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Star Trek Fotonovel #9
The Devil in the Dark
Enterprise arrives at the pergium mining colony on planet Janus VI to help the colony deal with a creature that has killed 50 miners and destroyed equipment with a strong corrosive substance. Kirk, Spock, and McCoy meet with the mine supervisor, Chief Engineer Vanderberg and an engineer, Appel, who describe the amorphous creature and its behavior. During the briefing, Spock's attention is drawn to a spherical object on Vanderberg's desk, which Vanderberg dismisses as a worthless silicon nodule, saying that there are thousands of them in the mines, and that they are a mere geological oddity. Suddenly, they are alerted to a problem in the colony's main nuclear reactor, and find its guard killed and the main circulation pump stolen. Chief Engineer Scott rigs a temporary replacement that will prevent critical failure, but a more permanent solution must be found in 48 hours.
156 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published July 1, 1978
51 people want to read
About the author
Gene L. Coon
12 books3 followersGene L. Coon was an American screenwriter and television producer. He is best remembered for his work on the original Star Trek series.
Often referred to as 'the forgotten Gene' (a reference to Gene Roddenberry), Gene Lee Coon was one of the most important creative minds behind "Star Trek" (1966). He is credited with inventing the Klingons and the 'Prime Directive', and with developing the interpersonal dynamics between Spock and McCoy (in particular, the invariably humorous verbal banter). He established the enlightened image of the Federation and often ended episodes with an anti-war allegory. A robust-looking, heavy-set man possessed of seemingly boundless creative energy, Coon was a prodigious reader and an immensely focused writer of prolific output. It was said, that he authored his novels and teleplays by assuming a state of near self-hypnosis, which he himself called 'automatic writing'. In one instance, he managed to produce the script for the Star Trek episode "The Devil in the Dark" in the course of a single weekend. Either as writer, or line producer, Coon had extensive, often critical input into some of the show's best-loved episodes, including "Arena", "Space Seed", "A Taste of Armageddon" , "The City of the Edge of Forever" (generally regarded as the best of the series), "Mirror, Mirror" and "The Doomsday Machine". He left Star Trek in March 1968, likely the result of personality clashes with members of the cast (in fact, Coon had a reputation for not getting along with actors in general), but continued to write several more episodes under the pseudonym 'Lee Cronin' in order to fulfill his contract with Paramount.
The Nebraskan-born Coon had served in the U.S. Marine Corps for four years from 1942. He had seen action in the Pacific and was later stationed in Japan as part of the occupying forces. He was subsequently posted for eight months to northern China, where he published a small English language newspaper. As a member of the Marine Corps Reserves, he returned to active duty during the Korean War, from 1950 to 1952. Upon his demobilisation, Coon found work first as a radio newscaster before turning to free-lance writing. From 1956, he was primarily involved in scripting teleplays for popular western and action shows like "Dragnet" (1951),"Wagon Train" (1957), "Maverick" (1957) and "Bonanza" (1959). At Universal in the early 60's, he turned "McHale's Navy" (1962) from a one-hour drama into a successful 30-minute sitcom. Together with the writer Les Colodny, Coon floated the idea for "The Munsters" (1964) as a satirical spin-off from "The Donna Reed Show" (1958) to MCA chairman Lew Wasserman. The result was yet another hit show. After Star Trek, Coon worked as writer/producer on "It Takes a Thief" (1968), while at the same time founding one of the first 'cartridge TV' video companies, UniTel Associates, with Colodny as executive vice president.
A chain smoker for most of his life, the man whom fellow writer/producer Glen A. Larson referred to as 'the spirit and soul of Star Trek', died of lung and throat cancer one week after being diagnosed, in July 1973, aged just 49.
Often referred to as 'the forgotten Gene' (a reference to Gene Roddenberry), Gene Lee Coon was one of the most important creative minds behind "Star Trek" (1966). He is credited with inventing the Klingons and the 'Prime Directive', and with developing the interpersonal dynamics between Spock and McCoy (in particular, the invariably humorous verbal banter). He established the enlightened image of the Federation and often ended episodes with an anti-war allegory. A robust-looking, heavy-set man possessed of seemingly boundless creative energy, Coon was a prodigious reader and an immensely focused writer of prolific output. It was said, that he authored his novels and teleplays by assuming a state of near self-hypnosis, which he himself called 'automatic writing'. In one instance, he managed to produce the script for the Star Trek episode "The Devil in the Dark" in the course of a single weekend. Either as writer, or line producer, Coon had extensive, often critical input into some of the show's best-loved episodes, including "Arena", "Space Seed", "A Taste of Armageddon" , "The City of the Edge of Forever" (generally regarded as the best of the series), "Mirror, Mirror" and "The Doomsday Machine". He left Star Trek in March 1968, likely the result of personality clashes with members of the cast (in fact, Coon had a reputation for not getting along with actors in general), but continued to write several more episodes under the pseudonym 'Lee Cronin' in order to fulfill his contract with Paramount.
The Nebraskan-born Coon had served in the U.S. Marine Corps for four years from 1942. He had seen action in the Pacific and was later stationed in Japan as part of the occupying forces. He was subsequently posted for eight months to northern China, where he published a small English language newspaper. As a member of the Marine Corps Reserves, he returned to active duty during the Korean War, from 1950 to 1952. Upon his demobilisation, Coon found work first as a radio newscaster before turning to free-lance writing. From 1956, he was primarily involved in scripting teleplays for popular western and action shows like "Dragnet" (1951),"Wagon Train" (1957), "Maverick" (1957) and "Bonanza" (1959). At Universal in the early 60's, he turned "McHale's Navy" (1962) from a one-hour drama into a successful 30-minute sitcom. Together with the writer Les Colodny, Coon floated the idea for "The Munsters" (1964) as a satirical spin-off from "The Donna Reed Show" (1958) to MCA chairman Lew Wasserman. The result was yet another hit show. After Star Trek, Coon worked as writer/producer on "It Takes a Thief" (1968), while at the same time founding one of the first 'cartridge TV' video companies, UniTel Associates, with Colodny as executive vice president.
A chain smoker for most of his life, the man whom fellow writer/producer Glen A. Larson referred to as 'the spirit and soul of Star Trek', died of lung and throat cancer one week after being diagnosed, in July 1973, aged just 49.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
October 12, 2016
In the 1970s, long before VCRs were a standard thing in most homes, Bantam Books in conjunction with Mandala Productions gave Star Trek fans the chance to relive some of the shows episodes through series of twelve fotonovels. These books were essentially proto-types of the graphic novels so prevalent today that re-tell classic stories and used actual film stills from the show with word bubbles and explanatory text to accompany the photos. I found my first few in the early days of book-collecting and was finally able to complete the collection in 2012 when my husband and I came across a treasure trove at my now favorite used book store in Illinois. I recently decided to catch up on reading those that I had never gotten to.
The Devil in the Dark (Fotonovel #9) is based on one of the episodes that most clearly emphasizes Star Trek's premise (voiced through the Vulcan philosophy) of "Infinity Diversity in Infinite Combinations." That we shouldn't make judgements based on how someone or something looks and acts--sometimes we need to take the time to understand those who look different and understand their motivations. The Horta, the "devil in the dark," looks like a menacing monster and has, admittedly, killed Federation personnel, but when Captain Kirk and the his officers investigate they find that the Horta had very good reasons to defend her home and her unborn children. Star Trek has always taught us lessons and this is a very important one.
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting. Thanks.
The Devil in the Dark (Fotonovel #9) is based on one of the episodes that most clearly emphasizes Star Trek's premise (voiced through the Vulcan philosophy) of "Infinity Diversity in Infinite Combinations." That we shouldn't make judgements based on how someone or something looks and acts--sometimes we need to take the time to understand those who look different and understand their motivations. The Horta, the "devil in the dark," looks like a menacing monster and has, admittedly, killed Federation personnel, but when Captain Kirk and the his officers investigate they find that the Horta had very good reasons to defend her home and her unborn children. Star Trek has always taught us lessons and this is a very important one.
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting. Thanks.
October 14, 2021
One of the very best TV episodes of "Star Trek" is transformed into an illustrated photo album. Very nicely done, and extremely intelligently written by Gene L. Coon.
August 22, 2021
This story puts forth the simple idea that it might be better to get to know someone rather than jump to conclusions and create destruction. I like the simplicity of the story and especially the cleverness of the plot.
Captain Kirk and Spock are beaned down to a planet where the inhabitants have been at war for half a millennia. However, it turns out that this "war" is merely a game played with computers, but with a cost to life in a bizarre manner.
This story was made into a Star Trek episode.
🪐 🚀 Recommended.
🟣
📺
Captain Kirk and Spock are beaned down to a planet where the inhabitants have been at war for half a millennia. However, it turns out that this "war" is merely a game played with computers, but with a cost to life in a bizarre manner.
This story was made into a Star Trek episode.
🪐 🚀 Recommended.
🟣
📺
February 21, 2016
This is one of my favorite of the original Star Trek episodes, mainly about not being prejudice and jumping to conclusions because some one else looks different than "we" do. The fotonovel, with its many stills from the episode, is a really good way to remember the show.
September 3, 2009
Another clever use of stills from the TV series combined with conversation/narrative "balloons" to create a graphic novel of an original Classic Star Trek episode.
October 2, 2013
In the days before the internet a book like this was precious to a fan.
I remember waiting impatiently for each of the photo novels to come out.
I remember waiting impatiently for each of the photo novels to come out.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews