http://www.startrek.com/article/first-look-cover-of-tos-novel-devils-bargain The plot sounds like fairly familiar TOS fare. It'll be interesting to see how Tony Daniel can make it stand out from the crowd.
Yeah, I'm so tired of yet more 5 year mission 'everything back in the sandbox' TOS novels. That's no criticism of Tony who may produce a great story, but if TOS books sell (and they obviously do) there's loads of gaps to fill elsewhere. I'll no doubt buy it but compared to the depth of development of the 24thC. I can't get excited about this. I think the fact that Vanguard sold should point the way forward...
The blurb hasn't much changed from July: http://www.trekbbs.com/showthread.php?t=182840 As I said then, won't be interested if "Unexpected" means klingon/romulan. Horta's an instabuy though!
Very snazzy. I'm looking forward to reading this novel I've been a fan of Tony's ever since I edited his first two novels, Warpath and Earthling, at Tor years ago. (Both very good books, btw.)
Myself, I would prefer stories set in the second five year mission, following Kirk's resumption of Command at the end of TMP. Alternatively, if the ship spent any time operationally under Spock as CO before becoming the training ship, that would be great too. Rob+
I did like David George's 'otherworld' 8 year mission and female senior officer in Crucible. It seemed so contrary to established wisdom. That would be lovely to see.
According to Pocket Books, TOS novels set during the five year mission are the best selling Trek novels, which is why so many are published a year.
I?n which case, it's time to expand the 23rd century and have interconnectedness (i.e. like Vanguard) the way the 24th century does.
Interconnected with what? In the 24th-century, you have three different television series that you can use to cross-polinate. In the 23rd-century, you have one. Yes, you can create a novels-only series in the 23rd-century to fill the gap that Vanguard left, but the sales dust isn't going to automatically rub off on that series just because it's the 23rd-century. It's not the 23rd-century that's popular, it's Kirk and Spock and McCoy that are popular. That's the part of the mythology that has seeped into the collective unconscious, that's the archetype that everyone knows. I suspect the reason why 23rd-century, "Five Year Mission" novels sell as well as they do.
Same reason the new Trek movies are doing Kirk-Spock-McCoy, and not cross-pollinated 24th century stuff, or an original crew. That's what's familiar, that's what the audience likes. Not that some of the other stuff isn't good, or even great, but the original sometimes resonates better.
Thing is, I think the fact that they aren't interconnected is why they sell so well. It attracts more casual readers than the 24th century novels can. Spoiler: in regards to that The author confirmed in a post here on this forum a few months back that it is the Horta.
I really like the cover. The plot sounds like a combo of a number of different elements from TV episodes but it could work out. I get all the books but I've been pretty much focusing reading the 24th century novels lately but that cover could get me to read this one.
With the cover I noticed that under the TOS logo, they put "The Original Series". I guess S&S is trying to make people aware hat this book has nothing to do with he new franchise, but is connected to the 60's TV show. But, when I first saw the planets name, it like the story might be along the same lines as "Star Trek Bridge Commander" from 2002 and the Vesuvius star system.
I think that is probably the case. Allegiance in Exile has the same subtitle and text style. I was kind of surprised they didn't have anything on the covers of this year's TOS novels to let people know that it was a TOS novel, not a Abramsverse novel. I know they used the TOS Enterprise, but there have been cases of the wrong ship or uniform being used on covers.