Killing off main characters in the books- Possible spoilers

[Ktrek]

On TrekBBS in the Literature section there has been a debate for several weeks now about the death of a main Star Trek character in the books. This particular death happens in the recent Peter David novel Before Dishonor. Actually I'm not sure it is much of a debate although it has gone on for over 700 posts. Mostly there was one fan in particular who adamantly despises the direction the editors at Star Trek books has taken. He feels that it's nonsensical character destruction and claims he will no longer read any Star Trek books just because of this creative decision.

I on the other hand personally feel that the character in question had pretty much run their course as to what could be done with it and all that remained is redundancy. The decision to kill this particular character I feel was a good one and now opens up new possibilities for the Trek book line the character was from. I also think it gives a new dimension to the Star Trek books when you know that no character is safe anymore now that the TV series and movies are finished.

Anyway, I was wondering if members feel that main characters on the TV shows should not ever be killed off to move the storyline forward and should be "off limits"? Are they supposed to be untouchable? Are we to expect that at the end of every book the crises will be averted and all will be the same as it was before? There are hundreds of Star Trek books that have done just that but this new direction seems exciting and is exciting. The last several Star Trek books have been fantastic.

Would you be really upset if they killed off one of your favorite characters? BTW Pocket Books says this character is gone for good in the post finale books but could be seen again if book proposals come along that are stories set during the series.

And if anyone wants to know I am a fan of this character but even I can see that the character was no longer serving any useful purpose in the books.

Kevin

[Dan M]

Oh, wow!

I hadn't heard about that character dying.  It makes me sad, because I'm a fan.  However, it's not like the actor was going to suit up and film more episodes, so it's not like we're truly having anything taken away from us.  And if that opportunity for more filmed adventures did come around, it's not like Paramount has ever been bound by what Pocket Books published.  I hate to bring up the dreaded word, but those books aren't "canon".

The funny thing is the identity of that "one fan in particular" you mention.  I haven't posted on TrekBBS with any regularity in at least 5+ years, but I remember going to war with him back around the turn of the century.  It was tons of fun, because he's just so out there.  His love of Kes is unfathomable as is his appreciation for the "great" Jennifer Lien.  (That was his characterization of the actress' skills back then.)

Too funny.  That brought me back a long ways.  Thanks.

[Ktrek]

Yea Dan! His obsession with the character in question and also Kes is almost disturbing. I really enjoyed following that thread at TrekBBS and looked forward to checking it at least once a day for a good laugh. I even had my wife wanting to know what was happening with it because it was just so hilarious! Unfortunately they closed the thread today.   :(

Kevin

[Ktrek]

And if that opportunity for more filmed adventures did come around, it's not like Paramount has ever been bound by what Pocket Books published.  I hate to bring up the dreaded word, but those books aren't "canon".

I forgot I wanted to address this also. I know that technically the books are not canon but the Star Trek authority Paula Block with CBS/Paramount has officially said that there will be no more screen use of the characters and that Pocket has free reign pretty much with them now. The post finale books are all very good and they have done a fine job moving each series forward. The only ones I have not been very fond of are the ENT books because they basically say Trip didn't actually die he only made it look as though he did so they could keep Trip around. I found the whole thing way over the top and quite contrived to say the least.

Kevin

[Geekyfanboy]

Wow.. you guys peak my curiosity and I had to find out who died.

And to answer your question.. yes I would be upset if they killed off my favorite characters. It's just like if they killed them on screen.. I'd be upset.

After finding out who they killed it has really upset me.. as they were one of my favorites.

[Dangelus]

I had to look too...

I'm sure these decisions aren't taken lightly. Let's hope the story justified the decision.

[X]

Hasn't this book been out for almost a year now? Also didn't the character that "died" move on the a higher plane of existence? I think that the story was well written and works in the context of trek. unlike some other series, main characters have and do die in Star Trek.

I think that it makes sense and works well for the stories that they are telling. I also think that you're supposed to be upset. If they kill off a character that you like and you have no reaction, then they failed as a writer.

[Bryancd]

The Star Wars EU Universe killed off a main character a while ago, so it has precedence.

[Rico]

The books are one thing, what's on screen is another.  And like everything, if you don't like it, don't read it or anymore if something wasn't enjoyable.  It's really pretty simple.  My personal view is most of the time is just one big sales ploy.  A way to get people to buy more books.  "Oh, look who I killed off!"  Kind of cheap and easy if you ask me.

[X]

Bryan has a good point about Star Wars, but trek already has its own precidence. Kirk, Spock, Sisko to some extent,  Tasha Yar, Kess, and even Dax has been killed on screen. I didn't see it as a sales ploy because it wasn't ever promoted in that way. When Chewie died, there was a media blitz about it. The sad fact is that in both the real world and fiction, people die. Unfortunately, in fiction main characters rarely seem to have pointless deaths and I think that's why the deaths of Yar and Dax worked so well.

[billybob476]

That's what makes shows like Galactica so entertaining. No one is safe. I think every once in awhile a main character has to die. If everyone in the main character "bubble" get out of every situation, it becomes very dull very quickly.

[X]

In the stories following Chewie's death, Han says something along the same lines. Until the death of Chewie it was like he and his family were living in a protective bubble, no matter how bad things were, he knew that they would all live. After the loss of chewie, all bets were off.I have no issues with Janeway, but I did think it was a bit forced that she made Admiral when other more qualified people like Picard hasn't in all his time at Starfleet or Sisko who pretty much saved earth from changelings, saved the khitomer accords, slowed the dominion invasion, and won the war.Janeway got her crew home and earned a promotion for it. How does that work exactly?

[billybob476]

It works because Janeway wasn't starring in another movie and Picard was!

Never forget at the end of the day Trek is a product designed to make money. I think they learned after Admiral Kirk that it's better to not promote your Captain out of the chair because then you have to find a way to get them back in it each movie.

[Ktrek]

The problem with Janeway is that the movies had promoted her to Admiral and thus any books post finale have had to deal with that. You can't really bump her back and give her back the Voyager. If the movies had not made her promotion official I'm sure she would still be captain of Voyager and the post finale books would have gone in a different direction. The matter is also complicated because the Voyager story has already been told in the TV series and it would be unrealistic to think that all the main characters would have just stayed on board the good ship lollipop after they arrived home.

Kevin

[Dan M]

We could also assume that Picard never became an admiral because he took Kirk's advice to heart.