Shatner's 'Trial Run'

[Procutus]

If this has been discussed already at some point I apologize for bringing it up again. I just started reading the Shatnerverse novel Collision Course, which I'm rather enjoying. I'm curious though as to what the hold-up is on the second novel in this new series, as there appears to be no release date for it as of yet. Is there some kind of conflict of interest with the Abramsverse? Or are the Reeves-Stevens busy with another project?

 

[elaithin]

If I remember correctly, Shatner was disappointed with the promotion of the last book, and has stated that there won't be any more.

 

[Therin of Andor]

I'm curious though as to what the hold-up is on the second novel in this new series, as there appears to be no release date for it as of yet.

IIRC, Shatner's first novel for Pocket was a one-off, then he was offered contracts for two sequels. Then, due to excellent sales, he signed trilogy contracts for the next six books. But this one was another one-off contract. Although Shatner assumed there'd be a built-in audience and a follow-up sequel, reviews and sales didn't support any kind of guarantee.

 

[Captain Robert April]

Complicating things is some turnover of the staff at Pocket, and the folks there now don't quite work as well with Shatner as the the old folks, so any plans on further novels are, at best, on indefinite hold (as in never say never, but don't hold your breath).

 

[Procutus]

Thanks for the info, guys. It's too bad, as I said, I'm liking the way this novel is going and was hoping to be able to pick up the next book within the year. As April said, guess I won't hold my breath on that one!

 

[Captain Robert April]

I'm rather disappointed as well. Shatner's novels were pretty much the only ones I considered "must read now!"

 

[Therin of Andor]

the folks there now don't quite work as well with Shatner as the the old folks.

It seemed to me that it was now-former editor Margaret Clarke whom Shatner was verbally sparring with over "Academy". And he was also angry with Simon & Schuster Audioworks that there was also no audio version to support the new hardcover.

However, "Captain's Glory" had an audio (on CD only, not cassette tape for that one) probably because that novel had been delayed by at least a year, while the Reeves-Stevens were working on episodes of ENT, and the S&S Audio program for ST had essentially wound down and CG was like a final contractual obligation.

The "Academy" hardcover was more like a pilot TV episode and not all pilots turn into a series. With no contract for "Academy: Trial Run", he'll have to pitch to the new editor all over again. If he decided he wants to.

 

[Procutus]

I'm rather disappointed as well. Shatner's novels were pretty much the only ones I considered "must read now!"

Let's just say that I found his version (or Judy & Gar's version) of Kirk and Spock meeting to be much more in keeping with the characters we know.

 

[Allyn Gibson]

IIRC, Shatner's first novel for Pocket was a one-off, then he was offered contracts for two sequels.

Ashes of Eden was on a two-book contract. This was pretty well documented at the time in Star Trek Communicator and Sci-Fi Universe.

After The Return (and how I wish Shatner had kept the original title, "The Fires of Olympus"), Avenger was a one-off. Which then led to the subsequent trilogy contracts.

It seemed to me that it was now-former editor Margaret Clarke whom Shatner was verbally sparring with over "Academy".

"Seemed"? Ian, he named her as the problem in an interview on YouTube, that she had no interest in going forward. Yeah, it's unfortunate that a productive working relationship that had gone back over a decade, back to DC Comics' adaptation of The Ashes of Eden, ended on a sour note, but those things happen. *shrug*

 

[Therin of Andor]

"Seemed"? Ian, he named her as the problem in an interview on YouTube, that she had no interest in going forward.

Okay, having not bothered to watch the Youtube video (the much-publicised Shatner/Takei feud being distasteful enough), I was being cautious, lest someone accuse me of laying blame without proof. Fair enough?

So yes, it "seemed" perfectly correct for me. From posts made here, it "seemed" like he had a beef with Margaret. Not the new editor.

 

[Captain Robert April]

Didn't John Ordover leave some time prior to this? His absence may have played a part in things going south.

 

[Procutus]

^


I seem to recall that John left Pocket quite some time ago, so you're most likely correct on that count. It is a shame that the current regime apparantly has no interest in what Bill and the Reeves-Stevens have to offer.

 

[Christopher]

It is a shame that the current regime apparantly has no interest in what Bill and the Reeves-Stevens have to offer.

Margaret Clark isn't "the current regime" anymore. It's Jaime Costas now. She's still in the process of lining up projects for 2011 and nothing's been announced yet, so there's no basis for making any assumptions about what she would or wouldn't be interested in.

 

[Allyn Gibson]

Didn't John Ordover leave some time prior to this? His absence may have played a part in things going south.

Except that Margaret was the editor handling the Shatner novels going back to at least the late-90s, long before Ordover first checked out mentally and then finally left the building.

So, no, of all the things to blame J.J. Ordover for, the collapse of a working relationship between Shatner and Clark is not one of them.

 

[Eduardo]

I will keep hoping that someday the second Academy books is released.

 

[Saul]

What did Ordover do?

OK, I hold hope for another book too.

 

[Hartzilla2007]

I'm rather disappointed as well. Shatner's novels were pretty much the only ones I considered "must read now!"

Let's just say that I found his version (or Judy & Gar's version) of Kirk and Spock meeting to be much more in keeping with the characters we know.

Spoiler: Collision Course

You do realize that when they meet Kirk is trying to basically frame Spock for a crime he didn't commit under the belief that Starfleet will go "oh, he's a Vulcan so he couldn't have done it"

 

[Captain Robert April]

Didn't John Ordover leave some time prior to this? His absence may have played a part in things going south.

Except that Margaret was the editor handling the Shatner novels going back to at least the late-90s, long before Ordover first checked out mentally and then finally left the building.

So, no, of all the things to blame J.J. Ordover for, the collapse of a working relationship between Shatner and Clark is not one of them.

I wasn't exactly trying to assign blame, just wondering if the various cogs in the machine falling by the wayside may have played a part in what previously seemed to be a good working relationship biting the dust.

 

[Captain Robert April]

I'm rather disappointed as well. Shatner's novels were pretty much the only ones I considered "must read now!"

Let's just say that I found his version (or Judy & Gar's version) of Kirk and Spock meeting to be much more in keeping with the characters we know.

Spoiler: Collision Course

You do realize that when they meet Kirk is trying to basically frame Spock for a crime he didn't commit under the belief that Starfleet will go "oh, he's a Vulcan so he couldn't have done it"

The key element in the portrayal of Kirk, though, is the use of the established backstory, specifically the traumatic events on Tarsus IV, in shaping his personality and his overcoming them by the end of the story and getting on the path to becoming the Captain we know and love.

I also liked how they had Kirk and Spock not become buddy-buddy, and establish that they weren't gonna see a lot of each other while they went about their separate career paths. That's to come later.

 

[Procutus]

^


Also, when I first posted that comment, I hadn't quite yet got to the specific point that Hartzilla makes mention of. Still to me, Spock seems far more like Spock at this stage of the game than the movie version did in the Abramsverse.