Ex Machina

Christopher Bennett's "Ex Machina (Star Trek: The Original Series)" is quite simply the best Star Trek novel I've come across in a long, long time. Not only is it a superb sequel to both "Star Trek: The Motion Picture" and the series episode "For the World is Hollow and I have touched the Sky", but it is that rarity in "Star Trek" fiction: an admirable piece of writing which rises close to what I expect from superb science fiction literature. Bennett not only excels in his world-building - creating a believable history of the Fabrini, especially during their journey in the multi-generational starship Yonada and a truly realistic present which resonates with ample political and religious themes from our own turbulent present - but his is the most believable portrayal I have read of "The Original Series" cast, especially after the momentous mission chronicled in "Star Trek: The Motion Picture". He excels in his depiction of Kirk, Spock and McCoy as they contend with numerous doubts about their own abilities to succeed in the Enterprise's first official Starfleet mission after the V'Ger incident; Kirk must resolve whether he is still able to serve effectively as a superb Starfleet starship captain and his lingering guilt in taking command of the Enterprise away from his protege Captain Willard Decker; Spock must wrestle with his conflicting emotions and keen desire to adhere to Vulcan logic following his mindmeld with V'Ger; McCoy doubts whether he is fit to serve as the Enterprise's Chief Medical Officer. I hope Bennett writes yet another "Star Trek" novel featuring the same literary excellence I have found in "Ex Machina".

Ex Machina is Star Trek for Star Trek lovers. This is, quite simply, the best work of its kind written by a true fan-someone who knows and loves Star Trek. From the very beginning, it is obvious that author Christopher L. Bennett has thought through his work. He has thought through the character motivations, the unstated aspects of "Star Trek: The Motion Picture", and the rich potential of Star Trek's history. On a personal note, I love the fact that somebody else finds "Star Trek: The Motion Picture" as remarkable a film as I did. The first Star Trek movie is often panned as boring or too intellectual. Chris Bennett plainly agrees with me that "Star Trek: The Motion Picture" is a work of great depth and breadth; and I am pleased to report that Bennett lives up to this commitment to quality in Star Trek with his own commitment to the characters, the plot, and the world of Star Trek in Ex Machina. Chris Bennett looks beneath the surface of things in Ex Machina, and there is where he shows us the rich detail of Star Trek. He shows us a James T. Kirk who is thoughtful and reflective. Kirk is troubled by the manner in which he reclaimed the center seat of Enterprise. He becomes troubled by the seeming success he enjoyed on so many occasions throughout the original Star Trek series. The admiral begins to consider the idea that his whirlwind involvement with many new cultures and many and diverse dilemma do not reflect a mature commitment to problem solving. Indeed, the focus of the story is the return of a problem he once felt solved-the fate of the great asteroid ship Yonada and her people now that the ark has reached its destination and the Oracle has been silenced. Kirk questions the wisdom of his in-and-out involvement with Yonada and other cultures, wherein he caused great upheaval but gave modest consideration to long-term solutions. This theme seems especially appropriate for the English speaking world, given our current situation in Iraq. Bennett gives great attention to Spock's post-V'Ger mindset. I suspect that like me he noticed some things had happened with Spock's character between "Star Trek: The Motion Picture" and "Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan". The emotional aspect of himself that Spock finally seems to find acceptable in his sickbed following his mind meld with V'Ger has become an integral part of his behavior by the start of "The Wrath of Khan." Bennett clearly wanted to fill the gap, and he succeeds admirably. We see that Spock faces some of the problems of the adolescent in that he must grapple with sometimes-overwhelming bursts of feeling; unlike most adolescents, Spock is committed to fully understanding what is happening to him. Bennett plays this journey-or at least the beginning of it-out in a laudable fashion. McCoy gets some attention, too. Bennett shows us a reflective man who is plagued by doubts about his return to Starfleet medicine and his own role in the Yonada venture. Interestingly, Bennett

In recent years, Pocket Books has moved away from just telling stand-alone stories in their Star Trek novels. Instead, they've moved more toward bridging gaps between series and/or movies (The Lost Era), continuing the saga on the printed page (DS9 relaunch) or just expanding the already rich Star Trek universe in new and interesting ways (New Frontier). And every once in a while, there is a novel that gets the best of all those possible worlds. Christopher L. Bennett (no relation to Harve Bennett, he tells us) does that with his first published novel, Ex Machina. The story is a sequel to the events of Star Trek: The Motion Picture and also revists characters and events from Star Trek's third season episode "For the World is Hollow and I Have Touched the Sky." But don't think the references end there--Bennett peppers his novel with homages galore to the animated Star Trek, the entire original series run and many of the best Trek novels published over the years. But don't worry if you're not a devoted Trek fan who will "get" every reference. Bennett slips them the references in a non-invasive way--if you get them, it only adds depth to the great story being told. If you don't, you aren't missing any great details. (One of my favorites is when Bennett has Chekov wonder about a security force composed of telepaths...an homage to Walter Koenig's character on Babylon Five). But fan-friendly references mean little if there isn't a good story to go with it. And there's a good one here. Kirk and company are called to revisit the world first seen in "For the World Is Hollow..." and many of the characters there. One of the themes of the orignal series was Kirk taking on computers--usually those keeping a society of growing or interfering somehow. Kirk would generally overthrow the computer control and then warp off into space. This novel deals with the after effects of those actions in an intersting, meaningful way. The novel also plays a lot with the reputation Kirk has gained not only in Starfleet but on some of the worlds he's visited--for good and bad. The storyline also sees Spock, McCoy and the rest of the Enterprise crew dealing with the aftermath of the events in The Motion Picture. Ex Machina isn't a sequel so much as it's a contiuation of the events begun on TMP. And it's definitely worth the trip. And that's what makes the novel such a pleasure to read--Bennett's take on the characters. He gets all of the original crew right, in the place in their lives they are. Seeing Spock struggle with emotions, Kirk with his role in taking back command of the Enterprise and McCoy in trying to find his place on the ship--all of it works extremely well. Not only that, but Bennett introduces us to some original creations of his own along the way. In short, this novel is an enjoyable read. As you read it, you may be stunned that a novel this assured and thought-provoking can come from a first-time author. If this is Bennett's

"Ex Machina" is one of the best Star Trek books I have read in a very long time. Christopher L. Bennett sets the time frame of this book within the relatively untouched area of time after the events of Star Trek: The Motion Picture and before the events in Star Trek: The Wrath Of Kahn. Along with (finally) finding out what really happened to the V'Ger/Willard Decker/Ilia life form, Mr. Bennett also shows us what became of the Fabrini race of the Star Trek: The Original Series episode "For The World Is Hollow And I Have Touched The Sky". Mr. Bennett really knows his obscure Star Trek alien species, as well. Megarites, Betelguesians, Zaranites, Rhaandarites, Rigellians, Saurians, etc., all have sizeable and important roles in this novel (these aliens were only seen - blink and you'll miss them - in ST: TMP and Star Trek: The Voyage Home). You may want to brush up on your Star Trek: TOS episodic history a bit, for Mr. Bennett mentions events/characters that have been featured in many other Star Trek: TOS episodes. You may also want to consult the Star Trek: TOS novel series "The Lost Years" (especially the novel "A Flag Full of Stars") for characters/events mentioned in this book, as well. It is too bad that authors like Mr. Bennett are not writing for the latest incarnation in the ever-expanding Star Trek universe, Star Trek: Enterprise - Mr. Bennett could really take the Star Trek franchise to new creative heights.

"Ex Machina" is a Star Trek novel that finally salutes TMP's alien races with gusto. In fact, this novel is the "TMP Episode #2" I've been waiting for... for 25 years. Christopher L Bennett 's excellent, fast-paced novel is a highly effective sequel to TMP (and its novelization), and also the poetically-titled episode "For the World is Hollow and I have Touched the Sky". Christopher continues numerous character arcs from TMP (Kirk's guilt and self-doubt; Spock's epiphany about emotions; McCoy's future in Starfleet; even Decker and Ilia's sacrifice) and cleverly links them to important, unfinished business about Natira and the Fabrini (TOS). In addition, the author affectionately continues storylines for Chapel, Uhura, Sulu, Scott, Chekov and Rand, whose aspirations are all barely touched upon in TMP, in ways that are "spot on" and highly logical. Then we learn a little more about Chief DiFalco (TMP), the late Lori Ciana (TMP novelization and "The Lost Years" saga), and even excitable Mr Lindstrom, whom we last saw cleaning up the mess on Landru's planet (TOS). Rounding out the "Ex Machina" cast, we meet almost all of TMP's aliens through individual members recruited to the refitted USS Enterprise by Uhura (just as her counterpart Nichelle Nichols did for NASA) and the late Captain Willard Decker. "Ex Machina" is a page-turner of a novel. Now, maybe I'm biased, but every time Christopher started to do several entertaining paragraphs about the Rhaandarites, or the Saurians, the Megarites, the Betelgeusians, or the Zaranites (based, often, on a single, sometimes-bizarre line or two of descriptive text originally written by the movie's costume designer for TMP's publicity and production notes), I was well and truly hooked, and happy to be reeled in. Various ST comic book lines over the years have sometimes paid visual homage to the odd TMP alien, but they've constantly been overlooked by the ST novels, barring the occasional mention of a Saurian. But Christopher is most generous in the time he spends developing each race, creating some memorable lower decks and bridge characters to populate the Enterprise. *Spring Rain Upon Still Water* the Megarite is a beautiful character, even if she is perhaps TMPs "ugliest" rubber-faced alien. (Doesn't sound very IRIC of me, does it?) Christopher even utilizes Worene, the unique wolfish alien created by actress and stuntwoman Paula Crist (who was barely visible in the rec deck scene of TMP), and he does so to great effectiveness. (Finally, Worene's species has a name; she's an Aulacri!) While I often found myself thinking that "Ex Machina" was a novel I should have written myself, I also acknowledge that Christopher is masterfully efficient in his worldbuilding, particularly his explanations for the whys and wherefores of Rhaandarites, Megarites, Betelgeusians and Zaranites. I'm so very pleased with the ideas he has extrapolated about these aliens. Surely, hopefully, Christopher's worldbuilding in this novel