From: v075q5fr@ubvmsb.cc.buffalo.edu (Scott J Gorcey)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.startrek.misc
Subject: Yet Another Discussion Of Trek's Peripheral Material
Date: 6 Apr 92 04:29:00 GMT
Organization: University at Buffalo
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41

Date:  5 Apr 1992 23:08 EST  
Followup-To: rec.arts.startrek.misc
Distribution: world
Keywords:  

In article <1992Apr5.205532.25220@hellgate.utah.edu>, jwindley%asylum.utah.edu@cs.utah.edu (Jay Windley) writes...
>tommy@netlink.cts.com (Tom Williams) writes:
>>According to the various TOS (and some TNG) novels (of which I am missing 
>>only the most recent), the Klingon's home world is Klinzhai.

     Correct.  The name assigned by John Ford in several of his novels,
     most notably _The Final Reflection_, which was the first "examination"
     of Klingon culture (which is markedly different from what TNG has
     come up with).  Interesting stuff.

>Novels carry no canonical weight.  Like the publications of FASA, the
>comic books, and other non-Paramount Trek endeavors, the authors of
>these novels work under license from Paramount and follow certain
>guidelines.  In terms of novels, these guidelines are fairly broad:
>Don't contradict the television show or films, don't kill off major
>characters, etc.

     Would that is were so.  The guidelines involved in writing the
     novels are every bit as stringent as for writing any other
     peripheral Trek material (i.e., comics, Role Playing Games),
     and just as stringent as guidelines and rules for writing a
     script -- in other words, IRON-CLAD STRICT.  


>But the tacit understanding among these artists is that nothing they write
>is guaranteed to become part of the Star Trek mythos.  This doesn't
>illegitemize what they write, but they are not among the favored few
>who can officially add to the Trek universe.

     What does this mean, if you don't mind my asking?  "...nothing
     they write is garunteed..." assumes that even once in a while
     something they write makes its way to the screen.  It's never
     happened, never.  This should be worded: "...nothing they write
     will every become canon..."

     Also, this paragraph is written as though the novelists are
     acolytes worshiping at the feet of the gods of trek screenwriting
     holding a sacred secret prophecy that one day what they labor
     on chained to a word processor will become -- gasp -- canon.
     Give me a break.

>This is because Paramount owns Trek.  This gives them the power to
>dictate in creative terms.  The Star Trek universe is certainly larger
>than the television show and the movies.  Those of us who read the
>novels find our appreciation of Star Trek enhanced,

     Speak for yourself.  There hasn't been a good novel since
     _Doctor's Orders_ for TOS and there's never been a really
     good TNG novel.

>But these endeavors are merely tolerated
>by Paramount.

     Nuh-uh.  These endeavours are supported and wholly sanctioned by
     Paramount, who make incredible amounts of money from licenced
     material.  Make no mistake, if Pocket Books or DC Comics were to
     through some miracle of misfortunes, allow their licences to publish
     Trek material lapse, Paramount would pounce and farm it out to
     other publishers - and the publishers would fight for the right. 

>So if one author names the Klingon homeworld Klinzhai, then fine.  But
>this doesn't bind Paramount to call it Klinzhai on TV.

     This is quite true.  I never understood why people, fans or 
     licenced writers, getting upset about this.  Surely our appreciation
     of Trek allows for two or more explanations/timelines as long as
     each is consistent with what has gone before in their own millieu's
     (or sub-millieu's - Diane Duane should be consistent with her past
     novels; Peter David with his, etc).

>>The Romulans 
>>(which is Terran word, not theirs) have twin home worlds - Romulus and 
>>Remus.  Their race is named as Rihansu.
> 
>Well, Paramount has never called Romulans anything other than
>Romulans.  Rihansu is a liberty taken by a licensed author, but
>doesn't bind anyone else to this.  This is different than Paramount
>making such a pronouncement, because what they make up can be enforced
>on the other licensees.

     Very true.  The Rihannsu (two n's) were created by Duane first
     in _My Enemy, My Ally_ and continued in the brilliant novels
     _The Romulan Way_ and _Spock's World_ and also used by Margaret
     Wander Bonano in _Dweller's In The Crucible_ (with Duane's 
     blessing) but are currently, and have been for some years, 
     absolutely off-limits to ANY writer of the novels.  

     The was an original bone of contention between Bonano and Richard
     Arnold over _Probe_, one she let go quite easily, but which was 
     harbinger of bad times to come over the novel.

     Some time back Roddenberry unsuccessfully petitioned Paramount
     to have _The Romulan Way_ taken out of print.  He was apparently
     very upset about Duane's version of events.  

     Since Richard Arnold's dismissal, however, Trek authors he had
     alienated are flocking back to the franchise and Duane is 
     currently working on a TNG hardcover concerning the TOS Mirror
     Universe.  

     We'll have to wait and see if the Roddenberry/Arnold strict
     regulations are relaxed by Paramount, but the return of several
     fantastic authors is a good sign.

>BTW, Romulus and Remus are names from Earth mythology, the twins
>suckled by a wolf.  Romulus gave his name to Rome.  Do the novels give
>"Rihansu" names for the Romulan homeworlds?

     Duane's names for the twin homeworlds are ch'Rihan and ch'Havran.

          ^Hot Damn, That Pie Was Good!^
                     Common Phrases Heard at
                     RR Diner #32.

          ^Scott Gorcey, v075q5fr@ubvmsb.cc.buffalo.edu^