No more Shatnerverse?

[Kopernikus]

Your most recent 'Star Trek' novel, 'Collision Course,' has a young James T. Kirk storyline. Will you be writing more 'Trek' novels?

Shatner : I don't think so. The publishing company was very negligent on this last novel. I think they may have given up on it, so I would think that would be the last novel from me. Whether J.J. Abrams is capable of reigniting the franchise remains to be seen, and if he does, then perchance it won't be the last.

Source:
http://trekweb.com/articles/2008/04...s-His-Latest-Star-Trek-Novel-was-a-Flop.shtml

Somehow typical Shatner, everbody else is responsible for the fact the the people are getting tired of him and his masturbatory-style marketing of his Kirk-role....
I can't say that I would be particulary sad if Collision Course would indeed be tha last novel. There's enough good stuff to read, no need for Shatner's fan-fiction-style Ego-Trips.
But perhaps we should jsut send him a copy of "Crucible 3: The star to every wandering", just to show him how a decent Kirk-novel should look like.

 

[Smiley]

They do have the page at the end of the book that says "Midshipman James T. Kirk Will Return...." Make of that what you will.

 

[RookieBatman]

Somehow typical Shatner, everbody else is responsible for the fact the the people are getting tired of him and his masturbatory-style marketing of his Kirk-role....
I can't say that I would be particulary sad if Collision Course would indeed be tha last novel. There's enough good stuff to read, no need for Shatner's fan-fiction-style Ego-Trips.
But perhaps we should jsut send him a copy of "Crucible 3: The star to every wandering", just to show him how a decent Kirk-novel should look like.

Not that this is just your opinion, or anything.

I, personally, have no interest in the Kirk-Spock-Academy premise of his latest book, but absolutely loved the 24th century Shatnerverse, and "The Ashes of Eden" singlehandedly reignited my love for the Star Trek universe. The simple fact is, Shatner's a good storyteller, and whoever paired him up with the R-S's is almost as much of a genius as they are. I'm certainly not getting tired of either of them, even though I am tired of the subject matter they chose in their latest book.
Whoever's fault it was, maybe (if the new movie is a success,) the way the last book turned out will force him to choose a different premise than the Academy. If he does, I'll be right there in the front of the line to read it.

 

[EliyahuQeoni]

I've only read Shatner's initial Trek trilogy and wasn't impressed with it enough to bother picking up any of his later Trek books. The series does seem to have its fans, but I'm not surprised that there isn't enough interest for Pocket Books to continue publishing them.

 

[Enterpriserules]

I read all the 24th century books, but have not read the new one. I wish that he continued in the 24th century. I liked the way that he combined all the crews from that era together. The books where always a fun romp in the ST universe.

 

[BlazerBoy]

I haven't read Collision Course yet either, but I reread all of Captain's Glory today and though his/J&G's writing style is an acquired taste, the premise was pretty good. One would think Collision Course was better than average before reading it, because I assume it has no 24th century characters in it. One of my biggest, but only slightest peeves with the Shatnerverse is how hard he tries to put himself / Scotty / Spock/ and McCoy at odds with the "modern" characters, sometimes at an almost exaggerated level when it comes to him and Picard.

 

[Cicero]

Oddly enough, my sister was just telling me today how much she loves Shatner's books (she tried to talk me into buying Collision Course after reading from several random pages; I have to admit, they sounded interesting).

 

[Captain_Koloth]

Well, throw cans at me if you want, but having read both Collision Course and the Crucibles, I must say I VASTLY preferred Collision Course to Crucible: Kirk. It seems popular on this forum to bash Shatner and proclaim Crucible to be The Greatest Books That Have Ever Been Written, but don't assume that everyone else agrees with you on that.

I love the stories Shatner and the Reeves-Stevens cook up. Of course they're about Kirk... you do know he played Kirk in the series, don't you? Does anyone complain when John De Lancie writes a book about Q, or the Garak guy writes a Garak book?

 

[Anthony Sabre]

Can't say that I'll miss them. I never read beyond The Return trilogy. I just can't read books that single mindedly center on the same character over and over again. Except the Easy Rawlins novels.

 

[Cicero]

Can't say that I'll miss them. I never read beyond The Return trilogy. I just can't read books that single mindedly center on the same character over and over again. Except the Easy Rawlins novels.

I find these easily acceptable. Kirk was the center and star of the original Star Trek (especially the theatrical version), and it's easy to read stories which continue with him in such a role.

 

[Anthony Sabre]

Can't say that I'll miss them. I never read beyond The Return trilogy. I just can't read books that single mindedly center on the same character over and over again. Except the Easy Rawlins novels.

I find these easily acceptable. Kirk was the center and star of the original Star Trek (especially the theatrical version), and it's easy to read stories which continue with him in such a role.

Ah, but this is also why I have read very few TOS novels. And although TOS is my second favorite Trek, it's difficult for me to watch it behind a DS9 episode. Not the special effects but simply the difference in the way the casts are used.

 

[Broccoli]

I've always loved the Shatnerverse and while I think the stories as they progress dwindled in overall quality, they were still pretty entertaining. And I really liked Collision Course (better than the previous 3, imo) and, while it was self-contained, was curious to see where it would have gone in the next one.

 

[EliyahuQeoni]

Can't say that I'll miss them. I never read beyond The Return trilogy. I just can't read books that single mindedly center on the same character over and over again. Except the Easy Rawlins novels.

I find these easily acceptable. Kirk was the center and star of the original Star Trek (especially the theatrical version), and it's easy to read stories which continue with him in such a role.

TOS is my favorite series and I have no issue with Kirk being center stage in the stories. My problem--aside from the Small Universe Syndrome, in which everybody knows everybody and everything is interconnected no matter how tenuous the connection (V'ger/Borg for instance--is that Shatner and Co. turn him into Uber-Kirk Savior of the Universe, usually at the expense of other characters.

 

[Cicero]

Can't say that I'll miss them. I never read beyond The Return trilogy. I just can't read books that single mindedly center on the same character over and over again. Except the Easy Rawlins novels.

I find these easily acceptable. Kirk was the center and star of the original Star Trek (especially the theatrical version), and it's easy to read stories which continue with him in such a role.

TOS is my favorite series and I have no issue with Kirk being center stage in the stories. My problem--aside from the Small Universe Syndrome, in which everybody knows everybody and everything is interconnected no matter how tenuous the connection (V'ger/Borg for instance--is that Shatner and Co. turn him into Uber-Kirk Savior of the Universe, usually at the expense of other characters.

I've read only the first two trilogies, but I didn't find Kirk's success to be at the expense of other characters. I always thought some of the coolest moments of the TNG and DS9 characters (and surviving TOS characters) were in the Shatner books (Bashir's preternatural calm and expertise in The Return comes immediately to mind). It's possible that things changed in the course of the four books I haven't read, but up to the point that I have, it's been James T. Kirk and his highly competent friends and acquaintances.

 

[Captain_Koloth]

I would have to agree with that. The Return especially I felt like he gave EVERY character his moment, from Worf and his Klingon stuff, to Bashir, to McCoy, to Spock's attempts to outmaneuver the Romulans... he even threw in Quark the Ferengi.

I think people who feel like Kirk is used to the detriment of the other characters frankly haven't read the novels. And as for him being the main character.... it's a book written by William Shatner, about a TV show that starred William Shatner. Which character do you think he's going to put in the lead? (Christine Chapel, undoubtedly).

 

[captcalhoun]

FWIW i recently read the odyssey trilogy...

Ashes of Eden annoyed the crap out of me for the way Uhura and Chekov are like What Would Kirk Do? all the damn time and i thought Drake sucked.

The Return was crap too. don't buy the Borg allying with a buncha Romulans, never mind the ludicrousness of the Transwarp Station and the V'ger link.

Avenger was down right disrespectful for portraying Sarek as being murdered with an alzheimer's like disease.

plus, far too much masturbatory kirk-worship.

the MU trilogy, i actually found enjoyable. despite the Kirk-worship. i shan't be trying the totality trilogy or CC...

 

[EliyahuQeoni]

I think people who feel like Kirk is used to the detriment of the other characters frankly haven't read the novels.

Well, you can think that all you want, but it won't make it any more true. As I said, I read the first trilogy and formed my opinions from what I read. If you don't agree, that's fine, but please don't act as thought the people who dislike these books have uninformed opinions, because--in many cases--that isn't true.

 

[Cicero]

FWIW i recently read the odyssey trilogy...

Ashes of Eden annoyed the crap out of me for the way Uhura and Chekov are like What Would Kirk Do? all the damn time

I'd forgotten about that. It reminds me of Chekov's characterization in The Kobayashi Maru, though, which I loved (he more or less wanted to be Kirk during his command school days; though he didn't rise to Kirk's level of brilliance, he learned something valuable from his own failure).


I'm curious, do those of you who don't like the Shatner novels prefer Kirk or Spock? Those who like the novels?



I prefer Kirk.

 

[EliyahuQeoni]

I'm curious, do those of you who don't like the Shatner novels prefer Kirk or Spock? Those who like the novels?


I prefer Kirk.

Kirk has always been my favorite Trek character, which is why I initially picked up the Shatner novels.

 

[Ronald Held]

They should, at least, publish the next book.