Cover and blurb for TOS: The Weight of Worlds

[Christopher]

Apologies if this is an inappropriate thing to ask (if so just ignore) but I remember from another thread recently some discussion of a Spiderman novel, ostensibly set in the comic book continuity being written with the movie series very much in mind. I'm curious if something similar is the case here?

That's not exactly right. What those of us who wrote Marvel novels for Pocket were told (at least by Marco, for the books he edited in that line) was to approach them with the sensibilities of a movie, i.e. making them standalone stories accessible to a general audience and not worrying too much about comics continuity (though some of us did tie closely into the comics anyway). It wasn't about referencing the specific continuity of the movies at the time.

The approach of Pocket's TOS novels these days seems to be just telling classic TOS-style one-and-done adventures.

 

[E-DUB]

The cover reminds me of the reissue covers of the old Bantam books.

 

[Greg Cox]

That is a rather striking cover. It reminds me a little of the old FASA Trek books, and I mean that as a good thing!

Apologies if this is an inappropriate thing to ask (if so just ignore) but I remember from another thread recently some discussion of a Spiderman novel, ostensibly set in the comic book continuity being written with the movie series very much in mind. I'm curious if something similar is the case here?

For the record, I wasn't given any specific directions along those lines. I mean, I'm sure it's not a coincidence that Pocket is publishing a TOS novel just a few weeks before the movie comes out, but you'll note that that is clearly Shatner, Nimoy, and Takei on the cover, not Pine or Quinto, etc. Personally, I just set out to write a standalone TOS book, like I did with Rings of Time last year. Heck, this book is roughly based on some vague ideas I've had for a couple of years now. I just happen to be getting around to using them now.

 

[Christopher]

The cover reminds me of the reissue covers of the old Bantam books.

Yeah, that's pretty much was I was thinking.

 

[Lonemagpie]

Nice retro cover.

I think it would work as a nice avatar for Greg as well:

It would!

 

[Reanok]

Star Trek.com has posted the cover and blurb for Greg Cox's upcoming TOS novel, The Weight of Worlds.

The Ephrata Institute is an intellectual think tank at the outer fringes of the final frontier. Dedicated to the arts and sciences, the Institute seems an unlikely target for an invasion, but it proves easy pickings when the Crusade comes from beyond, determined to impose its harsh, unbending Truth on all the worlds of the Federation. Armed with weaponized gravity, the alien Crusaders will stop at nothing to rescue the universe from its myriad beliefs… even if it means warping the mind and soul of every sentient being they encounter.

“Responding to an urgent distress signal, Captain James T. Kirk and the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise soon find themselves in conflict with the Crusade, and facing individual challenges. When Kirk and Spock are transported to the Crusade's distant homeland to confront the source of the invasion, Sulu finds himself trapped behind enemy lines, while Lieutenant Uhura is faced with possibly the most difficult decisions of her career. As the Crusade sets its sights beyond Ephrata IV, it is up to the Enterprise and its besieged crew to keep freedom of thought from being crushed beneath the weight of worlds

I like the cover myself. It strikes me as almost being a little retro in a way. And the story sounds great to me.

Cool cover it looks like the classic Tos covers from the 1980's books..This sounds like a classic Tos story from Kirk's 5 year mission and I'm glad Greg has another novel coming out this year.I liked his Tos novel Rings of Time that came out last year.I like seeing Sulu on the cover with Kirk&Spock on the cover.It's been a long time since the Tos characters were on the front cover instead of the novel with just the Enterprise being the cover art for the tos books.

 

[Kirks_Flying_Wig]

What a lovely cover! Not a floaty head in sight!

 

[zarkon]

When I clicked on this thread, my first thought was "why is there a bantam cover in the op?"

Very nice to see that these kinds of covers are still being put together

 

[T'Ressa Dax]

Very nice cover. Though I've a feeling I'm going to have a hard time not thinking of the Ori from Stargate SG-1...

 

[Corran Horn]

What a sharp cover.

 

[cdgodin]

I like the new "The Original Series" logo on the new TOS books. A way to differentiate them better, for once.

 

[Greg Cox]

Very nice cover. Though I've a feeling I'm going to have a hard time not thinking of the Ori from Stargate SG-1...

I'm confess I've only seen a couple of episodes of SG-1 (mostly because Claudia Black was in them).

 

[Christopher]

I'm confess I've only seen a couple of episodes of SG-1 (mostly because Claudia Black was in them).

That's a very good reason. Still, the series (and the broader franchise) is worth checking out, though the first season or two of SG-1 are relatively weak.

 

[Hartzilla2007]

I'm confess I've only seen a couple of episodes of SG-1 (mostly because Claudia Black was in them).

That's a very good reason. Still, the series (and the broader franchise) is worth checking out, though the first season or two of SG-1 are relatively weak.

That show and the fact it was able to run for 10 seasons is why I think a more TOSy Star Trek could work on TV these days. I mean for the most part it reminds me of TOS sans ship and with a smaller cast, and maybe a little less serious.

 

[Patrick O'Brien]

Do we know who did the artwork for the cover?

 

[Sho]

SG-1 sometimes reminded me of TNG as well when it did high-concept procedural scifi, and in the later seasons occassionally of DS9 when it managed to get into meatier and more resonating character drama thanks to the accumulated history of the characters. I agree there's a lot to like in that series for fans of the Trek franchise, even sans some of the more philosophical core aspirations of Trek. I think despite the more overtly militaristic elements of the setting it also basically has much of the basic optimism and brightness that I like about Trek.

 

[Greg Cox]

Do we know who did the artwork for the cover?

Good question. I don't know.

 

[JD]

SG-1 sometimes reminded me of TNG as well when it did high-concept procedural scifi, and in the later seasons occassionally of DS9 when it managed to get into meatier and more resonating character drama thanks to the accumulated history of the characters. I agree there's a lot to like in that series for fans of the Trek franchise, even sans some of the more philosophical core aspirations of Trek. I think despite the more overtly militaristic elements of the setting it also basically has much of the basic optimism and brightness that I like about Trek.

Yeah, I really think it was the most Trek like of the non-Trek Sci-Fi series to have aired in the last couple decades.

 

[Skywalker]

Cool cover, but all these 5YM TOS books in the first half of the year are going to make it a lot easier for me to catch up on my Trek lit backlog.

 

[Ood Sigma]

Well I hate to be a wet blanket, but I don't like the cover at all. I am sure the novel will be great though - sounds like a good concept, weaponized gravity.