The things you learn each day

[nikki4noo]

I received a nice little package today from amazon with three books in it. One of them was "Stark Trek 365" by Paula M Block with Terry J Eromann. What I found in flicking through it was that it included character bios from the "Star Trek Writers Guide", third revision, dated April 17 1967

Comments

Bible for Trek

[pat_miller]

I remember reading this so many years ago. It actually made me read the Hornblower books and see what Roddenberry was getting at. Remember Trek was pitched as "wagon train to the stars"

Re: Bible for Trek

[nikki4noo]

Yup and Joss Wheadon continued the tradition with Firefly, being a western in space..."but dad, there are no cow's in space!" :D

Dad read the Hornblower books as a youngster, I bet he might have some still lying around somewhere. I might have to go and steal them!

Re: Bible for Trek

[pat_miller]

Oh you should! They're wonderful! In high school, I probably read them all three times over and became bizarrely attached to nautical fiction.

I don't really see Kirk as much of a Hornblower, though. Hornblower is so insecure with himself despite his brilliance, and keeps everyone at arms length to hide his perceived weakness.

Kirk seems acutely aware of his ability to make anything happen in any circumstances (thus he doesn't believe in no-win scenarios), and lets anyone get close, albeit it is often an artificial closeness.

Re: Bible for Trek

[nikki4noo]

The Hornblower reference relates back to Gene's original intentions. The character bio for Robert April who then became Christopher Pike mentions his insecurities and that he is thinking of leaving Starfleet. When it finally got adjusted again to Kirk the mention of the insecurities became less prominent.

[samueljames]

Thanks for posting these, it was great to read. I particularly like the emphasis on Jim feeling responsible for his crew because I love that aspect of him.

[nikki4noo]

You are welcome.

I have often disliked the 'frat boy' Kirk that a lot of fanon has interpreted him as being, the guy that doesn't read mission briefings because they are boring and hence gets people killed or himself injured. That had always seemed not to be Kirk to me. He does hold himself to a different standard, as is implied above, but he will do all he can not to endanger others.

[samueljames]

Yeah, even though the movie showed him trying (and mostly failing) to get girls attention I couldn't believe him ever being neglectful in his duty. We probably agree that because he has such high standards he would never shirk his duty. In XI I think because he's so young and knows he's subject to scrutiny he'd put even more pressure on himself to do well.

[nikki4noo]

This is exactly how I see him, trying too damn hard to be perfect and not give anyone an excuse to think he is less a deserving captain than others.

I got the YA novel as well, but haven't started to read it yet, friends have though and it starts with a mention of the curfew (yay!) and that Kirk and Bones are out trying to pick up girls. Seems that McCoy might be slightly more successful at it than Kirk. :D Then something happens and Kirk turns into the guy that is mentioned above. The one that feels responsible for others welfare.

[weepingnaiad]

Wow. This was great! Loved the insights into the characters that we often had to imply. It seems that Kirk was far more complicated than he ended up being portrayed at times. I always saw him that way, but know that lots of folks missed the deeply caring, passionate parts and thought of him as an egotistical, strutting peacock.

And the parts about McCoy! Love that they put it down in words what we all see.

Still, in TOS, I get the OT3 vibe, not just Kirk/Spock or Kirk/McCoy. They all need each other and wouldn't get as far without it being the three of them.

I'm saddened that Uhura's bio was so... shallow, but I guess that's all that could be expected considering we're talking 43 years ago.

Thank you!

[nikki4noo]

You are welcome

[caitri]

Oh this is so great--thank you for sharing!!! I really love the details about Spock's "library-computer" (*grin* geek much?) and that McCoy is the "one person" who will go to Kirk and call him on stuff.

And of *course* Kirk views himself who has to be superhuman, who has to get everything perfectly, push himself harder, and be the best--and then be so hard on himself when he's not. One of my fav things about him was how he holds himself to a completely different standard than to everyone else, willing to forgive anyone else for a mistake but never himself. <3

[nikki4noo]

As soon as I read these I had to share! I love the line that Spock's computer can hold whatever information the writer needs. Hello Mary Sue Computer! :D

Yes, that to is what I love about Kirk and the one person who will smack him upside the head? McCoy :D

[thistlerose]

Joanna! I love that she gets a mention. I've been thinking of getting Star Trek 365. Is it worth the $?

Oh, Bones. He will always be my favorite. His incongruities and idiosyncrasies make me love him so much.

[nikki4noo]

It is a beautiful book, very heavy but some great little insights, like those bits above. It's one you can grab flip open to a random page and learn something new. It is on sale on Amazon atm, so I say go for it!

Bones is what drew me in in XI and in TOS it just solidified my love for that character. I love the mystery of his past a little bit there and yay Joanna mention as well!