Star Trek Academy: Collision Course

[BillJ]

About three-quarters through this book and all I can say is... WOW!!!

I skipped it in hardcover because I thought it would be another one of Shatner's contrived masturbation stories. But, I've found the story interesting and the characters well defined. Also, a lot of nice nods to Star Trek .

Much better than the hundred or so pages I managed to slog through in Best Destiny.

Will Star Trek Academy: Trial Run see print?

 

[JAG]

I don't believe it is on the schedule for now. Of course all the schedules are subject to change.

 

[JD]

I'm thinking they might be waiting to see what happens with the movie before they do anymore young Kirk books.

 

[MHJH]

I skipped the hardcover too, as I did for the Totality series, and I've definitely been of the opinion that the Shatner books were producing diminishing returns. That said, I picked up the Academy book in paperback, and was very surprised with how much I liked it. The first 350 pages or so were a pretty tightly constructed little adventure tale featuring Jimmy Kirk, juvenile delinquent, and his tight-lipped Vulcan sidekick. The last fifty or so pages of the book were definitely a let down though, and reminded me a bit of why I disliked a lot of Shatner's Mirror Universe trilogy. A bit too outlandish and unbelievable (even for a Star Trek book) for my tastes.

The fact that the book doesn't really seem to fit in with canon didn't bother me a bit, though the differences between the end of the Tarsus IV affair presented in CC and Avenger bugged me. I could care less if Shatner wants to contradict canon, but I can't for the life of me figure out why he'd contradict himself. I was also surprised at the disclaimer before the book about the author's "Unique, personal vision". Haven't seen something like that since the Richard Arnold days.

Still, despite the disappointing ending, I dug the book a lot, and it's probably the best Shatner book since the first one. I honestly hope he and the Reeves-Stevens's get to go ahead with Trial Run. I probably still wouldn't buy it in hardcover, but I'd be all over the paper back.

 

[Man of Steel]

I'm sure Trial Run will see print as it is mentioned on the last page of Collision Course. Anyway, AFAIK, the 2009 schedule is tentative and subject to change.

 

[Therin of Andor]

I'm sure Trial Run will see print as it is mentioned on the last page of Collision Course. Anyway, AFAIK, the 2009 schedule is tentative and subject to change.

After Shatner's bellyaching that Simon & Schuster's marketing department and audio production division were "ignoring" this novel, I was interested to see if the MMPB edition would carry the hardcover's information about a forthcoming sequel. It did, so I'm sure after the dust has settled on JJ's Star Trek movie, Shatner and the Reeves-Stevens will produce a second volume in this series.

I, too, expected not to like this novel too much, but there was plenty to enjoy. It stomps all over so-called "fanon" (legendary fan assumptions built up over the decades) in many ways, but the interpretations from canonical TOS are as valid as any other ST novel.

 

[NiteTrek]

I saw the paperback at the local Kroger store and decided to pick it up. Just finished it last night.

Much better than I thought although the way Kirk & Spock "enrolled" in Star Fleet Academy just doesn't seem to fit with how I envisioned the early years.

The dialogue between Kirk & Spock was perfect. It was easy to picture a young Shatner & Nimoy speaking those lines together, although Kirk constantly referring to Spock as "Stretch" got a bit old.

Kirk's Tarsus IV demons were an interesting take on what happened on that planet. I immediately thought of ST:V where Kirk tells Sybok "I WANT MY PAIN, I NEED MY PAIN!" - it was now easy to see what pain Kirk was referring to.

The ending could have been done better. It just seemed a bit of a letdown after the buildup of the whole story. Still, it was a good read and I'm looking forward to the sequel.

 

[ireactions]

What I find amusing is that this book actually contradicts other books in the Shatnerverse series -- specifically, "Captain's Peril". In that book, Kirk has various flashbacks to his first few days of commanding the Enterprise, where it's pretty clear that he only met Spock aboard the ship, and is still engaging his first officer for the first time, getting to know him, uncertain of how to approach a Vulcan, etc.. It's entirely at odds with Kirk and Spock having befriended each other so early in their lives in "Collision Course".

It's a fun book, though. I didn't see anything in "Collision Course" contradict "Avenger" -- Kirk doesn't *remember* some of the crucial events of "Avenger" at this point in his life because Sarek's mind meld suppressed some of Kirk's memories.

It's almost certain that "Collision Course" will be contradicted by the new "Trek" film, where Kirk and Spock will again meet each other for the first time. But I think that's part of the fun of the novels; taking what's presently on DVD and telling new stories with a tremendous range of freedom.

- Ibrahim Ng

 

[JWolf]

Collision Course contradicts the much better done My Bother's Keeper[/i] Trilogy. This was a very lackluster attempt to tell a story that just wasn't told properly.

I have to agree with WOW! as in WOW! how did this dreck get published?

 

[Turbo]

Collision Course contradicts the much better done My Bother's Keeper[/i] Trilogy. This was a very lackluster attempt to tell a story that just wasn't told properly.

I have to agree with WOW! as in WOW! how did this dreck get published?

I assume it would be because $hatner $ells!

 

[T'Aerwynd]

I enjoyed Collision Course only after I was able to read it as a book separated from the rest of the Trek books I have read. Once I viewed it as a standalone adventure, it was pretty good. I loved the end (won't spoil it for others, but Chris Pike's reaction was pretty funny). One of the best parts of the book for me was the Tarsus IV flashbacks. On the whole, though, I liked Best Destiny a whole lot more, but then again, I'm a fan of Diane Carey's.

 

[ireactions]

I enjoyed Collision Course only after I was able to read it as a book separated from the rest of the Trek books I have read. Once I viewed it as a standalone adventure, it was pretty good.

That seems to be the editorial view when regarding Shatner's novels anyway.

Personally, I would'a liked the Shatnerverse to tie in with the TNG/DS9 relaunches and the "New Frontier" series.

- Ibrahim Ng

 

[Admiral_Young]

I read the hardcover when my library got a copy of it and quite enjoyed the story overall despite the fact that I wanted to hate it at first. I as the second poster stated I think that Trial Run has been indefinately postphoned, at least until after the movie airs. Not sure what the reason was, or can't remember it.

 

[Therin of Andor]

I think that Trial Run has been indefinately postphoned, at least until after the movie airs. Not sure what the reason was, or can't remember it.

JJ Abram's movie was originally scheduled for December 2008, so Pocket told us that, in regards to TOS, they were "leaving 2008 to JJ".

 

[Admiral_Young]

Yeah...that's right now I recall, thanks Therin. Man I so wish it was still coming out at Christmas time!

 

[StarFleetVeteran]

About three-quarters through this book and all I can say is... WOW!!!

I skipped it in hardcover because I thought it would be another one of Shatner's contrived masturbation stories. But, I've found the story interesting and the characters well defined. Also, a lot of nice nods to Star Trek .

Much better than the hundred or so pages I managed to slog through in Best Destiny.

Will Star Trek Academy: Trial Run see print?

Thanks for your opinion on this book! I passed up the hardcover for the same reason (don't get me wrong, I actually like the Shatnerverse, but I agree with your sentiment lol), but I've seen the paperback in Wal-Mart a few times now and keep wanting to get it, especially with Trek XI coming out next year. I'll have to pick it up next time I'm there.

-cc