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David Mack is GUSHING about it...this should settle it

It won't settle anything. :lol: But it is very nice he so positive about it.
@David Mack

Guys, David Mack is praising Discovery to the Celestial Temple and back. He's seen more than any of us have. He isn't judging it by trailers and interviews. He knows what he's talking about and he's thrilled.

This should end any debate among Trek fans as to whether the show is going to be any good and/or honor the canon and spirit of the original. David Mack isn't just some writer; he's a fan, and a fan who knows his Trek.

Now, this is where some nay-sayers will say that Mack is "just trying to keep his job" to which I answer, "What job?" He doesn't work on the show. And while he's the man who wrote the first DSC tie-in novel, he's not the only one who ever will write one (Dayton Ward is writing the second) nor is he obligated to praise the show like this just because he writes Trek novels. He had no prompting to say what he said other than the oppressing negativity he was seeing on social media. And if he agreed with it but still wanted to be able to write for it, he simply would have kept his mouth shut.

Sure, there have been times writers and producers praised something they knew wasn't deserving because they were trying to hold on to the work. But several factors would be in play there that aren't in play here. First, such people worked on those shows and if the show failed, they'd be out of a job. This isn't the case for Mack. Whatever happens to DSC, Mack has plenty else to write about, both within and without the Trek franchise. Second, you can generally tell when a person who works on the show is praising it just because they have to. There seems to be no real excitement or joy in what they're saying; it seems like hollow words, even if you only see them written. For example, I never believed Brannon Braga was genuinely excited to be working on ENT.

David Mack knows more than any of us, and he loves what he knows. Star Trek: Discovery is going to rock. Case closed.
 
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CBS is trying to sell us a TV show. Why allow Mack to gush about it but not reviewers who have seen it?
"Allow" implies he actually asked permission to post 14 tweets in the first place, which I doubt he did. The only things that come close to actual specific analysis are basically "season one is consistent" and "episode 8 made me cry" (sort of). Mack isn't a critic, nor is he even attempting to write a proper review here. He's just expressing feelings.

You're also assuming reviewers are not allowed to gush in the same manner if they wish to, which there's no evidence of. That no one else has tweeted is absence of evidence, which of course means nothing. Do we even know who the others who've seen it are? Is anyone following them on Twitter?
 
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If the success of my tie-in book (and the associated paycheck) depended on the TV show doing well, I'd praise the hell out of it too. A rising tide lifts all boats, as they say.

I don't appreciate you calling my friend a liar. As I already said, he praised the show's writing to me in exactly the same terms in a private conversation several months ago. Since I was a fellow writer expressing curiosity about the chances of doing my own tie-in novel, he presumably would've tipped me off if I had anything to worry about. And he's certainly not the type to stay quiet if he has a complaint about something.
 
I don't appreciate you calling my friend a liar. As I already said, he praised the show's writing to me in exactly the same terms in a private conversation several months ago. Since I was a fellow writer expressing curiosity about the chances of doing my own tie-in novel, he presumably would've tipped me off if I had anything to worry about. And he's certainly not the type to stay quiet if he has a complaint about something.
I don't even know him, but I was certain this was the case. Nothing whatsoever required him to say anything at all. That tweet chain was not a writer trying to protect his job (which, as I've said repeatedly, isn't threatened at all by DSC's outcome, good or bad). It was a fan expressing his appreciation.
 
For doubters, you can read David's damning review of Into Darkness immediately after release on his blog, if you want to see him critique Trek.

And you can just go and listen to the various podcasts that interview him, to hear more.about his interest, career and engagement with Trek since walking in a suit and pitching a script at a convention.

Or you can read his magisterial Destiny trilogy ;)
 
There are plenty of ways to write a review without revealing spoilers, but still including substance. The review can probably talk about the themes present. Such a review can be specific about little details without revealing the plot. It can tackle the nuances of performances, shot composition, sound design, point of view of the story, the balancing of the various characters, whether or not the episode(s) set the season up in a compelling way, etc.
 
David Mack, Christopher and Kirsten Bayer (also Discovery writing staff) are all Trek fans and novelists whose work is of a very high quality, who have been happy to discuss their work and a multitude of other things here and who have given me no reason whatsoever to suspect their motives. They have (with me at least) earned both credibility and my trust. If David Mack is gushing about Discovery, I'm 100% happy with that being his genuine reaction to the show.

Might I disagree with his assessment ? Certainly, although I feel that is unlikely, but that's no reason to suggest an ulterior motive.
 
There are plenty of ways to write a review without revealing spoilers, but still including substance. The review can probably talk about the themes present. Such a review can be specific about little details without revealing the plot. It can tackle the nuances of performances, shot composition, sound design, point of view of the story, the balancing of the various characters, whether or not the episode(s) set the season up in a compelling way, etc.
Yeah, but that's not the style of all critics.

If the reason for the publishing embargo really is that CBS doesn't want too much revealed about the story (and I have no idea if that's the case, but it could be), then it's not like they can pick and choose which reviews are allowed to be published early and which ones need to wait because the review discusses plot points.

Nor (as I mentioned before) can CBS tell the critics "you can publish a review, but you can't say anything about the story".
 
David Mack, Christopher and Kirsten Bayer (also Discovery writing staff) are all Trek fans and novelists whose work is of a very high quality, who have been happy to discuss their work and a multitude of other things here and who have given me no reason whatsoever to suspect their motives. They have (with me at least) earned both credibility and my trust. If David Mack is gushing about Discovery, I'm 100% happy with that being his genuine reaction to the show.

Might I disagree with his assessment ? Certainly, although I feel that is unlikely, but that's no reason to suggest an ulterior motive.
Bang on. I keep hearing "the producers are lying" from nay-sayers, and I guess I don't put it past producers to lie, but the idea that writers like Beyer and Mack would be complicit, that I don't buy at all. They're not "Hollywood". They're "ascended fanboys" who love Star Trek and want to produce high quality. If there was an issue with that, they would resign. Same with if CBS was insisting on a reboot but also lying to fans about whether or not it's a reboot.
 
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