Star Trek Q&A -- Appreciation Thread ****SPOILERS*****
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Re: Star Trek Q&A -- Appreciation Thread ****SPOILERS***
I can understand what you mean about characters' deaths in Star Trek often not rendering them truly dead. Most of the time, I've actually liked this aspect, however. Of all the Star Trek main character deaths, the only ones who really remained dead without some sort of link to others who are still living were Kirk and Trip. Spock, Tasha, Jadzia, and Data all ended up "living on" in some form.KRAD said:
^ I didn't think it was a way of disrespecting Data, but we've seen this kind of memory-dump before, both in Data himself: Lal, and the Omicron Theta colonists. Lal didn't "live on" in Data (except in the metaphorical sense), nor did the Omicron Theta colonists, so there's no reason to assume that Data would, in turn, live on in B-4.
Besides, I'm well and truly sick of the impermanence of death in Star Trek. Data blew up into billions of subatomic pieces. He's an ex-parrot. I'd rather he stayed that way, so his sacrifice actually meant something, instead of yet another cheapening of the reality of death from Trek.
Glad you're enjoying the book!
B-4
I want to see B-4 develop into an more interesting character as well
Wouldn’t B-4 offer a clean slate to do with a Data type character what you could never do with Data himself? Data was a logically thinking android who wanted to be human. We’ve already seen the evil twin. B-4 could be a creative thinker prone to daydreaming, but once developed, an excellent science officer (we’ve never seen data in blue). Perhaps he realizes he’s living in the shadow of his much loved brother (who is indeed dead and NOT resurrected in B-4) and wants to make his own path, but still has enough of Data inside to remember things about Data's friends that make them uncomfortable. Someone might even tell him to his face "you're not data. you never will be data". I picture him letting his hair down in a young Noonien Soong way and having a few simple emotions (more rudimentary than Lore). ...and using contractions
Re: B-4
I don't think it does, because as KRAD has explained, there was never any reason to believe that B-4 could ever become like Data. So B-4's presence isn't a resurrection of Data in any way, shape, or form. If anything, his presence is a painful reminder of what's been lost, because he looks and sounds like Data but is nothing like him in any way that counts.
I don't think it does, because as KRAD has explained, there was never any reason to believe that B-4 could ever become like Data. So B-4's presence isn't a resurrection of Data in any way, shape, or form. If anything, his presence is a painful reminder of what's been lost, because he looks and sounds like Data but is nothing like him in any way that counts.
Re: B-4
Although it might be interesting to see B4 to come into his own, not as a "Data" but as his own android. And then have him interact with the people who knew Data best. How would they react? Hmmmm.
After all, if I had a clone, raised in the 2000s, she would not be me, born in 1959. Even if she did have all my memories.
Sorry, just talking to myself out loud. I may write that story, although no-one may ever see it but me...
Although it might be interesting to see B4 to come into his own, not as a "Data" but as his own android. And then have him interact with the people who knew Data best. How would they react? Hmmmm.
After all, if I had a clone, raised in the 2000s, she would not be me, born in 1959. Even if she did have all my memories.
Sorry, just talking to myself out loud. I may write that story, although no-one may ever see it but me...
Re: B-4
IMO, Data should stsy dead, but there is story value for B-4 becoming a full functional android which is not Data.
IMO, Data should stsy dead, but there is story value for B-4 becoming a full functional android which is not Data.
Re: B-4
And, you know, it's not like there won't be any more Data stories ever told. Just none set after Nemesis. In that light, they will almost certainly "bring back" Data. In fact, I would be willing to bet that Slings and Arrows has all sorts of fully-functional positronic fun within.
And, you know, it's not like there won't be any more Data stories ever told. Just none set after Nemesis. In that light, they will almost certainly "bring back" Data. In fact, I would be willing to bet that Slings and Arrows has all sorts of fully-functional positronic fun within.
Re: B-4
Well, simple "he should"/"he shouldn't be" opinions aside, the thing to remember is that unlike another character in Nemesis, B-4 was NOT left on the cutting room floor. As with Data's death, what's done is done and it would be ridiculous to ignore this development in future stories. Perhaps B-4 will have nothing to do with the crew of the Enterprise for the foreseeable future, but I would very much like to see a series of some sort, address the fate of this new character without tearing him down further than when we left him. I like to think everything has a purpose in a good story and I want to see B-4 fulfill some purpose that sets him apart from Data and Lore.
While I can appreciate stories that look back to the days before Data’s death, I find stories that move the continuity forward far more engrossing.
I wouldn’t want to cheapen anyone’s death. I also wouldn’t want any character’s memories to be cheapened by ignoring whatever legacy they may have left behind.
Well, simple "he should"/"he shouldn't be" opinions aside, the thing to remember is that unlike another character in Nemesis, B-4 was NOT left on the cutting room floor. As with Data's death, what's done is done and it would be ridiculous to ignore this development in future stories. Perhaps B-4 will have nothing to do with the crew of the Enterprise for the foreseeable future, but I would very much like to see a series of some sort, address the fate of this new character without tearing him down further than when we left him. I like to think everything has a purpose in a good story and I want to see B-4 fulfill some purpose that sets him apart from Data and Lore.
While I can appreciate stories that look back to the days before Data’s death, I find stories that move the continuity forward far more engrossing.
I wouldn’t want to cheapen anyone’s death. I also wouldn’t want any character’s memories to be cheapened by ignoring whatever legacy they may have left behind.
Re: B-4
Personally, I kinda hope that Geordi, at least, keeps an eye on what's going on with B-4. I would also love to see him come back to the Enterprise for some reason as a fully functional, unique android, , because I think it would be really interesting to see Data's former crewmates deal with him. I'm talking about years or months down the line after they have all really dealt with Data's death.
Personally, I kinda hope that Geordi, at least, keeps an eye on what's going on with B-4. I would also love to see him come back to the Enterprise for some reason as a fully functional, unique android, , because I think it would be really interesting to see Data's former crewmates deal with him. I'm talking about years or months down the line after they have all really dealt with Data's death.
Re: B-4
I very much agree with that. B-4 should never be a copy of Data. He might still have Data`s memories whenever he comes back but should have his own personality.
I very much agree with that. B-4 should never be a copy of Data. He might still have Data`s memories whenever he comes back but should have his own personality.
Re: B-4
I just started read Q & A and like what I've raed so far. I have to say I found it amusing to see how the new Crewmembers reated to Q's appearence in sickbay and the others handled Q's insults. Also agree about B-4 shouldn't be a carbon copy of Data. It was nice to see the crew sharing stories about Data.
I just started read Q & A and like what I've raed so far. I have to say I found it amusing to see how the new Crewmembers reated to Q's appearence in sickbay and the others handled Q's insults. Also agree about B-4 shouldn't be a carbon copy of Data. It was nice to see the crew sharing stories about Data.
Q&A
Keith, I was wondering if there was a specific reason why there was no mention of the "Spock vs. Q" stories in Q&A? IIRC, there is another book that refers to these events. ("Vulcan's Soul: Epiphany"? Can somebody help me out on this? I plan on updating Q's Memory Beta page soon.)
ETA: Never mind, I found it. Page 142 of "Gods Above", has Spock talking about his "lively debates" with Q
Keith, I was wondering if there was a specific reason why there was no mention of the "Spock vs. Q" stories in Q&A? IIRC, there is another book that refers to these events. ("Vulcan's Soul: Epiphany"? Can somebody help me out on this? I plan on updating Q's Memory Beta page soon.)
ETA: Never mind, I found it. Page 142 of "Gods Above", has Spock talking about his "lively debates" with Q
Re: Star Trek Q&A -- Appreciation Thread ****SPOILERS***
I would agree that I would rather like Star Trek characters to stay dead and I hope that Data does not return, as much as I liked him. But I was bothered by the crew's reaction to B-4 not so much because it disrepected Data, but because it disrespected B-4. It seems from the books that people wanted him to be Data, when he could only be who he was. In a way that also makes sense in dealing with grief and loss, but it felt bad that the poor guy got saddled with expectations he could never meet.
Anyway, still looking forward to seeing more of President Bacco sometime in one of KRAD's novels.
I would agree that I would rather like Star Trek characters to stay dead and I hope that Data does not return, as much as I liked him. But I was bothered by the crew's reaction to B-4 not so much because it disrepected Data, but because it disrespected B-4. It seems from the books that people wanted him to be Data, when he could only be who he was. In a way that also makes sense in dealing with grief and loss, but it felt bad that the poor guy got saddled with expectations he could never meet.
Anyway, still looking forward to seeing more of President Bacco sometime in one of KRAD's novels.
Re: Q&A
FWIW, I am more than okay with the fact that there was no mention of them.
FWIW, I am more than okay with the fact that there was no mention of them.
Re: Q&A
^That's too bad. I felt that Q&A offered a good explanation as too why Q was willing to save Earth and humanity in 1999, given Q's belief about humanity's potential.
^That's too bad. I felt that Q&A offered a good explanation as too why Q was willing to save Earth and humanity in 1999, given Q's belief about humanity's potential.
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