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BOOK REVIEW: Spock Must Die! by James Blish

Spock Must Die by James Blish is the first book in the Star Trek Adventure series originally published by Bantam. The world of Star Trek is humongous. There are different series in which this enormous world is divided. For a week I was confused to start reading which series or any particular book. My previous knowledge of Star Trek world is limited to the two movies which have came lately and are directed by J. J. Abrams. I know what an enterprise is, I knew the main characters and of course the Klingon race. I haven’t watched the original telly shows but I was confident enough to start an expedition.

The first original Star Trek novel was published by James Blish in 1970, Spock Must Die. My experience with science fiction is limited and I have read some Star Wars books before. One thing I did not like about Star Wars is that the story is limited only to the adventure which star wars try to possess, the story of the twins, the father-son relationship. What I mean to say is that there is little science in that fiction. I think it should be considered more of a fantasy series and less of science fiction. One excellent reason to read Star Trek is that a reader will find similarities to metaphysical quandaries and concepts of physics and philosophy at the same time.more

The book begins with McCoy and Scotty having a discussion over the effects of teleporters on human physiology, the mind and the soul. McCoy argues that the person is physically killed and a copied is made at the selected destination. Scotty on the other hand thinks the teleporter is simply a machine that transfers matter from one place to another. A person’s body is converted into a form of matter than can be teleporter and it is then reconstituted at the destination. While Captain Kirk is witnessing this conversation McCoy talks about solipsistic universe and how a person inherits two universes out of which one is the universe inside his skull and the other universe is the phenomenal. Meanwhile Scotty, decides to run some experiments with the transporter. He tries to make a copy of tachyons (hypothetical particles that travel faster than light) of one’s body, in theory, ti allows a person to stay on the Enterprise while some of their particles go elsewhere and somehow exist there. Naturally, they plan to send Spock. There’s no way this can work. Instead, Scotty makes a non-tachyon copy of Spock, completely indistinguishable from the original. Thus, they end up having two non-identical Spocks.

Blish has written the story with of touch of physics as well as philosophy. In between, he talks about Korzybski and through Spock includes a lot of radical talks. The book is must a read if you are entering the world of Star Trek and Blish’s writing never once let a person feel that it is a fan fiction and although it is not. Everything is absorbable by at the inexperienced Star Trek reader. The characters, the plots are as it is if you are highly familiar with the Enterprise. The only fault I found with Blish’s writing manner is that it is quite slow. Even though the whole book doesn’t take more than a hundred and twenty pages, it took me two days to read it.

3 out of 5!

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leeduigon says: August 26, 2015 at 1:46 AM James Blish--honored purveyor of The Good Old Stuff!
storyfairy says: September 1, 2015 at 5:56 AM Very interesting. Reading this book might be a good way for me to see if I like Star Trek. My fiance, his family, and one of my best friends all really like it, but I have never read or watched any of it. By the way, my fiance has said something very similar about Star Wars to what you said: that it's basically fantasy in a science fiction setting.

James Blish--honored purveyor of The Good Old Stuff!

Aman(@amanhimself) says: August 26, 2015 at 1:41 PM You have read his other works?

You have read his other works?

leeduigon says: August 26, 2015 at 6:43 PM Long, long ago, when I was 12 or 13... He was one of the big names in SF them. It's been so long, I can't say I remember any of his works in particular.

Long, long ago, when I was 12 or 13... He was one of the big names in SF them. It's been so long, I can't say I remember any of his works in particular.

Aman(@amanhimself) says: August 26, 2015 at 9:16 PM I did not know who he was until I came across this Star Trek book. As I said, my experience in science fiction is quite limited. I am still exploring.

I did not know who he was until I came across this Star Trek book. As I said, my experience in science fiction is quite limited. I am still exploring.

Very interesting.
Reading this book might be a good way for me to see if I like Star Trek. My fiance, his family, and one of my best friends all really like it, but I have never read or watched any of it.
By the way, my fiance has said something very similar about Star Wars to what you said: that it's basically fantasy in a science fiction setting.

Aman(@amanhimself) says: September 1, 2015 at 9:30 AM Yeah, if you want to get indulge in Star Trek, I think these original series books are a good way to start. I am glad to hear about your fiancee.

Yeah, if you want to get indulge in Star Trek, I think these original series books are a good way to start. I am glad to hear about your fiancee.

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