No Star Trek Novelization?

[Admiral_Young]

I read the FAQ first and didn't see this covered (perhaps a suggestion to add it if there is more information). I was disapointed and a little surprised to see that there is no release for a Star Trek (Film) novelization in May 2009. Now is this because the list Keith released on Trek Today on behalf of Pocket Books is a tentative one and scheduled to change or there is just not going to be a novel? I assume that this would have to be discussed between Paramount and Pocket and an author lined up...if not I'm disapointed but would be interested in learning the reason why. I pretty much have all of the novelizations of the movies...think they're great! Would love to get my hands on one for Star Trek.

 

[David Henderson]

Now is this because the list Keith released on Trek Today on behalf of Pocket Books is a tentative one and scheduled to change or there is just not going to be a novel?

Yes, to the former.

There most likely will be a novelization, but the movie will probably be near completion in terms of editing and such before it is commissioned. Nobody yet knows which author will be selected to write it, nor what the cover artwork will be (because the movie poster hasn't been released yet).

Expect to hear more in six to ten months.

davidh

 

[Allyn Gibson]

Keith DeCandido posted this in the Star Trek XI forum back in April:

The author of the novelization has already been chosen, and in fact was chosen quite some time ago, since it was originally a December release. I would've loved to have done it, but it ain't me.

So, there is going to be novelization, and the author has been chosen.

 

[David Henderson]

I sit corrected, then. :-)

davidh

 

[PowderedToastMan]

it is not a given.

 

[Admiral_Young]

Ok sweet...I don't really frequent the Trek Lit fourm as much as I used and rarely go into the Star Trek XI forum so thanks for that.

 

[Man of Steel]

I would guess that the writer would be J.M. Dillard seeing as how she did the novelizations for the last few movies...

 

[Dayton Ward]

^ It will not be Dillard (at least, according to the info I have).

 

[FatherRob]

^ It will not be Dillard (at least, according to the info I have).

Time for a new game... ask Dayton Ward who the author will be.

So... is it Peter David?
... is it David Mack?
... is it Michael A. Martin?
... is it Andy Mangels?
... is it Terri Osborne?
... is it Jean Lorrah?
... I could keep going for days
(okay, 15 minutes at best...)

Dayton, you should really save us all the trouble and just spill the beans now. I mean, I realize it would probably jeopardize your chances of staying in Pocket's good graces, but hey, what's a significant leak to your TrekLit friends compared to a novel contract?

Rob+ // who walks away smugly pleased with himself for no real good reason

 

[The Nth Doctor]

If it's not J.M. Dillard, then my guess is Vonda N. McIntyre.

 

[Dayton Ward]

^ I added the "according to..." caveat because the last thing I heard was that they had approached an author to pen the novelization some time back (when the movie was coming out in Dec 2008). It wasn't Dillard then, and may well be the same person now. However, it's entirely possible that a different person has been approached and selected based on the movie's changed premiere date...which almost certainly had an effect on when/if Pocket has even received the script for adaptation (I'm betting they haven't, because I'm just a cynical bastard, but I don't know for sure).

Anyway, my info may not be up to date, so I'm couching my remarks accordingly.

 

[Therin of Andor]

If it's not J.M. Dillard, then my guess is Vonda N. McIntyre.

According to print interviews I've seen with Vonda M, her time with ST is over. She also "declined to be interviewed" for Pocket's "Voyages of Imagination" a few years ago.

 

[The Nth Doctor]

If it's not J.M. Dillard, then my guess is Vonda N. McIntyre.

According to print interviews I've seen with Vonda M, her time with ST is over. She also "declined to be interviewed" for Pocket's "Voyages of Imagination" a few years ago.

Oh, that's true, I had forgotten about the latter part. I hadn't heard about the former part.

 

[Admiral_Young]

I still wish the movie was coming out in Dec 2008...next May is too long a wait!

 

[JD]

^ I added the "according to..." caveat because the last thing I heard was that they had approached an author to pen the novelization some time back (when the movie was coming out in Dec 2008). It wasn't Dillard then, and may well be the same person now. However, it's entirely possible that a different person has been approached and selected based on the movie's changed premiere date...which almost certainly had an effect on when/if Pocket has even received the script for adaptation (I'm betting they haven't, because I'm just a cynical bastard, but I don't know for sure).

Anyway, my info may not be up to date, so I'm couching my remarks accordingly.

Could you say whether or not it's a regular pocket writer?

 

[Dayton Ward]

I could, but I won't.

 

[Star Treks]

I know I'll get some flack for this (well, I probably will), and I say this with total respect for the established Trek novelists, including those working now and those who frequent the boards: I would love to see them give the novel to a big-name sci-fi writer who isn't known primarily for series fiction. I can't explain exactly why, except that one might imagine that """serious""" sci-fi fans who wouldn't normally check out the novel or the movie might get the book because it is a major sci-fi author, and enjoy it so much that they go see the new movie. Voila, new fan.

Another cool option? Alan Dean Foster. He is one of my favorite writers working today and his old Star Trek Logs were great; plus he ghostwrote the Star Wars novel and was involved with the story of ST:TMP. But he kind of drifted away from Trek after that, although he has done plenty of good novelizations and has a strong career with his own original stuff, as well. It would be nice for Foster to enter back into the Trek fray, although after so many years I somehow doubt it (then again..., I may be wrong, but I think he did the Transformers novelization, which means there is a J.J. Abrams connection of sorts).

 

[Therin of Andor]

and was involved with the story of ST:TMP. But he kind of drifted away from Trek after that

On purpose, if I recall an old ADF interview correctly. Writers often like to make a break and try something new after being so closely identified with a particular phenomenon that isn't of their own making.

 

[Man of Steel]

Let me guess and say: Diane Carey or David Gerrold

 

[jgdst]

^ I'd go along with Diane Carey as a guess. I've really enjoyed her past novelisations, so it'd be good if she put her stamp on the new film.