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Spock, Messiah!

Spock, Messiah! (September 1976) is the second original novel based on television series Star Trek intended for adult readers, written by Theodore R. Cogswell and Charles A. Spano, Jr. It was preceded by Spock Must Die! (1970), and Mission to Horatius (1968). However, Mission was intended for young readers.

Spock, Messiah!
First printing (Sep 1976)
AuthorsTheodore R. Cogswell
Charles A. Spano, Jr.
Cover artistGene Szafran
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
GenreScience fiction
PublisherBantam Books
Publication date
September 1976
Media typePrint (Paperback))
Pages182
ISBN0-553-10159-5
OCLC2653680
Preceded bySpock Must Die! 
Followed byThe Price of the Phoenix 

Initial reaction to Spock, Messiah! was poor, and sales did not meet the expectations set by the release of Spock Must Die![1] The novel was criticised for being exploitative, and inaccurate in relation to the television series.

Plot edit

The Enterprise visits the planet Kyros to observe the population, and test a new telepathic implant. The people living on the planet traditionally cover their faces, and the devices allow the wearer to mentally link with a member of the populace, accessing both their memories and instincts allowing the crew to walk around the planet freely.

Following an away mission to the planet, Spock refuses to return to the ship declaring himself to be the planet's messiah. He threatens to destroy crystals vital to the success of the mission.

The crew discover Spock had been linked to a fanatic named Chag Gara. However, due to an increase in radiation, the Enterprise must leave planetary orbit sooner than expected, but the crew cannot depart without the crystals held by Spock. The crew also discover that an Ensign George had intentionally damaged Spock's implant while under the influence of Gara. She returns to the planet with Kirk, Commander Scott and Ensign Chekov.

The away team tracks Spock, who flees when he sees George. The first attempt to subdue him fails. A second attempt is made, with Kirk masquerading as a gypsy, so he can follow Spock without being seen. However, the away team is captured by Spock's disciples. After a demonstration of advanced Starfleet technology, they are allowed to live. George then dances for their captors, and seduces the Messiah. She determines the Messiah is not actually Spock, but is Chag Gara. Once Gara is restrained, Spock is found and revived.

The away team returns to the Enterprise.

Production edit

Prior to Spock, Messiah!, only one Star Trek tie-in novel intended for adult readers had been published, Spock Must Die!, written by James Blish.[2] Blish's novel had sold well, and further books were planned, including a novel featuring the character Harry Mudd. However, Blish's unexpected death halted further work. The Harry Mudd concept did eventually become Mudd's Angels (May 1978), written by J.A. Lawrence, Blish's wife.

Frederik Pohl, editor at Bantam Books, was tasked with producing new Star Trek originals.[1] In addition to acquiring the reference work Star Trek Lives! (July 1976), he recruited Cogswell to realize Spock, Messiah! with one injunction: "Get them off the damned ship!"[3]

Cogswell contacted young writer Spano, Jr., and ask if he would be interested in co-authoring a Star Trek novel on Pohl's behalf. Spano agreed, and wrote a majority of the first draft in late-1975, inspired by then recent 1973 oil crisis. Spano said in Voyages of Imagination that although it had roots in the rise of Islamism, the premise of the novel was a familiar one, "the idea that a fanatical desert leader could arise to threaten a civilisation was a staple throughout history."[3]

Cogswell rewrote several chapters which Spano described as unfocused and rambling; Cogswell also copyedited the work prior to publication. They submitted the revised draft to Pohl, who requested minor changes, and the book was put to print.

The novel was released in September 1976, and later reprinted by Bantam Spectra in October 1993 with cover art by Kazuhiko Sano.[4][5]

Reception edit

A review published by Science Fiction and Fantasy Book Review (1976) suggested the action was far-fetched, and described the plot as "Spocks-ploitation."[6] The novel was reviewed in first issue of BSFA's Paperback Parlour released to members during February 1977.[7][8]

In 2011, a contributor to the Daily Kos website, explained Spock, Messiah! was the "single worst Star Trek story I have ever read, either fan or pro." Noted issues included racism (Uhura is called "the black," and Sulu "the oriental"), altering the appearance of characters (Scotty described as having red hair), and ignoring technology present in the television version of the Enterprise (no sonic showers). The review concluded the "book isn't just bad, it's shamefully bad."[9]

Spano noted in Voyages of Imagination that Spock, Messiah!'s publication, and eventual sales success, validated Pohl's theory "that there was a hunger for original Star Trek novels."[3] He said he is "proud to have had a small part in the expanding Star Trek … universe."

References edit

  1. ^ a b Greenberger, Robert (8 Nov 2012). Star Trek: The Complete Unauthorized History. Minneapolis, Minnesota: Voyageur Press. p. 81. ISBN 978-0-7603-4359-3.
  2. ^ Cheeseman-Meyer, Ellen (12 Mar 2012). "Spock Must Die!: The First Star Trek Novel". Tor.com. Retrieved 2013-09-05.
  3. ^ a b c Ayers, Jeff (14 Nov 2006). Voyages of Imagination. New York: Pocket Books. pp. 14–15. ISBN 1-4165-0349-8.
  4. ^ "Cover Artists - The Locus Index to Science Fiction: 1984-1998". Locus. 2010-01-02. Retrieved 2013-09-05.
  5. ^ "Author: Kazuhiko Sano". ISFDB. Al von Ruff. Retrieved 2017-12-23.
  6. ^ Brodsky, Allyn (Sep 1976). Last, Martin; Searles, Baird (eds.). "Review". The Science Fiction Review Monthly. p. 20.
  7. ^ Grove-Stephensen, Philippa (Feb 1977). "Review". Paperback Parlour. Vol. 1, no. 1. United Kingdom: BSFA. p. 5.
  8. ^ "Publication: Paperback Parlour, February 1977". ISFDB. Al von Ruff. Retrieved 2017-12-23.
  9. ^ "Books So Bad They're Good: To Boldly Go Where No Tie-In Has Gone Before". Daily Kos. July 9, 2011. Retrieved September 5, 2013.

External links edit

spock, messiah, september, 1976, second, original, novel, based, television, series, star, trek, intended, adult, readers, written, theodore, cogswell, charles, spano, preceded, spock, must, 1970, mission, horatius, 1968, however, mission, intended, young, rea. Spock Messiah September 1976 is the second original novel based on television series Star Trek intended for adult readers written by Theodore R Cogswell and Charles A Spano Jr It was preceded by Spock Must Die 1970 and Mission to Horatius 1968 However Mission was intended for young readers Spock Messiah First printing Sep 1976 AuthorsTheodore R CogswellCharles A Spano Jr Cover artistGene SzafranCountryUnited StatesLanguageEnglishGenreScience fictionPublisherBantam BooksPublication dateSeptember 1976Media typePrint Paperback Pages182ISBN0 553 10159 5OCLC2653680Preceded bySpock Must Die Followed byThe Price of the Phoenix Initial reaction to Spock Messiah was poor and sales did not meet the expectations set by the release of Spock Must Die 1 The novel was criticised for being exploitative and inaccurate in relation to the television series Contents 1 Plot 2 Production 3 Reception 4 References 5 External linksPlot editThe Enterprise visits the planet Kyros to observe the population and test a new telepathic implant The people living on the planet traditionally cover their faces and the devices allow the wearer to mentally link with a member of the populace accessing both their memories and instincts allowing the crew to walk around the planet freely Following an away mission to the planet Spock refuses to return to the ship declaring himself to be the planet s messiah He threatens to destroy crystals vital to the success of the mission The crew discover Spock had been linked to a fanatic named Chag Gara However due to an increase in radiation the Enterprise must leave planetary orbit sooner than expected but the crew cannot depart without the crystals held by Spock The crew also discover that an Ensign George had intentionally damaged Spock s implant while under the influence of Gara She returns to the planet with Kirk Commander Scott and Ensign Chekov The away team tracks Spock who flees when he sees George The first attempt to subdue him fails A second attempt is made with Kirk masquerading as a gypsy so he can follow Spock without being seen However the away team is captured by Spock s disciples After a demonstration of advanced Starfleet technology they are allowed to live George then dances for their captors and seduces the Messiah She determines the Messiah is not actually Spock but is Chag Gara Once Gara is restrained Spock is found and revived The away team returns to the Enterprise Production editPrior to Spock Messiah only one Star Trek tie in novel intended for adult readers had been published Spock Must Die written by James Blish 2 Blish s novel had sold well and further books were planned including a novel featuring the character Harry Mudd However Blish s unexpected death halted further work The Harry Mudd concept did eventually become Mudd s Angels May 1978 written by J A Lawrence Blish s wife Frederik Pohl editor at Bantam Books was tasked with producing new Star Trek originals 1 In addition to acquiring the reference work Star Trek Lives July 1976 he recruited Cogswell to realize Spock Messiah with one injunction Get them off the damned ship 3 Cogswell contacted young writer Spano Jr and ask if he would be interested in co authoring a Star Trek novel on Pohl s behalf Spano agreed and wrote a majority of the first draft in late 1975 inspired by then recent 1973 oil crisis Spano said in Voyages of Imagination that although it had roots in the rise of Islamism the premise of the novel was a familiar one the idea that a fanatical desert leader could arise to threaten a civilisation was a staple throughout history 3 Cogswell rewrote several chapters which Spano described as unfocused and rambling Cogswell also copyedited the work prior to publication They submitted the revised draft to Pohl who requested minor changes and the book was put to print The novel was released in September 1976 and later reprinted by Bantam Spectra in October 1993 with cover art by Kazuhiko Sano 4 5 Reception editA review published by Science Fiction and Fantasy Book Review 1976 suggested the action was far fetched and described the plot as Spocks ploitation 6 The novel was reviewed in first issue of BSFA s Paperback Parlour released to members during February 1977 7 8 In 2011 a contributor to the Daily Kos website explained Spock Messiah was the single worst Star Trek story I have ever read either fan or pro Noted issues included racism Uhura is called the black and Sulu the oriental altering the appearance of characters Scotty described as having red hair and ignoring technology present in the television version of the Enterprise no sonic showers The review concluded the book isn t just bad it s shamefully bad 9 Spano noted in Voyages of Imagination that Spock Messiah s publication and eventual sales success validated Pohl s theory that there was a hunger for original Star Trek novels 3 He said he is proud to have had a small part in the expanding Star Trek universe References edit a b Greenberger Robert 8 Nov 2012 Star Trek The Complete Unauthorized History Minneapolis Minnesota Voyageur Press p 81 ISBN 978 0 7603 4359 3 Cheeseman Meyer Ellen 12 Mar 2012 Spock Must Die The First Star Trek Novel Tor com Retrieved 2013 09 05 a b c Ayers Jeff 14 Nov 2006 Voyages of Imagination New York Pocket Books pp 14 15 ISBN 1 4165 0349 8 Cover Artists The Locus Index to Science Fiction 1984 1998 Locus 2010 01 02 Retrieved 2013 09 05 Author Kazuhiko Sano ISFDB Al von Ruff Retrieved 2017 12 23 Brodsky Allyn Sep 1976 Last Martin Searles Baird eds Review The Science Fiction Review Monthly p 20 Grove Stephensen Philippa Feb 1977 Review Paperback Parlour Vol 1 no 1 United Kingdom BSFA p 5 Publication Paperback Parlour February 1977 ISFDB Al von Ruff Retrieved 2017 12 23 Books So Bad They re Good To Boldly Go Where No Tie In Has Gone Before Daily Kos July 9 2011 Retrieved September 5 2013 External links editTitle Spock Messiah at Internet Speculative Fiction Database Spock Messiah at Memory Alpha Spock Messiah at Memory Beta Spock Messiah at Fanlore Spock Messiah at Goodreads Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Spock Messiah amp oldid 1096652814, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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