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Disgruntled Janeway fans: try a carrot

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Trek was never the kind of series that killed off main characters? Especially in the movies? What show were you watching?

Yar, Wesley, Jadzia, tons of recurring characters in DS9, Kes, and then in the movies Spock (sure he was brought back, but they didn't intend to at the time it was written, much like Janeway now), Kirk, and Data...

Main character death has always been a part of the Star Trek universe, at the very least from Wrath Of Khan forwards. Not an immensely huge part, to be sure, but definitely an important component. And Janeway is the first main character to be killed in the books... just after the books revived Trip Tucker!

The books actually have a BETTER record on this than the movies or shows do.

Neither Wesley, nor Kes were killed off.

Both individuals have now transcended the physical realm of the humanities and are off, over *there*. They might still make appearances, but they're departed mortal life.

But they can't be considered as dead since they still are out there, existing as sentient beings with the possibility to return for good.

As for Kes:http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Park/1964/Kesstories.html
 
I'm just concerned that they will do away with the character permanently and prematurely, imo.

Hehehe. You know, the more people rant, the more likely a mustache-twirling editor might be determined to make her decision really, really permanent. If Pocket had one of those. :devil:

I remember when people on a Peter David listserv were trying to second-guess what PAD had up his sleeve to reveal about Mark McHenry and his weird powers. Was he secretly a Q, etc. Someone outright declared "I think Mark is an El-Aurian!", and PAD teased, "Thanks a lot, now I have to change my plans...", and Mark ended up as the descendent of Carolyn Palamas and Apollo ("Who Mourns for Adonais", TOS). We'll never know if PAD was being serious or not.

But they can't be considered as dead since they still are out there, existing as sentient beings with the possibility to return for good.

If Janeway's off drinking coffee with Suzie Q, how is she not still a sentient consciousness waiting for someone to give her a new body?
 
If there can still be books branded "Star Trek" that aren't about Kirk, then there can still be books branded "Star Trek: Voyager" that aren't about Janeway.

Kirk, McCoy and the Enterprise don't even appear in the TAS episode, "The Slaver Weapon" - Niven said he's only do an episode if he could avoid writing for Kirk, IIRC, so it features only a shuttlecraft, Spock, Uhura and Sulu, plus cross-pollinates the kzinti from the author's "Known Space" stories - and yet it's still ST.

I never cared for the episode where Henry Blake died and I never watched the end of the series until many years later when I saw it in re runs.

Your choice, and your loss. It was a brilliant move, and it brought home the message of war in a way that also made all future M*A*S*H episodes as dangerous for the cast/characters as the war was for the real soldiers and medics.
 
But they can't be considered as dead since they still are out there, existing as sentient beings with the possibility to return for good.

If Janeway's off drinking coffee with Suzie Q, how is she not still a sentient consciousness waiting for someone to give her a new body?

*looks around wildly*

Where's Unicron?!?! I SWEAR i just heard him say 'i will give you a new body and new troops to command'!

a planet-eating planet sized Transformer loose in the Trekverse... and you thought the BORG were bad...
 
Neither Wesley, nor Kes were killed off.

Both individuals have now transcended the physical realm of the humanities and are off, over *there*. They might still make appearances, but they're departed mortal life.

But they can't be considered as dead since they still are out there, existing as sentient beings with the possibility to return for good.

As for Kes:http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Park/1964/Kesstories.html

So is Janeway. At least, as far as I can tell. What makes you think otherwise? The fact that the current editors have said they won't revive her?

How is that any different from the TNG or VOY people saying Kes and Wesley wouldn't be back as regulars? Which they said.

You're inventing some kind of weird-ass double standard here, and it's confusing me.
 
I actually disagree. I think it's a matter of opinion. Trek has killed quite a few main characters; she just happens to be a fairly important one. They left the same possibilities for her to return in some form as they did for all the rest of them. I really honestly don't see why this is considered such a giant break from tradition. If there can still be books branded "Star Trek" that aren't about Kirk, then there can still be books branded "Star Trek: Voyager" that aren't about Janeway.

I'm sorry you feel as if a line has been crossed, but I simply, and truthfully, disagree.

One final point - "a change from what Trek originally was" is, I'd say, an extremely meaningless sentence at this point. Trek has been through several different administrations of several different creative teams, in at least 5 major forms of entertainment (movie, tv, game, book, comic). It has spanned over 200 years of storytelling (more, if you include Eugenics Wars and far-future hints like from Federation). And a whole lot of that material barely even resembles "what Trek originally was" in any form at all. At this point, it's a shared universe, a mythology. A setting within which just about any possible story can be told somewhere. It's not even remotely close to any kind of unified entity.

So if you want to be upset that your favorite character, or a character you feel is essential to Voyager, is dead, be my guest. That's fine, no one is arguing you shouldn't feel that way. But this is no bigger than that, it's not a change in mission statement or anything of the kind. It's just a story you don't like.
Thrawn, I have to admit I am way out of my league arguing with you on this point. You are obviously well read when it comes to Trek. To be honest, I never had that much of an interest in Trek until Voyager. Endgame left me hanging and I bought the relaunch novels right away and read all four of them as fast as I could. I kept checking Christie Golden's website to see if she ever had plans to continue the books. I heard about Peter David's book and was very excited until I heard about Janeway's death, so I decided to skip it. Now there's Full Circle. I just have to wait and see what others say before I make up my mind whether to buy it.

I am obviously a new fan when it comes to the books. But I feel the rug has been pulled out from under me. Thank you for your well thought out point of view and at least understanding where I am comming from. :)
 
I never watched DS9

Not too late to start. It's the most complex, character-driven, and intelligent Star Trek series. If you want Trek that has a lot of character growth and relationships (not just the kind you have to read between the lines to find), and stories that have lasting consequences, it's the one to watch. And then you can read the DS9 relaunch novels, which are also great. (It certainly has its darker moments, but it's not nearly as dark as Battlestar Galactica.)


Wow. What a speech! :lol: DS9 is good, tho. Not the best Trek there is, but good nevertheless.
I tried to watch DS9 on several occasions and just couldn't get into it. However, after having been on the boards a while now, I do feel that I am missing something. I will watch it as soon as I get the opportunity.
 
Maybe start with some of the later seasons to get hooked if you've tried several times at the start to get into it, then go back to the earlier ones- they're good- and there is interesting and important stuff to later in the series, and to the PF... but an addiction helps. ;)
 
I tried to watch DS9 on several occasions and just couldn't get into it. However, after having been on the boards a while now, I do feel that I am missing something. I will watch it as soon as I get the opportunity.

I hope you give it a try. The feel of the show is very different from Voyager, but they both originally set out to do similar things: to show us Starfleet characters working with non-Starfleet people, including former enemies, and forcing them to deal with the consequences of their actions in a somewhat more serialized mode than TOS or TNG.

If you like the family feel of Voyager, well, the father/son relationship between Ben and Jake Sisko is very real and affecting, and Ben eventually gets into a great relationship with a civilian ship captain, Kasidy Yates, which has a rocky start. You've also got the close friendship between Ben Sisko and Dax, which is given a twist by the old man Sisko knew now being a young woman. There's a really large supporting cast, all of whom get great opportunities to shine, and who make up a great web of relationships, rivalries, and enmities. DS9 was the only Trek series that could produce a great episode that had nothing more going on than the right sets of characters talking to one another, not that they ever really did that -- it's just that the characters and relationships were drawn so well, they were fun to watch. Garak and Bashir, Bashir and O'Brien, Quark and Odo....

Meanwhile, there's a wide variety of stories. Political intrigue, war, religion, baseball...

FWIW, as much as I love TOS (which started the whole thing), I do think DS9 was probably the best Star Trek TV series. And if you decide to start getting into it, you should try to find a copy of the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Companion, the best episode guide/making of book Pocket's published. The show's writers and producers are remarkably candid about what they tried to do, where they think they went wrong, etc.
 
Both individuals have now transcended the physical realm of the humanities and are off, over *there*. They might still make appearances, but they're departed mortal life.

But they can't be considered as dead since they still are out there, existing as sentient beings with the possibility to return for good.

As for Kes:http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Park/1964/Kesstories.html

So is Janeway. At least, as far as I can tell. What makes you think otherwise? The fact that the current editors have said they won't revive her?

How is that any different from the TNG or VOY people saying Kes and Wesley wouldn't be back as regulars? Which they said.

You're inventing some kind of weird-ass double standard here, and it's confusing me.

"Weird-ass double standard"

Huh? :eek:

Oh dear.

But let's look at the facts. Wesley was never killed off and pronounced dead. He left with that Traveller and maybe he got some super-powers, who knows but he was never killed off.

Kes wasn't declared dead either.

And what I know, no one has officially stated that neither Wesley nor Kes would never ever return. What I know, there was some sequence with Wesley which should have been a part of that "Nemesis" movie but it was deleted for some reason.

But Janeway has been killed off (even if there is a back door available due to her encounter with Q).

And the most important of all:

Those in charge of Pocket Books have stated that Janeway will remain killed off!
 
Thrawn, I have to admit I am way out of my league arguing with you on this point. You are obviously well read when it comes to Trek. To be honest, I never had that much of an interest in Trek until Voyager. Endgame left me hanging and I bought the relaunch novels right away and read all four of them as fast as I could. I kept checking Christie Golden's website to see if she ever had plans to continue the books. I heard about Peter David's book and was very excited until I heard about Janeway's death, so I decided to skip it. Now there's Full Circle. I just have to wait and see what others say before I make up my mind whether to buy it.

I am obviously a new fan when it comes to the books. But I feel the rug has been pulled out from under me. Thank you for your well thought out point of view and at least understanding where I am comming from. :)

I apologize; I don't mean to seem overbearing or intimidating. I do understand where you're coming from, and like I said, I totally understand if Janeway's death is a dealbreaker. I just think this thread is full of enough hysteria already, that we shouldn't exaggerate any further. Fair enough? :)

And as for DS9, well actually, I never watched DS9 at all, I just started with Avatar (the first book in the relaunch). I mean, I've since gone back and watched most of the really important ones, but I had no problem just knowing the characters and reading Avatar's timeline, jumping right in.
 
But they can't be considered as dead since they still are out there, existing as sentient beings with the possibility to return for good.

As for Kes:http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Park/1964/Kesstories.html

So is Janeway. At least, as far as I can tell. What makes you think otherwise? The fact that the current editors have said they won't revive her?

How is that any different from the TNG or VOY people saying Kes and Wesley wouldn't be back as regulars? Which they said.

You're inventing some kind of weird-ass double standard here, and it's confusing me.

"Weird-ass double standard"

Huh? :eek:

Oh dear.

But let's look at the facts. Wesley was never killed off and pronounced dead. He left with that Traveller and maybe he got some super-powers, who knows but he was never killed off.

Kes wasn't declared dead either.

And what I know, no one has officially stated that neither Wesley nor Kes would never ever return. What I know, there was some sequence with Wesley which should have been a part of that "Nemesis" movie but it was deleted for some reason.

But Janeway has been killed off (even if there is a back door available due to her encounter with Q).

And the most important of all:

Those in charge of Pocket Books have stated that Janeway will remain killed off!

Uhhh...nope, still a double standard.

1) Welsey leaves the show and becomes a higher being. The powers that be have no plans to bring him back. SEVERAL YEARS LATER, a DIFFERENT writer decides to bring him back in a DIFFERENT form of media (movie, not TV).

2) Kes leaves the show and becomes a higher being. The powers that be have no plans to bring her back. SEVERAL YEARS LATER, she makes ONE guest appearance on the show.

3) Janeway leaves the books and becomes a higher being. The powers that be have no plans to bring her back. It's been less than 18 months since that happened. I'd be shocked if, 5 or 6 years down the road, she didn't at least put in an appearance.

But just like Wesley and Kes stayed gone (if not dead), so will Janeway, at least for the immediate future.
 
FWIW, as much as I love TOS (which started the whole thing), I do think DS9 was probably the best Star Trek TV series. And if you decide to start getting into it, you should try to find a copy of the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Companion, the best episode guide/making of book Pocket's published. The show's writers and producers are remarkably candid about what they tried to do, where they think they went wrong, etc.

I would have to agree on both these points and as for the companion, I would have to say, apart from Russel T Davies book last year on the creative process of Doctor Who, it is one of the best books on how things are done when it comes to a TV series. :bolian:

Those in charge of Pocket Books have stated that Janeway will remain killed off!

I'd just like to remind you, that one they haven't and two, they won't announce such a straight jacketing decision. What several informed yet non official people have said is that: For now and untill the right story comes along, Kathyrn Janeway was (insert which either wordage you wish here) during the events of Before Dishonour and that event will remain in place until and only if the right story comes along causing that event to effectively be reversed.
 
I would have to agree on both these points and as for the companion, I would have to say, apart from Russel T Davies book last year on the creative process of Doctor Who, it is one of the best books on how things are done when it comes to a TV series. :bolian:

Wow, just wow. After 3 long threads on Janeway being dead someone has finally included some information I can use. I had no idea such a book existed. Thanks man... :techman:
 
So is Janeway. At least, as far as I can tell. What makes you think otherwise? The fact that the current editors have said they won't revive her?

How is that any different from the TNG or VOY people saying Kes and Wesley wouldn't be back as regulars? Which they said.

You're inventing some kind of weird-ass double standard here, and it's confusing me.

"Weird-ass double standard"

Huh? :eek:

Oh dear.

But let's look at the facts. Wesley was never killed off and pronounced dead. He left with that Traveller and maybe he got some super-powers, who knows but he was never killed off.

Kes wasn't declared dead either.

And what I know, no one has officially stated that neither Wesley nor Kes would never ever return. What I know, there was some sequence with Wesley which should have been a part of that "Nemesis" movie but it was deleted for some reason.

But Janeway has been killed off (even if there is a back door available due to her encounter with Q).

And the most important of all:

Those in charge of Pocket Books have stated that Janeway will remain killed off!

Uhhh...nope, still a double standard.

1) Welsey leaves the show and becomes a higher being. The powers that be have no plans to bring him back. SEVERAL YEARS LATER, a DIFFERENT writer decides to bring him back in a DIFFERENT form of media (movie, not TV).

2) Kes leaves the show and becomes a higher being. The powers that be have no plans to bring her back. SEVERAL YEARS LATER, she makes ONE guest appearance on the show.

3) Janeway leaves the books and becomes a higher being. The powers that be have no plans to bring her back. It's been less than 18 months since that happened. I'd be shocked if, 5 or 6 years down the road, she didn't at least put in an appearance.

But just like Wesley and Kes stayed gone (if not dead), so will Janeway, at least for the immediate future.

1. Different media doesn't matter. It's still Star Trek and still TNG.

2. As for Kes, I wish they would never have brought "her" (or more correctly, brought in that pathetic creature who was supposed to be Kes) to that horrible episode. Still, Kes was never killed off and it was never stated that she would never ever come back (and if it was, those in charge did break that promise when they decided to destroy and humiliate the character in "Fury").

As for Janeway, on the contrary to Wesley and Kes, she was killed off and they have stated that she will not be brought back.
 
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As for Janeway, on the contrary to Wesley and Kes, she was killed off and they have stated that she will not be brought back.

Yeah, again...we don't get to just make shit up.

All that has been said on the subject by myself or anyone else from Pocket is that the choice to kill Kathryn Janeway will not be undone in the next two Voyager novels to be released, Full Circle, and October's Unworthy.

I have said repeatedly that beyond that, anything is possible.

Kirsten Beyer
 
As for Janeway, on the contrary to Wesley and Kes, she was killed off and they have stated that she will not be brought back.

Yeah, again...we don't get to just make shit up.

All that has been said on the subject by myself or anyone else from Pocket is that the choice to kill Kathryn Janeway will not be undone in the next two Voyager novels to be released, Full Circle, and October's Unworthy.

I have said repeatedly that beyond that, anything is possible.

Kirsten Beyer

Well, that changes the situation. At least a bit since there seem to be some hope.

See'ya in 2010 then! :)
 
As for Janeway, on the contrary to Wesley and Kes, she was killed off and they have stated that she will not be brought back.

Yeah, again...we don't get to just make shit up.

All that has been said on the subject by myself or anyone else from Pocket is that the choice to kill Kathryn Janeway will not be undone in the next two Voyager novels to be released, Full Circle, and October's Unworthy.

I have said repeatedly that beyond that, anything is possible.

Kirsten Beyer
I have to say that I am very happy and excited that you actually took the time to post here and on ST.com. I know that you were only working with what they gave you. Sorry, I can't be more enthusiastic. I guess you can say I'm in the "wait and see" group. Thanks for all your effort though. :)
 
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