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Laura (USA: IL) (2009/07/26):
Interesting story in light of the new reboot movie (which I liked very much). The young Jim Kirk in "Best Destiny" is a snotty juvenile delinquent, this time (in part) because his father spends too much time in space. George Kirk takes his son into space with him as a last effort to try to turn the 16 year old around. The transformation into the Kirk of the present occurs when a routine mission turns tragic, and the self absorbed teen comes to understand the value of selflessness through the quiet courage and indomitable spirit of the crew around him. This storyline is interposed with one at the end of Kirk's career, taking place just after the movie where he is captured by Klingons (The Undiscovered Country), and the Federation has decided to retire constitution-class starships in favor of the excelsior-class ones.George Kirk's friend, Captain April, founder of the Federation's starship program, is well drawn and very likeable. I have a couple nits with the book, however. 1. The grown up versions of Kirk, McCoy and Spock are too much like the characters who people the worst of the Star Trek movies (for my taste); you know - theatrical, gloomy (or in Spock's case, stodgy) and predictable. (Kirk - "I am sad and feel useless" but will snarkily pretend to accept growing old and retiring. At the end of the movie - "Now that I saved everyone, I will never retire." That drum has been beat too many times.) 2. Too much of the writing was in flowery prose. For example, at one point, to show the older Kirk's discouragement, the author writes: "The captain's voice lacked its old burn. A lot was missing that could be painted in colors of fire. Was this why men chose to retire? When the fire washed away?" It is unclear from the text whose ponderings we are invading - Kirk's? McCoy's? the narrator's? And this happens too often - ten literary words when clarity would be preferable for sketching the persons she wants us to know better. Despite its style however, the book is worth reading if you'd like to know more about the forces that shaped the Kirk we all enjoyed so much in the series and books.
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