TOS: Foul Deeds Will Rise, by Greg Cox (November 25, 2014)

[Greg Cox]

They're likely sitting in a family-heirloom trophy case in Janeway's ready room, time-looped like Kirk's birthday-glasses.

Quick question about the novel, Greg:

You mentioned on Trek.FM that the book brings back a character from the TV series, one Kirk hasn't encountered in twenty years, and that this person appeared in an episode that was less-cheerful in tone than others.

Had a few theories as to whom this might be, after quickly scrolling down the list of TOS episodes; right now, my short-list of potentials includes Capt. Ronald Tracey, Ben Finney, and (yes) Dr. Janice Lester (deliberately skipping over "superpowered" characters such as Charlie X and the Gorgon, owing to the novel's synopsis).

Would've included Garth of Izar, except another novel and at least one DC Comics story arc have already dealt with him in the movie era. Any further hints you can drop us?

Not a Starfleet officer, but not an alien.

 

[The Wormhole]

It's Elias Sandoval, isn't it?

Sorry, he was the only random character I could think of off the top of my head that fit the criteria.

 

[Greg Cox]

It's Elias Sandoval, isn't it?

Sorry, he was the only random character I could think of off the top of my head that fit the criteria.

Nope!

Here's another hint: The title of the book may be something of a clue . . ..

 

[Shik]

Samuel T. muthafuckin' Cogsley.

 

[Greg Cox]

Samuel T. muthafuckin' Cogsley.

Nope!

 

[Defcon]

Since the title is from Hamlet: Lenore Karidian?

 

[Greg Cox]

Since the title is from Hamlet: Lenore Karidian?

And we have a winner!

 

[Captain Clark Terrell]

And we have a winner!

Fascinating. Does this mean Kevin Riley will make an appearance?

--Sran

 

[Greg Cox]

And we have a winner!

Fascinating. Does this mean Kevin Riley will make an appearance?

--Sran

Possibly . . . .

 

[Leto_II]

Riley was around as recently as the previous year (2287) during the events surrounding the Cetacean Probe's return (and journeyed across the galaxy with the Probe and the Enterprise-A), plus of course there's his history with Lenore and Kodos.

So color me intrigued by this.

 

[JD]

Me too.

 

[JWolf]

I'm up for movie era TOS that actually feels like movie era TOS. Count me in as wanting to read this one.

 

[Enterpriserules]

I am looking forward to this. I really wish the movie era was mined more often in the novels, there is so much space for stories to be written!

 

[CaptPapa]

And we have a winner!

Fascinating. Does this mean Kevin Riley will make an appearance?

--Sran

Possibly . . . .

Thanks Mr. C, this one just gets better and better!

ME

 

[Enterprise1701]

Do you have any control over what the cover will be, Greg?

 

[Greg Cox]

Do you have any control over what the cover will be, Greg?

Nope.That's what art departments are for.

God save us from authors who think they are art directors!

 

[Leto_II]

Someone over at another site just pointed out that Simon & Schuster have updated/changed the official blurb for the novel (replacing the old one at the link):

An all-new Star Trek novel, set in the popular and blockbuster Original Series movie era!

2288. The U.S.S Enterprise-A is on a vital peacekeeping mission in a remote solar system beyond the boundaries of the Federation, where two warring planets—Pavak and Oyolo—are attempting to end years of bitter conflict. Crucial peace talks are being conducted aboard the Enterprise, even as Starfleet weapons inspectors oversee the disarmament process. Losses and atrocities on both sides have left plenty of hard feelings behind, so Captain James T. Kirk has his work cut out for him, even as he unexpectedly runs into a disturbing figure from his past: Lenore Karidian.

Twenty years ago, the deadly daughter of Kodos the Executioner tried to kill Kirk, but she has since been declared sane and rehabilitated. Kirk wants to give her the benefit of the doubt and a second chance at life, but when a mysterious assassination threatens the already-fragile peace process, all clues point toward Lenore—and the future of two worlds hangs in the balance.

Very nice. Intrigued by the weapons-inspection mentions.

Greg, as author, are you able to suggest changes/updates to synopses by the publisher as more info is released over time, or was this something done by Pocket's marketing department on their own initiative?

 

[Greg Cox]

Someone over at another site just pointed out that Simon & Schuster have updated/changed the official blurb for the novel (replacing the old one at the link):

An all-new Star Trek novel, set in the popular and blockbuster Original Series movie era!

2288. The U.S.S Enterprise-A is on a vital peacekeeping mission in a remote solar system beyond the boundaries of the Federation, where two warring planets—Pavak and Oyolo—are attempting to end years of bitter conflict. Crucial peace talks are being conducted aboard the Enterprise, even as Starfleet weapons inspectors oversee the disarmament process. Losses and atrocities on both sides have left plenty of hard feelings behind, so Captain James T. Kirk has his work cut out for him, even as he unexpectedly runs into a disturbing figure from his past: Lenore Karidian.

Twenty years ago, the deadly daughter of Kodos the Executioner tried to kill Kirk, but she has since been declared sane and rehabilitated. Kirk wants to give her the benefit of the doubt and a second chance at life, but when a mysterious assassination threatens the already-fragile peace process, all clues point toward Lenore—and the future of two worlds hangs in the balance.

Very nice. Intrigued by the weapons-inspection mentions.

Greg, as author, are you able to suggest changes/updates to synopses by the publisher as more info is released over time, or was this something done by Pocket's marketing department on their own initiative?

I confess: I wrote the new copy myself . . . and Pocket graciously agreed to go with it.

Ordinarily, authors don't write their own advertising copy, but, as you may or may not know, I'm also a professional copywriter, who has been writing the blurbs for other people's books for nearly thirty years now, so I'm not above volunteering to do the same for my own books!

(Just last week, I wrote the jacket copy for two upcoming Tor projects: a fantasy novel and a legal thriller.)

 

[ATimson]

Just last week, I wrote the jacket copy for two upcoming Tor projects: a fantasy novel and a legal thriller.

Maybe a bit off topic, but... a straight legal thriller? Or something in some sort of SF/F context? I didn't think Tor did anything non-genre; given how I've enjoyed SF (Retrieval Artist, Elijah Bailey) and fantasy (Dragon Precinct) takes on police procedurals, someone doing the same with a legal thriller sounds like an interesting prospect.

 

[Greg Cox]

Just last week, I wrote the jacket copy for two upcoming Tor projects: a fantasy novel and a legal thriller.

Maybe a bit off topic, but... a straight legal thriller? Or something in some sort of SF/F context? I didn't think Tor did anything non-genre; given how I've enjoyed SF (Retrieval Artist, Elijah Bailey) and fantasy (Dragon Precinct) takes on police procedurals, someone doing the same with a legal thriller sounds like an interesting prospect.

Okay, to be more precise, the legal thriller will probably be published under the Forge imprint, but it's the same company and people: Tom Doherty Associates. In general, the Tor label goes on the sf/fantasy stuff, while the more mainstream stuff (mysteries, spy thrillers, historical fiction, etc.) are published as Forge.

True story: We basically invented Forge back in the early nineties because Tor had become so identified with sf/fantasy that whenever we tried to publish something else--like a straight legal thriller--people would just assume it was somehow science-fictional. Newspapers would assign it to the sf reviewer, bookstores would shelve it in the sf section, etc.

So . . . Forge Books was born. But, behind the scenes, it's the same company as Tor. And I'm writing the copy for the same people.

Hope that makes sense!