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Star Trek: The Motion Picture (Star Trek: The Original Series #1)
Their historic five-year mission is over. Kirk, Spock, McCoy, Scotty all the crew have scattered to other jobs or other lives. Now, they are back together again on a fabulously refitted U.S.S. Enterprise as an incredibly destructive POWER threatens earth and the human race.
Loose Leaf, 252 pages
Published
May 23rd 2000
(first published 1979)
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Community Reviews
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1,513)
Apr 24, 2009
Greg of A2
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
star-trek,
read-before-1990
I'll echo what others have said, "it's better than the movie." And there's actually a few little snippets in there that didn't make it into (or were just slightly altered from) the movie's commercial release.
I read it at a time when I was a big TOS (The Original Series) trek fan. I remember hearing Gene Roddenberry speak at a Trek Con down in Detroit (1980?). He gave some small talk about his favorite episodes and introduced the fan favorite TV blooper real. It was my first sci-fi related con a...more
I read it at a time when I was a big TOS (The Original Series) trek fan. I remember hearing Gene Roddenberry speak at a Trek Con down in Detroit (1980?). He gave some small talk about his favorite episodes and introduced the fan favorite TV blooper real. It was my first sci-fi related con a...more
All right, I'm going to come right out and say it: because of this book, The Motion Picture is my actual favorite Star Trek movie. Really. Not kidding at all. Indeed, in terms of quality, it really is much better than the movie, though I'd simply call it a supplement (or, perhaps, the movie a supplement to the book).
The book's main and most invaluable service is showing what a good plot TMP actually has, underneath all the... hmm, oddities. It is, at its core, an absolutely classic sci-fi plot...more
The book's main and most invaluable service is showing what a good plot TMP actually has, underneath all the... hmm, oddities. It is, at its core, an absolutely classic sci-fi plot...more
"Space: the final frontier. These are the voyages of the starship Enterprise. Its ive-year mision: to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations; to boldly go where no man has gone before." -Captain James Tiberius Kirk. The first time you heard that statement, you were just a kid, watching Star Trek: the Original sereis on TV Land. Well, now you can have the joy of reading the most accelerating series there is. The man, who created Captain Kirk and all other Star Trek...more
Feb 17, 2012
S. J.
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Star Trek fans, people who've seen the movie
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
[These notes were made in 1982:]. I remember having been greatly perplexed by Star Trek I, and hoping that this novelization would clear things up - fill in the gaps, as it were. After all, it is by the Great Bird of the Galaxy himself. And in some ways it does - not so much that it gives insight into the way the plot hangs together as that it confirms hunches I remember having during the movie. The whole vital sequence of what Spock actually saw within the alien being, unaccountably cut as it w...more
Have you seen the first Star Trek film? It's great, isn't it? Except for the bit with Spock and Uhura in the turbolift. That was just weird. I especially liked the bit with Sulu and the swords and—
Hmm? What's that? That was actually the eleventh Star Trek film? Now you mention it, I do recall some earlier ones. There was that one with the Borg, right? That one was fantastic. And before that they kind of alternated between being not-so-good and being not-so-bad. All the way back to Wrath of Khan,...more
Hmm? What's that? That was actually the eleventh Star Trek film? Now you mention it, I do recall some earlier ones. There was that one with the Borg, right? That one was fantastic. And before that they kind of alternated between being not-so-good and being not-so-bad. All the way back to Wrath of Khan,...more
Looking for something light and quick to read, I stumbled upon this book. It is a novelization of the unpopular 1979 Star Trek motion picture, but with a striking difference: it was the first novel written by Gene Roddenberry - the creator of Star Trek.
As such there is far more detail and nuance than one would get from a book based on a film. Granted, authors of such works do often overcompensate for the more shallow nature of their source material. But Roddenberry never really steps in this tra...more
As such there is far more detail and nuance than one would get from a book based on a film. Granted, authors of such works do often overcompensate for the more shallow nature of their source material. But Roddenberry never really steps in this tra...more
Kirk, Spock, McCoy, Scotty and all of their friends have scattered to other jobs or other lives. Their long-term five-year mission is over and now they are back together again on the Enterprise. Kirk, the captain of the vessel last time, finds that Enterprise is refitted fabulously. Also, Enterprise has a new captain, Decker. Decker knows more about the new ship than Kirk, as he went and snatched back his own ship. When Kirk had controlled and he assigned Decker as second science officer, they w...more
Oct 24, 2011
James Tyrrell
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
sci-fi,
fantastique
There is something nice about reading a book where all the characters are well cemented in your mind due to the actors that played them. While some people say that reduces the imagination I would say it, at times, greatly clarifies your mental imagery. It's not the greatest book ever, certainly, but it's a good read, the additional inner monologues of characters and the greater depth it gives to them is worth it.
I especially liked the mental imagery and explanation of certain elements that woul...more
I especially liked the mental imagery and explanation of certain elements that woul...more
I really enjoyed getting a look into the characters' minds at this point in their lives, when they had gone beyond their glory days of the five-year mission. Roddenberry did a great job portraying the characters and the mistakes or missteps they'd made (Kirk taking the promotion to Admiral, Spock running off to Vulcan to purge his human half). I also enjoyed the sense of the twenty-third century that he built into the novel that the movie wasn't quite able to get across (social mores, the chip i...more
Gene Roddenberry may have passed away quite a while ago, but he continues to live on through the Star Trek universe, which continues to be made into movies, books, video games, and comics decades after its inception. This novelization, which was actually penned by Roddenberry himself, is a bit short, but much better than the movie on which it was based. Any Star Trek fan should get his or her hands on this as soon as they get the chance, because how else will you see Kirk, Spock, and the Enterpr...more
I don't know what it tells you when the first 16 pages of a 128-page book is the list of other books in the series... but it definitely means you're holding something Trekkish.
The stardates are obviously messed up (as in, not even consistent from chapter to chapter), and the chapters themselves are out of order (I mean seriously - chapter 1 is followed by 4, chapter 3 is the very last one of the book (after chapter 22 or so) etc. I suspect the publisher may have been a wee bit drunk.)
The story i...more
The stardates are obviously messed up (as in, not even consistent from chapter to chapter), and the chapters themselves are out of order (I mean seriously - chapter 1 is followed by 4, chapter 3 is the very last one of the book (after chapter 22 or so) etc. I suspect the publisher may have been a wee bit drunk.)
The story i...more
Written by Gene Roddenberry (although some give the entire credit to Alan Dean Foster), this novel features many differences from what is seen on-screen. Interestingly, the novel is set up as James Kirk telling the "real" story of what happened during the "Vejur" (sic) incident, as if the film itself was the blown out of proportion news media version of the story. I can't help but wonder if this approach is due to the clashes Rodenberry had during production with Harold Livingston, the screenwri...more
A good re-telling of a perfectly adequate movie, with a smattering of interesting new tidbits thrown in.
Such as the notion of the Gibraltar Hydroelectric Dam which transformed Africa in 21st century, so that it remained lovely and peaceful through WWIII.
Or the idea of “new humans” including Willard Decker’s mom who practice group consciousness, possibly making Decker's willingness to join one at the end more palatable? Maybe? Spelling out that Decker and Ilia Probe consummate their affection du...more
Such as the notion of the Gibraltar Hydroelectric Dam which transformed Africa in 21st century, so that it remained lovely and peaceful through WWIII.
Or the idea of “new humans” including Willard Decker’s mom who practice group consciousness, possibly making Decker's willingness to join one at the end more palatable? Maybe? Spelling out that Decker and Ilia Probe consummate their affection du...more
This is better than the movie. Since the movie was absolutely awful, that's faint praise. At least one review here claims it was actually written by Alan Dean Foster. Really? Yes, I know Foster came up with the story on which the the script was based, but I doubt he wrote the novelization. First of all, because Roddenberry was the creator and producer of Star Trek, not just say, an actor, and part of his skill set was blocking out stories for episodes, even if others then filled them out into th...more
Originally read this in my teens and have seen the movie multiple times. After re-reading it I had forgotten how good it was. Like most books based on Motion Pictures the book was much better, especially since it was written by the creator of Star Trek himself, Gene Roddenberry. Mr. Roddenberry was able to give in depth thoughts and turmoil to all the main characters that movies just don't have time to or are just unable to delve into.
A book that is the last word on schizophrenic TV & film novelizations. Depending on the day and how I feel, this is either (1) a surprisingly thoughtful, rich & adult revision of the first Star Trek film, complete with fascinating new insights...or (2) it's a novelization written by a latent-horny-teenager, trying too hard to impress, and using too much fanwank in the process. Whatever it is, it's certainly memorable.
Mar 31, 2012
Stephanie
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Trekkies
Recommended to Stephanie by:
found it on the communal bookshelf and couldn't help myself
My level of Star Trek nerdom reached a new level today and I couldn't be more pleased. Reading Star Trek The Motion Picture The Book is probably better than watching the movie really, since this certainly isnt the strongest of the ST films. I enjoyed the allusions to life on earth in the 23rd Century (mostly underground) that you dont always get on screen. I'll definitely look for more Roddenberry novels.
I've seen the movie several times, but never had read the novelization. I thought it was better than the movie because it brought out Spock's complex motivations for re-joining Star Fleet a bit better than did the screenplay. I also liked the way Roddenberry portrayed James T. Kirk as, to some extent, a figure haunted by age and worry about whether he could still "cut it" as a starship captain.
A good expansion of the story as seen in the film, with lots of informative (and often amusing) footnotes by Roddenberry addressing this or that aspect of the Star Trek universe (even to the point of addressing K/S slashfic writers). Quite enjoyable, and in some ways, better than the film (and I'm one of that minority of Trek fandom who actually likes _The Motion Picture_) due to the expanded scenes and better pacing.
Immensely entertaining for this Star Trek fan. I hadn't seen the film in years when I stumbled across this paperback amongst a pile in a USO overseas and immediately grabbed it. I was not disappointed. I became reacquainted with the core characters, and was reminded why I watched Star Trek every weekend when I was young. I will definitely read this book again.
A very interesting story. The book differs from the movie in a lot of really good ways. You get to know not just what the characters are doing. But their thoughts and feelings as well. I find that as a much more interesting and pleasant experience as well as a better way to spend my time. Also it helps after a long day of work.
Imagine creating a universe and characters to live in that universe and entrusting it to others develop. That's what Gene Roddenberry did with Star Trek. Now imagine others creating a story and giving it back to the creator to bring t life. That is what Alan Foster did.
A great story in itself with some cool insight into the Star Trek universe and it's original characters. Fun read with much to think about.
A great story in itself with some cool insight into the Star Trek universe and it's original characters. Fun read with much to think about.
The novelization of the first motion picture...done by the Great Bird of the Galaxy himself. POV is all over the place, but the footnotes are classic, and Roddenberry addresses those pesky Kirk/Spock rumors.
Not the best Star Trek adaptation but far from the worst Trek novel. Some interesting background explanations on many of the characters and paced much faster than the actual movie.
A definite must read for the Star Trek fan who appreciated the movie, but obviously felt it was "overexposed". The back story filled in the gaps and made me appreciate the movie.
Dec 16, 2011
Kikki
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
50-book-challenge-2011
Loving so far. XD I love Kirk.
I love this book! Read the book, then watched the movie. Gotta say, as usual, I love the book more. But just for the technical terms and description.
I love this book! Read the book, then watched the movie. Gotta say, as usual, I love the book more. But just for the technical terms and description.
Read this a VERY long time ago. Recall it had quite a bit of back story and scenes that didn't make it in to the film. Should read again one day.
This book holds the dubious distinction of being not only my first introduction to Star Trek, but the first science-fiction I ever read.
Well, it's better than the movie. Actually, it's much better than the movie. Unfortunately, that's still damning with faint praise.
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Eugene Wesley "Gene" Roddenberry, was an American screenwriter and producer. He became best known as the creator of what would become the science fiction universe of Star Trek. He would also become one of the first people to be "buried" in space. Roddenberry was a recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross for his actions in the U.S. Army Air Corps in the Pacific Theatre of World War II. Roddenbe...more
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Jun 21, 2012 02:46pm