McIntyre, Vonda N.

Star Trek IV The Voyage Home (Star Trek)

Average customer rating:

A visit with old friends
Haw haw haw, Spock! Vulcans can't hold their candy!
A adventure for all ages
FUnny
An excellent novelization.

Star Trek IV The Voyage Home (Star Trek)
Leonard Nimoy , and Harve Bennett
Manufacturer: Star Trek
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0671702831

Book Description

Admiral James T. Kirk is charged by the Klingon Empire for the comandeering of a Klingon starship. The Federation honors the Klingon demands for extradition, and Kirk and the crew of the Starship Enterprise are drawn back to Earth.

But their trip is interrupted by the appearance of a mysterious, all-powerful alien space probe. Suddenly, Kirk, Spock, McCoy and the rest of the crew must journey back through time to twentieth-century Earth to solve the mystery of the probe.

Customer Reviews:

A visit with old friends.......2006-02-05

Why did I enjoy this more than any of the other Star Trek movies? Probably because it's got all of the elements I love. Kirk and McCoy trying to relate to Spock, and Spock too puzzled by his Human half to help them much - if at all. Humor. A feisty, intelligent "love interest" who actually has a key plot-driving role, in Dr. Gillian Taylor. Sarek. And, at the end...oh, never mind. Just in case there's someone left who may want to read the book, or see the film, without already knowing the ending - no, I wouldn't spoil it for worlds.

So the science doesn't make a lot of sense. It often didn't in the original Trek, on TV. The plot premise and execution worked well enough to let me temporarily suspend my disbelief when I first saw "The Voyage Home" on the big screen, and I found that unchanged when I finally read the novelization. So the humor's lame at times. It still felt to me like a visit with old friends, and that's really what I'm looking for in a Star Trek story. On screen, or between book covers.

Haw haw haw, Spock! Vulcans can't hold their candy!.......2005-07-24

One of the abilities of the Star Trek franchise has been the ability to alleviate a potential cliche in a story by bringing a bit of humor in. A time travel scenario can be really hackneyed and lame except for the fact that this one gets a good laugh out of it. Like Kirk and Spock wandering around San Francisco traffic without a working knowledge of profanity. Most of us know how Kirk & co use a borrowed Klingon ship to go back to our time when the humpbacked whale was not yet extinct so that they could bring a couple of them forward in time to tell the mysterious probe to shut down the hurricane already, we hoid ya da foist time--if not from reviews, then by seeing the movie. One scene that got ad-libbed into this novelization didn't make the screen, though. Remember if you will the sequence where Kirk pauses by the checkout of a restaurant and hands Spock an after-dinner mint ("Don't say I never gave you anything"/ "Why would I say that, Captain?")? Now fast forward to the scene where Kirk and Spock find the whales at an aquarium and Spock goes "swimmin' wit' da fishes" (yeah yeah, whales aren't fish, I know). The scene we didn't get in the movie is right after scientist Gillian gives Spock hell for that little swim. In this book, Kirk gets Spock aside and asks him what's the matter with him. Spock reminds him of the mint and reveals the not widely known medical fact that sucrose has a certain physiological effect on Vulcans. If I'd written this book, I would have also added the above reaction by McCoy.

A adventure for all ages.......2003-12-04

It is even better then the movie. It has all the elements of a classic Star Trek episode, with Capt. Kirk falling in love with a beautiful young women, the crew dealing with a different time periode, MR.Spock and Dr.McCoy going at it like an old married couple.......And there are the Klingons, a major threat to Earth, and, of crouse, the whales... Who wouldn't like this book?

FUnny.......2001-12-30

I liked it because it really helped to put the movie into prospective.

An excellent novelization........2001-02-02

If you are familiar with the movie that this book was based on, I will say that this is one of the most faithful novelizations of a movie that I've ever seen; almost every scene from the movie is included, and most of the dialogue is faithfully kept as well. Ms. McIntyre satisfies her creative urge by filling in gaps in the storyline, adding internal dialogue and insight into the characters' thoughts as well as transitional scenes that further explain and clarify the storyline.

If you are not familiar with the movie, there are a few quibbles you might have with the story, but for my money, the quibbles are all things that originated in the movie, and that Ms. McIntyre is not responsible for: the running gag of Kirk attempting to "fit in" to 20th century society by cursing, which he does clumsily, and Spock's even more clumsy attempts to follow Kirk's lead. I'm not certain whether this was supposed to be purely a humorous bit, or whether it was supposed to be a comment on how silly vulgarity makes one look, and how foolish it is to try to fit in in that way. If it was intended for humor value, its humor wore thin very quickly, and if it was intended for the latter purpose, I'm not sure that it was effective. But in any case, that, as I say, is not Ms. McIntyre's fault; it was part of the movie that she was working from. Similarly, any part of the plot that referred back to the previous movie, and Spock's tenuous grip on his memories as a result of being recently "reborn", do not sit well with me (see my review of "The Search For Spock" for my objections to that movie/book) but again, this is not the author's fault. I also do not believe that a bit of ambient radiation causes malfunctions in phasers, as happens in one scene, but the same disclaimer of responsibility applies.

Amazon.com

In this rich and engrossing tale, Vonda N. McIntyre proves once again that her plotting and mastery of language are among the best in the business. The Moon and the Sun, which won the 1997 Nebula Award for best novel of the year, is the story of Marie-Josèphe, a young lady in the court of Louis XIV. When her brother Yves returns from a naturalist voyage with two sea monsters (one live, one dead), Marie-Josèphe is caught up in a battle of wills involving the fate of the living creature. The king intends to test whether the sea monster holds the secrets of immortality, but Marie-Josèphe knows the creature to be an intelligent, lonely being who yearns only to be set free. In a monumental test of the limits of patience and love, Marie-Josèphe defies the will of the king, her brother, and the pope in defense of what she knows is right, at any cost. McIntyre's atmospheric prose envelops the reader in a fully realized world--sights, smells, and sounds are described in great detail. The author completely represents the Sun King's court at Versailles--her research for the book must have been quite extensive. The blend of history, science, and fantasy makes for a book you will want to gulp down. --Therese Littleton

Book Description

In seventeenth-century France, Louis XIV rules with flamboyant ambition. In his domain, wealth and beauty take all; frivolity begets cruelty; science and alchemy collide. From the Hall of Mirrors to the vermin-infested attics of the Chateau at Versailles, courtiers compete to please the king, sacrificing fortune, principles, and even the sacred bond between brother and sister. By the fiftieth year of his reign, Louis XIV has made France the most powerful state in the western world. Yet the Sun King's appetite for glory knows no bounds. In a bold stroke, he sends his natural philosopher on an expedition to seek the source of immortality -- the rare, perhaps mythical, sea monsters. For the glory, of his God, his country, and his king, Father Yves de la Croix returns with his treasures: one heavy shroud packed in ice...and a covered basin that imprisons a shrieking creature.

Customer Reviews:

Overrated.......2006-12-18

I really am puzzled by this book winning the Nebula award and the rave reviews here. I guess it is just my taste (or lack of it) but I found the book rather tedious, with all its details on the clothes everyone was wearing and the angst all the main characters exhibited. I did finish it, but I would not recommend this to anyone, unless they were fascinated by this period in history (and the clothing styles of the time....)

Fine ideas; poor writing........2004-06-09

The Moon and the Sun begins with the compelling premise of a sea monster brought to Versailles during the reign of Louis XIV. Yet Ms. McIntyre neither takes the plot anywhere of real interest, nor infuses her characters with anything more than stereotypical personalities. The novel's heroine, Marie-Josephe St. Croix, is a stark anachronism at the court of Versailles. Although Marie-Josephe's ideas and worldview are undeniably sympathetic, she epitomizes a thoroughly contemporary ideal -- her views on slavery, education, religion, and the rights of women are all modern ideas -- and, as such, she fails to be a believable character. Moreover, the other characters of the novel fall into predictable roles and never surprise the reader with any of their actions.

Ms. McIntyre wrote The Moon and the Sun as an alternate history (with only the one, central fantasy element), but it seems unlikely that this novel would not have garnered praise had it been written for another genre. That fantasy readers reward such mediocre novels with their highest awards reflects tellingly on the sci-fi/fantasy genre as a whole -- and that reflection is decidedly negative.

entertaining.......2004-02-17

This book was recommended in the "Book Lovers Calendar" a year or so ago. It had much more detail about life in the Louis XIV court than I expected, but that turned out to be very interesting. I felt the story left out a lot of background that is needed that we end up having to piece together throughout the story -- it initially doesn't explain much about Marie-Josephe's background (how did she get to Versailles from Martinique, and what was her life like before she got to France?). That would have helped to explain her character, her relationship with her brother and with the church, much better than having to divine all that as I was trying to keep track of all the different courtiers. (I recommend reviewing the list of characters at the beginning to keep this straight.) By not supplying more about her background, and maybe more about her struggles before Versailles, it seems a bit contrived when she suddenly demonstrates aptitude for everything (science, drawing, riding, AND composing). But I liked the whole sea monster aspect of the story, which got a little lost in court politics at times. Overall worth reading.

More psychological than adventurous.......2003-08-12

Marie-Josephe, after living in a convent, finds herself at the court of Louis XIV. Her brother, Yves, has found a sea monster and has brought it back to his majesty - who believes that the sea monster is the key to his immortality. However, Marie-Josephe can understand and communicate with the creature, and she comes to realize she's not as much a monster, as she is human.

I loved all the research that went into writing this book. The court of Louis XIV was amazingly well recreated. I also liked the love-story that was woven in to the plot. The last hundred pages or so were my favorite. Unfortunately, the plot was very slow at times. This isn't a book about great adventures, epic battles and heroes and heroines in the typical sense. Most of the "action" revolves around Marie-Josephe's struggles - both internal, and external while trying to deal with life at court.

Just a note of caution: the writing style was extremely descriptive. McIntyre uses a lot of unfamiliar, long words to get her point across. I had to have a dictionary beside me at all times while reading this book. Also, the book dealt a lot with Christianity at the time. Struggles to save one's eternal soul, struggles to discover immortality, and the immoral way most people at court behaved despite Christianity's role in their lives was explored at length.

Overall, I would only recommend it to fans of the period, or fans of fantasy novels that are more psychological than adventurous.

Excellent blend of fantasy and alternate history.......2003-06-09

The Moon and the Sun" (1997) is an excellent fantasy novel by US science fiction author Vonda McIntyre. The novel is not a standard fantasy, but rather an alternate history novel with fantasy elements. It won a number of awards, including the 1997 Nebula Award for Best Novel (beating the favorite "A Game of Thrones" by George R. R. Martin).

The story is set in 17th century France, during the reign of the Sun King Louis XIV, at his court in Versailles. The novel is filled with a large cast of courtiers, many of them historical figures, who are all competing for the favor of the King. The main character, Marie-Josephe de la Croix, assists her brother, Father Yves de la Croix, in the scientific study of a recently captured sea monster. The King hopes to gain immortality by consuming part of the creature, but as the study continues, Marie-Josephe discovers the sea monster may be more than a dumb beast. This discovery tests Marie-Josephe's loyalty to her brother, her king and her religion.

Vonda McIntyre thoroughly researched the historical setting for "The Moon and the Sun" and created a very convincing setting, filling it with believable and well-rounded characters. Because of the level of detail, the novel can be enjoyed as a historical novel and a fantasy. Very highly recommended.

Book Description

Cadets that enter Starfleet Academy have two mantras drilled into them from their very first day. They must do their duty for the Federation and Starfleet, and they must strive to honor their oath as Starfleet officers. Among those who have best embodied these guiding principles and who have strived to live up to the coda "to boldly go ™" are those who once served aboard the Starship Enterprise under the command of Captain James T. Kirk. Who then, was better to guide the next generation of officers? After Kirk became an admiral, the officers of the Enterprise were promoted, and several became Academy instructors. Transformed from a ship of the line to a training vessel the Enterprise's days of active duty are behind her -- until a frantic message from a distant outpost interrupts a training exercise and pulls the ship back into action.

Admiral Kirk is forced to take command of the Enterprise in order to stop an old nemesis from commandeering what could be the most deadly weapon ever devised. In the course of his actions, the crew will find itself facing death...and life -- as they deliberately violate their Starfleet oaths, travel through time to save Earth, and ultimately earn redemption in the eyes of the Federation.

Now, for the first time ever in one volume here are the novelizations of three Star Trek® films: Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan,® Star Trek III: The Search for Spock,® and Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home,® all by award-winning author Vonda McIntyre.

Customer Reviews:

Thoroughly enjoyable.......2007-03-21

'Duty, Honor, Redemption' is the compilation of the novelizations of Star Trek II, III and IV. As with most Star Trek novelisations, it is well worth the read. Reading it made me feel like I was meeting up with an old bunch of friends that I hadn't seen in years.

The books are written faithfully to the films, obviously taken from the script, with extra scenes added here and there, most of which is I suspect scenes that never made it to the final film.

Vonda N. McIntyre does a mesterful job with all the characters she writes for, and, in particular, Saavik. Ms Mcintyre explores Saavik's Romulan side in much more detail than the films.

One of the most interesting aspects of these books, for me, were the sections detailing what the Enterprise did immediately after Star Trek II, in particular, the scene where Kirk, Estaban and Carol Marcus debate the future of the Genesis Project. Another fascinating section are Saavik's eerie premonitions of Mr Spock. Having recently rewatched Star Trek III, I found it to be a little too fast paced at time, and I think it could have benefited from some of this material.

This book is a thrilling and fascinating read. I highly recommend it.

Awesome Book!.......2006-05-14

This is a great way to get the novelizations of the three best Star Trek movies in one book. Tthese three movies came about at the end as a trilogy, and anyone who enjoyed the movies will love this book.

As far as Nan Lewis's several reviews with one star about buying books only to find out at home they were re-releases, a simple look at the back of the books would reveal this. Why would someone buy a book without knowing anything about it? That one-star reviews are not for the content, but the reviewer's foolishnes.

A treat for those who enjoyed Star Treks II, III and IV.......2005-07-10

This is a handsome trade paperback which reprints Vonda N McIntyre's excellent novelizations for Star Treks II, III and IV ("The Wrath of Khan", "The Search for Spock" and "The Voyage Home").

The only changes to the original books are the correcting of errors, such as "McGivers" for "McGiver". Sulu also goes back to the rank of "Commander" (where McIntyre had promoted him to captain in her novelizations, as per the dropped scene from ST II that was never picked up on by the other movies).

If you've never read the ST II or ST III novelizations before, you are in for a treat. Heaps of great scenes and characters that were never in the movie! Lots of background on Saavik, Peter Preston, the Genesis Project scientists and even an explanation for why Spock's mother Amanda was not present at his Fal Tor Pan ceremony in ST III. The ST IV novelization doesn't add as much new stuff, but is still enjoyable.

The size of the print in this omnibus is very tiny and I feel sorry for people who order this book thinking it's an all-new novel, but there is so much to like about these "Signature Edition" books. I bought this even though I already have first editions of all the movie novelizations. The cover is eye-catching (the lower quarter of Kirk's colour portrait) and matches the other six books in the "Signature Edition" reprint series. Oh, there is one new component, too: a three-page essay on "Harve Bennett: The Man Behind the Movies" by Terry J Erdmann.

WARNING: COMPILATION, NOT A NEW STAR TREK NOVEL.......2005-01-17

This is NOT a new Star Trek novel: it is merely a compilation of three previously released ST novels, ST II: The Wrath of Khan, ST III: The Search for Spock, and ST IV: The Voyage Home. My one star rating reflects my annoyance at having to return what I thought was a new novel when I purchased it. The rating is not a commentary on any of the novels included in this compilation, which I thought were quite good for novelizations.

Average customer rating:

Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
Vonda N. McIntyre
Manufacturer: Pocket Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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To Reign in Hell: The Exile of Khan Noonien Singh (Star Trek)

ASIN: B000C04WHU

Product Description

Novelization of the Star Trek second movie, with guest star Ricardo Montalban. Jack B. Sowards (screenplay); Harve Bennett & Jack B. Sowards (story): Adapted from the screenplay of "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan", this novel follows the crew of Starfleet's most beleaguered vessel as they battle with an old nemesis, the exiled Khan.

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Dreamsnake
Vonda N. McIntyre
Manufacturer: New York: Dell Publishing Co. Inc. 1978
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000LVDSFC

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Star Trek III, The Search for Spock
Vonda N. McIntyre
Manufacturer: New York: Pocket Books, 1984
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Screwtop/the Girl Who Was Plugged in (Tor Double, No 7)

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Screwtop/the Girl Who Was Plugged in (Tor Double, No 7)
James Tiptree Jr. , and Vonda N. McIntyre
Manufacturer: Tor Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0812545540

Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (Star Trek #17)

Average customer rating:

ST-TOS: Star Trek III - The Search for Spock
Beginning scenes a great extra
Good writing, bad concept.
Nostalgia for Spock fans
Vonda N. McIntyre rocks!

Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (Star Trek #17)
Harve Bennett
Manufacturer: Star Trek
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0671495003

Book Description

<B> No One On The Enterprise Can Believe That Mr. Spock Is Gone!</B>

As the crew grieves for Mr. Spock, the awesome Genesis Device, now controlled by the Federation, has transformed an inert nebula into a new planet teeming with life. But Genisis can also destroy existing worlds.

The creators of the Device want it given freely to the Galaxy. But Starfleet Command fears that it will become a force for evil. And the enemies of the Federation will not rest until they seize it -- as their most powerful weapon in the battle to conquer the Galaxy!

Download Description

No one on the Enterprise can believe that Mr. Spock is gone! As the crew grieves for Mr. Spock, the awesome Genesis Device, now controlled by the Federation, has transformed an inert nebula into a new planet teeming with life. But Genisis can also destroy existing worlds.

Customer Reviews:

ST-TOS: Star Trek III - The Search for Spock.......2003-04-20

Star Trek-The Original Series: Star Trek III: The Search for Spock by Vonda N. McIntyre based on a screenplay by Harve Bennett is just what is says... the search for Spock.

This book is based on Paramount Pictures space adventure Star Trek III the movie... The Search for Spock... but is Spock really gone for good? The awesome powers of the Genesis Device were released in an inert nebula and now where there was nothing, there is a planet teeming with life. But, to the Federtion and its enemies there is more to the Genesis Device. Could the Genesis Device be used as an awesome weapon? The enemies of the Federation will not rest until they themselves have the power of the Genesis Device.

What I liked about reading this book is that there are fewer leaps in logic and there are more scenes written in the book that aren't found in the movie version, making the book far superior to the movie. The author's writting style makes for easy reading and she has excellent character development as the story flows and makes sense.

The story is well-written and when reading it the prose flow and makes for a quick read. If you liked the movie, you'll really like the book as the book is an expanded version of the movie.

This is classic TREK as the Federation and its enemies battle for the most powerful weapon to control the galaxy... the Genesis Device.

Beginning scenes a great extra.......2002-08-12

Vonda McIntyre's added scenes in the beginning of this book were absolutely wonderful. The romance between Lieutenant Saavik and David Marcus, the wake for Spock, and the story about how Captain Sulu is originally supposed to command the Excelsior all bring together the story in a much better way than the movie did. Overall, an excellent book that all should read!

Good writing, bad concept........2000-11-21

It's a real shame that Vonda McIntyre's excellent writing had to be hamstrung by being forced into the general plot of the third Star Trek movie; the very concept behind this book -- bringing back the character of Spock after he'd quite efficiently and irrevocably been written out of the series in the previous movie -- was just plain stupid, and there was no possible way to do it well. Granted, writing him out in the first place was a mistake, but it was one that there was virtually no way to repair. Certainly, this was not the way.

Which, as I say, is a real shame; other than the fact that the basic concept is ridiculous and impossible, the book is excellent. (But aside from THAT, Mrs. Lincoln, how did you like the play?) The characters are well-handled, the rebellion of the Enterprise command crew and their theft of the Enterprise is delightfully done, the idea that they would all, without hesitation, scrap their careers for loyalty to a fallen comrade is commendable; everything about the book is wonderful...EXCEPT for the basic underlying concept.

Nostalgia for Spock fans.......2000-07-20

OK, I read this book when I hadn't seen the movie. I still haven't. That's because I think its an amazing piece of fiction and the movie (even though it came first) wouldn't do justice to the book!

For crazy Spock fans like me it's getting back to the pure Trekkie zone, a refreshing change from the "Next Gen" ! The small part of the novel based in Vulcan is an amazing work at giving natural touch. Vonda McIntyre's descriptions are world class!

Vonda N. McIntyre rocks!.......2000-03-29

She wrote the novilizations for Star Trek II and IV also, but I thought this was her best.

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