Margaret Wander Bonanno interview

[danjamesb]

Unreality-SF.net has spoken to Margaret Wander Bonanno about her Star Trek work in a brand new interview.

In a chat with Defcon, she discusses the differences between writing Trek books in the eighties and the noughties, gives some insight on her contributions to Shards and Shadows (The Greater Good) and Mere Anarchy (Its Hour Come Round), as well as teasing us about her upcoming novel Unspoken Truth.

Click here to read the interview in full!

 

[Steve Roby]

Good interview, but:

Her story was the last instalment of the series, begging the question of whether that had any impact on the story she tried to tell, or if she had free reign.

The battle seems to be lost over the correct usage of begging the question, but "free reign" should be "free rein," which even in the age of automobiles makes more sense than cost-free kingdom.

“I’m trying my best to stay true to the onscreen Saavik, but leaning more toward Robin Curtis rather than Kirstie Alley in both appearance and performance, and here’s why: Vulcans may say they have no emotions, but that’s only one of many unspoken truths. The emotions are there; they’re just constantly held in check. Add Romulan heritage to that, and you’ve got a simmering volcano, which cannot allow itself to erupt. That’s what I saw in Robin’s performance, and that’s what can be explored in a novel, through internal monologues, that can only be hinted at onscreen.”

Hmm... I really had a very different reaction to Curtis's performance. I found it stilted and unconvincing, like some of the actors who played Vulcans on TNG as unemotional stiffs. Still, there aren't nearly enough Saavik stories, so I am really looking forward to The Unspoken Truth.

 

[JD]

Like usual for you guys, a very nice interview, thanks for sharing. The bits about Unspoken Truth are especially intriguing.

 

[danjamesb]

Good interview, but:

Her story was the last instalment of the series, begging the question of whether that had any impact on the story she tried to tell, or if she had free reign.

The battle seems to be lost over the correct usage of begging the question, but "free reign" should be "free rein," which even in the age of automobiles makes more sense than cost-free kingdom.

I've been spelling that one wrong all my life, then. Fixed. Ta, Steve.

 

[Trent Roman]

“The emotions are there; they’re just constantly held in check. Add Romulan heritage to that, and you’ve got a simmering volcano, which cannot allow itself to erupt. That’s what I saw in Robin’s performance, and that’s what can be explored in a novel, through internal monologues, that can only be hinted at onscreen.”

"Saavik watched as Kirk swaggered onto the bridge, reflecting on how much she'd like to nail his extremities to a bulkhead, flail the flesh off his back and finish him off with an old-fashioned power-drill to the back of the skull. As he cockily approached her console, she pushed the roiling morass of rage down, deep into herself, saving the passion contained there for her next sexual encounter with a mindless teenager."



Fictitiously yours, Trent Roman

 

[Thrawn]

“The emotions are there; they’re just constantly held in check. Add Romulan heritage to that, and you’ve got a simmering volcano, which cannot allow itself to erupt. That’s what I saw in Robin’s performance, and that’s what can be explored in a novel, through internal monologues, that can only be hinted at onscreen.”

"Saavik watched as Kirk swaggered onto the bridge, reflecting on how much she'd like to nail his extremities to a bulkhead, flail the flesh off his back and finish him off with an old-fashioned power-drill to the back of the skull. As he cockily approached her console, she pushed the roiling morass of rage down, deep into herself, saving the passion contained there for her next sexual encounter with a mindless teenager."



Fictitiously yours, Trent Roman

 

[Mike Farley]

“The emotions are there; they’re just constantly held in check. Add Romulan heritage to that, and you’ve got a simmering volcano, which cannot allow itself to erupt. That’s what I saw in Robin’s performance, and that’s what can be explored in a novel, through internal monologues, that can only be hinted at onscreen.”

"Saavik watched as Kirk swaggered onto the bridge, reflecting on how much she'd like to nail his extremities to a bulkhead, flail the flesh off his back and finish him off with an old-fashioned power-drill to the back of the skull. As he cockily approached her console, she pushed the roiling morass of rage down, deep into herself, saving the passion contained there for her next sexual encounter with a mindless teenager."



Fictitiously yours, Trent Roman

Not supposed to post story ideas here. Now no professional author can read this thread.

 

[Therin of Andor]

"Saavik watched as Kirk swaggered onto the bridge, reflecting on how much she'd like to nail his extremities to a bulkhead, flail the flesh off his back and finish him off with an old-fashioned power-drill to the back of the skull. As he cockily approached her console, she pushed the roiling morass of rage down, deep into herself, saving the passion contained there for her next sexual encounter with a mindless teenager."

Signed, Kirstie Alley.

 

[T'Bonz]

“I’m trying my best to stay true to the onscreen Saavik, but leaning more toward Robin Curtis rather than Kirstie Alley in both appearance and performance, and here’s why: Vulcans may say they have no emotions, but that’s only one of many unspoken truths. The emotions are there; they’re just constantly held in check. Add Romulan heritage to that, and you’ve got a simmering volcano, which cannot allow itself to erupt. That’s what I saw in Robin’s performance, and that’s what can be explored in a novel, through internal monologues, that can only be hinted at onscreen.”

I saw more of that quality in Alley's Saavik rather than in Curtis's Saavik.

 

[Mike Farley]

Honestly I ONLY saw that quality in Alley's Saavik. To my eyes Curtis was not playing emotionally controlled but rather emotionless.

 

[Reanok]

Thanks for posting the link for Margaret's interview .I liked Kirstie Alley's saavik in the wrath of Khan. I think she did a better job of showing Saavik as a complex character dealing with her Vulcan/Romulan heritage.I plan on getting Unspoken truths next year.

 

[Paris]

Great interview guys. Saavik is definitely a character that needs to be explored more. We only get her for 2 movies, TWOK & TSFS, and a small scene in VH. I'm sure MWB will do a great job. I'll be there.

 

[Ryan Thomas Riddle]

“I’m trying my best to stay true to the onscreen Saavik, but leaning more toward Robin Curtis rather than Kirstie Alley in both appearance and performance, and here’s why: Vulcans may say they have no emotions, but that’s only one of many unspoken truths. The emotions are there; they’re just constantly held in check. Add Romulan heritage to that, and you’ve got a simmering volcano, which cannot allow itself to erupt. That’s what I saw in Robin’s performance, and that’s what can be explored in a novel, through internal monologues, that can only be hinted at onscreen.”

I saw more of that quality in Alley's Saavik rather than in Curtis's Saavik.

Certainly, it might explain why Saavik seemed much colder in TSFS. She was struggling for tighter control of her emotions, thus overcompensating too much.

 

[JB2005]

Not supposed to post story ideas here. Now no professional author can read this thread.

LMAO

 

[AuntKate]

Not supposed to post story ideas here. Now no professional author can read this thread.

LMAO

Well that's one way to keep them out of here!

 

[garamet]

“I’m trying my best to stay true to the onscreen Saavik, but leaning more toward Robin Curtis rather than Kirstie Alley in both appearance and performance, and here’s why: Vulcans may say they have no emotions, but that’s only one of many unspoken truths. The emotions are there; they’re just constantly held in check. Add Romulan heritage to that, and you’ve got a simmering volcano, which cannot allow itself to erupt. That’s what I saw in Robin’s performance, and that’s what can be explored in a novel, through internal monologues, that can only be hinted at onscreen.”

I saw more of that quality in Alley's Saavik rather than in Curtis's Saavik.

Certainly, it might explain why Saavik seemed much colder in TSFS. She was struggling for tighter control of her emotions, thus overcompensating too much.

Exactly.

I also recall reading an interview with Curtis not long after TSFS was released (and she's confirmed this in later convention appearances), that Nimoy for whatever reason disregarded the Romulan backstory and directed her to be completely Vulcan, telling her "bring it down, bring it down" whenever he thought she was showing too much emotion.

YMMV, but Alley's performance struck me as, if not camping, at least vamping. "Oo, look at me playing a Vulcan!"



Much later: Hey, guys, I hope I didn't kill the thread.