Spoilers ENT: Rise of the Federation: Live by the Code by Christopher L. Bennett Review Thread

Yeah, I do understand that the TV shows and movies aren't the "real" versions of the characters. I was speaking subjectively. Interesting to hear that the novel was character accurate, as far as 616 went.

 

I was going to say that the difference might be that the former was simply fleshing out the names of existing characters, while the latter was creating a new (if similar) character, so maybe it was different from a legal/rights standpoint. But then I realized that Kirk's parents were never actually mentioned in canon, although it's implicit that they did exist. So their situation is probably more or less analogous to Ben Solo's.

Still, George and Winona Kirk haven't had particularly large roles in Trek Lit, aside from a few books featuring George. But judging from his Wookieepedia entry, Jacen Solo was apparently one of the core characters of the SWEU. Even though Kylo is similar in some ways, they probably chose to make him a distinct character to avoid confusion and be free of all the baggage associated with Jacen Solo.

 

Oh that's definitely a possibility (although IMO since there was a Ben Skywalker who was Anakin's grandson in the EU they'd have done better to choose another name entirely if that was the case), and I have no doubt that there are Jacen Solo fans who would hate to see his character presented the way Ren was in a film. But for me personally the two are similar enough in broad strokes that, in the end, it irks me.

I was going use Mordred as an example--even though there are many different interpretations of the character, the name resonates because, in broad strokes, we know what it means for any given version of the Arthurian legend. But of course it turns out the Mordred himself is something of a retcon and that there's probably an Arthurian fan out there who is irked that somebody used Mordred instead of Amr. (I can just see my man Flint griping about this to robots who don't give a flip. )

TC

 

I'm about 90% of the way through and the book has been as fabulous as the previous entries in the series. The Rise of the Federation books have been the titles I look forward to the most on the schedule.

I just had a question about the size of the Federation at this point in time: Who are the members of the Federation at the begining of the book?

Ive got:

• Earth
• Vulcan
• Tellar
• Andor
• Alpha Centauri
• Mars
• Rigel Colonies
• Arken II

Is there anyone I'm missing?

 

They also might have been afraid it would make people think Rey was secretly Jaina.

 

The Vega IX Colony. They were admitted at the same time as Rigel.

 

I knew there was someone I was forgetting.

 

What's the state name for the Arkenites?

 

^ According to Memory Beta, the closest equivalent is called the sia lenthar, the most dominant social unit of Arkenite culture. It's like a family or tribe, but more diverse.

As to what their actual government is called, we don't know.

 

Good question. I'd take a poll, but then it'd end up being Statey McStateface.

 

I had a few clever puns, but I think they would veer too close to story ideas.

 

Haha, nice.

 

When did Betazed join the Federation? I've always vaguely thought they were supposed to be around forever. I'm re-reading the Shatnerverse Mirror Universe novels and Kirk doesn't even know what Betazed is. Not that what happens in the Shatnerverse novels necessarily matter to the main Litverse novels, but still, it struck me as odd.

 

Never been canonically established.

 

An unfilmed scene from the planned opening sequence of ST:TUC would've indicated that Betazoids were known to the Federation at the time, but not yet well known, since Chekov was playing chess (?) with one and didn't know his opponent could read his mind (though Kirk did). I think the scene was finally depicted in The Fearful Summons.

 

I wasn't aware Betazoids were that sneaky.

 

I believe there was a bit in Imzadi II where a Betazoid talked with Worf about how Betazed had an influence on the Khitomer peace talks, but that's the only point I can think of off-hand for Betazed as a TOS-ish-era Federation member. Not that there's anything against it, either.

 

If you care about the Novelverse side of it, borgboy, to quote a couple posts from the Members of the Federation thread:

 

I could've sworn that I read somewhere that Betazed was admitted to the Federation (or maybe they just made first contact) in 2273, but I honestly don't remember where that date came from so I can't look it up.

 

I've read Imzadi II at least three times, so I may be drawing on that. Possibly other TrekLit sources. TNG always gave me the feeling that Betazed was an old cornerstone of the Federation, but that could've been just my perception of a more vague presentation.
I wonder if the TUC novelization included references to Betazed. I'm sure I read that when it was new.