Star Trek Academy Collision Course

by Judith Reeves-Stevens, Garfield Reeves-Stevens, William Shatner

Book Overview

William Shatner portrayed Captain James T. Kirk throughout Star Trek the Original Series and seven subsequent films, and has continued to explore and expand the career of Captain Kirk in no less than... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 141650396X
• ISBN13: 9781416503965
• Release Date: October 2007
• Publisher: Star Trek
• Length: 452 Pages
• Weight: 1.20 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.8" x 5.8" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Good read from William Shatner's view

This is an important book for at least two reasons. First, it fills in much detail of the events on Tarsus four and Kodos the executioner. The original series was written so well and with so much imagination that entire novels are spun from just the background information of a single episode. This is one such example, Burning Dreams is another. Second, it is written after all by William Shatner and portrays a young James Kirk as Shatner would like to have him seen. It is in a sense Jim Kirk through the eyes of Shatner with all his cynicism, strength, humor, and flaws. It also gives a good deal of background about Kirk's brother Sam, father Joe, and the familial relationships at play. I give it four stars cause the action takes a while to get started, but for the reasons above it takes on an importance all its own, and is almost a necessary reference work.

The Next Generation

I'd call myself a Star Trek fan, though not as well versed as most. I catch TOS whenever it's on. I've watched most of Voyager and TNG, and have managed to see several of the movies, including The Wrath of Khan and First Contact. Through it all, I've managed to pick out what I view to be the best aspect of all that I've seen: That would be the relationship between Captain James Tiberius Kirk and Commander Spock. Now, as I said, I am not as well versed as most Trekkies. One review I read tore down the book immediately based on the simple fact that Kirk and Spock had met during their Five Year Mission aboard the Enterprise. I personally found this unfair, as this story is fantastic. In the opening pages, Mr. Shatner lets us know this is non-canon, so do not let your inner Trekkie stop you from enjoying this fine adventure. The story unfolds with a young Kirk and Spock set on a "Collision Course", so to speak, in that they are both involved in a criminal conspiracy through some fault of their own. In doing so, these characters, so completely different on paper, slowly start to find something familiar in each other. The conflicts and plot-twists are many, some entertaining and some startling. On the whole, the entire journey through a criminal underworld and Starfleet Academy was much more than I expected. There is no shortage of drama and heartbreak. The real gem in "Collision Course", though, is the interaction between Kirk and Spock. Each struggling with the scars of the past and their problems in the present, but both slowly managing to take steps towards finding common ground in their vastly different pathways. The results are exciting, and the journey is a joy to watch unfold. As for the Star Trek universe, I was delighted to find that nothing was completely glorified (Except for the Enterprise itself, but come on). Everything is reserved, and, unlike some sci-fi novels that try to send you through a history lesson like its a textbook, the technologies are slowly revealed at the right time and nothing ever seems like a burden. It's the difference of being told what the Star Trek universe is like, and actually experiencing it, which Mr. Shatner pulls off expertly. If I understand correctly, this novel was released in 2007 and a sequel was due out the next year, but that obviously hasn't happened yet. This might be because of the new movie that is being released soon that I believe takes place around the time of these novels. I hope this doesn't affect the second novel's release much longer. I would love for this story to continue and see what trouble Kirk and Spock could possibly cook up.

for the fan star trek classic

It is a super novel all fans of star trek classic will read it with pleasure

What can I say? Shatner has his own view of Trek, but I like it!

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.

Action and Adventure Pleaser

Over forty years ago, the partnership between Captain James Tiberius Kirk and Mr. Spock took place on television. That friendship, along with Dr. McCoy, has become one of the most iconic in fiction and television. William Shatner, joined by Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens, penned the beginning of a multi-book new series in the STAR TREK franchise. STAR TREK: THE ACADEMY -- COLLISION COURSE shows how 17-year-old James Kirk and 19-year-old Spock first meet, and all the trouble that sprang out of that relationship. At the time, Kirk is trying to recover from a horrible experience he had on Tarsus IV. The view of that war and Kirk's loss of innocence seems to mirror what's going on in our world at the moment. But it's a good, solid background story that explains why Kirk wants nothing to do with Starfleet and believes they're worthless. Spock struggles with his identity. Half-human and half-Vulcan, he finds that he fits comfortably into neither world. Not only that, but he's uncovered a plot by someone within the Vulcan embassy that is selling priceless artifacts to a fence. The book moves along at a lightning quick pace. Although it's 450 pages, I whipped right through it in a single sitting, devouring this adventure for the sheer fun and pleasure it was. The idea of a young Kirk and young Spock is fascinating. The authors do a great job of showing the basis of the long friendship that is to come, as well as setting into play any of the things that Kirk and Spock agreed to disagree on. Kirk is in love with a young Starfleet cadet who's being brought up on charges for theft. In order to prove her innocence, Kirk undertakes to steal a Starfleet vehicle with a technological device he's created. Of course this is over-the-top, but this is Kirk we're talking about. Overkill should have been his middle name. In the meantime, a Starfleet officer named Mallory has started an investigation into Kirk. Although operating under another name, I believe Mallory was in an agency that was a forerunner to Trek's Section 31, their equivalent of spies. The book also deals a lot with father figures. Spock argues - logically, of course - with his father Sarek, and Kirk confronts his father over his choice of lifestyles as well as his relationship with his brother Sam. Most of the book takes place on Earth, and we don't really get a clear idea of what the city looks like, which I found a little frustrating. And we don't quite get the "feel" of the Academy. However, Kirk and Spock do take to space in once of the most outrageous plot turns of the book at the end. When I saw where the plot was going, I told myself there was no way they were going to pull it off. But they did it anyway. And realistically, the plot twist doesn't fly, but for the romantic in me, it was perfect. Over the years, I've found the Shatner books sometimes uneven. Many people have complained that they're Kirk-centric, but I've always forgiven that. Kirk is one of the