Dr. Leonard McCoy

-The Fog-

Whispered conversations too quiet to fully understand lead him down empty streets. The discord is pierced at irregular intervals by sounds he's absolutely sure are unrelated. A young girl's giggling. A high pitched scream that stabs at his eardrums. Water rushing, but not the waves of the ocean. Concentrating on tracking what he can almost hear means he's failed to recognize what he doesn't hear, the common sounds that filter into the background. Here there is no background. No insects. No animals. No rustling of the trees. No wind assailing him.

The fog engulfs him from behind, a prickly sensation that makes the hair on the back of his neck stand immediately on end. He pivots, startled by the suddenness of it, and is greeted by white. An unending sea of clouds that reaches around and through him, having no respect for boundaries or the physicality of matter. What should be wonderous is instead a cage without bars. He squints and turns, disoriented, trying to find his path. Any path.

"DADDYYYYYYYY!"

His daughter's frightened cry is neither ahead nor behind, everywhere present all at once. His eyes fly wide but his feet take him nowhere. Which direction does he travel?

"Joanna!" he calls back. Only to receive no answer.

(villagememes | test drive)

Dripping icicles and melting snow around the cabin started off their trek into town.  The clearing gradually transitioned into thicker stands of trees, blocking out the mid-morning sun.  Shade stalled the thaw.  Soon they were traveling through a much deeper layer of snow than anticipated and the going was slow.  Although he'd left with what he thought was appropriate footwear, his toes had begun to ache.  To make matters worse, he was sure they were repeating scenery.  "Tell me we're not lost," he finally huffed.  

Their remaining days at the cabin were coming to an end.  The snow, which had piled high around the exterior of the cabin, was beginning to melt beneath the intensity of the sun.  It was the light leaking in through the curtained bedroom window that eventually woke him.  He'd become accustom to waking gradually during their stay so it took him many minutes to realize despite the early hour, he was alone in bed. 

Okay so maybe this is a no brainer.  Who doesn't like a novelization of one of their favorite movies?  I also have the novelizations for The Voyage Home and The Undiscovered Country sitting on my shelves.  I've read that it's terribly difficult to write a novelization because in most instances the author doesn't actually have a final draft of the movie to work with when they start the writing process.  I don't know if that was the case here or not.  Vonda McIntyre's book was published in July of 1982.  The movie debuted in June of the same year. 

Scripts of all the movies are available online nowadays but I enjoy revisiting scenes in a narrative format rather than in a script format.  The novelization gives you more of a good thing, including dialog that was either never shot, never scripted, or ended up on the cutting room floor.  Lastly, the novel includes more Saavik.  Although she wasn't central to the story, she was a character I greatly enjoyed (played by either actress) and wanted to get to know better. 

Reread:  Countless times.

The conversation with Jim that followed his discussion with Spock proved to be far less aggravating than he expected. They agreed to resolve the matter off the record once he was feeling better. But the time spent up and about, even if it was to his office to sit at his desk, hadn't done him any good. Just as he and Jim were finishing up, M'Benga had popped his head in to lay down the law. He'd spent an extra day in Sickbay because of it.

Sleeping in his own bed was a vast improvement. Being a patient in his own work space was too much like lounging on the job. In his own quarters, he could chew on his chaotic thoughts and recuperate in private.

When he wasn't silently cursing his own uncooperative body, he was thinking about Spock and the all too short encounter they'd had in his office. Truth be told, he'd spent a lot of time thinking about her lately. He owed her an apology for losing his temper, if nothing else.

"Spock's World" by Diane Duane is a must read for any TOS fan.   The hardback cover art portrays Spock in a TMP uniform with Vulcan in the background.  The story itself is most assuredly set post TMP based on the dialogue and ease of familiarity that has returned to the big three.  Vulcan stands on the eve of a great debate.  Remain or depart from the Federation?  Tension builds as each character takes their turn debating for or against, as the reader bears witness to Vulcan of old, as a sinister plot is uncovered.  

It's really a very cerebral story with many aspects I adore.  Sarek, Amanda, T'Pau, and T'Pring all return.  Bones plays a pivotal roll in both investigating and arguing.  What it means to be a Vulcan it explored.  The fact that not all Vulcans are unified in their thinking is highlighted.  Rich descriptions of the Vulcan home world and its history are beautifully intertwined into the story.  

And of course it gave us one of my favorite all time Bones quotes:

"Dammit... when did I last turn down an argument with a Vulcan?  I can hardly pass up one with the whole planet."

Her readings were in the toilet, the lowest he'd ever seen them.   His professional mind told him this was normal and to be expected when it came to a Vulcan healing trance.  Another less rational part of his brain sent his heart racing every time he glanced at the display above her bed or at her unnaturally still features.  It made for an uneasy wait.   The wound in her side was nearly healed though so he knew the remainder of that wait would be short.   It was a small consolation as his worry kept him company.

M'Benga and Chapel had both tried to relieve him to no avail.  He forced himself to keep busy but stayed close by, checking regularly.

This is the book that started it all.  My folks were having a garage sale one weekend when I was kid so I decided to wander through the things they were selling.  I found "Strangers From The Sky" in the collection of books.  My reaction was immediate.  "There's Star Trek BOOKS?!?!  NO WAY!"  Needless to say, I ran off with it and from there on out, pestered my parents about taking me to the local bookseller.  If there was one, there had to be more.  Sure enough there were. 

Beyond being the first Star Trek I ever owned/borrowed/stole, it too cemented this idea I spoke of in another post.  If Kirk and Spock were at each other's side, all was right with the world.  Bones is also part of this equation and this book highlights that nicely.  It helped form my concepts of trust, familiarity, and concern that the big three had for each other.  One unit, three persons, intricately intertwined. 

Here's a small excerpt:

"Spock reached within, took up the silver thread that linked his mind with Jim's.  Those whose minds had touched and been touched were given this.  Spock searched, found no immediate external danger to the human he so valued.  he might have probed deeper to the unconscious levels, but to do so without permission was a grave breach of Vulcan privacy.  Were he needed, he would know.  Jim Kirk's voice had called to him from across a galaxy once before, drawing him from the reaches of Kohlinahr, and he had answered.  He would do so again."

The back cover does a decent job of capturing the essence of the story:
"IN THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY: United at last after countless years of warfare, humanity turns toward the stars.  But when an alien spacecraft crashlands in the South Pacific bearing visitors from another world - The Vulcans - Earth must decide whether to extend the hand of friendship, or the fist of war...

While in the distant future, horrible dreams torment Admiral James T. Kirk, dreams prompted by his reading of STRANGERS FROM THE SKY, a book about the historic first contact.  Dreams of an alternate reality where he somehow changed the course of history - and destroyed the Federation before it began!" 

Written in the late 80s, the story of course predates the TNG movie that gives you a glimpse of the same event and the ENT episode that deals with the same first contact scenario.  Lots of h/c in this one with Bones first diagnosing Kirk's behavior as a problem and then defending him against his peers.  Also, Spock is instrumental in both discovering the nature of the problem and then helping his friend solve it.  Also, lots and lots of Vulcan backstory.   How many time have I reread it?  Too many to count.

Star Trek + A Murder Mystery = Two of my favorite genres all wrapped up into one book.  I'm starting this review series with my favorite Star Trek book of all time.  "The Vulcan Academy Murders" is a fast, approachable read by Jean Lorrah.  Much like "Spock's World", it provides a valuable look at Vulcan society and social mores.  Lorrah creates several new and compelling characters in this book, both Vulcan and Human, and the interactions between them offer wonderful insight.  Woven throughout the social aspects is a simplistic murder mystery with Kirk set as the lead investigator.  The perpetrator is fairly easy to spot but doesn't detract from the overall enjoyment.  There's enough twists and turns to keep the story moving, the action is enjoyable, and the characterizations of the big three remain in keeping.  How many times have I reread it?  Too many times to count.