Star Trek Movie Tie-In by Alan Dean Foster Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Star Trek Movie Tie-In
Book Review: If you've seen the movie, GET THIS BOOK!
Summary: 5 Stars
I have always found that the Star Trek movie tie-in books give you extra information that gets left out of the film due to script changes or cut scenes. That why I always buy the movie tie-in book.
In this case, you find out about the boy walking alongside the road that young Kirk joyrides on - and why Jim took the car. I won't spoil it by telling you though.
You also get other little tidbits as you read this book. More info about characters, insights into their thinking, etc. Alan Dean Foster is a great science fiction writer and he does a great job in taking a script and making it into a story.
Trekkies (and you elitist Trekkers) - read this book!
Book Review: Ok, but not great
Summary: 3 Stars
I grew up reading "Star Trek" novels back in the day. I particularly enjoyed reading Vonda McIntyre's novelizations of the second, third and fourth movies and in part that was because they added a lot to what we saw up on the screen. It gave back stories to the characters, gave reasons and rationales that weren't shown on screen and generally helped the movies themselves to make a bit more sense than they otherwise might've done.
I'd hoped that would be the case with this book. I'd hoped it would help me to better understand a lot of what happened in "Star Trek" the movie. I'd hoped to have some of the holes filled in (notably that gaping hole in the middle of Iowa), and learn some things, like what Nero and crew did for twenty-five years while waiting for Spock to show up.
We didn't learn any of those things, nor any of the other stuff I'd hoped to learn (though we did find out why a Romulan has a name like Nero). Basically this is a near letter-perfect rehash of the screenplay without any real changes to the dialogue, no extra scenes, nothing. Even scenes that were apparently filmed but cut from the finished product, like showing what Nero and crew were up to for twenty-five years, aren't in this book.
Movie novelizations are tricky. At their best they open up new paths in the story. At their worst, they suck so hard they make the film unwatchable. This book isn't the latter, but it's also not the former, and I'd hoped it would be.
Basically, if you wanted something that would give you more background and flesh out the movie, don't hold your breath. If you want you want instead is essentially the shooting script with some scenes altered very slightly you'll likely be happy with this book.
Book Review: Pretty good novelization
Summary: 4 Stars
I saw the movie first, THEN read the book to see if it filled in any gaps. I thought the movie was absolutely awesome, though I'm still not sure about how I feel about the "reboot" of the Star Trek universe. It's a brilliant idea, but I'm not sure how I feel about it. What about all this history I know...
But I digress. I liked this book. I've always liked Alan Dean Foster - he's a competent writer, but the fun in reading his work is that he's so enthusiastic about it. This book was quite faithful to the movie, which either means ADF got all the new bits as they were filming or editing, or JJ Abrams didn't deviate much from the script that ADF was given. Whatever - it wasn't a letdown after seeing the movie.
This is a solid 4 stars, maybe even a smidge more, like 4.2. It's quick, engaging, and actually follows the movie. It adds a little to the characters, but not much needed adding.
Book Review: Recommended with .....Reservations
Summary: 4 Stars
I saw the movie with a great deal of wariness as one who adored the original series, every iteration of the series EXCEPT Enterprise, and enjoyed only a few of the movies. Upon exiting the theatre, I was enthralled! The movie was well acted, the special effects were thrilling, and well, while the plot was a bit weak in spots, I could overlook them. My reaction to Alan Dean Foster's book invoked the same reaction. Overall, the book was very faithful to the movie script, and some the "back story" Foster created really enhanced the reader's experience. There was one glaring omission in my estimation SPOILER SPOILER --no backstory on the genesis of Spock/Uhura's relationship. (Yeah, that was a very pleasant and pleasurable surprise in the movie). Overall, it is a recommended buy if you're a fan of the movie.Book Review: Red Matter verses Doctor Who's second piece to the key to time
Summary: 5 Stars
The Pirate Planet (Kalifraz) is crushing planets into micro size and suspending it using Karitic geometry verses a drop of Red Material can create a singularity or black hole. Time travel through the black hole is possible because the Enterprise can withstand exponential gravity.
The Queen of Kalix is using the energy of the planet to regenerate verses rogue Romulans are seeking to change history.
Spock believes history must unwind as it course dictates and the doctor tells queen, her regeneration technology is unstable and won't work. Both must accept history as it was desiged. Neither the Queen nor Nero will listen to their Nemisis.
Spock is manipulating his former self through deception to destroy the Romulan ship through a direct attack and the Doctor uses the captain to destroy the pirate planet. Manipulation and deceit are used by both parties to accomplish their goal.
Both the Romulans and the Queen of Kalifax are struck with the paradox of time travel and the inability to change the future because the future is known and the past non changeable.
Both Spock and the Doctor watch their planet being destroyed. Did Douglas Adam has an influence on the new Star Trek?