Sarek (Star Trek) [Hardcover]

A. C. Crispin (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 1994 | Series: Star Trek (Book 86)

In a novel of epic scope and power, the life of Sarek--Spock's father--is explored in fascinating detail, as readers enter the scene after the events of Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country. When Spock visits Vulcan, father and son find themselves working together to foil a far-reaching plot to destroy the Federation--a plot Sarek has seen in the making for nearly his entire career.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Crispin ( Star Trek: Yesterday's Son ) has packed everything a die-hard Trekkie could want into this lighthearted romp with characters from the original series. Spock's father Sarek must uncover the origins of a plot to defame the Vulcans, for the dastardly scheme is only the first step in a plan to destroy the Federation. Needless to say, all of Sarek's respected diplomatic skills are needed to combat the villains. But Sarek is torn between doing his duty to the Federation or forsaking his beloved human wife Amanda, who is on her deathbed. Several subplots, including an interspecies romance between Kirk's nephew Peter and a Klingon girl add spice to the galactic stew. A lagniappe (for those readers who don't mind heavy sentimentality) is the addition of Amanda's journals, which are full of exotic details about life on Vulcan and heartfelt recollections of Sarek's and Spock's lives. Most of the best-loved characters put in appearances, and there are some amusing variations on the better known "trademark" lines. A rather jarring twist results when the normally repressed Spock becomes excessively emotional about his mother's demise. Though the plot ties up as neatly and simplistically as it would in a TV episode, this piece of fluff should be roundly loved by its target audience.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

YA?A readable, well-written story that takes place after the explosion of the Klingon planet Praxis, as depicted in the film Star Trek VI, and that centers around Sarek, the Vulcan ambassador, and his son Spock. Spock and Sarek, who have long been estranged, band together to thwart a plot by the Keep Earth Human League to destroy the Federation. What really distinguishes Sarek from countless other "Star Trek" novels is its handling of the relationships between Spock, his human mother Amanda, and Sarek. These characters are multidimensional, allowing readers to experience their lives, loves, and problems as revealed through Amanda's diary and their own memories. This very satisfying sci-fi romp will be thoroughly enjoyed by legions of Trek fans.?John Lawson, Fairfax County Public Library, VA
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 440 pages
• Publisher: Pocket Books; 1ST edition (January 1, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0671795619
• ISBN-13: 978-0671795610
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.8 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,593,356 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Happy February, Amazon.com readers! Great news! Books 1, 2, 3, and 4 of my StarBridge Series are now available on Kindle!

Now, thanks to Ridan Publishing, the StarBridge books will all be available in all major e-book formats on the Ridan website and right here on Amazon.com for the Kindle. The first four StarBridge Books, StarBridge, Silent Dances, Shadow World, and Serpent's Gift are out now, and the remaining three, Silent Songs, Ancestor's World, and Voices of Chaos will be following in the next few months.

I can't tell you how thrilled I am about this. StarBridge has always been near and dear to my heart. They were widely regarded as some of the best space-based books for young adults, and that kind of sf is even rarer now than it was when these books were first published. I hope they will continue to be a gateway for readers to the sort of science fiction that I love, as Andre Norton's and Robert A. Heinlein's were for me.

If the e-editions do well, there may be MORE StarBridge adventures to come...I'm talking brand-new, original stories. So please...check them out!

Also, still available is my Pirates of the Caribbean prequel book, The Price of Freedom. Not to make too big a deal of it, but the hardcover would make a heck of a good present for any fan of PotC.

The Price of Freedom is the first full-length novel written in the Pirates of the Caribbean universe aimed at adult readers. It's a prequel to the POTC films, and tells how Jack Sparrow first became Captain Jack Sparrow. It tells how he first encountered Cutler Beckett and Hector Barbossa, and why he left Shipwreck Cove. Jack also meets some unusual ladies in the book. And, since it's a Pirates of the Caribbean story, there's also treasure and magic!

The Price of Freedom is available in both hardcover and Kindle versions. If you're familiar with my other books, I've done for Jack Sparrow what I did for Han Solo and Sarek -- this novel is his backstory and shows how Jack became the Jack we know from the movies.

HOW TO FIND ME:
My web page is www.accrispin.com

My Facebook page is A.C. Crispin -- look me up! I enjoy interacting with my readers.

My Twitter address is @anncrispin. I tweet about pirate facts, writing tips, and reports on my booksignings and appearances.

ABOUT ME:

My interests? Books, reading, writing, pirates, Pirates of the Caribbean (natch!) and helping aspiring writers avoid writing scams. I'm the Chair of SFWA's Writer Beware -- www.writerbeware.com -- and if you're an aspiring author, you really should visit our website. There are lots of hungry sharks out there on the internet these days, posing as literary agents and publishers. Getting published is hard enough these days, without getting ripped off while trying. Writer Beware is free, we're all volunteers. Come check us out, and you can avoid the scam literary agents and publishers that want to separate you from your hard-earned money.

I'll be checking back to this page, so if you have questions, post them, and I'll reply as soon as I can.

-A. C. (Ann) Crispin

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A good story based on characters and cultures, March 3, 2001

By 

Charles Ashbacher (Marion, Iowa United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Sarek (Star Trek) (Mass Market Paperback)

When people ask me about the qualities that make the original Star Trek series so appealing, my response is, "characters and cultures." The primary story lines were about sentient beings who found themselves in complex situations and where the gadgetry and weaponry played only secondary roles. Granted, Kirk was a Napoleanic character, but that is a characteristic that early starship captains would have to possess. The other characters were so well-defined that even the lesser roles are as well-known as the main three. We were introduced to the Vulcans, Romulans and Klingons, similar species, but all with exaggerated human characteristics. The Vulcans, a superhuman race with logic and ethics taken to an extreme, the warlike Klingons who nevertheless possess a strict code of honor and the Romulans, for whom deceitful plotting is an art form.
This tale, which is set in the time immediately after the movie, "The Undiscovered Country" is based largely on a growing movement among humans to keep Earth for the humans. It turns out that it is another plot hatched by a secretive race who have interacted with Sarek and the Federation for many years. Once again, we are led through many of the subtle cultural backgrounds of the Vulcans, Klingons and Romulans.
We are along as many of the journal entries of Spock's mother Amanda are read, as we learn a great deal more of the Vulcan culture as well as the origin of the rift between Spock and his father. Klingon honor, mating rituals and marriage rites are also explored, as we are exposed to more of what that complex race uses to guide their lives and rules of succession. The Romulan capacity for long-term plotting is exposed once again, although we do see how their honor is such that they are willing to sacrifice themselves to aid others.
This is one of my favorite Star Trek books because it does rely on characters and shows us so much of the nonhuman cultures. The plot is well-defined and moves along rather quickly as the staid diplomat Sarek proves himself capable of being much more, including a spy.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Star Trek: Sarek, December 5, 2002

By 

Joe Zika "Khemprof" (Cincinnati, Ohio) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Sarek (Star Trek) (Hardcover)

Star Trek: Sarek written by A.C.Crispin is a book about the life of one of the most revered characters in the Star Trek genre... Sarek, spock father and an ambassador of the Federation.

For being a book about a Vulcan, you would think this book would be void of emothion... far from this case, indeed. This book runs the full gambit of human emotion, you'll cry, laugh, be heartbroken and happy. This book's time frame is after the events of Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country, as Spock's mother, Amanda Grayson, is dying and Spock returns to Vulcan where he meets his father Sarek and they get reacquainted, so to speak, making for some very interesting reading.

Of course, the U.S.S. Enterprise and her crew aren't too far away from this epic tale... no sir, as Captain Kirk's last surviving relative has become a pawn in the battle to divide the Federation. The Klingon Empire, you can always count on them, are the kidnappers with the Federation's distruction not too far behind.

There is action-adventure in this story, love and loyality. There is an enemy more insidious and more dangerous than any faced to this point. The characteriztions are spot-on with a well-fleshed out dialog making for a very quick, fast read. You will get engrossed with this tale and will not want to put the book down til the end.

You can always tell when you have an excellent Trek Book in your hands... the pages seem to fly by... this is the case with this book. This book fills in some of the spotiness between Spock and Sarek whick were until now only circumspect.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sarek - Definitely A Keeper!, October 25, 2005

By 

G. Lassich "htmlnerd" (NM, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sarek (Star Trek) (Hardcover)

As any Trekkie would do, I got this book that's about one of my favorite Vulcans.

This book is the heart-wrenching story of Sarek's deep love for Amanda, their courtship, marriage, and now his agony and fear at the realization of her terminal illness.

A.C. Crispin has a great way of representing the personalities of the characters, as well as the emotions. The anguish Sarek goes through, as well as other emotions, are well represented and touch the heart.

This is a MUST READ for any Star Trek Fan!