Maybe it's a case of "Do what I say, not what I do."
IDW doing DS9!
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Maybe it's a case of "Do what I say, not what I do."
The creator is not the creation. Lots of very flawed people have created remarkable and inspiring things. Indeed, maybe it's the most flawed people who have the strongest need to imagine something greater and nobler.
Like, not Star Trek?
The setting of stories within the timeframes of the various ST series has nothing to do with the quality of stories, except perhaps that we know the key canonical players will somehow survive their adventure.
When did Roddenberry ever set himself up as a perfect human being?
And that they will experience no significant life events, there will be no mentionable character development, and the overall stoylines of the various series will not progress in any way. They'll have an adventure with the alien of the week and then continue on as if nothing ever happened.
^That describes most Trek episodes, novels, and comics ever written. It doesn't mean the story can't be worthwhile. We apotheosize "arc" these days, but at the cost of forgetting that arc is not the one and only worthwhile aspect of storytelling.
I mean, look at "City on the Edge of Forever." Nothing that happened in that episode was ever mentioned again onscreen. It had no visible impact on anything in subsequent episodes. But nobody would say it lacked significant events or characterization.
The measure of a good story should lie within the story itself. A story shouldn't be dependent on external elements for its worth. It should work as a complete and satisfying story in its own right whether or not it includes references to other works or has lasting influence upon them. If the impact of a story isn't seen until later installments, then it's not as strong a story in itself as it could be.
I mean, look at "City on the Edge of Forever." Nothing that happened in that episode was ever mentioned again onscreen. It had no visible impact on anything in subsequent episodes. But nobody would say it lacked significant events or characterization.
The measure of a good story should lie within the story itself. A story shouldn't be dependent on external elements for its worth. It should work as a complete and satisfying story in its own right whether or not it includes references to other works or has lasting influence upon them. If the impact of a story isn't seen until later installments, then it's not as strong a story in itself as it could be.
While I still stand by my original comments, I agree with you as well. But there's no reason that strong, independent stories can't take place at some other time period than those I mentioned. They have been done to death. Especially the TOS era.
^That's your opinion. There will always be some in the audience who share your preference and others who don't share it. If all Trek tie-ins gave up the TOS 5-year-mission era altogether, a lot of people would complain that they were being deprived of what they wanted to see -- just as a lot of people would complain if it were only 5-year-mission all the time. So it would be unwise for all Trek fiction to cater to a single taste, yours or anyone else's. Better to have every option represented.
I actually prefer stories set during the TV series or movie era. I actually haven't been that impressed by the continuations of DS9 or stuff set after Nemesis.
I want more stuff from the series timeframe! As others have pointed out, it has no bearing on how good a story is at all.
I want more stuff from the series timeframe! As others have pointed out, it has no bearing on how good a story is at all.
(Longtime lurker, first-time poster. There doesn't seem to be an "Intro" forum here, so I'll just dive in.)
(I'm thinking of Ben Sisko being a jazz afficionado, which I don't recall even being mentioned until the DS9 relaunch had Kira listening to some of the music files he'd left behind. We saw him playing piano at his father's restaurant, but that was just noodling.)
"Character development" can also be "character revelation." Maybe something that has always been part of a character's makeup/backstory will get revealed. It wouldn't influence that character's behaviour (because it's always been a factor), but the audience now knows that character a little better.
(I'm thinking of Ben Sisko being a jazz afficionado, which I don't recall even being mentioned until the DS9 relaunch had Kira listening to some of the music files he'd left behind. We saw him playing piano at his father's restaurant, but that was just noodling.)
Welcome, Cybersnark! Since you're in Toronto, is it safe to assume you're the same person who posts under that name on the Ex Isle BBS?
That's a good point. Not every story is about changing a character. A lot of stories are simply about exploring or reaffirming who a character is. When I was hired to do novels based on X-Men and Spider-Man, I worried about how I'd be able to tell interesting character stories if I couldn't really change or evolve the characters any. But I discovered an effective technique is to put the characters in a situation that challenges their core beliefs and values, explores why they are the people they are, and leads to them ultimately reaffirming those beliefs. Even though nothing is permanently changed in the characters' status quo, the stories are still very much character-driven and allow you to gain more insight into the characters and their world.
That's a good point. Not every story is about changing a character. A lot of stories are simply about exploring or reaffirming who a character is. When I was hired to do novels based on X-Men and Spider-Man, I worried about how I'd be able to tell interesting character stories if I couldn't really change or evolve the characters any. But I discovered an effective technique is to put the characters in a situation that challenges their core beliefs and values, explores why they are the people they are, and leads to them ultimately reaffirming those beliefs. Even though nothing is permanently changed in the characters' status quo, the stories are still very much character-driven and allow you to gain more insight into the characters and their world.
Has anyone seen the artwork for Fool's Gold yet? It looks pretty cool, although Quark looks a little creepy:
http://ryalltime.blogspot.com/2009/09/going-deep.html
http://ryalltime.blogspot.com/2009/09/going-deep.html
I am reminded of Uncle Fester from the Charles Addams cartoons. (Or rather, the nameless character from the cartoons who was dubbed Uncle Fester for the TV show.)
In a way, it could work even better because the between-adventures time could be shorter. I'd love to see something like that.
I think a balance of both kinds of stories is important. I love the post-Nemesis books because no one is bulletproof anymore, and anything can happen to anyone. The drama is raised because I truly don't know if everyone is going to survive the story.
But I also like the stories set during the series, because I enjoyed those series at the time and it's nice to revisit it. And as Christopher pointed out so well above, those stories can be great for showing us the heart of those characters and what made them so strong in the first place.
It's the variety that makes the Star Trek universe such a fun place to visit... just as long as the stories are well written. And the books and comics currently coming out have all been great, keeping me looking forward to each one.
But I also like the stories set during the series, because I enjoyed those series at the time and it's nice to revisit it. And as Christopher pointed out so well above, those stories can be great for showing us the heart of those characters and what made them so strong in the first place.
It's the variety that makes the Star Trek universe such a fun place to visit... just as long as the stories are well written. And the books and comics currently coming out have all been great, keeping me looking forward to each one.
I don't think anyone has posted this link yet, but ComicBookResources.com has an interview with the Tiptons and has a bit more information on the new DS9 comics:
http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=23266
http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=23266
I just been "meh" about most of IDW's offerings, but am really looking forward to new DS9 comics.
