by Gordon Eklund
“ ’Mr. Scott from the engine room has reported the possibility of engine malfunction. We appear to be losing velocity.’ ‘What does the computer say?’ ‘Negative, Captain.’ Then it’s not likely anything serious.’ ‘No, but I thought you should be informed.’ “You did the right thing, Mr. Spock.’ ”
While on shore leave and attending a magic show, Kirk, Spock, and McCoy meet the greatest ‘senso-artist’ that ever lived: Gilla Dupree. She is strikingly beautiful while wearing a surgical mask that covers her lips, nose, and chin. She is searching for her father Jacob Kell, last known to be lost on the planet Heartland. Kirk volunteers the Enterprise to take her there. He immediately falls in love with her.
Everyone who has landed on Heartland has ‘gone mad,’ which seems to be a descriptive, technical, medical, and legal term. Arriving at the planet, the landing party discovers that the inhabitants look like the devil! This makes everyone feel all creeped out all the time. Security man Doyle, who is a compulsive gambler, is driven mad. The Danons worship a mental force, a spiritual form of life, a collective unconscious, a computer they created long ago as a defense weapon. Spock attempts to mindmeld with it and is driven mad.
Gilla sacrifices herself to the mental force, spiritual form of life, collective unconscious computer to free her father. But it’s no big deal because she was dying of cancer anyway.
Kirk grieves. Finishes. Eats dinner. Spock recovers. Doyle does not.
Random Thoughts written down as I read:
Look, it’s clumsy foreshadowing in the form of a magician named Dr. Faustus wearing a Devil suit!
The Danons are an ancient dying race, once powerful.
Kirk is responsible for the ship! And crew! And passengers! More than 400 people! They are all expected to obey his commands!
Chekov tells long involved Russian jokes.
If the landing party is going to go mad, McCoy insists on being a part of it
Spock reiterates and clarifies events.
Scotty has a brogue. He is known for his even temperament and angelic nature.
Sulu is included in the landing party.
Uhura is at communications.
Nurse Chapel? Where are you?
The Danons are an old people.
Gilla has a snit fit and faints into Kirks arms at least 3 times.
The Danons are an old race and much of their will to succeed has vanished.
Kell is a traitor. You can tell by his name: Kell the Traitor.
On page 67 there are seven people in the landing party. On page 68 there are eight.
Kirk “removes the portable communicator in his belt” at least 3 times.
The Danons were a young, energetic, expansive, aggressive species.
The Torgas were a young, energetic, expansive, aggressive species.
WTF Quote: “ ‘You tell her, Captain. You’re no fool. Explain to her why what I’ve said is right.’ ‘I don’t think you are right.’ ‘Then you are a fool.’ ”
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.