Captain's Log: Harriman: My Thoughts

[DarKush]

I didn't see the thread for this, but I am sure there has to be one. I recently read this comic and I just wanted to express my enjoyment of this one-shot. I thought it captured Harriman and Doctor McCoy perfectly, and the artwork was great. My only quibble was that the issue was too short. I didn't want it to end.

I wish there could be a Harriman miniseries or something with this creative team. It's one of the best Trek comics I've ever read. I hate that the Captain's Log series is coming to an end shortly and we won't get the Garrett one-shot. I thought it was a great forum to explore some of the good to great side characters in Trek.

 

[Biffette]

I agree and disagree with your take on it. Not sure how to put it, but the story didn't particularly draw me in. Great characterizations though. I felt like I was reading the character development part of a much larger adventure, but given the choice I'd take the adventure first and development later if there's time.

 

[DarKush]

Understood, but I think it was good to get the character piece established first. Though I would've liked a more drawn out adventure, or more stories where we could see Harriman putting his stamp on the Enterprise and restoring respect among his crew and around the Fleet. I would look to see how he got to the captain he was in the novel Serpents Among the Ruins. This one-shot, coupled with Peter David's The Captain's Daughter, are good glimpses of that IMO.

 

[David R. George III]

^ I tried to depict Harriman's path in Serpents Among the Ruins. Though of course the novel took place in 2311, I revisited his initial first steps as a Starfleet captain. My take on it, as you know, was that Starfleet would not normally have promoted somebody incapable of starship command to that position, but that his overly ambitious father--himself an admiral--made it happen. At the same time, the raw material for a solid leader existed within the younger Harriman, and ultimately his captaincy panned out.

 

[DarKush]

^
I thought the nepotism angle from Serpents in the Ruins was great. I really liked the relationship between Harriman and his father. That was all very well done. As for the comic, I liked how it showed him gaining that respect from his crew and finding it inside himself.

I read both Captain's Daughter and Serpents and it was years ago so my memory is sketchy but I don't quite recall winning his crew or winning back their respect as being a big part of them. It seemed like he had already done that and you didn't see a lot of challenging or questioning his orders like I read in the comic. I thought that was a nice touch.

In any event, I think all three works have gone a long way to salvaging Harriman and making him a legit captain of the Enterprise, right up there with all the rest. And because his journey was so rocky I find him pretty engaging. I don't know if the Lost Era books are kaput, but it would be nice to read another Harriman book.

 

[Cicero]

^ I would love to see Harriman or Demora Sulu again.

 

[MichaelS]

For a similar, yet different, version of Demora, you only have to wait until December, which is when Myriad Universes: Shattered Light is published.

 

[JD]

^ Sweet.

 

[KimMH]

I would never have been interested in Harriman w/o Serpents Among the Ruins. He was just a sad Trek Joke until I read it - it made him a real person who I gave a rat's ass about.

 

[David R. George III]

^ That is high praise indeed. Thanks for the kind words.

As for another Lost Era tale or tales featuring Harriman and/or Demora Sulu, I actually have some ideas, though I haven't pitched anything to Pocket.

I did pen another Demora story, though, a novella entitled "Iron and Sacrifice," which appears in the Tales of the Captain's Table anthology. It is a different sort of story, though, with virtually none of it taking place aboard Enterprise.

 

[KimMH]

^Very rightfully earned.

I believe I have the Captains Table book in my pile o' TrekLit to read before I die - will have to push it forward in the schedule!

 

[SicOne]

There will be another novel about Harriman, though.

Sadly, it won't be out until Tuesday...

 

[KimMH]

^ would you happen to have a title off the top of your head? I haven't been to S&S in a while or kept up very well with the schedule of releases - I have been catching up on some excellent fanfic and my giant pile o' TrekLit I really should finish before I buy more . . .

many thanks if you can recall it!

 

[Christopher]

Sorry, he was joking. A riff on the running gag from Generations about how the necessary equipment wouldn't be installed until Tuesday.

 

[KimMH]

Whoosh! That one went right over my head!

Glad to help you smile - I'll be here all week . . .

 

[SicOne]

I will gladly pay you Tuesday for a tractor beam today...

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Chief Petty Officer Bueller's personal log: Captain Harriman's gonna marry the first girl he lays. And she's gonna treat him like shit.

 

[ryan123450]

I hate that the Captain's Log series is coming to an end shortly and we won't get the Garrett one-shot. I thought it was a great forum to explore some of the good to great side characters in Trek.

Did I miss something?

 

[DarKush]

^
I'm not sure what you're question is referring to. But from my understanding, the Captain's Log series has been canceled. The last two will be Jellico and Pike. The Rachel Garrett one-shot has been axed. If I am in error, someone please correct me.

 

[Christopher]

Well, the miniseries hasn't been cancelled, just shortened by one issue.