Star Trek - Child of Two Worlds

"The Klingons have responded, sir,"  Garrison said. "They're warning us not in interfere".

Remember I said I'd bought a handful of the more recent novels on the basis of they had Spock on the cover?  This is another one!

Child of Two Worlds is written by Greg Cox, an experienced writer with many Star Trek novels and other franchise novelisations under his belt; his experience and knowledge of Star Trek shines through in his confident handling of the 'pilot era' Pike, Spock, Number One and the older Enterprise crew.  Even with limited knowledge of Star Trek TOS you could enjoy this story as Cox fills in all the necessary details for you without overloading you with information.

Child of Two Worlds is set in 2255 and not long after the pilot episode 'The Cage'.  Spock is young, inexperienced and struggling (in a Vulcan sense) with finding his place.  Christopher Pike is the Captain of the Enterprise and his first officer is 'Number One' an Illyrian, whose name is difficult to pronounce so she is known by her title.  The initial premise is that a case of the rigelian fever has broken out on the Enterprise, they are far away from help and Boyce (the ship's doctor) suggests a revolutionary treatment using a rare substance called 'ryetalyn'.  Unfortunately, this substance is not easily obtained, however they could procure some from an alien colony situated on the borders of Federation and Klingon space.  Although they would have to take care not to agitate the Klingons, Pike sees little choice, as rigelian fever is lethal if not treated and highly infectious.

The plan goes awry however as the Enterprise picks up a distress signal from a small ship being pursued by Klingon vessel, which leads to the Enterprise and it's ailing crew being caught up in a family drama and political machinations, delaying the receipt of the much needed ryetalyn.

Spock's storyline ties in directly with the main one, in that his presence as mediator helps to resolve the situation between the Klingons and the Cyprians.  He doesn't act  as a diplomat in an official sense, but his experience, his unique situation as a child of two worlds enables him to develop a rapour and an understanding with a young Cyprian woman who has been brought up a Klingon following her kidnap during a Klingon raid.  Her discovery by her sister and leak of her return to the Cyprian world's press becomes a flashpoint.  The Cyprians want the girl returned to them and will not supply the Enterprise with ryetalyn until she 'comes home', but the Klingons threaten war if their adopted daughter is not returned to them.  The girl is also a child of two worlds, although in her case it isn't biological, it is cultural; nature vs nurture.

Spock, like the Cyprian/Klingon girl is at a pivotal point.  He has been presented with an opportunity by Captain Pike to possibly transfer to the U.S.S. Intrepid, a Constitution-class starship manned by an all Vulcan crew as the position of first officer is available.  To take the position on Intrepid would be the next logical step in the advancement of his career in Starfleet, and being among other Vulcans would be more efficient.  However, Spock concedes he is not 'most Vulcans', and though he finds being with more emotional species tiring 'chipping away at his hard won self control' he find himself conflicted.  He is reminded of his mothers words "You will always be a child of two worlds,"  and then finds himself with a conundrum 'What was preferable: to be the only Vulcan among a crew of humans, or the only half-human aboard a ship of Vulcans?'.  Spock's interactions with Merata and the lessons he learns from the 'Klingon by nurture' helps him make up his mind.  I'm sure it can't be considered spoiling to tell you that he stays on the Enterprise.  Of course, we also know the Intrepid and it's entire Vulcan crew were lost in 2268.

Number One, the female first officer of the Enterprise has her character expanded upon, which I found quite welcome.  In the pilot 'The Cage' her character doesn't appear very strong and the male characters take the limelight, though as first officer she should have been the eye of the storm in Pike's absence.  Number One's failure as a character is that she is altogether too perfect, in that, in trying to make a female character nobody could fault, she is also a character nobody can really like.  She doesn't make errors, she is 'number one' (Number One in name and nature) in everything she does, as such she's even less relatable to than the Vulcan, who has his own idiosyncrasies which make him rather endearing.  Her seeming lack of a name is explained and she has her own adventure on the planet surface with an away team to keep her busy.  I really enjoyed those sections of the novel actually, it was pretty refreshing to have someone different in charge.

Number One's team gets caught up in the gradually worsening political situation on the Cyprian's planet.  The politicians are using the situation with Merata to whip up the populous into a frenzied mob, who begin to perceive the Enterprise as an enemy, leaving Number One and her team in a dangerous situation.

Pike's presentation in Child of Two Worlds really builds upon why we have Kirk and not Pike in the series proper.  Pike is likeable, capable and has peculiarities (like preferring print outs of reports etc.) which make him human, but also incredibly beige.  He seems to have lost the regret and self doubt which really eroded his character in the pilot, but that may be because he is simply doesn't have time to indulge self pity or reflection.  I found that Child of Two Worlds endeared me more towards him than the pilot, due to his determination and tenacity to keep control of his ship while fighting a worsening illness.  He is very much a diplomat, a steady, intelligent man, reliable, fallible but making the right decisions... but there is something missing in his character that makes him fall a little flat.  Something missing that breaks Pike but makes Kirk.  Pike doesn't have the vibrancy that Kirk has, but he is more the traditional naval captain, he trusts his officers to do their duty and stays detached.

Pike is most successful in his dealing with Krunn, the agitated Klingon captain who wants his adopted daughter Merata back.  Krunn is a well written character and to his credit, quite reasonable (for a Klingon), and I think, develops a grudging respect for Pike, despite his irritation.  Similarly, other side characters are satisfyingly written.  Merata's tenacious older sister, her resentful younger brother and hopeful mother are all believable, Cox is careful to reflect Spock's mother Amanda in Merata's mother.

Child of Two Worlds is really worth a read, especially if you like Spock-centric stories.  It doesn't bring anything particularly new to the table but who can really resist reading about 7 year old Spock trying to be 'Vulcan' in front of his mother, or having a little bit of exposition about his feelings at being half-human.  For me it was interesting to read about Christopher Pike as well, but it did really confirm my feelings that he wasn't the right Captain!  A little bit of Number One being kick ass was an added bonus, but again, I'm glad she morphed into Nurse Chapel!  You can't really fault the writing, Greg Cox is an experienced author, and it shows in the novel.

Read it, you won't regret it! 4/5