TNG #33 - Balance of Power - Quirks That Bug Me

[Amaris]

To each their own, and I enjoy the story on the whole, but there are a number of issues I have with this one that bother me every time I read it. For those who don't remember this one, here's the Memory Alpha synopsis:

"When a famous Federation scientist dies, his son puts his inventions up for sale to the highest bidder, be they Federation, Klingon, Romulan, or Cardassian. Among the items at auction is a photon pulse cannon capable of punching through a starship's shields with a single shot. Meanwhile, Wesley Crusher is kidnapped from the Academy by renegade Ferengi who have set their sights on the photon cannon as well, and Captain Picard must outmaneuver enemies on every side to save Wesley and protect the Enterprise from the deadly fire of the new cannon."

It's generally the small details, but even the larger ones annoy me. For example, the novel is set in the TNG/DS9/VOY era, but constant references are made to money. Wesley uses physical money to hail taxis, pay for meals, gamble at an Academy poker game, and so on. When Fred Kimbal can't pay his debt to Tunk, the Ferengi, Wesley talks about them going to prison, getting dishonorably discharged in which their lives would be over from that point forward, even facing the death penalty ("we're going to fry!"). Even if the latter example is exaggeration, why would Wesley invoke something that most civilized nations find barbaric even now, in the 21st century?

Then there's the whole story about the weapon plans for Zorka. His son is auctioning them off because, according to Picard's summary, "he's broke." How is he broke? He's a Federation citizen who lives in a post-scarcity society and does not require money in order to live safely and comfortably. He was also to have been given a number of Federation "grants" for his work as an artist. Grants of what? That's just a small sampling of the issues I have.

The book reads more like Star Trek characters living in a 20th century world, but with updated technology. I generally enjoy Daffyd ab Hugh's books, and this one has some great moments, but there are some real flaws in it for me that reduce the overall enjoyment.

The academy aspect of the story is my least favorite of the novel, anyway, but all of these issues kind of add to the dislike of it.

What do you think?

 

[thribs]

I haven’t read it but the money stuff does sound weird. There are references in multiple episodes (including First Contact) that money is no longer used.
Sounds to me that the author forgot about that.

 

[tomswift2002]

the whole no money in the 24th century was always weird, especially once gold pressed latinuum was introduced. Sure people may not carry it on them, but not every society would’ve gotten rid of their currency, even if they had gone cashless (even in “Encounter At Farpoint” Dr. Crusher has the merchant bill the cost of the fabric bolt to her account on the Enterprise. So there is some form of currency exchange going on.)

 

[Christopher]

the whole no money in the 24th century was always weird, especially once gold pressed latinuum was introduced.

"No money in the Federation" is not at all the same thing as "no money anywhere in the galaxy." DS9 clearly established latinum as a currency used outside the Federation, and explicitly contrasted the UFP's moneyless economy to the Ferengi's and others' money-based economy.

Sure people may not carry it on them, but not every society would’ve gotten rid of their currency, even if they had gone cashless (even in “Encounter At Farpoint” Dr. Crusher has the merchant bill the cost of the fabric bolt to her account on the Enterprise. So there is some form of currency exchange going on.)

Despite the shows' sloppy exploration of the idea, it's obvious that the "moneyless" nature of the Federation didn't mean that they were forbidden money, just that they didn't need it to survive. Which is a logical outgrowth of a society that has replicators. If any raw materials can be instantly transformed into any desired item, then you have a post-scarcity society with effectively unlimited resources and little need for human labor. So there would logically no longer be any need to work for a living or to need financial compensation for goods and services. There could still be a use for commerce and monetary exchange, but it would be peripheral to the post-scarcity economy rather than an essential part of it -- not something done for basic survival, but for additional gain beyond the universal plenty available to everyone.

Anyway, I believe DS9 established, or at least implied, that Starfleet allocated its personnel a monetary stipend to be used for trade with money-based economies outside the UFP. That would retroactively explain Crusher's transaction in "Farpoint," although that was written before the moneyless economy had been clearly established.

 

[Stevil2001]

Daffyd ab Hugh's books were always somewhat idiosyncratic in their depiction of the Star Trek universe.

It's nothing compared to Brad Ferguson's Crisis on Centaurus, which depicts American Express traveler's cheques in use! (Coca-Cola, Sheraton, and "Pan United Spaceways" are also mentioned.)

 

[Christopher]

It's nothing compared to Brad Ferguson's Crisis on Centaurus, which depicts American Express traveler's cheques in use! (Coca-Cola, Sheraton, and "Pan United Spaceways" are also mentioned.)

Well, to be fair, that book came out in early 1986, before The Voyage Home first suggested a moneyless future and well before TNG and DS9 established it more firmly. Still, it was oddly anachronistic. I liked CoC, but I was always bugged by the lack of futurism, the way Ferguson portrayed the 23rd-century Federation as essentially indistinguishable from 20th-century America. (He did some of the same sort of thing in A Flag Full of Stars.)

And of course, using traveler's cheques makes the book feel dated, since they aren't used much anymore. Indeed, they hardly seem necessary in the context of TOS, which established the existence of a credit-based economy in the UFP.

 

[Amaris]

I haven’t read it but the money stuff does sound weird. There are references in multiple episodes (including First Contact) that money is no longer used.
Sounds to me that the author forgot about that.

Among other things. The money problem is the most glaring, but there are other issues, like federation prison, dishonorable discharge that ruins one's life, and so on. Those are examples of current U.S. policy, and ones that some already find barbaric and overkill. I would hope in the 24th century that those examples of our current society has gone the way of the dodo.

the whole no money in the 24th century was always weird, especially once gold pressed latinuum was introduced. Sure people may not carry it on them, but not every society would’ve gotten rid of their currency, even if they had gone cashless (even in “Encounter At Farpoint” Dr. Crusher has the merchant bill the cost of the fabric bolt to her account on the Enterprise. So there is some form of currency exchange going on.)

True, but there's a difference between a federation credit system (for dealing with other cultures who use money), and an artist being upset because he's flat broke, and trying to raise capital by selling his father's inventions.

 

[JD]

To each their own, and I enjoy the story on the whole, but there are a number of issues I have with this one that bother me every time I read it. For those who don't remember this one, here's the Memory Alpha synopsis:

"When a famous Federation scientist dies, his son puts his inventions up for sale to the highest bidder, be they Federation, Klingon, Romulan, or Cardassian. Among the items at auction is a photon pulse cannon capable of punching through a starship's shields with a single shot. Meanwhile, Wesley Crusher is kidnapped from the Academy by renegade Ferengi who have set their sights on the photon cannon as well, and Captain Picard must outmaneuver enemies on every side to save Wesley and protect the Enterprise from the deadly fire of the new cannon."

It's generally the small details, but even the larger ones annoy me. For example, the novel is set in the TNG/DS9/VOY era, but constant references are made to money. Wesley uses physical money to hail taxis, pay for meals, gamble at an Academy poker game, and so on. When Fred Kimbal can't pay his debt to Tunk, the Ferengi, Wesley talks about them going to prison, getting dishonorably discharged in which their lives would be over from that point forward, even facing the death penalty ("we're going to fry!"). Even if the latter example is exaggeration, why would Wesley invoke something that most civilized nations find barbaric even now, in the 21st century?

Then there's the whole story about the weapon plans for Zorka. His son is auctioning them off because, according to Picard's summary, "he's broke." How is he broke? He's a Federation citizen who lives in a post-scarcity society and does not require money in order to live safely and comfortably. He was also to have been given a number of Federation "grants" for his work as an artist. Grants of what? That's just a small sampling of the issues I have.

The book reads more like Star Trek characters living in a 20th century world, but with updated technology. I generally enjoy Daffyd ab Hugh's books, and this one has some great moments, but there are some real flaws in it for me that reduce the overall enjoyment.

The academy aspect of the story is my least favorite of the novel, anyway, but all of these issues kind of add to the dislike of it.

What do you think?

That does sound a bit more 20th/21st century than Trek's future usually does.
This kind of stuff would be understandable in an earlier book, but I would think by #33 things would have been established enough for that to have already not really fit what we knew.
Even setting aside the Trek inconsistencies, in general that just feels a lot more contemporary than I would expect from a story set in the 24th century.

 

[Amaris]

That does sound a bit more 20th/21st century than Trek's future usually does.
This kind of stuff would be understandable in an earlier book, but I would think by #33 things would have been established enough for that to have already not really fit what we knew.
Even setting aside the Trek inconsistencies, in general that just feels a lot more contemporary than I would expect from a story set in the 24th century.

Indeed. The book was released in 1995, and by that point it was well-established that the Federation was a moneyless society.

 

[thribs]

Daffyd ab Hugh's books were always somewhat idiosyncratic in their depiction of the Star Trek universe.

It's nothing compared to Brad Ferguson's Crisis on Centaurus, which depicts American Express traveler's cheques in use! (Coca-Cola, Sheraton, and "Pan United Spaceways" are also mentioned.)

I have no problem with coca-cola being around. Obviously it wasn’t mentioned as it’s a brand name but I could see that being a popular export for the Federation. Imagine how many variations of that there will be in the future.
Pepsi will be long gone though.

 

[JD]

Oh yeah, stuff like that doesn't bother me, as long as their getting it out of a replicator and not buying it at the local McDonalds with paper money.

 

[thribs]

Oh yeah, stuff like that doesn't bother me, as long as their getting it out of a replicator and not buying it at the local McDonalds with paper money.

You don’t want the replicated stuff. That stuff tastes like RC Cola.

 

[F. King Daniel]

Indeed. The book was released in 1995, and by that point it was well-established that the Federation was a moneyless society.

I think it's fairer to say there was plenty of contradictory evidence by that time.

For example, Kirk's "The Federation has invested a great deal of money in our training" from "Errand of Mercy" and Beverly wanting to buy some fabric in "Encounter at Farpoint". FASA's infamous TNG Officer's Manual even had pay rates for Starfleet officers in the 24th century!

I don't think it was until First Contact and DS9 that money was firmly established as a thing of the past, and later Voyager when they retconned money becoming obsolete to the "late 22nd century" (which made me very curious about how much the NX-01 Enterprise crew were paid!)

Personally I think there's enough evidence either way for Daffyd ab Hugh to get away with what he did. But each to their own.

 

[thribs]

Excellent, I have found evidence of them exporting Coca-Cola.

 

[thribs]

I don't think it was until First Contact and DS9 that money was firmly established as a thing of the past, and later Voyager when they retconned money becoming obsolete to the "late 22nd century" (which made me very curious about how much the NX-01 Enterprise crew were paid!)

You’re forgetting Star Trek IV.

 

[Paris]

.... FASA's infamous TNG Officer's Manual even had pay rates for Starfleet officers in the 24th century!...

Cool. I always wondered what they'd all make. Unfortunately, i don't have a copy. What was the scale like? Did they have non-comm and officer brekdowns? I'd be curious as to what the admiralty makes as well if anyone knows..

 

[JD]

I thought the first season TNG episode where they find the frozen people from the 20th Century also had Picard and the Enterprise crew talking about there being no money in the 24th Century?

 

[Amaris]

Yes, though indirectly. According to Memory Alpha's entry on money:

n 2364, Jean-Luc Picard tried to explain to Ralph Offenhouse, a financier from the 20th century, that there would be no need for his services any longer. "A lot has changed in three hundred years," said Picard. "People are no longer obsessed with the accumulation of 'things.' We have eliminated hunger, want, the need for possessions." (TNG: "The Neutral Zone")

Also, as mentioned, Star Trek IV made it clear they didn't use money, either:

During an excursion to 1986-era San Francisco, Kirk told Spock about 20th century Earth, saying, "They're still using money. We need to get some." He then sold eyeglasses that McCoy had given him for $100. Later on, while Kirk was having dinner with Gillian Taylor in a restaurant and was unable to pay there, Gillian asked sarcastically, "Don't tell me they don't use money in the 23rd century," and Kirk earnestly replied, "Well, we don't." (Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home)

So there's ample precedent. It would be one thing if the book casually mentioned money here and there, but it's the central theme, and everyone in the story is practically obsessed with acquiring money.

 

[F. King Daniel]

You’re forgetting Star Trek IV.

Indeed. And STVI, where Scotty "Just bought a boat", and the 2009 Kelvinverse film where Kirk's trying to buy Uhura a drink.

Cool. I always wondered what they'd all make. Unfortunately, i don't have a copy. What was the scale like? Did they have non-comm and officer brekdowns? I'd be curious as to what the admiralty makes as well if anyone knows..

Ask and ye shall receive...

 

[thribs]

Scotty saying that he “bought a boat” could just mean he’s acquired one. He probably traded something for it. I don’t think actual money was used.
That pay thing is hilarious but it doesn’t give you an idea how much a credit is worth. For all we know, 8500 could be the same as a dollar.