Product Description
If you think you know how it all began, think again...Young Jim Kirk wants nothing to do with Starfleet, andnever wants to leave Earth. In the summer of 2249, he's a headstrong seventeen-year-old barely scraping by in San Francisco, haunted by horrific memories from his past. In the same city, a nineteen-year-old alien named Spock is determined to rise above the emotional turmoil of his mixed-species heritage. He's determined to show his parents he has what it takes to be Vulcan -- even if it means exposing a mysterious conspiracy at the heart of the Vulcan Embassy, stretching to the farthest reaches of the Federation's borders. There, a chilling new threat hasarisen to test the Federation's deepest held belief that war is a thing of the past and that a secure future can be forged through peaceful means alone. But it is in San Francisco, home to Starfleet Academy, where that threat will be met by two troubled teenage boys driven to solve the mystery that links them both. In time, the universe will come to know these young rebels as Captain James T. Kirk and Mr. Spock...two of the Federation's greatest heroes. Yet before they were heroes, they were simply conflicted teenagers, filled with raw ambition and talent, not yet seasoned by wisdom and experience, searching for their own unique directions in life -- a destiny they'll discover on one fateful night in San Francisco, when two lives collide, and two legends are born. Star Trek: Academy -- Collision Course sets the stage for an exciting new era of Star Trek adventure, and for the first time reveals Kirk and Spock as they were, and how they began their journey to become the Kirk and Spock we know today.
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 Pretty Good Star Trek Adventure ( deanbrown5 )
I really did like this book, especially the interaction between Kirk and Spock. Like others have mentioned, the ending is pretty difficult to swallow. But overall it was fast-paced and interesting.
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 A lot of fun, but is this James T. Kirk? ( lawdog2 )
I liked this novel a lot. For a quick "Star Trek" read involving our friends Kirk and Spock, this is about as good as these novels get. The author is a decent writer, and this book mostly avoids sappy sentiment. Spock's conflict with Sarek is well done and realistic. I am not so sure that I buy the author's interpretation of young James T. Kirk. Here, Kirk is portrayed as a very confused and conflicted young man, hard to reconcile with the Kirk that we know. On the other hand, the author's use of the Tarsus IV incident maybe explains this.
All in all, I enjoyed this more than I usually enjoy Star Trek novels. Trekkies (like me) will enjoy this one.
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 What can I say? Shatner has his own view of Trek, but I like it! ( jeffedwards )
In the multi-faceted 'Shatnerverse' things happen sometimes different than within the same timeline already established with Trek Lore, including episodes and/or established novels written prior to his novels, but who CARES?? These are science fiction stories revolving around a TV series originally created by Gene Roddenberry a long time ago...let's not read into it what isn't there, okay? Heck, the series itself played around with established Trek Info at times, right? So what's the fuss? Sure, I'd LIKE it if ALL Trek media could agree 100% of the time, but since it doesn't, I'm not going to lose sleep over it, that's for sure. Okay, 'nuff said.
How was the book? you ask? Pretty good...whether or not that was Shatner's skill or the undeniable talent of co-authors Judith & Gar, well, let's say I have a feeling they have more of a part in helping to co-author these novels than Shatner would like us believe--but once again, I don't honestly care as long as the story is worth reading and provides me with sufficient entertainment that I'll feel buying the book was money well spent. In this case: absolutely well spent.
I was skeptical...at first, that fiddling with the origins of Kirk and Spock could be pulled off well enough to give this a positive rating, but indeed Shatner (or whoever else) did a fine job. The plot twists come (sometimes out of left field) and I am constantly impressed with the depth of Trek knowledge they display with each novel they all write together...and most importantly, how well that information is tied together with the new storyline.
For those who judge Shatner based on the abysmal Star Trek V film which was co-written and directed by Shatner--STOP right now...if you've read any of Shatner's non-fiction accounts of time on the set of the theatrical movies, well you know how frustrating filming Trek V was, and how ultimately the movie just plain sucked as a result of studio bickering and infighting--but that in NO way has influenced how fantastic Shatner's Trek Novels are. Some are better than others, but I have been entertained while reading them all. I add Collision Course to that list whole-heartedly. Begin with 'The Ashes of Eden' and work your way through, and I think the vast majority will be almost as surprised as I was at just how really GOOD those books are--and continue to be.
Just my .02...thanks for reading.
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Kirk and Spock
So far the best book that William Shatner has come out with, I've been impressed with his books since his teaming up with Judith & Garfield Reeves-Stevens. But this is by far the best. I've always wondered about how the two got into Starfleet and what it was like. I knew Spock's family was for a long time in disarray between father and son, but not for Kirk and his family. I look forward to the next!
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Academy Days
Well written story about how Spock and Kirk became part of Starfleet Academy. Spock by choice due to disappointment in his father's discussions and how Starfleet came to chose Kirk for his individuality. Well told, very enjoyable read. Well worth adding to your Star Trek library. "Trail Run" available October, 2008
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