Star Trek: Prime Directive [Audiobook] [Hardcover]

Judith Reeves-Stevens (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1995 | Series: Star Trek

Kirk, Spock and the others have to cope with danger without breaking the Prime Directive - that Starfleet personnel and spacecraft are prohibited from interfering in the normal development of any society, and that any Starfleet vessel or crew member is expendable to prevent violation of this rule.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The latest addition to the Star Trek canon revolves around violation of the Prime Directive forbidding interference with alien cultures. Instead of stopping a nuclear war on Talin IV, Captain Kirk has apparently triggered Armageddon: a devastated world now bears the name "Kirk's Planet." The Enterprise is a crippled hulk, and her senior officers have left Starfleet in disgrace. But Kirk and his comrades are determined to restore their honor by finding out what really happened on Talin IV. Excessive use of frames and flashbacks complicates the story line, a flaw offset by strong presentation of the bonds among the Enterprise crew. The intricate Star Trek universe is handled well, especially in an amusing subplot putting Sulu and Chekov aboard an Orion pirate ship. While this installment is unlikely to attract new readers to the series, Trekkies will not be disappointed.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Publisher

Starfleet's most sacred commandment has been violated. Its most honored captain is in disgrace, its most celebrated starship in pieces, and the crew of that ship scattered among the thousand worlds of the Federation...

Thus begins Prime Directive, an epic tale of the Star Trek^® universe. Following in the bestselling tradition of Spock's World and The Lost Years, Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens have crafted a thrilling tale of mystery and wonder, a novel that takes the Star Trek characters from the depths of despair into an electrifying new adventure that spans the galaxy.

Journey with Spock, McCoy, and the rest of the former crew of theStarship Enterprise ^TM to Talin -- the planet where their careers ended. A world once teeming with life that now lies ruined, its cities turned to ashes, its surface devastated by a radioactive firestorm -- because of their actions. There, they must find out how -- and why -- this tragedy occurred and discover what has become of their captain. --This text refers to the Audio Cassette edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster (September 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 067185626X
• ISBN-13: 978-0671856267
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.4 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (31 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #9,696,286 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Kirk the world-killer and the disgrace of the "Enterprise Five", April 24, 2006

By 

Lawrance M. Bernabo (The Zenith City, Duluth, Minnesota) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Prime Directive (Star Trek) (Paperback)

In the "Star Trek" universe the Prime Directive is Starfleet's General Order #1, which prohibits interference with the natural development of a primitive society ("primitive" defined as any culture that has not yet developed warp drive). Specifically this means that a primitive culture cannot be exposed to information regarding advanced technology or alien races, including any effort to improve or change the natural development of such societies. There was once a "Star Trek" comic book that had fun enumerating all of the times that Captain James T. Kirk violated the Prime Directive, which basically showed that General Order #1 was a piece of Swiss cheese. However, nothing that ever happened during the original "Star Trek" causes as much problems for Kirk and his crew as what happens in this 1990 novel, and the fact that this violation is unintentional is painfully ironic.

When I first started reading "Prime Directive," I had some questions about the precipitating incident, namely the destruction of Talin IV by the "Enterprise." Part of it was the science involved in what happens when a warp engine ignites in an atmosphere, because even though I am completely gullible when it comes to "Star Trek" physics it seems they already did that in the original series (e.g., "Tomorrow is Yesterday"). Beyond that, I had concerns as to how Federation investigators looking at this tragedy could be fooled as to what really happened, since, it goes without saying, Kirk is not a mass-murdering butcher who would destroy an entire planet. The corollary to this is that once the entire known universe thinks you are a mass-murdering butcher, the truth is hardly going to set you being free.

That being said, what makes "Prime Directive" a must-read "Star Trek" novel is that Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens come up with a reason to send the crew of the "Enterprise" to the four corners of the galaxy. After all, Starfleet's highest law has been broken, its most honored captain is in disgrace, its most celebrated starship in pieces, and the crew scattered throughout the Federation. The narrative that picks up the pieces and brings the crew back to Talin IV, the planet where their careers ended, is pretty compelling. Part One of the novel is the "Aftermath," with Kirk trying to find a corner of the universe in which to try and live a normal life, as are the rest of his bridge crew, now cursed as the "Enterprise Five." Mr. Scott was not on the bridge, so he is still in Starfleet, in charge of the cannibalization of what is left of the "Enterprise." Dr. McCoy has retired and is visiting the moon, Uhura is being held for contempt of court, Sulu is in a bar fight on Rigel VIII when he and Chekov are not flying the only vessel that will take them on, and Spock has also resigned after being busted to an ensign.

Part Two tells the story of "The Last Mission," and what happened on Talin IV, ending with the destruction of both the "Enterprise" and an entire world in the heat of a thousand killing suns, and Scott relieving Kirk of command. Part Three, "Talin," begins with Spock making a shocking request of Sytok, the Vulcan ambassador to the Federation, which sets the stage for the truth being revealed. The key thing here is that the authors do not take an easy way out with this one, and come up with an explanation that plays nicely with the logic of the Prime Directive. In other words, the punch-line here works. There is also a Part Four, and saying its title gives away a bit much, even if where we end up by the final pages of "Prime Directive" is where we expect to be. The strength of this particular "Star Trek" novel is that Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens have the characters down and take full advantage of the opportunity to let the supporting bridge crew members shine in their parts of the tale (e.g., Uhura refusing to back down in front of the judge). No wonder this one originally came out in a hardback edition; it was worthy of being one.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely stunning. Could be 1 of the best Trek novels ever written..., March 15, 2007

By 

Jeff Edwards "RadioJeff" (Twin Falls, Idaho) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Prime Directive (Star Trek) (Paperback)

It took me a long time before I attempted to read Prime Directive, but boy am I glad I finally did. I cannot think of any authors' who write in the Trek universe who can come up with a more compelling and creative storyline than this married duo. Examining Starfleet's General Order #1 in such detail is a hefty task to say the least, but here Judith & Gar have really outdone themselves.

Visiting the somewhat primitive world of Talin IV, somehow, some way, an accident involving the Enterprise and her Warp Engines being utilized within the planets atmosphere literally devastates the entire world. Within the blink of an eye, millions of the planets inhabitants are snuffed out, and Starfleets flagship, and the entire bridge crew are forever changed. The ship is almost ruined in the aftermath, and the crew is scattered amongst the many different worlds of the Federation. The many facets of Starfleets Prime Directive are explored and even though this whole situation seems to be the result of an accident and not a purposeful violation of the order, the results are the same. What happens as a result could very easily be considered one of the best Trek novels ever written.

Personally I loved the individual sections of the book that explores in more detail than I remember being in any previous novel (or since) the main characters of the Star Trek universe, namely Scotty, Uhura, Chekhov and Sulu. Of course we also have Kirk, Spock and the Doctor, but we rarely (if ever) have been able to get into the minds of these other main characters nearly as deep as we do here. In particular I enjoyed Sulu & Chekhov's exploits. We see a much more detailed look at the strength of Lt. Uhura and her fierce loyalty to her former crewmates and specifically to Kirk in particular.

Unraveling the mystery behind the destruction of Talin IV is like a murder/mystery written by Agatha Christie--just done in outer space. Spock, as one would imagine, is the Private Detective who finally connects all the dots and even though the outcome was never in any doubt, especially knowing that this story takes place during the Kirk's original 5-year mission, how it all plays out really IS a well orchestrated treat to us fans. How could the Enterprise have made such a critical error, or more importantly, how could Kirk have allowed it to happen? WAS it an accident, or was it ignorance coupled with Kirk's natural tendency towards ignoring Starfleet when he deems it necessary? The final answers to how it all comes together really is a journey that is more than worth taking. Comparing 'Prime Directive' to your average Star Trek novel is kinda like comparing a newspaper clipping to The Bible. One is just way more In Depth than the other. I don't wish to bash on other Trek authors, but this one is so much more than most all the others I have read as to almost render the rest comical. This book is the main reason why I firmly believe Judith & Garfied Reeves-Stevens' to be THE greatest authors working in the Trek universe today. Oh, and if you liked this, you simply MUST read 'Federation'. Outstanding. THIS is the reason why I love to read so much. Kudos to this duo once again.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars PRIME REVIEW, November 5, 2005

By 

Shadow Fire Promotions, Inc. "Your Chicago So... (Chicago, IL United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: PRIME DIRECTIVE: STAR TREK (Hardcover)

The reason I liked this book so much is because, unlike other fiction based on popular concepts (including Star Wars, Quantum Leap, and anything else spun off from TV or movies), this deals with a pre-existing concept (The Prime Directive), and then proceeds to explain exactly WHY this concept exists.

Much like the Marvel Comics character, The Watcher, who, like Kirk, learned the hard way that species have to develop on their own, and one must never interfere with an alien race before they are ready. In both cases, it led to the utter annihlation of the species.

Kirk, Starfleet's most celebrated Captain, is somewhat of a maverick, playing by his own rules, and openly disobeying several Starfleet regulations if he feels he is justified in doing so. Because Kirk gets results, his discrections are often ignored. However, in Prime Directive, the unthinkable has happened. The entire poulation, not to mention the planet of Talin IV has been completely and utterly wiped out. The planet itself is a smoking, smoldering husk, burned out from a nuclear war that contaminated the entire planet, now known as "Kirk's World", in a shameful reminder of the consequnces of one person's actions. The Prime Directive was violated (and this time it wasn't even intentional), but the importance of it is underscored, as a direct result of the violation of Starfleet's Prime Directive, their number one rule, their "Holy Grail". James T. Kirk is held responsible for the destruction of the planet and its people and is summarily dismissed from Starfleet without even a trial, disgraced by his actions. His Bridge Crew, voluntarily agreeing to the violation of the Prime Directive by following Kirk, are also released from Starfleet in shame. The most famous Ship, The U.S.S. Enterprise is in ruins. Only Lt. Commander Montgomery Scott remains in Starfleet, unable to resign his commission, since his status as Chief Engineer not only places him above the accusations levied against the Bridge crew, but also because only he possesses the knowledge to even stand a chance at retrieving the damaged Ship's warp core without causing further damage.

Now in hiding, the individual former crew members of The Enterprise knows that no matter what else, they must find out what really happened at Talin IV if they are ever going to be able to live with themselves, much less clear their names and reputations.

Every crew member gets their chance to shine in individual and unrelated sub-plots as they journey back to Talin IV in an attempt to discover why this tragedy occurred, and if they are truly at fault for it.

Finally, the former crew meet up from their individual journeys to the planet, and the storyline meshes the characters' journey together as they meet with a Starfleet reluctant to go back to the planet, as they would sooner sweep the whole thing away, but as the mystery of the planet unfolds, it is clear that there is more than meets the eye.

An excellent, gripping tale that details the consequences of the violations of the Prime Directive, and explains the reason why it is in place, in a way that does not over-simplify it. For those that think "With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility", this novel demonstrates that sometimes, the most responsible course of action is no course of action. Recommended reading for fans and non-fans alike. No need to be overly familiar with the genre to enjoy this tale.