TOS: Child of Two Worlds - Pre-Release Discussion

[Enterprise1701]

First hinted at last March and given a title in December, we now know that Greg Cox's upcoming TOS novel Child of Two Worlds, scheduled for release in December (presumably Tuesday the 24th of November), will be a Pike-era story.

http://www.thetrekcollective.com/2014/03/book-bits-drg3-light-fantastic-and-foul.html

http://www.startrek.com/article/preview-star-trek-books-coming-in-2015 | http://www.thetrekcollective.com/2015/01/book-bits-new-frontier-ebook-series.html

http://www.visionarytrek.com/the-captains-table-chapter-29-margaret-clark-its-all-about-the-story/ | http://www.thetrekcollective.com/2015/01/books-bits-margaret-clark-teases-2015.html

 

[Greg Cox]

Re: TOS: A Child of Two Worlds - Discussion

Yep! This is new territory for me, which I'm having fun with.

 

[BillJ]

Re: TOS: A Child of Two Worlds - Discussion

I'll be there!

 

[The Wormhole]

Re: TOS: A Child of Two Worlds - Discussion

I always find it fun to revisit the Pike era. Mainly because, when The Cage was made, there was no Trek universe to speak of. We knew the Enterprise belonged to "United Earth" but that was about it. Spock wasn't even a Vulcan yet. Hell, he wasn't even unemotional yet. So I always enjoy the novelty of it when novels go back to the Pike era and essentially "insert" the Trek mythos into it.

Maybe that sounds weird, but it is one aspect that makes Pike era novels so fun for me.

 

[Leto_II]

Re: TOS: A Child of Two Worlds - Discussion

Stoked for this, and I'm curious as to exactly where in Pike's career this novel is going to be set. Most of the stories we have are placed fairly early on during his command of the Enterprise (in particular, grouped extremely close to the events of "The Cage"), but it would be interesting to see an older Pike closer to the end of his center-chair days and closer to his promotion to flag-rank.

Think there are very few stories out there that have dealt explicitly with this period, Vonda McIntyre's Enterprise: The First Adventure being one that immediately springs to mind. Can't recall right offhand if Burning Dreams dipped its toe briefly into that era, either. Still...no matter when this novel is set, I'll be there with bells on; both of Greg's entries for 2015 are welcome diversity amidst the usual, expected crop of 5YM stories.

 

[The Wormhole]

Re: TOS: A Child of Two Worlds - Discussion

^^I do remember part of Burning Dreams was set in the final days of Pike's term in command of the Enterprise. I seem to remember a chapter where he was on the bridge, nearly deserted due to them being so close to Earth most systems could be left on automatic reflecting on the years he commanded the ship.

Of course, the reason most Pike stuff centers around The Cage is because with it being the source material with which everyone is familiar with Pike and his Enterprise, it's the closest thing to familiar territory for an author and reader to work from.

 

[Christopher]

Re: TOS: A Child of Two Worlds - Discussion

Of course, the reason most Pike stuff centers around The Cage is because with it being the source material with which everyone is familiar with Pike and his Enterprise, it's the closest thing to familiar territory for an author and reader to work from.

Yeah, but these days we have so many series that fill in gaps and focus on new characters. It'd be nice if the novels could do for the Pike era what they've done for so many others -- move it forward past 2254 and let the crew evolve, bring in some new characters.

 

[Thrawn]

Re: TOS: A Child of Two Worlds - Discussion

Out of curiosity, Greg, and stop me if this is asking too much this far out, did you pitch for the Pike era just to do something different, or did you have a story idea that necessitated Pike for some reason? I remember you talking about Foul Deeds Will Rise being movie era because it had to be in order to tell the story you wanted.

 

[Ronald Held]

Re: TOS: A Child of Two Worlds - Discussion

Is there anything leaked to tell us when this novel takes place in Pike's tenure on the Enterprise?

 

[Greg Cox]

Re: TOS: A Child of Two Worlds - Discussion

Out of curiosity, Greg, and stop me if this is asking too much this far out, did you pitch for the Pike era just to do something different, or did you have a story idea that necessitated Pike for some reason? I remember you talking about Foul Deeds Will Rise being movie era because it had to be in order to tell the story you wanted.

My initial motivation was the upcoming 50th Anniversary. I wanted to do something "special" for 2016, so going back to Pike seemed like a way to tip my hat to "The Cage" and where it all began.

Once I settled on the Pike era, the idea of focusing on the young Spock appealed to me. Oddly, I've never really written a Spock-centric novel before; Kirk is usually front and center in my TOS books.

So, without giving too much away, I came up with plot that involves Spock in a significant way . . . .

 

[Thrawn]

Re: TOS: A Child of Two Worlds - Discussion

Cool. Do you explain why he yells so much?

 

[borgboy]

Re: TOS: A Child of Two Worlds - Discussion

Of course, the reason most Pike stuff centers around The Cage is because with it being the source material with which everyone is familiar with Pike and his Enterprise, it's the closest thing to familiar territory for an author and reader to work from.

Yeah, but these days we have so many series that fill in gaps and focus on new characters. It'd be nice if the novels could do for the Pike era what they've done for so many others -- move it forward past 2254 and let the crew evolve, bring in some new characters.

That would be really great, for the Pike era to get a series of novels where the characters can grow and develop - bigger story arc, less episodic in nature. There's plenty of room for that kind of storytelling in that era.

 

[TheAlmanac]

Re: TOS: A Child of Two Worlds - Discussion

Of course, the reason most Pike stuff centers around The Cage is because with it being the source material with which everyone is familiar with Pike and his Enterprise, it's the closest thing to familiar territory for an author and reader to work from.

Yeah, but these days we have so many series that fill in gaps and focus on new characters. It'd be nice if the novels could do for the Pike era what they've done for so many others -- move it forward past 2254 and let the crew evolve, bring in some new characters.

That would be really great, for the Pike era to get a series of novels where the characters can grow and develop - bigger story arc, less episodic in nature. There's plenty of room for that kind of storytelling in that era.

You can add me to the list of people who get a little annoyed that with all that time in command, most Pike-era stories are clustered around "The Cage"...as well as to the people who envy the opportunity to write stories in those less-explored eras.

Greg Cox (and the novel's title) seem to be somewhat implying this novel actually takes place before "The Cage," more in line with the setting of Vulcan's Glory...

...and as my mention of that novel (and posts in other recent threads) suggest, I'd recommend putting some effort into incorporating information from other novels and comics about this time period, if you can.

 

[Greg Cox]

Re: TOS: A Child of Two Worlds - Discussion

...and as my mention of that novel (and posts in other recent threads) suggest, I'd recommend putting some effort into incorporating information from other novels and comics about this time period, if you can.

For what it's worth, I've read all the previous Pike novels and the Early Voyages comics in prep for this book. They're not entirely consistent with each other, but I'm keeping them in mind.

 

[The Wormhole]

Re: TOS: A Child of Two Worlds - Discussion

Is there anything leaked to tell us when this novel takes place in Pike's tenure on the Enterprise?

No, the only information about the novel is what's in that Trek Collective article.

 

[Enterprise1701]

Re: TOS: A Child of Two Worlds - Discussion

Wait, is Spock the child of two worlds?

 

[The Wormhole]

Re: TOS: A Child of Two Worlds - Discussion

Presumably, the term has been used to describe Spock before, most recently in Trek XI.

 

[Reanok]

Re: TOS: A Child of Two Worlds - Discussion

I'm so glad we're gong to have a novel where Spock is the main character.

 

[Ronald Held]

Re: TOS: A Child of Two Worlds - Discussion

Is there any impetus to have a series of Pike novels starting with this one? A Spock centered plot could be anywhere from fascinating to disapproving depending on plot details.

 

[The Wormhole]

Re: TOS: A Child of Two Worlds - Discussion

Is there any impetus to have a series of Pike novels starting with this one?

I don't think there's any intent for this novel to be the first of a Pike era series, but that's to say it couldn't happen, just that it isn't planned to. Purely speculation on my part though, I don't know anything for certain.