Well, I picked up a first edition copy of this novel at an antique store a few years back and finally read it (as part of my summer camper reading).
First, this is the first original Star Trek novel ever written. And the only original novel written during the original series run. I've read in the past that this was intended as a young adult novel. However, I probably wouldn't have thought of it as a young adult novel had I never heard that. It's maybe not as sophisticated as modern Star Trek novels, but it seemed serious enough to me for the most part (though there were some illustrations within the novel-not something you normally see in modern adult oriented Star Trek novels).
Anyway, the Enterprise receives a distress signal from an area known as the Horatius system. There are 3 possible locations it could have come from. The 3 planets were settled by humans about centuries before. Meanwhile, Dr. McCoy is very concerned about a condition known as space cafard running through the ship's complement. Apparently caused by being out in space too long without R&R. But the Enterprise, of course, is the only ship in range (nice to know that little plot device is nothing knew
) and they don't turn their back on a distress signal. The first planet is inhabited by former Native Americans who have maintained their more primitive ways (sort of reminded me of some of the planets in the Demilitarized Zone with the Cardassians). They quickly learn it wasn't them, but as they leave they pick up a stowaway who snuck on board. They go to the 2nd planet and they are somewhat more advanced but controlled in a theocracy. The population is kept mollified by drugs. But before the ship leaves they leave an 'antidote' in their water supply in the hopes that it will break the population's addiction and they will overthrow their oppressors (we never learn if they are successful). The 3rd planet is more advanced and they discover it is more populated than it should be. However, they do learn the distress signal was sent by the daughter of the leader of that colony and Kirk, Spock and their stowaway are forced to fight in a gladiator style combat (a la "Bread and Circuses") and their opponents are easily defeated the first time. But they keep coming back no worse for the wear and eventually they discover they are all clones. The daughter wants help in breaking this cycle and Kirk and co. find the control room where they are created to try to stop it.
After all this is done a rat that Chekov and Sulu are in charge of gets loose and it starts exhibiting symptoms of the Bubonic plague. This is something humans have not had to contend with for centuries and McCoy is unsure if he is able to find the vaccine for it. So they try a number of methods to rid the ship of the rat. But there is a bit of a twist related to the cafard , but I won't ruin it for every one
.
That's the basics of the plot. Overall it was an average book. There are basically 4 short stories tied together, so the book suffers a bit from a lack of detail at points. They have to quickly move from place to place to get it all in the book. It does touch on a few serious elements, the lack of progress among the former Native American colony, keeping the 2nd colony docile with drugs, and the issues of cloning in the 3rd. Also issues with being in space too long with no rest is another. So it touches to some extent on some serious issues, and perhaps could be a bit ahead of its time.
Also, it important to remember when reading this novel it was released in 1968, so it was probably written during the 2nd season of the show (it does feature Chekov so definitely written no earlier than the 2nd season). So the author in this case had little to work off of except for maybe 40 to 50 episodes of the original series, the least of any story that would come after it. He does a pretty good job of capturing Kirk, Spock and McCoy for the most part. The other characters were ok as well.
But this story is most interesting because it was written during the series run. An early look at an original Star Trek story. And it was engaging enough to keep your interest. Certainly there would be worse a few years later with some of the Bantam novels.
First, this is the first original Star Trek novel ever written. And the only original novel written during the original series run. I've read in the past that this was intended as a young adult novel. However, I probably wouldn't have thought of it as a young adult novel had I never heard that. It's maybe not as sophisticated as modern Star Trek novels, but it seemed serious enough to me for the most part (though there were some illustrations within the novel-not something you normally see in modern adult oriented Star Trek novels).
Anyway, the Enterprise receives a distress signal from an area known as the Horatius system. There are 3 possible locations it could have come from. The 3 planets were settled by humans about centuries before. Meanwhile, Dr. McCoy is very concerned about a condition known as space cafard running through the ship's complement. Apparently caused by being out in space too long without R&R. But the Enterprise, of course, is the only ship in range (nice to know that little plot device is nothing knew
) and they don't turn their back on a distress signal. The first planet is inhabited by former Native Americans who have maintained their more primitive ways (sort of reminded me of some of the planets in the Demilitarized Zone with the Cardassians). They quickly learn it wasn't them, but as they leave they pick up a stowaway who snuck on board. They go to the 2nd planet and they are somewhat more advanced but controlled in a theocracy. The population is kept mollified by drugs. But before the ship leaves they leave an 'antidote' in their water supply in the hopes that it will break the population's addiction and they will overthrow their oppressors (we never learn if they are successful). The 3rd planet is more advanced and they discover it is more populated than it should be. However, they do learn the distress signal was sent by the daughter of the leader of that colony and Kirk, Spock and their stowaway are forced to fight in a gladiator style combat (a la "Bread and Circuses") and their opponents are easily defeated the first time. But they keep coming back no worse for the wear and eventually they discover they are all clones. The daughter wants help in breaking this cycle and Kirk and co. find the control room where they are created to try to stop it. After all this is done a rat that Chekov and Sulu are in charge of gets loose and it starts exhibiting symptoms of the Bubonic plague. This is something humans have not had to contend with for centuries and McCoy is unsure if he is able to find the vaccine for it. So they try a number of methods to rid the ship of the rat. But there is a bit of a twist related to the cafard , but I won't ruin it for every one
. That's the basics of the plot. Overall it was an average book. There are basically 4 short stories tied together, so the book suffers a bit from a lack of detail at points. They have to quickly move from place to place to get it all in the book. It does touch on a few serious elements, the lack of progress among the former Native American colony, keeping the 2nd colony docile with drugs, and the issues of cloning in the 3rd. Also issues with being in space too long with no rest is another. So it touches to some extent on some serious issues, and perhaps could be a bit ahead of its time.
Also, it important to remember when reading this novel it was released in 1968, so it was probably written during the 2nd season of the show (it does feature Chekov so definitely written no earlier than the 2nd season). So the author in this case had little to work off of except for maybe 40 to 50 episodes of the original series, the least of any story that would come after it. He does a pretty good job of capturing Kirk, Spock and McCoy for the most part. The other characters were ok as well.
But this story is most interesting because it was written during the series run. An early look at an original Star Trek story. And it was engaging enough to keep your interest. Certainly there would be worse a few years later with some of the Bantam novels.
