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
The 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
The books are organized into three unofficial trilogies. Numbering of the novels varies by language and market.
Odyssey
The 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
Novels 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
Also 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
Library 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
The Ashes of Eden graphic novel
Star 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)
Star 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)
Star 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)
Star 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
References
External links
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