Print T/T'P Update: Kobayashi Maru book now available

[leslina]

holy crap!!!!

The book is pretty good so far, up thru like p50... But the real gold is on page 317, 318, 319!

All I will say is in spoiler code:

SPOILER!!!:

Tpol:

"don't waste time talking"

Malcolm:

"at least the ship isn't rocking, Malcolm thought, thankful of small mercies.

Uh... I'm gonna something a little more concrete.

[Kenshin]

I don't get it ^^

[leslina]

I don't get it ^^

Glad I'm not the only one. What? T'Pol using a contraction? I really don't see how this is TnT positive or indicative.

[Alelou]

?? T'Pol uses contractions.

I'm glad to have the vague spoiler, since I shouldn't have looked and spoiled myself anyway.

[Asso]

holy crap!!!!

The book is pretty good so far, up thru like p50... But the real gold is on page 317, 318, 319!

All I will say is in spoiler code:

SPOILER!!!:

Tpol:

"don't waste time talking"

Malcolm:

"at least the ship isn't rocking, Malcolm thought, thankful of small mercies.

Pag 319? But.. how drags on this book?

[Zane Gray]

OK, here's the gist of what happens with T/T'P in cliff notes form for those who can't wait. Keep in mind there's a lot more to the book than just this:

SPOILER!!!:

T'Pol senses through their bond that Trip's life is in mortal danger. When she tells Archer, the Captain refuses to take Enterprise into Romulan space to save him for obvious reasons - that it might start a war. So she uses her contacts from Vulcan intellgence to help her get into Romulan space herself, stealing an Enterprise shuttlepod (and going AWOL) in the process. Malcolm can't let her go alone, and he wants to help Trip too, so he joins her. Both of them essentially betray Archer and their duty to help Trip. Without going into all the details, when they find Trip, they try to convince him to come back home with them, but he refuses, knowing that his spy mission is more important. But as they're saying goodbye, he and T'Pol kiss and end up making love, while Malcolm effectively "takes a walk" for thirty minutes.

There's also a undercurrent in the story on how T'Pol's trust was broken by Archer, Reed and Phlox for not letting her know that Trip wasn't actually dead in the last book, though by coming along Malcolm presumably makes some of that up to her. And there's a number of moments where T'Pol makes it clear in actions and thoughts that Trip is the most important thing to her. She believes that of all the people on Enterprise, only Trip accepted her for who she really was, Vulcan attitudes and all. At one point early in the book, she recalls the night they slept together in the Expanse, and wonders if the feelings she's experiencing are what humans experience when they fall in love.

And in the acknowledgments at the end of the book, the authors thank Connor and Jolene, as well as "legions of Trip and T'Pol fans out there eager to see what the fates (and the authors) have in store for Star Trek's most star-crossed couple."

Plenty to love for T/T'P fans, and A/T'P fans will absolutely hate it.

[leslina]

OK, here's the gist of what happens with T/T'P in cliff notes form for those who can't wait. Keep in mind there's a lot more to the book than just this:

SPOILER!!!:

T'Pol senses through their bond that Trip's life is in mortal danger. When she tells Archer, the Captain refuses to take Enterprise into Romulan space to save him for obvious reasons - that it might start a war. So she uses her contacts from Vulcan intellgence to help her get into Romulan space herself, stealing an Enterprise shuttlepod (and going AWOL) in the process. Malcolm can't let her go alone, and he wants to help Trip too, so he joins her. Both of them essentially betray Archer and their duty to help Trip. Without going into all the details, when they find Trip, they try to convince him to come back home with them, but he refuses, knowing that his spy mission is more important. But as they're saying goodbye, he and T'Pol kiss and end up making love, while Malcolm effectively "takes a walk" for thirty minutes.

There's also a undercurrent in the story on how T'Pol's trust was broken by Archer, Reed and Phlox for not letting her know that Trip wasn't actually dead in the last book, though by coming along Malcolm presumably makes some of that up to her. And there's a number of moments where T'Pol makes it clear in actions and thoughts that Trip is the most important thing to her. She believes that of all the people on Enterprise, only Trip accepted her for who she really was, Vulcan attitudes and all. At one point early in the book, she recalls the night they slept together in the Expanse, and wonders if the feelings she's experiencing are what humans experience when they fall in love.

And in the acknowledgments at the end of the book, the authors thank Connor and Jolene, as well as "legions of Trip and T'Pol fans out there eager to see what the fates (and the authors) have in store for Star Trek's most star-crossed couple."

Plenty to love for T/T'P fans, and A/T'P fans will absolutely hate it.

That is very satisfying. However, the pessimist in me sees an actual

SPOILER!!!:

Trip death

once its all said and done. Ah, well. Thanks Zane!

[Zane Gray]

That is very satisfying. However, the pessimist in me sees an actual

SPOILER!!!:

Trip death

once its all said and done. Ah, well. Thanks Zane!

Did you read the wrap-around story of Last Full Measure?

SPOILER!!!:

It reveals that Trip's still alive as an old man at the time the NCC-1701 is about to be launched.

And about a year ago I talked with Margaret Clark (Pocket Books editor) at a Trek convention, and the sense I got is that she's a big fan of the couple. I have a feeling there will be

SPOILER!!!:

at least some kind of happy ending for the pair

down the line.

[Elessar]

OK, here's the gist of what happens with T/T'P in cliff notes form for those who can't wait. Keep in mind there's a lot more to the book than just this:

SPOILER!!!:

T'Pol senses through their bond that Trip's life is in mortal danger. When she tells Archer, the Captain refuses to take Enterprise into Romulan space to save him for obvious reasons - that it might start a war. So she uses her contacts from Vulcan intellgence to help her get into Romulan space herself, stealing an Enterprise shuttlepod (and going AWOL) in the process. Malcolm can't let her go alone, and he wants to help Trip too, so he joins her. Both of them essentially betray Archer and their duty to help Trip. Without going into all the details, when they find Trip, they try to convince him to come back home with them, but he refuses, knowing that his spy mission is more important. But as they're saying goodbye, he and T'Pol kiss and end up making love, while Malcolm effectively "takes a walk" for thirty minutes.

There's also a undercurrent in the story on how T'Pol's trust was broken by Archer, Reed and Phlox for not letting her know that Trip wasn't actually dead in the last book, though by coming along Malcolm presumably makes some of that up to her. And there's a number of moments where T'Pol makes it clear in actions and thoughts that Trip is the most important thing to her. She believes that of all the people on Enterprise, only Trip accepted her for who she really was, Vulcan attitudes and all. At one point early in the book, she recalls the night they slept together in the Expanse, and wonders if the feelings she's experiencing are what humans experience when they fall in love.

And in the acknowledgments at the end of the book, the authors thank Connor and Jolene, as well as "legions of Trip and T'Pol fans out there eager to see what the fates (and the authors) have in store for Star Trek's most star-crossed couple."

Plenty to love for T/T'P fans, and A/T'P fans will absolutely hate it.

MUCH better synopsis than I could write at 5AM from my iPhone after skimming until I found the words "Trip" and "T'Pol" appearing on the same page .

The only problem is, I did this with TGTMD and then once I was satisfied I didn't get around to actually READING the rest of the book for like a year

But I will concur with everything Zane said. A lot of what he said I have already seen in the first 50 pages.

[leslina]

That is very satisfying. However, the pessimist in me sees an actual

SPOILER!!!:

Trip death

once its all said and done. Ah, well. Thanks Zane!

Did you read the wrap-around story of Last Full Measure?

SPOILER!!!:

It reveals that Trip's still alive as an old man at the time the NCC-1701 is about to be launched.

And about a year ago I talked with Margaret Clark (Pocket Books editor) at a Trek convention, and the sense I got is that she's a big fan of the couple. I have a feeling there will be

SPOILER!!!:

at least some kind of happy ending for the pair

down the line.

I'm abstaining from purchasing the books at this point in time. I'm too chicken shit to invest in something that may or may not disappoint me in the end so I'll continue to hold out.

I don't know what Last Full Measure is, was that another book that follows The Good That Men Do? I'm utterly ignorant where Trek expanded universe novels are concerned.

SPOILER!!!:

I would feel a little better if T'Pol were included in that scenario where Trip is an old man at the time of the NCC 1701's launch.

But I shall continue to lurk and hope that our couple makes it through the coming devastation together.

[Elessar]

I'll break down the order for you, leslina, cuz I read the last two

Last Full Measure -

SPOILER!!!:

It is revealed that Trip's death was a fake to get him undercover into Romulan territory to foil/steal their Warp 7 program. T'Pol goes on the hunt to find out the truth when she continues to see him in the white space. They make love in the white space, woot. It is also revealed in the Prologue/Epilogue that Trip is alive in the 23rd century at the launch of the NX-01 but it appears he's been living under an alternate identity and had facial reconstruction done. They do not make clear (intentionally, I think) whether he and T'Pol had a life together or not. I was skeptical, but after reading the later novels, I think they were just being aloof, because he never says to himself how much he regrets not having a life w/ T'Pol or anything like that.

The Good That Men Do -

SPOILER!!!:

A little more on a sad note for Trip and T'Pol, where a lot of the narrative of T'Pol is her thinking it's never going to work between them. I think a modified version of the 'shuttlepod scene' from *the_abomination* is included. The authors were kind of trying to show how that story was BASED on the reality, but twisted and changed for their conspiracy to work.

Kobayashi Maru -

SPOILER!!!:

So far, it appears this is definitely on the up-swing for TnT. I don't know how the book ENDS yet, or whether we get any clues as to their status in Trip's old age (in which T'Pol damn sure better be alive), but we'll see. So far, though, the narrative and the attitude is all "I love Trip". Which is great!

Keep in mind, too, though, that these are B plots in these books. LFM is about a mission in the Expanse and focuses around some MACOs as well as a mission with Archer/T'Pol/Trip I THINK, it's hard to remember. TGTMD is all about

SPOILER!!!:

Trip's undercover work and T'Pol trying to find it out

, and KM is so far all about the political turmoil of trying to keep the Coalition together while

SPOILER!!!:

T'Pol goes off to find Trip

.

[leslina]

I'll break down the order for you, leslina, cuz I read the last two

Last Full Measure -

SPOILER!!!:

It is revealed that Trip's death was a fake to get him undercover into Romulan territory to foil/steal their Warp 7 program. T'Pol goes on the hunt to find out the truth when she continues to see him in the white space. They make love in the white space, woot. It is also revealed in the Prologue/Epilogue that Trip is alive in the 23rd century at the launch of the NX-01 but it appears he's been living under an alternate identity and had facial reconstruction done. They do not make clear (intentionally, I think) whether he and T'Pol had a life together or not. I was skeptical, but after reading the later novels, I think they were just being aloof, because he never says to himself how much he regrets not having a life w/ T'Pol or anything like that.

The Good That Men Do -

SPOILER!!!:

A little more on a sad note for Trip and T'Pol, where a lot of the narrative of T'Pol is her thinking it's never going to work between them. I think a modified version of the 'shuttlepod scene' from *the_abomination* is included. The authors were kind of trying to show how that story was BASED on the reality, but twisted and changed for their conspiracy to work.

Kobayashi Maru -

SPOILER!!!:

So far, it appears this is definitely on the up-swing for TnT. I don't know how the book ENDS yet, or whether we get any clues as to their status in Trip's old age (in which T'Pol damn sure better be alive), but we'll see. So far, though, the narrative and the attitude is all "I love Trip". Which is great!

Keep in mind, too, though, that these are B plots in these books. LFM is about a mission in the Expanse and focuses around some MACOs as well as a mission with Archer/T'Pol/Trip I THINK, it's hard to remember. TGTMD is all about

SPOILER!!!:

Trip's undercover work and T'Pol trying to find it out

, and KM is so far all about the political turmoil of trying to keep the Coalition together while

SPOILER!!!:

T'Pol goes off to find Trip

.

Thank you for that enlightening play by play Elessar. It does seem that things between TnT may be in the up and up, hiccups and all, but I'll still hold off on buying anything until the ultimate payoff. I really appreciate you and Zane taking the time to really explain these books and the roles of TnT in them. You guys rock.

[KKGlinka]

I'm abstaining from purchasing the books at this point in time. I'm too chicken shit to invest in something that may or may not disappoint me in the end so I'll continue to hold out.

That's what libraries are for, anyway. I'm kinda of with you on this one, largely because I come from that comic book background where this bait and switch occurs on a regular basis. Oh, they're finally getting together! Oh... but one of them tragically dies and the other one is emo the rest of his/her life over it. I have read LFM and I got the distinct impression that Trip spent most of his life alone, living under cover, on one mission after another and is still, at the end of his life "dead" and still bitter of his sister's death, at that. T'Pol isn't mentioned in that scene and I'm a bit too jaded by genre cliches to hold my breath or assume the authors were just being super clever and leaving out any hint that there was a happy ending. I dunno. Everytime I look at how the 'ship is being handled in the books, I keep catching a glimpse of that fridge in my peripheral vision.*

In a rather infamous Green Lantern comic story, his girlfriend at the time was cornered in the kitchen by his mortal enemy, killed, and stuffed in the fridge for him to find when he got home. "Women in Refrigerators", aka fridging, has since become a rally cry that refers to the love interest of a more important male character being reduced to a plot device (even if she's a main character in her own right) specifically to advance the male character's narrative with emo manpain.

I just don't have faith of the heart over an implied sex scene (that many fans have written quite well, thank you) and maybe T'Pol gets dribbles of her brain back.

[leslina]

I'm abstaining from purchasing the books at this point in time. I'm too chicken shit to invest in something that may or may not disappoint me in the end so I'll continue to hold out.

That's what libraries are for, anyway. I'm kinda of with you on this one, largely because I come from that comic book background where this bait and switch occurs on a regular basis. Oh, they're finally getting together! Oh... but one of them tragically dies and the other one is emo the rest of his/her life over it. I have read LFM and I got the distinct impression that Trip spent most of his life alone, living under cover, on one mission after another and is still, at the end of his life "dead" and still bitter of his sister's death, at that. T'Pol isn't mentioned in that scene and I'm a bit too jaded by genre cliches to hold my breath or assume the authors were just being super clever and leaving out any hint that there was a happy ending. I dunno. Everytime I look at how the 'ship is being handled in the books, I keep catching a glimpse of that fridge in my peripheral vision.*

In a rather infamous Green Lantern comic story, his girlfriend at the time was cornered in the kitchen by his mortal enemy, killed, and stuffed in the fridge for him to find when he got home. "Women in Refrigerators", aka fridging, has since become a rally cry that refers to the love interest of a more important male character being reduced to a plot device (even if she's a main character in her own right) specifically to advance the male character's narrative with emo manpain.

I just don't have faith of the heart over an implied sex scene (that many fans have written quite well, thank you) and maybe T'Pol gets dribbles of her brain back.

Uh... I sorta have these really late fees at the library I've yet to reconcile. That being said, you're definitely riding my wavelength K. When is the contrived bullshit going to end? I'm sick, sick, sick of it, and it annoys the hell out of me when people perpetuate this MO in fanfiction. I would love for the authors of these books to prove me wrong, but I have my doubts. So, I guess we'll just wait and see... and in the interim I'll continue to read fanfiction that does not regurgitate the contrived bullshit.

[michelle]

Thank you so very much for these spoilers! It is much appreciated.

I'm getting that good feeling that's telling me TnT are going to end up together on this. So I'm going to order the books and read 'em all now. It's just a shame the main plot is being so slated, ah well.


Thank you again!