Do humpbacks make any appearances in Trek literature?

[rfmcdpei]

The reason that I ask is that the nature of Earth's other contemporary sentient species really interests me, since they seem to be, well, morally better than human beings.

Kirk's decision to go back in time to the 20th century and convince survivors of the humpback genocide to come forward in time to tell the whale probe not to, please, not retaliate in kind against the human species had to have felt like a long shot. I can only imagine what a transcript of Spock's telepathic conversation with George and Gracie would read like.

- Yes, the transmitter's broken, we know it, frankly we're embarrassed about it. But why isn't the recontact probe trying to talk to us?

- Ah. About that.

In Probe, the vehicle's conversation with the confused survivors on the the Romulan colony/whaling world of Wlaarivi is enough to get the probe to remove that world's biped infestation altogether. But on Earth, two child survivors of a brutal genocide seem to have decided to tell the probe to leave Earth alone and forgive the humans.

That decision amazes me. To want to overcome all that blood, humpbacks--at least George and Gracie, quite possibly the rest of their species--must be spectacularly nicer than humans. I'd like to read more about them.

So where are humanity's most surprising benefactors? They make a bit appearance in Debt of Honor with Gillian Taylor, and a pre-Star Trek IV novel by Diane Duane makes a passing mention of Kirk swimming next to some humpbacks (the species hadn't yet been marked for 21st century extinction) and being amazed, but those are the only references that come to mind for me. Are there any others?

 

[Trent Roman]

The humpbacks were sentient? Boy, did I miss something.

Fictitiously yours, Trent Roman

 

[Therin of Andor]

Kirk's decision to go back in time to the 20th century and convince survivors of the humpback genocide to come forward in time to tell the whale probe not to, please, not retaliate in kind against the human species had to have felt like a long shot.

But the film doesn't say that. It deliberately doesn't say much all all about the probe's needs, not even with subtitles. Merely, we know that Spock mind touches Gracie, learns that she's pregnant, and urges her to trust him.

Perhaps the probe's message is simply "Where are you?" (Receiving no answer, the probe begins to sterilize the Earth and its atmosphere to begin again, ignoring all other lifeforms as unimportant to it.)

And George and Gracie finally answer, "We are here."

We don't know that the whales are sentient, as we measure sentience. Certainly, they are intelligent. If I ask my dog, "Where are you?" he comes running, barking. I assume he's saying, "Here I am! And I'm so glad you're home 'cos I need to go pee! And to see if that cat's been back in the yard in my absence."

 

[Trent Roman]

Okay, so I didn't miss anything. Been awhile since I'd seen that film, and thought I might be misremembering.

I always assumed that the damage the probe inflicted was inadvertant rather than purposeful; it simply happened that its methods of scanning and communicating are markedly hostile to humans and their technology, like the Caretaker's scanning equipment proved to be to Ocampa, or those "one moon circles" guys who didn't realize their psychic summons were driving our crews mad. The probe did trash that starship it encountered at the beginning of the movie, and that was before it ever got to Earth and would have discovered the cetaceans missing; I think it just transmits on inimical frequencies.

Fictitiously yours, Trent Roman

 

[Nerys Myk]

"What hump?"

 

[Christopher]

The reason that I ask is that the nature of Earth's other contemporary sentient species really interests me, since they seem to be, well, morally better than human beings.

Kirk's decision to go back in time to the 20th century and convince survivors of the humpback genocide to come forward in time to tell the whale probe not to, please, not retaliate in kind against the human species had to have felt like a long shot...

In Probe, the vehicle's conversation with the confused survivors on the the Romulan colony/whaling world of Wlaarivi is enough to get the probe to remove that world's biped infestation altogether. But on Earth, two child survivors of a brutal genocide seem to have decided to tell the probe to leave Earth alone and forgive the humans.

That decision amazes me. To want to overcome all that blood, humpbacks--at least George and Gracie, quite possibly the rest of their species--must be spectacularly nicer than humans. I'd like to read more about them.

First off, noncanonical (and pseudonymous) novels' claims aside, we don't know that the Probe was deliberately trying to wipe out humanity. I've seen the Probe's environmental effects interpreted as an unintended side effect of its communication efforts.

Second, I don't think cetaceans have to be particularly "nice" to forgive us for killing them. They just have to be wild. I had Dr. Ree discuss this briefly in Orion's Hounds. We civilized types like to imagine that we're above the food chain, so when someone kills us, we see it as a violation that demands retribution. But to a wild animal, it's just part of the everday cycle of life, predators and prey. Also, to a wild, nontechnological sophont like a cetacean, humans would seem like more a force of nature than an enemy. We don't seek revenge on the ocean for killing people with a tsunami, or on the air for killing people with a hurricane.

 

[William Leisner]

"What hump?"

Thank you, that was perfect.

And, to the OP, there are also a couple of SNW stories that feature the whales, though none, AFIAK, that get into George and Gracie's POV.

 

[JoeZhang]

In Probe, the vehicle's conversation with the confused survivors on the the Romulan colony/whaling world of Wlaarivi is enough to get the probe to remove that world's biped infestation altogether. But on Earth, two child survivors of a brutal genocide seem to have decided to tell the probe to leave Earth alone and forgive the humans.

Get hold of music of the spheres which is the original version of the story that probe was suppose to be - it's worth a read and a much better sequel to the film.

 

[iguana_tonante]

We don't seek revenge on the ocean for killing people with a tsunami, or on the air for killing people with a hurricane.

Not yet!

 

[Sean Aaron]

The humpbacks were sentient? Boy, did I miss something.

Fictitiously yours, Trent Roman

Cows are sentient. I'd say most vertebrates exhibits signs of it -- why would you be surprised?

 

[JoeZhang]

Re-reading Music of the spheres, it's also got one of the best Kirk-Spock exchanges I've seen.

Spoiler: spoiler quote from book

“Captain…” Spock was looking particularly grave as the ’lift made its way down to the transporter room. “I have always meant to discuss one particular aspect of my funeral with you.”

“You found the music inappropriate?” Kirk surmised, playing the innocent; he knew what was coming.

“On the contrary, I have always found ‘Amazing Grace’ a pleasing melody, and Mr. Scott’s rendition was doubtless quite poignant.” “What then?”

“I am told by a reliable source –” McCoy was pointedly studying the ceiling.

“– that your eulogy characterized me as being ‘most human’.”
“It did,” Kirk said frankly.

“Really, Captain,” Spock said long-sufferingly. “I would have thought some modicum of respect for the recently deceased would have precluded insults.”

 

[JD]

That's good.

 

[Trent Roman]

Cows are sentient. I'd say most vertebrates exhibits signs of it -- why would you be surprised?

I was using 'sentience' as synonymous with 'sapience', as Trek usually does.

Fictitiously yours, Trent Roman

 

[BrotherBenny]

Do Humpbacks dream of electric fish?

 

[Sean Aaron]

Cows are sentient. I'd say most vertebrates exhibits signs of it -- why would you be surprised?

I was using 'sentience' as synonymous with 'sapience', as Trek usually does.

Fictitiously yours, Trent Roman

One of my biggest pet peeves with the show -- thanks for re-opening an old wound!

 

[Ryan Thomas Riddle]

Aren't George and Gracie also in a SNW short story along with Carol Marcus and Gillian Taylor?

 

[EmperorKalan]

Aren't George and Gracie also in a SNW short story along with Carol Marcus and Gillian Taylor?

No, but their offspring "Harpo" (presumably the same calf born in Debt of Honor) is in that story.