Customer Reviews

Ishmael (Firecrest Books)

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

A Star Trek/Here Comes The Brides crossover? Yet believe it or not it works. The Klingons are trying to change Earth's history which is how an amnesiac Spock finds himself in 1800s Seattle posing as the nephew of Aaron Stemple, (the 'Ishmael' of the title). Meanwhile back in the twenty-third century Kirk, McCoy and the rest of the crew wade through tons of old records to locate Spock *and* the Klingons - eventually arriving just after the nick of time but before it's too late. The real fun is trying to identify all the walk-throughs: The scruffy looking space pilot and the two brown uniformed men from some refugee fleet; the fancy gambler and the two cowhands from Virginia city; the chess playing man at the San Francisco Hotel; the shabby little man with the flute and the pretty female companion....

Okay, I've never seen the other show. And to a certain extent Paramount has abandoned the "Klingons" who show up in this book, much as they abandoned the Klingons of John M. Ford's "The Final Reflection" and the Romulans/Rihannsu of Diane Duane. (The Klingons gained honor and the Romulans lost it, as far as I can tell.) But if your first introduction to Klingons was the Original Series, this story uses them well and delivers a rollicking story in the grand old tradition.

The other reviewers have mentioned amnesiac Spock, but one of the great pleasures of this book is the people left behind, struggling to find him. Kirk, McCoy, even Uhura and Sulu are all exactly as we wish them to be. This is one of the top five Star Trek tie-ins for any of the series.

This book's got 'em, and a lot more. Mr. Spock gets zapped back in time to the founding of Seattle, Washington, where the Klingons plan on assassinating someone who has great importance in the forming of future events. Too bad the jolt has given the Vulcan amnesia. As Kirk and crew search for their missing Science Officer, Spock tries to fit into an alien world he has no idea is truly alien to him. Hambly has great fun with the silly premise (letting Spock rub elbows with some actual historic characters, including San Francisco's adopted Emperor, is a real nice touch) and makes for an entertaining time waster. Recommended.

The first time I read this novel many years ago, I was unaware that the Human characters in 1860s Seattle were based on a 1960s TV show called "Here Come the Brides." I liked the novel in its own right, as a creative story about Spock getting lost in the Old Northwest. More recently, I had a chance to view some of the "Brides" episodes on videotape, which acquainted me with the various characters. Re-reading the novel was even more fun!

The basic plot premise is this: During an espionage mission against the Klingons, Spock is captured and interrogated with the notorious Mind-Sifter, which gives him a case of total amnesia. Before his capture, however, he manages to send two very short, cryptic messages about what the Klingons are up to. The Enterprise crew receives the messages, but it takes a while to decode them.

Meanwhile, Spock somehow ends up in the woods outside in 1860s Seattle, with no idea who he is or how he got there. He is eventually found, wounded and unconscious, by Aaron Stemple (the lumber baron in the "Brides" series), who hides him in a remote cabin until he has recovered, then passes him off as his cousin Ishmael Marx. ("Ishmael" gets shortened to "Ish" -- which just happens to mean "male human being" in Hebrew. Nice touch!) Aaron knows that "Ishmael" is an alien, having seen his pointed ears and green blood, and expresses curiousity about where he came from. But Spock does not remember, not even his own name. Bits and pieces of images from his past crop up in his mind, but have no contextual meaning. He accepts that he in a stranger in a strange land who is not likely to be rescued, and decides to pass for Human in order to survive. With Aaron's help, he gradually adapts to life on Earth -- until the Klingons show up.

Whether or not you are familiar with "Here come the Brides," the book is well-plotted and has some great scenes, such as Spock winning big in a gambling casino playing -- of all things -- chess! Spock acts far more human than usual, until his memory comes back and he remembers what his mission is. Of course, he is eventually rescued by Kirk and company and returned to the 23rd century -- resulting in a little surprise at the end.

I picked this one up right after it was published. I had just discovered Star Trek in re-runs, and loved it, & bought every book I could find.

I read the book and it was like eating a wine-seasoned savory stew, something to eat slooooooooooowwwwwwwly and without discussion until you had eaten every bit and licked the last drop from the plate. I loved the mood, the mist-laden dark woods, the constant patter of rain, the sombre, slightly menacing Aaron Stemple, the delightful Drelb Aurelia. The combined pain and angst--and very deft comedy of the Enterprise crew left "behind" in the future who set out to find their friend.

I had never watched "Here Come the Brides," and it wasn't until my husband finally read the book and I heard him laughing that I learned it was a crossover novel. I had appreciated it solely on its own merit: the characterizations, the atmosphere. Later I learned there were many "private jokes" and cameo appearances tucked away in the book and that made me smile, because I do the same thing in my own writing. It only works if you can do it without detracting or distracting from the story; Hambly's jokes add to it.

After about 5 years and 7 or 8 complete read-throughs of the book, I chanced upon "Here Come the Brides" and watched, delighted to see the best joke of all: that Aaron Stemple was played by Mark Lenard, who also played Spock's father. I liked the show well enough, but I always winced on the few occasions when it didn't fit into my -- Hambly's -- universe.

It's been about 23 years since I first read the book and out of all the Star Trek (TOS, TNG, DS9 -- those are MY treks) books out there, there are only three or four that I go back to again and again. This is the main one, and it's as fresh as it was the first time. I can smell the pine and feel the mud and drenching rain...and I've never even been to Seattle.

Without his Vulcan cultural influences, to adapt Spock behaves as a human. He dances. He engages in subtle play. We take plasure in reading of our favourite Vulcan in roles which would seem outlandish. Spock the Pirate "blackfire", and here, Spock the gentleman. As with "Uhura's song" there is a simplistic appeal to the lack of advanced technology. Peace, almost. Also recommended: Blackfire, The wounded Sky, Yesterday's son, The Final reflection, Uhura's song, Web of the Romulans, Spock's World, Prime Directive.

This is one of the most delightful of all the Star Trek tie-in series. The premise is that Spock, while attempting to foil a Klingon plot to destory the Federation by changing Earth's past, has become stranded on 19th century Earth with no memory of his mission or his own identity. He is found by a local businessman who befriends him.

What makes this so unusual is that Spock lands into the setting of another TV show, HERE COME THE BRIDES, that was roughly contemporary with TOS. For anyone who is unfamiliar with that show, it's basic premise was three brothers, Jason, Joshua and Jeremy Bolt owned a mountain outside of Seattle. In order to keep their workforce the Bolts had arranged to bring 30 young women from New England as brides for the men. As collateral to finance the project they used their mountain. If all the women were not married or engaged before the end of the year the brothers would lose everything.

This type of crossover story is common in fan fiction with often less than satisfactory results. This story though is an example of how this subgenre should be handled. Hambly has gotten a good feel for both sets of characters, she has remained true to both canons, as well as developing an original and interesting dilemma of her own. In addition she has introduced some new and believeable characters of her own in both the Star Trek and 'Brides' casts of characters.

For those who remember 1960's TV shows there are also some other subtle crossovers tucked in the background. One of the most obvious is that the same actor who played Sarek also played the character who befriended Spock in this story. Even if the reader has never heard of HERE COME THE BRIDES this is an excellent story on its own merits, one that shows a difference aspect of Spock's character and offers some insight into his human heritage.

This is just about the best of the TOS novels..the story is a good mix of action,as Kirk begins the almost hopeless search to understand the last communication recieved from Spock, and the gentle day to day experiances of Spock, thrown into a world he doesn't remember or understand.But then the stakes are suddenly raised as Spock has to face the bad guys.
Of all the novels- this is the one I always return to.
I have never seen the tv show it is supposed to be inspired by,but that made little difference to my enjoyment,and probably was a good thing,as I approached this with no'baggage'.
This good read and stands on its own.
If you understand the Spock character, you will love this one.

Several people have mentioned the "cross-over" with another 60's TV series. "Here Come the Brides". An interesting bit of trivia about this is that Aaron Stemple was played by Mark Lenard, who would also immortalize the character of Sarek (Spock's father) in "Trek"

I read this book years ago and thought it was outstanding - just my "two cents" worth.

Spock disappears after investigating the strange behavior of a Klingon ore transport. We find him in Earth's past, unconscious and injured, with amnesia caused by resisting the Klingon mind-sifter. When he awakes in the care of Aaron Stemple he discovers that he is near Seattle in the 1860s and realizes that he is not from Earth, but no more.

His human benefactor convinces Spock that when there's life there's hope and presents him to the area as his nephew Ishmael Marx. Those in the know -- a gradually widening circle -- respect Spock's privacy as he establishes himself and tries to figure out what his mission was and whether there is a hope of success. Meanwhile, the Klingons, the Enterprise crew, and a mysterious third party are all working towards changing or not changing Earth's history...

The story draws you in with vivid historical detail and very human characters. It explores the familiar yet continually fascinating theme of how Spock copes and learns from human culture. Highly recommended.