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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
SPOCK MUST DIE!,
By
This review is from: Spock Must Die! (Star Trek) (Mass Market Paperback)
Spock Must Die! was the first original Star Trek novel, and in fact is one of the best. When the Klingons unexpectedly invade Federation space, the Enterprise heads to Organia to see why the all-powerfufl Organians haven't intervened. A transporter experiment en route backfires horribly, creating a duplicate of Mr. Spock. Evidence surfaces that one of the Spocks is a Klingon agent--but which one?Written by renowned sci-fi author James Blish, who adapted most of the original TV series into short stories, Spock Must Die! is a remarkably fast and easy read, despite the author's regrettable tendency to let his characters lapse into opaque techspeak at every opportunity. Blish understood the Star Trek characters thoroughly though, and this comes through in his prose, particularly his portrayals of Kirk and Spock. While Spock Must Die! certainly doesn't mesh with established Trek continuity since its original publication date, the novel remains a fun, thrilling tale, escpecially for those of us who still wax nostalgic about classic Trek.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Spock Must Die,
By
This review is from: Spock must die! (Star Trek Original Novel) (Mass Market Paperback)
Spock Must Die by James Blish (1970)This was the first Star Trek novel ever published, written by the author of the books of adaptations of the TV episodes. At the time of publication, the original series had ended, three books of episode adaptations had been published, and Star Trek had just begun its trip into syndication into local markets. There was as yet no indication that there would ever be anything besides what had already occurred. The spectacularly-titled story begins with the Enterprise on a deep-space mapping mission, when word comes of the outbreak of war with the Klingon Empire. This should be impossible according to the Organian Peace Treaty, but the ship and its crew are months away from Organia, Earth, the battle front, and separated from all of these by a large portion of the Empire. With options limited, Scott devises a plan. Recalling Dr. McCoys earlier objections to the transporter, positing that he had been killed the first time he had been transported, and a duplicate created. Scott proposes actually creating a duplicate, composed of tachyons, and sending such a duplicate over the many light years needed to reach Organia. With transporter modifications in place, Mr. Spock is selected as the logical person to investigate on Organia. As Scott prepares to send a tachyon duplicate on its long journey, the chamber is shielded to allow for the operation, and the device activated. When the transport is finished, a surprise awaits. Instead of sending a duplicate to Organia, two Mr. Spocks are on the transporter platform, each claiming to be the original! Now, Captain Kirk must devise the best plan to change the tide of the war, determine which Spock is the original, and keep his crew safe while rescuing the Federation. In the meantime, one of the Spocks is obviously trying to sabotage the ship, but which is really the imposter? All of these things must be determined in order to win the war. The author uses a convenient device to key the plot, but presents it well enough that it can be covered by the willing suspension of disbelief. An award-winning science fiction writer and reviewer, Blish writes a plausible science angle, at least plausible by 1970 standards. The authors ending has been contradicted by subsequent movie and TV events, but at the time no one had any reason to suspect that there would ever be any more new Star Trek material. In fact, aside from fanzine publications, there was no new material for over six years, except for the animated show. The novel is a good read, and quite short at 118 pages in the version I read. It is by no means a great book, but it is interesting and a page-turner. It is mostly of historical significance as the first of its kind, and as the only original material by the author of the TV adaptations. Blish died in 1975, shortly after completing the adaptations of all the TV episodes.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
we don't need no stinkin' ethics,
By
This review is from: Spock Must Die! (Turtleback)
This was one of the first novels written by the man who adapted all the episodes to paperback. A product of its era. War breaks out between the Klingon Empire and the Federation and the Organians have disappeared. McCoy raises questions about the transporter (killed and recreated every trip)that prompt Scotty to make an equally unethical solution that 'solves' both problems. Create a tachyon duplicate, beam him to Organia to find out what happened(tachyons solve the distance limitations), get a report, then 'kill' the tachyon duplicate! Jeez. No ethical quandries there. Mightn't the tachyon replicate object to this? Actually creating a life w/ a soul that might protest his fate- and as it turns out, does? Actually raised briefly then chuckled over by Kirk. Gah.They don't test any of this out beforehand (incredibly bad scientific method); they just stick Spock inside (with no way of communicating w/ him btw- sloppy work Scotty) and two Spocks materialize in solid form. Each automatically hating the other for no appreciable reason. Not wonder, not curiosity, hatred. Each a mirror of the other (but no-one notices the insignia (badge in the book) on the opposite side of his shirt? what about the part in his hair? Doesn't the ship have internal cameras?) One suggests killing the other (and this sounds reasonable to Kirk because one may impersonate the other etc. 'huh?' This is *before* we know one is an 'evil' twin and therefore no reason to question either ones' honor/integrity) Again, pretty comfortable with killing in this future. Creepy aside? Women are attracted to Spock due to, excuse me, *white* women are attracted to Spock because he is safe 'jungle fever' material. Gawd. Some factual errors in Kirk's Academy ring (?) and a Vulcan's perfect bilateral symmetry (??). All this said, its still a fun read for all that because it *is* early trek and an insight into trek b4 the show became a cultural icon.
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