Scan barcode
bkendig's review against another edition
4.0
This is an absolutely brilliant story by a brilliant author who died too young. 'How Much for Just the Planet?' takes James Kirk and his crew on a madcap adventure with Klingon adversaries on a planet that feels like it's straight out of the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Vulcan milkshakes, references to 1940s film noir, harebrained schemes, battle by golf, and pie fights abound.
If this book has any flaw, it's that it's *too* genius - the text on the page is almost insufficient to keep up with the complexities of the action, and I counted at *least* five different narratives going on at once. The way the text shifts back and forth between them is whiplash-inducing; I found it difficult to keep up with what was going on and why.
But even though I missed some details, it was still a Star Trek adventure like none I'd ever seen - or read - before.
If this book has any flaw, it's that it's *too* genius - the text on the page is almost insufficient to keep up with the complexities of the action, and I counted at *least* five different narratives going on at once. The way the text shifts back and forth between them is whiplash-inducing; I found it difficult to keep up with what was going on and why.
But even though I missed some details, it was still a Star Trek adventure like none I'd ever seen - or read - before.
subplotkudzu's review against another edition
5.0
Bwahahahahahahahahahaha!
Ford, more than anyone else, remembered that these sorts of episodic dramas require the ability to veer into comedic episodes as much as they do tense, scary, or violent. The show certainly remembered that with the fun house planet, and it's a shame that this is the only story of its type in the ST books.
My only complaint is that Ford was not allowed to list the song tunes he was writings new lyrics to, which makes it harder to sing along.
Ford, more than anyone else, remembered that these sorts of episodic dramas require the ability to veer into comedic episodes as much as they do tense, scary, or violent. The show certainly remembered that with the fun house planet, and it's a shame that this is the only story of its type in the ST books.
My only complaint is that Ford was not allowed to list the song tunes he was writings new lyrics to, which makes it harder to sing along.
iasa's review against another edition
2.0
I didn't find this all that humorous nor was it what I wanted from a Star Trek novel
spaceyasay's review against another edition
2.0
A rather weak attempt at Trek humor. Very poor characterizations.
maddandroid's review against another edition
4.0
This would have made either a great TOS episode or a Marx Brothers movie.
ramsfan1963's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Probably the silliest Star Trek story I've ever read, after all, how many battles with the Klingons end with a pie fight? The slapstick humor, and weird Douglas Adams scenarios don't fit well with Star Trek. Also the Three's Company style of "misunderstanding" humor wears thin very quickly.
clarkissimo's review against another edition
3.0
The first 50 pages are a hoot, but the rest devolves into a series of farcical misunderstandings and nothing is resolved. Just a lot of weird stuff happens and then it’s over. Plus, not nearly enough Spock. If you want to read brilliant John M. Ford, I’d highly recommend his novel The Dragon Waiting.
einsturzende22's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5