Shatner's 'Trial Run'

[Christopher]

Let's see, what is there to cover that the '90s Concordance didn't cover -- i.e. post-1995 official productions featuring TOS cast members in their original roles? Basically, I think that's just "Flashback," "Trials and Tribble-ations," "The Sword of Kahless," "Once More Unto the Breach," and ST'09. Not much justification for a new edition -- except that the new movie is the biggest thing to happen to Star Trek in a couple of decades. So the smart thing to do if one wanted to sell a new edition of the Concordance would be to embrace the movie -- not to be biased in favor of it, of course, since the STC's purpose is merely to report and describe rather than critique, but certainly to accept it as the big selling point it is and cover it as thoroughly as possible. Regardless of one's personal feelings about the movie, it would be foolhardy from a business perspective to try to marginalize or downplay the film.

 

[seigezunt]

Let's see, what is there to cover that the '90s Concordance didn't cover -- i.e. post-1995 official productions featuring TOS cast members in their original roles? Basically, I think that's just "Flashback," "Trials and Tribble-ations," "The Sword of Kahless," "Once More Unto the Breach," and ST'09. Not much justification for a new edition -- except that the new movie is the biggest thing to happen to Star Trek in a couple of decades. So the smart thing to do if one wanted to sell a new edition of the Concordance would be to embrace the movie -- not to be biased in favor of it, of course, since the STC's purpose is merely to report and describe rather than critique, but certainly to accept it as the big selling point it is and cover it as thoroughly as possible. Regardless of one's personal feelings about the movie, it would be foolhardy from a business perspective to try to marginalize or downplay the film.

cue the "the great ignorant unwashed masses who love the film are idiots" remark.

Re the actual effing topic, I'd give another Shatnerverse novel a shot, though I haven't read CC, and have my doubts.

 

[Steve Roby]

The analysis would be for her use in putting together the entry for the new movie.

If I'm reading Bjo's book, I'd prefer to get her take on the movie. Has she seen it?

The last edition had a short statement regarding the disputed status of TAS, so it's only fair, in my opinion, that a write-up of the new movie make note of the controversial nature of the film.

If it's Bjo's book, your opinion doesn't matter. Never mind that we had official statements back then that TAS wasn't considered canon, and we've had official statements that the new movie very much is. Not the same situation.

Just how active is she in this, anyway? She may be reading your blog entries via Facebook. Is that it?

 

[TheAlmanac]

You can add me to the list of people not interested in buying a new Concordance if (as seems increasingly likely) there's very little (if any) involvement from Bjo Trimble and a whole lot of involvement from someone who's mostly interested in pushing their hate on for the new movie.

 

[seigezunt]

So, how 'bout that Kirk novel?

 

[TheAlmanac]

So, how 'bout that Kirk novel?

I was interested in getting Collision Course, but the (many) negative reviews of it kept me away...

I wouldn't keep Shatnerverse fans from getting more if they want more, but if I haven't read the first book, I probably wouldn't be reading its follow-up.

 

[DGCatAniSiri]

Yeah, Collision Course felt like it was upping the 'Kirk is utterly awesome WORSHIP HIM' attitude that I'd gotten in the last trilogy to me. Teen Kirk hijacking the Enterprise? I don't care if there was behind the scenes approval from some admiral, that SERIOUSLY strains my suspension of disbelief.

Also, and this is just my issue, I didn't like the 'Kirk and Spock knew each other when they were kids' thing. I'm glad they didn't instantly have the deep and lasting friendship they later develop right off the bat, but having them know each other since they were in their teens felt a little too... small universe syndrome to me. Which is weird, since that sort of thing doesn't normally bug me that much, but in this one it did. *shrug*

 

[Therin of Andor]

If I'm reading Bjo's book, I'd prefer to get her take on the movie. Has she seen it?

http://www.trekbbs.com/showthread.php?p=3742465#post3742465

 

[RookieBatman]

Yeah, Collision Course felt like it was upping the 'Kirk is utterly awesome WORSHIP HIM' attitude that I'd gotten in the last trilogy to me. Teen Kirk hijacking the Enterprise? I don't care if there was behind the scenes approval from some admiral, that SERIOUSLY strains my suspension of disbelief.

Also, and this is just my issue, I didn't like the 'Kirk and Spock knew each other when they were kids' thing. I'm glad they didn't instantly have the deep and lasting friendship they later develop right off the bat, but having them know each other since they were in their teens felt a little too... small universe syndrome to me. Which is weird, since that sort of thing doesn't normally bug me that much, but in this one it did. *shrug*

Yeah, this was about the same way I felt about it. I loved the Shatnerverse (at least, the first six books, haven't read the last trilogy yet), but I was disappointed when I heard the concept for this, and none of the reviews I heard (even the positive ones) made me feel any better about it. I'll probably try it eventually, just because I believe in giving things a chance (which is why I'm sure I'll watch the new movie again, eventually), but I won't have high expectations. And I kinda hope that in lieu of "Trial Run," Shatner and the R-Ses might decide to do something in a different time period. "Federation" and "The Ashes of Eden" are my favorite R-S books; why not do some more stuff pre-GEN, with the Shatner touch? I could get behind that.

 

[Csalem]

I remember enjoying CC when I read it but also remember not 'believeing' the story as it where. I could never accept that it could ever happen in the Trek-verse, but was an amusing distraction for a while.

 

[ProwlAlpha]

Hopefully Trial Run wont be about how Kirk actually was the first freshman cadet to win the Academy Marathon but because he was a secret agent by then, it had to be erased from the records.

 

[Steve Roby]

If I'm reading Bjo's book, I'd prefer to get her take on the movie. Has she seen it?

http://www.trekbbs.com/showthread.php?p=3742465#post3742465

Thanks, some great lines in there. "In all, I see far more hope for the Star Trek franchise than we have had in years....
I am constantly surprised by the close-mindedness of some fans; we are looking toward a great future. This means change as well as a positive attitude. Without those things, how can we ever achieve that Trek future we enjoyed so much on TV?"

So, how 'bout that Kirk novel?

Collision Course did at least one thing well. Its take on the Kodos the Executioner incident and its aftermath was pretty good. Other than that, though, it repeatedly shattered my willing suspension of disbelief.

 

[Therin of Andor]

Collision Course did at least one thing well. Its take on the Kodos the Executioner incident and its aftermath was pretty good. Other than that, though, it repeatedly shattered my willing suspension of disbelief.

Totally agree! And the Kodos arc also made sly use of the Hoshi Sato biographical screen data barely featured in ENT's "In a Mirror, Darkly" episodes.

 

[Dayton Ward]

I haven't yet Collision Course, but wasn't Kodos a plot point in one of the earlier books? Avenger, I think? Is this a new take on what happened at Tarsus IV, or is there new connection with things revealed in the earlier book?

 

[Valin]

[
Collision Course did at least one thing well. Its take on the Kodos the Executioner incident and its aftermath was pretty good.

I was sort of hoping that would have been somehow incorporated into the new timeline of Abrams' film. Between the car scene and the bar scene. It would have explained the chip on Kirk's shoulder better.

 

[pookha]

^^ maybe we wil get lucky.
if kirk did make it off the planet only to witness something like that it would go a long way toward explaining hanging out in bars and being a genuis level juvenille delinquent.

as for the shatner books..
i really liked the early ones but yeah the kirk became more and more just like superman got out of hand.

hm i found bjo's comments on the new film to be interesting.
especially this..

Then she added a P.S.: "I am constantly surprised by the close-mindedness of some fans; we are looking toward a great future. This means change as well as a positive attitude. Without those things, how can we ever achieve that Trek future we enjoyed so much on TV?"

 

[Christopher]

[
Collision Course did at least one thing well. Its take on the Kodos the Executioner incident and its aftermath was pretty good.

I was sort of hoping that would have been somehow incorporated into the new timeline of Abrams' film. Between the car scene and the bar scene. It would have explained the chip on Kirk's shoulder better.

I feel just the opposite. The Kirk we met in the bar scene was an aimless drifter, a young man with great potential but no ambition or focus. If he'd lived through the Tarsus IV massacre, if he'd endured such tragedy, I think he would've had much more of a sense of purpose and justice, more of a need to do something constructive and give meaning to his life. Tarsus IV makes sense as part of Kirk Prime's backstory, but I don't see it working as part of New Kirk's backstory.

Besides, though it was never stated, it stands to reason that young Jim was taken to Tarsus IV by his parents. In a timeline where his father died, the surviving Kirks might never have made that trip.

 

[pookha]

i dont know..
a person can come away with a passion to change things but circumstances might have kept him from doing something right away.
and knowing that there was no justice for tarsus could have had a profound effect on a teenager.

frankly kirk in cok came across at first as someone who had tried to keep tarsus in the past until his friend dragged him back.
though once involved it started to over whelm him.

as for how the new kirk got there..
well if his mother was one of the commissioners it would possibly explain why she was back off world when kirk was so young and how she and george kirk met and got involved.

 

[Captain Robert April]

Let's see, what is there to cover that the '90s Concordance didn't cover -- i.e. post-1995 official productions featuring TOS cast members in their original roles? Basically, I think that's just "Flashback," "Trials and Tribble-ations," "The Sword of Kahless," "Once More Unto the Breach," and ST'09.

Also the matter of the errors that came courtesy of the idiot publishers and the half ton of artwork that got nixed by those same idiot publishers.

Plus, if the parameters get expanded to include follow-ups on episodes and plot points from TOS, that opens up several more entries, but that'd be my approach. Not sure how Bjo'll rule on that one, but I did send her a list.

BTW, who said the new film was "universally reviled"? I only said it was controversial.

 

[Captain Robert April]

Back on topic, I think the big difference between Shatner's take on young Kirk and JJ's is that Shatner's Kirk was an idealistic kid who turned cynical after Tarsus IV, then regained his idealism. JJ's Kirk was a punk from the get-go.