The Joy Machine (Star Trek, Book 80) [Mass Market Paperback]

James Gunn (Author), Theodore Sturgeon (Author)

Book Description

Series: Star Trek (Numbered Paperback) | Publication Date: September 1, 1996

Timshel was once the vacation spot of the galaxy, full of culture, natural
beauty, and friendly, hospitable inhabitants. But now Timshel has cut itself
off from the universe. No one is allowed to enter or leave. Concerned, the
Federation has sent agents to investigate, but none have returned.
Captain Kirk and the crew of the "Starship Enterprisesize="-2">TM" are shocked to discover the truth: the people of
Timshel have succumbed to an insidious new technology that guarantees every
citizen total pleasure, a soul-destroying ecstasy that has enslaved their
entire civilization. Kirk and Spock have faced many threats before, but now

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Timshel was once the vacation spot of the galaxy, full of culture, natural beauty, and friendly, hospitable inhabitants. But now Timshel has cut itself off from the universe. No one is allowed to enter or leave. Concerned, the Federation has sent agents to investigate, but none have returned.

Captain Kirk and the crew of the Starship Enterprise^TM are shocked to discover the truth: the people of Timshel have succumbed to an insidious new technology that guarantees every citizen total pleasure, a soul-destroying ecstasy that has enslaved their entire civilization. Kirk and Spock have faced many threats before, but now they face the most seductive menace of all: perfect happiness.

And the rest of the Federation may soon fall under the irresistible control of the Joy Machine.

About the Author

POCKET --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 278 pages
• Publisher: Star Trek; First Edition edition (September 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 067100221X
• ISBN-13: 978-0671002213
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 2.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,012,754 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars For Nostalgia Buffs, August 14, 2002

By 

Jamie Jeffords (South Carolina) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Joy Machine (Star Trek, Book 80) (Mass Market Paperback)

The Joy Machine read just like an episode of the Original Series. Had it been an actual episode, it would have been considered somewhere in the middle of the pack as far as favorite episodes go, IMHO. Nevertheless, even though it is filled with cliches, predictable twists, and a pat ending typicl of ROS episodes, I had a good time "visualizing" the novel as an episode. I gave it three stars because that was a neat experience. For literary merit (or close proximity there f) it deserves less.

For the Trekker completists only.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars The story line is not original. Deja Vu all over again., November 19, 1998

By 

Mr. Shep Willner (Arlington, VA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Joy Machine (Star Trek, Book 80) (Mass Market Paperback)

A quarantined pleasure planet, a drug-induced ecstasy, and a planet controlled by a computer: Where have I seen these themes used before? Oh yes. "Shore Leave," "The Apple," "The Return of the Archons," "For the World is Hollow and I Have Touched the Sky (TOS)"; "When the Bough Breaks" (STTNG); and "Once Upon a Planet" (Animated series). I agree with the first review. Bypass this novel for better ones on the store shelves.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Meh, March 20, 2011

By 

J. S. Harbour (Arizona) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Joy Machine (Star Trek, Book 80) (Mass Market Paperback)

There are so many annoying problems with the plot, characters acting out of character, unrealistic technology, that I almost quit reading halfway thru, but did finish it. I thought it explored some very "Trek" themes well, in line with Roddenberry, so yes, it would have made a good TOS ep. But, every page had at least one Biblical reference that just really got on my nerves after a while. Is this Christian fiction? Are there no analogies from other sources to be made? It became monotonous... Judas, David & Gliath, ad nauseum.