TMP and Insurrectio novels, worth reading?

[WarsTrek1993]

I've recently picked up the TMP novel, and have also been seeing the INS novel around stores lately and have to ask: are these books worth reading? The "bad" trek movies (like TFF) have had good adaptations thus far, are these any different?

 

[Christopher]

The TMP novelization is a fascinating artifact, because it's the only novel actually written by Gene Roddenberry himself (don't believe the rumor that Alan Dean Foster ghostwrote it -- it's in nothing like Foster's style). Its writing is often clunky because it's by a first-time novelist who was more accustomed to script format, but it offers some interesting insights into how Roddenberry might've portrayed the Trek universe if he hadn't been restrained by budgets, studio approval, and the like. There are some bits of futurism and worldbuilding that are intriguing loose ends, and one wonders what Roddenberry might've done with the concepts had he been given the chance. There's also the noteworthy conceit that the novel represented an in-universe fictionalization of the "actual" V'Ger incident (or "Vejur," as it's spelled in the book), complete with a preface and footnotes written by Admiral Kirk himself.

 

[DS9forever]

Insurrection is an interesting read due to it having the original death of Ru'afo - he is exposed to the radiation and rapidly gets younger and younger. I had hoped the deleted scene with Quark might have been included in the novelization, but alas not.

 

[WarsTrek1993]

Thanks for the answers, folks! I appreciate the explanations, though it's a bummer the Quark scene wasn't included in INS.
Christopher, that's quite a good explanation that makes me want to read it as well. And somewhat relevant, I grabbed Ex Machina recently. Can't wait to start it...

 

[Christopher]

^Ex Machina does draw on some ideas from the TMP novelization, though by way of homage, since the novelization can't really be reconciled with later screen canon.

 

[Therin of Andor]

The TMP novelization is a fascinating artifact

Totally agree!

There's also the noteworthy conceit that the novel represented an in-universe fictionalization of the "actual" V'Ger incident (or "Vejur," as it's spelled in the book)

And, luckily, spelling it that way threw me off track, even though "Starlog" magazine had published a small pic of the Voyager 6 probe sitting in the middle of the set.

Re the alternate ending used in "Insurrection". I'm reminded that many readers don't realise that Kirk's death in "Generations" is presented in two ways: the original hardcover novelization (and audio presentation) has the death as depicted in the bonus features of the DVD, while the later MMPB has that chapter rewritten to reflect the reshot death scene as screened in cinemas.

 

[WarsTrek1993]

^ I remember that. In the Hardback version, Kirk was shot in the back by Soran, and in the Paperback one, he's killed under the bridge.

Anyone know if the INS novel is available in Paperback?

 

[Therin of Andor]

Anyone know if the INS novel is available in Paperback?

Only an international edition, IIRC; it wasn't altered because it came out simultaneously with the US hardcover.

ISBN 0671024477 (hardback)
ISBN 0671034537 (international paperback)

http://en.memory-alpha.org/wiki/Star_Trek:_Insurrection_%28novel%29

 

[JD]

The only versions I'm finding of it are Hardcover and the ebook.

 

[Therin of Andor]

The only versions I'm finding of it are Hardcover and the ebook.

Google search for the ISBN:

http://www.abebooks.com/book-search/isbn/0671034537/soft-cover/

or

http://www.alibris.com/search/books/isbn/9780671034535

 

[EliyahuQeoni]

I agree with Christopher 100%. The TMP novel is a great look at what-might-have-been and offers some insight into how Roddenberry (at the time) viewed the Trek Universe. The world building aspects are great as he offers some bits and pieces of Earth Future History that I often wish had been followed up on in later Trek. It also offers some insight into what had happened to Kirk, Spock and McCoy between TOS and TMP, some of which was utilized by later Trek-Lit writers (Ex Machine (of course) and The Lost Years by JM Dilard spring to mind).

^Ex Machina does draw on some ideas from the TMP novelization, though by way of homage, since the novelization can't really be reconciled with later screen canon.

I recently re-read the TMP book, but am blanking on what aspects cannot be reconciled with later screen canon. Can you elaborate?

 

[Greg Cox]

True confession: the TMP novelization was my first introduction to the concept of K/S, if only because Roddenberry made a point of stating explicitly (via a footnote) that Kirk and Spock were NOT lovers--a notion which, I admit, had never even crossed my mind before.

(Yes, I was young and naive.)

 

[Christopher]

I recently re-read the TMP book, but am blanking on what aspects cannot be reconciled with later screen canon. Can you elaborate?

Well, there's never been any elaboration on the idea of a fast-spreading "New Human" movement that's somehow developed collective consciousness and superior intelligence, or the notion that Starfleet personnel represented "primitive" throwbacks from that evolutionary process. And the idea that high-ranking Starfleet officers have communications implants in their brains is hard to reconcile with anything we've seen since. Not to mention that the novelization shows perfect holographic communication in use a century before DS9 introduced holocommunicators as a prototype technology. Also, I doubt that the Straits of Gibraltar have been dammed and the Mediterranean reduced to a small lake in the canonical Trek universe; I'm sure there have been plenty of shots of Earth from space where the Mediterranean Sea was still visible. And that's all just in the first 30 pages.

 

[EliyahuQeoni]

I recently re-read the TMP book, but am blanking on what aspects cannot be reconciled with later screen canon. Can you elaborate?

Well, there's never been any elaboration on the idea of a fast-spreading "New Human" movement that's somehow developed collective consciousness and superior intelligence, or the notion that Starfleet personnel represented "primitive" throwbacks from that evolutionary process. And the idea that high-ranking Starfleet officers have communications implants in their brains is hard to reconcile with anything we've seen since. Not to mention that the novelization shows perfect holographic communication in use a century before DS9 introduced holocommunicators as a prototype technology. Also, I doubt that the Straits of Gibraltar have been dammed and the Mediterranean reduced to a small lake in the canonical Trek universe; I'm sure there have been plenty of shots of Earth from space where the Mediterranean Sea was still visible. And that's all just in the first 30 pages.

And as I was reading your post I felt myself go "Duh!" I don't know why a lot of those didn't register with me, but you absolutely correct. It does seem that the 23rd Century of the TMP novel was much more advanced technologically than the canon 23rd Century. I've sometimes noticed that reflected in the Trek-lit that followed in the early 80s.

I also don't think the "Mind Control Revolts" of the early 21st century have ever been followed up on..

 

[Gotham Central]

I recently re-read the TMP book, but am blanking on what aspects cannot be reconciled with later screen canon. Can you elaborate?

Well, there's never been any elaboration on the idea of a fast-spreading "New Human" movement that's somehow developed collective consciousness and superior intelligence, or the notion that Starfleet personnel represented "primitive" throwbacks from that evolutionary process. And the idea that high-ranking Starfleet officers have communications implants in their brains is hard to reconcile with anything we've seen since. Not to mention that the novelization shows perfect holographic communication in use a century before DS9 introduced holocommunicators as a prototype technology. Also, I doubt that the Straits of Gibraltar have been dammed and the Mediterranean reduced to a small lake in the canonical Trek universe; I'm sure there have been plenty of shots of Earth from space where the Mediterranean Sea was still visible. And that's all just in the first 30 pages.

I've often wondered what made Roddenberry resurrect Atlantropa for the Trek universe. Of course in a world with viable weather control and terraforming tech it might prove to be a workable concept without completely wrecking the planet.

In some ways the Earth depicted in TMP has a lot in common with the Edo seen in TNG's "Justice." It more closely resembles the proverbial Garden of Eden Paradise than anything that we ever saw on Earth in TNG.

 

[F. King Daniel]

I also don't think the "Mind Control Revolts" of the early 21st century have ever been followed up on..

I think they got one-sentence mentions in one of Marshak and Culbreath's post-TMP novels, and also possibly "Strangers From the Sky"

But I may be misremembering.

 

[Therin of Andor]

possibly "Strangers From the Sky"

http://memory-beta.wikia.com/wiki/Mind_Control_Revolt

 

[F. King Daniel]

Ah, yes. And I've remembered the Marshak/Culbreath link - they picked up on the "new human" thread from the preface of the TMP novelization for "The Prometheus Design"

 

[Therin of Andor]

And I've remembered the Marshak/Culbreath link - they picked up on the "new human" thread from the preface of the TMP novelization for "The Prometheus Design"

M&C used the clothing replicator from the sonic shower as a murder weapon!

 

[Christopher]

Actually the "New Humans" showed up in Triangle and were a major part of that novel.

But my point was that those elements didn't fit with subsequent canon.