Would the novelizations be better???

[Nathan]

I just got done watching TNG's episodes of "The Enemy" (one with the Romulan dude and LaForge on the planet) and "Family" (post-Best of Both Worlds Episode).

I was thinking how great the novelization of those two episodes could be.....

For "The Enemy", some back story as to Romulan mission, perhaps conversation with Tomalak and his advisors (discussing conversations Tomalak had with Picard)

For "Family" more backstory with Picard and his bro.....more backstory scenes with Bev and Jack Crusher.

Just got me thinking that there are probably a shitload of episodes that could be full blown novels with a lot of backstory. Lower Decks come to mind also.

I recall reading Wrath of Khan and just loved the back story with Savvik and the dude that was Scotty's nephew.

Just seeing what episodes (TNG or other Trek episodes) that Trek BBSers would love to see novelized with a good bit of backstory.

 

[Kilana2]

As to "Family" I agree. I'm not fond of Romulan stories/episodes per se, especially that aforementioned episode "The Enimy".

Only few authors managed to convince me with a Romulan story.

"Family" could easily be extended in a novel. Riker and his father also had some unfinished business....

Spoiler: Riker sr. in the novels

... before he died in the novels.

 

[DS9forever]

I think novelizations of "Little Green Men" or "Our Man Bashir" would have been fun (although the James Bond producers wouldn't have been happy with the latter I imagine).

 

[Avro Arrow]

For TNG, either Best of Both Worlds or Chain of Command would have been great choices for novelizations. For VOY, probably Dark Frontier, and for ENT, I would have liked to see one for In A Mirror, Darkly.

DS9's a bit harder... so many great choices! They could easily novelize whole arcs of that show.

From MA, here's a list of episodes that actually *were* novelized... maybe one you were hoping for already exists! (I didn't realize VOY had an Equinox novelization. I'd like to give that one a read...)

TNG

Encounter at Farpoint
Unification
Relics
Descent
All Good Things...

DS9

Emissary
The Search
The Way of the Warrior
Trials and Tribble-ations
Far Beyond the Stars
What You Leave Behind

VOY

Caretaker
Flashback
Day of Honor
Equinox
Endgame

ENT

Broken Bow
Shockwave
The Expanse

 

[Christopher]

^And, of course, every episode of TOS and TAS was novelized, although not always completely or accurately. Well, except for "The Menagerie." James Blish adapted the original pilot (what we now know as "The Cage") but didn't adapt any of its frame story.

 

[Trekkin]

Nemesis novelization. It's still not fantastic, but it's better than the actual movie. Beverly even had some lines.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

I generally enjoy novelizations, except - for reasons which should be obvious - ENT's "Broken Bow."

(for those not in the know: Diane Carey wasn't content to simply novelize the episode. She literally FILLED the novel with snarky put-downs - usually as part of characters' internal monologues - commenting on how shitty she believed the script was. Almost every other LINE was like that. It got way, way out of control. )

 

[tomswift2002]

The Enterprise novelizations are way--way-way better than their respective episodes (Broken Bow, Shockwave, The Expanse), and for me, at the time, they were the only way that I could "see" new Trek stories each year.

Even from Voyager, I read "Flashback" before I saw the episode and I was expecting a 3-part episode, not the single episode that was actually produced.

But apparently Voyager was to get a novelization of "Unimatrix Zero", as numerous online stores (including Chapters) was listing the book as being written by Diane Carey.

I'm surprised that "Basics" or the "37's" didn't get a novelization.

 

[Stevil2001]

For TNG, either Best of Both Worlds or Chain of Command would have been great choices for novelizations. For VOY, probably Dark Frontier, and for ENT, I would have liked to see one for In A Mirror, Darkly.

DS9's a bit harder... so many great choices! They could easily novelize whole arcs of that show.

From MA, here's a list of episodes that actually *were* novelized... maybe one you were hoping for already exists! (I didn't realize VOY had an Equinox novelization. I'd like to give that one a read...)

TNG

Encounter at Farpoint
Unification
Relics
Descent
All Good Things...

DS9

Emissary
The Search
The Way of the Warrior
Trials and Tribble-ations
Far Beyond the Stars
What You Leave Behind

VOY

Caretaker
Flashback
Day of Honor
Equinox
Endgame

ENT

Broken Bow
Shockwave
The Expanse

^And, of course, every episode of TOS and TAS was novelized, although not always completely or accurately. Well, except for "The Menagerie." James Blish adapted the original pilot (what we now know as "The Cage") but didn't adapt any of its frame story.

The list also omits Diane Carey's novelization of the seven-episode run of Deep Space Nine from "A Call to Arms" to "Sacrifice of Angels," published as books two and four of The Dominion War.

 

[Christopher]

The list also omits Diane Carey's novelization of the seven-episode run of Deep Space Nine from "A Call to Arms" to "Sacrifice of Angels," published as books two and four of The Dominion War.

Well, six-plus episodes, because she only adapts the climax of "A Call to Arms," not the whole thing.

 

[JonnyQuest037]

I generally enjoy novelizations, except - for reasons which should be obvious - ENT's "Broken Bow."

(for those not in the know: Diane Carey wasn't content to simply novelize the episode. She literally FILLED the novel with snarky put-downs - usually as part of characters' internal monologues - commenting on how shitty she believed the script was. Almost every other LINE was like that. It got way, way out of control. )

I've heard that before, and have a perverse curiosity to at least flip through the book now.

But honestly, if she thought that little of the script, it would've been more professional to just turn down the job rather than undercut it at every opportunity.

 

[Nathan]

I think "Defector" would have been another good one as well -- the back story of him getting the bad intel about the Romulan base, his family etc. Plus, even how the crew was handling having the Romulan aboard.

Sorta off topic, but I was always annoyed with the plot hole of how the Romulan had the "cyanide pill" on him and wasn't discovered.

How he wasn't given different clothing and a full medical eval. Plus, I can't believe Riker was in charge of the interrogation (or interview depending on your point of view).....it should have been some of Worf's folks. But it was a show so who wants some throw away lines from some nameless crewperson doing the interrogation/interview.

To get through the plot hole of the poor search of the dude, I thought perhaps he truly was searched, but there was a Romulan sympathizer/spy on board who was loyal to the Romulan and slipped him the "cyanide pill" after the search.

Of course, there was no evidence of that, but it helps me rationalize the episode.

 

[JD]

I don't really think The Enemy or Family needed novelizations, I like just fine how they are, but I would love to get one of The Inner Light. I haven't read it, but I've heard the novelization of Far Beyond the Stars has added scenes from throughout Benny Russel's life, I would love to see them do something like that for Kamin in TIL.

 

[Tracy Trek]

One reason I like novelizations is sometimes you can go into greater detail than you can on screen because of budgetary constraints. For example in the novelization of the TNG episode Relics:

Spoiler: [Relics]

An away team explores a little of the inner surface of the Dyson Sphere

 

[Nathan]

JD, I just think that most likely those who really liked an episode probably would like it "novelized" with some backstory / added scenes.

I'm everyone has there own Top 10 Worst Trek Episodes and thinks, "there is no friggin' this episode should have a novelization or a prequel/sequel to it.

Whereas everyone has there own Top 10 Kick @$$ Trek Episodes and thinks, "I would love a back story/novelization to this!"

I'm sure some think, "why tamper with a kick @$$ episode but at least SOME of the Top 10 Kick @$$ episodes, a person would want more story/backstory to feed the beast!

 

[ATimson]

But honestly, if she thought that little of the script, it would've been more professional to just turn down the job rather than undercut it at every opportunity.

She'd almost certainly signed the contract before seeing the script, however...

 

[Idran]

I'm everyone has there own Top 10 Worst Trek Episodes and thinks, "there is no friggin' this episode should have a novelization or a prequel/sequel to it.

Whereas everyone has there own Top 10 Kick @$$ Trek Episodes and thinks, "I would love a back story/novelization to this!"

How about the other way around, then? Are there any episodes you hate that you think a novelization could fix? Not in the self-mockery style of Carey's Broken Bow novelization, but one where the flaws are due to issues that could be patched up in a good novelization without actually conflicting with what we saw on screen or clashing with the feel of the episode?

 

[Nathan]

Idran, I see your point, perhaps it would work, but as the saying goes, if you are given a turd, and polish it up, in the end, it still is a turd!

I suppose with some, the novelization could be a bit better, probably go from the rating shitty to well, that kinda sucked but I was able to get through it.

 

[Stevil2001]

I felt that Matt Stover's novelization of Revenge of the Sith transformed it from the worst Star Wars movie into an excellent, mythical novel, so it is possible to "polish a turd" in the novelization biz!

 

[Idran]

Yeah, the general opinion I've heard is that the novelizations of all three prequel films are overall pretty enjoyable reads that far improve on their source material.