Customer Reviews

ST: Best Destiny (Star Trek: The Original Series)

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4 star:		(10)
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Best Destiny is a very good Star Trek novel. Apart from a continuity error (Forty-five years earlier USS Enterprise 1701-A) should read (USS Enterprise 1701). Best Destiny was an excellently crafted novel and sequel to Diane Carey's "Final Frontier". Not to be confused with the sub-standard fifth Star Trek Movie.

This novel begs a movie (starring David Caruso and Jeremy Irons perhaps ) as Commander George Samuel Kirk and Captain Robert April. The Red headed, hot tempered Star-fleet Security officer and his laid back avuncular English captain's second secret mission together on the original USS Enterprise.

STAR TREK: BEST DESTINY is a book that both a prequel and a sequel. The book actually begins not long after the events of STAR TREK: THE UNDISCOVERED COUNTRY. Capt. Kirk and the rest of the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise have been ordered to return to Earth for the decommissioning of the ship. Along the way, the Enterprise receives a distress call from near the barren planet of Faramond. The message reminds Kirk of his first real voyage in space after having returned and lived on Earth for several years. The book then rewinds to that earlier time nearly forty-five years before. The events from that period are connected to what is happening at Faramond in the present.

Jimmy Kirk is a troublesome teenager. He's extremely intelligent and bright, but has a deep resentment towards his father for leaving all the time to travel in space. After being taken into custody aboard a sea vessel while running away from home, George Kirk is convince by his wife to take Jimmy with him into space. At first George is opposed to the idea, but comes to see the wisdom in his wife's suggestion. Under George's guardianship with the approval of his commander, Capt. Robert April, George brings Jimmy into space and aboard the starship Enterprise. The ship hasn't even been commissioned yet and has only traveled out on one test run. Capt. April is convinced that the voyage on what is to be the Federation's command ship is just what Jimmy needs to turn his life around. George and Capt. April take Jimmy with them aboard a shuttle to examine a peculiar astronomical phenomena. This short jaunt isn't meant to be a very long journey and the small craft is supposed to meet back with the Enterprise at Faramond several hours later. While examining the strange star, the shuttle is attacked by rogue space pirates and left semi-disabled. With the Enterprise unable to return for hours it's up to George, Capt. April, Jimmy, and the other members of the crew to figure out a way to distract the pirates and buy themselves some time.

I must confess that until rather recently, I was never a huge fan of the original Star Trek. I was always more of a Star Wars guy. However, I did become interested in the Star Trek universe when I started watching some episodes of STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION while in high school and my interest in the Star Trek universe has grown ever since then. Overall, I found STAR TREK: BEST DESTINY to be a very enjoyable novel. A reader only needs a basic understanding of the characters of Star Trek to enjoy the book. The book was originally released shortly after STAR TREK: THE UNDISCOVERED COUNTRY, so if a person has seen that movie it would probably suffice. Unlike some other Star Trek novels I have skimmed before, BEST DESTINY does an excellent job of explaining what little technobabble there is (since this is Jim Kirk's first adventure in space, everything has to be explained to him). At the same time, even though all a person needs is a basic understanding of the characters, there are all kinds of information in the book that major fans of the Star Trek universe will find particularly interesting. Overall, an entertaining Star Trek novel that would stand as a good story even if it wasn't set in the Star Trek universe.

One of the "prequels" to the Star Trek universe created by Gene Roddenberry, Diane Carey's BEST DESTINY introduces the reader to the Enterprise at her birth. Commanded by Robert April, the Enterprise is on her "test-run". April's security officer, George Kirk, brings along his troubled son, Jimmy, for the ride.

STAR TREK fans will enjoy experiencing the first voyage of this famous ship, at this time still a carefully-guarded military secret without identifying insignia. The "mission" to Faramond is intended to be a short run to test the engines, but when the Kirks take a shuttlecraft to study a cosmic phenomenon, a run-in with space pirates begins young Jim Kirk's first adventure in space.

Also of interest is the look into Kirk's past. The story is told in flashback, as a late-career Kirk reflects on his wild adolescence and the single event that changed his life and set his destiny in the stars. For those less technically-inclined, basic STAR TREK physics (such as inertial dampers) are explained from the viewpoint of young Jimmy (read: lay terminology!)

A definite recommendation for Trekkers, Trekkies, and those who just wish they were!

Heather Foutz

Like so many of the greatest commanders in history, James T. Kirk was a rebellious teenager, driving his Star Fleet father George Kirk to the brink of frustrated parental defeat. In his first attempt to show his son what Star Fleet was all about, Jimmy Kirk experienced the brutality of Kodos' own brand of survival techniques. When Jimmy leads his gang in an attempt to run away on an ocean ship, George tries one last time to alter his son's life course.
Although the mission is designed to be a "milk-run", it turns out to be much more than that. George Kirk, Captain Robert April, Jimmy Kirk and several other Star Fleet members are observing a unique star formation in a small craft when a pirate ship attacks them. They put up a good fight but when they think that they are about to be destroyed, they put Jimmy in a makeshift survival pod and try to send him out of danger. However, Jimmy has other ideas and proceeds to attack the pirate ship and disable them long enough for his father and shipmates to join in the fight. They manage to defeat their opponents, one of which is a boy genius who has somehow managed to develop a new and revolutionary shield technology.
There is a later story intertwined with this one. Years later Kirk is an admiral and the time frame is right after "The Undiscovered Country." The Enterprise is about to be decommissioned when it is forced to answer a distress call from one of the newest models of starships. When they arrive, Kirk finds himself confronting an old nemesis with delusions of godhood.
This book is an excellent glimpse into the troubled teen years of the strong-willed Jimmy Kirk and the circumstances that turned a potential sociopath into one of the finest commanders Star Fleet ever produced.

A sixteen year old tear away Jimmy Kirk's first venture into space and the beginning of a star-fleet legend.

It's interesting how James Kirk's personality is forged in this book. He is heavily influenced by both his father; Commander George Samuel Kirk and Captain Robert T April in this 'rites of passage' adventure. Best Destiny illustrates how Captain James T Kirk became a fusion of the best of both men. George Kirk doesn't believe in backing down, however dire the situation there is also a solution, you only have to look for it and react accordingly. And Captain April; a fair and just man whose friendly demeanour and concern for his crew and ship commands great loyalty in all who serve with him.

All in all a fine novel.

After reading literally hundreds of books which portray Kirk as a super-hero without fault, it is nice to see a book that actually portrays him as human. It tells of his trouble family life in a way many of us can relate to. More than that, it shows the potential in all of us to be like Kirk and learn from our early life mistakes. It is an inspirational tale about character, family relationships and sheer tenacity against all odds. A must read if there ever was one

STAR TREK: BEST DESTINY is a book that both a prequel and a sequel. The book actually begins not long after the events of STAR TREK: THE UNDISCOVERED COUNTRY. Capt. Kirk and the rest of the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise have been ordered to return to Earth for the decommissioning of the ship. Along the way, the Enterprise receives a distress call from near the barren planet of Faramond. The message reminds Kirk of his first real voyage in space after having returned and lived on Earth for several years. The book then rewinds to that earlier time nearly forty-five years before. The events from that period are connected to what is happening at Faramond in the present.

Jimmy Kirk is a troublesome teenager. He's extremely intelligent and bright, but has a deep resentment towards his father for leaving all the time to travel in space. After being taken into custody aboard a sea vessel while running away from home, George Kirk is convince by his wife to take Jimmy with him into space. At first George is opposed to the idea, but comes to see the wisdom in his wife's suggestion. Under George's guardianship with the approval of his commander, Capt. Robert April, George brings Jimmy into space and aboard the starship Enterprise. The ship hasn't even been commissioned yet and has only traveled out on one test run. Capt. April is convinced that the voyage on what is to be the Federation's command ship is just what Jimmy needs to turn his life around. George and Capt. April take Jimmy with them aboard a shuttle to examine a peculiar astronomical phenomena. This short jaunt isn't meant to be a very long journey and the small craft is supposed to meet back with the Enterprise at Faramond several hours later. While examining the strange star, the shuttle is attacked by rogue space pirates and left semi-disabled. With the Enterprise unable to return for hours it's up to George, Capt. April, Jimmy, and the other members of the crew to figure out a way to distract the pirates and buy themselves some time.

I must confess that until rather recently, I was never a huge fan of the original Star Trek. I was always more of a Star Wars guy. However, I did become interested in the Star Trek universe when I started watching some episodes of STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION while in high school and my interest in the Star Trek universe has grown ever since then. Overall, I found STAR TREK: BEST DESTINY to be a very enjoyable novel. A reader only needs a basic understanding of the characters of Star Trek to enjoy the book. The book was originally released shortly after STAR TREK: THE UNDISCOVERED COUNTRY, so if a person has seen that movie it would probably suffice. Unlike some other Star Trek novels I have skimmed before, BEST DESTINY does an excellent job of explaining what little technobabble there is (since this is Jim Kirk's first adventure in space, everything has to be explained to him). At the same time, even though all a person needs is a basic understanding of the characters, there are all kinds of information in the book that major fans of the Star Trek universe will find particularly interesting. Overall, an entertaining Star Trek novel that would stand as a good story even if it wasn't set in the Star Trek universe.

In this Star Trek novel, James T. Kirk encounters an event that reminds him of a similar event that occured when he was young. This triggers a flashback to Kirk's second trip into outer space, when he was a surly 16 year old. Something happens to young Kirk that becomes a major turning point in this life, which steers him into becoming the man Star Trek fans know. It's quite enjoyable for fans of the show, non-fans obviously will be uninterested.

Jimmy Kirk is 16 years old, and far too much like his father. Of course that's the last thing in the universe Jimmy wants to believe, since being angry with Starfleet Commander George Kirk is his life's current passion. How can his dad claim to care about Winona, Sam, and Jimmy, when he spends most of his time in space? As Star Trek historical novel "Best Destiny" opens, young Jimmy is busy leading a small gang of similarly rebellious adolescents on what he sees as a grand adventure. One that a red-haired Starfleet security commander makes short work of, as a mortified and furious George Kirk answers his wife's summons to come home and deal with their problem child.

Desperate to show Jimmy that study and self-discipline can take him somewhere the boy may actually want to go, George asks for a temporary assignment that he can share with his son. He makes that appeal to his former captain, the legendary Robert April, who commands Starfleet's first Enterprise. Captain April, who is also young Jimmy's godfather, comes through with what ought to be a safe diplomatic outing. What could possibly go wrong on a mission to launch a new archaeological dig on a planet rich in ancient mysteries?

On the planet? Not much. The problem is that the two Kirks and Captain April, plus the small group of Enterprise crew members accompanying them, never get there. Their cutter (a craft soon to be replaced by the now familiar Starfleet shuttle) is ambushed by a pirate vessel hiding where no ship should be able to survive. As Jimmy watches his father in action for the first time, along with Captain April and the others aboard the cutter in the desperate battle that follows, he realizes that they have something he lacks and wants desperately. When his chance comes to help in that fight, he uses his own gifts - untrained and undisciplined though they are - for the first time to support a cause that's larger than himself.

Set inside a framing story with a 60-something James T. Kirk as its hero, this coming of age tale holds up well despite having been outrun by changes in Star Trek canon subsequent to its publication. There's a bit of quaintness in its unintentional lapses into sexism (I can't imagine a Starfleet captain addressing a female crew member, even a wounded one, as "dear" or "honey"!), but otherwise the characters ring true; and the Trek-verse as it appears here, with Robert April not replaced by Jonathan Archer, feels entirely right to this "since the first episode in 1966" fan. I had a great time reading it, and that's exactly what Trek novels are for.

Like so many of the greatest commanders in history, James T. Kirk was a rebellious teenager, driving his Star Fleet father George Kirk to the brink of frustrated parental defeat. In his first attempt to show his son what Star Fleet was all about, Jimmy Kirk experienced the brutality of Kodos' own brand of survival techniques. When Jimmy leads his gang in an attempt to run away on an ocean ship, George tries one last time to alter his son's life course.
Although the mission is designed to be a "milk-run", it turns out to be much more than that. George Kirk, Captain Robert April, Jimmy Kirk and several other Star Fleet members are observing a unique star formation in a small craft when a pirate ship attacks them. They put up a good fight but when they think that they are about to be destroyed, they put Jimmy in a makeshift survival pod and try to send him out of danger. However, Jimmy has other ideas and proceeds to attack the pirate ship and disable them long enough for his father and shipmates to join in the fight. They manage to defeat their opponents, one of which is a boy genius who has somehow managed to develop a new and revolutionary shield technology.
There is a later story intertwined with this one. Years later Kirk is an admiral and the time frame is right after "The Undiscovered Country." The Enterprise is about to be decommissioned when it is forced to answer a distress call from one of the newest models of starships. When they arrive, Kirk finds himself confronting an old nemesis with delusions of godhood.
This book is an excellent glimpse into the troubled teen years of the strong-willed Jimmy Kirk and the circumstances that turned a potential sociopath into one of the finest commanders Star Fleet ever produced.