Star Trek: The Original Series (1968) – The Empath and Elaan of Troyius

Captain’s log: stardate 5121.5 The Empath is an interesting episode, written by Joyce Muskat and with an original airdate of 6 December, 1968, this one uses a bit of minimalist set design to give it an almost surreal feel. Captain Kirk (William Shatner), Spock (Leonard Nimoy) and Dr. McCoy (DeForest Kelley) find themselves trapped in…

Star Trek: Dwellers in the Crucible (1985) – Margaret Wander Bonanno

Before Star Trek V: The Final Frontier came along four years later with the concept of the Planet of Galactic Peace, Margaret Wander Bonanno presented a similar idea in her non-canon Star Trek novel, Dwellers in the Crucible, which finds its way onto the Book Shelf this week. Set before the events of Star Trek…

Star Trek: The Original Series (1968) – Spectre of the Gun and Day of the Dove

Captain’s log: stardate 4385.3 Spectre of the Gun is a bit of an interesting episode. Written by Gene Coon, under a pseudonym the episode premiered on 25 October, 1968.  When the Enterprise trespasses into Melkot space, the alien race punishes some of the crew including Captain Kirk (William Shatner), Spock (Leonard Nimoy), McCoy (DeForest Kelley),…

Star Trek: My Enemy, My Ally (1984) – Diane Duane

I return to the 23rd century with this week’s book shelf with the next Star Trek title in the Pocket Book series. Penned by Diane Duane, who had previously written The Wounded Sky, this one plays like a bit of a Cold War Thriller, at least to start, rotating the Romulans in as the baddies…

Star Trek: The Wounded Sky (1983) – Diane Duane

  Diane Duane takes the helm of the Enterprise in this week’s visit to the 23rd century via The Book Shelf. While heavy on the techno-babble and grounded in factual science, this story garnered an additional worthy note, it was later adapted for the season 1 episode of The Next Generation, Where No One Has…

Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (1991) – Nicholas Meyer

  It’s time for one final cruise with the original crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise, as I continue my journeys with the Sci-Fi Chronicles book. This time around the Klingons are in trouble, when one of their moons, Praxis, which was one of their key energy reserves, blows up. Unable to maintain the cost of…

Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (1984) – Leonard Nimoy

  I continue to boldly go with the Star Trek films, courtesy of the Sci-Fi Chronicles, and having previously covered Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, I moved onto the third film in the series, helmed by Nimoy himself, one of the caveats about his reprising the Spock character. Spock is dead. The events…