Star Trek: The Motion Picture (novel)

Title:	Star Trek: The Motion Picture
Creator:	Gene Roddenberry
Date(s):	1979
Medium:	print
Fandom:	Star Trek: TOS
Language:	English
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The novelization of the film, Star Trek: The Motion Picture, was by Gene Roddenberry, and was the only Star Trek novel he wrote.

The book was also the first Star Trek novel published by Pocket Books.

The Footnote

The novel provided K/S fans some legitimacy when Gene Roddenberry translated the word T'hy'la, an affectionate name that Spock gives to Kirk, in the book to encompass "friend, lover and brother."

An analysis of that footnote can be found at The Footnote: An Explication de Texte.

Fan Comments

1982

To me, [ Vonda McIntyre's [novelization of The Wrath of Khan ] was a big disappointment, and a distinct contrast to Roddenberry's novelization and enrichment of ST-TMP. Last time, the book was better; this time, the movie.

Well, it may surprise you that both the movie and Roddenberry's novelization are considered validation of the K/S premise by those who have believed in the possibility of the premise since the series. And I have personally known several people who have changed their minds since the movie and novel and who now see the possibility of Kirk and Spock being lovers whereas they once insisted no way. I have known other anti-K/Sers (quite vocal ones) who have since lost much of their interest in Trek because Roddenberry didn't squash it like they hoped. And I know others who were quite vocal before the movie that are now strangely silent on the subject.

1988

It never ceases to startle me that there are some fans that take the pro novels seriously. It seems obvious to me that the only official Trek is the televised episodes (live-action and animated) plus the motion pictures. The one pro publication that I would count as "official" is Gene Roddenberry's novelization of STAR TREK: THE MOTION PICTURE.