Ouch!
By J&G

Hi Jeff,

Ouch. Sorry you didn’t enjoy the book, but we do hope you’ll be able to correct the record regarding some factual and continuity details.

Quote:
“It has always been my understanding that Kirk and Spock didn’t meet until the day he took command of the Enterprise.”
To the best of our knowledge, their first meeting hasn’t been established in official continuity. (And also to the best of our knowledge, there are no continuity issues between this book and next year’s movie.)

Quote:
“… Spock … was selling a stolen Vulcan artifact in the same club.”
Actually, he wasn’t doing anything of the kind. Please recheck Chapter 17.

Quote:
“Their father is a total drunk…”
This just baffles us. In Chapter 32, Kirk’s dad gets two beers from a cooler when Mallory, the person who helped Kirk get into the Academy, comes to see him, but they don’t even drink them. That chapter also describes Kirk’s father’s record in Starfleet as exceptional, with a list of commendations that runs three pages. And judging from what Kirk’s father does to Sam’s apartment, he’s still got what it takes, steady hands and all.

Quote:
“The idea that Starfleet could be so incompetent is inexcusable.”
Well, that’s certainly what Kirk thinks at the beginning of the book. But by the end, without getting into spoiler territory, when he and the readers realize that Starfleet has been ten steps ahead of him from the beginning, knows who the bad guys are, and has a flotilla in place to take care of business, it seems pretty obvious that Starfleet has been anything but incompetent. In fact, they’ve been pretty darn clever.

Quote:
“You might wonder how they end up in Starfleet – the answer is they must enlist or be sent to a penal colony.”
Again, that’s just not in the book. Chapter 54 explains how Kirk ended up in Starfleet. Chapter 55 explains how Spock ended up in Starfleet. Each makes the decision on his own, with absolutely no coercion involved. Spock’s decision is based on what’s clearly established in “Journey to Babel.” And though official continuity doesn’t have a lot to say about Kirk’s decision to join Starfleet, like most people we treat it as if it’s his calling, one that formed in childhood. (In fact, sharp-eyed readers might catch a little reference to a scene from Prime Directive regarding the moment young Jimmy – and his father -- realize Kirk’s destiny.)

Quote:
“If they were in the Academy at the same time, then why did Spock end up with Captain Pike for several years…”
Hey! That’s not us, that’s official continuity! As the Star Trek Chronology points out, references in several TOS episodes suggest Spock and Kirk were at the Academy at the same time, though the precise year of their enrolment can’t be determined. Given that wiggle room, for the purposes of the story, we chose 2249 which, though it’s not officially established, doesn’t contradict anything that has been established, either. The Chronology also points out that Spock apparently began to serve with Pike before he graduated. That certainly is an unusual situation that’s already established, so we’ll definitely be addressing it during the arc of the Academy stories.

Quote:
“Where is Gary Mitchell in all this?”
Again, that’s not us! As established in “Where No Man Has Gone Before,” Kirk was one of Gary’s instructors. That suggests that Gary entered the Academy after Kirk and, like all the other elements of official continuity having to do with the Academy, we will definitely be including it. Remember, this first book tells the story of how Kirk entered the Academy. There's lots more to come.

At least we can take heart from your comment that a thousand questions will enter the reader’s head, suggesting that we at least achieved having you wonder what will happen next! Maybe that’s what got us the single star!

On a personal note, we’re guessing this might be another opportunity to apologize again to you for inadvertently declining the interview you requested for your book. Our fault entirely, and we remain, as we have told you, available for a make-up interview anytime there might be a second edition, or for any other project.

Thanks for the publicity!

Judy & Gar