Sondra Marshak and Myrna Culbreath
- Thread starter seigezunt
- Start date
I tried one of the Phoenix novels once. It was so bad I couldn't even finish it. I couldn't understand what the hell was going on.
Plecostomus
Commodore
I actually liked Black Fire... and I also spent three months in a mental hospital at one point in my life so take that as you will. 
Sonni Cooper used to run William Shatner's fan club, and I think worked for him as a PA, so probably was friendly with M&C during the "Shatner: Where No Man..." research.
I did enjoy Black Fire quite a bit (although the Tomarii were very stereotypical villains). I found it much easier to follow than the Phoenix novels.
I never read the Pheonix novels, but I've tried my hand at 'Prometheus Design' twice and have yet to be able to understand just what in God's name is happening.
I don't know what OmahaStar's on about, because Voyages doesn't shed any light on the issue at all as far as I can tell. It merely states that the duo went on to create a phonics game, but not why Triangle was the last they published.
Yes, an amazon search of the book's content and their names didn't produce any answers.
Oh, and for the record, I didn't take his response as snotty, just not providing an answer. I don't want anyone to think I was ignoring anyone. Just trying to get an answer.
There's some good stuff in the New Voyages anthologies. Star Trek Lives has some interesting stuff as well, particularly the two chapters by Joan Winston and the chapter on fanfic.
First, I didn't know I could resurrect a thread this old. Second, I just started reading Star Trek Lives. I do find it interesting considering when it was written, and what has happened to Trek since the 1970s. I read Prometheus Design, and hated it, but so far, this is much better. Perhaps the influence of the other two authors is really helping.
The impression I got is ROddenberry really liked Myrna Culbreath, so maybe that's part of the reason why she had Trek books published in the past, but not recently?
The impression I got is ROddenberry really liked Myrna Culbreath, so maybe that's part of the reason why she had Trek books published in the past, but not recently?
Last edited:
I remember reading "Price" about 7 years ago, but I had a hard time telling head from tail with that story. And I remember that I did read both "New Voyages" and I really enjoyed the "Procrustean Pretard", but I don't remember either of Marshak/Culbreath' short-stories.
Myrna Culbreath is 74 years old now. She and Sondra Marshak published educational games based on phonics after their stint with Star Trek fandom.
Joan Winston, who wrote the chapters of visiting the TOS set in "Star Trek Lives!", passed away a few years ago.
It's my understanding that blackmarket K/S "bonus chapters" for all four of their ST novels were available in the "slash" fanfic circles.
As weird as this sounds, I've wanted to read a third Phoenix novel for years. I'd love to see Picard throw down with Omne. 
And, even weirder, I keep getting an Omne vibe from Benedict Cumberbatch in the Star Trek Into Darkness trailers.
And, even weirder, I keep getting an Omne vibe from Benedict Cumberbatch in the Star Trek Into Darkness trailers.
Will Ben Cumberbatch be able to beat the jungle out of Chris Pine?
Only if he can do it while running down a corridor with a Chris Pine under each arm. Pursued by Spock. And the Female Romulan Commander.
Those books were bizarre. Even by 70's fanfic standards.
I've re-read all 4 Marshak and Culbreath novels within the past 12 months after originally reading them in the 1980s - there were some interesting basic ideas in them, but man were they buried under a mountain of bad writing. I personally just loathe the K/S stuff to begin with, and there were just pages after pages after pages of boring conversations that were just mind-numbing to read. Plus, Omne was such a ridiculously cartoonish overpowered villain - I kept expecting to find that he needed to consume the life energies of various planets for sustenance. There has only been one Treklit novel that I just couldn't make myself finish (Pawns and Symbols), but those books came close.
I do maintain, though, that there were the kernels of good stories in their basic concept - A better writer could probably do quite a bit with them.
I do maintain, though, that there were the kernels of good stories in their basic concept - A better writer could probably do quite a bit with them.
Similar threads
