Customer Reviews

Star Trek - The Joy Machine

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

 

 

The Joy Machine read just like an episode of the Original Series. Had it been an actual episode, it would have been considered somewhere in the middle of the pack as far as favorite episodes go, IMHO. Nevertheless, even though it is filled with cliches, predictable twists, and a pat ending typicl of ROS episodes, I had a good time "visualizing" the novel as an episode. I gave it three stars because that was a neat experience. For literary merit (or close proximity there f) it deserves less.

For the Trekker completists only.

A quarantined pleasure planet, a drug-induced ecstasy, and a planet controlled by a computer: Where have I seen these themes used before? Oh yes. "Shore Leave," "The Apple," "The Return of the Archons," "For the World is Hollow and I Have Touched the Sky (TOS)"; "When the Bough Breaks" (STTNG); and "Once Upon a Planet" (Animated series). I agree with the first review. Bypass this novel for better ones on the store shelves.

There are so many annoying problems with the plot, characters acting out of character, unrealistic technology, that I almost quit reading halfway thru, but did finish it. I thought it explored some very "Trek" themes well, in line with Roddenberry, so yes, it would have made a good TOS ep. But, every page had at least one Biblical reference that just really got on my nerves after a while. Is this Christian fiction? Are there no analogies from other sources to be made? It became monotonous... Judas, David & Gliath, ad nauseum.

I don't know whether it's fair to call this novel "derivative" or not; it's possible that Sturgeon's original ideas may have preceded "The Archons", "For The World Is Hollow And I Have Touched The Sky", "The Apple" "The Paradise Syndrome" and other original series episodes that virtually mirrored its plot, but in any case, we've seen it before. A computer-run society that eliminates violence and inefficiency at the cost of individuality? "The Archons" ,"For The World Is Hollow...", and "The Apple". Too easy access to too much pleasure causes brain rot? "The Paradise Syndrome", and perhaps the Next Generation episode "The Game". This story is competently written, but not exceptionally enough to make old, standard ideas seem fresh.

I really wanted to read this book, when I first heard about it, but now I wish I never did. The story is okay, and could have made a good episode if it was filmed then, in the 60-s. Now it feels outdated. Also, it never should be a novel, but a short story, like those James Blish adaptations of original episodes.
At least then, with the loss of some scenes, the ending could be more convincing (SPOILER: the characters discussed a biblical scene once in a place where Joy Machine must have heard them, and in the end Kirk described the SAME scene to convince the Machine to turn off).
Lastly, I didn't like Mr. Gunn's style and it seemed to me he isn't very familiar with Trek universe. For example, Kirk said that he couldn't help the population of Timshel because of Prime Directive, although the planet is a member of Federation.

If you could have ultimate pleasure, would it be worth it? What would the results be on society? In this Star Trek novel, the authorexpands on a story by Theodore Sturgeon to explore this concept. A prime shore leave spot, Timshel inexplicably quarantined itself two years ago. Agents sent to investigate have not returned.Captain Kirk and the Enterprise are sent to investigate. When Kirk beams down to meet an old friend, he finds himself trapped in a society where pure exstacy is the reward for hard labor. Through his interactions with the citizens of this planet, and the Joy Machine that controls it, Kirk exposes the society's weaknesses, perhaps making the point that it was a good thing Adam and Eve left the garden. The traditional Original Series elemnts are maintained, a female lead for Kirk, etc, but this story manages to coherently make even more of a social comment than usual, espcially among a series often noted for such. A must for Star Trek fans, and recommended for Sci-Fi fans in general.

Oh, no.

It is hard to believe that such a big name as Theodore Sturgeon is partly responsible for this cliche-ridden soup. I don't think there was one single original idea in this book. Technology taking control over a planet? Why not rather make Captain Kirk rescue a planet whose inhabitants are going crazy because their internet connections have stopped working! Even that would be a change.

The characters don't have any memorable personalities, and the Trek regulars could be replaced with anonymous paper dolls. A reader would not notice anything because he is already fast asleep.

Don't waste your time with this joyless novel, not even if you otherwise have an obsession to possess all things Trek.