Constellations (part 1) Spoiler

So far, I have read the first five stories of the anthology:


S P O I L E R

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FIRST, DO NO HARM


This is an excellent start of this 40th anniversary anthology and I find
it interesting that it begins with a story dealing with the topic Prime
Directive. Especially a book celebrating Star Trek should look at both
aspects of the PD: the good and the bad. The story reminded me of the
proverb "The Road to Hell is paved with good intentions".

Maybe it is better if I don`t start another rant about the PD, I did so
a few times in the past. I just want to repeat that I think it is about
time that the PD is adapted to the reality that an absolute law of this
magnitude can never be just.

This story reflects the difference between following an ideology without
looking past the letter of the law and using the PD as a strong
guideline in connection with common sense and compassion in order to do
the right thing. To me, "Once Burned", is THE Star Trek book dealing
with the PD but this story comes quite close. PAD sometimes compared
Calhoun with Kirk and I think, especially when dealing with the PD they
have a lot in common. I am sure, Calhoun would have agreed with what
Kirk did and so do I.

I like it that the story shows how much it was drilled into Starfleet
officers that they should never break the PD, no matter what. It was
realistic but for a moment, it put me off until I realized that this is
nothing bad, the contrary. Stepping over the threshold and become more
than just an observer is a big, risky step that should never be done in
the heat of the moment.

If I understand the story correctly, it wouldn`t have made a difference
if Roberts hadn`t started taking samples. It seems the mutated virus
would also have infected members of the native population otherwise
because I don`t think they only observed people hidden behind force
fields and from quite some distance. If it is right to take samples and
examine people without their knowledge is debatable but, no, I don`t
think he went against the PD: He left the society untouched and the
mutation of the dormant virus in him was nothing else but an accident.
Sending him to a penal colony seems extreme punishment to me.

But nothing in this story surprised me, also that the people at the top
hid the truth and left the natives to their fate. "Deny everything",
that is certainly not a new policy. Especially the PD has always been
proof to me that Starfleet/the Federation, in spite of all the good they
do, are certainly not as perfect as it was preached sometimes in various
episodes. Sweeping a mistake like this one under the carpet is bad
enough but abandoning the native population is worse. This is even more
cynical than "We never get involved, whatever the consequences because
if we do, it can be very bad. Therefore we do nothing and then we can`t
be blamed." Here Starfleet was responsible, accident or no accident.
Retreating now to the literal version of the PD may be right following
the letter of the law but is it just, doing the right thing? No way!

It was good to see that McCoy and Spock also supported Kirk`s decision
to protect Jendra`s work to help these people even if it means to report
her death. I find it sad and regrettable that there was no other way.
Jendra certainly was a remarkable woman. I admired her bravery, her
compassion and found her sacrifice very touching.


THE LANDING PARTY

The background of the story reminded me quite a bit of Babylon 5 in
which the exploration and confrontation with old, wondrous but at the
same time dangerous alien artefacts was very common and always
fascinating to me. I welcomed it to see this element in a Star Trek
story.

This is an excellent adventure story combined with well written
character elements. There is nothing Sulu did wrong but that he kept
wondering and felt guilty was very understandable. The way he was
struggling to save his team mates impressed me a lot.


OFFICIAL RECORD

I enjoyed this story taking place at the beginning of Chekov`s career
very much. I agree, nobody is perfect and the quality of an officer is
also reflected in the way he or she deals with failure. Chekov`s doubts
were very understandable but what counts is, he showed his determination
to learn from his mistakes and not to fail at the mission Kirk was
giving him.

I liked the grey areas the author touched with this story, meaning
Starfleet/Federation politics when dealing with less developed worlds
and the question of following orders. What I liked even more is that
this story doesn`t make any excuses for torture, as it was unfortunately
the case in Enterprise on TV. Not only it is wrong, the information
obtained is highly unreliable, something Starfleet`s officers had to
learn here the hard way. Because of his inexperience Chekov`s attempt to
stop the torturing was somewhat clumsy, but at least he acted and tried
his best.

It didn`t take long and Chekov was determined to do the right thing,
tell the truth about what happened. That took a lot of courage and
definitely showed a very young Chekov who is indeed an officer with a
lot of potential.

I only have one problem with this otherwise excellent story: Of course
Wilder had to be arrested and punished but what about the two men who
helped torturing the prisoner? Yes, Wilder ordered them to do it but
they didn`t refuse. Refusing Wilder`s orders would not have meant that
they were in danger of being imprisoned or even executed. They had no
excuse whatsoever and they followed an illegal order knowing perfectly
well that they did wrong. They should also have been arrested and put on
trial.


FRACTURE

I can`t say how much it contradicts other descriptions of the Tholians
in book form, but the SF-part of the story is very interesting. It gives
insights in their biology and their society I found quite fascinating.
Some of it was already known to me, some is what I guessed but I would
never have come close to imagine the true nature of the Ifukube Veil.

Kirk`s childhood hero Merrill was the typical hardcore military type who
could have come from a cliché book. Unfortunately these types exist but
nevertheless, I would have preferred a more three dimensional Merrill.
Instead it is Kirk who arrives, finally asks questions that should have
been asked long ago and the truth comes out, no thanks to Merrill who is
more an obstacle than a help.

It is not a bad story but not one I particularly enjoyed reading.


CHAOTIC RESPONSE

I think the story shows the cruel effects of the Klingon mind-ripper
very well. Nevertheless, although I understand that Spock`s
recollections under its influence might be tainted by it, it surprised
me that he seemed to have so serious issues with his human heritage.
What was shown here was much more than the drive to overcome these
"limitations" but a feeling of being inferior and serious depression. I
also understand that this story takes place when he was still relatively
young for a Vulcan and was still learning to live and work with humans
but I have always seen a very confident Spock. What I remember from TOS
is a Spock who stood up to his father, who went his own way against his
wishes. I would have imagined that being bullied as a child and
suffering prejudice also later in life only made him stubborn and reject
such treatment, that Spock would see these narrow minded bullies as
inferior and not himself. That the mind-ripper made Spock so extremely
vulnerable and lost in self-doubt doesn`t seem in character. I am hardly
a TOS expert but nevertheless, this background of the story felt wrong
to me.

Putting that aside, I enjoyed the interaction between Kirk and McCoy. It
was touching and sometimes funny. I especially liked the part in which
Kirk understood for a brief time the mental discipline of a Vulcan and
how his human experience provides a balance. Kirk and Spock have always
seemed to complement each other to me and this story explores that part
very well.


Baerbel Haddrell

Thank you for your reviews.
They have given me clear windows into what I believe are mostly great stories.


Alan HEAH Kian Chye
email me at: fynyx.TakeThisOut@singnet.com.sg
read my short creative comments at: http://alanheah.blogspot.com/
also read my brief remarks on life at http://alanheahtoo.blogspot.com/