When I first picked this book up I thought it was just a random sci-fi horror novel. I didn’t notice until I got it home that it was actually a Star Trek book. That’s cool though cause I love Star Trek. Especially the original series and that’s exactly what we have here, Kirk, Spock, McCoy, Scottie, Sulu and well, that’s all of the usual players for this one. I guess Mr. Chekhov and the lovely Lieutenant Uhura were on vacation.
The crew is on a pleasure planet. Shore leave. Kirk, McCoy and Spock are watching a magic show wherein a magician conjures up some devils. Will this have something to do with the Devil World? Kirk is uncharacteristically spooked by the devils. But oh, what’s this? A super space babe has come to watch the show and directs Kirk’s focus to his nether region. Star ship captain that he is, he approaches her and strikes up a conversation. She is a famous artist. One of Kirk’s favorites actually. What a coincidence!
She’s out in space looking for her missing dad. He was also a ship Captain but he went nuts and deserted and now his whereabouts are unknown. She got some intel from a shady character that her dad is on the planet Heartland. That planet is a quarantine planet, Kirk explains. But don’t worry little lady, we’ll grab my starship and help you go look for your dad.
Before Kirk goes, he checks in with command. Turns out this missing Dad is wanted by the authorities so now Kirk has to go there anyway and arrest this guy.
Back story. The planet is habitable for humans, so the Federation makes a deal with the natives of the planet, a little demon looking people, that a colony of Earthlings can live on Heartland. For some unknown reason everyone on the planet goes nuts or dies and the Federation has to go back and pick them up and marks the place as quarantined.
We land on Heartland. Meet a guy from the original colony. There weren’t supposed to be any survivors but here he is. Eye of the tiger. It’s very much the plot of Forbidden Planet. Colony goes to planet. Dies or goes nuts in this case, sole survivor vehemently warns spaceship crew to leave now.
Kirk can’t leave, he has his duties. Also, he wants to impress this lady by finding her dad. Sole survivor guy is like, oh that guy? He lives over there in the demon people village.
We meet Dad. He’s weird. Aloof. Demon race is scary but pleasant. Hospitable even. OR IS IT ALL A TRAP?!
So yeah, pretty damn enjoyable. An easy read. The plot wasn’t convoluted but there was a mystique going on. There wasn’t a bunch of nonsensical sci-fi talk which is what can drive me crazy in other sci-fi books. It was adventure and mystery with spots of action. Honestly, it reminded me of a classic episode.
Bantam Books 1979
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