I agree. It just Shatner pandering, IMHO.
No more Shatnerverse?
- Thread starter Kopernikus
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I agree. It just Shatner pandering, IMHO.
Bad fanboy! No biscuit!
To start,
I agree, and most of this book was presumably written by then. From there:
One of them is the talent the Reeves-Stevens have for running 3 or 4 different intriguing storylines and competently weaving them together for a satisfying ending. We start with a conspiracy young Spock investigaes involving Sarek stealing things, Kirk stealing a car with his girlfriend, Kirk's brother getting into trouble, and an investigation by Starfleet Command Intelligence of the conpsiracy Spock was investigating. These all get put together in an interesting way. Plus, my favorite part was a pretty neat investigation of how Kirk had been deeply emotionally scarred by his experience on Tarsus IV, told through flashbacks in the story, and that gets brought into the present too. Kirk learns something about himself through the course of the book- in a way much like Best Destiny, but in my opinion more interesting- and comes to terms with the Tarsus incident.
There's also a beautifully written scene between Kirk's father and the Starfleet intelligence guy about how Tarsus had affected Jim Kirk, and in turn his father. Kirk goes in a believable way from troubled teen to up-and-coming cadet. Plus the action scenes are good. Say what you will about Kirk and Spock stealing the Enterprise (and they're allowed to by Starfleet as part of these conspiracy scehmes, they don't just go and take it with no one trying to stop them) - it was exciting to read. Plus, the identity of the person manipulating the antagonists is left open in an intriguing way to pick up on in future novels
I suppose, but on the other hand, I like those sorts of coincidences. Think of Crossover, for example; wasn't it neat that Scotty got to use the cloaking device he helped steal? More to the point, why would they put it aboard the Constellation, for instance? If they did people would probably complain about howo they could have used the Enterprise instead. In any event the identity of the ship doesn't matter too much within the context of the story, so, why not the Enterprise? Give it a different name in your own mind if you want. Best Destiny used the Enterprise too. In fact, ,a whole lot of Trek stories use the Enterprise.
The Kirk-Spock thing makes more sense- after all, there's some reason why they're close friends, isn't there?
He develops into someone more like that character by the end; presumably after whatever story arc Shatner and co. go through he would be that character. Kirk was written very similarly in Best Destiny too; as long as you leave him an eager cadet going into Starfleet, it doesn't contradict anything onscreen to have him be a rebellious teenager becuase of Tarsus IV, and then learn something about himself along the way and develop into the stack of books with legs. No one ever said Kirk was an exemplary teenager.
I agree, and most of this book was presumably written by then. From there:
One of them is the talent the Reeves-Stevens have for running 3 or 4 different intriguing storylines and competently weaving them together for a satisfying ending. We start with a conspiracy young Spock investigaes involving Sarek stealing things, Kirk stealing a car with his girlfriend, Kirk's brother getting into trouble, and an investigation by Starfleet Command Intelligence of the conpsiracy Spock was investigating. These all get put together in an interesting way. Plus, my favorite part was a pretty neat investigation of how Kirk had been deeply emotionally scarred by his experience on Tarsus IV, told through flashbacks in the story, and that gets brought into the present too. Kirk learns something about himself through the course of the book- in a way much like Best Destiny, but in my opinion more interesting- and comes to terms with the Tarsus incident.
There's also a beautifully written scene between Kirk's father and the Starfleet intelligence guy about how Tarsus had affected Jim Kirk, and in turn his father. Kirk goes in a believable way from troubled teen to up-and-coming cadet. Plus the action scenes are good. Say what you will about Kirk and Spock stealing the Enterprise (and they're allowed to by Starfleet as part of these conspiracy scehmes, they don't just go and take it with no one trying to stop them) - it was exciting to read. Plus, the identity of the person manipulating the antagonists is left open in an intriguing way to pick up on in future novels
I suppose, but on the other hand, I like those sorts of coincidences. Think of Crossover, for example; wasn't it neat that Scotty got to use the cloaking device he helped steal? More to the point, why would they put it aboard the Constellation, for instance? If they did people would probably complain about howo they could have used the Enterprise instead. In any event the identity of the ship doesn't matter too much within the context of the story, so, why not the Enterprise? Give it a different name in your own mind if you want. Best Destiny used the Enterprise too. In fact, ,a whole lot of Trek stories use the Enterprise.
The Kirk-Spock thing makes more sense- after all, there's some reason why they're close friends, isn't there?
He develops into someone more like that character by the end; presumably after whatever story arc Shatner and co. go through he would be that character. Kirk was written very similarly in Best Destiny too; as long as you leave him an eager cadet going into Starfleet, it doesn't contradict anything onscreen to have him be a rebellious teenager becuase of Tarsus IV, and then learn something about himself along the way and develop into the stack of books with legs. No one ever said Kirk was an exemplary teenager.
Good review, Captain Koloth. Still not sure about a lot of it, but there is some food for thought there. But as for the Enterprise...
Maybe that's why it's so annoying. I'm sure it probably seemed pretty cool the first time somebody did this. If this had been the only book where something like this happened, I probably would've been like "wowz!! teh Enterpirse!" and had my fanboy moment, but when it happens so often, it just gets to be another tired old cliche. So, instead of "wow!" it's "oh look, the Enterprise...again." I think that's mainly the problem I had with it. Not only was the E the only ship in the quadrant in how many episodes or movies, apparently this continually happened all throughout history, too (including the inspiration for the Kobayashi Maru scenario).
Maybe that's why it's so annoying. I'm sure it probably seemed pretty cool the first time somebody did this. If this had been the only book where something like this happened, I probably would've been like "wowz!! teh Enterpirse!" and had my fanboy moment, but when it happens so often, it just gets to be another tired old cliche. So, instead of "wow!" it's "oh look, the Enterprise...again." I think that's mainly the problem I had with it. Not only was the E the only ship in the quadrant in how many episodes or movies, apparently this continually happened all throughout history, too (including the inspiration for the Kobayashi Maru scenario).
The Tarsus stuff in the book is pretty good, but it doesn't make up for the rest of the book, in my opinion.
Oh, good grief. Does Kirk also wear a leather jacket and grease his hair? Seriously, I had hoped "Cry-Baby" would have put an end to anybody ever considering 1950s juvenile deliquent was a viable genre ever again.
Fictitiously yours, Trent Roman
Well...fair point. There are arguments that can go either way. I guess by wildcard, I was more meaning that really cooked up some unusual schemes to save the day (such as the corbomite maneuver or playing along as Chicago mobsters). Also, when Kirk wanted to change a society because he disagreed with it, he had no problems to do so (such as in "The Apple").
I can see the a reckless young Kirk with no direction enter the Academy and get his life together (which Collision Course indicated). The Academy could reign him in to where he did become a "stack of books with legs" as Mitchell pointed out. Speaking of which...
By throwaway line, I mean that it really had no baring on the plot or characterization for that moment. Just two friends chatting where it was never really followed up on (save for "Shore Leave" - which I had forgotten about...nice catch).
Also, Mitchell makes that reference when referring to Kirk as a Academy teacher...which most likely was at the end of Kirk's schooling if he wasn't already finished (perhaps when he was training for the command track, he taught "undergrad" courses).
I guess the truth is that there is little strong evidence in any way that tells us what Kirk was like before his time on the Enterprise. Since Collision Course takes place right at the beginning of Kirk's Academy days, I can see him becoming a more-serious person as he now has a clear goal in life. In Collision Course, Kirk got very serious when trying to solve his various predicaments.
Well...there is a reason why he is stealing the car as opposed to "Hey, look what I can do!" And while Kirk does cause some trouble, it is not like he was sitting at home and wonders what mischief he plans to get into tonight.
Yeah... I mean, it's not like they're sitting around with slicked hair and cigarettes talking about putting fins on their cars. Some people like Kirk's brothers are always going to be drunkards who can't pull their lives together- even 200 years in the future (gasp!). It's not like no one has been like that since the 1950s. And as pointed out Kirk didn't steal the car just for fun, he did it because of an issue his girlfriend had with Starfleet, which you'd know if you read the book.
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