Mind Meld

Star Trek: The Original Series #82

by John Vornholt

Teska, a Vulcan child raised on Earth, is destined to play a crucial role in the reunification of the Vulcan and Romulan peoples. While Spock escorts his young niece back to Vulcan for her betrothal ceremony, he strives to help her understand both her Vulcan heritage and her growing telepathic abilities.

But when an unplanned mind meld reveals the true identity of a deadly assassin to Teska, she and Spock find themselves the target of a Rigelian criminal network. With the Enterprise light-years away, Spock and his niece must go on the run, pursued by a conspiracy determined to end Teska's future before it has even begun!

Genres: Star Trek, Science Fiction, Fiction, Star Trek Original Series, Ebooks, Science Fiction Fantasy, Fantasy

274 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published June 1, 1997

About the author

John Vornholt also writes as Caroline Goode.

Reviews

[Daniel Kukwa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is easily one of the best of the follow-up novels to "Star Trek VI"; taking in numerous continuity points that stretch all the way into the TNG era, combined with a solid examination of Rigel & its people. It's all tied together with an efficient, clean writing style and a perfect command of the TOS regular cast. Very enjoyable.

[Kieran McAndrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Spock escorts his niece to her betrothal, she mind melds with a murder victim and must hide from a cabal interested in hiding Rigel V's guilty secret.

An interesting concept, with excellent characterisation, Vornholt's story is brief, but fulfilling.

[Kreg · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent read overall. Would have been better if the Vulcan mating ceremony had been included, and a bit more of the side-plot with the Romulans (unless that was intended to be covered in a future separate book...), but it's something I'd read again.

Characterizations: 4
Treknology: 2.5

[Lauren · Rating 2 out of 5]

Didn't like this one! I did own this at some point as a child but had zero memory of anything about it and I'm not sure I ever actually read it. As much as I loath to criticize women characters in Star Trek novels because there's relatively few of them, Teska was not a favorite; she absolutely acted older than her years (and not just in the Vulcan vs. human child comparatively way) and also seemed to be able to use previous mind melds in a way that seemed inaccurate? I'm not sure the way they talk about mind melds in here is how they actually work. The plot on Rigel V was a lot of uninteresting running around and despite the whole thing being about Vulcan-Romulan reunification there's barely anything with Romulans in here at all. Finally, the pacing is weird; spending 2/3rds of the book accomplishing basically nothing and running all over the planet, for a five page climactic battle to wrap it up with no immediate resolution visible to the reader and then a 21 year time jump for the last chapter. Clearly by how much I had to complain about with this relatively short novel, not my favorite lol.

[Craig · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another novel that takes place right after Star Trek VI! Well that's what I felt once I started this one but it did eventually win me over...eventually as this one took a little bit of time to get the plot rolling.

I liked Teska, even though she's another unspoken relative of Spock... but not really. She's almost the flip side to Spock and I likes the juxtaposition of the Vulcans, Rigellians and Romulans and their different approaches to life with the same physiology. Although I am tired of the aliens with wacky marriage arrangement trope that wants Spock and Kirk a part of it that seems to permeate the novels so that is a slight knock against it.

The situation of the Mind Meld I found interesting and how Teska becomes front and centre to the story because of it is when the story gets going. Kirk's mission on the Enterprise becomes a sort of comic relief to the main story which I enjoyed and it did contribute to the main part as well just not some jaunt elsewhere.

I liked the time jump ending as well as these novels usually just introduce these characters and we never see them again but this at least brings some closure to the events of the book.

[Tara · Rating 3 out of 5]

This has pretty good characterisation. It's set after Star Trek IV and you can tell.

In terms of Star Trek "science" (or treknobabble), it was a little weak. Teska, a seven year-old child prodigy and original character, was not well written.

Overall, I found the plot a little eh. However, I did buy this thinking it would be about Romulans and it's actually about Rigelians, so maybe that's just me.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

The ending really got me. Chapter 16 was a good way to end the book. I enjoyed learning more about the reunification of Vulcan and Romulus. One thing I did not enjoy was the slight confusion that was caused by the characters being on Rigel V.

[Katrina Veerkamp · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of Spock in this book. He’s a lot older here. Helping to unify Romulans anspd Vulcans with his seven year old niece. She accidentally mind melds with a man as he is dying and not only sees his murderer but many problems on the planet Rigel V. It’s a good story and an easy read.

[Stephanie Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I literally balled at the end. 😭 Live long and prosper. 🖖

[Mike Grady · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting, Spock centric, read.

[imareader2006 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn’t put this book down. Such an Interesting plot and I loved Teska’s character and the insight into Spock’s family. I have to admit, the ending had me bawling.

[Rebekah Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Throughly enjoyed this book. Was a very exciting and deep story from beginning to end. I'm only sad it's over.

[Barbara Maddox · Rating 3 out of 5]

Star Trek is the only science fiction I like and I have been a fan since I was 10 years old. Coming back to the Original Star Trek just feels like meeting old friends.

[Red Park · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this novel. It could have expanded more on the time skip, but I really liked the characterization of everyone here and her marriage did make me emotional.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Teska, a Vulcan child who grew up in Earth, niece to Spock, is the pawn in the hopeful future of uniting Vulcan with the Romulans. But an unplanned mind meld by Teska, on a dying Rigelian reveals the identity of an assassin
An entertaining re-read

[Ian Banks · Rating 3 out of 5]

Spock has adventures with on a planet being investigated for trafficking children while transporting his 7-year-old niece to a betrothal ceremony… um…

[Steven Shinder · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wonder what it’s like to love Vulcan stories. Teska’s name reminded me of Tesco, to be honest.

[Paul Lunger · Rating 3 out of 5]

John Vornholt's "Mind Meld" is a story set just after the events of Star Trek VI & deals with a mission by Spock to take his niece Teska to Vulcan by way of Rigel V for the betrothal to a Romulan boy named Hasmek in order to unite the Romulans & the Vulcans into one people. When the Enterprise reaches Rigel V an unplanned assassination witnessed via mind meld by only Teska keeps the betrothal on hold & changes this story perhaps unnecessarily. Vornholt's tale makes good use of the logic behind such a move & also puts to use Sarek & Pardek on both sides of this movement. The numerology of the Rigelians is very nicely used & their creation & culture is written a very believable way. The issue though at times is Teska herself who seems a bit too adept at things & is written as beyond the case of prodigal child at the age of 7. The ending itself also falls just a couple pages short as what should've been the grand finale to a relatively decent story ends with what we want to see happen, but not to its conclusion. This isn't Vornholt's best work, but it's also far from the worst.

[Erin Rogoff · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book in a short matter of days, and I loved every part of it. I've loved Star Trek since I was a kid, loved Spock since I was a kid, wrote fan fictions and posted them on various web pages since I was a kid, and so on (you get the picture). I love Teska's character and how she grows, how she deals with her parentage and problems, and so on. After reading this novel, I wound up writing a fan fiction where I was Spock's Mate and went on this adventure with them. How surprising (sarcasm), if you know me well.

[Stasia Bruhn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Spock's neice Teska, a seven year old Vulcan child is going to go through the koon-ut-la ceremony with a Romulan boy named Hasmek. As a cover they are transporting a group of Rigelians back home to Rigel V. While on this planet Teska witnesses a dying man. Since he can't speak she does the only thing she can do a mind meld and she learns who the murderer is. Will she make it to her ceremony in time?

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

The font choice on the cover is so terrible that my first thought upon seeing the book was "what on earth is a Mino Melo?"

Once you get past that (or more likely I'm the only person who got caught up on font choices...) it's a reasonably fun read. The use of mind meld on a murder victim is a pretty interesting concept, but it feels like it might be the kind of thing that breaks a lot of established canon.

[Haley Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Recommended for anyone who loves the ST trio!

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not bad. I think the last chapter was unnecessary, but otherwise, really liked this.

[Elaine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another reread, although I didn't remember it at all. Not even the little zing of grief at the very end.

[Vana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Involving book with Vulcan child on Enterprise.

[Lara_8818 · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first Star Trek book I'd ever read.