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kwebster's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.5
A very quick read, and a cool snapshot of early fandom. There's a very Spirky story and poem in there, I got disproportionately excited about them :)
thomcat's review against another edition
3.0
Groundbreaking in a number of ways, this was the first published book of fan fiction for Star Trek. Published in March of 1976, the two earlier original novels were some six years previous, and this also showed that there was a market for Star Trek fiction. I first read this not long after it was published, checking it out from the Spokane Valley library.
One of the best aspects of these stories was the introduction to each by a cast member. Some of these tales have stuck with me over the years, such as The Enchanted Pool and Ni-Var. Others were not great in my first reading, and haven't gotten any better.
This was probably my introduction to fanfic. No stores in my area carried the many Star Trek fanzines that these stories originally came from: Tricorder Readings, T-Negative, Spockanalia, and others. What I didn't realize at the time was that all of these stories were written by women authors, and the editors of the collection were also women.
What I also didn't know was the controversy and editing the stories received. Two authors in particular were very unhappy with these edits. Younger me didn't have the internet to search, and fanlore.org has been particularly helpful in pointing me to more information about this and the second volume in the series. It was worth reading these again with the expanded information, but I won't be pulling this particular tattered paperback off my shelf again, except to loan it to someone. Interested?
One of the best aspects of these stories was the introduction to each by a cast member. Some of these tales have stuck with me over the years, such as The Enchanted Pool and Ni-Var. Others were not great in my first reading, and haven't gotten any better.
This was probably my introduction to fanfic. No stores in my area carried the many Star Trek fanzines that these stories originally came from: Tricorder Readings, T-Negative, Spockanalia, and others. What I didn't realize at the time was that all of these stories were written by women authors, and the editors of the collection were also women.
What I also didn't know was the controversy and editing the stories received. Two authors in particular were very unhappy with these edits. Younger me didn't have the internet to search, and fanlore.org has been particularly helpful in pointing me to more information about this and the second volume in the series. It was worth reading these again with the expanded information, but I won't be pulling this particular tattered paperback off my shelf again, except to loan it to someone. Interested?
bev_reads_mysteries's review against another edition
4.0
Absolutely delightful! Mindsifter is one of the best.
isabelleax's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed reading this. Some of the stories weren’t great and I didn’t enjoy them. But the overall experience was good. I especially enjoyed Mind-Shifter, Ni Var, The Winged Dreamers and The Hunting (it seems to be a trend in the reviews that the first three mentioned are favourites, and I guess I’m no different haha)
Mind-Shifter was very entertaining and felt very true to Star Trek as I know it, but with a little bit of added spice. Same with Ni Var, building it upon a concept in an aired episode but make it Spock instead of Kirk.
The Hunting was fascinating, and not something I was expecting. But I really do enjoy fans exploring Vulcan culture and testing it’s limits. Because it is interesting how such a so-called “logical” culture still reverts to what is perceived as illogical rituals and traditions. It is definitely something I would like to explore further, that a modern “logical” culture can co-exist with a more traditional indigenous one.
(Also, Spocks sonnet at the very end of the book? That’s gay shit.)
Mind-Shifter was very entertaining and felt very true to Star Trek as I know it, but with a little bit of added spice. Same with Ni Var, building it upon a concept in an aired episode but make it Spock instead of Kirk.
The Hunting was fascinating, and not something I was expecting. But I really do enjoy fans exploring Vulcan culture and testing it’s limits. Because it is interesting how such a so-called “logical” culture still reverts to what is perceived as illogical rituals and traditions. It is definitely something I would like to explore further, that a modern “logical” culture can co-exist with a more traditional indigenous one.
(Also, Spocks sonnet at the very end of the book? That’s gay shit.)
octavia_cade's review against another edition
4.0
A collection of eight short stories, and if I recall correctly from the introduction, this was the first book of Star Trek fiction published that wasn't either written by James Blish or an episode novelisation. Notably, all the stories here were written by fans. And frankly, they're written at a higher level than a lot of the subsequent official tie-in fiction. Two of the stories at least are very good, and it's because of them that the collection's gotten four stars from me.
Those stories are "Ni Var" by Claire Gabriel and "Mind-Sifter" by Shirley S. Maiewski. Both of these stories deal very closely with the relationship between Kirk and Spock, and it's very easy to read the both of them through a slash lens. Of the eight stories collected here, it has to be admitted that Spock is the centre of most of them. And in one sense that's fair, as he was the break-out character of the series, but each of the stories is introduced by a member of the original cast, and it would have been nice, for instance, to have Nichelle Nichols introduce a story about Uhura, instead of another about Spock, and so on. That is a small quibble, however, especially given how well that focus worked out in the two stories mentioned above.
Notable, too, for any science fiction anthology (especially those produced in the 1970s), is that all of the authors included are women. As are the two editors, and it's a nice reminder that a lot of the heavy lifting done in Star Trek fandom back in the day was done by women, as that often gets forgotten.
Those stories are "Ni Var" by Claire Gabriel and "Mind-Sifter" by Shirley S. Maiewski. Both of these stories deal very closely with the relationship between Kirk and Spock, and it's very easy to read the both of them through a slash lens. Of the eight stories collected here, it has to be admitted that Spock is the centre of most of them. And in one sense that's fair, as he was the break-out character of the series, but each of the stories is introduced by a member of the original cast, and it would have been nice, for instance, to have Nichelle Nichols introduce a story about Uhura, instead of another about Spock, and so on. That is a small quibble, however, especially given how well that focus worked out in the two stories mentioned above.
Notable, too, for any science fiction anthology (especially those produced in the 1970s), is that all of the authors included are women. As are the two editors, and it's a nice reminder that a lot of the heavy lifting done in Star Trek fandom back in the day was done by women, as that often gets forgotten.
beecatbell's review against another edition
4.0
Basically a collection of 70s star trek fanfiction.
I liked it.
My favorite is The Winged Dreamers.
I liked it.
My favorite is The Winged Dreamers.
alis3e6e8's review against another edition
3.0
Yes, I'm doing a Star trek marathon. Sue me.
The most remarkable part of this collection of fan-written short stories are possibly the introductions written by the original actors. They were sweet and gave an insight on just how much Star trek impacted their (and our) lives.
The stories themselves were... a mixed bag.
Some, like the first one where Spock gets divided into his Vulcan and human halves, was marvelous; some, like the third one where Spock is stranded on a weird planet with a nymph, I hated; others, like the last two ones, where weird and kind of detached from Star Trek's usual tone but rather compelling.
Overall a good three stars.
The most remarkable part of this collection of fan-written short stories are possibly the introductions written by the original actors. They were sweet and gave an insight on just how much Star trek impacted their (and our) lives.
The stories themselves were... a mixed bag.
Some, like the first one where Spock gets divided into his Vulcan and human halves, was marvelous; some, like the third one where Spock is stranded on a weird planet with a nymph, I hated; others, like the last two ones, where weird and kind of detached from Star Trek's usual tone but rather compelling.
Overall a good three stars.
strikingthirteen's review against another edition
3.0
Cozying up with a Star Trek book is never a waste of time no matter how dull it is. This collection of short stories is about average. Three stories stand out to me ("Ni Var", "The Winged Dreamers", and "Mind-Sifter") but they really are worth the time for this collection. The rest either just aren't to my taste or are just so, so but it's all still good fun.
alireadstoomuch's review against another edition
3.0
Yes, I'm doing a Star trek marathon. Sue me.
The most remarkable part of this collection of fan-written short stories are possibly the introductions written by the original actors. They were sweet and gave an insight on just how much Star trek impacted their (and our) lives.
The stories themselves were... a mixed bag.
Some, like the first one where Spock gets divided into his Vulcan and human halves, was marvelous; some, like the third one where Spock is stranded on a weird planet with a nymph, I hated; others, like the last two ones, where weird and kind of detached from Star Trek's usual tone but rather compelling.
Overall a good three stars.
The most remarkable part of this collection of fan-written short stories are possibly the introductions written by the original actors. They were sweet and gave an insight on just how much Star trek impacted their (and our) lives.
The stories themselves were... a mixed bag.
Some, like the first one where Spock gets divided into his Vulcan and human halves, was marvelous; some, like the third one where Spock is stranded on a weird planet with a nymph, I hated; others, like the last two ones, where weird and kind of detached from Star Trek's usual tone but rather compelling.
Overall a good three stars.
taracalaby's review against another edition
4.0
This is a collection of short stories written by fans that was professionally published with a foreword by Gene Roddenberry and individual story introductions written by the TOS cast members. The quality is a bit up and down, but the better pieces are well worth a read, and not only for the enormous amounts of slashy content that made it into publication :D
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