Book #126: Star Trek (2009) by Alan Dean Foster

Star Trek (2009)

Alan Dead Foster

Released: December 1st, 1996

My 56th book for 2025 was J.M. Dillard’s "Star Trek (2009).

I remember being in college when I first heard about this movie coming out. My roommate Ed was huge into Star Trek, and we watched a good bit of the original series in the dorm room.

When it finally came out, it was summer time, so I was back home in Frederick, MD. I saw this at the Buckeystown Regal with my friend Stephanie.

In this one, a Romulan ship mysteriously comes out of a black hole and attacks the U.S.S. Kelvin in pursuit of Ambassador Spock. Unbeknownst to the crew, the ship is from the future, and is asking question they would not know the answer to. After Captain Robau is murdered, George Kirk takes over as captain, and sacrifices his life as his wife gives birth to their son James Tiberius Kirk. The story then moves to the present day about 20 years later, where Kirk is seen as a misfit growing up in Iowa. Following a bar fight, he is talked into joining Starfleet. Once he gets in, he continues his bad boy streak, and becomes notorious for causing trouble. We witness the legendary scene where he becomes the only Starfleet cadet to ever defeats the Kobayashi Maru simulation. As he is being charged for ethical violations, an emergency is declared, and the fleet races to save Vulcan from attack. Kirk is denied entry, but is snuck on board by his new friend Leonard "Bones" McCoy. En route, Kirk discovers they are walking into a trap, and despite risking his career, warns the captain. Upon their arrival, Captain Pike is taken by the Romulans, leaving Spock in charge, and Kirk promoted to First Officer. Spock and Kirk fight over they best route to go, and ultimately Kirk is kicked off the Enterprise and left marooned on a remote planet. He meets Ambassador Spock there and a younger Scotty, who help him return to the Enterprise, and take control back from Spock, in order to save Captain Pike, and save the Earth from ultimate destruction.

There's a lot going on in this one. First, it's great to see the original crew back together on the big screen, despite being played by younger actors. The personalities match well, and the book reads like a classic Star Trek adventure. We even see some different things such as Kirk's feelings for Uhura, Sulu's fencing skills, and even how Scotty came to be with the crew. Chekov is played as a very young man who faces different challenges as he adapts to working on a starship.

Kirk is the focal point here, and the story is ultimately about how he came to be captain of the Enterprise. We know his history has been altered since he grew up without a father, and became sort of a misfit. Spock portrays ultra logic, and rules with a seemingly iron Vulcan fist. McCoy is just as paranoid as ever, projecting human emotion into the mix, as we see a younger version of the Kirk-Spock-McCoy dynamic that has not been present since 1991's Undiscovered Country. Uhura also plays a large role in this one, resisting Kirk's advances, and outranking a lot of the crew with her advanced communication skills.

It's a good introduction story, and plays out well. It's a great return to form for classic Star Trek characters. All we need now is some Harry Mudd.

Here is what I learned:

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For Bjo and John Trimble. Because hospitality is forever and so are memories…

Spock was named after a respected early society-builder on Vulcan.

Captain Pierre Robau commands the U.S.S. Kelvin.

The Federation has not had contacts with the Romulans in over 53 years.

George Kirk receives a field promotion to Captain of the Kelvin.

Winona Kirk is George’s wife. She is pregnant with their son James.

Robau does not know of Ambassador Spock.

The Stardate is 2234.04.

Winona escapes on medevac shuttle 34.

George’s father is Tiberius.

Winona’s father is named James.

James Tiberius Kirk is named after both grandfathers.

Jim Kirk has brown eyes like his mother.

Frank is Jim’s stepfather.

George Kirk Jr. is Jim’s brother.

Jim nearly kills himself by driving his stepfather’s Corvette off a cliff and into a rock quarry.

The Science Institute is the most prestigious institute of higher learning on Vulcan.

No Vulcan has ever turned down after being accepted to the Vulcan Science Academy.

The Shipyard Bar is a favorite of the majority of Starfleet cadets.

Jim’s father didn’t believe in no-win scenarios.

Kirk’s aptitude tests were off the charts.

“Tell me, Kirk—d’you like being the only genius-level repeat offender in the Midwest?”

George Kirk was captain of a starship for 12 minutes and saved 800 lives.

Dr. Leonard McCoy suffers from aviaphobia which is a fear of flying.

McCoy has been married before.

His wife took everything in the divorce.

Kirk successfully beat the Kobayashi Maru.

Kirk is accused of violating Regulation 17.4.3 pursuant to the Starfleet Ethical Code of Conduct due to academic dishonesty.

“I don’t believe in no-win scenarios.”

“Given the available parameters, there’s no way of saving the Kobayashi Maru and its crew and passengers. So the only way to win is to alter the parameters.

Hikaru Sulu replaced Helmsman McKenna due to a case of lungworms.

The Star City Conservatory is located just outside Moscow.

T’Kul is the Vulcan system’s third world.

Kirk and Spock have both lost a parent to Nero.

Kirk was abandoned on Delta Vega.

Ambassador Spock is 129 years older than the younger Spock.

"Are you out of your Vulcan mind? And I don't mean by projecting it. I have to ask: Have you done the logical thing by expelling James Kirk from this ship? Probably. The right one? Debatable. One thing I know for damn sure: That kid doesn't know how to lose. Just isn't in his DNA. No matter how difficult the situation in which he happens to find himself, no matter how seemingly impossible the odds, hes going to find a way to come out on top. You, of all people, should know that."