Q & A Query (SPOILERS)

[Smiley]

Slightly OT: If it's unlikely that I will ever get to see Nimoy and de Lancie perform them live, are the Spock vs. Q audio recordings worth the purchase?

[Emh]

I would say they are. Sadly, I never got the chance to see them perform, but I love the recordings.

[Steve Roby]

On the other hand, my wife Laura and I listened to them (she's a Trek fan too) and we didn't care for them much at all. We were left with a "guess you had to be there" reaction.

[Emperor-Tiberius]

KRAD said:
All of them, in fact.

Thats great!

Not having read the book, but intending of buying it very soon, can you say, as spoiler-free as you can, if you, somewhat, explained the Trelane-q issue? Q-Squared is considered impossible to have happened for the Trelane issue and all...

I don't think there's a Q story out there I don't like, because even the worst Q story has Q in it, and is therefore tons o' fun. Having said that, I'm particularly fond of Q-in-Law, and I think Peter's take on the character is excellent.

Thats cool! My favorite Q novel so far, has been Q-Squared. And I have read several others and all. Whats your opinion on Q-Squared, btw?

Also, I haven't checked the VOY-Kirk story, but I am sure you did. Is it worth tracking down? I'm a Kirk fan, and would like to see if there's any chance for a Kirk-Q interaction.

I actually had the privilege of seeing Nimoy and deLancie perform this live at a Slanted Fedora convention in 2001, and it was fantastic. The audios don't do it justice really. It works a thousand times better live....

I was considering purchasing them - I have seen some of the live recordings they did in youtube, back in the day.

I am concerned, though, if it'd temper with continuity... Is it, you know, impropable to have happened, as a tale?

PS: I envy you.

[Christopher]

Emperor-Tiberius said:
Not having read the book, but intending of buying it very soon, can you say, as spoiler-free as you can, if you, somewhat, explained the Trelane-q issue? Q-Squared is considered impossible to have happened for the Trelane issue and all...

There are no Trelane references in Q&A, unless it's something implied that I overlooked.

I was considering purchasing them - I have seen some of the live recordings they did in youtube, back in the day.

I am concerned, though, if it'd temper with continuity... Is it, you know, impropable to have happened, as a tale?

Why does continuity matter? None of these stories "actually" happened. They're all made up. What does it matter if they fit together with each other, as long as they're entertaining? Continuity is nice to have, but I'll never for the life of me understand the attitude that a work of fiction is somehow not worth reading (or listening to, in this case) if it isn't consistent with another totally made-up thing that never happened.

From what I've read about it, I'd say Spock vs. Q isn't really meant to be a serious attempt at contributing to the Trek canon so much as using the conceit of a meeting between Spock and Q as an excuse for letting Nimoy and DeLancie strut their stuff before an audience. Trying to define its "canon value" seems like missing the point.

[KRAD]

Not having read the book, but intending of buying it very soon, can you say, as spoiler-free as you can, if you, somewhat, explained the Trelane-q issue? Q-Squared is considered impossible to have happened for the Trelane issue and all...

While many things were explained in this novel, that was not one of them. Basically I wanted to make sure to make at least a passing reference to all the Q stories on television and in prose, but some of the references were very passing indeed, including the one to Trelane. (Christopher, you did, in fact, miss it -- it's on page 122 in the fifth interlude.)

Whats your opinion on Q-Squared, btw?

Enjoyed the heck out of it. Good romp.

Also, I haven't checked the VOY-Kirk story, but I am sure you did. Is it worth tracking down? I'm a Kirk fan, and would like to see if there's any chance for a Kirk-Q interaction.

I have no idea what you're talking about....

I am concerned, though, if it'd temper with continuity... Is it, you know, impropable to have happened, as a tale?

Pretty improbable, yeah, but it's not meant to be taken in the least bit seriously.

[Turtletrekker]

KRAD said:

I have no idea what you're talking about....

The End of Night by Paul J. Kaplan in SNW VI has Q and Kirk meeting on Voyager. It's a pretty fun story.

[KRAD]

^ Oh.

[BrotherBenny]

Ah, Gotcha!!!!!!!

Caught you out oh great and knowledgeable one!!!

[Emperor-Tiberius]

KRAD said:
While many things were explained in this novel, that was not one of them. Basically I wanted to make sure to make at least a passing reference to all the Q stories on television and in prose, but some of the references were very passing indeed, including the one to Trelane.

Thats great to hear!

KRAD said:
Enjoyed the heck out of it. Good romp.

Glad you did too - its my favorite Q novel. I can only hope your novel is even better!

What is your personal favorite Star Trek novel? Both from those you've written and from everybody else's work?

I'll inform you when I have read the novel.

KRAD said:
Pretty improbable, yeah, but it's not meant to be taken in the least bit seriously.

Just as fine - I'll get it anyway.

[KRAD]

What is your personal favorite Star Trek novel? Both from those you've written and from everybody else's work?

Of my own, my favorite is probably Articles of the Federation -- though I think my strongest novel is The Art of the Impossible. As for other folks, my favorite remains The Entropy Effect by Vonda N. McIntyre.

[Emperor-Tiberius]

KRAD said:

Of my own, my favorite is probably Articles of the Federation -- though I think my strongest novel is The Art of the Impossible. As for other folks, my favorite remains The Entropy Effect by Vonda N. McIntyre.

Good to know.

I only ask because I admire you and your work. I am currently readingg THE ART OF THE IMPOSSIBLE, in fact, and so far its excellent! The way you integreated Colonel Worf to the Klingon-Cardassian diplocatic scenario (haven't finished yet), as well as the inclusion of Curzon Dax, is delightful!

As you can see, I'm not TOO much into novels - Shatner's post-GEN novels* introduced to Trek Lit, and Peter David's Q-SQUARED kept me interested. But because of not-enough-time, I am picking stories that might interest me due to either situations (ie., the Klingon/Cardassia cold war stuff), or characters I wanna see again )ie., Kirk in the above situation, Q in the case of my forthcoming buy of Q&A).




*BTW, whats your opinion on the Shatner and Reeves/Stevens stories? And should I persue individual Reeves/Stevens novels if I liked them?

[KRAD]

I only ask because I admire you and your work. I am currently readingg THE ART OF THE IMPOSSIBLE, in fact, and so far its excellent! The way you integreated Colonel Worf to the Klingon-Cardassian diplocatic scenario (haven't finished yet), as well as the inclusion of Curzon Dax, is delightful!

Why thank you! I'm quite proud of that book....

*BTW, whats your opinion on the Shatner and Reeves/Stevens stories? And should I persue individual Reeves/Stevens novels if I liked them?

Not really my cuppa, but they're good at what they are. And I'd recommend pretty much all of the R-S's solo work, in particular Federation and Memory Prime.

[Emperor-Tiberius]

KRAD said:Not really my cuppa, but they're good at what they are. And I'd recommend pretty much all of the R-S's solo work, in particular Federation and Memory Prime.

I have read a lot of praises for FEDERATION... I guess I'll check that one too.

And to be clear, I enjoy the Shatner books - if anything, they unkill Kirk, in a silly way maybe, but no sillier than his death in GEN. Plus, I enjoy the continuity involved by the Reeves/Stevens, and also other various aspects.

Of course I do consider your work, from what I have read and Q-Squared, superb literature, I do find them a lot of fun... Would you say they're bad, though? I think ASHES OF EDEN, SPECTRE and CAPTAIN'S GLORY were particularly good. What do you say?

PS: I wish THE ART OF THE IMPOSSIBLE was made, in some sort of way. Its THAT good. Then again, if you must know me, I wish all ST novels I have to have been canon. Except for ENGINES OF DESTINY - THAT was dreadful, what do you think?

NOTE: Sorry if I bore you terribly with my questions and all... Its not all that often that I can find a ST writer in these forums... Much less, a good one!

[trampledamage]

Emperor-Tiberius said:

NOTE: Sorry if I bore you terribly with my questions and all... Its not all that often that I can find a ST writer in these forums... Much less, a good one!

Oh, we have lots of those