The STAR TREK ASHES OF EDEN

Part I of the Kirk Saga. The beginning novel of the greatest Star Trek saga ever written.

Like many great sagas out there the first chapter tends to be the best, and Ashes of Eden proves that theory to be true. The finale of the 10 part Kirk Saga "Captain's Glory" is absolutely superb too, but that review is on another webpage. Anyway, I read this book originally when I was 15 years old when it came out and couldn't put it down. I have recently reread Ashes of Eden as well as its two counterparts "The Return" and "Avenger." (these three novels make up the first trilogy entitled "The odyssey").

This time around I enjoyed Ashes of Eden ten fold. Not only is the book fast paced, full of action, and actually more of a love story, it has many things that trek fans love. Great interaction between the original crew, the Excelsior in action, and the true fate of the U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-A.

If you have never read a Shatner Kirk novel YOU MUST START WITH THIS ONE! William Shatner does a marvelous job building on each novel and when the day comes you finally read the concluding chapter "Captain's Glory", you will be grateful you read them all in order. There are 9 novels totaling the Kirk Saga.

Again, Star Trek Ashes of Eden is a superb novel and arguably one of the greates Star Trek novels ever printed. 10/10 A+.

Civilian Kirk Captains the Enterprise Again

This is the first Star Trek novel that William Shatner collaborated on. He has since collaborated on others and written many on his own, in addition to the successful Tek Wars, which was made in to a TV series. I read the original hardback version, which is now out of print.

Here we find a retired, now civilian, James Kirk in a new adventure to save an independent planet recognized by the Federation, but claimed by both the Romulan and the Klingon Empires. Kirk is once again asked to become the Captain of the Enterprise.

But the Enterprise is no longer a Federation Ship. She has now been decommissioned and stripped of much of her equipment, too top-secret to be allowed on a now-civilian vessel. The vessel has been bought by an independent planet, Chal, and handed to Kirk, for his new assignment. That assignment is unclear at first, but the full story gradually is revealed, and Kirk finds himself on a different adventure than he first imagined.

Kirk's former crew under Captain Sulu get caught up in a high-level plot to undermine the whole Federation, and the trail leads right to the top. A showdown occurs at the planet Kirk has been contracted to save, where Kirk's former crew are pitted against Kirk and his new planetary defense force.

Kirk finds himself facing down the Commander in Chief of the Federation, who shows up to join his special team, Sulu and crew, in a new twist of this strange scenario developing on planet Chal. Kirk in his new role on behalf of Chal, is captain of the private, remiliatarized Enterprise as a defense ship for the almost defenseless planet.

A secret treasure of information on the planet holds a key to interpreting this mystery, unexpected even by the beleaguered inhabitants who invited Kirk to develop a defense for them.

Surprisingly well rounded

Firstly, I love William Shatner, he is just someone I enjoy watching--he clearly takes a great deal of enjoyment from what he does also. The same is true to this book, it is at times easy to see through the prose to perhaps other more personal moments, as it is hard to seperate Kirk from Shatner--and it makes interesting reading to ponder what Shatner is thinking and saying though his most famous character.

I was impressed, first and foremost at how well he utilized the other characters. Chekov is given impressive amounts of page time, Spock and McCoy are well written and Scotty is the only member of the original crew who accompanies Kirk on his crazy mission (loyalty to the Enterprise afterall). I agree with one of the other reviewers, that perhaps this was Shatner's olive branch to James Doohan. The characters have several thoughtful conversations where Kirk admits to himself that he has often not listened to Scotty as he should have.

The plot isn't an end of the world one, its Kirk in the middle of an extreme midlife crisis, along with a good old dose of rivalry (an old Academy classmate of Kirk's who is now head of Starfleet). I did find at times that I felt the book was a little too long and so skimmed someof the more descriptive scenes.

The book is very thoughtful, even though it does have some action moments too, but it ties in huge amounts of the Trek Universe (I'm guessing alot of this is the work of Shatner's helpmates). It is also more thought provoking than most of the trek books out there.

I really enjoyed this book as of the original series books I have been reading so far this has some of the BEST characterizations I have seen. (I really was expecting alot more of Kirk in a blaze of glory but instead Kirk is a very well layered and human character, with very noticable flaws,more so than on film it seems)

Another opinion of 'Ashes of Eden'

'Ashes of Eden' is an interesting read. What's refreshing is:
This is NOT a 'save the universe' story nor a 'galactic civil war'. It well describes an older, but 'not retired from life' Capt.Kirk. A life he tries to adapt to immediately after hanging up the uniform. I enjoyed the written personal touches Shatner added and he really keeps Kirk in true form. Book reads as 2 stories, blending into one. We see our familiar chars from the original series, albeit on separate courses, eventually all coming to one. I could not put this book down. It is Kirks' attempt to be happy not realizing he is to be involved in one more 'grand adventure'.
Interesting to me was some elements of 'Star Trek VI' movie are adapted. You'll see as you read.
This would have been neat to see filmed as 'Star Trek VII' for it follows the natural timeline.

Ties in the original journeys from the series to the films!

This is definately one of the best Star Trek (original Crew) books I've ever read. Time & time again, the book continues to make references to major occurances that have happened in the Star Trek Universe past (U.S.S. Farragut, V'ger, David Marcus' death, Camp Khitomer...etc.) & relates them to the present day issue occurring in the book. If your a big fan of the first 6 films, you'll love how that material fits into the material of this book & how it relates to what Kirk now faces. I'm no Super-Trekkie who's read over 40 Star Trek books (I've probably read 4 or 5), but if your looking to read only one or perhaps your 1st, make it this one!