Star Trek--Prime Directive

by Judith Reeves-Stevens and Garfield Reeves-Stevens

Book Overview

Starfleet's most sacred commandment has been violated. Its most honored captain is in disgrace, its most celebrated starship in pieces, and the crew of that ship scattered among the thousand worlds of the Federation...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0671707728
• ISBN13: 9780671707729
• Release Date: September 1990
• Publisher: Pocket Books
• Length: 406 Pages
• Weight: 1.32 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.4" x 5.9" x 8.8"

Customer Reviews

Absolutely stunning. Could be 1 of the best Trek novels ever written...

It took me a long time before I attempted to read Prime Directive, but boy am I glad I finally did. I cannot think of any authors' who write in the Trek universe who can come up with a more compelling and creative storyline than this married duo. Examining Starfleet's General Order #1 in such detail is a hefty task to say the least, but here Judith & Gar have really outdone themselves. Visiting the somewhat primitive world of Talin IV, somehow, some way, an accident involving the Enterprise and her Warp Engines being utilized within the planets atmosphere literally devastates the entire world. Within the blink of an eye, millions of the planets inhabitants are snuffed out, and Starfleets flagship, and the entire bridge crew are forever changed. The ship is almost ruined in the aftermath, and the crew is scattered amongst the many different worlds of the Federation. The many facets of Starfleets Prime Directive are explored and even though this whole situation seems to be the result of an accident and not a purposeful violation of the order, the results are the same. What happens as a result could very easily be considered one of the best Trek novels ever written. Personally I loved the individual sections of the book that explores in more detail than I remember being in any previous novel (or since) the main characters of the Star Trek universe, namely Scotty, Uhura, Chekhov and Sulu. Of course we also have Kirk, Spock and the Doctor, but we rarely (if ever) have been able to get into the minds of these other main characters nearly as deep as we do here. In particular I enjoyed Sulu & Chekhov's exploits. We see a much more detailed look at the strength of Lt. Uhura and her fierce loyalty to her former crewmates and specifically to Kirk in particular. Unraveling the mystery behind the destruction of Talin IV is like a murder/mystery written by Agatha Christie--just done in outer space. Spock, as one would imagine, is the Private Detective who finally connects all the dots and even though the outcome was never in any doubt, especially knowing that this story takes place during the Kirk's original 5-year mission, how it all plays out really IS a well orchestrated treat to us fans. How could the Enterprise have made such a critical error, or more importantly, how could Kirk have allowed it to happen? WAS it an accident, or was it ignorance coupled with Kirk's natural tendency towards ignoring Starfleet when he deems it necessary? The final answers to how it all comes together really is a journey that is more than worth taking. Comparing 'Prime Directive' to your average Star Trek novel is kinda like comparing a newspaper clipping to The Bible. One is just way more In Depth than the other. I don't wish to bash on other Trek authors, but this one is so much more than most all the others I have read as to almost render the rest comical. This book is the main reason why I firmly believe Judith & Garfied Reeves-Stevens' to

Kirk the world-killer and the disgrace of the "Enterprise Five"

In the "Star Trek" universe the Prime Directive is Starfleet's General Order #1, which prohibits interference with the natural development of a primitive society ("primitive" defined as any culture that has not yet developed warp drive). Specifically this means that a primitive culture cannot be exposed to information regarding advanced technology or alien races, including any effort to improve or change the natural development of such societies. There was once a "Star Trek" comic book that had fun enumerating all of the times that Captain James T. Kirk violated the Prime Directive, which basically showed that General Order #1 was a piece of Swiss cheese. However, nothing that ever happened during the original "Star Trek" causes as much problems for Kirk and his crew as what happens in this 1990 novel, and the fact that this violation is unintentional is painfully ironic. When I first started reading "Prime Directive," I had some questions about the precipitating incident, namely the destruction of Talin IV by the "Enterprise." Part of it was the science involved in what happens when a warp engine ignites in an atmosphere, because even though I am completely gullible when it comes to "Star Trek" physics it seems they already did that in the original series (e.g., "Tomorrow is Yesterday"). Beyond that, I had concerns as to how Federation investigators looking at this tragedy could be fooled as to what really happened, since, it goes without saying, Kirk is not a mass-murdering butcher who would destroy an entire planet. The corollary to this is that once the entire known universe thinks you are a mass-murdering butcher, the truth is hardly going to set you being free. That being said, what makes "Prime Directive" a must-read "Star Trek" novel is that Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens come up with a reason to send the crew of the "Enterprise" to the four corners of the galaxy. After all, Starfleet's highest law has been broken, its most honored captain is in disgrace, its most celebrated starship in pieces, and the crew scattered throughout the Federation. The narrative that picks up the pieces and brings the crew back to Talin IV, the planet where their careers ended, is pretty compelling. Part One of the novel is the "Aftermath," with Kirk trying to find a corner of the universe in which to try and live a normal life, as are the rest of his bridge crew, now cursed as the "Enterprise Five." Mr. Scott was not on the bridge, so he is still in Starfleet, in charge of the cannibalization of what is left of the "Enterprise." Dr. McCoy has retired and is visiting the moon, Uhura is being held for contempt of court, Sulu is in a bar fight on Rigel VIII when he and Chekov are not flying the only vessel that will take them on, and Spock has also resigned after being busted to an ensign. Part Two tells the story of "The Last Mission," and what happened on Talin IV, ending with the destruction of both the "Enterprise" and an entire world in

best first chapter i've ever read

I have never read a more moving and powerfull first chapter then the one in this book. The book kinda loses some its luster after that but is still a very good story, that first chapter is a hard act to follow. The captain is dishonored and the crew is dispersed, what happened?. The story is told in both the present(trek, that is) where variouse crew try to cope with the disintigration of their starfleet careers and flashbacks to the past where the disaster happened. good stuff.

Simply the Best

This is the best Star Trek novel I ever read. The best Sci-fi novel. It's one of the best BOOKS I ever read!The storytelling is superb, absolutely moving. The Reeves-Stevens have outdone themselves again this time. It does not get any better than this.

The best I've read so far.

I have yet to find a book by Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens that I don't like. They've got it down to an art. I loved the way each member of the crew had their own story in this. All were tied together but they each had to make their own way back to the final regrouping of the whole crew. I have to admit that I read this book and immediately read it again. You always get something new out of a book or a movie the second time around. This was an excellent book and I would recommend it and all of the authors books to everyone.