The Covenant of the Crown

Title:	The Covenant of the Crown
Creator:	Howard Weinstein
Date(s):	December 1981
Medium:	print
Fandom:	Star Trek TOS
Language:
External Links:
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The Covenant of the Crown is a Star Trek tie-in novel by Howard Weinstein.

a July 1981 flyer for the book, fan-created (perhaps by Weinstein?)

See List of Star Trek TOS Pro Books with Fan Connections.

Summary

From a fan in Interstat #50:

The story involves the Enterprise returning a deposed monarch to his home planet. They stop off at another planet to retrieve the crown, and Spock, McCoy and the Queen crash on the surface. The atmosphere is deadly, the natives are hostile, and the only search parties are Klingon.

Pre-Publication Fan Exposure

From an fan in 1979:

Howard Weinstein's new Trek novel, THE COVENANT OF THE CROWN, will be out in early 1980, and is the first novel to be written by any Star Trek script writer. From what I've read of the first few chapters, it should be by far the best ST novel published to date.

A fan talked about hearing from this book well before it was published:

I heard a couple of chapters of "Covenant of the Crown" at August- Trek a couple of years ago and they sounded as if the story had real possibilities.

Weinstein read chapters from this book before it was published at the July 1981 Shoreleave.

The Book's Introduction and Dedication

David Gerrold wrote the book's introduction.

From the book's dedication by Weinstein:

[I'd like to thank] the Febcon and August Party Committees, for making me feel at home and bringing an outsider in...

The Complicated Context of Trek Tie-in Novels

In July 1983, Weinstein wrote about this novel within the context of fan complaints and wider discussions about Star Trek tie-in novels:

I understand that a recent issue of INTERSTAT contained

a letter from Lisa Wahl and Julia Ecklar, who hope to form a group called the Association for Readable TREK. Lisa and Julia evidently asked readers to boycott all pro TREK books for a period of time in late 1983. If they do that, they're going to miss out on one of the best STAR TREK novels yet—Ann Crispin's YESTERDAY'S SON, due out in August. I know it's a damn good book—and real STAR TREK—because I was lucky enough to read the manuscript. I asked Ann if I could write the introduction for the book and she graciously said yes.

Speaking of intros, I guess I should present my own credentials as a writer of "readable TREK"—I wrote the animated episode THE PIRATES OF ORION and more recently, the Timescape TREK novel THE COVENANT OF THE CROWN. And I'm working on a new STAR TREK novel called TREASURE'S TRADE for Timescape.

I started out as a fan when I was a kid, grew up with the reruns, bought early TREK souvenirs fron Lincoln Enterprises—and it was THE MAKING OF STAR TREK that made me want to be a writer. I read some of the TREK novels put out by Bantam in the 1970's and wasn't that pleased with most of them. By the time Timescape took over the TREK publishing, I was one of the first to write for them. And I know that David Hartwell, Timescape's top editor, and his assistant, Mimi Panitsch, both like STAR TREK, respect it, and care about quality. Readers should know that the process for publishing movie and TV tie-in books is a complex one. Many people at both Pocket Books/Timescape and Paramount get to lay their hands on the manuscripts and put their two cents in before they're approved. And sometimes, quality levels slip. Perhaps a story that sounded great in outline form loses something in translation to full-blown book. Neither writers nor editors are perfect.

Lisa and Julia get no argument from me when they complain that not all the pro STAR TREK novels are as good as they might be. But have we forgotten that not all of STAR TREK's TV episodes were great? The third season is best forgotten, isn't it? And even during the first two seasons. Gene Roddenberry occasionally presided over an episode that didn't work. That's the nature of any series—there is inevitable variation in quality. But that's no reason to boycott the whole series, is it?

That strikes me as a passive cop-out. It's like people who complain about the quality of TV—who straps them to their chairs and forbids them to change the channel, or turn the set off? Viewers and readers have the right and responsibility to be selective, and to voice either approval or disapproval to the decision-makers who choose what will be published or aired.

Since the publication of COVENANT, I've gotten several hundred letters from readers — something I asked for in the intro to the book. I wanted to know what people thought of it. With a great sigh of relief, I've found overwhelming approval (whew!) from people who plunked their $2.50 down at a bookstore and scuttled off to read what I wrote.

I was pleased to know that I was on target with my characters and the kind of story I chose to do — the biggest compliment paid by many readers was this: "COVENANT would've made a great episode or movie."

When a writer writes something like a STAR TREK novel, I think there's an obligation to be true to what's gone before. There's room to enhance the characters and background, but not to wrench things out of shape to write our own version of STAR TREK.

Several of Timescape's books have hit the mark, thanks to the caring of their writers — Vonda Mclntyre's THE ENTROPY EFFECT and STAR TREK II novelization, the recent WEB OF THE ROMULANS, and the upcoming YESTERDAY'S SON by Ann Crispin, to name a few. Some of the others haven't been my cup of tea.

If you don't like'em, don't buy'em. If you flip through the first few pages at the bookstore, and they strike your fancy, do buy 'em. Either way, write to Timescape's editors (the address is in the books) and tell them what you thought. They'll listen. They want to do the best STAR TREK books they can — they want readers to like them and continue to support the STAR TREK publishing program. Boycotts make sense when there's no other alternative. But STAR TREK readers have lots of alternatives short of total abstention from pro books —a lternatives a lot more constructive than a boycott. I hope they'll take advantage of them.

Transformative Works

• I'll Dance At Your Coronation by Charmaine Wood (A retelling of the ending of the pro novel "Covenant of the Crown.") (from Encounters #4, 1995)
• "Star Trek Mad Libs - Ever play Mad Libs using The Covenant of the Crown? (Howie said okay)." - a panel description from the 1984 Shore Leave

Fan Comments

1982

tA magnificent new Star Trek novel!" sums up accurately what is, indeed, The Covenant of The Crown. Howard Weinstein has created a fine piece of literature and deserves plaudits for his efforts.

Our triumvirate of Kirk, Spock, and McCoy reigns, a fact which seems to sometimes displease Star Trek fans because it is so common a theme. I, too, love all of the characters, but, I must admit"sorry Walter! Hope you're not offended"it is difficult to ignore a good story about the threesome, especially this particular story. (That is not to say I would not appreciate a major role for Chekov, Sulu, Riley, etc. I would wager Howard Weinstein could create one!) New characters. and cultures are included, however, and they are portrayed with obvious affection and concern for integrity on the part of the author. Customs are revealed and so are legends that are spellbinding and believable in the context of each societies' representatives' actions in the plot of the novel. Klingons are not simply nasty "meanies" trampling underfoot all they encounter. This is not a testament of love for the Klingons or their culture, but, rather, a believable portrait of a cruel people with customs and motivations just as any other people.)

Spock, McCoy, and Kailyn's roles are gems. So many psychological insights come to the fore. Discussions held between action, packed, adventurous scenes are profound, often humorous, touching and clearly sincere. Perhaps two or three emotional movements on the part of Spock are uncharacteristic, according to some, but those are arguments in which to be engaged by readers who would quibble over insignificances. Kirk, too, faces a command dilemma and, as usual, bears up under pressure. However, Mr. Weinstein shows an important aspect of Kirk's youthful training in Star Fleet which contributes to his leadership qualities. In fact, an assessment of desirable leadership qualities occurs at one point, reminiscent of those qualities possessed by Kirk. In this manner, Kirk is omnipresent.

There is so much more to be expounded upon as far as specific insightful aspects of The Covenant of the Crown. Suffice it to summarize the warm reaction one experiences after finishing this novel by these lines on the last page: "But it seems like we just got here, sir." Kirk shrugged wistfully, "Got to get back to work sometime." I, for one, did not want to leave Howard Weinstein's magical world, either!

Eighteen years before this story starts. King Stevvin of Shad, with his wife, and daughter Kailyn, had been taken into exile by Lt.Commander James Kirk, a refugee from a civil war stirred up by the Klingons. Now, the Loyalists on the verge of winning the war, Kirk is assigned to return Stevvin to Shad. But the King is old and dying. Kirk decides to take Kailyn along as well, on the King’s suggestion, although her presence was not included in the orders from Starfleet.

Before he went into exile, Stevvin had the Shaddan Crown hidden on Sigma 1212, and this must be retrieved before Kailyn can claim her father’s throne.- It is proof that she is the true heir - provided she can activate the crystals in the crown that show that the Ruler has special Power.

The Enterprise is being followed by a Klingon cruiser; Kirk sends Spock and McCoy with - Kailyn to Signa in a shuttlecraft while he leads the enemy away. However the shuttlecraft is followed by a Klingon scout ship. Then it crashes on the planet Meanwhile, back on the Enterprise, Kirk discovers that one of the King’s servants must be a Klingon agent....

I was slightly unhappy about the Crown having been hidden on an alien planet; in an out of the way part of Shad would have seemed slightly more likely. This did not interfere with my enjoyment of the book however.

Mr. Weinstein also wrote ’Pirates of Orion’ in the animated series, having adapted into script form a short story he had originally written for a fanzine.

He claims to be a fan, and indeed it shows, for he reveals an understanding of the characters and relationships that most professional writers have lacked - and, in addition, is not afraid of using his knowledge of those characters and relationships He gives the romance to McCoy and Kailyn, an almost father-daughter situation that Kailyn at least would like to take further, and which could have-turned into a baby-snatching situation if it had been handled with less sensitivity. As it was, the situation worked.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and will certainly look out for anything else Mr. Weinstein writes (this, apparently, is his first book).

Well, The Covenant of the Crown, by Howard Weinstein, is readily available these days. I found it to be superior to most of the pro-published ST material, and I rate it highly (8.4 or so). Still, it is not as good as McIntyre's novel; I'm afraid she spoiled me on her good writing. Anyway, Mr. Weinstein does a nice job with characterizations, description and other essential elements of good writing. It was occasionally boring, but hardly fatally so. Get this one, folks.

Once again great characterizations and excellent scenes between Spock and McCoy. Thanks Howard!

1983

This may become one of my favorite pro novels. It has been set more firmly within the ST framework tha[n] most [Trek pro novels] and has has maintained good characterization, especially between Bones and Spock. McCoy is highlighted in this story, and we get to see more of where he's at than usual -- a definite treat. I highly recommend this one.

Howard Weinstein wrote one of my favorite animated episodes, "Pirates of Orion." Yet, I felt COVENANT OF THE CROWN was unremarkable.

Pro novels for future scripts? Well, besides "Entropy Effect," how about "Covenant of the Crown," which always reminded me a little of "Friday's Child"— high-level intrigue on a colorful alien world, good Big Three-Plus development with a good McCoy role. The book is even structured like a script — must be Weinstein's background.

1991

I like the way a good writer can develop or explain subtle characteristics and details through their books and some have become firm favourites, to be read over again. One such is 'The Covenant of the Crown', and as someone who likes a good detective yarn, another is 'The Vulcan Academy Murders'.