Spectre [Abridged, Audiobook] [Audio Cassette]

So to all you people that think this is a Shatner ego-trip, think again!

Also, in regards to Diane Duane's book "Dark Mirror," any real trekkie who's watched DS9 knows that the Federation doesn't exist in the 24th century. This trilogy of books is more accurate and conforms to the timeline much more so than Diane Duane's book, with completely contradicts the Star Trek timeline. But to be fair, her book was written some time before that fact was established. Don't believe me? Look it up in the Star Trek Encylopedia. =)

But I digress. Spectre is a great book, and I look forward to the rest of the books.

However I'm digressing. Paramount should read 'Spectre' and act accordingly there's quite a few plot strands to weave a few developments into the Star Trek movies. Maybe an oblique reference that Kirk is not dead, that his body is missing from Veridian III and of classified missions involving a former starfleet captain and Ambassador Spock. It's a interesting premise but I don't think it's anything that paramount will consider, just like they have not considered revealing the fate of former Starfleet Lieutenants and maquis Ro Laren and Tom Riker even though frankly they should have re- surfaced again ages ago, or at least had an honorable mention in Deep Space Nine. Go on Paramount the balls in your court.

Meanwhile William Shatner, Judith Reeves-Stevens and Garfield Reeves-Steven are doing a better job than you are at least as far as the Star Trek movies go.

It's the finest Star Trek novel I've ever read. This should have been the next 'Trek' movie, maybe if Paramount weren't so stupid or stubborn to acknowledge Shatner & co's superior plotting and literary skills. SPECTRE has a superb story- line which besides following on from the events in his first three books ASHES OF EDEN, THE RETURN AND AVENGER; interwove and fitted in seamlessly with the events in the eighth movie FIRST CONTACT, Diane Carey's book SHIP OF THE LINE and the DEEP SPACE 9 / VOYAGER series amongst other 'Trek' references to numerous to mention. It was also good to see Scotty back in harness. ( missing from the last two books.) My one quibble is the cliffhanger ending resulting in a year long wait for the sequel: DARK VICTORY. I can't wait!

Peter David read this book and weep. It's vastly superior to your insipid and over-wrought DARK MIRROR. This is how it should be done.

After DARK VICTORY Mr Shatner & Co you may well want write a 'Trek' novel without the legendary Captain James Tiberius Kirk. which would go a long way to silencing his critics if he has some one other than Kirk save the galaxy. Shatner & Co are doing too good a job to stop but maybe a different captain and starship. ( Morgan Bateman perhaps) would be in order. After all, however capable there's only so many times 'one' man can save the universe.

Or how about a novel about the life and times of James T Kirk from his childhood, through the Starfleet Academy years and highlights of his illustrious career to his 'death' on Veridian III.