Janice Rand Novels???

[Rush Limborg]

Good evening, fellow Trekkers, Trekkies and Conversationalists all across the fruited plain. I'm a long time reader of the BBS Boards, and a first time blogger.

My question, basically, is this: Some time back, I read somewhere that Grace Lee Whitney was reported to have said that she was currently critiquing various Star Trek novels that featured Janice Rand. I forget exactly what website it was on. I'm sure if I looked hard enough, I could find it again, but still.... I wonder... does this have any basis in fact? And if so, what became of those books?

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"The heart of the wise inclines to the right, but the heart of the fools to the left." --Ecclesiastes 10:2

 

[Therin of Andor]

Grace Lee Whitney was reported to have said that she was currently critiquing various Star Trek novels that featured Janice Rand.

Do you mean critiquing already-published Pocket novels that feature Rand? There have been a few over the years.

does this have any basis in fact? And if so, what became of those books?

This comment sounds more like you think she was critiquing fan stories, or unpublished Pocket manuscripts. ????

I've done a quick Google search but I can't find anything liked you've mentioned.

 

[Rush Limborg]

Do you mean critiquing already-published Pocket novels that feature Rand? There have been a few over the years.

No... She said they were ones that weren't already published yet. And I'm reasonably sure they were to have Rand as a main character, rather than a supporting one.

This comment sounds more like you think she was critiquing fan stories,

From what I can recall, I'm pretty sure she was talking about actuall novels.

or unpublished Pocket manuscripts. ????

Possibly, considering how I havent heard of anything like them on the current agenda. Shame, though. I recall how Peter David had Majel Barret critique Q-in-Law, and how he implied that her putting in a good word made the publishing process a heck of a lot easier.I've done a quick Google search but I can't find anything liked you've mentioned.

I've done a quick Google search but I can't find anything liked you've mentioned.

It's pretty far back. I get right on it.

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"The heart of the wise inclines to the right, but the heart of the fools to the left." --Ecclesiates 10:2

 

[Defcon]

Regarding your reason for editing: You should be able to put your motto into your signature, so that it automatically is attached to each of your posts.

Just go to your User CP and click on Edit Signature.

(I hope that signatures haven't become limited to people with a certain amount of post without me noticing it)

 

[Rush Limborg]

A-HA!!! Here it is!

In December of 2000, Grace had this to say in an interview, probably at the Creation Convention:

"...Also, Pocket Books is going to do some books on Janice Rand, the character. So I've been consulting with two writers and developing that. So my life is very full."

Her full remarks are at:
http://www.mania.com/star-treks-grace-lee-whitney_article_26580.html

(Of course, my being a rookie, I don't think I'm allowed to make it a link. *Sigh*)

By the way... thanks a billion, Defcon!

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"The heart of the wise inclines to the right, but the heart of the fools to the left." --Ecclesiastes 10:2

 

[Rush Limborg]

Now... how do you add the signature? I'm still getting used to these icons....

Oh. Never mind. They tack it on themselves.

 

[Defcon]

Now... how do you add the signature? I'm still getting used to these icons....

Go to your User CP.

Click on Edit Signature.

Then a text box appears, just like when you post in a thread. Just type or copy your motto into the text box and click Save Signature.

ETA: I see you've already figured it out yourself.

 

[HIj'Qa]

If Grace said that in 2000, and Marco and Margaret [editors at Pocket Books] just gave the run-down of Trek fiction into 2010, with no Janice Rand novel among them, I would say the project died. The Saavik novel is set in the movie era, so Janice could be a supporting character in that.

 

[Therin of Andor]

Grace Lee Whitney: "...Also, Pocket Books is going to do some books on Janice Rand, the character. So I've been consulting with two writers and developing that. So my life is very full."

Me, speculating wildly:

Yeah, that sounds (to me) like a pair of writers from Pocket's regular stable was floating a proposed book, or another pair was trying to break in.

I guess there's always a possibility Martin & Mangels met Grace at a convention and chatted to her about "Forged in Fire", the "Excelsior" novel which does feature Rand, and was in development for a long time? With other "Excelsior" stories in mind?

Authors don't have to discuss characters with the actors, but being able to say that one had input into a story featuring that character might help a little - but only if the proposal is good. Majel's input on "Q-in-Law" was because PAD's manuscript had just been rejected - by Gene's own ST Office - and putting the manuscript under the Betazoid nose of "Mrs Troi" herself was last-ditch tactics and strategy.

 

[The Nth Doctor]

I think you mean Excelsior, not Excalibur, Ian.

 

[Therin of Andor]

I think you mean Excelsior, not Excalibur, Ian.

I did. What?

Thanks. It's only early here, too.

 

[Rush Limborg]

If Grace said that in 2000, and Marco and Margaret [editors at Pocket Books] just gave the run-down of Trek fiction into 2010, with no Janice Rand novel among them, I would say the project died.

Shame, though. I like her character. So much potential. Oh well, more room for yours truly, i guess --for I myself have a Janice Rand novel project currently under my wing, and it may be just as well --that way it doesn't contradict anything!

The Saavik novel is set in the movie era, so Janice could be a supporting character in that.

Ya know... could be. Though, I doubt she'd be on the Enterprise. (Maybe Saavik and the cadets take a general tour of Starfleet Command, and they meet up at the Communications building?) Interesting thought.

Me, speculating wildly:

Yeah, that sounds (to me) like a pair of writers from Pocket's regular stable was floating a proposed book, or another pair was trying to break in.

I guess there's always a possibility Martin & Mangels met Grace at a convention and chatted to her about "Forged in Fire", the "Excalibur" novel which does feature Rand, and was in development for a long time? With other "Excelsior" stories in mind?

Hmm... I never thought of that. Loved Excelsior, by the way! Hope there's more coming!

Authors don't have to discuss characters with the actors, but being able to say that one had input into a story featuring that character might help a little - but only if the proposal is good. Majel's input on "Q-in-Law" was because PAD's manuscript had just been rejected - by Gene's own ST Office - and putting the manuscript under the Betazoid nose of "Mrs Troi" herself was last-ditch tactics and strategy.

Noted for future reference. You have to admit, though, it does help to ask the actor for advice, in case you're not entirely confident that you have a full grasp on the character. I can still remember the first time I read through Daffyd ab Hugh's Ballance of Power, and how off-putting his apparent mis-characterization of Data in particular was. (I still can't get used to our ever-formal, ever-proper android saying things like "That is the gist of it, sir" as if it were normal. )

Well, at any rate, all of you have my thanks! Live long and prosper.

 

[Therin of Andor]

it does help to ask the actor for advice.

Many will complain that Patrick Stewart's, Michael Dorn's and Brent Spiner's input into "Nemesis", as to how their characters should be, was part of that movie's problems.

"Full grasp of the character"? Nah, the aired material should be enough.

Sometimes there's not a lot on-screen. I understand Majel Barrett once worked out a background for Number One, which of course, can't be seen on screen or read about in a Writers' Guide.

Then, some actors have had the chance to novelize the backstories they worked out: such as Garak and "A Stitch in Time" (which he used to perform at conventions) and Quark and "The 34th Rule".

 

[DarKush]

Don't mean to get off track here, but could you elaborate on Michael Dorn's input in NEM. His character, along with Geordi, Dr. Crusher, and Wesley seemed to get the shaft.

Back to Rand, it would be cool to see her again, perhaps a TOS period novel from her POV. Or perhaps a comic book miniseries.

 

[Therin of Andor]

Don't mean to get off track here, but could you elaborate on Michael Dorn's input in NEM.

John Logan rang him to ask if he wanted Worf to be Ambassador Worf or a Starfleet officer at the Riker/Troi wedding and he said, "I want to be in my spacesuit, like everyone else", effectively ending Worf's canonical tenure as an ambassador.

 

[Rush Limborg]

Many will complain that Patrick Stewart's, Michael Dorn's and Brent Spiner's input into "Nemesis", as to how their characters should be, was part of that movie's problems.

Not really. I felt the characterization was just fine. Most of the apparent mistakes are easily explanable (As anyone who's read the "Time To..." series knows well!"), and many have explanations, which were unfortunately cut from the film. (Example: Worf remarking at the wedding that he "was not suited for the life of a diplomat.") Frankly, what kept Nemesis from being what it could've been, IMO, was simply the excessive cutting of good character moments. But then, this was years before Pirates of the Caribbean proved to the world that an action film doesn't have to be Lord of the Rings to be a three-hour thriller!

But...we're not here to debate Nemesis, so, mooooooving right along....

"Full grasp of the character"? Nah, the aired material should be enough.

I know.... Usually it is enough. But as I said before, you kinda have to make as concious an effort as possible to avoid making an easily-overlooked, foot-square-in-the-mouth-blatant characterization error. I mean think about it: How many times have we, as fans, heard critics accuse otherwise-excellent authors of "getting so-and-so all wrong"?

(Back to Daffyd's BoP again --I'm sure I'm not the only one to notice the brief, yet all-too-overt mischaracterization of Data. And the worst part is that Ab Hugh knows his Star Trek. His references to the Ferengi Alliance and Wesley's problems at the Academy are spot-on! And yet he gave that line to Data?)

So...yes, I grant that usually, asking the actor for advice is unnecessary (and it could, potentially, be more harm than good.) But advice is just that --advice. You can reject it if you feel the actor's incorrect. But, being the actor who played the character, they probably know their character better than practically everyone else. And maybe a little question or two ("Hey Bill...do you think Kirk would say this, or should it be worded differently?", etc.), just might be what you need to put the very last brick in place.

Dialogue-wise, of course.

Back to Rand, it would be cool to see her again, perhaps a TOS period novel from her POV.

Already on it! (See my 5th post on this board.) By the way...it's nice to know I have a potential fan-in-waiting.

Granted, it may take a while to get it published (and, because of the Pocket guidelines, it probably won't be my first sale), but, as the great philosopher, "CAPTAIN! Jack. Sparrow", said, "I promise, you will not be dissapointed."

Count on that, mate.

(That's all I can disclose, of course. BBS Regulations, and all that....")

Now... word on the cyber-street is that Dave Galanter is writing a TOS novel. Here's hoping it's an early-first-season (i.e. Rand-era) tale! Who knows? Maybe Dave's one of the authors Grace mentioned?

Comments?

 

[Therin of Andor]

I felt the characterization was just fine.

And yet many fans pinpoint picard as action hero, the arrival of B4 and the change of occupation for Worf as reasons for why they didn't care for "Nemesis", and those were direct influences from the actors before the script was finalized.

what kept Nemesis from being what it could've been, IMO, was simply the excessive cutting of good character moments.

A longer "Nemesis" would not necessarily make a better "Nemesis".

How many times have we, as fans, heard critics accuse otherwise-excellent authors of "getting so-and-so all wrong"?

Probably as many times as fans said the screenwriters got it wrong.

But advice is just that --advice. You can reject it if you feel the actor's incorrect. But, being the actor who played the character, they probably know their character better than practically everyone else. And maybe a little question or two ("Hey Bill...do you think Kirk would say this, or should it be worded differently?", etc.), just might be what you need to put the very last brick in place.

Why should actors make themselves available as free consultants for writers of tie-in fiction, though?

DarKush (ie. not Therin) said: Back to Rand, it would be cool to see her again

Recently she was in "Excelsior: Forged in Fire".

Who knows? Maybe Dave's one of the authors Grace mentioned?

Somehow I doubt Dave Galanter's been working on the same ol' ST novel for over eight years.

 

[diankra]

It could be interesting to see what the cast thought of stuff int henovels though - in the case of Rand, for instance, what would GLW make of Vonda McIntyre's idea in Enterprise; The First Adventure (that, due to having spent some years aboard a ship whose warp drive had failed and which had to reach port by accelerating to a high sub-light speed, experiencing time dilation, Rand was actually several years younger than her records showed in terms of actual years lived, and too young to join Starfleet).

 

[Christopher]

^^She'd probably be flattered by the implication that she had looked so young at the time. Though I never found McIntyre's version convincing, because Rand looked a lot older than 16 to me.

 

[Rush Limborg]

Well...because of Kirk's given age of 29 in Enterprise: First Adventure, the book is best set in 2262. (Yes, I know the Chronology said he took command of the Enterprise in '63. But then, the Okudas admitted that the date was kinda conjectural.)

Sooo... if Rand was "almost 17" in early '62, and the first season was in late '66, if you do the math, you will find that her REAL age in TOS was... 21 or 22.

Younger than Grace was. But a LOT more believable than 16!

By the way... the rest of Rand's backstory in the book is pretty dark. Pretty interesting, too. Epic, really, if you know what I mean.