"The Fate of the Phoenix": my introduction to original ST fiction in about February of 1980, after having become a ST:TMP fan. I enjoyed it, so it was all up from there.
Whatever Happened to Diane Carey?
- Thread starter RonG
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"The Fate of the Phoenix": my introduction to original ST fiction in about February of 1980, after having become a ST:TMP fan. I enjoyed it, so it was all up from there.
Back in the day of so very little Trek to be had. Where I lived TOS wasn't in syndication at the time, so the occasional book was all there was. When TMP finally came along, I went to see it and couldn't stop smiling. After some time passed I realized the movie had its share of flaws, but I loved it all the same, finally getting to see the gang again.
Back on topic, I can’t remember if anyone's mentioned Carey has done a couple Alien novels in the last year or two. Anyone read them?
i'm SO glad i've never read any of M&C's novels...
I've always been sort of amazed that the same writer could be responsible for both Final Frontier and Best Destiny (which I loved) and Ghost Ship and Ship of the Line (which I hated). I suppose there's an argument to be made that two of those are Kirk-era books and the others are not, but still...
^^Well, to be fair, Ghost Ship had to be written in a rush based on nothing but the TNG writers' bible and the script to "Encounter at Farpoint." I doubt anybody could do a really good tie-in novel under those circumstances.
Wasn't The Siege written under similar circumstances? PAD might have had a few more scripts to work with, but I know it was quite rushed, and it turned out pretty well.
I'm just starting the Double Helix miniseries now, so I'll soon know which side I'll take in the Red Sector debate.
From what I've read of her Trek work, it ranges from bad to decent. Her two Enterprise Logs stories were atrocious, but Final Frontier and Best Destiny are generally good books.
^^Well, as you say, PAD had more scripts to work with, and the character descriptions in the series bible were closer to what we actually got on screen. What with all the clashes and turbulence in the early TNG production staff, a lot of ideas got changed pretty quickly, so that original TNG bible has some significant differences from what we ended up getting.
For what it's worth, I think Ghost Ship told a pretty interesting and potent story within its limits.
For what it's worth, I think Ghost Ship told a pretty interesting and potent story within its limits.
I read it when it first came out, with only David Gerrold's "Encounter at Farpoint" to compare it to, and it entertained me. It was actually fun picking up minor points I knew (from Starlog, etc) had already been altered in the TV series.
I don't recall hating the two Carey "real world captain" stories in "Captain's Logs"; I read them dutifully after reading all the ST captain stories and they were just, "Eh, where's more ST to read?". I did think it was a clever idea to include them, though.
Best Destiny contains the second Most Dumbass Name for a Starfleet Vessel - U.S.S. Bill of Rights. Dumb, dumb, dumb...
beaten only by Taking Wing's U.S.S. Der Sonnenaufgang WTF?! U.S.S. The Sun Rises?!?!
beaten only by Taking Wing's U.S.S. Der Sonnenaufgang WTF?! U.S.S. The Sun Rises?!?!
I know I'm late to the party, but people of her political bent (and mine also) get our oxes gored in ST books on a regular basis, but none of us come on here and complain about it. I happened to enjoy most of her work, and her perspective and take on characters is interesting. And frankly, until so pointed out by others what her views are(assumed), I never really noticed them, or cared about them.
ST books are an escape, not an exercise in politics for most people, if you see something you don't like, then just relax and let it go.
ST books are an escape, not an exercise in politics for most people, if you see something you don't like, then just relax and let it go.
I'm a raving liberal, and I never really thought about Carey's politics either. I'm sure I must have noticed if her characters were more conservative than myself, but most people are, so I don't necessarily hold that against them!
Scott Pearson said:
I'm a raving liberal, and I never really thought about Carey's politics either. I'm sure I must have noticed if her characters were more conservative than myself, but most people are, so I don't necessarily hold that against them!
Liberals, ASSEMBLE!
Diane Carey created Shucorion, and for that I will love her forever.
If only his story could ever continue...
If only his story could ever continue...
Noooooooooo... we never hear a peep from non-liberals about gay characters or dedications to anti-war activists or giving entire planets free medical care. Nope, never...
Wait...
We would, but we lost the instructions.
I do not associate myself with a label of conservative, liberal, Republican or Democrat, however, I think that you may be painting with too broad of a brush here. To suggest that anyone who is "non-liberal" objects to gay characters is a generalization that I think you would find untrue. There are gay "conservatives" in society. The way that you are choosing to define liberal here is only looking at the social issues and completely ignoring the fact that there are fiscally "conservative," socially "liberal" individuals. Furthermore, the terms liberal and conservative are simply used to pigeon hole people into a belief structure when I believe that it is not always that simple. For example, I find that my opinions on issues are so disparate that I cannot label myself in this traditional fashion. To this end, I cannot find a candidate in either of the major political parties who accurately represent my views as they seem to actively try to appeal to the stereotypical "liberal" or "conservative" as opposed to people who consider each issue separately and come to an opinion not based on political leanings, but instead on personal experience.
I have gotten off course here. Please, in the future, do not make assumptions that only "liberal" people are accepting of gay characters, or people, and that "non-liberals" automatically find fault with them.
Thank you.
Dammit.
I guess we'll all have to smoke pot and talk about the New Wave.
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