by Jane | Aug 25, 2017 | Write Here Write Now
In the first two volumes of These Are the Voyages TOS, Marc Cushman spent a lot of time describing what went into producing each episode of Star Trek (the Original Series), as well as how it first got onto the air. The third volume also describes each episode and how it was produced, but much of the book is devoted to what went wrong.
Everyone agrees that the third season of Star Trek was the worst, containing the largest number of bad episodes, including “And the Children Shall Lead,” “Spock’s Brain,” and “Let That Be Your Last Battlefield.” So, what went wrong? Most people know of Gene Roddenberry’s fights with NBC, and Paramount was no friend of his either. Lucille Ball, head of Desilu, supported the show, but once her studio was bought out by Paramount, that support disappeared.
There were two main issues that affected the third season. First was the time slot. NBC had promised Roddenberry a prime slot on Tuesday nights but later took it away and gave it to Laugh-In, pushing Star Trek to 10:00 on Fridays, a very bad time. For that slight, Roddenberry basically left the show. He contributed to a few early scripts and story ideas, but as the season drew on and on, he became less and less involved, devoting his time to other projects. He did, however, make it clear to the production staff that he wanted them to eliminate the humor which had been in many of the first and second season episodes, and to make the show more serious. This could have been one of the worse things he did, as most Star Trek fans agree that the humor really added to the show. Interestingly, both “The Trouble With Tribbles” and “Shore Leave” were slated for sequels, but they never made it to script.
But Roddenberry wasn’t the only one to leave. Gene Coon, who had produced much of Seasons 1 and 2 (and had introduced much of the humor) had already left, and he was joined by story consultant and writer D.C. Fontana and producer John Meredith Lucas from Season Two. The new producer was Fred Freiberger, who had many credits to his name, but no experience in science fiction.
The second issue was the budget. Even though Star Trek had had trouble keeping within its previous budget, Paramount reduced it even more. The corridors of the Enterprise were empty because they couldn’t afford extras, corners were cut on special effects, and scenes that should have been reshot, weren’t. Overtime and falling behind schedule was frowned upon so much that one director was fired in the middle of filming an episode. Others with experience on Star Trek were black-listed for similar reasons, and directors were brought in simply to keep the production on time with little regard for quality. Many of these not only had no experience with Star Trek, but with science fiction at all. And add to this the fact that NBC wanted more people in the corridors, more shows on the planet’s surface, and more action-adventure, all of which cost money.
So, in summary there was a producer with no experience in science fiction, many directors with no experience with science fiction, and believe it or not, many of the writers had no experience in science fiction. Plus, there was a war between Paramount and NBC on issues involving money, with the production staff caught in the middle. Season 3 was doomed for disaster.
Having said all this, all the episodes were not bad, some being quite entertaining. Some of my favorites were “The Paradise Syndrome,” “Wink of an Eye,” and “Day of the Dove,” although the author points out many problems with these as well. Other people may agree, but I’m sure there were some episodes that they would find enjoyable. It was also an interesting season which included the first televised interracial kiss and the only real romance for Dr. McCoy.
Something else I noticed was that the storylines of some of the clunkers really weren’t that bad to start out with. But with the desertion of Roddenberry and the financial constraints, it was next to impossible to have a season anywhere near as good as the first two. As to the cancellation, I had originally heard it was the expense, and NBC tried to say it was the ratings, though ratings stayed pretty much the same as the first two seasons, usually in at least second place for the time slot. Based on what I read in this book (and the previous two volumes), I don’t think NBC had any intention of renewing Star Trek for a fourth season. It was their extreme dislike for Gene Roddenberry.
We’re just very lucky that Star Trek fandom was so strong to allow its rebirth into a slew of movies and series, the newest series to premiere this September on CBS All Access. I hope you’re all as excited as I am.
by Jane | Aug 7, 2017 | Write Here Write Now
Astrophysics for People in a Hurry by Neil deGrasse Tyson is a short little book (about 200 pages) with chapter titles such as “Let There Be Light,” “Dark Energy,” and “Between the Planets.” Even though I have never taken a Physics class, I am fascinated by Einstein’s Theory of Relativity, the Big Bang Theory, and the science which guides the planets. Tyson’s book was created for people like me. From the largest stars to the smallest particles, Tyson helps us to understand the universe. He writes well and as simply as possible, given the subject matter.
That said, you can’t read this book like a novel. If you try, you will most probably get lost. I had to read several sections two or three times. But then I had it. I feel that other popular science books, like those by Carl Sagan or Stephen Hawking, may be easier to read, but Tyson covers so much, it’s worth having to read it a few times to absorb it.
This book is jam-packed with information. Tyson’s explanations of quantum physics, dark matter, and dark energy are the clearest I’ve ever seen. If you’re at all interested in this area of science, pick it up. In a hurry.
by Jane | Jul 27, 2017 | Write Here Write Now
Spectral is a Netflix movie set in the near future. Soldiers in a war zone in eastern Europe encounter a mist, roughly human-shaped, which is extremely fast and kills on contact. What’s more, it seems to be indiscriminant in its killing — civilians and children are not exempt.
These creatures (or entities) are only visible with special UV googles and cameras. The military brings in an engineer from a company specializing in military weapons and equipment. He discovers there are several of these things, which the locals refer to as “ghosts of war.”
This is an interesting concept, though not as well-developed as I would like. The first part of the film moves quite slowly, with not enough tension or scary moments. It gets a little more interesting when they finally discover the nature of the ghosts of war.
But I think the big problem is not enough buy-in. Usually, in this type of film, there are a few scenes at the beginning where we get to know the characters, so that we care what happens to them. There was none of that.
Also, they missed the boat on inter-character conflict. There was a scene where the soldiers are hostile toward the engineer coming on board. It is resolved much too quickly. In addition, there is a woman working on the problem who opposes the engineer’s ideas, but there is not enough made of that, or the fact that she is the only woman.
Good try, Netflix, but you can do better.
by Jane | Jul 18, 2017 | Write Here Write Now
Five Stories High is a collection of weird tales, edited by Jonathan Oliver. They are loosely connected through a linking narrative by the editor about a house called Irongrove Lodge. They all involve weird happenings in a grand 5-story English house, though none of them are actually connected. The first is kind of a “pod people” tale, in which the protagonist starts to believe that his aunt isn’t really his aunt. In another, there are several ghosts working against each other — and the current occupants.
The book cover calls these stories “terrifying.” I wouldn’t go quite that far, but they are unsettling. Oliver has managed to gather together stories from five different authors that will make you shiver, and think twice about buying all or part of a 5-story house in England. A lot of fun.
by Jane | Jul 11, 2017 | Write Here Write Now
Anne Rice’s latest book is Prince Lestat and the Realms of Atlantis, the newest in The Vampire Chronicles. In this book, the vampires, led by Lestat, become aware of some beings on the Earth who look human but are neither human nor vampire. The vampires fear that the beings want to harm them and take action to prevent that, but run into problems when they discover just how powerful the beings are.
But they also discover that the beings are fascinated by Amel, the spirit responsible for vampirism, who now resides in Lestat. It turns out the new creatures, who call themselves the People of the Purpose, have come to Earth with a mission. The question is how their mission will affect the vampires and Amel.
Anne Rice is an amazing writer — she really pulls you into her stories. I also applaud her for including in this book a prologue, a glossary, and an appendix of person and place names. These are really useful if you haven’t kept up with all the books or have forgotten important points. I also like the way she varies point-of-view between various vampires and People of the Purpose.
Though I’ve only read of few of the Vampire Chronicles books, I thoroughly enjoyed Prince Lestat and the Realms of Atlantis. For those who have read all the books, it provides answers to many questions raised previously, which fans should appreciate. A win all the way around.
by Jane | Jun 30, 2017 | Write Here Write Now
The Edge of the Blade by Jeffe Kennedy is second in the series The Uncharted Realms. Jepp, a scout and a warrior for the Thirteen Kingdoms, finds herself in the unlikely role of an ambassador on her way to the far-away land of Dasnaria. However, she is not going there on just a diplomatic mission — she is there to spy.
Further complicating the situation is that the man transporting her across the sea in his ship Hakyiling, General and Imperial Prince Kral of Dasnaria, is also her lover. But coming from a very different society, where men are dominant and women little more than chattle, their relationship is a rocky one.
The situation becomes even more difficult when they arrive at the Imperial Palace in Dasnaria, where Jepp faces opposition from Kral’s brother the Emperor, as well as his female relatives, all of whom want something from her. And separated from Kral, her only ally, Jepp doesn’t know where to turn.
Full of intrigue, action, and sex, The Edge of the Blade is an excellent read. In addition to The Uncharted Realms series, Jeffe Kennedy is also the author of The Twelve Kingdoms series which precedes it. As much as I’ve enjoyed The Edge of the Blade, I might check those out as well.
by Jane | Jun 21, 2017 | Write Here Write Now
Dark Matter is a Syfy TV show I just discovered on Netflix. In the pilot, the six crew members of the ship Raza wake up from statis with no memory. Since they don’t know who their names, they reference each other by the order in which they woke up. (So, the first to awaken is known as One, the second is Two, and so forth.) They check the data banks of their ship to try and discover their identities, but it has been wiped clean. Even the android on board has no memory — in fact, when she first meets the reawakened crew, she tries to kill them as intruders.
Interestingly, although they have no memories of their pasts, they find that there are certain skills they have each retained — for instance, Four is an excellent swordsman, Five is good at electronics, and Two is a natural leader. Eventually, they discover that they are space pirates, wanted for many crimes, up to and including murder. But not all of their personalities fit that profile. Only Three seems to have any ruthlessness in him, although others have no hesitation fighting and killing when necessary.
Little by little, and through a variety of means, they uncover things about themselves, and much of that helps to explain who they were before they came out of statis. What I find really interesting is that it touches on that old psychological question of nature vs. nurture. In other words, how much of who the crew of the Raza was is based on their experiences and to what extent were they just born that way?
I’ve reported on several genre TV series in this blog, but I honestly think this is the best. It combines action, psychology, important themes, and complex characters. It also has an arc through which the characters continue to grow as the universe changes around them. If you haven’t seen it, catch up on Netflix, then join Season 3 now airing. You’ll have a great time.
by Jane | Jun 13, 2017 | Write Here Write Now
The last book in Terry Goodkind’s second Sword of Truth series is entitled Warheart: Sword of Truth: The Conclusion. I won’t go into details about the plot because it would involve a lot of spoilers, especially in light of the ending of the previous book, Severed Souls. But true to the title, this book provides a satisfying ending to the story, incorporating elements not only from this series, but also from the previous one, thus linking together all that ever happened to Richard Rahl.
One thing I’ve always liked about Terry Goodkind is the fact that he gives enough reminders in each book that a reader can pick one up in the middle of the series and still enjoy it. I’m hard pressed to say that about this one. With all the references all the way back to the first book, I can’t see how someone just picking up on this series could enjoy it. I had some problems remembering certain things about the previous series, and I’ve read all the books.
However, Goodkind stayed true to the characters, writing in his inimitable style, which always keeps me entertained. More importantly, he pulled everything together. All the loose ends of this series are tied up. Some people are lost, others found, but the land of D’Hara survives. Bravo!
by Jane | May 29, 2017 | Write Here Write Now
The Supernaturals by David L. Goleman tells the tale of a haunted house in Pennsylvania. One of Professor Gabriel Kennedy’s research assistants disappeared there several years earlier during his investigation at the house. Accused of foul play by Damien Jackson of the PA State Police (though nothing was proven), he lost his job at a prestigious university and landed at a small college.
Now, a young producer and sometime on-screen personality, Kelley Delaphoy, wants to revisit the infamous Summer House for a marathon live special on Halloween night. Once contacted, Kennedy agrees to participate, but only if he can bring his team of mystics, whom the media dub “the Supernaturals.”
There is antagonism for the project, not only from Detective Jackson, but also from a rival of Kelley’s at the network, and from the owner of the property, who is renting it out just to make a buck. Then, of course, there are the entities at the house. Who are they? What do they want? Are lives in danger?
This is a great book, often reminding me of Stephen King’s early work. Goleman takes us on a wild ride, milking the conflicts for all they’re worth, exploring the backgrounds of, and relationships among, the Supernaturals, and moving us toward a revelation about the haunting. I don’t know how I’ve missed Goleman’s work up to now, but more of his books will definitely be on my reading list going forward.
by Jane | May 22, 2017 | Write Here Write Now
The Heart of What Was Lost, a new novel by Ted Williams, is a sequel to Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn, a 4-book series completed in 1994. At the end of the series, an evil being known as the Storm King was defeated by humans and their fairy-like allies the Sithi. The Storm King’s allies, the Norn, cousins to the Sithi, have retreated back to their Northern lands.
The current book has the mortals, with one Sithi advisor, chasing the Norns into their territory to prevent them from ever attacking them again. It follows the human leader Isgrimmur, along with two soldiers and new friends, Porto and Endri. But we also learn of the Norns’ Viyeki the Builder, who is fighting his own fight, not just against the human threat, but also against secrets being kept from him about his own people.
Going back and forth between the two groups of people shows us how every conflict has two sides and how individuals on both sides just want to protect themselves, their families, and their people. There is plenty of action, intrigue, and character development, and magic abounds. And though there are losses on both sides, there is an ending to satisfy even the most discriminating reader.
I have not read the original series, so I can’t speak as to how The Heart of What Was Lost compares or does justice to Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn. However, I can tell you that it is a good story. I like Tad Williams. His shorter books, like The Heart of What Was Lost, are jam-packed and show that it doesn’t take a lot of words to tell a good tale. Whether or not you’ve read the original, you should pick it up.
