InceptionInceptionS.D. Perry & Britta Dennison
reviewed by Randall Landers
In 2261, Doctor Carol Marcus and Commander James T.
Kirk, an officer of the Federation starship Mizuki, are involved in an on-again,
off-again, relationship which neither finds truly satisfying. Both want their respective
partners in their world, and neither partner seems willing to make the sacrifice to their
own careers. Marcus is developing an experiment using the unstable compound nitrilin to
create change in the Martian environment. Joining her scientific team is Leila Kalomi who,
after breaking up with her live-in boyfriend, basically falls head over heels in love with
a young Lieutenant Spock who happens to be on Earth studying its culture. Kalomi creates
elaborate fantasies about herself and her relationship with Spock. While a realistic
situation in some ways, it's very disturbing to see Kalomi act in this manner even though
it could be argued that it's a logical extrapolation of the character we see in "This
Side of Paradise." Opposing Doctor Marcus' experiments (and make no mistake, the
novel is basically about Marcus and Kalomi more than Kirk and Spock) are two factions:
Whole Earth, who have no ethical boundaries when it comes to stopping an experiment of the
sort Marcus is creating, and Redpeace (sort of a Martian Greenpeace whose leader chooses
to look the other way when Whole Earth engages in sabotage/terrorism to accomplish their
goals. When the experiment is sabotaged by Whole Earth, it's up to Starfleet (and Kirk and
Spock in particular) to save the day.
Some minor quibbles: Nitrilin, used as an explosive in
the Deep Space Nine series, seems some sort of compromise on the part of the
writers who seemed unwilling to embrace the use of protomatter. Sadly, had they done so,
it would have set up the event that would have led most 23rd century scientists to regard
the substance as dangerous. A missed opportunity to be sure. Another deliberate decision
was not to regard Carol Marcus as the "blonde lab technician" Gary Mitchell
sicced on Jim Kirk. Another missed opportunity for sure as the authors minimalized the
blonde lab technician even though we know from the series that Kirk "almost married
her" (a fact conveniently omitted by the authors).
Still the book is an interesting one, especially in
regards to current events in the Gulf. Recommended for contemplation more than
enjoyment...
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