Assignment Earth

[IMC Headquarters]

That voice...those steely blue eyes...man, Robert Lansing exuded power and authority... Gary Seven is awesome!

I love that title shot when he's standing on the transporter pad and looking thoroughly pissed off at being intercepted. And that ominous music beats. You knew this guy was trouble.

But why the **** is he holding a cat???!

 

[Sci]

Lansing was an obvious attempt at James Coburn's "Our Man Flint" from 1966. I thought his character was well paired with the naïve Terri Garr. Kind of a more serious version of a Dean Martin Matt Helm movie. It was a good mix for a sixties show.

Yeah, she understood the premise. She just didn't like it.

 

[at Quark's]

Not sure I would have liked an entire spinoff series based on it, but I would have liked to see more of Gary Seven in TOS. The idea of aliens even more advanced than 23rd century Starfleet trying to help out earth (and Kirk & Co discovering that) was fascinating, and he was a great character.

 

[LaxScrutiny]

Not sure I would have liked an entire spinoff series based on it, but I would have liked to see more of Gary Seven in TOS. The idea of aliens even more advanced than 23rd century Starfleet trying to help out earth (and Kirk & Co discovering that) was fascinating, and he was a great character.

I just finished Greg's novel and have been mulling over the concept. The episode was pretty low budget and the story basic, as much as I love the idea. It would have been more effective if, as you say, there were a few more episodes scattered along the way and Seven, Roberta, and Isis developed a fan-base of their own. Then, sell it as a spin-off.

 

[Greg Cox]

I loved that episode as a kid and always felt cheated that we never got to see the further adventures of Gary Seven and Roberta Lincoln, which is probably why I bringing them back was high on my to-do list when I first starting writing Trek books.

The return of Gary Seven was actually the very first idea I pitched to Pocket Books back in the day, although, for reasons, it ended up being the fourth book I wrote.

 

[LaxScrutiny]

I loved that episode as a kid and always felt cheated that we never got to see the further adventures of Gary Seven and Roberta Lincoln, which is probably why I bringing them back was high on my to-do list when I first starting writing Trek books.

The return of Gary Seven was actually the very first idea I pitched to Pocket Books back in the day, although, for reasons, it ended up being the fourth book I wrote.

So that was one of your earliest books? That was pretty good!

 

[Greg Cox]

So that was one of your earliest books? That was pretty good!

My second solo Star Trek book, after a couple of collaborations.

 

[LaxScrutiny]

My second solo Star Trek book, after a couple of collaborations.

TBH this is the first Star Trek novel I've read. I've read a few Star Wars novels, but otherwise I read underivative books and series (I don't mean that as a criticism, just a classification.) Anyway, I quite enjoyed it. Thank you.

 

[plynch]

Going to go check it out now. Book, I mean.

 

[Tim Walker]

I loved that episode as a kid and always felt cheated that we never got to see the further adventures of Gary Seven and Roberta Lincoln,

Yeah, I was in the same position as a kid. (I was born in 1956, and watched TOS during its initial run). This episode was one of the ones I found to be the most intriguing.

Questor Tapes-pilot, 1974-had a similar concept. Written by Gene Roddenberry and Gene Coon. Included appearances by Majel Barrett and Walter Koenig. One of the actors, Robert Foxworth, later made an appearance in DS9.

I thought this pilot was interesting, though I liked Assignment even more.

 

[LaxScrutiny]

TBH this is the first Star Trek novel I've read. I've read a few Star Wars novels, but otherwise I read underivative books and series (I don't mean that as a criticism, just a classification.) Anyway, I quite enjoyed it. Thank you.

I probably should admit I also have "The Ferengi Rules of Acquisition" (as told to Ira Steven Behr) on my shelf immediately beside my desk. As an accountant (retired) I refer to it regularly for amusement and to keep me grounded. It's actually pretty good.

 

[Bornin1980something]

I wonder, given how Picard linked to it, might there be a modern day Assignment: Earth in the making?

 

[Greg Cox]

I wonder, given how Picard linked to it, might there be a modern day Assignment: Earth in the making?

I support this message.

 

[LaxScrutiny]

I support this message.

As do I. Even better, a retro series along the lines of Agent Carter mixed with Dr. Who, with the quality of Mad Men, an absence of cheese, and an abundance of tasteful, completely illicit sex.

Hey, at least I can dream.

ETA: OK, I meant metaphorical cheese. They can eat cheese, fed to each other whilst naked under a fine silk sheet, sharing a glass of wine, preferably each mouthful drunk from the lips of the other, with Isis watching from the divan across the room.

Now excuse me, I need some personal time with some lubricant and a tissue...

 

[IMC Headquarters]

I wonder, given how Picard linked to it, might there be a modern day Assignment: Earth in the making?

Who would you cast? Any ideas on characters?

 

[Bornin1980something]

Who would you cast? Any ideas on characters?

That would be a Picard spoiler.

 

[Tim Walker]

Rewatched Assignment: Earth last week. Produced over half a century ago, it still holds up pretty well. It would be all too easy for old science fiction to become out dated.

 

[LaxScrutiny]

Rewatched Assignment: Earth last week. Produced over half a century ago, it still holds up pretty well. It would be all too easy for old science fiction to become out dated.

I just imagine old science fiction with modern sfx, and I get.... something like ST: SNW. But that's another thread.

Anyway, I can watch old stuff and appreciate it for what it was, and laugh at the sexism and such. What's left after "and such" is often a pretty good story that sparks the imagination.

Occasionally when I watch old shit and see something anti-racist or anti-sexist It kind of blows me away that the writers saw this stuff in the 50's or 60's. Still, I can watch anything and see the vision.