Crazy Captains in Treklit?

[F. King Daniel]

Trek has a very long history of Starfleet captains losing their marbles. Maybe it's the transporter, maybe it's exposure to warp fields or 23rd centurty wi-fi over extended periods. I've been trying to think of any Captains losing it in Treklit? Captain Lucius Sejanus went rogue in Captain's Honor, but remained sane. Has the trope skipped the comics and books?

 

[Laura Cynthia Chambers]

I dunno, but I will say this; they exist primarily to contrast with the sane protagonist captain.

 

[David cgc]

I'd say New Frontier's "Once Burned" is probably the ultimate Star Trek "insane captain" story, if only because it's allowed to run its course. The Enterprise or Defiant or Voyager doesn't show up to put a stop to things, and the whole terrible course of events keeps going until it exhausts itself.

 

[Christopher]

I've always kinda thought that Mackenzie Calhoun was an insane captain...

 

[Jinn]

I've always kinda thought that Mackenzie Calhoun was an insane captain...

Yeah but he was insane before he became a captain. In that case it's okay.

 

[USS Firefly]

definitely instabel

 

[Avro Arrow]

David cgc already mentioned Kenyon, who is probably the textbook example.

Captain Lake from Challenger was a little unhinged, IIRC.

There was Captain Burroughs / Zair from the DC comics, but I'm not sure if he counts, because...

Spoiler: The Comic Storyline

... he was actually Garth of Izar, who was definitely a crazy captain, but originated in the show, not lit!

There was Captain Hodges, also from the DC comics, who went full Ronald Tracey on a primitive planet, but I can't remember if he was crazy like Tracey, or he just didn't care much for the Prime Directive.

Was Korsmo crazy, or just a little obsessive?

 

[Avro Arrow]

David cgc already mentioned Kenyon, who is probably the textbook example.

Captain Lake from Challenger was a little unhinged, IIRC.

There was Captain Burroughs / Zair from the DC comics, but I'm not sure if he counts, because...

Spoiler: The Comic Storyline

... he was actually Garth of Izar, who was definitely a crazy captain, but originated in the show, not lit!

There was Captain Hodges, also from the DC comics, who went full Ronald Tracey on a primitive planet, but I can't remember if he was crazy like Tracey, or he just didn't care much for the Prime Directive.

Was Korsmo crazy, or just a little obsessive?

 

[DonIago]

"A little obsessive" sounds like a fair way of characterizing Korsmo. I'm glad he came to his senses in the end.

There is a captain(?) who goes a little crazy in the Destiny trilogy.

 

[Enterprise1701]

If you count people who used to be captains, there's Admiral Brenna Covington from the Voyager relaunch novels.

 

[PKS8304]

It's been a long time since I read it but was Stone a Captain in Peter David's A Rock And A Hard Place?

 

[Captain Clark Terrell]

I've always kinda thought that Mackenzie Calhoun was an insane captain...

Funny you should say that, as I've wondered the same thing about Kat Mueller.

 

[Christopher]

It's been a long time since I read it but was Stone a Captain in Peter David's A Rock And A Hard Place?

No, a commander. He subbed for Riker while Riker was off posing for the book cover.

 

[Bry_Sinclair]

If you count people who used to be captains, there's Admiral Brenna Covington from the Voyager relaunch novels.

There's a separate category for Evil Admirals, so I don't think she'd get into the Insane Captain's list as well.