Does anyone know if Shatner is still working on this book, the sequel to his Star Trek Academy: Collision Course novel?
Shatnerverse: Trial Run
- Thread starter Smellincoffee
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He's not, sorry. Others can probably give more details but as far as I know, Collision Course didn't do as well as expected, and I think Shatner had a falling out with then-current Pocket books Trek editor Margaret Clark as a result.
I'd have liked to see Trial Run, too.
I'd have liked to see Trial Run, too.
Maybe the new editor can make amends? The Shatman is huge right now (2 tv shows...or is it 3?), and a new book with his name on it may sell well. You never know...
He's huge right now and therefore may well be too busy. Also, it would be understandable if the Bad Robot folks tried to ixnay any such book to avoid confusion or perceived competition with what they're doing.
Yeah, the fact that Shatner's book and the new film pretty much covered the same territory made them a pretty bad match.
IMO the movie was better than the book, but I enjoyed both.
Anyone care to guess who "The General" was? Did J+G R-S ever say if he was meant to be an established Trek character? Or does he join Future Guy in the tomb for undefined Trek villains?
Anyone care to guess who "The General" was? Did J+G R-S ever say if he was meant to be an established Trek character? Or does he join Future Guy in the tomb for undefined Trek villains?
Ah, alas.
But thanks.I thought that's the REASON he wrote it -- to capitalize on interest in the TOS-trio's academy days that grew in the build-up to the release of the new movie.
I enjoyed both the movie and Collision Course, thought the latter was one of the better Shat'Verse novels. Wasn't Trial Run originally set for release a year after Collision Course? This year? I'm sure that since the Reeves-Stevens wrote for him that the book could still come out if he's able to make amends with Pocket. I think he did an interview last year or early this year where he stated that there weren't plans to release the book. Or something to that effect.
IIRC, "The Ashes of Eden", Shatner's first collaboration with the Reeves-Stevens, was contracted as a one-off (and a comic adaptation) and its huge success led to a two-book deal for its bestselling sequels. (Had DC Comics not relinquished the comic license, there may have been more of those, too.) Then Shatner signed a three-book deal (the "Mirror Universe" saga) and another such deal for the "Totality" trilogy.
His first Academy-based novel was not offered as a three-book deal, but seemingly a one-off with an option, at editor's discretion, for sequels. Perhaps sales on the "Totality" trilogy had been diminishing?; it was a weaker trilogy, sales of hardcovers were down, and "Captain's Glory", the finale, had been delayed (by a year?) because the Reeves-Stevens were busy with ENT, the TV series.
When "Collision Course" was being written, everyone presumably thought that it would lead to at least one sequel, hence the tag for "Trial Run" at the end, but sales were not as huge as previously. Added to this, Shatner complained very loudly that Pocket hadn't promoted the book as strongly as before and that there was no audio book this time. (Neglecting the fact that "Captain's Glory" had been the last ST audio from Simon & Schuster Audioworks in ages - and it had only come out on CD, not audiotape.) He blamed Margaret Clark for decisions made by Pocket Books Marketing and Simon & Schuster Audioworks.
So there's no contract for "Trial Run". Shatner would have to pitch anew, to the new editor, and hope that the Reeves-Stevens are still free to work with him - and maybe there's no hurry to do "Academy" stories at the moment, esp. ones that are sequels to a novel that didn't sell well enough, and set in a different timeline to that of JJ's movie and the forthcoming YA "Academy" novels?
It's a shame. I'd rather have Star Trek 2009 II than a sequel to Collision Course.
What he said.
And yet Shatner and the Reeves-Stevens also portrayed young Jimmy Kirk as a hotheaded smartmouth. I thought that was one of your main complaints about JJ's "Star Trek"?
You're not expecting the complaints of die-hard Trekkies to make any sense now, are you?
It's a shame. I'd rather have Star Trek 2009 II than a sequel to Collision Course.
I concur, I would rather have a sequel for Star Trek 09 than yet another book from Shatner.
No. The complaint was that young, undisciplined Jim Kirk went from Cadet to Captain of the flagship without any type of seasoning. Prime universe Jim Kirk grew and evolved into the leader we see on Star Trek. This Jim Kirk went from the mailroom to CEO because he spotted a check for a billion dollars going out the door.
What he said.
Let me clarify, this is not because I hate Star Trek 2009. I just find novels more satisfying than a two hour summer blockbuster. Collision Course did a much better job of fleshing out young Jim Kirk and young Spock than Star Trek 2009. YMMV
I disagree,
than an Kirk being booted upstairs because his first two captains were incapacitated and he stepped up (he was a part of the chain of command).
having Kirk enlist in Starfleet rather than join the Academy than get enrolled in the Academy because he stole the Enterprise and stopped pirates is a lot more believable
Behind the scenes approval or not, I still call teenage Kirk and Spock being able to hijack the Enterprise too far of a stretch for my suspension of disbelief. Then again, I've found the entire Shatnerverse far too over the top in their portrayal of Kirk as being practically a god who can do no wrong.
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