#61 Sanctury by John Vornholt
Series: Pocket Books #61 (TOS)
Title: Sanctuary
Author: John Vornholt
First Published: 1992
From the book jacket
The planet Sanctuary -- a fabled world in unexplored space which is thought to be the last refuge of the persecuted, home to both the justly and unjustly accused. Though its name has been translated into every language in the galaxy, Starfleet has never known its exact location.
When the crew of the USS Enterprise is assigned to capture a dangerous criminal named Auk Rex, their pursuit takes them to an unexplored sector of the space. Captain Kirk, Mr. Spock, and Dr. McCoy continue the pursuit in a shuttlecraft, following Auk Rex to the surface of the planet, Sanctuary. Soon, Kirk and his crew are locked in a life and death stuggle on the mysterious planet, which harbors deadly secrets and never releases its visitors.
Characters: Kirk, Spock, McCoy; Scotty & the crew of the USS Enterprise
OCs: Klingons - Cmd Garvak of IKS Rak'hon, Orion - Pilenna of Gezary, Renna, Billiwog, Sanites
Keywords: landing party, strangled on surface, lost communication to the Enterprise, primitive means, The Wizard of Oz, mutilation, everything is free
"To be separated from the things you used to take for granted isn't that the real definition of a prison?"
Rating Out of 5 Action 3 Adventure 4 Character development 2 Humour 4 Plot 3 Romance 3 Suspense 3 Technology 1 Theme 4 Violence 2 Overall 4
Comment: Enjoyable light reading. Great characterisation of McCoy, though Spock and Kirk were predicable. Good pace with cut scene between the planet-wise and on the bridge of the Enterprise, though little could the Enterprise do other than socialise and wait. The original characters were rather flat with the exception of Billiwog the fat giant.