| Title | : | Star Trek Generations |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 0671537539 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9780671537531 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Mass Market Paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 304 |
| Publication | : | First published December 1, 1994 |
Star Trek Generations Reviews
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J.M. Dillard managed to take what was quite possibly the dullest of the Star Trek films and turn it into a solid read. I've always felt the film was a mid-quality Next Generation two-parter with a movie budget and an Original Series cast prologue stuck onto it which is something that Dillard does a really good job of readdressing here by giving the Original Series cast sections more depth and weight. It would also appear to be based on an earlier draft of the film's script and includes the original ending for the film which works far better on paper than it apparently did when they tried to include it in the film itself. In short, this is one of those rare occasions when an adaptation (in this a novelization) is far better than its source material.
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This movie I know very well because it's still my favorite Trek movie after all these years (yes, I know that makes me strange since the odd numbered ones aren't the majority favorites). Anyhoo, compared to the movie, the audiobook was good, compared to the book, I don't know - it's an abridged version, and it's been years since I read it.
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6/9/21 - Unabridged, definitely better, though not all that different... though I could swear it has the original ending where Kirk's shot, but it has been a while since. -
A good solid read to end the year...it was actually better that I recall the film being!
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Fun in a nostalgic kind of way.
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A fun novelization of a classic space opera.
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I’m not going to lie and pretend that the novel somehow makes this into an amazing story. It’s not a great movie and the book reflects that. Personally, I think that TNG would have benefited from taking a few years off before going straight into production on the films. One thing I like about the movies with the original crew is that they feel distinctive from the series.
For as good as Dillard is, there’s only so much that she can do with this. And undoubtably authors get put on a pretty short leash when it comes to augmenting the story. One area where it definitely comes up short was with the antagonist. Soran was one of the high points of the film for me, despite the poorly crafted nature of his plans. Like, that’s really the only way he can get back to the nexus? But Malcom McDowell’s performance was outstanding. He had great chemistry with Stewart. He elevated that role and you get a strong sense of that reading the character on the page and seeing how flat he comes across.
The book does make some improvements. The opening is much more expanded as the book picks up immediately after the events of Star Trek VI. In fact, the novelizations for Final Frontier, Undiscovered Country and Generations actually work nicely as a trilogy. In this, the entire TOS crew gets some appearances and they feel like they have more weight, not just cameos. You see Kirk grappling with his mortality and it feels more like a changing of the guard.
Most of the book follows along pretty closely at this point but the other improvement was with Kirk’s version of the Nexus. This was always the movie’s biggest blunder for me and I still think that his Nexus should have been the bridge of the original Enterprise. Maybe they didn’t want to do that since they had just done the same with James Doohan on the show but they could have at least had Kirk going back to say, Edith Keeler instead of inventing this new character no one knew anything about.
The book still holds to that scene. He still pining over Antonia. But Dillard was at least able to add another scene to precede it that feels more appropriate to the overall arc of Kirk’s story. It was actually a cool little sequence with some nice callbacks and appearances.
So again, still not a great story. But there are a few tidbits added here and there. I will say that the emotion chip subplot is less uncomfortable for me as that was another part of the movie that just didn’t work. As a book I can find things to like and if I were to choose between this and the movie, I’d definitely go with the book. -
One or two bad words, on par with the rest of the Star Trek: TNG series. No sexuality, which was nice.
The writing was so good that I wasn't even aware of it – I was transported into the story again. It might have helped that I have already seen the movie several times. But it was so much fun to relive it again.
And I especially enjoyed the few interior thoughts we got of Picard, Riker, Geordi, and even Soran to help us understand their reasoning for their actions. Those are things that a movie just can't do very well. I loved how Deanna got a sense of what their future could have been. But I kept waiting to see how Deanna dealt with all the fears of the Enterprise crew in the disaster. It was never mentioned.
I also loved the Behind the Scenes report and pictures from the movie. It was like a separate little story within a story.
Favorite quotes:
One of my favorite scenes in the movie is this unnecessary but hilarious showcase of Data's emotion chip: “'I would be happy to, sir. I just love to scan for life-forms.' He set at once to work, ad-libbing a merry little song: 'Life-forms … tiny little life-forms … where are you, life-forms … ?'” (p. 160)
“He [Data] gave a small, sheepish shrug, causing a single glistening drop to spill down his pale cheek. 'I am not sure, Counselor. I am happy to see Spot … and yet I am crying. The chip must be malfunctioning.' Troi gently placed a hand on his arm. 'No, Data. I think it's working perfectly.' He looked up at her and smiled through his tears.” (p. 238-239)
“'It's not how many years you've lived, Will … but how you've lived them.' He [Jean-Luc] paused. 'Someone once told me that time is a predator that stalks us all our lives. But maybe time is also a companion … who goes with us on our journey, and reminds us to cherish the moments of our lives – because they will never come again. We are, after all, only mortal.” (p. 240)
(My husband bought this copy many years ago before we were married. I was not compensated for this review. All opinions are my own, as was the decision to write this review.) -
I saw this film many years ago, when it first came out, and to be perfectly honest I don't remember much about it bar the final crash and the major death. So in many ways, reading this novelisation was like coming across a whole new story. On the whole, I found Kirk's part of it more affecting. I've read a few TOS novels that are set in the twilight years of his career, and they've all got that underlying sense of loss and grief, as Kirk realises that he's gotten old, and that his days on a starship are numbered. I just find this a very compelling take on the character, and I'm far more interested in it than I am in the loss of Picard's brother and nephew, because let's be realistic here: they barely appeared in the series, and I've got no emotional attachment to them whatsoever. I feel for Picard, of course, because I do have an attachment to him, but I always got the feeling that, the very odd episode aside, he's not particularly close to his family. Which doesn't preclude his feeling grief for them, of course, but even so... Kirk's got the better part of this novel, I think.
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Star Trek Generations
by J.M Dillard
isbn:0671537539
304pp.
This book is about a famous commander of Star Trek, James T. Kirk. The book starts out with Kirk finally being decommissioned of his ship the USS Enterprise. To see the new crew off on the new Enterprise, a few of the old crew and Kirk come on aboard to see the Enterprise on it's maiden voyage. While on that trip, Kirk falls into a Energy ribbon, Timeless Nexus.
Since I've actually seen some episodes of Star Trek, I actually felt sad that Kirk was being decommissioned. He was a hero in many ways. There was also a movie on this book. -
Did Rick Berman order all post-TNG era "Star Trek" movie novelizations to be written at a lowest-common-denominator level? The type of writing suitable for undemanding "Voyager" types? This one isn't anywhere NEAR the same league as the novelizations of "Star Treks I to VI"...all fabulous, deep adaptations, with layers of extra development. This is a transcription that makes Terrance Dicks' one-a-month "Doctor Who" novelizations of the late 1970s look like illuminated manuscripts! A complete disappointment, both in quality...AND...in asking Ms. Dillard to put out something below her usual level of excellence.
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I had listened to the All The Books podcast and heard great things about this one. Here’s the link to their show about Star Trek TNG:
https://m.soundcloud.com/allthebooks/...
I’ve read all the Star Trek novelizations up through Generations and I’ve liked them all, especially this one. The book adds some more detail to the story. You get things the movie lacks, like Spock and McCoy. There’s also some (brief) closure on elements from the the previous novelizations. The book does gloss over the movie’s ending though. Which is fine with me.
There’s a behind the scenes article in the back of the book. -
VHS tape is on my shelf, but the *book* is best..... Working my way through Trek History.....
I'm enjoying my summer survey of all things Cinematic Trek - I've got all the books in hand and it's very enjoyable. There is a continuity and depth when the author can draw on *all* of Trek history for the narrative, not just relying on visuals. When one author like Dillard gets to handle the books, you get an even tighter connection across the stories! I look forward to working my way through "First Contact" next (in fact, I've already started....) -
Weirdly, Generations was my first Star Trek so I have a soft spot for this movie. The novel did a nice job of expanding the story, giving Kirk and crew much more to do in the first half. It loses a star because it really rushes through the climax leaving the ending very unsatisfying. (Insert your own dig at Star Trek: Generations here.)
We discussed this movie and more in this special Trek themed episode of the All the Books Show:
https://soundcloud.com/allthebooks/ep... -
Essas novelizações de filmes são muito interessantes, porque permitem que os autores insiram na estória momentos que poderiam ter acontecido na versão cinematográfica mas não aconteceram, devido aos mais variados motivos: incapacidade do orçamento, burocracia ou mesmo pela vontade do elenco. Não ouso dizer que por conter esses trechos diferentes a versão do livro é "melhor" do que a do filme, porque ambas são ótimas cada qual à sua maneira. Acho que é muito bom que tenhamos essas duas "versões" da mesma estória para apreciar, uma enriquecendo a outra mutuamente.
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I'm surprised it took me so long to finally read this novelization of the '94 movie Generations. This was an awesome read, definitely the way the movie should have unfolded if it wasn't for … you know, budgets and actor scheduling!
Dillard includes a lot of additional backgrounds into the story, especially regarding the Original Series characters and some details within the nexus. This is the way all novelizations should be written! -
Not great, but it is Star Trek.
And it's got a photo section in the middle. Of cool action scenes? A fight between the Enterprise and the Klingon ship? The Nexus arcing through the sky?
Nope. Lots of pictures of Worf getting a promotion on the holodeck and everyone dressed in 1700's navy uniforms. Picture of Data and Spot the cat. -
Really took what was on the screen to the next level. Returning Kirk's orbital diving scene in along with the chapter with Spock, Kirk and McCoy in their last moment on the Enterprise together added a lot the depth of Kirk's story arc which was lacking in the film.
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Fleshed out some of the movie issues
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Star Trek novels are a guilty secret for me. I again read this one in less than two days. It too is based on one of the Star Trek films.
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Review 50. Star Trek The Next Generation Movies #1 Generations by J.M. Dillard
Page Count : 280
Star Trek Generations is another favourite movie of mine, mostly because it involves The Next Generation and the USS Enterprise NCC-1701-D.
But it also ties into The Original Series with appearances from William Shatner (Kirk), James Doohan (Scotty) and Walter Koenig (Chekov) at the very beginning.
This book like all of the others includes scenes which weren't in the movie including Kirk's orbital skydiving trip, the memorial service for him, an evacuation and saucer separation drill aboard the Excelsior and what Kirk experiences during his time in The Nexus....amongst others .
Part of the book contains a section about how the film was made, I didn't read this, but can imagine that it would be an interesting thing to read.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and will most definitely be reading it again the future.
If like me, you are a Next Generation fan, then this book will be for you.
5*
***** -
I did not think I would enjoy this book. I've been a fan for so long. I am aware that fans make the best and worst judges. However, this book ticked my boxes. I needed a light read while visiting my father who had dementia. It is true to the film script while adding a dash of depth. Enough to keep it interesting. I would recommend this book to slow readers, Star Trek, the next generation fans, and teenage readers. It's not high literature but is well written and an enjoyable read. I will now look at the other spin-off novels when they cross my path.
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Excellent quick read…fabulous narration by John De Lancie! We’ve seen the movie, but this added a few scenes that weren’t in the movie, but otherwise stuck fairly close to the script. There were a few lines left out that I’d wished they used…especially the part where Data finds Spot and is crying and thinks it is a malfunction of his emotion chip, and Troi confirms it is working just fine. However, overall, very enjoyable.
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This is the novelisation of my favourite Star Trek movie. It begins with the death of Captain Kirk, trying to save the Enterprise when it gets into difficulties rescuing a group of refugees. Half a century on and one of the refugees, Dr Soren, is taken aboard the new Enterprise and introduced to it's captain, Jean Luc Picard. But Soren has an ulterior motive for being aboard and Picard has to fight to save not only his ship, but an entire solar system. And enlists some surprising help.
Novelisations tend to be quite dry, featureless books that only work if you've seen the film and can remember what each scene looks like on screen. But this is much different. It's a great story, great characterisation and a worthy read. It even contains some extra scenes that weren't in the movie. There is also a section in the back about how the film was made, which will be interesting to any Star Trek fan. -
gelungene Romanfassung
Das Buch wartet im ersten Drittel mit einigen Handlungserweiterungen der Autorin auf, die sehr gut die Stimmung des Films einfangen und dem Leser das eigentliche Thema der Geschichte verdeutlichen. Wie beim dritten Star-Trek-Film ist hier der Verlust einer geliebten Person das tragende Motiv. Und die Umsetzung dessen ist J.M. Dillard wesentlich besser gelungen als es damals Vonda McIntyre getan hatte. Die Figuren sind gut getroffen und sogar dem Bösewicht wird mehr persönlicher Hintergrund zugestanden. Einzig, dass die entscheidende Szene des Finales recht sachlich und kurz geraten ist, kommt für den Leser etwas unerwartet. Ansonsten weiß der Roman zu gefallen. -
This book took me nearly a whole half-hour to read. Not that it was bad or anything; in fact the sequence set before the storyline of the movie started is actually quite good and revealing. But there are parts of the movie that it plays rather loosely with, much to the annoyance of a Star Trek fan. At least Dr. Soran is given a bit more motivation for his actions.
The book's fairly well-written, but this movie, which handed the cinematic reins to the Next Generation crew, was never a classic to begin with - and the original Enterprise blew up much better the first time around. -
Dillard manages to take what was one of the most forgettable of all Trek movies and turn it into a decently engaging read. She manages to bring the reader inside the characters' heads much more effectively than the film, and Kirk's scenes during the climax were far more coherent and comprehensible. (I'm lookin' at you, cinematographer…) I also appreciated the references to prior novelizations; they gave Generations a sense of continuity with the greater Trek verse as a whole.
