How Much for Just the Planet?

(Star Trek 36)
by
John M. Ford

Pocket, October 1987, 253 pp.
ISBN: 0-671-62998-0

Genre: Science Fiction
Subgenre: TV Tie-In
Reviewed: 10/30/2001

Reviewed by: Conan Tigard

Book Cover

Excerpt

"You Think We Can Help?" Kirk Asked...

"You plan against these petty nobles; that is bold," Captain Kaden said, twisting the cap from his fourth bottle of beer. "That is the way of the line-founder and I salute it...but what if we were discovered interfering with your planet? Would not the lightbulbs object?" He looked at the bottlecap in his hand, tossed it aside as if it were hot.

"Lightbulbs?" Pete said.

"Organians," Kirk said. "It's a habit they have.... Well, never mind that. I don't think this should make any difference at all with them. It's not like we're trying to influence your world's decision about the dilithium rights...."

"No," Kaden said quickly.

"Of course not," Pete said.

"Absolutely," Kirk said.

"Nothing like it," Kaden added.

"Well," Kirk smiled. "I'm glad we understand that."

Synopsis

The Jefferson Randolf Smith, a Federation resource exploratory vessel, finds a planet that is rich with dilithium crystals. Before they have a chance to contact Starfleet, the Fire Blossom, an Imperial Klingon commanded by Captain Kaden, also discovers this planet, Diryedee.

The captain of the Jefferson Randolf Smith sends out a distress signal that the Enterprise receives before having to abandon ship with her two other crewmembers to the planet. The Enterprise soon arrives and both the Klingons and Starfleet personnel beam down to the waiting humans that live on the planet. But these are not ordinary humans. They want nothing to do with either the Klingons or Starfleet and have enacted Plan C.

Right from the get-go; things don't go exactly as planned for either of the landing parties, as the inhabitants of the planet often burst out into song, as if they were in a 1940's musical. Are both of the crews getting the run around? Will either of them have the right to farm the dilithium crystals? Will any of them figure out why everything seems to be like one big sitcom?

How Much for Just the Planet? is a science fiction book in the Star Trek world and was written by John M. Ford. It is Star Trek number 36.

Review

How Much for Just the Planet? takes place during the original 5-year mission. This Star Trek is book is a little different from other Star Trek books in that the dialog is fast and clever, and the action is non-stop. Right from the beginning the reader will notice the difference.

This book is more of a comedy that the normal Star Trek book. For a comparison of the type of comedy, see the movie Oscar starring Sylvester Stallone (I love this movie). The book is quick, witty, and a heck of a lot of fun to read. First of all, the title of the book led me to believe that this was not going to be the typical Star Trek book . . . and I was right.

Never one who enjoys reading song lyrics in a book, I usually skip over them, I found myself analyzing why this was happening. Why would the inhabitants of the planet break out into song and dance? One thing I would have liked to know was what the tune was I supposed to be thinking of when I read the lyrics. Some were easy, like the theme to Rawhide, but others I could not figure out.

The last 75 pages or so is a huge well-thought out routine, like in the movie I mentioned above, with multiple misunderstandings that lead to a brilliant piece of comedy. I found myself smiling a lot and actually laughed out loud once! But you may ask yourself, "Is this what Star Trek is really about?" Well, who could ever forget the most popular episode of the original run, The Trouble with Tribbles? Yes, Star Trek can do comedy and it works in this book. I did find Kirk to be a little out of character, but it didn't bother me enough to really be a problem.

So, if you are looking for something a little to the left of the normal Star Trek book, pick up How Much for Just the Planet? and have a laugh on me. 

I rated this book an 8 out of 10.