Star Trek III: The Search for Spock

Probably going about this all wrong, but I much prefer to read the novelisations of the Star Trek films - I think I've only actually seen The Wrath of Khan, and not even the whole of that! Anyway, at least I could imagine Kirstie Alley as Saavik, and not the replacement actress with the mullet. An enjoyable story too, focusing on the original cast - Kirk and Spock, Bones and Spock, Uhura, Chekov and the rest, plus an honorary mention for Saavik. And at least Kirk has a reason to be depressed here, and isn't just going through a midlife crisis a la The Motion Picture. Vonda McIntyre does a far better job of translating this film than 'Gene Roddenberry' (or his ghost writer) did with the first, capturing the essence of the characters without drowning the dialogue in introspection. ( )

Not bad for a novelization of the movie. The movie wasn't that great, but the book is a bit better. Standard Star Trek fiction. ( )

Essentially a "filler" novel between "The Wrath of Khan" and "The Voyage Home", this novelization of the third Star Trek movie is competently done and adequately exciting. Kirk learns that McCoy is harboring Spock's Katra, and he (and his loyal crew) sacrifice their careers to hijack the Enterprise and head back to the Genesis planet, where Kirk's son is killed by Klingons and they retrieve Spock's rejuvenated body to head back to Vulcan for the reunification of body and Katra. Short but fine, with a touching resolution. ( )