My review of "Kobayashi Maru" [SPOILERS!]
- Thread starter LutherSloan
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If we assume Alpha Centauri was founded c. 2080, that means it's been around for 75 years as of KM. Enough time for self-sufficiency, I think.
The one thing I was wondering about re: the political dispute over Centauri III's admission was: aren't there any independent Vulcan, Andorian, or Tellarite colonies that could've joined to balance out Centauri? I'm pretty sure ENT established the existence of some Vulcan and Andorian colonies, but I guess they were either not politically autonomous or not interested in joining the Coalition.
The one thing I was wondering about re: the political dispute over Centauri III's admission was: aren't there any independent Vulcan, Andorian, or Tellarite colonies that could've joined to balance out Centauri? I'm pretty sure ENT established the existence of some Vulcan and Andorian colonies, but I guess they were either not politically autonomous or not interested in joining the Coalition.
ENT seemed to be saying that the Vulcans and Andorians have a much more extensive interstellar infrastructure -- that probably lends itself to the central government maintaining sovereignty over their colonies. United Earth's relatively mediocre interstellar infrastructure, on the other hand, probably lends itself to more independence movements for Earth colonies -- hence Alpha Centauri and, apparently, Mars both becoming independent states.
Possibly also relating to this:
But Terra Nova and most of the young TOS and TNG colonies we saw were supposed to be self-sufficient with the first shipment, the first batch of colonists already. It would probably take time for a colony to lose self-sufficiency, to forge some sort of commercial and perhaps governmental ties with other planets.
Then again, perhaps the colony at Alpha Centauri was not founded on an idyllic Class M planet, unlike all the others? That would probably require lots of external support, a bottleneck that could also explain why Mars wasn't colonized until 2103. If we go by this assumption, it becomes logical that Terra Nova at 20 lightyears or so would be considered the closest colonizable world in the 2070s, even though Alpha Centauri would pan out later on.
Timo Saloniemi
But Terra Nova and most of the young TOS and TNG colonies we saw were supposed to be self-sufficient with the first shipment, the first batch of colonists already. It would probably take time for a colony to lose self-sufficiency, to forge some sort of commercial and perhaps governmental ties with other planets.
Then again, perhaps the colony at Alpha Centauri was not founded on an idyllic Class M planet, unlike all the others? That would probably require lots of external support, a bottleneck that could also explain why Mars wasn't colonized until 2103. If we go by this assumption, it becomes logical that Terra Nova at 20 lightyears or so would be considered the closest colonizable world in the 2070s, even though Alpha Centauri would pan out later on.
Timo Saloniemi
I can buy that, and for the record KM describes Alpha Centuari as "Earth's first extrasolar settlement." Which, in light of Terra Nova, may seem to be a contradiction with Canon, but that's only if you're unimaginative. I can think of a number of plausible ways this colony could predate Terra Nova.
On a tangent though what is this easter egg from Vulcan's Heart and Articles of the Federation M & M are referencing ? Is it al-Rashid and Avaranthi sh'Rothress ?
On a tangent though what is this easter egg from Vulcan's Heart and Articles of the Federation M & M are referencing ? Is it al-Rashid and Avaranthi sh'Rothress ?
United Earth Interior Minister Haroun al-Rashid and Andorian Ambassador Avaranthi sh'Rothress were first established in Articles of the Federation as early 22nd Century Presidents of the United Federation of Planets. It was also established that al-Rashid was president before sh'Rothress was (and that they were politically at odds over what qualifications potential Federation Members should have) and that a Vulcan named T'Maran came between them as President.
No need. Just assume "first extrasolar settlement" to be a shorthand for "first successful extrasolar settlement."
In the novels, at least some of the human AC settlements are explicitly on a Class M planet. I wonder how this can be reconciled with the idea that Terra Nova was the nearest one available in the late 21st century?
Were the AC colony sites terraformed later? Were they originally unavailable due to the natives putting up "Stay off the grass!" signs? Was the AC system for some reason poorly surveyed, perhaps due to again being jealously guarded or camouflaged by the natives?
Timo Saloniemi
Were the AC colony sites terraformed later? Were they originally unavailable due to the natives putting up "Stay off the grass!" signs? Was the AC system for some reason poorly surveyed, perhaps due to again being jealously guarded or camouflaged by the natives?
Timo Saloniemi
It's not necessarily a given that the nearest habitable planet must be the best one to colonize first. Speaking in real physics terms, for example, it would actually be easier to make a slower-than-light journey to Epsilon Eridani, over 10 light years away, than to Alpha Centauri only 4.3 ly away, because Eps Eri is in Earth's ecliptic plane so you could get a velocity boost from Earth's orbital motion and an additional boost from the Sun's gravity. Alpha Cen is well out of the ecliptic, so you can't get those velocity boosts and it therefore takes more energy to reach it from Earth. (Source: Paul Gilster, Centauri Dreams, Copernicus Books, 2004, p. 24.) Of course that's not an issue for warp-driven ships, but it's an example of how distance isn't necessarily the only factor. Maybe the spatial mass/energy distribution or subspace topography makes it easier to get from Earth to Eta Cassiopeiae than from Earth to Alpha Cen.
Or maybe, as someone suggested above, Terra Nova was closer to Earthlike conditions and needed less terraforming to be viable. Class M doesn't automatically mean lush. Simulations have shown that any planets around Alpha Cen A & B might be quite dry, since ice in the planetesimal disk would've been vaporized by the heat of the two stars. The only chance they'd have water is if the orbit of Proxima Centauri perturbed the outer cometary cloud enough to send icy bodies inward to bombard them, replenishing their moisture.
Actually I just rechecked what I wrote about Alpha Centauri in The Buried Age. I said that bombardments stirred up by Proxima had replenished the planets' water, but had also caused frequent mass extinctions and wiped out multiple civilizations. That bombardment rate might've made Alpha Cen seem like a less desirable place. Although Eta Cassiopeiae is itself a binary with a companion only 71 AUs out, so its planets might be subject to heavy cometary bombardment as well.
Good ideas there. Also, looking back at what was really said in "Terra Nova", it seems there is no actual need to insist that Terra Nova was the nearest habitable world available. All that is said about the "Great Experiment" is this:
Perhaps Terra Nova was one of a dozen possible targets, and the set also included closer planets like those at Alpha Centauri - but Terra Nova was the lushest, most attractive one, and got priority. And once it got that priority, other projects were put on ice until the "Experiment" could be completed. Alpha Centauri would get its "go" only after the Conestoga landed successfully and founded the initial colony - or then after Terra Nova failed but Earth still decided it was reasonable to try again, this time perhaps closer to home.
Timo Saloniemi
Perhaps Terra Nova was one of a dozen possible targets, and the set also included closer planets like those at Alpha Centauri - but Terra Nova was the lushest, most attractive one, and got priority. And once it got that priority, other projects were put on ice until the "Experiment" could be completed. Alpha Centauri would get its "go" only after the Conestoga landed successfully and founded the initial colony - or then after Terra Nova failed but Earth still decided it was reasonable to try again, this time perhaps closer to home.
Timo Saloniemi
GodThingFormerly
A Different Kind of Asshole
So there is no mention of Krafft Ehricke's 1972 JBIS paper - Saturn-Jupiter Rebound: A Method of High Speed Spacecraft Ejection from the Solar System - in Gilster's book? How disappointing. Anyway, if I may quote the abstract:
"For optimum propulsion energy management, the departing spacecraft should use a powered flyby maneuver at Saturn for insertion into a retrograde heliocentric orbit, followed by a Jupiter gravity-assist for injection into a hyperbolic orbit such that a final powered maneuver is applied at closest perihelion distance and highest perihelion approach velocity possible."
Obviously, if you wish to send your space vehicle to a point in the celestial sphere located outside of the system ecliptic you simply tweak your Post-Jupiter solar approach trajectory so that the perihelion maneuver occurs over the sun's northern or southern polar region instead of its equator.
TGT
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Exactly. Look at the two Roanoke colonies of the 16th century. One was abandoned rather quickly, and no one knows what happened to the second.
Even Jamestown was abandoned -- the ships leaving the Chesapeake encountered a resupply fleet from England and turned around.
There are other English settlements, like Henricus, that thrived then died or were abandoned as conditions changed.
I like the book but compared with the other post-TV Enterprise novels, I found it the least interesting.
It also didn`t help that I wasn`t happy with some of the uses of language in the book. First of all, I found the use of alien words in this novel excessive. It certainly doesn`t bother me when they are used sparingly and I ideally have a good idea what it means. That can even enrich a novel. But in this case, I found it tiresome and annoying. It is worse than reading incomprehensible treknobabble.
Second, I am not happy that Pocket Books sanctioned the use of the f-word in Star Trek for the first time at the beginning of chapter 44. I don`t mind the word “shit” (or variations like “Merde”, “Scheisse”, even the mismatched and misused “Scheisskopf” from the first Destiny book) as an exception of the rule and if it is really fitting into the situation in question. But in this case, there was no need for swearing whatsoever. On top of that I had the feeling the authors wanted to be clever by putting this word play into the book. It wasn`t clever. It was crude and annoying and most definitely unnecessary. Yes, I know, some people use the f-word all the time and don`t think anything of it. That doesn`t mean it is a good idea and I disagree with it that introducing this word into Star Trek books is something desirable.
Third, I can see now that David Mack followed this book`s example when mixing English and German language whenever Lieutenant Graylock said something. Therefore I am not blaming him any more for it. As I said when I wrote my first Destiny review: What is it about Germans (or German speaking Austrians) in American literature or movies sometimes? I have never met any German who speaks English and sprinkles German words into his or her English as found also in this book. I certainly don`t. “Scheisskopf” made me laugh but this time, it wasn`t funny. First, when using other languages as a professional writer, make sure that everything is spelled correctly! Second, on page 355 I found an example of the worst Marvel German (as I call it) I have seen in a very long time. “Liebchen” is a typical Marvel German word. I never used it and if that word even exists, it must be very old. “Liebling”, that would make much more sense. But I don`t find it cute to have an intelligent grown man who should be able to speak English properly not to mention be able to use his native language correctly calling the engines in his engine room “little darlings”. Next time, please contact a native speaker of the language in question and get some input first! It would have been an easy thing to do and I am sure, there are lots of fans who would have loved to help. I am certainly one of them.
Putting the language annoyances aside, Kobayashi Maru is an entertaining book I enjoyed. I have a weakness for good, touching love stories and I loved it to read how T`Pol and Reed went on this unauthorized mission to save Trip. I cringed and laughed at the same time when they saved him at the last possible moment. It is a cliché but in this case, I didn`t mind. Well, Trip surviving not only because of his skills and bravery but also because of a big dose of luck is part of the charm of these books. It was also good to see that the bond between T`Pol and Trip is as strong as ever.
After Trip had been courageous and incredibly lucky again when he got out of the doomed ship with Sopek, I am confident this will continue concerning his encounter with the space mine. Nevertheless, I have to wonder how long this lucky streak will last. I liked it that Archer was first of all glad to have T`Pol and Reed, who are not only his officers but also his friends, back afterwards and that their relationship didn`t seem to have suffered.
Because I read the first Destiny novel first, a lot in this book was not a surprise to me. But even if I hadn`t, some aspects were definitely predictable like some of the bickering that was going on between various political factions and ambassadors. That the Klingons can suffer from misguided pride didn`t surprise me either but that the Vulcans would want to hide the vulnerability of their ships towards the Romulan weapon is not what I would have expected.
The infamous no-win situation concerning the Kobayashi Maru was very interesting to read and moving. I could see that Archer did what he could to save these people but had to give up at this point. It was a dreadful choice he was forced to make but I think it was definitely the lesser of two evils. I understand Mayweather`s resentment but only on an emotional level. Archer did nothing wrong.
The next Enterprise book should definitely be interesting. I am very much looking forward to it.
It also didn`t help that I wasn`t happy with some of the uses of language in the book. First of all, I found the use of alien words in this novel excessive. It certainly doesn`t bother me when they are used sparingly and I ideally have a good idea what it means. That can even enrich a novel. But in this case, I found it tiresome and annoying. It is worse than reading incomprehensible treknobabble.
Second, I am not happy that Pocket Books sanctioned the use of the f-word in Star Trek for the first time at the beginning of chapter 44. I don`t mind the word “shit” (or variations like “Merde”, “Scheisse”, even the mismatched and misused “Scheisskopf” from the first Destiny book) as an exception of the rule and if it is really fitting into the situation in question. But in this case, there was no need for swearing whatsoever. On top of that I had the feeling the authors wanted to be clever by putting this word play into the book. It wasn`t clever. It was crude and annoying and most definitely unnecessary. Yes, I know, some people use the f-word all the time and don`t think anything of it. That doesn`t mean it is a good idea and I disagree with it that introducing this word into Star Trek books is something desirable.
Third, I can see now that David Mack followed this book`s example when mixing English and German language whenever Lieutenant Graylock said something. Therefore I am not blaming him any more for it. As I said when I wrote my first Destiny review: What is it about Germans (or German speaking Austrians) in American literature or movies sometimes? I have never met any German who speaks English and sprinkles German words into his or her English as found also in this book. I certainly don`t. “Scheisskopf” made me laugh but this time, it wasn`t funny. First, when using other languages as a professional writer, make sure that everything is spelled correctly! Second, on page 355 I found an example of the worst Marvel German (as I call it) I have seen in a very long time. “Liebchen” is a typical Marvel German word. I never used it and if that word even exists, it must be very old. “Liebling”, that would make much more sense. But I don`t find it cute to have an intelligent grown man who should be able to speak English properly not to mention be able to use his native language correctly calling the engines in his engine room “little darlings”. Next time, please contact a native speaker of the language in question and get some input first! It would have been an easy thing to do and I am sure, there are lots of fans who would have loved to help. I am certainly one of them.
Putting the language annoyances aside, Kobayashi Maru is an entertaining book I enjoyed. I have a weakness for good, touching love stories and I loved it to read how T`Pol and Reed went on this unauthorized mission to save Trip. I cringed and laughed at the same time when they saved him at the last possible moment. It is a cliché but in this case, I didn`t mind. Well, Trip surviving not only because of his skills and bravery but also because of a big dose of luck is part of the charm of these books. It was also good to see that the bond between T`Pol and Trip is as strong as ever.
After Trip had been courageous and incredibly lucky again when he got out of the doomed ship with Sopek, I am confident this will continue concerning his encounter with the space mine. Nevertheless, I have to wonder how long this lucky streak will last. I liked it that Archer was first of all glad to have T`Pol and Reed, who are not only his officers but also his friends, back afterwards and that their relationship didn`t seem to have suffered.
Because I read the first Destiny novel first, a lot in this book was not a surprise to me. But even if I hadn`t, some aspects were definitely predictable like some of the bickering that was going on between various political factions and ambassadors. That the Klingons can suffer from misguided pride didn`t surprise me either but that the Vulcans would want to hide the vulnerability of their ships towards the Romulan weapon is not what I would have expected.
The infamous no-win situation concerning the Kobayashi Maru was very interesting to read and moving. I could see that Archer did what he could to save these people but had to give up at this point. It was a dreadful choice he was forced to make but I think it was definitely the lesser of two evils. I understand Mayweather`s resentment but only on an emotional level. Archer did nothing wrong.
The next Enterprise book should definitely be interesting. I am very much looking forward to it.
All one of them?
Hehe, I've personally never read LFM, but TGTMD was definitely a better book than Kobayashi Maru. The f-bomb use has been discussed to death already, I myself was not bothered by it simply because Archer never spoke it out lout.
The 'T'pol with the blanket' part was actually a pretty nice touch(romance-wise), but I'd say that M&M pushed it just a bit too far with the "Don't waste time talking" thing. I did laugh my ass off, though
Agreed. It would have been foolish of him to ignore Trip's warning and put the lives of his crew in jeopardy. There was only one right option left for him.
Talk about a double standard....
There's precedent - lesbianism wasn't outlawed in England at the same time as male homosexuality, supposedly because the then Queen, Victoria, didn't believe it happened. This is probably one of those urban myths but...
P
No, in my... Renaissance lit class, I believe (1600s I think "The Tick," etc) we discussed how female homosexuality wasn't really believed in because they did not believe that relations were possible without the involvement of male genitals. So the idea was that lesbianism was "impossible" unlike male homosexuality which was severely punished when found. Then again, this is at the same time when women were so far beneath men socially that they weren't held responsible for a lot of crimes, except things like treason.
They might not have believed that female homosexuality was possible as a state of being, woman needing man to make her whole and all that, but they were certainly aware that sexual relations between women went on, as some of the racier poetry and illustrations of the Early Modern Period attest to. For that matter, this was around the time there was a technological leap in dildoes, which are also described in the poetry of the era, so male genitals are not really a requisite. 
Fictitiously yours, Trent Roman
Fictitiously yours, Trent Roman
My $0.02:
Actually, St. Paul mentioned lesbianism in Romans. So it was known to exist in the 1st century AD, anyway....
Actually, St. Paul mentioned lesbianism in Romans. So it was known to exist in the 1st century AD, anyway....
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