Ishmael
by Barbara Hambly
Star Trek (novels) (1985.05), Star Trek (1985.05), Star Trek: The Original Series (23)
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Description
With Spock aboard, a Klingon ship vanishes by travelling into the past, and the Klingons attempt to change the course of history by killing a man who holds a vital key to the future.Tags
Recommendations
Member Recommendations
aulsmith Good Spock time travel stories.
Member Reviews
I am probably supposed to be too cool for Barbara Hambly, who invented Callista, quickest of all Luke's love interests to be nuked by other writers (sorry for getting Wars in your Trek, guys). But I really enjoyed this novel, probably because in so many ways it was very fanfictional. Of course, if it were fanfic, it wouldn't have had all the callbacks to Kirk in the main timeline (unless it was K/S). Or maybe Biddy Stemple would have been Nurse Chapel's (or Uhura's) ancestress and it would have ended on a maybe-Spock-will-finally-love-Chapel (or Uhura - although that is definitely more in the Kelvin timeline than the one this novel is in) note. But I don't care. It paid a lot more attention to the characters as humans and as physical show more beings, and I loved the way Uhura was portrayed in the few scenes where she appeared. 9/10 would read again. show less
Hands down my favorite ST:TOS novel. I still re-read this every few years. You wouldn't think Star Trek could meet Here Comes the Brides successfully, but this ties the two together well. Such a treat for those of us raised on TV westerns AND Star Trek!
During a layover at Starbase Twelve the Enterprise crew investigates suspicious activity surrounding a Klingon ore freighter which seems to be more than it appears. As they follow it into the Tau Eridani Cloud, the Klingon ship suddenly vanishes . . . with Spock still on board. And on Earth in 1867, a frontier businessman encounters an amnesiac stranger in the woods — one with pointed ears and green blood coming from his wounds.
Barbara Hambly's book is unique among the many novels in the Star Trek Pocket Book series. Unlike the others set in the Star Trek universe, Hambly situates many of the events in a different fictional world, that of the ABC television show Here Come the Brides which ran for two seasons in the late 1960s. To be show more honest I'm not a fan of such a conceit (and her insertion of thinly-veiled characters and references from other television shows and sci-fi franchises didn't help), but Hambly makes it work here, thanks to the strength of her characterization and her storytelling skills. There's also an underlying joke in her use of the series that proved rather clever once I understood what it was, and which highlighted the amount of work she put into realizing it. The overall result is somewhat different from most other Star Trek novels, yet it is that difference which makes it such a fresh and enjoyable read. show less
Barbara Hambly's book is unique among the many novels in the Star Trek Pocket Book series. Unlike the others set in the Star Trek universe, Hambly situates many of the events in a different fictional world, that of the ABC television show Here Come the Brides which ran for two seasons in the late 1960s. To be show more honest I'm not a fan of such a conceit (and her insertion of thinly-veiled characters and references from other television shows and sci-fi franchises didn't help), but Hambly makes it work here, thanks to the strength of her characterization and her storytelling skills. There's also an underlying joke in her use of the series that proved rather clever once I understood what it was, and which highlighted the amount of work she put into realizing it. The overall result is somewhat different from most other Star Trek novels, yet it is that difference which makes it such a fresh and enjoyable read. show less
When I was 16, I discovered Star Trek, and wanting more than the 79 episodes I sought out the novels - soon discovering that quality varied wildly, from dead-on characterizations and very good writing to really bad generic sci fi novels couched in ST to make an extra buck. One of the good ones, one of the really, really good ones was by Barbara Hambly - talk about your excellent fanfic! Ishmael is, though I had no idea when I first read it or for a long time after, a crossover story, in which Spock is captured by Klingons and winds up through a sequence of events that make perfect sense if you're a Trekkie back in Seattle of 1867. It was only years later that I discovered (I think because of Bjo Trimble) that the characters he show more encounters in the tiny logging town of Seattle weren't Ms. Hambly's inventions but characters from another TV series: "Here Come the Brides". It was a series starting in 1968, starring Robert Brown, David Soul (yes, that David Soul), Bobby Sherman (yes, that Bobby Sherman) - and Mark Lenard, aka Sarek of Vulcan. (Hence part of the joy of the crossover.) I'd never heard of it, and I don't think I've heard of it since apart from fannish mentions in connection with the book. The wonderful thing is – it's available on Netflix. When worlds collide…
This is one my old favorite comfort books, a perfect Star Trek novel which introduced me to Ms. Hambly – for which I will forgive almost all of the vagaries of the rest of the novel series. This one's a wonder, whether or not you know anything about "Here Come the Brides". show less
This is one my old favorite comfort books, a perfect Star Trek novel which introduced me to Ms. Hambly – for which I will forgive almost all of the vagaries of the rest of the novel series. This one's a wonder, whether or not you know anything about "Here Come the Brides". show less
This is quite probably my favorite Star Trek novel. Spock is aboard a Klingon ship, captive, and manages to send a cryptic message before it disappears into the past. Spock escapes from the Klingons, grievously wounded and amnesiac, in Seattle in the middle of the 1800's. He is found and nursed back to health by Aaron Stemple, an enterpreneur involved in bringing women from the East to be wives for the men of Seattle. Spock takes the name Ishmael, passes as human and settles into their society, until his memory returns at the conclusion. The science-fiction plot itself is original and intriguing, but the most compelling aspect of the book is how much of Spock's hidden personality is revealed, as he adapts to humans, bereft of memory, show more but with his intelligence, dignity and values intact. This more than any other book shows that Spock's more tender sensibilities are not entirely derived from his human half. A must-read for the Star Trek fan. show less
This is a really fun book combining two 1960s TV shows - Star Trek and Here Come the Brides. It starts with the Enterprise at a Starbase when Spock becomes suspicious of some Klingon activity. He has snuck aboard their ship to investigate when the ship leaves and then vanishes, right after the Enterprise receives a puzzling transmission from him. The next time we see Spock he is in 1867 Seattle badly injured, with no memory and no idea how he got there. Spock is rescued and nursed back to health by Aaron Stemple, a local mill owner. Aaron quickly realizes that Spock is not of the Earth but it doesn't seem to make any difference to him. Once Spock has recovered, Aaron gives him the name Ishmael, an identity as his nephew, and a job as show more his accountant. Spock, as Ishmael, begins to get acquainted with the townspeople and build a life. He gets occasional flashes of memory and feels that there is something important that he is supposed to do. I loved seeing Spock's human side come out, as he didn't know to repress it. There is enough of his true self there that his logical mannerisms and speech are evident and create some very humorous moments. One of my favorites is when he and Josh are engaged in a mock battle involving spoons, catapults, tea cups and a lump of sugar. Spock's mental comment to himself is: “and besides, he had no intention of allowing a human to win at this game…”
The setting is Seattle during the time of Here Come the Brides and the characters are all recognizable from the show. The Bolt brothers, some of the women such as Candy, Lottie and Biddy, and Aaron himself. I really enjoyed seeing Spock's unintended influence on them as he simply accepts things that are foreign ideas to them. I loved his complete acceptance of the idea of a woman doctor when it was something nearly unheard of to them, yet his attitude influenced their changing perceptions. His biggest influence ends up being on Aaron himself, who finds himself changing thanks to Spock. There is also an interesting connection between Spock and one of the residents of Seattle.
There is some time spent with the crew of the Enterprise as they work feverishly to figure out what the Klingons are up to and where Spock is. Kirk's worry about his friend and fears that he is dead are a prime motivator for him. His connections enable him to find people/beings who are able to assist him in his search. He is assisted by Bones, Uhura and Sulu as they skate along the edges of the rules. As is usual, they prevail just in the nick of time.
An interesting bit of trivia: In the TV show Here Come the Brides, Aaron Stemple is played by Mark Lenard, the same actor who portrays Spock's father in the TV show and Star Trek movies. show less
The setting is Seattle during the time of Here Come the Brides and the characters are all recognizable from the show. The Bolt brothers, some of the women such as Candy, Lottie and Biddy, and Aaron himself. I really enjoyed seeing Spock's unintended influence on them as he simply accepts things that are foreign ideas to them. I loved his complete acceptance of the idea of a woman doctor when it was something nearly unheard of to them, yet his attitude influenced their changing perceptions. His biggest influence ends up being on Aaron himself, who finds himself changing thanks to Spock. There is also an interesting connection between Spock and one of the residents of Seattle.
There is some time spent with the crew of the Enterprise as they work feverishly to figure out what the Klingons are up to and where Spock is. Kirk's worry about his friend and fears that he is dead are a prime motivator for him. His connections enable him to find people/beings who are able to assist him in his search. He is assisted by Bones, Uhura and Sulu as they skate along the edges of the rules. As is usual, they prevail just in the nick of time.
An interesting bit of trivia: In the TV show Here Come the Brides, Aaron Stemple is played by Mark Lenard, the same actor who portrays Spock's father in the TV show and Star Trek movies. show less
Always fun. I love the various references in it - I know I'm missing some (or seeing them but can't identify them). And it was well after I first read the book that I found the main setting was a TV show - Bridal Veil Mountain (I don't know if that's the actual title). Still haven't seen any of the show, though I'd like to. The two Dr. Whos, Bonanza, Battlestar Galactica - is the spice smuggler from Dune or Star Wars? And was the gambler Paladin - was either of them Paladin, and if so who was the other? Fun puzzles. The story is great - Spock from a different aspect, without his history to support and guide him. I'm a sucker for amnesia stories anyway. And the romance aspects (no, not Spock!), and Biddy standing up for herself - and I show more love Sarah, though we don't get to see much of her. Jason really needs someone - this is why I want to see the show. The trigger for the crisis makes periect sense; the timing for the cavalry is suspiciously perfect, but that's the only major auctorial meddling I saw. The time loop is amusing, too, particularly since it wasn't intentional at the time. Excellent story - I've read it at least five times and likely more, and fully intend to read it again, and again… show less
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Author Information
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Series
Star Trek (novels)
626 works (1985.05)
Star Trek
1004 works (1985.05)
Star Trek: The Original Series
97 works (23)
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Common Knowledge
- Canonical title*
- Ishmael
- Original title
- Ishmael
- Alternate titles
- Star Trek: Ishmael
- Original publication date
- 1985-05 (eng.) (eng.); 1990 (deu.) (deu.)
- People/Characters
- Jason Bolt; Jeremy Bolt; Joshua Bolt; Pavel Chekov; Clancey (Captain); Biddy Cloom (show all 26); Elizabeth Darrow; Sarah Gay; Lottie Hatfield; Katy Hoyt; Maria Kellogg (Base Commander); James T. Kirk (Captain); Khin Khlaru; Robin Manderly; Leonard McCoy (Bones); Sheila Meyers; Colonel Nch'rth (Klingon Imperial Service); Joshua Abraham Norton (Emperor of the United States); Candy Pruitt; Spock (Ishmael Marx); Aaron Stemple; Aurelia Steiner (a Drelb); Hikaru Sulu (Lieutenant); Nyota Uhura (Lieutenant); Trae of Vulcanis; Miss Wainright
- Important places
- Bridal Veil Mountain, Washington, USA; California, USA; San Francisco, California, USA; Seattle, Washington, USA; Washington, USA; Starbase Twelve (show all 7); Alpha Eridani III
- Important events
- Infiltration of a Klingon cargo ship; Spock escapes somewhwere in the past - without his memory; Arrival of the Mail Order Brides in Seattle; Arrival of the Klingons in Seattle
- Dedication
- For M. Shannon, Nedra, and Tom
- First words
- The soft, inquiring note of the door signal threaded apologetically into the dimness.
- Quotations
- Against those endless light-years of nothing, Starbase Twelve hung like a magic Christmas-tree ornament, the gnawed rock ball of the original planetoid sewn over with a silver mesh of the lights of the surface works.
- Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)White letters formed up on the dark screen before him:
SPOCK, S'chn T'gai - S179-276-ST
Lieutenant Commander
Science Officer, Starship Enterprise
b. 3492.6, ShiKahr, Vulcanis.
Parents: S'chn T'gai Sarek,
Hgricha Clan, ShiKahr, Vulcanis.
Amanda Stemple Grayson,
Seattle, Washington, Earth.
*Some information comes from Common Knowledge in other languages. Click "Edit" for more information.
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Statistics
- Members
- 940
- Popularity
- 28,056
- Reviews
- 21
- Rating
- (4.06)
- Languages
- English, French, German
- Media
- Paper, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 11
- ASINs
- 6
