Star Trek: The New Voyages I

Sondra Marshak and Myrna Culbreath, Editors

reviewed by Carolyn Kaberline

Man’s most shining legends of heroes always seem to carry the dream that the heroes will return again. King Arthur will rise—the once and future king, Camelot will live again, and does, at least in the minds of men.

Star Trek was just such a shining legend, for one brief moment, a few brief years—a living legend of heroes and high deeds, of courage, glorious quests, splendid loves found and lost.

It was the most shining legend of all—man’s truest legend, seen at last: the legend not of a golden age lost, but of one yet to be found.

A golden age yet to be found, never to be forgotten, always to live again; those who saw Star Trek in that way could not let it die...and did not.

So begins the introduction to the first collection of Star Trek short stories edited by Marshak and Culbreath; not only does it set the tone for the entire volume, but it also sets the scene for following volumes. Additionally, it gives the entire Star Trek phenomenon the legendary status that it deserves.

Each of the eight stories in the volume is introduced by one of the series regulars, and although the stories focus mainly on Captain Kirk, Mr. Spock, and Dr. McCoy as did the series itself, there is something for the fans of every character.

The book begins with "Ni Var," a story that focuses on a Spock who has been divided into two individuals: one totally Vulcan, one totally Human.

This is followed by "Intersection Point," where the Enterprise has collided with another dimension. Somehow a necessary part of the ship has been lost in this other reality, and the crew of the Enterprise must find a way to retrieve it before the connection is severed and the ship is destroyed.

In "The Enchanted Pool," Spock gazes into the waters of a strange world and sees his true love—and finds the answer to the mystery of a lost starship at the same time.

During the filming of a Star Trek episode, Shatner, Nimoy, and Kelley somehow find themselves on the real Enterprise, facing the real Kor in "Visit to a Weird Planet Revisited."

"The Face on the Barroom Floor" follows Kirk as he enjoys shore leave and finds that a small lie as to his identity causes all kinds of problems.

McCoy accompanies Spock as the latter takes part in a Vulcan ritual in "The Hunting." However, the doctor soon finds himself in a fight for his life as Spock takes on the characteristics of the wild animal whose thoughts he has tried to read.

Someone or something is attracting the Enterprise crew to the new world they are exploring by offering them what they want most in "The Winged Dreamers." When the three senior officers try to retrieve the rest of the crew, they soon find themselves caught in illusions that may spell their doom.

And finally in "Mind-Sifter," Kirk becomes a victim of the Klingons who abduct him while he is on shore leave. After they use their mind-sifter on him, he escapes and finds himself on earth in the 1950’s, his mind totally destroyed.

Although the stories in this volume are written by non-professionals, they are all of professional quality and provide a most enjoyable read. Some of these stories, such as "Mind-Sifter" can be found in longer, more detailed versions on the authors’ websites or in the fanzines in which they first appeared, but the shortened versions contain all the essential ingredients. While my favorites of these eight stories seem to change with each reading, I’m sure that those who pick up this 238 page book will find the stories to be worthy additions to the Star Trek legend.

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