Customer Reviews

Star Trek 12 : Mutiny on the Enterprise

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

As Star Trek stories go, this one wasn't bad. It was vaguely reminiscent of the episode (the title of which escapes me) in which the Enterprise crew are "infected" with spores that render them blissfully happy, totally pacifistic, and utterly useless. The main difference is that in this novel, the part of the spores is played by a sentient alien with a hypnotically persuasive voice and marvellous diplomatic skills who they rescue from a disabled ship.

A perfectly workmanlike, but unspectacular story.

I felt that the book was decently written.I wouldnt say that it is the best Star trek book out there though but in my opinion it was worth reading.

I just finished Mutiny on the Enterprise last night (TOS #12), and I have mixed feelings.

The Enterprise, being overdue for some dry-dock time where repairs can be made and shore leave can be taken, is ordered to the Orion Arm to oversee peace negotiations between two systems. There is a Romulan threat in the background if the negotiations fail, so off they go against Kirk's and Scotty's better judgment. On the way, they pick up a young lady named Lorelei.

Lorelei, a pacifist who has the unique ability to influence anyone (except Spock and Kirk, it seems) to her point of view just by talking with them, begins to lead the crew to believe that their mission will start a war and should be avoided at all costs. Her activities cause all crew members to slack in their duties. The engines go out and the Enterprise becomes little more than a sitting duck. Luckily, she is in orbit around a planet that has supplies they can use to repair the ship.

Kirk has to find a way to get his crew back under control, get the supplies off the planet in spite of extreme danger, get to the peace conference before war breaks out, and still keep the Romulans at bay.

On the one hand, the story was fun and believable. Other than the Spock-McCoy banter happening a bit more than usual and being a bit forced at times, everyone acted in character. And there was quite a bit of suspense. The pacifist message came through strong and was strongly squelched by Kirk.

However, the book had zero character insight or development. It read like watching an episode. Not even that well because visual description left something to be desired more than once. The events had little or no emotional impact on anyone, except Kirk being frustrated with the mutiny. All I'm saying here is that there was dialog and action, but little to no "getting in their heads".

The novel is still pretty enjoyable, and completists will definitely want to add it to their collection. But I don't think I would put it on the "oldies but goodies" list.

Star Trek #12 is an enjoyable read that can be read in a couple sittings at best, the later book have more pages and somewhat deeper plots. Some of the other reviews here give synopsis of the plot so I will refrain from that.

I found 'The Speaker of Hyla', or Lorelei, to be a very interesting character, as did Captain James Kirk early on. Until her methodology and beliefs takes his ship away from him in mutiny!

As can be seen from several other reviews, the plot is fairly simple, but the writing and action are enjoyable. And with Kirk being a romantic of sorts, he is taken in more so than either McCoy or Spock. All's well in the end and it is an early Star Trek tale told well. One can almost see this as a screen play to be viewed on TV.

Live long and read many Star Treks.

Semper Fi.

In this story it was nice too see that usual Kirk-style approach to ending a conflict doesn't sometimes work -and that in the end he has to rely on something else to end it. I guess the morale of the book is how much carrot or stick to apply in a conflict.

The conflict is a potential war between 2 planets. The Enterprise is sent to show the flag. The character's are some what believable. The key character is on alien woman, Lorelei, a pacifist, who has the unique ability to influence anyone to her point of view. She can do this just by talking to them. I was left wondering though, why weren't Spock and Kirk influenced by her abilities. That part wasn't explained. Eventually, Loreli convinces the crew that the Enterprise's presence in the area will start the war between the 2 planets. So, the crew becomes pacified and mutines.Kirk and Spock have to find a way to get there crew back under control and stop the war. The rest of the story deals with that and then stoppping the potential war.

Read on...

In my reviews of Classic Star Trek novels, it must be understood that I adhere to the original canon
as invisioned by Gene Roddenberry, and not the "Star Trek" universe accepted by Rick Berman and company.

I generally rate a classic novel thus:

Adherence to Canon -- does this novel adhere to the vision of the original Star Trek?

3 stars

Believability (within the confines of 23rd century Star Trek viability) -- is this novel well-plotted and well
written? Can I picture this novel or imagine myself in it?

3 stars. The concept of a living planet is fascinating, but so much more could have been done here.

Coherence and Consistency -- does this novel internally consistent? Is it consistent with other Star Trek
novels by the same author? Is it consistent with what is known of the CLASSIC Star Trek universe?

3 stars -- consistent with "The Klingon Gambit" by the same author.

Mitigating Factors -- pluses or minuses which dramatically affect the enjoyment of this book

The concept of the living planet is offset by the rather stupid "sentient plant" alien.

Three stars overall.

This was a predictable Trek novel. While some of the character were fun, it seemed a little too easy to figure out the plot.

when I was beginning to read this book I noticed who wrote it and I gave a little bit of a groan...Vardeman's first trek book, The Klingon Gambit was anything but stellar....but he definetly makes up for it with this book..

this book seems more sure of itself..doesn't get lost like the klingon gambit did..he's got a solid hold on the characters

kirk, always at odds between doing what's right and his orders from star fleet, scotty working his engineering magic, spock and mccoy, well, being spock and mccoy and how they interplay between one another..

at the heart of this book is a captain's worst nightmare..mutiny! why? long overdue R & R or something else entirely? not something sinister by any stretch, but definetly alien..

what I liked about this book was it started off with a simple mission, but in true star trek fasion, nothing's a cakewalk..i like how vardeman got off the beaten track of what would have been an otherwise boring mission and got into more action filled and dramatic territory, but still went back to the beginning and wrapped things up nicely..

a really good and solid star trek read.

As one reviewer stated it is similiar to one of the episodes, I can't remember which either. It was good book though. Suspensful, dramatic you could easily play it out in your head, especially if you had seen the episode this is similiar too.

The problem with many of the original "Star Trek" novels is that while they are often quite exciting, they leave behind the philosophy of the original series. "Mutiny on the Enterprise" reads like one of the great episodes of the first or second season. It weaves a morally complex story in which the concept of pacifism is explored from all angles, and in which Kirk and his crew are not always right.