The Final Frontier 9/Final Frontier 9 (Disk 2 of 3).adf/LCARS/TextFile/Articles/Ashes_Of_Eden_Overview.pp/Ashes_Of_Eden_Overview

Text File | 1995-11-17 | 8KB | 161 lines

TF01
3,The Ashes Of Eden - An Overview
4,by Colin Gunn

This, for me and alot  of  other  fans,  was  one of the most eagerly
awaited novels to emerge from the Pocket  stable. What is in fact the
only Trek novel to date to be written  by a member of the cast (comic
books have been penned  by  cast  members  before, but never novels),
also turns out to be a very  personal  voyage for the author as well.
Although the books can never be accepted  as Star Trek lore, this one
must come the closest in being accepted  as part of continuity to the
Star Trek story line.

This first (of a proposed trilogy, the second being released in April
1996 called The Return)  has  been  released  in  three formats.  The
traditionaly accepted hardback (soon  to  be papaerback) release, and
what is a  first  for  the  novels  -  a  simultaneous  graphic novel
adaptation of the book published by DC comics.

The Novel
---------

Although credited with  writing  the  book,  William Shatner actually
came up with the ideas behind  the  events  of the story (as with his
series of Tek books  which  are  written  by  Ron Goulant).  The main
writers are veteran Trek scribes Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens.

The events of the story begin  soon  after  Picard has buried Kirk on
the desolate side of the planet  Veridian  III,  as seen in the movie
Generations.  Spock comes to be  by  the  graveside  of his friend to
oversee the removal of his  body  for  transporatation back to Earth.
But Spock begins to recall the  last  time  he saw his friend and the
adventure that led Kirk to the events  seen prior to his being on the
Enterprise B for its inaugural  voyage.  Kirk's feelings at this time
seem to parallel those as we saw  in  Star Trek II.  He feels old and
that there is no place left for  him.  Of course when the chance of a
new adventure arises he is  more  than  eager  to accept, even to the
extent of alienating himself  from  his  friends.   What follows is a
very personal voyage for Kirk, and in parts one for Shatner too!

There are references in the  storyline  (which  if  you have read the
first of his Star Trek Memories)  are  a direct take on certain times
of his life.  In the  novel  he  openly  admits that he has alienated
himself from those that he  feels  close  to  by  putting his own ego
first.  The scene where Kirk is with  Scotty in the alien bar is very
fitting, as he said in his book  that  he would enjoy to have a drink
with Jimmy Doohan to try and  patch  things up (which appears to have
happened at last), and  indeed  Scotty  holds  nothing  back while he
tells Kirk that he feels at times he was always putting himself first
at the expense of others.  And in  true Kirk style he falls hook line
and sinker for the babe!

Being at an all  time  low  in  his  life,  Kirk  decides to accept a
mission that would at  first  seem  like  a  fairy  tale to some. The
chance of a fountain of  youth  is  too  much  for him and he eagerly
accepts the chance to help  a  struggling  planet to keep its secret.
The way that Kirk is feeling would seem to fit in with the characters
change of attitudes as he gets older.  We know he doesn't fit in with
life behind a desk  and  would  much  sooner  be  out  there making a
difference.  So perhaps we can understand  the way that he is feeling
towards his closest friends (at first appearing to be slightly out of
character).

The novel is well paced out, with various subplots along the way. The
conspiracy plotline from Star Trek VI comes  to a head as we discover
the implications of the acts  started  by Admiral Cartwright was only
the tip of the iceberg,  and  was  only  one  of many involved in the
radical views that some seem to share in the Federation.

I liked the premise behind what  the  true  secret of the planet Chal
is. The idea that the Romulans  were looking to protect themselves by
not creating this genetically bred race for  war but so as to protect
the species, is an interesting new way to view one of the Federations
deadliest foes.  And also the Enterprise A  gets to go out in a blaze
of glory to make even the hardest ships Captain proud of his ship.

One aspect of the book I wasn't  to  keen  on is one that seems to be
croping up in the Trek universe since  the death of Gene, is the need
to have covert operations going on all the time (take for example the
secret police of the Vulcan society  in  the episode GAMBIT 1 and 2).
This book has Chekov and Uhura on  a deadly undercover mission to try
and ascertain a Klingon  plot  involving  illegal  weapons buying.  I
also think the handling of the  confrontation between Chekov and Sulu
was way out - this is my only gripe with the book.

As you will all be aware  now,  the  second of the books, The Return,
due out soon deals with the return  of  Kirk,  and at the very end of
this novel a large clue is given that  leads into the next book as to
how he returns (read the description given of the shadow blacking out
the sky etc...).  It  is  fairly  safe  to  say  that  Bill is fairly
saddend at the death of his character  (and also fans reaction to his
death), and would seem to  be  offering  up  his  own ideas on how to
bring Kirk back.

For those of you that are not Shatner fans, then look at this book as
a new Star Trek novel and I can safely say you won't be disappointed.
And to those  same  fans,  you  may  find  your  atitude towards Bill
cooling off a bit, as he  incorparates  a very personal and heartfelt
approach to this story.


The Graphic Novel
-----------------

This adaptation is a first in the  regards  that it is the only novel
to be adapted to comics  form  from  a Pocket novel.  William Shatner
was also involved with the  production  of  this version of his story
along with the two authors.

It differs very slightly in so much as none of the scenes on Veridian
III are included.  The story  starts  with  Kirk reviewing one of his
holodeck adventures that have  been  programmed  for future cadets to
study, and ends with him returning  on  the Excelsior to Earth.  What
is surprising is that this  actually  works  as a graphic novel.  The
artwork is very impressive indeed.  I  found  this book to complement
the novel in ways that perhaps a  movie would.  It was interesting to
see the way that the  artist  (under  Bill's supervision) handled his
interpretation of this adventure.

If you like Trek in comics then you are going to love this.  The only
other Trek comic that comes  close to  this is DEBT OF HONOR that was
released some time ago.  Yet again a must have for the collection.


The Audio Novel
---------------

As with all of the recent Pocket Book novels, Ashes has been released
as an Audio Book.  The story is the same with some very basic changes
in mood and tempo.

Again wanting to be apart of this adventure, William Shatner actually
reads this version of his story (his  first for the Audio series, not
counting the intros he did for  the  CD  set).  The sound effects and
music certainly add to  the  tension  and  adventure generated by the
story teller,  and you  don't  realise  how  quick three hours passes
when listening to it.  I would have  to say that along with the Jimmy
Doohan and John De  Lancie  readings  that  Bill's adaptation sits up
there on a high with those.


Overview
--------

To single one of the above  out  is  fairly  unfair as all add to the
story generated by Bill.  I  found  that  reading  the  novel and the
graphic novel some time apart did not  in any way deter from the fact
that they are two well  presented  stand  alone  versions of the same
story.  Obviously the novel has  more  to  offer  in the line of more
detail and character development, but the  grahic novel does not lack
for this.  The audio novel  also  adds  to  the atmosphere as you can
hear Bill putting his  feelings  into  what  he  has  conveyed in the
story.

All are truly a unique  look  into  another  chapter into the life of
Captain Kirk (and indeed William  Shatner),  and if you don't collect
the novels then you may collect Trek  in comics form, or just collect
the audio adaptations, whatever, this story  is  there for you all to
enjoy.