VOY Fans and Janeway in the VOY relaunch books (spoilers)

[david g]

I havent actively followed the recent VOY relaunch books...but from what I can tell they involve the killing off of Captain Janeway and the promotion of Chakotay to Captain.

Given that VOY was most famous precisely for having a woman as Captain, does it strike anyone else as really, really odd that the relaunch has killed off Janeway? This decision has certainly made me quite uninterested in reading the books.

[JanewayRulz!]

david g wrote:

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I havent actively followed the recent VOY relaunch books...but from what I can tell they involve the killing off of Captain Janeway and the promotion of Chakotay to Captain.

Given that VOY was most famous precisely for having a woman as Captain, does it strike anyone else as really, really odd that the relaunch has killed off Janeway? This decision has certainly made me quite uninterested in reading the books.

Uhhh, yes.

Of course there's the camp that feels this is just ANOTHER example of a tired trope of the refrigerator heroine. I had never heard of this till kimc brought it up 2 years ago.

http://www.trekbbs.com/search.php?searchid=5537731

In a nutshell... the male heroes die but are brought back to life/power (Spock in "Wrath of Khan", Kirk in Shatner's Star Trek novels.) while the ladies "just" die.

It has been suggested that "bringing them back to life" is boring and old hat in the scifi universe, and its better to just leave her dead. That's one viewpoint. Of course, as you might suspect, it's one I wouldn't share if I thought the novels were canon enough to take "seriously" when it comes to my heroine.

There's an interesting thread from last year that deals with the aftermath of that death, started by relaunch author Kirsten Beyer. (Kirsten did not kill Janeway.)

http://www.trekbbs.com/showthread.php?t=144651

I also disagree that Janeway's story was simply about getting her crew home, and that once there... she had nothing else "to do".

Obviously, not an opinion held by tptb at Simon & Schuster's Pocket Books.

[LynnEGib]

It has made me stop reading any Star Trek books. I now just enjoy reading fan fiction and watching my DVD's

[od0_ital]

Janeway was killed off in a TNG post-NEM story, not a VOY Relaunch title.

And last I read a VOY Relaunch title, Chakotay was retired from Starfleet, but still workin' with 'em as a civilian, and a woman was in charge again.

[teacake]

I have not bought a single Treklit book since it happened and I previously bought every release other than New Frontier.

[Enterprise is Great]

While Chakotay is indeed the captain of Voyager again the leader of the fleet in the Delta Quadrant mission is a woman.

[Relayer1]

Cards on the table - I don't think Voyager was particulary good, and I couldn't abide Kate Mulgrew/Janeway. However, the Kirsten Beyer books are truly excellent and I really REALLY like them - much more than I liked the show. They are amongst the very best of Treklit.

As you may guess, having no real attachment to the show, any changes don't really upset me at all. I certainly don't miss Janeway and have no real desire to see her return. As I am not alone (the books are selling very well) there may be little impetus to bring her back.

What I will say is that Kirstens work lacks the many flaws that marred the show and even the characters that I didn't like are now rehabilitated. I see no reason that I would not find Janeway to be more sympathetic in Kirstens hands.

If they want to bring her back they will (probably when they want some free publicity) and it'll be O.K. - they don't have to though - Voyager is quite healthy as it is...

[AuntKate]

I haven't read a Treklit book in years. I don't like the way they have rolled all three concurrent series into one "universe," and I think it was a stupid ideal to kill off Janeway. Frankly, I think that Voyager fanfic is ten times better than anything PB has produced. Why buy average fiction when good fiction is free?

[Lynx]

LynnEGib wrote:

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It has made me stop reading any Star Trek books. I now just enjoy reading fan fiction and watching my DVD's

Me too!

[Lynx]

Relayer1 wrote:

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Cards on the table - I don't think Voyager was particulary good, and I couldn't abide Kate Mulgrew/Janeway. However, the Kirsten Beyer books are truly excellent and I really REALLY like them - much more than I liked the show. They are amongst the very best of Treklit.

As you may guess, having no real attachment to the show, any changes don't really upset me at all. I certainly don't miss Janeway and have no real desire to see her return. As I am not alone (the books are selling very well) there may be little impetus to bring her back.

What I will say is that Kirstens work lacks the many flaws that marred the show and even the characters that I didn't like are now rehabilitated. I see no reason that I would not find Janeway to be more sympathetic in Kirstens hands.

If they want to bring her back they will (probably when they want some free publicity) and it'll be O.K. - they don't have to though - Voyager is quite healthy as it is...

I can live with possible flaws but I can't stand the destruction of beloved main characters.

[Relayer1]

Lynx wrote:

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I can live with possible flaws but I can't stand the destruction of beloved main characters.

I must admit that when I joined here a few months ago I was quite surprised to find how popular Janeway was (I had never come across anyone with a particular liking for her before) but everyone has different tastes.

I would say that I have some particular favourite characters, and although I would be sad to see them written out, I would certainly not stop reading Treklit if they were. Since the relaunch it is richer and more involving than it ever was whilst the shows were on the air.

Besides which, there is always hope - I am still hoping the Countdown graphic novel is taken into novel continuity so we can have Data back, and I am pretty sure we will see Janeway again at some point...

[Ln X]

I don't consider any novels canon, and merely interuptations of the TV films and movies of Star Trek. Honestly Janeway getting bumped off, that's cheap. The way I see it there are three options: 1. you read and enjoy these books, 2. you don't read them, or 3. you write your own fan fic or read high quality fan fic.

So there ain't anything to sweat over...

[teacake]

Relayer1 wrote:

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Besides which, there is always hope - I am still hoping the Countdown graphic novel is taken into novel continuity so we can have Data back, and I am pretty sure we will see Janeway again at some point...

Considering one is a super android and one was taken by a Q it seems like there are plenty of back doors to being returned. Sci fi is always like that but it's not like the reason has to be added in later, it's there all along in these cases.

The Bring Back Janeway facebook group now has 930 members.

[Relayer1]

teacake wrote:

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Considering (she was) was taken by a Q it seems like there are plenty of back doors to being returned. Sci fi is always like that but it's not like the reason has to be added in later, it's there all along in these cases.

I don't read fanfic (maybe I should), so correct me if I this has been done already, but couldn't someone write 'Janeways adventures with the Q' stories fill the gap you feel ?

This would have the advantage of (probably) staying in step with the novel continuity, even when/if she is brought back...

[teacake]

I only rarely read fanfic. I'm sure any idea you mention has been written by someone. I would like to see her return in published Treklit.