Spock Messiah (Star Trek) [Mass Market Paperback]

Theodore R. Cogswell (Author), Jr. Charles A Spano (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 1993

The victim of a cruel experiment, Commander Spock renounces the U.S.S. Enterprise, becomes the Messiah of the planet Kyros, and launches a holy war on the rest of the world. Reissue.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 182 pages
• Publisher: Bantam (September 1, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0553246747
• ISBN-13: 978-0553246742
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,993,484 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not my idea of a messiah..., April 20, 2001

By 

Rabbi Yonassan Gershom (Minnesota, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

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

This book makes my "Dreck of Trek" list for its absolutely abominable "Messiah" ideas that are based on negative stereotypes of Mohammed and Islam that will make modern Muslims cringe -- yet another "let's make Spock act totally out of character" story. If it wasn't so well-written otherwise, it would get one star. But it does have some interesting characters and twists, so I won't trash it completely. Definitely not a hack novel, but not one that I really enjoyed, either.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding, August 29, 1999

By A Customer

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

Compared to the formula Star Trek novels that the current batch of hack writers regurgitate for monthly publication, SPOCK MESSIAH is a true classic. It's an engaging story that explores the Mr. Spock character in-depth and examines the weaknesses inherent in his vast mental powers.

This novel was written in the 1970s when, if fans were lucky, only one Star Trek novel per year was published. Thus, instead of formula tripe from hack writers, the publishers could afford to print novels by serious writers who were true fans of the subject matter. The 1970s is considered a dark age for fans of the television and movie versions of Star Trek, but for fans of the novels, the 1970s was the Golden Age. SPOCK MESSIAH is simply one of the best novels from that era and easily outstrips any recently published ST novel.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Totally Star Trek, but Totally Different, November 18, 1999

By A Customer

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

I read it when it first came out and I wish it were currently in print so I could get my friends to buy copies.

The most significant point that the others have made (IMHO) is simply that it isn't anything like a modern Trek novel.

Star Trek characters are traditionally portrayed as various American-value sterotypes a-la Lensmen novels, and all of the modern novels rely on these stereotypes, as well as familiarity with the characters to avoid spending time on character development.

In this case, the authors captured just enough of that dull style to make the book "feel" like a Star Trek novel, BUT also managed to get in significant character development -- of the kind that will give those hard-core trivia-swapping fans serious nighmares.