The Shatnerverse is the informal, fannish nickname given to a series of loosely connected Star Trek novels written by William Shatner, with co-writers Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens. The novels were conceived by Shatner during the filming of Star Trek Generations.[2] Published from 1995 to 2007 by Pocket Books, each novel features Shatner's James T. Kirk in scenarios Den of Geek calls "goofy and self-indulgent", yet Shatner's bluster "is part of his charm".[3]
.jpg) Cover art of Dark Victory | |
| Author | |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Science fiction |
| Publisher | Pocket Books |
| Published | 1995 – 2007 |
| Media type | Print (Hardback) |
| No. of books | 9, 1 tie-in[1] |
Development
editThe series explores James T. Kirk's life after the events of Generations (1994).[2] Created by William Shatner, the novels were co-written by Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens, who were not credited until Captain's Peril (2002).
Simon & Schuster never applied a series brand or name to the novels. The informal title or nickname for the series is "Shatnerverse" which was created by fans and later adopted by unofficial sources.[4][5][6][3] Novels are organized by fans into three trilogies: "Odyssey", "Mirror Universe", and "Totality".[4] The continuity within the series is independent of other Star Trek book lines.
Preserver (2000) was inspired by Shatner's experience following the death of his wife.[7][8]
The related novel, Collision Course (2007), was the launch title of a proposed Star Trek: Academy series but the planned sequels were canceled following poor sales.[9][10]
Novels
editThe books are organized into three unofficial trilogies. Numbering of the novels varies by language and market.
Odyssey
editThe trilogy's name is taken from an omnibus edition originally planed as Science Fiction Book Club exclusive.[11] Academy: Collision Course (2007) ties into The Ashes of Eden (1995).
| Title | Author | Date | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Ashes of Eden | William Shatner | June 1995 | 0-671-52035-0 |
| The Return | April 1996 | 0-671-52610-3 | |
| Avenger | May 1997 | 0-671-55132-9 | |
| Odyssey (omnibus) | September 1998 | 0-671-02547-3 |
Mirror Universe
editNovels set primarily in Star Trek's Mirror Universe.
| Title | Author | Date | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spectre [12] | William Shatner | May 1998 | 0-671-00878-1 |
| Dark Victory | April 1999 | 0-671-00882-X | |
| Preserver | July 2000 | 0-671-02125-7 |
Totality
editAlso known as the Captain Kirk or Captain's trilogy.[3]
| Title | Author(s) | Date | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|
| Captain's Peril | William Shatner, with Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens |
October 8, 2002 | 0-7434-4819-7 |
| Captain's Blood | December 9, 2003 | 0-671-02129-X | |
| Captain's Glory | August 22, 2006 | 0-7434-5343-3 |
Reception
editLibrary Journal reviewed Avenger: "Shatner's team has created a compelling and satisfying morality play with a wiser Kirk and more emotional Spock."[13] Library Journal also reviewed the audiobook version of Spectre, saying: "Shatner does his usual adequate job, offering a melodious reading with a hint of apathy."[14]
L.D. Meagher, whilst writing for CNN, said that Dark Victory was not for the casual fan to get into as it wasn't intended to be a standalone novel and needed to be read as part of the series. He thought though that fans of the book series would be pleased with it.[15]
Publishers Weekly reviewed the audiobook version of Captain's Glory, writing: "Shatner ably embodies the voice of Kirk, but his characterizations of Picard, Riker, Worf and several others are mediocre and pale in comparison to the actors who created them."[16]
Screen Rant noted that the idea of placing Academy: Collision Course within Starfleet Academy is a solid one; however, it falters in its execution.[10] However, Den of Geek wrote the "Shatnerverse" novels are "very goofy and self-indulgent", yet they are a fun continuation of The Original Series.[3] Shatner's bluster "is part of his charm. It's exactly what makes James Kirk so fun".
Related novels
editThe Ashes of Eden graphic novel
editStar Trek: The Ashes of Eden is a 100 page, square-bound, graphic novel by Steve Erwin and Jimmy Palmiotti. Unlike the prose novel, Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens were credited as co-writers. No other Star Trek tie-in novel has been adapted as a graphic novel. Published by DC Comics.
| Title | Author(s) | Pencils | Inks | Date | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Star Trek: The Ashes of Eden | William Shatner, with Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens |
Steve Erwin | Jimmy Palmiotti | May 18. 1995 | 1-56389-235-9 |
Millennium (2000)
editStar Trek: Deep Space Nine – Millennium miniseries explores an alternate-timeline accidentally created by the crew of the Defiant. The series was partially adapted as The Fallen (2000), a third-person shooter video game developed by The Collective. An omnibus edition was published in 2002. The miniseries is not directly linked to the Odyssey or Mirror Universe trilogies, however the Millennium novels include references to Spectre (1998).
| No. | Title | Author(s) | Date | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Fall of Terok Nor | Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens | March 2000 | 0-671-02401-9 |
| 2 | The War of the Prophets | 0-671-02402-7 | ||
| 3 | Inferno | April 2000 | 0-671-02403-5 | |
| Millennium (omnibus) | January 2, 2002 | 0-7434-4249-0 |
Collision Course (2007)
editStar Trek: Academy was intended to be a new flagship series featuring a young Midshipman Jim Kirk. Star Trek: Academy was originally pitched as a new television series for UPN in 2003.[17][18] Shatner and the Reeves-Stevenses rewrote the proposed pilot episode as Collision Course. A sequel novel, Trial Run, was announced in 2007 but was never published.[19] In 2019, a new novel, Third Class, briefly appeared in bookseller listings but no official release date was announced.
Collision Course ties into The Ashes of Eden (1995) and the graphic novel adaptation.
| Title | Author(s) | Date | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|
| Collision Course | William Shatner, with Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens |
October 16, 2007 | 978-1-4165-0397-2 |
Forged in Fire (2007)
editStar Trek: Excelsior – Forged in Fire was planned as the introductory novel of a new flagship series set aboard the Excelsior (NCC-2000) under the command of Hikaru Sulu. Only one novel was published, marketed as part of The Original Series book line. The novel includes references to The Ashes of Eden (1995) and Collision Course (2007).
| Title | Author(s) | Date | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forged in Fire | Michael A. Martin and Andy Mangels | December 26, 2007 | 978-1-4165-4716-7 |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Maddox, James (September 18, 2023). "8 Weird Star Trek Novels That Are Enjoyable To Read - The Return - Garfield Reeves-Steven & William Shatner". Game Rant. Valnet. Archived from the original on November 24, 2023. Retrieved 30 October 2024.
The resulting Shatnerverse (comprising ten novels by Shatner and Judith and Garfield Reeves-Steven) is generally considered non-canon even by novel fans [...]
- ^ a b George, Joe (November 29, 2023). "The Star Trek Stories That Brought Captain Kirk Back to Life to Fight the Borg". Den of Geek. AABBCC. Archived from the original on November 30, 2023. Retrieved 29 October 2024.
- ^ a b c d George, Joe (17 September 2024). "The Star Trek Shatnerverse Still Features the Wildest Version of Captain Kirk Ever". Den of Geek. DoG Tech LLC. Archived from the original on 17 September 2024. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
- ^ a b "Shatner, William". The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction. February 20, 2023. Archived from the original on April 20, 2024. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
- ^ Pascale, Anthony (October 16, 2007). "The Reeves-Stevens Talk Books With TrekMovie.com". TrekMovie.com. SciFanatic Network. Archived from the original on October 17, 2007. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
- ^ Vaux, Robert (April 6, 2021). "Star Trek: The Next Generation - Here's What We Know About the Borg's Bizarre Origins". Comic Book Resources. Valnet. Archived from the original on September 14, 2022. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
a series of novels co-written by William Shatner (which fans have dubbed the "Shatnerverse")
- ^ Associated Press (September 18, 2000). "Grief inspires book". The Daily News (Kentucky). No. 260. Radnor, Pennsylvania: Boone Newspapers. p. 2-B.
- ^ Spelling, Ian (August 26, 2000). "Latest 'Trek' novel reflects life events of author". Reading Eagle. MediaNews Group. p. B8.
- ^ Clery, Adam (June 3, 2020). "10 Scrapped Star Trek Releases You Never Got To See - 8. Star Trek: Academy". WhatCulture. Future plc. Archived from the original on October 28, 2024. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
- ^ a b Rector, Seth (September 8, 2022). "Star Trek: 10 Scrapped Projects That Should Be Revived". Screen Rant. Valnet. Archived from the original on September 9, 2022. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
- ^ William Shatner; Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens (1998). Star Trek: Odyssey. Pocket Books. p. 1072. ISBN 0671025473.
- ^ Pamela Dear (1 January 2000). Contemporary authors: New revision series. Gale / Cengage Learning. p. 373. ISBN 978-0-7876-3095-9.
- ^ "Star Trek: Avenger - Editorial Reviews". Amazon (Library Journal). 1997. Archived from the original on January 11, 2016. Retrieved 29 October 2024.
- ^ Weiss, Charlie. "Star Trek Mirror Universe Saga #1: Spectre - Editorial Reviews". Barnes & Noble (Library Journal). Archived from the original on 29 October 2024. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
- ^ Meagher, L.D. "Reviews - He keeps going, and going ..." CNN. Archived from the original on January 4, 2004. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
- ^ "Star Trek: Captain's Glory". Publishers Weekly. PWxyz, LLC. 2 October 2006. Archived from the original on 27 August 2024. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
- ^ "Oh!! That's What Shatner's 2003 STAR TREK TV Pitch Was About??". Aint It Cool News. June 10, 2011. Retrieved 2024-11-02.
- ^ Pascale, Anthony (August 6, 2007). "Shatner On 'Collision Course' – His Vision Of Kirk and Spock's Early Years + Preview". TrekMovie.com. SciFanatic Network. Archived from the original on October 21, 2012. Retrieved 29 October 2024.
- ^ Shatner, William; Reeves-Stevens, Judith; Reeves-Stevens, Garfield (October 16, 2007). Collision Course. Star Trek: Academy. New York: Pocket Books. pp. 452. ISBN 9781416503965.
External links
edit- Shatnerverse at Memory Alpha
- Shatnerverse series listing at the Internet Speculative Fiction Database
