Customer Reviews

Spock, Messiah!

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

 

 

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.

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.

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.

In this story, the crew of the Enterprise is surreptitiously observing the inhabitants of a primitive planet. In order to blend in, each member of the crew that is on the planet has an implant that is to keep him or her in constant contact with a native with a similar temperament. The native, referred to as a "dop" which is short for "Doppelganger" has their emotions and other mental patterns channeled through the implant. This will allow the observer to understand the language, interpret the culturally significant gestures, in general to blend in and avoid all social and cultural faux pas.

However, something goes terribly wrong and Spock appears to take on the persona of a religious madman. He claims to be a powerful religious figure that is going to unite the nomadic tribes and conquer the cities. In his madness, Spock beams to the Enterprise and steals the trilithium crystals, which seriously weakens the Enterprise. There is also a powerful cosmic storm brewing, which will soon destroy the Enterprise if power is not restored.

Kirk, McCoy and others beam down to the planet and try to get close enough to Spock to break the implant connection and release him from the madness. However, Spock is a powerful intellect and he is able to thwart their every action. However, by a series of maneuvers that involve a female member of the crew acting as a stripper, Kirk and company are able to sever the connection and save the ship.

I did not like this story because of the fundamental premise. A female member of the Enterprise crew deliberately altered the person who was to be Spock's dop. Rather than use the selected native with a non-emotional personality that would be compatible with Spock, she changed it to someone who is a lecherous, scheming madman. The powerful flood of emotions overwhelms Spock, which causes the whole problem. Her reasoning was that she wanted Spock to experience more emotions and become more human. This is absurd, this woman made a deliberate error that could have plunged a planet into a genocidal civil war and destroyed the Enterprise. Rather than court-martial her, Kirk does not even reprimand her, saying something like, "what is done is done."

This compounded absurdity is such a logical flaw in the story that I found it difficult to read. An Enterprise officer is portrayed as a petty female interested more in her emotional gratification than in doing her duty. That would not happen in the Star Fleet that I envision.

In this story, the crew of the Enterprise is surreptitiously observing the inhabitants of a primitive planet. In order to blend in, each member of the crew that is on the planet has an implant that is to keep him or her in constant contact with a native with a similar temperament. The native, referred to as a "dop" which is short for "Doppelganger" has their emotions and other mental patterns channeled through the implant. This will allow the observer to understand the language, interpret the culturally significant gestures, in general to blend in and avoid all social and cultural faux pas.

However, something goes terribly wrong and Spock appears to take on the persona of a religious madman. He claims to be a powerful religious figure that is going to unite the nomadic tribes and conquer the cities. In his madness, Spock beams to the Enterprise and steals the trilithium crystals, which seriously weakens the Enterprise. There is also a powerful cosmic storm brewing, which will soon destroy the Enterprise if power is not restored.

Kirk, McCoy and others beam down to the planet and try to get close enough to Spock to break the implant connection and release him from the madness. However, Spock is a powerful intellect and he is able to thwart their every action. However, by a series of maneuvers that involve a female member of the crew acting as a stripper, Kirk and company are able to sever the connection and save the ship.

I did not like this story because of the fundamental premise. A female member of the Enterprise crew deliberately altered the person who was to be Spock's dop. Rather than use the selected native with a non-emotional personality that would be compatible with Spock, she changed it to someone who is a lecherous, scheming madman. The powerful flood of emotions overwhelms Spock, which causes the whole problem. Her reasoning was that she wanted Spock to experience more emotions and become more human. This is absurd, this woman made a deliberate error that could have plunged a planet into a genocidal civil war and destroyed the Enterprise. Rather than court-martial her, Kirk does not even reprimand her, saying something like, "what is done is done."

This compounded absurdity is such a logical flaw in the story that I found it difficult to read. An Enterprise officer is portrayed as a petty female interested more in her emotional gratification than in doing her duty. That would not happen in the Star Fleet that I envision.

The title describes it all here. Spock is implanted with a defective micro chip that has the personality of a madman. It plays like a 1970's version the show. It's one of those novels that would have been a script for the show if it stayed on in the 70's. If you are a Spock fan. Or even a fan of the original show; it's not the dog everyone says it is. It will entertain you for a few hours and isn't a total waste of time.

The early Star Trek books captured more of the essence of Star Trek. Unlike the action packed attempts to create standard science fiction, this, like others from that period embraced the relationships between the characters. This particular novel looked at a more human, if not sinister, side of Spock. I read it years ago and wish I could get my hands on a copy.

Don't get me wrong, I liked the novel (I read it in less than a week). It was a good story and certainly entertaining. The only problem was that, in my mind, it seemed like an alternative version of James Blish's "Spock Must Die" novel. It seems the Star Trek novels of the 1970's just couldn't focus on anyone else but Mr. Spock and/or Captain Kirk. There were other people on board the USS Enterprise. Unfortunately, the book just was not outstanding enough.

One of the best Star Trek novels ever written, particularly superior to most of the "less than stellar" ST novels presently being published.

Spock becomes the God, thereby breaking all his characters usual tenets.

The first few novels written in Star Trek's dark years (1975-79) did not conform to any timeline, set rules, or plot lines. This actually made them refreshing in a way.