatens Captain Kirk, never once does Spock come face to face with it during the story!

Also by Jean Lorrah:

My next read:

Next up: the first book in the S.C.E. series: The Belly of the Beast by Dean Wesley Smith.

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Sunday, May 5, 2013

The Folded World

Star Trek: The Original Series: The Folded World by Jeff Mariotte
Release date: April 30th 2013
Read May 2nd 2013

 Previous book (The Original Series): The Weight of Worlds
Next book (The Original Series): The Shocks of Adversity


Click to purchase The Folded World from Amazon.com!

Spoilers ahead for The Folded World!

 From the back cover:
En route to a diplomatic mission, the U.S.S. Enterprise receives a distress call from the U.S.S. McRaven. As the Enterprise approaches the area where the McRaven appears to be, Captain James T. Kirk and his crew encounter an anomaly unlike anything they've ever experienced. Space itself seems inconsistent here ... warping, changing appearance. But during the brief periods of calm, the McRaven is located along with other ships of various origins—all dead in space and devoid of any life forms, all tightly surrounding and being held in place by an enormous unidentified vessel that appears to have been drifting for a millennium. As incredible and impossible as it seems, this anomaly is something that can only be described as a dimensional fold, a place where the various dimensions that science has identified—and the ones it cannot yet name—have folded in on one another, and the normal rules of time and space no longer apply...
My thoughts:

Although he has penned two prior Star Trek works in the past, The Folded World is the first novel by Jeff Mariotte that I have read. While entertaining for the most part, I have somewhat mixed feelings about it. The story itself is an interesting one: the Enterprise happens upon a "dimensional fold," in which time and space do not respond in the manner they should. They are attempting to rescue the Starship McRaven, which has been caught in the fold. Complicating matters is a diplomatic contingent aboard, representatives from the planet Ixtolde, who are vying for membership in the Federation. What Kirk and company do not realize is that the Ixtoldan ambassador and her retinue are hiding a secret, one that involves the dimensional fold and the mysterious, massive ship that lies at the center of the anomaly.

The story surrounding the anomaly and the Ixtoldan deception are interesting, and hints about the true nature of the history of the Ixtoldan people are dropped throughout the book. What kept me reading was the desire to fit these pieces togther and discover the nature of the "dimensional fold" anomaly. Unfortunately, that is one area in which the novel kind of drops the ball. The anomaly is never truly explained, and while not learning every little detail is okay, I would have enjoyed some speculation on the anomaly's origins or purpose. One thing that the anomaly evoked in me was a sense of the mystery and "weird stuff" that occasionally occurred in Original Series episodes, and in that way, the dimensional fold was a nice bit of classic Trek storytelling. However, to my mind, the mystery of the Ixtoldan deception and the reasons for the ambassador's behavior are wrapped up in a much more satisfying manner.

The novel depicts a dangerous rescue mission into the anomaly to attempt to rescue the U.S.S. McRaven. The mission, predictably, goes horribly wrong. The attitudes and actions of many of the crew on this perilous mission seemed out of place for the highly-trained Starfleet we've seen in the past. In fact, many of the actions of the boarding party seemed strange. Captain Kirk allows the party to be split up far more easily than I think would be prudent, which of course leads to crewmembers being lost in the confusion aboard the alien starship. I would have expected the crew on this mission to be a little more disciplined, and some of the actions that the crew takes don't seem logical.

Finally, the novel introduces a new character: Petty Officer Miranda Tikolo. For much of the novel, I wasn't sure what to make of her. In many ways, I enjoyed her character, and her struggle with post-traumatic stress disorder was a refreshing splash of realism that Star Trek occasionally lacks. However, some of her character moments felt a little too "soap opera-ish," especially the revelation of the dark trauma she experienced as a child and the repression of that memory. In addition, the love triangle between her and two other crewmembers felt tiresome at times, and the behavior of the men in her life seemed over the top and a little childish. That's not to say that Tikolo's behavior wasn't at times childish as well. However, given her mental state and the traumas that she has experienced, one would be hard-pressed to find fault with her actions in the novel.

 Final thoughts:

A generally entertaining and fast-paced novel, The Folded World was a fun read. The anomaly was interesting, but not satisfactorily explained in my opinion. Some of the character stuff was a little too melodramatic, but works for the most part. I did really enjoy Scotty's part in the novel, and it was a great deal of fun seeing him wrestle with the fine points of diplomacy while trying to deal with the Ixtoldan ambassador and the Federation diplomats aboard the Enterprise. His coming to a greater appreciation of the difficult job that Kirk has was a nice touch. While not the highlight of Trek novels from this year so far, The Folded World was enjoyable for the most part.

More about The Folded World:

Also by Jeff Mariotte:

My next read:

Next up: another classic Trek novel from the days of yore: The Vulcan Academy Murders by Jean Lorrah.


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Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Chain of Attack

Star Trek #32: Chain of Attack by Gene DeWeese
Published February 1987
Read January 11th 2013

 Previous book (The Original Series): #31: Battlestations!
Next book (The Original Series): #33: Deep Domain


Click to purchase Chain of Attack from Amazon.com!

Spoilers ahead for Chain of Attack!

 From the back cover:
While mapping a series of gravitational anomalies, the Enterprise is suddenly hurled millions of light-years through space, into a distant galaxy of scorched and lifeless worlds ... into the middle of an endless interstellar war.
With no way back home, the crippled starship finds itself under relentless and suicidal attack by both warring fleets! And Captain Kirk must gamble the lives of his crew on his ability to stop a war that has raged for centuries -- and ravaged a galaxy...

My thoughts:

A starship flung far from home, a crew worried that they will never see home again, and an idiotic bureaucrat aboard making life miserable for Kirk and company. Just another day in the lives of our intrepid heroes aboard the Starship Enterprise!


Dr. Crandall is the overbearing bureaucrat
in this novel, not unlike the many who have
come before him, such as Commissioner
Ferris, pictured here ("The Galileo Seven").
For the most part, Chain of Attack is an interesting read. A lot of classic Trek elements are there: facing the unknown; reason and understanding winning out over aggression and belligerence. Overall, the novel has a very familiar feeling, but not to the point of seeming overdone or derivative. One small exception is the inclusion of a particular element that has often shown up in Star Trek: an outsider coming aboard the Enterprise and generally being, without putting too fine a point on it, an ass. This particular plot element certainly approaches being used too often. The main difference here, however, is we get something we don't usually experience in the televised episodes of Star Trek: the ability to see things from the aforementioned ass's viewpoint.

In Chain of Attack, the annoying bureaucrat is Dr. Crandall, a supposed "expert" on the sensor technology that the Enterprise is testing at the beginning of the novel. Throughout the book, we get glimpses of how he sees the crew of the Enterprise: self-serving hotshots who have no regard for anything other than themselves and who court danger at every turn for their own amusement. Of course, nothing could be further from the truth, and in fact, seeing things from Dr. Crandall's point of view made me think that he was some sort of sociopath. His projection of hateful thoughts on the part of the Enterprise crew borders on paranoia. I think everyone has had the experience of putting emotions and thoughts on others that they didn't actually have, and in this way, I could kind of understand the viewpoint of Crandall. However, he took it to near-psychotic lengths. I think Captain Kirk let him off far too easily, and is also responsible for putting the Enterprise in danger through his inaction in allowing Crandall access for far longer than seems appropriate or prudent. Of course, at the end of the novel, Crandall turns around 180 degrees and becomes a self-sacrificing saint, a plot development that I felt rang a little untrue. Even despite Crandall's revelation and redemption at the end, the captain seems a little too forgiving.

Despite the small stumbles with regards to the character of Crandall and his odd motivations and behaviours, the story is a fascinating one. The cultures that developed due to the unique circumstances in this remote region of space were interesting to read about, and the final resolution was very satisfying. However, one more small quibble: at one point towards the climax of the novel, both Spock and Crandall breathe in and hold their breath before being exposed to hard vacuum. As anyone who has researched the effect of a vacuum on the human body can tell you, this is a very bad idea!

 Final thoughts:

An interesting story overall, with a few minor issues with regards to the main guest character. This is the first novel of Gene DeWeese's that I have ever read, and it was added to my "to read" list shortly after he passed away last year. Chain of Attack was a great Trek novel experience, and I'm looking forward to reading more of the novels he wrote during his lifetime in the future.

Also by Gene DeWeese:

My next read:

Next up is the newest release, The Original Series: The Folded World by Jeff Mariotte. I managed to get my hands on this one pretty early, but reading time was cut into by the Calgary Comic and Entertainment Expo this past weekend. However, I hope to be finished it soon! Look for a review shortly, and in the meantime, behold the awesomeness that is Wil Wheaton:


Live long and prosper, everyone!


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Sunday, April 21, 2013

New Covers and Blurbs

A couple of new novel covers have been released in the past few days, along with the back-cover summaries. Some interesting books on the horizon!

First up is the much-anticipated Star Trek: Enterprise: Rise of the Federation: A Choice of Futures. (That's a mouthful!) The cover for this one looks to be a little uninspired, but after all, the true worth is in the words. And if the back-cover blurb is any indication, this is going to be a good one!




A new nation has arisen from the ashes of the Romulan War: the United Federation of Planets, an unprecedented union of diverse species cooperating for the good of all. Admiral Jonathan Archer—the former captain of the Earth starship Enterprise, whose efforts made this union possible—envisions a vibrant Federation promoting galactic peace and a multispecies Starfleet dedicated to exploring strange new worlds. Archer’s former crewmates, including Captain T’Pol of the U.S.S. Endeavour and Captain Malcolm Reed of the U.S.S. Pioneer, work with him to secure that bright future. Yet others within the Federation see its purpose as chiefly military, a united defense against a dangerous galaxy, while some of its neighbors view that military might with suspicion and fear. And getting the member nations, their space fleets, and even their technologies to work together as a unified whole is an ongoing challenge. 
When a new threat emerges from a force so alien and hostile that negotiation seems impossible, a group of unaligned worlds asks Starfleet to come to its defense, and the Federation’s leaders seize the opportunity to build their reputation as an interstellar power. But Archer fears the conflict is building toward an unnecessary war, potentially taking the young nation down a path it was never meant to follow. Archer and his allies strive to find a better solution...but old foes are working secretly to sabotage their efforts and ensure that the great experiment called the Federation comes to a quick and bloody end.

Sounds pretty exciting to me! Next up on the Original Series front is From History's Shadow by Dayton Ward. This cover is really fascinating. Check it out below, with the back-cover blurb following:


2268: Following their encounter with the mysterious Gary Seven in the twentieth century, the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise is startled by two intruders who have transported through space and time from Earth circa 1968. Incredibly, one of the infiltrators is a Vulcan, who asserts that he’s lived among Earth's population for over a decade. The other represents a little-known race, and reveals to Captain James T. Kirk that she has spent that last twenty years working to bring about humanity’s destruction. It is then that Gary Seven’s young protégé, Roberta Lincoln, arrives seeking Kirk’s help.... 
1947: In the wake of the infamous “Roswell Incident” involving a crashed alien craft and beings from another world, Captain James Wainwright finds himself recruited as one of the first members of Majestic 12, a secret organization with two goals: Collect evidence of extraterrestrial activity on Earth, and develop strategies to combat alien invaders. And it is this very mission that will consume Wainwright’s life for the next two decades, driven by the knowledge that the danger is as real as the aliens living among us...
It looks as though this one might be a continuity-lovers dream, with appearances from all manner of characters from Star Trek's history. Methinks the Vulcan referenced in the first part is Mestral, from Enterprise's "Carbon Creek."

Rise of the Federation: A Choice of Futures is due to be released on June 25th. You can preorder it from Amazon.com now!

From History's Shadow is also available for preorder from Amazon. It will be released on July 30th.




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Saturday, April 20, 2013

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 13th 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?:

Also by John M. Ford:

My next read:

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


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