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reading Shatners 'The Return' - the TRUE sequel to Generations

posted 2 years ago by bozo_500 (13104)
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the 2nd book in Shatners Trek novels following 'Ashes of Eden' in 1995 (AoE was set before Generations as like a novel of a never made final movie, 'Star Trek VII' with the original crew - to which the DC adapation felt very much like comic adaptation of a never made Trek VII as had same artists etc as the VI DC comic adaptation).

'The Return' was published in 1996 as a kind of alternate Trek VIII (The cover art is very similar to Generations http://www.trekkieguy.ca/covers/1996_02_lg.jpg), similar to the way the novel 'Federation' came out same time as Generations as an alternate version of a TOS/TNG crossover. i recall reading a Shatner interview years ago around time First Contact, and he said during or shortly after Generations hed approached producer Rick Berman with an outline for VIII which would bring back Kirk (no doubt influenced by the way Spock was brought back in III and like the way Shatner had followed Nimoy into directing a movie why shouldn't his character be resurrected in the next film), however he said Berman politely listened then he never heard from him again. and when he discovered they were going with another story he decided to make it his next novel. But you can totally understand Bermans pov, Kirk was brought into Generations (after effectively retiring in VI) to help introduce TNG to the movie screen, create buzz of a crossover etc then he dies and that's it. Its TNG from then on. To bring back Kirk in the next film like Spock would've defeated the purpose of Generations. (and then what for IX? Kirk leads the TNG crew? lol.) It was never going to happen. I guess they could've done The Return for IX..but they never would've done that after literally burying TOS in the film before last, but would've been preferable (and more successful) to what they did..

However in hindsight maybe it wouldn't have been a bad idea to bring back Kirk (and have Spock and Scotty) for the TNG films as overall (bar FC) they floundered in comparison to TOS films, but thats with hindsight, there's no way TNG wasn't going to go it alone after Gen and especially after the success of FC. Back then TOS was considered finished/buried (literally) and TNG was 'Star Trek' ..it wasn't until a few years later after TNG ended with a whimper (as did the whole TNG era), that TOS became considered the premier 'star trek' again with the JJ movies (nimoy passing the baton back to TOS era after Shatner has passed it on to TNG) and remastered TOS on DVD, constant reruns on tv, posters, models, fridge magnets etc (like a retro fondness for the colourful bygone era of TOS) .. And today thats still the case.. but kind of all star trek is considered star trek now (probably in part due to streaming), and TNG is back with Picard/LDS (and everyone has fond memories of the series), TOS is still around with Disco/SNW (and the 4th JJ film coming) its all Trek, no so much back in the late 80s/90s when it was like one or the other. like TNG isnt as good as TOS,, oh wait it is!,,now TOS is oldhat/finito and TNG rules!

Anyway I tried reading The Return years ago after enjoying AoE but gave up for whatever reason (and didnt bother with any further Shatner novels), now I start again .. So far its good stuff.. Flashback to Kirks death from Kirks pov, Riker overseeing the removal of the Ent D remains on Veridian III, Spock visiting Kirks grave.. then a Romulan attack on the planet and Kirks body stolen, beamed up in front of Spock!..

[–] bozo_500 (13104) 2 years ago

Well I tried reading it again, but have given up after about quarter/half way (just like years ago), idk what it is but just can not get through it! Maybe its too detailed found myself reading chapters and realising nothing had registered so had to go back and reread them etc, mind wandering as was reading. losing concentration,

[–] bozo_500 (13104) 10 months ago

Ok I tried again to read it (was quite determined to) and after a slog with first few chapters pushed through and it finally got quite good and am now nearing the end. it really does feel like a movie (or an novel adaptation of an alternate sequel to Generations) it would've made a great TNG movie (if not the follow up to Generations then maybe instead of Insurrection or Nemesis)

But I have a difficult time imagining Shatner wrote this its so steeped in TNG lore (and abit of DS9) .. Obviously what mustve happened is after (or during) Generations Shatner will have come up with the idea of resurrecting Kirk in the TNG era (maybe having talked to certain Trek writers etc about how it could be done with the borg etc) and how hed now be the villain attempting to assassinate Picard (no doubt a pleasing different take on the Kirk role for him to play, and tapping into the Kirk v Picard who the best captain thing that was big at the time) and encountering Spock and Bones once again.. Then he'd have handed his 8 page movie treatment (once it was rejected by Rick Berman) to his cowriters of this book mentioned in the acknowledgements (famous trek authors Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens) and they will have written the entire novel fleshing out all the TNG Borg/Romulan stuff. Its just abit funny to imagine Shatner sat typing all this deep dive into TNG when he's said he never watched the series lol

Coincidently I have finally been watching Picard s3 the past few nights and notice several strong connections to The Return (secret borg invasion, borg teaming up with another enemy to defeat the federation, using Kirk/Picards son, 'Vox', Picard becoming Locutus again to control the hive etc) so obviously certain elements have been taken from novels like this (as happened with the JJ films, and certain previous eps of 'nuTrek' like Picard s2 with one of the DC annuals)
https://trekmovie.com/2023/04/01/terry-matalas-explains-the-return-of-james-t-kirk-on-star-trek-picard/

[–] bozo_500 (13104) 10 months ago

Coming to last chapters and wow its getting really good now everything coming together for a crescendo of celebration of Trek uptill then (SPOILERS if you no read it and want to do so unspoiled) - Kirk v Picard on each of their Enterprise's on the holodeck! (what could've been done in the nexus instead of horse riding/cooking eggs) V'Ger! (yes they really went there tying it all back to the 1st film being the first encounter with the borg! And spocks space travel into Vger in TMP was him seeing the borg homeworld!). The DS9 style Defiant being rechristened Enterprise for the mission to the Borg homeworld! This would've been amazing movie for the 30th anniversary really connecting the two eras with Kirk Spock Bones totally interacting with TNG crew in the 24th century on a TNG ship, all of them on the bridge (kirk & picard deliberating who takes the chair), Kirk and Picard pontificating in the ready room, kirk holding a conference room meeting with TNG crew (looking at Vger and the old Enterprise on screen), kirk alone in conference room looking out into the stars pondering his fate. and a more fitting 'death' destroying the borg homeworld (reminiscent of Data's death in Nemesis, obviously where that movie got it from). Its like the movie Generations should've been, that fans were wanting/expecting. And it really does read like an adaptation of a Trek movie. can really hear Shatner, Stewart, Nimoy and the rests voices

Im imagining an alternate reality where Shatner had convinced Rick Berman to go with this version of a Borg Trek VIII as its a great story and Berman getting Ron Moore/Brandon Braga to work with Shatner on the screenplay and bring in Nimoy to direct (Nimoy agrees this time as he has a decent role as Spock) or even getting Shatner to direct! (just make sure ILM are hired this time) . Who as the support cast? im thinking Linda Fiorentino or even Alice Krige as the main Romulan villainess , and whichever 90s 'heavy' actors for other Romulan, Borg, Federation supporting roles/vulcan captain of the Challenger (Michael Wincott, Michael Ironside, Ted Levine, Jurgen Prochnow), maybe have the Enterprise E in place of the USS Challenger (doubt Paramount would want whole movie without an Enterprise, but that Defiant rechristening as Enterprise was a pretty sweet scene. and its not like there wasn't a movie without the Enterprise before.). And then it coming out in 96 and being an even bigger hit than First Contact with audiences/fans lauding it as the movie Generations should've been/finally getting the crossover right. and Shatner totally redeemed after the taint of Trek V

But obviously they wernt going to 'dig up' TOS after it was buried for the last movie. Berman and Paramount wanted TNG to go it alone with the big Borg after the one-off crossover movie

[–] TandyMan (11096) 10 months ago

Sounds radical. Didn't know these books even existed. I'm very skeptical Shatner writes any of his novels. I think he just sits down with the writers and tells them all his wild ideas and then they have to take that and make a book out of it. Definitely checking these out. Thanks for the recommendation.

[–] bozo_500 (13104) 10 months ago

Yes, id tried to read The Return a few years ago but gave up bc wasn't fussed on the first few chapters , but once get past that its really good. almost like a better version of First Contact (and I love FC). Ashes of Eden was a great read too (Shatners first Trek novel set between Trek VI and VII and really feels like "Star Trek VII" with the TOS crew), next I have his third one I just started last night leading directly on from The Return (there's a few more but I only own the first 3).. Its abit nuts to think Shatner wrote these in the 90s as they so deep dive into TNG (I mean he didn't really as he cowrote them with 2 established Trek writers which means they wrote them but he obviously was in on the creation of the story, shaping the evolution of kirk, where he was wanting to go with it had the movies continued with Kirk in TNG era etc)

[–] TandyMan (11096) 10 months ago

Did a bunch of research on it. I knew Shat had written Star Trek novels, but I didn't realize he had created his own "Shatnerverse" alternate Star Trek timeline where Kirk is alive and operating along side all the other characters of the then modern era of Trek. The ego on this dude lol. But the adventures actually sound really cool. Absolutely Kirk should have come back just like Spock did. My 2nd & Charles definitely has a bunch of these on the shelf, I just didn't know what they were. I thought they were just random Star Trek stories like lost episodes which doesn't really interest me. But an alternate timeline with Kirk is hot stuff!

[–] BKB (9877) 10 months ago

The way Kirk was killed off was an embarrassment to this iconic character in GENERATIONS

[–] Devilman (448) 10 months ago

How can you get Malcolm McDowell to be Kirk's killer but still make a stupid death scene for Kirk. Shatner always joked about it for being a "Bridge on the Captain !" scene.

[–] bozo_500 (13104) 7 months ago

I read remarks from the 'Generations' writers about the original ending (soran shooting kirk in the back) was a homage to a John Wayne movie where similar thing happens as a shock for audience for such an icon to go out in such a flippant/low key way (in contrast to Spocks epic death)

[–] bozo_500 (13104) 10 months ago

The way Kirk was 'killed' at the end of this novel was far superior, very similar to Data in Nemesis, in fact they obviously swiped the end of this novel to use for Data saving Picard at the end of Nemesis