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Star Trek TOS: Movie Novelizations #6
The Undiscovered Country
Internal pressures, enormous military expenditures, and the destruction of their primary energy source have brought the Klingon Empire to the verge of catastrophic collapse.
To avert disaster, Gorkon, Chancellor of the Klingon High Council, proposes negotiations between the Federation and Klingon Empire, negotiations that will put an end to the years of hostility between the two powers, and herald a new era of peace and cooperation. Captain James T. Kirk and the U.S.S. EnterpriseTM are dispatched to escort the Chancellor safely into Federation space.
But a treacherous assassination brings negotiations to a sudden halt and places Kirk and Dr. McCoy in the hands of the Federation's greatest enemy. With time running out, Spock and the Enterprise crew work to uncover the deadly secret that threatens to propel the galaxy into the most destructive conflict it has ever known.
301 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1992
About the author
J.M. Dillard
44 books119 followersJ.M. Dillard is the pseudonym under which Jeanne Kalogridis (b. 1954) publishes her Star Trek novels.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews
May 10, 2021
As a Puerto Rican Trekkie it pains me to write about this novel because it rankles me whenever the themes of racism and bigotry are glossed over, as they are in this book. Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country by J. M. Dillard is a great adaptation of the movie. If you were a fan of the Original Series, there were some major impediments to your enjoyment of it. There is an overt racism that hangs like a pall over the crew. However justified as they might be, especially in the case of Captain Kirk and the loss of his son, it still feels wrong to root for the bigots. Yes, the Klingons have always endeavored to demonstrate themselves the unconquerable, but the Klingons are at a crossroads. They are vulnerable and when your enemy is vulnerable, the enlightened show mercy. Some motivations are clarified here where in the movie they are off-putting, and the mental rape of Valeris is anesthetized. Gross! And the fact that it is an authorized action by a superior officer does not justify the action. I believe that this adaptation works well and enhanced my enjoyment of this movie, but I still have some major gripes with the plot.
January 29, 2026
Solid adaptation of one of Trek's best feature-film voyages. As she did in her excellent novelization of Star Trek Generations (reviewed here), Dillard embellishes the plot with supplemental dialogue and scenes, including an entire subplot about Carol Marcus that is absent from the theatrical cut of the movie. She also seeds the story with oblique references to other events in the grander continuity that help establish contextualization rather than serving purely as gratuitous "member berries."
Overall, this does what a good tie-in novel should: provide greater motivation and emotional context through additional backstory, expanded scenes, and internal monologue without straying too far, plot-wise, from the screenplay. Rather than a line-for-line, beat-for-beat transcript of what's onscreen, this novelization augments the story with insights, elaborations, and clarifications that will only enhance my enjoyment of and appreciation for the movie on subsequent viewings. Worth reading -- especially if you're a fan of the film.
Overall, this does what a good tie-in novel should: provide greater motivation and emotional context through additional backstory, expanded scenes, and internal monologue without straying too far, plot-wise, from the screenplay. Rather than a line-for-line, beat-for-beat transcript of what's onscreen, this novelization augments the story with insights, elaborations, and clarifications that will only enhance my enjoyment of and appreciation for the movie on subsequent viewings. Worth reading -- especially if you're a fan of the film.
April 4, 2022
Did you know that the Organians disappeared?
This was a tremendous effort of a novelization for Star Trek VI. It filled in so many other little bits and pieces that actually made the story make a lot more sense, like the Organians disappearing. Tensions run high throughout the Federation as a rogue, maybe cloaked, Klingon "warbird" (read Bird of Prey) is attacking Federation colonies - almost killing Carol Marcus. The Organians have disappeared and Valeris is actually a Klingon name, given to her by her Vulcan parents, in an attempt at a peace offering to the Klingons, but they were ultimately killed and she was raised by Humans - hence her entirely non-Vulcan attitude. Plus, the Organians have disappeared. There's no Colonel West (Rene Auberjonois cameo), instead it's an unnamed "young Lieutenant" who presents the briefing and states the Federation will "clean their chronometers"...and the assassin is a Klingon and not Colonel West.
Spock no longer "rapes" Valeris with the mind-meld, either. In the book, as he melds, he allows her into his mind so that she can gain his perspective on things, and then she willingly allows him into hers - that's a MUCH better scene than in the movie. I mean, what with the Organians disappearing and all that, we don't need that additional trauma - plus, it's very anti-Spock. There are also some elements that I found somewhat confusing, as this is a book, we are given Chang's and Valeris' inner thoughts and they do not come across as traitors - they seem totally genuine - so, their later switch seems to come out of nowhere. It's almost as confusing as the Organians disappearing.
By the way, I'm saying that over and over and over again, because the first half of the book mentions the Organians disappearing somewhere between eight and twelve times, if I had to guess.
The battle between the Bird of Prey (the Dakronh), the Enterprise, and the Excelsior, is one of my most favorite starship battles ever portrayed on screen. It's not flashy, bang bang lights flying all over the place, with a million little specks of stuff going every which way...it's actually a logical battle, where the cloaked opponent keeps changing position and prolongs the suffering as he plays with his opponent. It's just the cat's pajamas. In the novel...not so much...even though it remains fundamentally the same...it's just not...
If you like Star Trek VI...and you should...it is probably the best, if not easily in the top three of Star Trek movies, I have no doubt that you'll enjoy this book.
This was a tremendous effort of a novelization for Star Trek VI. It filled in so many other little bits and pieces that actually made the story make a lot more sense, like the Organians disappearing. Tensions run high throughout the Federation as a rogue, maybe cloaked, Klingon "warbird" (read Bird of Prey) is attacking Federation colonies - almost killing Carol Marcus. The Organians have disappeared and Valeris is actually a Klingon name, given to her by her Vulcan parents, in an attempt at a peace offering to the Klingons, but they were ultimately killed and she was raised by Humans - hence her entirely non-Vulcan attitude. Plus, the Organians have disappeared. There's no Colonel West (Rene Auberjonois cameo), instead it's an unnamed "young Lieutenant" who presents the briefing and states the Federation will "clean their chronometers"...and the assassin is a Klingon and not Colonel West.
Spock no longer "rapes" Valeris with the mind-meld, either. In the book, as he melds, he allows her into his mind so that she can gain his perspective on things, and then she willingly allows him into hers - that's a MUCH better scene than in the movie. I mean, what with the Organians disappearing and all that, we don't need that additional trauma - plus, it's very anti-Spock. There are also some elements that I found somewhat confusing, as this is a book, we are given Chang's and Valeris' inner thoughts and they do not come across as traitors - they seem totally genuine - so, their later switch seems to come out of nowhere. It's almost as confusing as the Organians disappearing.
By the way, I'm saying that over and over and over again, because the first half of the book mentions the Organians disappearing somewhere between eight and twelve times, if I had to guess.
The battle between the Bird of Prey (the Dakronh), the Enterprise, and the Excelsior, is one of my most favorite starship battles ever portrayed on screen. It's not flashy, bang bang lights flying all over the place, with a million little specks of stuff going every which way...it's actually a logical battle, where the cloaked opponent keeps changing position and prolongs the suffering as he plays with his opponent. It's just the cat's pajamas. In the novel...not so much...even though it remains fundamentally the same...it's just not...
If you like Star Trek VI...and you should...it is probably the best, if not easily in the top three of Star Trek movies, I have no doubt that you'll enjoy this book.
May 22, 2012
This novelization did some things better than the movie, some things not as good as the movie. Taken together, they sort of balance themselves out. The Carol Marcus/Kudao/Themis backstories helped make the crew's bitterness and bigotry make more sense than in the movie, where it seemed out of character. An interesting read, if you've seen the movie and enjoyed it.
April 7, 2026
Continued from Probe
Another two-fer. First up...
"Errand of Mercy" review:
3.5 stars.
The Organians are mentioned in The Undiscovered Country several times, or rather their disappearance is, so I decided to read James Blish's short storyization of "The Errand of Mercy" found in Star Trek: The Classic Episodes which is where the Organians put a stop to the Federation/Klingon war. Just like with Space Seed, this is a truncated version of the episode, but it hits all the key points. Most importantly, though, this is the episode that Information Society samples in their What's on Your Mind (Pure Energy) song! Everyone knows it's Mr. Spock saying "pure energy," but I had no idea Dr. McCoy says the blurb at the beginning, although that's from "I, Mudd" which I won't be reading. Mostly because James Blish didn't write a short storyization of that episode, and we all say "thankya," but I don't think I'd read it even if he did unless I was going to go through the whole book. Let's face it; some Star Trek episodes are stinkers, and that one's never done much for me.
I really like "Errand of Mercy," however. It's a good episode, but more importantly for me, it has the most influential line in the whole series. In describing the Organians, Spock says, "I should guess that they are as far above us on the evolutionary scales as we are above the amoeba." This is how I describe my understanding of God which, ironically, means I don't understand Him at all. I'm not saying that I get my theological and spiritual guidance from Star Trek which would be weird since Gene Roddenberry was an atheist. I'm just saying that that line succinctly puts into words what I believe, and I use the analogy if I ever find myself in the age-old "what is God" discussion.
An amoeba has no concept of a multicellular, multi-tissue, multi-organ, thinking, feeling organism. It just moves around, bumping into shit. When it feels frisky, it splits. With the right equipment, humans can nudge them around. My pedestrian brain can't conceive of what the Other is; the invisible man living in the sky watching everything I do, as George Carlin (another atheist) sarcastically puts it. All I know is I get nudges from time to time, and I act on them accordingly. There may be dimensions beyond the three I'm privy to involved; I don't know. And you know what? Knowing it's unexplainable means I don't have to try to explain it, either to myself or anybody else, and that's a hell of a relief. Once I let go of that, things got a lot easier. Now I can just go through life fat, dumb, and happy, should I feel so inclined, and sometimes I do.
I'm not trying to convince anyone that this is either correct or incorrect; it's my understanding, and that's all I need. If it appeals to you, you're more than welcome to take it. Besides, getting into a debate is pointless. There are eight billion people on this Earth and probably eight billion opinions on what God is; not a single one is going to line up perfectly with another. Shit, atheists can't even agree on what God isn't; they offer different proofs of His nonexistence over which they argue. So, I just channel Pontius Pilate and wash my hands of the debate.
As for the Organians, they use their power to stop the Federation/Klingon war and enforce a peace treaty which simply won't let them fight each other. Based on some ensuing episodes, that seems to be selective but perhaps there are loopholes. There's no outright war, but there are plenty of skirmishes. Maybe the treaty applies only to fights related to the war that might lead to a bigger conflict. In this story, the Organians tell Kirk and Klingon Commander Kor, "in the future, you and the Klingons will become fast friends. You will work together in great harmony." Kirk and Kor are all like, "yeah, right. And Janice Rand never took basket weaving as an elective at Starfleet Academy."
Anyway, the Organians were right, and the friendship begins in...
Star Trek IV: The Undiscovered Country (review):
This movie (and, I assume, the book) came out December 6, 1991, 20 days before the official end of the Cold War, though that had been in the works for a few years at that point. The parallels of that event and those in the film aren't a coincidence. Leonard Nimoy asked "what if the wall came down in space?" The writers ran with that and we got this. I've seen some arguments that that means this isn't really a Star Trek story because it reflected Earth's current cultural zeitgeist[1]... Have these people never seen a Star Trek episode? They pulled that kind of shit all the time in the original series and I saw some of it in The Next Generation as well, though I didn't watch that one much. Kirk and friends picked up a bunch of space hippies one time for Joan Baez's sake!
Far out, dig?
As for this the space wall (neutral zone) is the Berlin Wall, Gorkon is Gorbachev, and Praxis is Chernobyl. Both the Klingons and Soviets downplayed those trigger incidents[2], and neither the Federation nor the USA bought that line of jive. And there are other fun parallels. Chang telling Kirk not to wait for the translation during his trial echoes Adlai Stevenson demanding the same of Ambassador Zorin when he was grilling him about the Cuban missile bases. Stalinist show trials were all the rage back in the day, and the sentence was often a one-way, forevermore trip to a gulag in Siberia, or Rura Penthe if you're in Klingon space in the 23rd century. Distrust between communists and democracies and the Empire and the Federation left everyone wondering how to behave since all they had known their entire lives was said distrust. Everyone was venturing into the undiscovered country, hopefully not the same as Hamlet's (death), though that was certainly a possibility if things went south at the various summits and conferences or Camp Khitomer.
There were other cultural nods, too. "Only Nixon can go to China." "Guess who's coming to dinner." As for that, they originally wanted Uhura to say that line, but Nichelle Nichols refused. I confess I would like to have seen that due to the "wow" value alone (not that I would've understood it at all the first time I saw it when I was 13 years old) but I totally understand the refusal, and good for her for sticking to her guns. It was given to Chekov instead. I wondered if it was changed in the book, but Chekov delivers it there as well. And then there's Shakespeare who never goes out of style. Well, not if you're into him. I think the average layman hates him, but most of us literary snoots tend to get all enraptured by it. I admit I don't always understand what he's saying, but it sure is beautiful to listen to. There's actually a whole lot more of it in the book, almost all of it delivered by Chang during the climactic battle between the Enterprise and Chang's Dakronh.
At one point, "Chang's dramatic delivery continued to filter through the main intercom. As aggravating as it was, Kirk decided the Klingon would have made a passable Shakespearean actor." This is amusing since Chang is portrayed by Christopher Plummer, a renowned Shakespearean thespian.
With all that going on, I thought this was a great story and possibly the last great Star Trek movie. I can't say for sure since I haven't seen all the others that came after, though I've seen bits and pieces of all. I just can't get into them, and I'm afraid Generations bores me. (Sorry Sean.) I really like the reboot movies, but are they great? I don't know. The culture of the 60s and 80/90s have more in common with each other than they do with the late aughts and early teens. Things were just different, and I may go more into that in my Into Darkness review. But this one fires on all cylinders for me. Plus, it has a kickass score! As much as I love James Horner and his work on Wrath of Khan, Cliff Eidelman's composition is much more cinematic and the music in any part of the movie is better able to stand on its own in a concert hall. Horner has only a couple of themes that can make that claim. The rest works perfectly with the movie, but it's just moving it along most of the time.
But there's no music in the book, and since goodreads is a book site, what about the novelization? J.M. Dillard writes well, and she's a step-up from most novelization novelists that I've read, but she's a step-down from Vonda McIntyre who wrote the three Star Trek ones I read before this. (I confess IV didn't live up to the expectations I set from reading II & III, but that was due to personal reasons and not McIntyre's writing chops. And to hell with V. Looks like Dillard wrote that one too. I'm sure it can only be an improvement on the movie, but I'm still not going to read it.) Dillard does everything I want from a novelization. Fleshing out scenes with character perspectives, but not too much. She includes material that enhances the experience for the reader but would've just muddied the waters in the movie. E.G. the subplot about Carol Marcus being injured by the Klingons at the beginning and her relationship with Kirk for the past decade. That was a nice touch in the book but definitely didn't need to be in the movie since David's death was sufficient motivation for Kirk to hate the Klingons.
As for the Klingons, I don't know why anyone is scared of them in this after they shoot the first one. I mean, they bleed Pepto Bismol.
"If you've got nausea, heartburn, indigestion, upset stomach, diarrhea; Hey, kill a Klingon!
You'd think they'd be a little more easy-going with all that running through their veins, but no. Or maybe it's Calamine lotion; it's hard to tell. I guess having calamine lotion in your system for your whole life could make one rather uptight. Yeah, that must be what it is, so only kill a Klingon if you get poison ivy.
Anyway, since I already know what's going to happen in the book, and there's a bit of a mystery involved with this, it was fun reading it from that perspective and seeing how it was woven together, especially Valeris' parts. I mean, Dillard's no Agatha Christie, but it's neat how something appears one way when you don't know what's going on and another way when you do. She did that pretty well, and I liked getting Valeris' history, motivation, confusion, and logic. Dillard also pointed out a couple of things I never considered before, like how Kirk letting Valeris pilot out of the space dock was him getting back at Spock for letting Saavik do the same in Wrath of Khan.
This is an enjoyable read and recommended for any Star Trek fan.
[1]: I hate this fucking, grandiloquent word every time I see it, but I'm trying something new, and... I'm afraid it works here.
[2]: I realize Chernobyl didn't cause the fall of the Soviet Union or devastate it the same way Praxis did the Klingon Empire, but it was part of the start. It certainly added fuel to the glasnost fire and gave Gorbachev ammo for his perestroika program. He even said much later it "was perhaps the true cause of the collapse of the Soviet Union," but there was definitely more to it than that, and I think the USSR still would've fallen had the Chernobyl disaster never happened; there would just be a different cause celebre because the Soviet economy was unsustainable by then.
Trek concluded in Star Trek: Into Darkness
All Star Trek novelization reviews corralled here.
Another two-fer. First up...
"Errand of Mercy" review:
3.5 stars.
The Organians are mentioned in The Undiscovered Country several times, or rather their disappearance is, so I decided to read James Blish's short storyization of "The Errand of Mercy" found in Star Trek: The Classic Episodes which is where the Organians put a stop to the Federation/Klingon war. Just like with Space Seed, this is a truncated version of the episode, but it hits all the key points. Most importantly, though, this is the episode that Information Society samples in their What's on Your Mind (Pure Energy) song! Everyone knows it's Mr. Spock saying "pure energy," but I had no idea Dr. McCoy says the blurb at the beginning, although that's from "I, Mudd" which I won't be reading. Mostly because James Blish didn't write a short storyization of that episode, and we all say "thankya," but I don't think I'd read it even if he did unless I was going to go through the whole book. Let's face it; some Star Trek episodes are stinkers, and that one's never done much for me.
I really like "Errand of Mercy," however. It's a good episode, but more importantly for me, it has the most influential line in the whole series. In describing the Organians, Spock says, "I should guess that they are as far above us on the evolutionary scales as we are above the amoeba." This is how I describe my understanding of God which, ironically, means I don't understand Him at all. I'm not saying that I get my theological and spiritual guidance from Star Trek which would be weird since Gene Roddenberry was an atheist. I'm just saying that that line succinctly puts into words what I believe, and I use the analogy if I ever find myself in the age-old "what is God" discussion.
An amoeba has no concept of a multicellular, multi-tissue, multi-organ, thinking, feeling organism. It just moves around, bumping into shit. When it feels frisky, it splits. With the right equipment, humans can nudge them around. My pedestrian brain can't conceive of what the Other is; the invisible man living in the sky watching everything I do, as George Carlin (another atheist) sarcastically puts it. All I know is I get nudges from time to time, and I act on them accordingly. There may be dimensions beyond the three I'm privy to involved; I don't know. And you know what? Knowing it's unexplainable means I don't have to try to explain it, either to myself or anybody else, and that's a hell of a relief. Once I let go of that, things got a lot easier. Now I can just go through life fat, dumb, and happy, should I feel so inclined, and sometimes I do.
I'm not trying to convince anyone that this is either correct or incorrect; it's my understanding, and that's all I need. If it appeals to you, you're more than welcome to take it. Besides, getting into a debate is pointless. There are eight billion people on this Earth and probably eight billion opinions on what God is; not a single one is going to line up perfectly with another. Shit, atheists can't even agree on what God isn't; they offer different proofs of His nonexistence over which they argue. So, I just channel Pontius Pilate and wash my hands of the debate.
As for the Organians, they use their power to stop the Federation/Klingon war and enforce a peace treaty which simply won't let them fight each other. Based on some ensuing episodes, that seems to be selective but perhaps there are loopholes. There's no outright war, but there are plenty of skirmishes. Maybe the treaty applies only to fights related to the war that might lead to a bigger conflict. In this story, the Organians tell Kirk and Klingon Commander Kor, "in the future, you and the Klingons will become fast friends. You will work together in great harmony." Kirk and Kor are all like, "yeah, right. And Janice Rand never took basket weaving as an elective at Starfleet Academy."
Anyway, the Organians were right, and the friendship begins in...
Star Trek IV: The Undiscovered Country (review):
This movie (and, I assume, the book) came out December 6, 1991, 20 days before the official end of the Cold War, though that had been in the works for a few years at that point. The parallels of that event and those in the film aren't a coincidence. Leonard Nimoy asked "what if the wall came down in space?" The writers ran with that and we got this. I've seen some arguments that that means this isn't really a Star Trek story because it reflected Earth's current cultural zeitgeist[1]... Have these people never seen a Star Trek episode? They pulled that kind of shit all the time in the original series and I saw some of it in The Next Generation as well, though I didn't watch that one much. Kirk and friends picked up a bunch of space hippies one time for Joan Baez's sake!
Far out, dig?
As for this the space wall (neutral zone) is the Berlin Wall, Gorkon is Gorbachev, and Praxis is Chernobyl. Both the Klingons and Soviets downplayed those trigger incidents[2], and neither the Federation nor the USA bought that line of jive. And there are other fun parallels. Chang telling Kirk not to wait for the translation during his trial echoes Adlai Stevenson demanding the same of Ambassador Zorin when he was grilling him about the Cuban missile bases. Stalinist show trials were all the rage back in the day, and the sentence was often a one-way, forevermore trip to a gulag in Siberia, or Rura Penthe if you're in Klingon space in the 23rd century. Distrust between communists and democracies and the Empire and the Federation left everyone wondering how to behave since all they had known their entire lives was said distrust. Everyone was venturing into the undiscovered country, hopefully not the same as Hamlet's (death), though that was certainly a possibility if things went south at the various summits and conferences or Camp Khitomer.
There were other cultural nods, too. "Only Nixon can go to China." "Guess who's coming to dinner." As for that, they originally wanted Uhura to say that line, but Nichelle Nichols refused. I confess I would like to have seen that due to the "wow" value alone (not that I would've understood it at all the first time I saw it when I was 13 years old) but I totally understand the refusal, and good for her for sticking to her guns. It was given to Chekov instead. I wondered if it was changed in the book, but Chekov delivers it there as well. And then there's Shakespeare who never goes out of style. Well, not if you're into him. I think the average layman hates him, but most of us literary snoots tend to get all enraptured by it. I admit I don't always understand what he's saying, but it sure is beautiful to listen to. There's actually a whole lot more of it in the book, almost all of it delivered by Chang during the climactic battle between the Enterprise and Chang's Dakronh.
At one point, "Chang's dramatic delivery continued to filter through the main intercom. As aggravating as it was, Kirk decided the Klingon would have made a passable Shakespearean actor." This is amusing since Chang is portrayed by Christopher Plummer, a renowned Shakespearean thespian.
With all that going on, I thought this was a great story and possibly the last great Star Trek movie. I can't say for sure since I haven't seen all the others that came after, though I've seen bits and pieces of all. I just can't get into them, and I'm afraid Generations bores me. (Sorry Sean.) I really like the reboot movies, but are they great? I don't know. The culture of the 60s and 80/90s have more in common with each other than they do with the late aughts and early teens. Things were just different, and I may go more into that in my Into Darkness review. But this one fires on all cylinders for me. Plus, it has a kickass score! As much as I love James Horner and his work on Wrath of Khan, Cliff Eidelman's composition is much more cinematic and the music in any part of the movie is better able to stand on its own in a concert hall. Horner has only a couple of themes that can make that claim. The rest works perfectly with the movie, but it's just moving it along most of the time.
But there's no music in the book, and since goodreads is a book site, what about the novelization? J.M. Dillard writes well, and she's a step-up from most novelization novelists that I've read, but she's a step-down from Vonda McIntyre who wrote the three Star Trek ones I read before this. (I confess IV didn't live up to the expectations I set from reading II & III, but that was due to personal reasons and not McIntyre's writing chops. And to hell with V. Looks like Dillard wrote that one too. I'm sure it can only be an improvement on the movie, but I'm still not going to read it.) Dillard does everything I want from a novelization. Fleshing out scenes with character perspectives, but not too much. She includes material that enhances the experience for the reader but would've just muddied the waters in the movie. E.G. the subplot about Carol Marcus being injured by the Klingons at the beginning and her relationship with Kirk for the past decade. That was a nice touch in the book but definitely didn't need to be in the movie since David's death was sufficient motivation for Kirk to hate the Klingons.
As for the Klingons, I don't know why anyone is scared of them in this after they shoot the first one. I mean, they bleed Pepto Bismol.
"If you've got nausea, heartburn, indigestion, upset stomach, diarrhea; Hey, kill a Klingon!
You'd think they'd be a little more easy-going with all that running through their veins, but no. Or maybe it's Calamine lotion; it's hard to tell. I guess having calamine lotion in your system for your whole life could make one rather uptight. Yeah, that must be what it is, so only kill a Klingon if you get poison ivy.
Anyway, since I already know what's going to happen in the book, and there's a bit of a mystery involved with this, it was fun reading it from that perspective and seeing how it was woven together, especially Valeris' parts. I mean, Dillard's no Agatha Christie, but it's neat how something appears one way when you don't know what's going on and another way when you do. She did that pretty well, and I liked getting Valeris' history, motivation, confusion, and logic. Dillard also pointed out a couple of things I never considered before, like how Kirk letting Valeris pilot out of the space dock was him getting back at Spock for letting Saavik do the same in Wrath of Khan.
This is an enjoyable read and recommended for any Star Trek fan.
[1]: I hate this fucking, grandiloquent word every time I see it, but I'm trying something new, and... I'm afraid it works here.
[2]: I realize Chernobyl didn't cause the fall of the Soviet Union or devastate it the same way Praxis did the Klingon Empire, but it was part of the start. It certainly added fuel to the glasnost fire and gave Gorbachev ammo for his perestroika program. He even said much later it "was perhaps the true cause of the collapse of the Soviet Union," but there was definitely more to it than that, and I think the USSR still would've fallen had the Chernobyl disaster never happened; there would just be a different cause celebre because the Soviet economy was unsustainable by then.
Trek concluded in Star Trek: Into Darkness
All Star Trek novelization reviews corralled here.
June 3, 2021
THIS is how you write a novelization!
I've read quite a few novelizations, all ranging from bad to great. The mark of a great novelization is how it enhances your viewing of the movie with new lines, moments, and scenes that aren't in the movie, but still took place. This book is full of those scenes, and yet has all of the wonderful moments from the movie.
This story is already an awesome story. I believe that Undiscovered Country is my second favorite Star Trek movie, but has the best overall plot and character development. This book takes that good plot and gives it not only depth but meaning.
We understand the context of several events happening such as the Klingon attacks on Kudao and Themis, which injure Doctor Carol Marcus, and further provide context for Kirk's present anger against the Klingons in the movie. This also provides very informative and special scenes featuring Gorkon, Azetbur, Chang and Kerla, which provide context into the Klingon way of life, the Klingon's reasoning for the peace talks, and explains the line of succession problem in the movie.
And the book does this all in 300 pages...normal size print. I tell you, J. M. Dillard has done something else with this book. It is simply stunning and impressive. It didn't need to be any longer or any shorter. It was precisely the right length.
Overall, this has become one of my favorite novelizations, ranking up there with "Rogue One"(which possibly edges it out). Nonetheless, wonderfully done. 9.8 out of 10! Great job Dillard!
"You havenever experienced Shakespeare until you read him in the original Klingon". Qapla'
I've read quite a few novelizations, all ranging from bad to great. The mark of a great novelization is how it enhances your viewing of the movie with new lines, moments, and scenes that aren't in the movie, but still took place. This book is full of those scenes, and yet has all of the wonderful moments from the movie.
This story is already an awesome story. I believe that Undiscovered Country is my second favorite Star Trek movie, but has the best overall plot and character development. This book takes that good plot and gives it not only depth but meaning.
We understand the context of several events happening such as the Klingon attacks on Kudao and Themis, which injure Doctor Carol Marcus, and further provide context for Kirk's present anger against the Klingons in the movie. This also provides very informative and special scenes featuring Gorkon, Azetbur, Chang and Kerla, which provide context into the Klingon way of life, the Klingon's reasoning for the peace talks, and explains the line of succession problem in the movie.
And the book does this all in 300 pages...normal size print. I tell you, J. M. Dillard has done something else with this book. It is simply stunning and impressive. It didn't need to be any longer or any shorter. It was precisely the right length.
Overall, this has become one of my favorite novelizations, ranking up there with "Rogue One"(which possibly edges it out). Nonetheless, wonderfully done. 9.8 out of 10! Great job Dillard!
"You havenever experienced Shakespeare until you read him in the original Klingon". Qapla'
November 3, 2024
An excellent novelization of the film. Great descriptions of the scenes we saw on screen, with just enough background and extra tidbits to make reading the story worth it.
The racism and indoctrination on both sides isn't shied away from, with the media's tendency to sensationalize held to task for its role in helping to build hate.
I appreciated the insight into the completely out of character forced mindmeld Spock perpetrates in the film, though I'm not convinced what's written here is what was intended on-screen - especially with Valeris's final agonizing scream completely edited out. But I would have much preferred this novel's version to the on-screen version, as it simply made a lot more sense.
4.25 stars.
The racism and indoctrination on both sides isn't shied away from, with the media's tendency to sensationalize held to task for its role in helping to build hate.
I appreciated the insight into the completely out of character forced mindmeld Spock perpetrates in the film, though I'm not convinced what's written here is what was intended on-screen - especially with Valeris's final agonizing scream completely edited out. But I would have much preferred this novel's version to the on-screen version, as it simply made a lot more sense.
4.25 stars.
February 10, 2021
I listened to the audiobook and I will always love to listen to any Star Trek books.
March 25, 2019
Wow, this was a really good adaptation of the movie. Added some extra information, a few extra scenes. Was a rollicking good read.
October 28, 2023
3.5 stars
April 11, 2020
I finally got this audiobook! Alas, it is like all the older ones is abridged, so allowing for that, I still liked it - hey, it's the movie, one of my top favorite Trek movie, nothing strangely new or changed from it, and I like James Doohan's narration. So while it would be so much better unabridged, since it's not, you can get better than everything above. :)
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5/26/2021 - listened to the unabridged story, still like it; love this movie as is, but this still fills in a little to make it even more full. :)
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5/26/2021 - listened to the unabridged story, still like it; love this movie as is, but this still fills in a little to make it even more full. :)
February 28, 2011
The best of JM Dillard's movie novelizations. It's not quite reaching for the same level as Vonda McIntyre's Star Trek II adaptation, but it makes up for any stylistic safety with a great deal of imaginative continuity usage and an unabashed enthusiasm for the movie script. I had the great pleasure of spoiling the movie for myself with an advanced copy of this novel...and I was quite pleased that the actual film lived UP to its print adaptation!
Read
November 14, 2017There’s some interesting depth added to the story that explores the apparent surge in Kirk’s animosity for Klingons, his relationship with Carol Marcus as well as the loss of David in Search for Spock. It also feels like much more of a continuation from Star Trek 5, where the movies felt more standalone.
April 24, 2009
I find it interesting that in the novelization (which is often based on the first version of the script), the Spock/Valeris mind-meld is very different; a gesture of gallantry instead of a brutal rape. I wonder who made the decision to change it in the film.
September 24, 2017
I loved the movie... So decided to read the book...
The book was very interesting as it fills out the gaps that was quite visible during the movie...
A must read for the fans of the Star Trek Original series...
The book was very interesting as it fills out the gaps that was quite visible during the movie...
A must read for the fans of the Star Trek Original series...
February 19, 2017
I enjoyed reading this Star Trek story...it is a little gem of a book!
December 3, 2025
'You have not experienced Shakespeare until you have read him in the original Klingon.'
As someone who has studied Shakespeare in the past, I somehow can agree with this.
I've mentioned this before, so I'll make it quick. I was never a Trekkie until recently. I fell in love with the Original Series and the six films (yes, even the fifth one). There's a lot of love in these stories, but most importantly, in the characters.
Upon learning there were novelizations of each of the six films, I immediately started looking for them. I was fortunate enough to find all six. Novelizations are usually a double-edged sword. Often, authors just copy the screenplay without exploring aspects that the movie didn't have enough time to cover. However, there are a few rare cases that offer a different experience from the actual film. Does that make them better? It shouldn't. In fact, they should complement the story by enhancing it.
Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country isn't actually my favorite Star Trek film; it’s my fifth favorite — my ranking is controversial, but that’s a story for another review. However, I still had a great time with it, and the novelization enhanced the experience.
Author J.M. Dillard takes this wonderful story and expands upon it. One of my favorite additions is scenes with Carol Marcus and James T. Kirk. After "Wrath of Khan," Carol just disappears, without saying goodbye. Hell, she's not even mentioned in "Search for Spock," the one where she and Kirk's son, David, is killed by a "Klingon bastard." Thankfully, we get to see her again and learn what actually happened between her and Kirk after David's death. It was the closure I was seeking.
Dillard also follows the plot quite well, if I must add. Anyone who remembers the film will be able to follow along without feeling lost. This is about 300 pages, and Dillard makes it all work in the end with the incredible pacing. This could easily be finished in a day.
The plot is notable for its character development; every character has an arc and is well-developed. I particularly enjoyed reading about the Klingons, especially General Chang, who was brilliantly portrayed by Christopher Plummer in the movie. Like Khan, Chang is another villain who has a clear purpose, and he isn't revealed as the antagonist until much later in the story. I appreciate when narratives don’t disclose everything at once, especially at the beginning. I prefer it when events unfold gradually and take you by surprise when you least expect them.
I typically dislike action in novels because I'm a spoiled visual medium guy, but Dillard managed to make it quick and exciting. The script’s pacing carries over into the book — especially in the final act, which still feels rushed. I'm not certain if this was intentional, but it ultimately resolved itself in the end.
For the final story of the original Enterprise crew, this was a great sendoff. It makes the ending quite emotional because it marked the end of an era. As I mentioned earlier, every character gets to do something. One of my favorites is General Sulu. He has his own ship, which makes sense. He's a badass. I think Kirk had a strong influence on him, because he's rebellious like Kirk.
This novelization was not written by Vonda N. McIntyre; it was actually authored by J.M. Dillard. I'm not sure why the authorship was changed, but I found it interesting to explore different writing styles. Is Dillard's writing style better than McIntyre's? In my opinion, no one is better than anyone else; it usually comes down to personal taste. As I mentioned, I’m quite open-minded about this. Naturally, I enjoyed both of their writing styles.
While not my favorite Star Trek movie or novel, this is certainly one of the best novelizations written. In short, a great send-off and one final hoorah.
Side note, I also checked out the audiobook for this novelization. It was quite fun. Unlike IV & V, this was not read by George Takei and Leonard Nimoy; this was read by James Doohan, known for playing Montgomery "Scotty" Scott. Like Takei and Nimoy, Doohan's voice also screams narration. Having worked with the cast for years, he was able to portray them well.
Rating: 4/4 stars.
As someone who has studied Shakespeare in the past, I somehow can agree with this.
I've mentioned this before, so I'll make it quick. I was never a Trekkie until recently. I fell in love with the Original Series and the six films (yes, even the fifth one). There's a lot of love in these stories, but most importantly, in the characters.
Upon learning there were novelizations of each of the six films, I immediately started looking for them. I was fortunate enough to find all six. Novelizations are usually a double-edged sword. Often, authors just copy the screenplay without exploring aspects that the movie didn't have enough time to cover. However, there are a few rare cases that offer a different experience from the actual film. Does that make them better? It shouldn't. In fact, they should complement the story by enhancing it.
Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country isn't actually my favorite Star Trek film; it’s my fifth favorite — my ranking is controversial, but that’s a story for another review. However, I still had a great time with it, and the novelization enhanced the experience.
Author J.M. Dillard takes this wonderful story and expands upon it. One of my favorite additions is scenes with Carol Marcus and James T. Kirk. After "Wrath of Khan," Carol just disappears, without saying goodbye. Hell, she's not even mentioned in "Search for Spock," the one where she and Kirk's son, David, is killed by a "Klingon bastard." Thankfully, we get to see her again and learn what actually happened between her and Kirk after David's death. It was the closure I was seeking.
Dillard also follows the plot quite well, if I must add. Anyone who remembers the film will be able to follow along without feeling lost. This is about 300 pages, and Dillard makes it all work in the end with the incredible pacing. This could easily be finished in a day.
The plot is notable for its character development; every character has an arc and is well-developed. I particularly enjoyed reading about the Klingons, especially General Chang, who was brilliantly portrayed by Christopher Plummer in the movie. Like Khan, Chang is another villain who has a clear purpose, and he isn't revealed as the antagonist until much later in the story. I appreciate when narratives don’t disclose everything at once, especially at the beginning. I prefer it when events unfold gradually and take you by surprise when you least expect them.
I typically dislike action in novels because I'm a spoiled visual medium guy, but Dillard managed to make it quick and exciting. The script’s pacing carries over into the book — especially in the final act, which still feels rushed. I'm not certain if this was intentional, but it ultimately resolved itself in the end.
For the final story of the original Enterprise crew, this was a great sendoff. It makes the ending quite emotional because it marked the end of an era. As I mentioned earlier, every character gets to do something. One of my favorites is General Sulu. He has his own ship, which makes sense. He's a badass. I think Kirk had a strong influence on him, because he's rebellious like Kirk.
This novelization was not written by Vonda N. McIntyre; it was actually authored by J.M. Dillard. I'm not sure why the authorship was changed, but I found it interesting to explore different writing styles. Is Dillard's writing style better than McIntyre's? In my opinion, no one is better than anyone else; it usually comes down to personal taste. As I mentioned, I’m quite open-minded about this. Naturally, I enjoyed both of their writing styles.
While not my favorite Star Trek movie or novel, this is certainly one of the best novelizations written. In short, a great send-off and one final hoorah.
Side note, I also checked out the audiobook for this novelization. It was quite fun. Unlike IV & V, this was not read by George Takei and Leonard Nimoy; this was read by James Doohan, known for playing Montgomery "Scotty" Scott. Like Takei and Nimoy, Doohan's voice also screams narration. Having worked with the cast for years, he was able to portray them well.
Rating: 4/4 stars.
July 11, 2026
Please read (and like) this review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show.... And my response to it.
Another reviewer mentioned that the victim of the mind-rape screamed in the movie. I've not seen it (and now I'm even less interested in doing so). I'm sure Spock could have accomplished his goals by talking with her longer, and listening, instead of going straight to the mind-meld.
Also the ridiculousness of the big three + Scott acting as security at the end. Apparently they're getting even more reckless and less wise in their old age (how many mentions of gray hair and retirement do we need in one book?).
Rounding up to three stars because the reviewer mentioned above gave it that many. And because of the distinction made (at just one point and promptly forgotten) between Klingon custom and Warrior custom. "You must learn to make the distinction. The position of chancellor is not controlled by the military. The people will accept [a female chancellor], even if the military does not."
Another reviewer mentioned that the victim of the mind-rape screamed in the movie. I've not seen it (and now I'm even less interested in doing so). I'm sure Spock could have accomplished his goals by talking with her longer, and listening, instead of going straight to the mind-meld.
Also the ridiculousness of the big three + Scott acting as security at the end. Apparently they're getting even more reckless and less wise in their old age (how many mentions of gray hair and retirement do we need in one book?).
Rounding up to three stars because the reviewer mentioned above gave it that many. And because of the distinction made (at just one point and promptly forgotten) between Klingon custom and Warrior custom. "You must learn to make the distinction. The position of chancellor is not controlled by the military. The people will accept [a female chancellor], even if the military does not."
October 2, 2023
Review 49. Star Trek The Original Series Movies #6 The Undiscovered Country by J.M. Dillard
Page Count : 301
This is the 6th and final book of The Original Series movies and by far it is probably my favourite.
Giving an idea of how long has passed since we last saw the crew of the USS Enterprise, this book goes into detail about what the crew have been doing, what in some cases they have moved onto and what they are planning once their retirement begins.
Like all of the previous books, this one goes into massive detail about what sets the scene for the rest of this books story.
Going into detail about attacks by the Klingons on Federation planets, this book reveals so much more detail about the story and fills in the gaps about certain character motives and why their emotions run so high during the book.
I 100% recommend this book and will definitely be rereading it again in the future.
5*
*****
Page Count : 301
This is the 6th and final book of The Original Series movies and by far it is probably my favourite.
Giving an idea of how long has passed since we last saw the crew of the USS Enterprise, this book goes into detail about what the crew have been doing, what in some cases they have moved onto and what they are planning once their retirement begins.
Like all of the previous books, this one goes into massive detail about what sets the scene for the rest of this books story.
Going into detail about attacks by the Klingons on Federation planets, this book reveals so much more detail about the story and fills in the gaps about certain character motives and why their emotions run so high during the book.
I 100% recommend this book and will definitely be rereading it again in the future.
5*
*****
June 11, 2023
This was a quick read. It's approximately 90% the movie we all know and love - so, as I said, it goes quickly on that front. But I think the author adds backstory for Kirk, Valeris, the Klingons, and the wider story that - honestly - I didn't know was needed, but now reading it, I think it's quite important. I won't "spoil" it (even though, odds are, if you're reading this, you've seen the movie...), but the novel does ask, "Isn't it weird that Kirk and crew hate Klingons so much after being buddy-buddy with them at the end of Star Trek V?" Yes - that is, in fact, quite weird! So this book provides some events going on that add to the racism (species-ism?) of Starfleet officers in this story. So it's a definite recommend for any Trek fans.
September 29, 2024
TOS: the Undiscovered Country novelization by J.M Dillard
This was an excellent novelization of an already great movie. The only new stuff it really added was with Carol Marcus and some more details about the Organians and some Klingon attacks. Dillard did an excellent job capturing the spirit of the movie and its sense of fun and swashbuckling. Although, I prefer Vondas’s adaptions more as the stuff she added made the story feel richer. Chang wasn’t as an engaging villain as he was on screen. I know some stuff will be lost when it’s translated to the page, but it didn’t work as well for me. Just the way Vonda wrote the Voyage Home, I enjoyed it a lot more. But this was still fun either way.
8/10
This was an excellent novelization of an already great movie. The only new stuff it really added was with Carol Marcus and some more details about the Organians and some Klingon attacks. Dillard did an excellent job capturing the spirit of the movie and its sense of fun and swashbuckling. Although, I prefer Vondas’s adaptions more as the stuff she added made the story feel richer. Chang wasn’t as an engaging villain as he was on screen. I know some stuff will be lost when it’s translated to the page, but it didn’t work as well for me. Just the way Vonda wrote the Voyage Home, I enjoyed it a lot more. But this was still fun either way.
8/10
February 25, 2024
Whether this book was written before or after the script was finalized, I do not know. I felt this novelization reminded me of the Star Trek III one where the things that were not there in the film almost distracting. Carol Marcus's injuries and Kirk's reaction to that and elevating how he felt about the Klingons almost muddled his motivation and they probably figured his son's death was enough. Well whoever edited the film deserves a kudos from me as the film is one of my favorites from the original series and they tightened up a lot of the muddled dialogue I found here.
October 3, 2026
J.M. Dillard’s "Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country" is the big, grand send-off for the original Enterprise crew, and she puts enough extra meat on this story to satisfy a starving hound dog. Now, J.M. Dillard didn't just copy the movie script line-for-line like a lazy schoolkid. She adds a whole heap of extra flavor. You get a whole side-story about Kirk’s old flame, Carol Marcus, that never made it onto the theater screen. You actually get to sit inside Kirk's head and feel just how much he hates the Klingons, making his eventual change of heart feel a lot more real.
March 5, 2021
This has always been my favorite Star Trek movie so I saw this in the audible store and thought I'd give it a listen. Aside from the great narration by James Doohan (Scotty!) I must say this was nowhere near as good as I expected. So many story points crucial to the story were omitted. As a huge Star Trek fan from way back close to the beginning of the show I must say this could have and should have been done better! Makes me hesitate to even trust another audible Star Trek book in the future.
August 10, 2020
Awesome book
I have to say I loved this book!! The writing was fantastic, it was fun and exciting, and a little sad because it was the last adventure of the original crew of the USS Enterprise. If you are a Star Trek fan and haven't read this book, what are you waiting for!?!? Highly recommended!!
I have to say I loved this book!! The writing was fantastic, it was fun and exciting, and a little sad because it was the last adventure of the original crew of the USS Enterprise. If you are a Star Trek fan and haven't read this book, what are you waiting for!?!? Highly recommended!!
March 23, 2025
Fantastic story details that are missing from the film, dramatic, strategic, consuming details a s backstory that greatly enhances the film. The famous ‘forced’ mind meld is not forced at all, but one of the pivotal points in the novel. Even the end battle is much more dramatic and intriguing than what we get in the film.
November 28, 2018
Some good and bad, I guess I want so much more detail if the book was made from a movie, I want it to be like a Stephen King book with so much new background info that you know who Kirks elementary teacher was dating. This was still a good read.
January 21, 2021
Not the first time I've read this one. I kept getting flashbacks to the movie as much of the dialogue is identical. If you like the movie to be as close to the book as possible, this is for you. Be warned, it's still the Star Trek TOS silliness at about 70%.
January 30, 2021
I think this is my least favorite of the novelizations so far. I enjoyed all the detail, but the movie’s plot was a bit dull in novel form and some of the characters seemed a little too “90s action movie.”
I usually like Dillard’s books but I guess my criticism has more to do with the screenplay.
I usually like Dillard’s books but I guess my criticism has more to do with the screenplay.
December 6, 2021
A very enjoyable read! The art of turning a movie into a novel is a difficult one, but the author does it well. And while of course I already knew the plot of the movie, it was nice to be able to see inside the minds of the characters.
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