June 16 is the day here on Earth in the 21st Century that is the equivalent of Stardate 47457.1. Jean-Luc Picard’s birthday, celebrated by the children of Enterprise-D as Capt. Picard Day. I noted it was coming up last week and then realized that I’e never talked about a single Star Trek related novel or book here. Well, I guess Brent Spiner’s book comes close–but not close enough. Still, I wanted to do something. Inspired by Jodie’s recent Firefly Book Tag, I decided to throw one together for Star Trek: TNG.
This might have been a mistake. Once I got started on the prompts, I had a hard time stopping myself from getting too carried away–but I could’ve tried harder. That came back to bite me when it came time to come up with responses. So, yeah, this is up late. Oh, well. It’s Picard Day somewhere.
Capt. Jean-Luc Picard
A Character of Honor, Conviction, and Heroism (or just one of those…I mean, how often do you get the whole package?)
I spent too much time thinking about this, but I ended up having to go with Walt Longmire, Sherriff of Absaroka Country in Wyoming. Walt’s commitment to doing the right thing–despite what it costs him physically, politically, emotionally, or financially–is almost second to none. Unlike many similar characters, he doesn’t spend a lot of time talking about it, either. (Sorry, Spenser). He just does it, and waits for his friends, colleagues, and family to figure out his motives. I like Walt as a character, but I forget how much there is to admire about him. I frequently think that about Picard, too.
Commander William T. Riker
A Character Featuring a Character Who’s Always Up for Action (I mean that in the adventure sense, but, then again they might be just as ready for a more metaphorical “action” (wink, wink))
Francis Grimm, a privateer, and captain/owner of the AMS Predator. Grimm is ready for a fight–and will do all sorts of things to get a win. He’s not wreckless enough to take unneccessary risks–although his definition of unnecessary might differ from yours. Hand-to-hand, with a saber, or airship-to-airship, Grimm’ll rise to the occasion. I doubt he’d stand for the trombone playing, but Grimm and Riker are cut from the same cloth.
Counselor Deanna Troi
A book that makes you feel all the feelings
Boy howdy. This was funny, heartwarming, I was annoyed by some characters, I was surprised, and I came so close to crying in my car before work as I finished it. Seriously, I can’t think of an emotion that didn’t feel for a page or two. You don’t need to be from Betazed to see that.
Lieutenant Natasha ‘Tasha’ Yar
A book featuring a Character Death that Still Bugs You (no need to name the character)
I wondered if I bit off more than I could chew with this prompt. So, I just thought back as far as I could to deaths I’m still not over. This one has been bothering me since the Reagan administration. I should probably accept it, but…I can’t. Not unlike the way the bumped off Tasha.
Lieutenant Commander Data
A great AI/Android Character
Okay, there are dozens and dozens to choose from here. But Marvin, the poor depressed android who was drug along on an adventure he wanted nothing to do with when Zaphod stole The Heart of Gold, has to be my pick, right? He’s Douglas Adams’ answer to Eeyore–something is always wrong, whether he’s parking spaceships at Milliways, stuck doing menial tasks like escorting hitchhiker’s around a spaceship, or anything else that he stumbles into–he’s miserable. He’s depressed. He’s fed up with everything. And since I was a teen, a robot like that has endeared himself to me like none other. Clearly Dr. Noonien Soong learned a thing or two from robots like Marvin (and, sure, Lore) so he kept Data from having those emotions.
Lieutenant Worf
A Great Warrior Character (hopefully one with a degree of honor)
Briar, the commander of the Shields (the royal guard) in Cameron Johnston’s The Last Shield is one of my favorite warrior characters lately. She’s not afraid to seek out–or rely on help–but she’s willing to be the only one in the castle to stand against a group of invaders as well. She’s got heart, grit, and won’t stop battling until the fight is over (or fights are over, to be correct). There’s not a Klingon worth their salt that wouldn’t welcome her among their ranks.
Lieutenant Geordi La Forge
A character with who can solve any problem you throw at them
Archie Goodwin, Nero Wolfe’s assistant (among other things) leaps to mind here. When Mr. Wolfe says something needs to get done–a clue needs to be found, a witness needs to be brought to him for questioning, a particular button needs to be traced to its maker–Archie will get the job done through determination and panache–not to mention intelligence guided by experience. Sure, he doesn’t have the education to handle a warp core breach or anything like that. But I wouldn’t put it past him to save the NCC-1701-D or anything else Starfleet has in its fleet.
Acting Ensign Wesley Crusher
A Precocious Child Character
Anci, the daughter of the protagonist in the Slim in Little Egypt series (too short by a mile), is my pick for this. Anci’s smart, she’s insightful, she’s sweet, she’s got an attitude that just won’t quit. She also has a way of getting herself into (and out of) trouble and more than once has helped her dad out of a jam. She’s a kid, through and through, but she’s probably the one that keeps her detective dad going. If Miller had given us a few more books, I can see her doing more of an “acting apprentice” kind of role–but she didn’t get the chance.
Dr. Beverly Crusher
A Skilled Medical Professional
Dr. Greta Helsing treats more strange beings than any Starfleet doctor has–despite their search for new life and new civilizations. London has enough old lives and civilizations that are ignored. Okay, for her it’s varities of vampires, banshees, ghouls, and so on. But she pulls out all the stops and puts her life on the line to find ways to treat her patients when she has to–but isn’t above treating a little common cold, either.
Dr. Katherine Pulaski
A Grating/Contrarian Character
Backman’s Ove seems too predictable a choice for this, but once I got him stuck in my mind, I couldn’t get him out. Yes, he’s crappy, a bit intolerant (okay, more than a bit), and too set in his ways, but it’s what lies beneath–and getting to see it–that makes him stand out and be memorable. Not unlike Dr. Pulaski, who I was starting to warm to before she left the Enterprise.
Q
An (almost?) Impossibly Powerful Character
This was a tougher prompt than I realized at first, and I kept bouncing around between various Wizard/Sorcerer characters, but didn’t really feel right about any of them. So, I’m going to go another way–Jack Reacher. The amount of physical punishment he takes and dishes out, while figuring out wild plots, and handling any weapon he comes across capably. Really, that’s a kind of magic that Raistlin, Dresden, Dumbledore, or Merlin would boggle at. He’s not quite as mercurial as our favorite representative of the Q Collective–but he’s just as judgemental.
Lieutenant Reginald Barclay
A character with a great amount of growth over the series
When we meet Gustave (a goat) as The Chronicles of Pell, he’s amusing, but I got tired of him quickly. But by the end of The Princess Beard…not only do I like the character, but think he’s grown into someone that I’d enjoy on the page and off the page (were such a thing possible). Barclay’s arc is very much the same.
Ten-Forward
A book featuring a bar/tavern/lounge
Mrs. Covington’s pub (from the novel of the same name) is just as homey, just as friendly, and full of music and joy as Guinan’s lounge. It might be a bit more raucus, but it’s got the same kind of heart. And it’s no stranger to dealing with non-human patrons or their appetites, either.
Kamin
A Book Featuring an Alternate History
I just read The Devils a couple of weeks ago, so of course it’s going to jumpt to mind. But even in a year or two, it’s going to stand out as one of my favorite alternate histories–the details–especially the throwaway details–that Abercrombie works into this are just phenomenal. You can see that version of our world coming to pass–the light within it, is very close to our own. While not being our own at all.
Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
A Novel in Translation
I’ve read a few good books in translation lately, but Godzilla and Godzilla Raids Again by Shigeru Kayama, Jeffrey Angles (Translator) is my pick for this. Not only does it tell a mythic tale from another culture, but the translator works to bring it to English-speaking audiences in a way they understand not just the words, but the symbols and themes from the original.
