Setting the Novels to Star Trek Music

[Captain Clark Terrell]

I occasionally imagine hearing various musical scores and sequences during specific Star Trek novels. For example, I always hear the music that played at the very end of the Genesis countdown in TWOK (specifically this part) whenever I read through the passages near the end of the Destiny trilogy, during which the Caeliar transformation of the Borg occurs.

How 'bout the rest of you?

--Sran

 

[hbquikcomjamesl]

Hmm. I would have thought that this thread wouldn't have been stillborn.

I don't know about you, but when I first read the climax of The Wounded Sky, and whenever I re-read it, what I hear in my mind is the finale from Stravinsky's Firebird

 

[Greg Cox]

I don't know about reading TREK, but when writing it my go-tos are the following soundtrack albums: WRATH OF KHAN, FIRST CONTACT, STAR TREK (2009), and, for quieter, more pensive scenes, INSURRECTION.

 

[The Wormhole]

I find the Vulcan theme from the Abrams movies works well with the first page of the novel Sarek.

 

[Bibliomike]

I don't know about reading TREK, but when writing it my go-tos are the following soundtrack albums: WRATH OF KHAN, FIRST CONTACT, STAR TREK (2009), and, for quieter, more pensive scenes, INSURRECTION.

So do you actually match up scenes you're writing with specific Trek cues, or just have those albums playing in the background?

 

[James Swallow]

When I was writing The Latter Fire, I had an epic hours-long playlist of the La-La Land TOS soundtrack collection. For my more recent Titan books, it was First Contact, Nemesis and some of Bryan Tyler's Enterprise music.

 

[Desert Kris]

Generically speaking, the "Intro theme" for the 80's TOS novels I'm reading through is the James Horner theme from TWoK and TSFS, and mostly favoring James Horner's material for action, suspense, and naval "spirit of adventure" moments. A little bit of The Voyage Home's soundtrack for moments that are extra joyful or cheerful. I can go either way on any given day for the Klingon theme, depending on the day I will hear Jerry Goldsmith's or James Horners...although here's something of a curiousity: when I was reading through The Final Reflection, the Klingon theme Michael Giacchino came up with for STiD kept cropping up inexplicably.

 

[Greg Cox]

So do you actually match up scenes you're writing with specific Trek cues, or just have those albums playing in the background?

Just have them playing in the background. And shuffle them for variety.

 

[Bibliomike]

the Klingon theme Michael Giacchino came up with for STiD kept cropping up inexplicably.

That is a really good theme. Love those anvils! I think all of Giacchino's Trek music is fantastic. I would never have believed a minor key theme for the franchise would work, but darned if it doesn't.

 

[Desert Kris]

That is a really good theme. Love those anvils! I think all of Giacchino's Trek music is fantastic. I would never have believed a minor key theme for the franchise would work, but darned if it doesn't.

Giacchino's music for Star Trek has had to grow on me, and this has been helped by hearing music he's composed for other movies. But I do respect and like his work now. I really like that his Klingon theme does what most Klingon themes have done since Jerry Goldsmith...they all harken back to Jerry Goldsmith's Klingon theme's form; and yet at the same time while drawing clear inspiration they also manage to be unique as well.

 

[John Clark]

Probably a bit cliche, but during parts of Destiny, 1000 Ships of The Underworld by Two Steps From Hell popped up.

 

[Tallguy]

When I read The Final Reflection (which I do a lot) I tend to hear a mix of Lawrence of Arabia and Island at the Top of the World. I must think Maurice Jarre sounds Klingon. (With a smattering of Paul Smith's 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and Goldsmith's Mulan).