Star Trek II - The Wrath of Khan Books

One of the first books written about the behind the scenes activities of TOS. Pictures, interviews, and anecdotes from the original production run.

As someone who viewed the original Star Trek series when it aired for the first time, I can be considered an original Trekkie. While the science segment of the science fiction was often weak, the ideas and the vision for the future that it represented extended beyond what anyone could have imagined at the time. It represented a future where humanity had finally been able to end the conflicts on Earth, build a mighty fleet of star ships and find species on other planets that became allies. However, the future was not altogether rosy.
In episodes such as "The Space Seed" there were allusions to a ghastly, incredibly destructive nuclear war on Earth. It was hinted that this was the event that finally galvanized the human race to end conflict and join together. There were also the continuous conflicts between the Federation and the Romulans and Klingons. However, while there was the mention of a brutal war having been fought between the Federation and the Romulans, war is averted in the two episodes where the Enterprise and the Romulans meet.
Gerrold was the writer of "The Trouble With Tribbles" considered by many to be the best episode in the original series. He takes us behind the scenes in the creation, piloting and filming of the original series. He pulls no punches in his description of Star Trek, describing the strengths and weaknesses of the series. When something was done poorly, he explains that some of the failures were a consequence of the time. The late sixties was a time when women and minorities were not given strong roles, what you see in the original series was ground-breaking for the times. Any attempt to go any farther than what was done was blocked.
Gerrold also mentions how the show began to show signs of fatigue, as the story lines began to be repeated in an attempt to save money. Star Trek was a high budget show, so there was every attempt to save production costs, often to the detriment of the show. Finally, Gerrold also describes the development of the first three Star Trek feature movies and the fits and starts that took place before the first one was ever made. Given the success of the series of Star Trek movies, it is amazing to read how much time and effort it took to get the first one made.
Gerrold has an insider's view of the Star Trek phenomenon and he tells his stories very well. If you want to go beyond the basics of the series and learn something about how things were really done, then this is a book you need to read.

"The World of Star Trek" is a masterpiece! With episodes, interviews, pictures, and TONS of information about the cast, sets, makeup, etc., it's no wonder that it's my favorite Star Trek book. I highly suggest that any Star Trek-or even science fiction in general-fan should READ THIS BOOK!

As far as novelisations go, this one is pretty decent. It helps that the underlying event is a fairly entertaining star trek epic, as well, as we get K vs K, Kirk vs Khan, one of those old enemies from the past conjured into being type of confrontations.

Throw in Kirk's kid, and a dead pointy eared science officer and there is plenty to keep the interest.

Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan is a pretty good book. Not much differs from the movie, though there are a few extra scenes (nothing eatrth-shattering). There is a bit too much Lewis Caroll, though. Get this book if you haven't seen the movie (or get this book if you have seen the great film)

This is an example how should movie novelizations be written. They tend to be flat and screenplay-like, but this one makes me feel like the movie were an adaptation of the book, not vice versa. It provides lots of background information (some of them were actually in the movie but were cut out later), mostly on Saavik, Peter Preston and Carol's Deltan co-workers. The main characters, Kirk, Spock, McCoy and the others are the very same characters we all love, they talk and act just like they do in any Trek episode, they never do anything out of character. Vonda McIntyre knows how to write Star Trek. A novel can't be more Star Trek than this.

This is my favorite Star Trek movie novelization. It contains so much more than a play-by-play of the movie, but it also delves into tremendous characterization.. In the novel, Peter Preston Engineer's Mate is so much more. The reader also becomes aware that the young cadet is also the son of Scotty's sister. This revelation gives so much added meaning to the scene in which the chief engineer brings in the young man's charred remains after Khan's surprise attack. The theatrical release gives little more than Bones' heart-felt apology. The network television showing (which would appear from time to time on ABC) added scenes which did bring out this important plot point, but this has not been shown for many years. Why not issue a Director's Cut of this a la the original Motion Picture DVD. It would bring so much added meaning to this already classic film.

With the ability to clone we're that much closer to making a race of Kahn Sighs than we think Forget Jurassic Park for a moment. Yes we do have the technology to clone sheep and monkey. Yes dinosaurs maybe down the block. But acroos the street lies an even bigger possibilility - humanbeings. We have the gen sequencers. We have computers and online services capable of linking us to labs around the world. Even now growing in a labratory could be a baby Genghis Kahn. When it first came out The Wrath of Khan was science fiction. Now it could be science fact

The novelization of "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan" is just as exciting as the movie--or I should say better! It picks up where the first movie leaves off. I found the book an exciting read due to its World War II cat-and-mouse submarine warfare feeling in the space battles. Vonda McIntyre has done a fine job at writing the novel, while adding more flavor to the characters. She makes references to the Original Series episode, "Space Seed" and what happened to Lt. Marla McIver after she betrayed the Enterprise crew, and her life on Ceti Alpha V in exile with Khan. Khan's characterin the novel is remarkable, like a 23rd century Ahab.

This book is one of those that will appeal primarily and almost exclusively to the very dedicated Star Trek fan. There is little doubt that the movie, "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan" did a great deal to prime the Star Trek phenomenon. After the lackluster style of "Star Trek: The Motion Picture", the dynamic action and tension of "WoK" set the stage for the remaining series of movies and the "genesis" of the television series "Star Trek: The Next Generation."
No book could possibly capture the action of "WoK", and this one is no exception. The series of black and white stills accompanied with clips of the dialog cannot in any way do justice to the thrill of the movie. Therefore, it is hard to get excited about it and the only way I could was to go back and relive the movie scenes in my mind as I was reading the book.