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stitchsds's review against another edition
2.0
This book holds the dubious distinction of being not only my first introduction to Star Trek, but the first science-fiction I ever read.
glowingfalkor's review against another edition
5.0
Loving so far. XD I love Kirk.
I love this book! Read the book, then watched the movie. Gotta say, as usual, I love the book more. But just for the technical terms and description.
I love this book! Read the book, then watched the movie. Gotta say, as usual, I love the book more. But just for the technical terms and description.
djwudi's review against another edition
4.0
A good expansion of the story as seen in the film, with lots of informative (and often amusing) footnotes by Roddenberry addressing this or that aspect of the Star Trek universe (even to the point of addressing K/S slashfic writers). Quite enjoyable, and in some ways, better than the film (and I'm one of that minority of Trek fandom who actually likes _The Motion Picture_) due to the expanded scenes and better pacing.
thereaderred's review against another edition
3.0
So the impetus for reading this book was my first viewing of 'The Motion Picture itself' and I know the infamous reputation the movie has as the "Slow Motion Picture" or "The Motionless Picture" but I personally enjoy it as a visual masterpiece and a strong science fiction tale.
I won't go into great detail about the movie, since almost every Trekkie should have caught a glimpse of it by now, the book is a somewhat different creature.
First of all I found it an unusual but interesting concept that the introduction (in my edition anyways) takes the form of a preface by Kirk himself, explaining that the events presented in the story is a manuscript penned by Gene Roddenberry - talk about being meta!
Speaking of Roddenberry it makes sense for him to write this book (although there are rumours that Alan Dean Foster is the ghost writer), since he not only created Star Trek but this was also based on one of his plots from the unproduced Phase II series.
I usually have mixed feelings on him as a writer: he's an excellent world builder but sometimes plotting can be his weakest point, and largely depends on who he's working with at the time, and yes there's a few passages here which can be melodramatic but I think it works here. We get many inner monologues from each character and it does veer more on the tell rather than show technique but there's still character development and there's more of it, or at least made more clear, than in the film. Roddenberry's writing moves at an even pace and it took me back to the nostalgic enjoyment I had when reading the James Blish stories.
I would say that fans of the movie might get a kick out of this, but even for those that were put off by the movie this is a more accessible way to approach the subject, even if the effect isn't the same.
I won't go into great detail about the movie, since almost every Trekkie should have caught a glimpse of it by now, the book is a somewhat different creature.
First of all I found it an unusual but interesting concept that the introduction (in my edition anyways) takes the form of a preface by Kirk himself, explaining that the events presented in the story is a manuscript penned by Gene Roddenberry - talk about being meta!
Speaking of Roddenberry it makes sense for him to write this book (although there are rumours that Alan Dean Foster is the ghost writer), since he not only created Star Trek but this was also based on one of his plots from the unproduced Phase II series.
I usually have mixed feelings on him as a writer: he's an excellent world builder but sometimes plotting can be his weakest point, and largely depends on who he's working with at the time, and yes there's a few passages here which can be melodramatic but I think it works here. We get many inner monologues from each character and it does veer more on the tell rather than show technique but there's still character development and there's more of it, or at least made more clear, than in the film. Roddenberry's writing moves at an even pace and it took me back to the nostalgic enjoyment I had when reading the James Blish stories.
I would say that fans of the movie might get a kick out of this, but even for those that were put off by the movie this is a more accessible way to approach the subject, even if the effect isn't the same.
octavia_cade's review against another edition
3.0
I've honestly been putting off reading this, and now that I've got around to it I can't believe how much better than the movie it is! Because, love Star Trek as I do, the movie was dire. Boring, badly-paced, slow as a wet week, and I was expecting the same from the novelisation. But it's such an improvement - there's more character work here for one, and although the pacing isn't perfect, it still swept me along a little in a way that simply didn't happen with the source material. By far the biggest improvement was I think in Kirk. He's fundamentally a less interesting character than Spock, and I've never actually had a lot of sympathy with his moping to be back on a starship, because he plainly should never have left his captaincy to begin with and so tough bickies, but I actually felt for him here, and the impression of self-doubt and destabilisation and his constant questioning of himself came through much more strongly. I've been reading a lot of this franchise lately, and I have to say I like the older, introspective Kirk trying to hang on (and wondering if he's hanging on too long) much more than I like his younger, brasher self.
bn17's review against another edition
5.0
I have not watched the movie so I honestly don’t know how true to it the book is. However, the book, I feel, stays true to the original Star Trek series, I could perfectly visualize the Shatner as Kirk and Nimoy as Spock and how their relationship along with Scotty, Sulu, McCoy and Uhura plays out. A perfect two day read! I love Star Trek!
libraryofrick180107's review against another edition
5.0
Review 6. Star Trek The Motion Picture by Gene Roddenberry
As you have probably guessed from my feed, I am a massive Star Trek fan.
Now, The Motion Picture is not my favourite of the films. I only really like the scenes which reveal the refitted USS Enterprise.
This book however is a fantastic book as it adds a lot more detail to the story of the film which makes it a much more enjoyable read as I was expecting the story to simply follow the book.
I read this book in 24 hours as it is a short book, but nevertheless I look forward to reading all of the Star Trek film books back to back. It's just a shame that the 13th film (Star Trek Beyond) never had a book released so that I could complete my set.
*****
As you have probably guessed from my feed, I am a massive Star Trek fan.
Now, The Motion Picture is not my favourite of the films. I only really like the scenes which reveal the refitted USS Enterprise.
This book however is a fantastic book as it adds a lot more detail to the story of the film which makes it a much more enjoyable read as I was expecting the story to simply follow the book.
I read this book in 24 hours as it is a short book, but nevertheless I look forward to reading all of the Star Trek film books back to back. It's just a shame that the 13th film (Star Trek Beyond) never had a book released so that I could complete my set.
*****
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