First and last names of minor characters

[Laura Cynthia Chambers]

Has anybody ever compiled an alphabetical by name and chronological by series list of guest characters in various serieses, along with the first or last names they were never given onscreen, but were given in books?

I ask so that we can identify those individuals who don't have names, in an effort to minimize two people giving the same character different first names.

 

[DimesDan]

The edit function is a brilliant thing.

 

[Laura Cynthia Chambers]

Fixed it.

 

[Jinn]

Has anybody ever compiled an alphabetical by name and chronological by series list of guest characters in various serieses, along with the first or last names they were never given onscreen, but were given in books?

We could start one here

I ask so that we can identify those individuals who don't have names, in an effort to minimize two people giving the same character different first names.

You mean like Thea/Di'on Charvon/Liviana Charvanek/The Romulan Commander from "The Enterprise Incident"?

 

[Laura Cynthia Chambers]

You mean like Thea/Di'on Charvon/Liviana Charvanek/The Romulan Commander from "The Enterprise Incident"?

Yeah. I think the authors would appreciate this, too. It would be neat to have a "no character left nameless" project. Maybe a project page (eventually) on Memory Alpha?

I suggest that because if we start it here, how could everyone add to it? I just wanted to see if there already was one, and if not, rally support for it.

For instance, Lisa from "Turnabout Intruder" - she was played by the same actress as Angela Martine, so might she be her sister?

 

[Idran]

Doesn't Memory Beta already essentially do this?

 

[hbquikcomjamesl]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't it ONLY Janice Lester (possessing Kirk's body) who called Barbara Baldavin's charracter "Lisa"?

And while my memory may be playing tricks with me, I seem to recall (it might have been in Blish's adaptation, in ST5, rather than in the episode as aired) a bit of dialog in which she tried to correct Lester (in Kirk's body)?

 

[ryan123450]

This seems like a fun project. But it does seem like something very closely related to Memory Beta.

Though if it takes off and becomes a pretty comprehensive effort, and it needed a seperate home somewhere on the interwebs, I'd be willing to post it on the Litverse Reading Guide.

 

[JD]

Yeah. I think the authors would appreciate this, too. It would be neat to have a "no character left nameless" project. Maybe a project page (eventually) on Memory Alpha?

I suggest that because if we start it here, how could everyone add to it? I just wanted to see if there already was one, and if not, rally support for it.

I don't think there's any kind of a limit on how often you can edit a post, so you could just periodically edit the post to add new names.

 

[Laura Cynthia Chambers]

Doesn't Memory Beta already essentially do this?

In a way, but I know of no individual list that simply lists their lit-given names and the provenance, not everything about them. Memory Beta has articles, but you can't read the names and connect them to all the characters without reading the article.

So for instance, it would be like this (using totally made up examples for the purpose of the demonstration)

TOS
* "Bottlesby" (episode name, episode name 2) = "Lieutenant Erica Bottlesby" (book name, video game, book name 2)
* "Gregory" (episode name) = "Weapons Specialist Gregory Eng" (book name) "Ensign Nassau Gregory" (book name, book name 2)
* "Semvis" (episode name) = "High Council Chief My-exalas Semvis" (book name, book name 2)

 

[Jinn]

Well, let's start here then

TOS
* "Lieutenant Galloway" (Miri, many other) = "Lieutenant David Galloway" (Provenance of Shadows)

 

[Laura Cynthia Chambers]

* "Hansen" ("Court Martial", "The Menagerie, Part I") - "Beggs Hansen" (Best Defense)
* "Boma" ("The Galileo Seven") - "Samuel Boma" (That Which Divides)

 

[Jinn]

* "The [aforementioned] Romulan Commander" ("The Enterprice Incident") - "Thea" (Killing Time), "Di'on Charvon" (The Fate of the Phoenix), "Liviana Charvanek" (Black Fire, Dwellers in the Crusible, Vulcan's Heart, Exodus, Exiles, Epiphany) [Vulcan's Heart, Exodus and Exiles only give her name as "Charvanek"]
* "Spock" (TOS) - "S'chn T'gai Spock" (Ishmael, Uncertain Logic)
* "The Gorn" ("Arena") - "S'salk" (Customizable Card Game), "S'slee" (Demands of Honor), "S'alath" (Directives and Dying of the Light, Seize the Fire)

 

[Laura Cynthia Chambers]

Um, when you're mentioning multiple names for someone, don't list it as multiple entries.

So just "The Gorn" - "Name" (book title), "Name #2" (book title 1, book title 2, book title 3), "Name" (book title)

EDIT: Oh, and authors' input would be valuable, as they would be familiar with the names they themselves gave characters.

 

[dstyer]

TOS
*Kyle (multiple TOS episodes) - "John Kyle" (Present Tense, The Fire and the Rose), "Thomas Kyle" (Who's Who in Star Trek), "Winston Kyle" (FASA's Star Trek: RPG)

This is what you're looking for, right?

 

[Laura Cynthia Chambers]

Yes. That's it exactly. Please italicize all book titles though.

For TOS, this problem is particularly problematic, as nobody could keep track of these things as well as we now can with the aid of the Internet. They weren't watching it as much, but I'm sure there's more of an effort now, right?

I can't help wondering if the list we're attempting to compile here already exists (in some form or other) in some Pocket books editor's computer file.

 

[dstyer]

*Number One (The Cage) – “Leigh Hudec” (Star Trek II: Biographies),“Lt. Cmdr. ‘Eure-‘ [dialogue interrupted] Robbins” (Star Trek: Early Voyages), “Morgan Primus” (Star Trek: New Frontier), “Una” (Captain to Captain), surname provided as “Lefler” (Where Sea Meets Sky)

*J.M. Colt (The Cage) – “Mia Colt” (Star Trek: Early Voyages)

*Pitcairn (The Cage) – “Clegg Pitcairn” (Star Trek II: Biographies), “Nils Pitcairn” (Star Trek: Early Voyages)

*Geologist (The Cage) – “Fisher” (Star Trek Magazine)

 

[Christopher]

For TOS, this problem is particularly problematic, as nobody could keep track of these things as well as we now can with the aid of the Internet. They weren't watching it as much, but I'm sure there's more of an effort now, right?

I can't help wondering if the list we're attempting to compile here already exists (in some form or other) in some Pocket books editor's computer file.

I doubt it, because with TOS, it's not so much a lack of knowledge as a policy to treat the books as pretty much standalone. Continuity isn't as obligatory for TOS books as for others. For instance, Legacies gave Lt. Rahda the first name "Naomi," after her portrayer, even though A Choice of Catastrophes had previously named her Manjula Rahda (a precedent I follow in The Face of the Unknown).

And honestly? I've gotten tired of the practice of giving TOS characters the first names of their actors (or last names, as in the case of "Beggs" Hansen). It was cute the first few times, but I'd prefer to see a little more creativity brought to bear.

 

[Laura Cynthia Chambers]

I doubt it, because with TOS, it's not so much a lack of knowledge as a policy to treat the books as pretty much standalone.

Well, the list would be interesting to consult/read, if not to follow.

And honestly? I've gotten tired of the practice of giving TOS characters the first names of their actors (or last names, as in the case of "Beggs" Hansen). It was cute the first few times, but I'd prefer to see a little more creativity brought to bear.

A little lazy, perhaps, but as I understand it, the gesture has good intentions - a tribute to the actor. I suppose if you want to do that, you could play with the name a little. Rearrange the letters to create a new name, use an alternate spelling, etc.

For Hansen, it could be his mother's maiden name. That would explain the odd first name...

 

[Jinn]

TOS

* "Brent" (multiple TOS episodes) - "Clifford Brent" (The Fire and the Rose, Constitution, A Choice of Catastrophes)
* "DeSalle" ("The Squire of Gothos", "This Side of Paradise", "Catspaw") - "Vincent DeSalle" (A Choice of Catastrophes, Forgotten History), "Anton DeSalle" (New Earth), "Michael DeSalle" (The Sorrows of Empire [Mirror Universe])
* "DePaul" ("Arena", "A Taste of Armageddon") - "Sean DePaul" (Past Prologue)
* "Hadley" (multiple TOS episodes) - "William Hadley" (Forgotten History)
* "Leslie" (multiple TOS episodes) - "Ryan Leslie" (The Fire and the Rose, A Chocie of Catastrophes, One Constant Star), "Ed Leslie" (Present Tense, A Less Perfect Union [Myriad Universes])
* "M'Benga" ("A Private Little War", "That Which Survives") - "Jabilo M'Benga" (Harbinger, Open Secrets ), "Geoffrey M'Benga" (The IDIC Epidemic,
* "Palmer" ("The Doomsday Machine", "The Way to Eden") - "Elizabeth Palmer" (Under Twin Moons)