About Thelin.

[Red Ranger]

People,

As many of you know, the TAS ep Yesteryear featured an Andorian character named Thelin who was Kirk's first officer because of the altered timeline where Spock died during the Kahs-Wan.

What I'm curious about is if Thelin ever appeared in a ST novel or comic book. I looked up his entry on Memory Alpha, which did note his unusual, more grayish skin tone, due to the coloring practices of Filmation at the time. The entry notes that it's possible to retcon Thelin as having some Aenar ancestry. Aside from that, it mentions no other appearances, and the site is usually pretty good at this.

So, does anyone know if Thelin ever made another appearance aside from Yesteryear? And what do you all think of the possibility of Aenar ancestry? Personally, I like it, as it isn't really contradicted by the events seen in the cartoon.

Red Ranger

 

[TheLonelySquire]

I've never seen him mentioned in any books. I did watch this cartoon last Sunday morning thought and it was great.

 

[Sir Rhosis]

Hopefully Therin of Andor will log in soon. IIRC, he has some cool photo manips of the character at his site.

Sir Rhosis

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Aenar are blind, and Thelin apparently wasn't, so I doubt he could be an Aenar.

I just chalk it up to TAS' crappy looking animation and leave it at that. The script says Thelin is a normal blue-skinned Andorian, so that's how I'll always view him.

 

[Red Ranger]

Aenar are blind, and Thelin apparently wasn't, so I doubt he could be an Aenar.

I just chalk it up to TAS' crappy looking animation and leave it at that. The script says Thelin is a normal blue-skinned Andorian, so that's how I'll always view him.

Maybe I didn't make myself clear. As I recall, Shran's daughter was half Aenar and her skin was a paler shade of blue. So I thought that maybe Thelin was half or even part Aenar -- a paternal grandmother or grandfather -- and that could explain his skin color, despite what the script says. He could then have some telepathic ability, like Spock, maybe a touch-telepath. -- RR

 

[Red Ranger]

Hopefully Therin of Andor will log in soon. IIRC, he has some cool photo manips of the character at his site.

Sir Rhosis

I'll have to check it out! Yeah, I hope Therin gives us his two cents! -- RR

 

[number6]

I know Thelin personally. He comes by twice a week to do my laundry. In exchange, in my spare time I've been tutoring him in Latin.

 

[Red Ranger]

I know Thelin personally. He comes by twice a week to do my laundry. In exchange, in my spare time I've been tutoring him in Latin.

OK, guess that's a joke. Cute! Unless you actually meant to refer to poster Therin of Andor, and not the fictional character Thelin! -- RR

 

[number6]

I know Thelin personally. He comes by twice a week to do my laundry. In exchange, in my spare time I've been tutoring him in Latin.

OK, guess that's a joke. Cute! Unless you actually meant to refer to poster Therin of Andor, and not the fictional character Thelin! -- RR

He's not fictional.

He's over twice a week.. at least he tells me his name is Thelin. Perhaps I shouldn't let him touch my soiled briefs any more.

 

[Red Ranger]

I know Thelin personally. He comes by twice a week to do my laundry. In exchange, in my spare time I've been tutoring him in Latin.

OK, guess that's a joke. Cute! Unless you actually meant to refer to poster Therin of Andor, and not the fictional character Thelin! -- RR

He's not fictional.

He's over twice a week.. at least he tells me his name is Thelin. Perhaps I shouldn't let him touch my soiled briefs any more.

OK, Number6, maybe it's time for the Thorazine Big Gulp! Next you'l tell me your other best friend is a big pink rabbit named Harvey! -- RR

 

[Mysterion]

IIRC, Thelin appears in the upcoming second Myriad Universes anthology.

 

[number6]

OK, guess that's a joke. Cute! Unless you actually meant to refer to poster Therin of Andor, and not the fictional character Thelin! -- RR

He's not fictional.

He's over twice a week.. at least he tells me his name is Thelin. Perhaps I shouldn't let him touch my soiled briefs any more.

OK, Number6, maybe it's time for the Thorazine Big Gulp! Next you'l tell me your other best friend is a big pink rabbit named Harvey! -- RR

My best friend is invisible and talks to me all the time. I'm relieved he's told me to let you live when I destroy the others... oh wait. I wasn't supposed to tell you that.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

IIRC, Thelin appears in the upcoming second Myriad Universes anthology.

Yep, the story is called "The Chimes At Midnight".

 

[Red Ranger]

He's not fictional.

He's over twice a week.. at least he tells me his name is Thelin. Perhaps I shouldn't let him touch my soiled briefs any more.

OK, Number6, maybe it's time for the Thorazine Big Gulp! Next you'l tell me your other best friend is a big pink rabbit named Harvey! -- RR

My best friend is invisible and talks to me all the time. I'm relieved he's told me to let you live when I destroy the others... oh wait. I wasn't supposed to tell you that.

Aha! Well, thanks. Now I'm not too worried -- although you may be trying to lull me into a false sense of security! Good thing I bought all that fresh ammo for my home defense system! -- RR

 

[Therin of Andor]

What I'm curious about is if Thelin ever appeared in a ST novel

Yes, and another novella coming this month!

I looked up his entry on Memory Alpha, which did note his unusual, more grayish skin tone, due to the coloring practices of Filmation at the time. The entry notes that it's possible to retcon Thelin as having some Aenar ancestry. Aside from that, it mentions no other appearances, and the site is usually pretty good at this.

Memory Beta is for non-canon stuff, not Alpha:
http://startrek.wikia.com/wiki/Thelin

From my "Toon Trek" site (which needs updating):
http://www.geocities.com/therinofandor/TAS/TAS2.html

THELIN of "Yesteryear" - Alternate timeline Andorian replacement for Spock featured ("Crucible: Spock: The Fire and the Rose", novel). THELIN'S COMPLEXION and antennae mistakenly miscoloured (as pale grey and caucasian) in some frames of the original animated series.

THELIN'S COMPLEXION of "Yesteryear" - Pale Andorian subspecies called the Aenar featured ("Enterprise: Babel One", TV, as an unidentified helmeted pilot) and revealed ("Enterprise: United", "Enterprise: The Aenar", "Enterprise: These Are the Voyages...", TV; "Enterprise: The Good That Men Do", novel).

So, does anyone know if Thelin ever made another appearance aside from Yesteryear?

Yep:

"Crucible: Spock: The Fire and the Rose" by David R George III

"Myriad Universes: Echoes and Refractions" by Geoff Trowbridge, Keith R A DeCandido, and Chris Roberson. The Trowbridge novella, "The Chimes at Midnight", is the Thelin one, taking Thelin from "Yesteryear" thru ST VI in the alternate universe.

See the cover art at:
http://therinofandor.blogspot.com/2008/07/missing-shore-leave-this-weekend-annual.html
http://www.amazon.com/gp/blog/ABPHAJX74QI3

The recent Titan "Star Trek" magazine with an advance excerpt has a ST movie-era Thelin, rendered in Filmation style, and with grey skin).

And what do you all think of the possibility of Aenar ancestry? Personally, I like it, as it isn't really contradicted by the events seen in the cartoon.

Works for me. Talla was half Aenar and wasn't blind. Pure Aenar also have little notches in their antennae cups, though.

 

[Therin of Andor]

I hope Therin gives us his two cents! -- RR

Gave you more than that.

BTW, the new novella blurb: "In a continuum where Spock died during childhood, an Andorian named Thelin became Captain Kirk’s stalwart friend and first officer. But at the moment of Khan’s final defeat, history takes an even stranger turn, and the emerging potential of Project Genesis is revealed as the galaxy’s greatest hope... and its most ominous threat."

A few months ago, posted a message on cover artist John Picacio's blog and he replied:

"... my portrait of Thelin is based on two reference points: 1. the animated version of him (you're correct on that one); 2. a good friend of mine, Jeff Lucas, who lives here in San Antonio... Jeff's a diehard Trekkie connoisseur from way back, and I thought it would be cool to use his face as the model for Thelin, plus it didn't hurt that he had certain facial features that echoed the animated version."
http://www.johnpicacio.com/2008/05/myriad-universes.html

 

[Red Ranger]

I hope Therin gives us his two cents! -- RR

Gave you more than that.

BTW, the new novella blurb: "In a continuum where Spock died during childhood, an Andorian named Thelin became Captain Kirk’s stalwart friend and first officer. But at the moment of Khan’s final defeat, history takes an even stranger turn, and the emerging potential of Project Genesis is revealed as the galaxy’s greatest hope... and its most ominous threat."

A few months ago, posted a message on cover artist John Picacio's blog and he replied:

"... my portrait of Thelin is based on two reference points: 1. the animated version of him (you're correct on that one); 2. a good friend of mine, Jeff Lucas, who lives here in San Antonio... Jeff's a diehard Trekkie connoisseur from way back, and I thought it would be cool to use his face as the model for Thelin, plus it didn't hurt that he had certain facial features that echoed the animated version."
http://www.johnpicacio.com/2008/05/myriad-universes.html

Thanks for chiming in, Therin! Knew I could count on you to dig up all kinds of info. I also agree that since Shran's daughter Talla, who was half Aenar, wasn't blind, Thelin could also have Aenar ancestry. He could then be a touch telepath like Spock, perhaps. Guess I'll have to read some of the novels and novellas to see what those authors' take is on Thelin.

I just read the excerpt for The Chimes at Midnight, and I'm strongly considering buying this book just for the alternate take on TWOK. Sounds real good!

Red Ranger

 

[Therin of Andor]

I just read the excerpt for The Chimes at Midnight, and I'm strongly considering buying this book just for the alternate take on TWOK. Sounds real good!

Yep! I can't wait. Here's Thelin as he appears, drawn in the Filmation style, in the Titan ST Magazine, US #12, Jul/Aug 2008, p. 56.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3017/2726962455_290eeb7939_o.jpg

 

[Geoff]

I was incredibly pleased with both the cover art depicting Thelin, as well as the TAS-style rendering in the magazine.

(The magazine did make a mistake with the rank insignia, giving him commander's bars when he should be a captain, but I'll forgive that.)

 

[Therin of Andor]

(The magazine did make a mistake with the rank insignia, giving him commander's bars when he should be a captain, but I'll forgive that.)

Well, he had to reach that rank eventually. Who's to say at what point in his career the TAS pic illustrated.