Doctor's Orders (Star Trek, Book 50) (Paperback)

~ (Author) "DO YOU REMEMBER," said Leonard McCoy, "when I stole your cadaver?..." (more)
Key Phrases: impulse engines, turbolift doors, photon torpedoes, Commander Kaiev, Captain Kirk, Commander Leonard (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

YA-- While on a routine diplomatic mission on the planet Muscae IV, Kirk disappears, leaving Dr. McCoy acting captain. When a Klingon vessel arrives laying claim to the planet, its landing party also vanishes, resulting in a confrontation with the Enterprise. While Doctor's Orders does not boldly go where other novels haven't gone before, it is a fast-paced, well-written adventure in which the characters remain true to the Star Trek universe. Dr. McCoy, with his wry sense of humor, brings an added dimension to the story.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Description

Doctor's Orders

When Dr. McCoy grumbles once too often about the way the U.S.S. Enterprise™ ought to be run, Captain Kirk decides to leave the doctor in command while he oversees a rountine diplomatic mission. Kirk beams down to a strange planet nicknamed "Flyspeck" to negotiate its admission into the Federation, leaving Dr. McCoy to enjoy his new authority.

However, the doctor soon learns that command is a double-edged sword when Kirk disappears without a trace. Desperately trying to locate his catain, McCoy comes under pressure from Starfleet to resolve the situation immediately. Matters go from bad to worsewhen the Klingons arrive and stake their own claim on Flyspeck

Then another, more deadly power threatens them all, and suddenly Dr. McCoy and the Starship Enterprise find themselves pitted against an alien fleet in a battle they have no hope of winning.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 291 pages
• Publisher: Star Trek; 1St Edition edition (June 1, 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0671661892
• ISBN-13: 978-0671661892
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #195,808 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Finally, 'real' space tactics combat, November 1, 1999

By A Customer

I liked it. I liked Dr. McCoy's characterisation and his crustiness, but what I REALLY liked was how the ship acted like a ship. They discussed department head meetings and worried about things like how dehydration effects bridge crew performance during space combat. The crew of the ship did a lot of real crew things, not just sit at the com console and looko busy. Chekov was proud as heck to be the briefing officer at a staff meeting. McCoy thought about writing paper on various subjects. Spock acted as a department head and directed his staff apropriately. This is the stuff about trek novels that I REALLY like, not going up against omnipotent space beings (although this novel has that too) or making dramatic speeches.

Ms. Duane always puts a lot of research into her books, be them the Spiderman trilogy she did or anything else. It was a delight to see the crew discuss and go over first contact procedures and act truly as a vessel of exploration.

My biggest delight was in the obligitory space fight against the Orion pirates. The space battle wasn't just 'fire torpedoes' and stuff like that. They worried about orbits and parabolas and perahelions. There was real thought put into tactics and strategy here.

Also, this book marks the second instance where trek ever used the third dimension (Star Trek II was the other). As they were involved in a fight, Kirk ordered to Sulu to go full impulse along the z axis (straight up).

And finally, the way Ms. Duane dealt with the Universal Translator was just great. it really made you believe in the technology of the ship and her crew, and was not just a simple plot device like in the shows.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Dr. McCoy's Finest Moment - 2 Raised Eyebrows!, September 17, 2000

By	Lawrance M. Bernabo (The Zenith City, Duluth, Minnesota) - See all my reviews (TOP 10 REVIEWER)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)

Several years ago I spent the summer checking out Star Trek paperback novels. There were two that I went out and purchased so I could have my own copy and "Doctor's Orders" was one of them.

While orbiting yet another strange planet, Captain Kirk beams down to handle diplomatic negotiations and places Dr. McCoy in charge of the Enterprise. It seems Bones has been wearing himself down in Sick Bay and he wants to give the good Doctor a rest. Of course, no good deed goes unpunished. No sooner does McCoy take the center seat then Kirk disappears and the Klingons show up looking to pick a fight.

The situation is a bit contrived since I find it hard to believe that Starfleet regulations do not allow Spock to assume command, but who cares? The scenes where McCoy talks to the Klingons or goes toe to toe with Spock are well worth it. Duane's humor in these conversations is entirely grounded in the characters, which was always the strength of Star Trek. This is not a big epic like many of the Star Trek novels tend to be, but there are only so many times the gang can save the universe (I believe the number is 56). This is a delightful tale and well worth the reading.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Star Trek #50: Doctors Orders, November 27, 2000

By	S. Armstrong "Gamer and reader" (USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The U.S.S. Enterprise is on a diplomatic mission to a distant planet nicknamed Flyspeck. While there, the crew is to open relations with the three races that inhabit the planet.

No sooner are the talks underway, when the Klingons show up, claiming the planet for their own. And then another alien race arrives, threatening to destroy them all. Sound like another mission Captain Kirk can handle, right?

WRONG!

Captain Kirk has vanished from the face of the planet, and he left somebody behind in the center chair for a lesson in the rigors of starship command.

Dr. McCoy.

And how can an "old country doctor" resolve the situation?

Great starship combat! It gets a little techy, but that comes with the territory. Excellent novel! One of my favorites! And refreshing new command viewpoints from someone who has never commanded a starship! A classic! Enjoy!