Double, Double

The book was listed in like new condition but it has a water damaged cover and water warped pages, a spine broken in multiple places, and many scuffed edges. It is good at best. But to add insult to injury, even though I paid only about $6, it had a $1 price sticker on it.

I've been looking forward to this book for a while, as Michael Jan Friedman's first Star Trek novel, and I wasn't disappointed.Several years after Captain Kirk found, destroyed, and covered up the android machinations of one Dr. Korby, the androids have returned, determined to fulfill Korby's dream of android humanity. An android duplicate of Kirk is created, and his goal is to dispose of his original and to capture the Enterprise.This novel has conspiracy, intrigue, Romulans, and most importantly, some good knock-down, drag-out fistfights... all elements of what classic Trek storytelling is all about. Get it, read it, and enjoy!

This book is a sequel to the episode "What Are Little Girls Made Of?", and it surpasses the episode that is its inspiration on all counts. Its plot moves more smoothly, it has more consistent and plausible characterization, and is just generally a very good story, very well told.

Remember the TV episode "What Are Little Girls Made Of?" Well, in this adventure Roger Korby's android assistant, Dr. Aaron Brown resumes the plans of the Creator (Korby) to populate the galaxy with androids, replacing the human race! (This Brown is presumably the second one Korby created, because the first Brown was destroyed in the episode). Brown creates an evil duplicate of Captain Kirk determined to control the U.S.S. Enterprise. Brown and "Kirk" lure a starship to planet Exo III where they lure the captain and other crew members down where they are duplicated and killed. A series of subplots take place on the Enterprise during this time, although the two plots meet when, in a mysterious case of mistaken identity, the human Kirk is caught in a wave of violence during shore leave on "Tranquility Seven" and his android counterpart takes control of the Enterprise. The name "Tranquility Seven" is almost a paradox given all the violence there. I don't want to spoil the book's plot, but it is a fast, mostly excellent read. The parts on Tranquility Seven might seem a little too violent for the '60s show (Kirk and McCoy get thrashed pretty badly), but the battle scenes at the end with the Romulans are a good way to finish the book. Also good character development with Christine Chapel and Dr. Brown, who is more humane than the android Kirk.

For a book dealing with evil twins, this one's pretty darn good. It's a sequel to a weak-but-fun first season episode. Read it for excitement and fun.

This just has to be my favorite Michael Jan Freidman novel. The mood, ambiance and pace are consistent with classic `Star Trek' It would have made an excellent two part episode; an end of season cliffhanger with murder, mayhem, conspiracy, a touch of intrigue and the odd space battle. Kirk squares off against his android double. You see the androids want to replace their flesh and blood counterparts and maintain an orderly universe. With sentient beings changed into androids they can be programmed for the better `Can you imagine how life can be improved if we could do away with jealousy . . . greed. . .hate.' Not as naff as it sounds. A good read.