Killing Time

by Della Van Hise

Book Overview

Second History: a Romulan time-tampering project that has transported the Enterprise and the galaxy into an alternate dimension of reality. Now, Kirk is an embittered young ensign and Spock is a beseiged Starship commander. Lured into a Romulan trap, Captain Spock and Ensign Kirk must free themselves from both their captors and their own altered selves...before the galaxy hurtles toward total destruction

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0671659219
• ISBN13: 9780671659219
• Release Date: July 1985
• Publisher: Star Trek
• Length: 311 Pages
• Weight: 0.38 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Romeo & Juliet (& romulans)

Della Van Hise wrote the most beautifuly tragic romance I've read in a long time. then, paramount pulled the first edition, pulped it, and then re released it with over 50 edits that mostly consisted of interactions between Jim Kirk and Mr. Spock. if you're going to pick up this book (which I HIGHLY recommend) please try to get your hands on a first edition copy. i promise it's worth it.

Really Well Done!

From the reviews I've seen and the people I've talked to, you either love this book or you hate it, I am among the former; I loved it! My favorite original Trek episode was 'The Enterprise Incident' and I liked the character of the Romulan Commander. However, I always felt that she and Spock had to meet again, and while other novels like 'Blackfire' and 'Dwellers In the Crusible' broached the idea, none came up with such a unique idea to make it happen. I think the Romulan Commander got a bad shake. This story makes up for it!

This "censored" Trek novel is a good read!

The reason this book is out of print (and so few fans have read it) is because it was yanked off the market for being "in bad taste" around the time that Roddenberry began cracking down on Trek novels that he personally didn't like. (In the mid-1980s. See chapter 17 of his biography, "Star Trek Creator," for more on that aspect of Trek history.) At any rate, the very idea of a censored Star Trek novel was so intriguing to me, I just had to track down a copy and read it! The plot opens with a number of Enterprise crewpersons having some very disturbing dreams. In the case of Kirk and Spock, they both have the same dream, in which Spock is captain of a starship that's not the Enterprise, and Kirk is a young ensign aboard that same ship. As it turns out, the dreams are really bleed-throughs from another universe that was created by Romulan time-tampering. The Romulans, in an attempt to go back and change history in a way that would eliminate the Federation, have created Second History -- and it's not stable. On a deep subconscious level, many people in Second History are still linked to First History (the original timeline) and, in cases where their roles are not the same in both worlds, the disparity is causing insanity. And its spreading. If the original timeline is not restored soon, the whole universe is in danger of going mad. What might be offensive to some people is that Ensign Kirk of Second History is a pretty messed-up character. He's a bitter young man who gets into fights with other crewmembers, has spent some time in prison (although, it is pointed out, the evidence used to convict him was was circumstantial and he maintains his innocence), and was drafted into the Fleet against his will. (The draft is one of the differences that Second History introduces.) He's also misusing a dream suppressant drug to try and stop the nightmares. This is certainly not the way we want to see Our Hero portrayed -- but then again, it fits the plot. I mean, if the Romulans really want to put the Federation out of commission, wouldn't it make sense to get the highly-competent James T. Kirk out of the picture? Besides, we've seen Kirk acting "weird" before under various alien influences, so why would this scenario be any worse? There's also an element of "there but for the grace of God go I" in this story, making us realize that, given the wrong circumstances, anybody's life can take a bad turn. And it can also be righted again. Eventually, the Second History versions of Kirk and Spock figure out what's happened. (A nice touch is that this is accomplished by a mindmeld that taps into the deep friendship between them in First History, which still links them on the subconscious level.) Ensign Kirk quits the drug cold turkey, gets his life together, and helps Spock try to figure out a way to save the universe. To tell you any more would be a spoiler, except to say that this book is well worth reading --- that is, if you can find a copy.

Not so great - for a Star Trek fan

Star Trek books tend to be rather poorly written. (Of course, the magnificent TV series has set the standard very high.) Considering that, Della Van Hise's book isn't actually the worst. If you're a Star Trek fan, it's absolutely worth reading. Just don't expect the kind of enjoyment you're getting from the TV series. The book deals with a kind of reality distortion. You may find it interesting to see some familiar Star Trek characters in somewhat unusual situations. I don't want to tell you any more right know, just read and see for yourself. If you're not a fan of Star Trek, my guess is that this book offers you nothing. A person not familiar with Star Trek background would probably find it just boring.

Not so great - for a Star Trek fan

It seems to me that the Star Trek books are generally of a rather low level - actually, a disappointment for a fan of the magnificent TV series. In this perspective, Della Van Hise's book isn't actually the worst. If you're a Star Trek fan, it's absolutely worth reading. Just don't expect the kind of enjoyment you're getting from the TV series.The book deals with a kind of reality distortion. You may find it interesting to see some familiar Star Trek characters in somewhat unusual situations. I don't want to tell you any more right know, just read and see for yourself.If you're not a fan of Star Trek, my guess is that this book is nothing for you. A person not familiar with Star Trek background would probably find it just boring.

Don't miss this one!!

I have read virtually all of the Star Trek books ever written, so when I came across this gem I never would have thought it to be substantially unique from the basic Trek storyline. Think wrong. This story actually gets things done-- it deviates from the basic clear cut idea of nothing lost and nothing gained attittude of most books. This is the most dramatic and bittersweet tale the world of Trekdom has yet rendered. From its ingenious plot that revolves around a sinister offshoot of history to the powerful and artfully constructed dialogues between Kirk and Spock, it is a wonder that this book never gained the well deserved notoriety that would have brought it to my attention sooner. I am shocked that many fans have never read this book, and believe it is an excellent addition to anyone's sci-fi collection. This is the one Star Trek book that you really cannot pass up.