#ch4 p174

[loopjumper]

<-

->

[startrekreviews]

TOS Novel: Strangers from the Sky

TOS: Strangers from the Sky by Margaret Wander Bonanno Book Jacket’s Summary:      “James Kirk didn't normally pay much attention to this thing – a best-selling book, and a controversial one at that. But Strangers From the Sky had piqued his interest – and everyone else's, it seemed. For the book disputed a fact well known to every Federation schoolboy: That Earth's first encounter with alien life had occurred when the UNSS Icarus came upon the humanoid people of Alpha Centauriin 2048.      Strangers claimed that history was wrong... that humanity's First Contact with another sapient species had taken place years earlier. And that when the two races met, something happened. Something so climactic, so dangerous, that it had been wiped from the records and kept secret by both worlds for almost two centuries.     But when Kirk read the book, it triggered strange dreams... nightmares that threatened first his health, then his sanity. It was only when he discovered that Spock also shared those dreams that the Admiral began to wonder: Could there be more to this book than he or anyone guessed...?” Yeaka’s Notes:     Set before First Contact and Star Trek: Enterprise told us more of the first Vulcan landing, Strangers from the Sky retells an unofficial first contact. It’s split into two ‘books’, one of which vacillates between a ‘novelized’ tale of the past, the second of which is mid-movies Bones trying to convince Kirk to read this novel, while Spock’s off on the Enterprise. Scotty, Uhura, and even Cleante (Dwellers in the Crucible) show up briefly, but this is mainly a Kirk, Spock, and sometimes Bones story. The individual bonds between the triumvirate are each strong and enjoyable, well worth the wait between other parts. Original characters make up the other sections, and most of them (the Vulcans, the rescuers, and the fleet crew, just not a set of Irish and cyborg terrorists) manage to be just as compelling as the main crew. Despite the ‘novel’ parts being entirely original, they’re equally as engaging as the modern sections.     (Spoiler) The second half of the book, unlocked via a Kirk/Spock mind meld, tells of a mission set before TOS: Where No Man Has Gone Before, with Kirk, Spock, Elizabeth Dehner, Gary Mitchell, and Lee Kelso. After being split up through space and time, each get their own scenes, so this is automatically a must have for anyone who wanted more of that pilot crew. Gary is a bit misogynistic, but the rest are helpful, and the pre-friendship Kirk/Spock dynamics are an interesting trip. Spock even finds a relative of his and has to do the old always-wearing-a-hat thing. Kirk and Elizabeth have a staged relationship, but they’re never actually closer than Kirk is to Bones and Spock in the current timeline chapters.     Through all of these complicated, ultimately convergent plots and the uncharacteristically long page count, almost every part of Strangers from the Sky is wholly worth reading. It’s a great find for Vulcan fans, involving new Vulcan characters (a strict commander/mother and her 19-year-old navigator/son) that have never seen humans before and are rescued by Japanese and Ukrainian agriculturists; the relationship between all four is interesting and rewarding. It’s a perfect addition to the TOS episodes, providing back-story for otherwise one-off characters. And, even though they’re separated for most of it, it’s great for McSpirk, Spirk, McKirk, and Spones feels. Basically, this is just excellent all over. 10/10; would read again. Noteworthy moments: (below cut)

Ch1/p23 Bones tries to get admiral Kirk to read “Strangers from the Sky” while Spock’s off training cadets on the Enterprise, Kirk recalls Bones making him read “The Final Reflection”, they debate philosophy

Ch2/p52 Kirk orders a paper book made up, to the bookstore owner’s incredulity and displeasure; Nogura’s read it, even Kirk’s students are pushing him to read it; Kirk runs into Uhura and Cleante (Dwellers in the Crucible) in a coffee shop, Cleante’s there with T’Shael, who’s at an appointment with M’Benga

p56 When Kirk’s home computer gives him trouble, he wonders if Spock’s tampered with it for a joke; he checks on the Enterprise and orders a salad per Bones’ pestering

Ch3/p76 On the Enterprise, a cadet tries to convince Spock not to take a third shift in a row, Spock concedes and goes to meditate

p81 Spock notes that Scotty never addresses him by name on the intercom, “For both of them there was only one true captain of Enterprise.”

p83 Spock touches Kirk’s mind across space, checking if Kirk’s alright and knowing Kirk will reach for him mentally if he’s needed

Ch4/p98 Kirk tells Bones about his dreams while they run cadets through the Kobayashi Maru

p106 Kirk knows cadets call him “Captain Quirk” behind his back

p115 Kirk goes to Easter Island, which has become a museum, and experiences a Maori ritual with the curator

Ch5/p136 Meeting aliens, humans think of Carl Sagan’s petunia quote (“I think the chance of a man mating with a petunia is much greater than the chance of him being able to mate, much less produce offspring, with an inhabitant of another planet”)

p142 Bones meets Scotty and Spock returning on the Enterprise with bad news of Kirk, Kirk’s always there to meet the Enterprise unless something’s very wrong

p146 When Spock visits him in psychiatric care, Kirk resists hugging him because others are watching; Spock asks if he can meld them, Kirk laughs and asks since when does Spock need permission with him, the psychiatrist bursts in fury over their mind meld

p151 Kirk and Spock are released to Bones’ custody, confined to Kirk’s apartment together, for 48hrs

p161 Kirk and Spock arguing over the report right after Gary Mitchell’s death; Spock contemplates the first time he melded with Kirk and that he’d “hold on—for weal or for woe, as McCoy would say—for as long as they both should live.”

Book 2 Ch1/p169 Kirk plays chess with Gary, Gary suggests setting Elizabeth up with Spock because they’re both “cold”; Kirk contemplates why Spock makes him uncomfortable 

p174 Spock’s puzzled by an Earth idiom on the bridge and Kirk scolds him for it, Kirk accuses Spock of making up an anomaly as a prank, later apologizes

Ch3/p192 Kirk’s landing party (minus Spock) winds up in an Egyptian prison

p220 Kirk’s overwhelmed by a memory of him and Spock, but Spock brings him back, Kirk calling out for Spock and Bones concerned whilst watching over them (they’re confined to Kirk’s apartment, under Bones’ custody, because of bad psych evaluations)

Ch5/p225 Spock visits his great-great-great-grandfather in past Boston

p244 Spock puts an ad in the personals for Kirk, “Kirk, James T.: Awaiting your command”

p310 Kirk struggles in dealing with Vulcans

p324 Kirk recalls finding Spock alone at night in the gym exercising, Kirk asked Spock to teach him the exercise and Spock refused

Ch11/p393 Spock picks up a sleeping Bones to carry him to bed, “Effortlessly he lifted the limp figure from the chair, intent upon carrying the doctor into the bedroom where he could snore to his heart’s content. McCoy responded to the change in position by wrapping his arms around Spock’s neck, snuggling into his shoulder, and mumbling something that caused him to smile in his sleep.”; ““I’m cold!” Kirk said suddenly, surprised at himself. He set about laying a fire in the barren hearth. Spock remained at his side, to warm his soul.”