The Star Trek Reader II

Rating:
Summary: Another set of first rate "Star Trek" adaptations from Blish
Review: "The Star Trek Reader II" presents nineteen episodes of the original "Star Trek" series novelized by the renowned science fiction writer James Blish, who won the Hugo Award for his novel "A Case of Conscience." What you have collected here are three of the paperbacks put out by Bantam starting in 1967. You have to remember that when "Star Trek" went into syndication it was well before videotapes made it possible to put together your own collection. If the show was not syndicated in your quadrant, then these adaptations were your best way of enjoying your favorite episodes. However, Blish was such a fine writer that he was able to stay true to the original scripts and add dimensions that flesh out the characters and situations. Just look at what he does which Spock's mindmeld with the Horta in "The Devil in the Dark" or the way he captures the characters in "Journey to Babel."

This collection includes the original stories from "Star Trek 1," which consisted of "Charlie's Law," "Dagger of the Mind," "The Unreal McCoy," "Balance of Terror," "The Naked Time," Miri," and "The Conscience fo the King." We then skip ahead to "Star Trek 4" (2 and 3 are in the first reader) for "All Our Yesterdays," "The Devil in the Dark," "Journey to Babel," "The Menagerie," "The Enterprise Incident," and "A Piece of the Action." "Star Trek 9" had "Return to Tomorrow," "The Ultimate Computer," "That Which Survives," "Obsession," "The Return of the Archons," and "The Immunity Syndrome."

The working hypothesis for this series was that the most popular "Star Trek" episodes were included in the first volumes because the fans had a hand in picking the selections. This seems a valid generalization in that none of the offerings from "Star Trek 9" are really classics, but the other volumes offer up "The Naked Time," "Journey to Babel," and "The Menagerie." I fully realize that for many people reading adaptations of the episodes they have seen on television seems a wasted effort, but Blish makes reading them an enjoyable experience. It might be difficult for these "Star Trek Readers" to find a new audience in the 21st century, but those of us who remember how great it was to have these once the show went off the air can certainly appreciate them.

Rating:
Summary: Another set of first rate "Star Trek" adaptations from Blish
Review: "The Star Trek Reader II" presents nineteen episodes of the original "Star Trek" series novelized by the renowned science fiction writer James Blish, who won the Hugo Award for his novel "A Case of Conscience." What you have collected here are three of the paperbacks put out by Bantam starting in 1967. You have to remember that when "Star Trek" went into syndication it was well before videotapes made it possible to put together your own collection. If the show was not syndicated in your quadrant, then these adaptations were your best way of enjoying your favorite episodes. However, Blish was such a fine writer that he was able to stay true to the original scripts and add dimensions that flesh out the characters and situations. Just look at what he does which Spock's mindmeld with the Horta in "The Devil in the Dark" or the way he captures the characters in "Journey to Babel."

This collection includes the original stories from "Star Trek 1," which consisted of "Charlie's Law," "Dagger of the Mind," "The Unreal McCoy," "Balance of Terror," "The Naked Time," Miri," and "The Conscience fo the King." We then skip ahead to "Star Trek 4" (2 and 3 are in the first reader) for "All Our Yesterdays," "The Devil in the Dark," "Journey to Babel," "The Menagerie," "The Enterprise Incident," and "A Piece of the Action." "Star Trek 9" had "Return to Tomorrow," "The Ultimate Computer," "That Which Survives," "Obsession," "The Return of the Archons," and "The Immunity Syndrome."

The working hypothesis for this series was that the most popular "Star Trek" episodes were included in the first volumes because the fans had a hand in picking the selections. This seems a valid generalization in that none of the offerings from "Star Trek 9" are really classics, but the other volumes offer up "The Naked Time," "Journey to Babel," and "The Menagerie." I fully realize that for many people reading adaptations of the episodes they have seen on television seems a wasted effort, but Blish makes reading them an enjoyable experience. It might be difficult for these "Star Trek Readers" to find a new audience in the 21st century, but those of us who remember how great it was to have these once the show went off the air can certainly appreciate them.

Rating:
Summary: The Star Trek Reader II
Review: This is a good book. I like it because it has novelized eight different star trek episodes.