Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home [novelization]

McIntyre's novelization of what is arguably the most popular of the original-cast Star Trek movies feels oddly flat, dragging in the opening sections and wandering off on tangents that ultimately go nowhere (such as the backstory of the garbagemen who inadvertently saw part of the group's arrival in Golden Gate Park).

Possibly the best original subplot of the book deals with McCoy, and his continuing struggles to regain his psychological footing after having been the unwitting host to Spock's katra.

If nothing else, it's a testament to the visuals, pace, and musical soundtrack of the film, which did not transfer well to the written page.

Review by: ExplodeaHippie

Call me an idealist, but there is something about classic Star Trek which has always drawn me. This epic of the final frontier is truly irresistable in a world which seems to shrink every day. Moreover, there is a strangely philosophical tone in the series, where the fundamental truths of human nature and the life we are living hold true in even a frontier like none we have experienced before. To those who enjoy these stories of deep space, whether for the philosophical value or for other reasons, The Journey Home will not disappoint. This witty, wise, and inevitably bizarre installment in the Star Trek series portrays all the favorite characters beautifully as they return to Earth as we know it now. It show more certainly is strange to see those whom we have watched fighting Klingons or navigating alien planets trying to cope with 20th century earth..(What does it mean, exact change?), but they still are the same old Spock, McCoy, Scotty, and Kirk as we know and love. Their bewilderment at 20th century San Francisco seems to mirror my own, anyways. Spock inspires some good laughter, at any rate, and Scotty and Chekov are always good to watch. The captain is as charming as ever, and the end leaves any Trekkie quoting Chekov. I don't think it would leave any non-Trekkies. Live long and Prosper...

Review by: defying gravity

I love this movie amazing quirks and remarks by the ingenious Spock and its back in time completely foreign as Star Trek time is to ours. I think the actors did a great job and it is my favorite Star Trek movie yet!!!!! Live long and prosper..... and to my fellow trekkie explodeahippie(cough Aisha cough) "I feel fine" show less

Quite possibly the best of the Star Trek movies, this novelization has the crew heading back to Earth to face trial for their actions in rescuing Spock. Meanwhile, Earth is attacked by a superpowerful probe come to investigate the absence of the whales, which are now extinct. Upon arrival Kirk and crew slingshot around the sun to go back in time to present-day Earth and retrieve a breeding pair of whales to bring back to his own time. Fast-paced, well-written and entertaining, the book satisfies as much as the movie did. Also with some welcome humor, rare to the franchise.

I grabbed this at my local used bookstore because I remember liking McIntyre's novelizations of The Wrath of Khan and The Search for Spock, when I read them in my teens. I don't know whether it's just that I'm 20 years older (likely), or this one just isn't quite as good(possible), but it left me pretty flat. It was an entertaining two or three day read, but it didn't offer much beyond what was in the movie.

Insult to injury, I tried to sell it back a week after I bought it and they wouldn't take it. Bastards!

Meh. I don't remember/ follow along with much of what I see in movies, so it was good to get caught up in the (largely implausible & weird) events of this movie (and the preceding one, as lots of backstory was included here) by reading this book. Unforuntately, it just wasn't meaningful or resonant. I didn't feel as the author really cared, and I didn't gain a further understanding of the inner lives of the characters, either principal or supplementary. It's just a chapter in the history.

Once more.....

I really love McIntyre's telling of the Trek - both movies and her own books (Entropy Effect, in particular). I was recently working my way streaming the movies - and was on STIV... until 12/31 and the movies went offline, so... I picked up my e-book copy and finished the story. Next up, The Voyage Home.

I was interested to find that the set-up--explaining what happened to Saavik, et cetera--took a huge chunk of the book. The actual action went quickly and there was little additional plot shoved in.