Ellison's Version of "City" -- Audiobook

[Sir Rhosis]

The great Scott Brick plays Spock. John Rubinstein as Kirk.

Sound check:

https://vimeo.com/147557342



Main cast photograph:

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?...=a.36621533924.49062.721323924&type=3&theater

 

[Kamdan]

I trust Ellison is aware of this. If not... I'd hate to be them. Otherwise, sounds great!

 

[Kor]

I will listen to this while reading the IDW graphic novel adaptation of Ellison's script.
It will be like the old days of sci-fi fandom.

Kor

 

[Albertese]

I love Ellison's original version of this story. Very powerful stuff.

But I kinda have to agree with Roddenberry on this one (someone who I very rarely actually agree with, I hasten to add). Had Ellison's CotEoF been a script for The Outer Limits it could have been shot as written and been the best episode of the series, but it isn't quite Star Trek. Not his fault: after all, it's my understanding that it was written before any episodes were actually filmed yet, so the fact that the characters feel a little off is quite understandable. And I think the way most everyone on Trek treated Ellison is pretty deplorable, but I think the episode as filmed works better for Trek the it did as first written.

But since I love the episode as written on its own merits, I will happily give this audio version a listen.

--Alex

 

[Sir Rhosis]

Actually, as I look closer, it appears this is a reading of the entirety of Ellison's 1995-ish behind the scenes book about his script. On his FB page, Brick mentions that they will read the script, plus the second draft fragment and all the treatments.

Sir Rhosis

 

[Harvey]

Too bad they couldn't get the full second draft from Ellison for their reading. I'd love to see -- or hear -- the rest of it.

 

[Ryan Thomas Riddle]

Too bad they couldn't get the full second draft from Ellison for their reading. I'd love to see -- or hear -- the rest of it.

Me too.

 

[Shikarnov]

Not his fault: after all, it's my understanding that it was written before any episodes were actually filmed yet, so the fact that the characters feel a little off is quite understandable.

That actually explains a lot. And it's something I never considered -- that some episodes would necessarily have been written before any episodes aired.

Still, I wonder how and why Ellison was so far off the mark with his characterizations...

 

[Sir Rhosis]

Well, the two pilots had been filmed, but I don't know if prospective writers had a chance to see them. None had been aired, certainly, when the first draft of "City" was written. A photo of Ellison, Shatner and Nimoy shows them standing on the set depicting the miners' hut from "Mudd's Women," so we know HE visited the set during the filming of this episode.

https://c2.staticflickr.com/4/3318/3578122787_d0ee8af5bb_b.jpg

Sir Rhosis

 

[Harvey]

Well, the two pilots had been filmed, but I don't know if prospective writers had a chance to see them. None had been aired, certainly, when the first draft of "City" was written. A photo of Ellison, Shatner and Nimoy shows them standing on the set depicting the miners' hut from "Mudd's Women," so we know HE visited the set during the filming of this episode.

https://c2.staticflickr.com/4/3318/3578122787_d0ee8af5bb_b.jpg

Sir Rhosis

Actually, we do know that prospective writers were shown the pilots. The Roddenberry papers have attendance sheets from pilot screenings in both Los Angeles and New York. Let me check to see if Ellison is named...

EDIT: Although many other writers are named, Ellison is not.

 

[Danlav05]

I'm pumped for this as an advocate for more Trek audiobooks.

Let's hope it's the first in a series!