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Star Trek: The Original Series #81
Mudd in Your Eye
After millennia of warfare, the planets Prastor and Distrel may have finally achieved a lasting peace. Investigating on behalf of the Federation, Captain Kirk is shocked to find out that the architect of the peace is none other than that notorious con artist, Harcourt Fenton Mudd!
Mudd claims to be a changed man, but Kirk has his doubts. He knows that Mudd has to be running some sort of scam, but what is he up to? Kirk must find out soon--before the peace gives way to unending war.
Mudd claims to be a changed man, but Kirk has his doubts. He knows that Mudd has to be running some sort of scam, but what is he up to? Kirk must find out soon--before the peace gives way to unending war.
308 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1997
26 people are currently reading
391 people want to read
About the author
Jerry Oltion
220 books24 followersJerry Oltion (pronounced OL-tee-un) has been a gardener, stone mason, carpenter, oilfield worker, forester, land surveyor, rock 'n' roll deejay, printer, proofreader, editor, publisher, computer consultant, movie extra, corporate secretary, magazine columnist, and garbage truck driver. For the last 37 years he has also been a writer, with 15 novels and over 150 stories published so far.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
February 12, 2024
3.5 stars. Harry Mudd, galactic scoundrel and charlatan extraordinaire, and the Enterprise crew get caught between two planets that have been at war for millennia, with some mysterious concepts of resurrection that seemingly help fuel their unending conflict. Mudd's antics and rocky relationship with his shrewish wife Stella make for some good comic fodder, and like any good Trek yarn there's some depth as well. The story is a satire on the lunacy of war, with an interesting moral dilemma at its core. There's quite a bit of violence and crew deaths, with more than just the red shirts dying this time, but with some surprising twists.
August 2, 2012
Well, that was fun. Really. I'm not being sarcastic! I was actually kind of dreading this book, because in the Star Trek episodes in which he appears, I strongly disliked Harry Mudd. I didn't need to worry, though, because this book made me kind of, sort of like him! It was a fun little ride, and I enjoyed it even more since I just got done reading two not-at-all fun books.
Of course, I have to give the author, Jerry Oltion, props anyway, because even if the book had sucked, he thanked someone for giving him cookies in the acknowledgements section. That alone was awesome.
Of course, I have to give the author, Jerry Oltion, props anyway, because even if the book had sucked, he thanked someone for giving him cookies in the acknowledgements section. That alone was awesome.
August 13, 2018
Mudd in Your Eye is definitely an enjoyable TOS adventure, with some fascinating world-building. I was never the biggest fan of Harry Mudd, but his character is a little more well-rounded in this novel. His final gambit at the end of the story in order to get away once again was inspired, and I have to admit to being as fooled as Captain Kirk was. A fun story with an interesting premise that held my attention, Mudd in Your Eye would benefit from a re-read due to the twists we learn later in the story. Some narrative choices knock the score down a little bit in my opinion, but not egregiously.
Full review: http://www.treklit.com/2018/08/TOS81....
Full review: http://www.treklit.com/2018/08/TOS81....
October 19, 2018
I had fun with this one.
March 6, 2011
Why give a Star Trek book 4 stars? Is this a hidden gem of high literature that the world needs to discover?
No... but it's got Harry Mudd! Con man extraordinaire, the dapper and witty miscreant is the main attraction in this book. In fact, Mudd takes center stage even over Kirk himself - in a unique twist I'd never thought to see in a Trek book.
It's not as easy as one might think to write a Trek book...
- it must be consistent with the show (both in terms of plotlines and in characterization)
- it must be unique and novel enough to merit existing (too much of the fanfic around neglects this)
- it must keep reader interest up just as much as any book (balancing the above requirements with decent development of action and plot)
And that's really all this book aims to accomplish, besides keeping you entertained. Oltion succeeds on all these levels. Thus, since I enjoyed it AND since it tried something new while still keeping consistently within the standard Star Trek universe, I happily award this book four stars.
So what's new, unique, and novel in this book? Well, it's perhaps a bit more far-fetched than Oltion's other Trek TOS book (Twilight's End), but in both cases I applaud his efforts to try to go imaginatively forth into new frontiers.
Oltion is a credible SF author, and he does try to keep his futuristic fancies palatable in terms of the science. Perhaps this book goes a bit far, and certainly some readers will be skeptical when they realize what type of civilization exists on the planets Kirk and crew encounter.
Without introducting any spoilers, suffice it to say: Oltion is the first author that showed NO fear in killing off major Trek characters! I honestly never thought I'd have this degree of "oh-wow-anything-can-happen" while reading a Trek book, but this book went farther than any other I can reference.
Well done, Mr. Oltion. I'm a fan of your original works, and I've enjoyed both of the Trek TOS novels that I've come across.
Worth a look - it's a quick fun read, and there's some unique (if a bit fanciful) SF elements not usually found in a Trek book.
All that and it's got Mudd too! 4 well-earned stars!
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No... but it's got Harry Mudd! Con man extraordinaire, the dapper and witty miscreant is the main attraction in this book. In fact, Mudd takes center stage even over Kirk himself - in a unique twist I'd never thought to see in a Trek book.
It's not as easy as one might think to write a Trek book...
- it must be consistent with the show (both in terms of plotlines and in characterization)
- it must be unique and novel enough to merit existing (too much of the fanfic around neglects this)
- it must keep reader interest up just as much as any book (balancing the above requirements with decent development of action and plot)
And that's really all this book aims to accomplish, besides keeping you entertained. Oltion succeeds on all these levels. Thus, since I enjoyed it AND since it tried something new while still keeping consistently within the standard Star Trek universe, I happily award this book four stars.
So what's new, unique, and novel in this book? Well, it's perhaps a bit more far-fetched than Oltion's other Trek TOS book (Twilight's End), but in both cases I applaud his efforts to try to go imaginatively forth into new frontiers.
Oltion is a credible SF author, and he does try to keep his futuristic fancies palatable in terms of the science. Perhaps this book goes a bit far, and certainly some readers will be skeptical when they realize what type of civilization exists on the planets Kirk and crew encounter.
Without introducting any spoilers, suffice it to say: Oltion is the first author that showed NO fear in killing off major Trek characters! I honestly never thought I'd have this degree of "oh-wow-anything-can-happen" while reading a Trek book, but this book went farther than any other I can reference.
Well done, Mr. Oltion. I'm a fan of your original works, and I've enjoyed both of the Trek TOS novels that I've come across.
Worth a look - it's a quick fun read, and there's some unique (if a bit fanciful) SF elements not usually found in a Trek book.
All that and it's got Mudd too! 4 well-earned stars!
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December 2, 2020
Kirk is asked to help mediate peace talks at two planets who have been at war for twelve millennia. On arrival, he is shocked to discover that the instigator of these peace overtures is none other than Harcourt Fenton Mudd.
Oltion's novel is fun and light, considering its subject matter, but falls slightly on the problem that this feels like 'Star Trek' by numbers.
Oltion's novel is fun and light, considering its subject matter, but falls slightly on the problem that this feels like 'Star Trek' by numbers.
November 16, 2024
For 12,000 years the planets of Prastor and Distrel have been at war. Suddenly that has stopped. Although not part of the Federation the Enterprise is sent to investigate why, only to find Harry Mudd. Can things get any worse.
An entertaining re-read
An entertaining re-read
February 13, 2020
I had high hopes for this one as I love Harry Mudd - mainly the original, largely comic version played by Roger Carmel, not so much the darker (tho still well-written and acted) version played by Rainn Wilson (and of course this book well-predates Wilson's performance on Discovery by about 20 years).
So I was disappointed to find that, although Oltion wrote an interesting mystery with good action and twists (some a little more hard to swallow than others, I have to admit), he forgot to bring the funny. There's shockingly little humor in the book. Of course, it makes sense that such a situation as two planets ready to resume war after only a tenuous peace is an inherently darker situation than Mudd's past misadventures in TOS (and admittedly they weren't 100% lighthearted - blackmail, endangering a ship and crew, getting said ship and crew kidnapped and almost marooned, etc). A con man's con gone wrong resulting in chaos does make sense. But it should have had at least SOME zaniness or silliness mixed in to both lighten the mood and be more true to the character as he was best known as this time (again, his appearances in Discovery are something of a retcon adding shades of darkness to Mudd that we must assume had faded somewhat by the time of his TOS misadventures).
So... it's a decent Trek novel... but it is not a good Harry Mudd Trek novel. Hopefully someone else will eventually do it well and bring the laughs.
So I was disappointed to find that, although Oltion wrote an interesting mystery with good action and twists (some a little more hard to swallow than others, I have to admit), he forgot to bring the funny. There's shockingly little humor in the book. Of course, it makes sense that such a situation as two planets ready to resume war after only a tenuous peace is an inherently darker situation than Mudd's past misadventures in TOS (and admittedly they weren't 100% lighthearted - blackmail, endangering a ship and crew, getting said ship and crew kidnapped and almost marooned, etc). A con man's con gone wrong resulting in chaos does make sense. But it should have had at least SOME zaniness or silliness mixed in to both lighten the mood and be more true to the character as he was best known as this time (again, his appearances in Discovery are something of a retcon adding shades of darkness to Mudd that we must assume had faded somewhat by the time of his TOS misadventures).
So... it's a decent Trek novel... but it is not a good Harry Mudd Trek novel. Hopefully someone else will eventually do it well and bring the laughs.
January 22, 2024
TOS #81: Mudd in your Eye
Now this was a fun book! I was looking for a lighter read and figured, anything involving Harry Mudd would be a comedy. I’m indifferent towards the characters and the episodes he appeared in, but he’s a good foil for Kirk. Also Rainn Wilson as him in Discovery is great (because I love Rainn Wilson in anything) and one of the few things I like about that show.
Also, he’s one of the non Starfleet human characters we see in TOS which is interesting. Given my indifference towards the character, I was iffy about this book. But I ended mostly enjoying it. I think this is mostly due to the resurrection mechanic that the two races use. I knew the moment Chekov died, that he would be resurrected. But it was a fun and interesting mechanic and reminded me of Landru and what he does to the inhabitants of Beta III. But it was a still enough engaging twist.
And Harry Mudd redeemed himself in the book, but at the same time he stuck to who he was. The ending of the book was very enjoyable. Overall, this was a really good and fun read.
8/10
Now this was a fun book! I was looking for a lighter read and figured, anything involving Harry Mudd would be a comedy. I’m indifferent towards the characters and the episodes he appeared in, but he’s a good foil for Kirk. Also Rainn Wilson as him in Discovery is great (because I love Rainn Wilson in anything) and one of the few things I like about that show.
Also, he’s one of the non Starfleet human characters we see in TOS which is interesting. Given my indifference towards the character, I was iffy about this book. But I ended mostly enjoying it. I think this is mostly due to the resurrection mechanic that the two races use. I knew the moment Chekov died, that he would be resurrected. But it was a fun and interesting mechanic and reminded me of Landru and what he does to the inhabitants of Beta III. But it was a still enough engaging twist.
And Harry Mudd redeemed himself in the book, but at the same time he stuck to who he was. The ending of the book was very enjoyable. Overall, this was a really good and fun read.
8/10
July 12, 2018
Being in the book for classic Trek, I was on a roll with a shelf full of novels at a friend's place (hi, Jade!) and the second I chanced to pick up was this one -- a Harry Mudd-centric comedy thriller which I'd expected to be fluff, and which turned out to be very fluffy indeed. Flyaway entertainment. The plot is okay; the writing is okay; the characterizations are okay.
Uh, what can you say? A solid 3 stars, I guess; not quite “meh”, but not the kind of rolling on the floor, breaking ribs laughing one might have hoped for. The plot was certainly bulked out here and there to squeeze more mileage out of it, and at times it did seem the joke had either worn thin -- or I was missing it. It's not often I miss a joke, but it has happened. Anyway, it's always enjoyable to return to Harry Mudd. This character was based on Poul Anderson's deliciously outrageous Nick van Rijn, whom I love to bits ... so -- Mudd in Your Eye. What the hey? 3 stars it is.
Uh, what can you say? A solid 3 stars, I guess; not quite “meh”, but not the kind of rolling on the floor, breaking ribs laughing one might have hoped for. The plot was certainly bulked out here and there to squeeze more mileage out of it, and at times it did seem the joke had either worn thin -- or I was missing it. It's not often I miss a joke, but it has happened. Anyway, it's always enjoyable to return to Harry Mudd. This character was based on Poul Anderson's deliciously outrageous Nick van Rijn, whom I love to bits ... so -- Mudd in Your Eye. What the hey? 3 stars it is.
September 27, 2022
I wasn't really a fan of Harry Mudd in The Original Series. I actually found the portrayal on Star Trek: Discovery to be much more menacing, fun, and interesting. This novel, of course, takes place after The Original Series episodes featuring Mudd and had Roger C. Carmel in mind, but the character was more fun to read in this story. His opportunistic attitude comes across more funny, like when watching Quark on Deep Space Nine. A world featured in this story is also divided when it comes to fruit, which has toxic and non-toxic components, and as silly as that sounds, it did remind me of the whole Forbidden Fruit angle that some religious people are so familiar with. The moments where Enterprise crew members are believed to be dead are a bit annoying, given that we know they can't die, but the characters' reactions to the possibility are kind of sweet. For the most part, Mudd in Your Eye was an entertaining read.
October 24, 2021
A good “Star Trek” adventure, and I’ve that feels very much in line with the original series. The main characters “sound” right, and the primary “guest star” for the “episode” (Harry Mudd) strikes the right balance of snark and mischief, as well.
The main narrative, concerning two worlds locked in perpetual (but seemingly harmless) warfare, works out well enough, and the resolution is effective. Mainly though, the book feels extremely “TOS” and it is a quick, satisfying read. It does not reinvent the wheel, by any stretch, but as a “Star Trek” fan, it delivers exactly what you would want - a fun, episodic romp with the beloved crew of the “Enterprise”.
The main narrative, concerning two worlds locked in perpetual (but seemingly harmless) warfare, works out well enough, and the resolution is effective. Mainly though, the book feels extremely “TOS” and it is a quick, satisfying read. It does not reinvent the wheel, by any stretch, but as a “Star Trek” fan, it delivers exactly what you would want - a fun, episodic romp with the beloved crew of the “Enterprise”.
July 10, 2024
First up, not a fan of Harry Mudd so this one had that hurdle to overcome.
I think the general message of the book is that war is bad especially when you make it too easy. That was already a lesson taught on the series so...kind of retreading old ground here.
The idea of how these two planets conduct war becomes more absurd the more I think about it and it's just covered up in a blanket of...well that was a long time ago...
There were some fun moments and I did chuckle here and there at points but just couldn't win me over.
I think the general message of the book is that war is bad especially when you make it too easy. That was already a lesson taught on the series so...kind of retreading old ground here.
The idea of how these two planets conduct war becomes more absurd the more I think about it and it's just covered up in a blanket of...well that was a long time ago...
There were some fun moments and I did chuckle here and there at points but just couldn't win me over.
January 1, 2018
Listen, I never expected a book featuring Harcourt Fenton Mudd to give me major Sads, but this succeeded beautifully at the Presumed Dead trope. Everyone's characterization was beautiful as well - there was a lot of wonderful Spock-McCoy banter that warmed my soul. Themes include finding the middle ground between different values, the value of death and of life, and the kind of love that comes with bickering. A very fun read!
May 22, 2022
A really fun ST:TOS novel about Kirk's old nemesis, Harry Mudd. The story is exciting, and the characters are true to TOS. I would have given it 5 stars but for two issues:
1) Scott puts his hand against the vacuum of space to block a hole in a shuttle but is barely injured. Nope. Sorry. Not buying it.
2)The ending is a bit of a stretch. I'm referring to the light bulb and the computer glitch.
However, I did really enjoy the book and would love to read more ST:TOS novels by this author.
1) Scott puts his hand against the vacuum of space to block a hole in a shuttle but is barely injured. Nope. Sorry. Not buying it.
2)The ending is a bit of a stretch. I'm referring to the light bulb and the computer glitch.
However, I did really enjoy the book and would love to read more ST:TOS novels by this author.
August 23, 2019
Mudd In Your Eye is a TOS adventure that features the titular con-man, Harcourt Fenton Mudd. It's set not that long after the events of "I, Mudd" (Stella androids.) It started off a bit slower than I expected, but overall, I had fun with it once the mystery of the planet started to reveal itself. I also loved all of the McCoy-Spock banter. <3
October 24, 2025
Good, exciting, innovative and original Star Trek story.
This book was well written and was quite dramatic and interesting. It featured Harry Mudd, a unique character who is quite the charlatan. There were a few twists and turns and I felt that the story was quite enthralling. It was a shame that it ended so soon.
This book was well written and was quite dramatic and interesting. It featured Harry Mudd, a unique character who is quite the charlatan. There were a few twists and turns and I felt that the story was quite enthralling. It was a shame that it ended so soon.
March 30, 2018
Eine Harry Mudd Geschichte...
January 22, 2019
I loved this one. Interesting new take on a couple of old concepts, and we got to spend some time with Harry Mudd.
January 4, 2020
This is a really fun classic trek novel. Very entertaining plot with great characterisations
April 4, 2022
Actual Rating: 3.5 Stars
April 21, 2022
Entertaining story, definitely felt like I was reading an episode of TOS.
February 18, 2024
I purchased this is 2022 and read this 4 months ago. I don't recall much of it except Mudd was still Mudd scamming his way around the galaxy it was fine
November 14, 2016
I am a Mudd fan. Star Trek was always better when it did nit take itself too seriously,
February 9, 2017
It is clear from the title and the cover that this story features the scamp Harcourt (Harry) Mudd. Therefore, one expects there to be a little comedy in the story, as Mudd can be counted on to be obnoxious and create headaches for Captain Kirk and the rest of the Enterprise crew.
The story starts out interesting, the two planets Prastor and Distrel have been at war for millennia and it appears that peace is actually at hand. The Enterprise arrives to represent the Federation and they are surprised that none other than Harry Mudd is responsible for the peace.
It sounds impossible and of course it is, Mudd is there in order to try to enrich himself and things are not what they appear to be. The story then descends into Mudd trying to steal treasures while the war has restarted and rages around him. Even death in this story is not what it appears to be, yet the mechanism is so implausible that it becomes a bit difficult to read through the entire story.
Kirk and many of the main members of the Enterprise crew are on the ground caught in the crossfire and while they fight bravely they suffer the consequences of innocents caught between two warring groups. As is known before you begin the book, Kirk and company are going to survive the crisis and emerge victorious. What makes a Star Trek book good is how that is done, in this case the path from opening to closing is poorly executed.
The story starts out interesting, the two planets Prastor and Distrel have been at war for millennia and it appears that peace is actually at hand. The Enterprise arrives to represent the Federation and they are surprised that none other than Harry Mudd is responsible for the peace.
It sounds impossible and of course it is, Mudd is there in order to try to enrich himself and things are not what they appear to be. The story then descends into Mudd trying to steal treasures while the war has restarted and rages around him. Even death in this story is not what it appears to be, yet the mechanism is so implausible that it becomes a bit difficult to read through the entire story.
Kirk and many of the main members of the Enterprise crew are on the ground caught in the crossfire and while they fight bravely they suffer the consequences of innocents caught between two warring groups. As is known before you begin the book, Kirk and company are going to survive the crisis and emerge victorious. What makes a Star Trek book good is how that is done, in this case the path from opening to closing is poorly executed.
November 14, 2015
Mudd in Your Eye takes place during the original 5-year mission. No Stardate is listed.
Harcourt Fenton Mudd, from the original Star Trek series, has always remained a favorite character of mine. He appeared in two different episodes, "Mudd's Women" and "I, Mudd." He also appeared on the animated series in a show called "Mudd's Passion." All of the episodes are funny and I loved the Stella android that was tasked to watch over him.
In this story, Harry Mudd once again makes an appears in the Star Trek Universe, along with Stella, when he stops a war that has been killing people for twelve thousand years. The question that should be asked here is, "Why did Mudd do this?" Well, it sure wasn't to help the people out, as it may seem on the surface. Harry Mudd always has an ulterior motive for the things he does. And if he can get rich in the process, all the better for him.
The story by Jerry Oltion is both fun and fast. I was shocked when some of the Enterprise crew were killed on the planet. I knew that they would be back . . . but how? After all, you cannot kill main characters in a book, unless this is the last Star Trek book ever, which it isn't. So, how did Captain Kirk, Scotty, Sulu, Chekov and Mudd get out of being killed? Well, they didn't? Hmmm . . . seems to be a mystery here. I am not going to tell you how the books ends, you are just going to have to read it to find out.
I loved this book. The story was well-developed and engaging. The characters are very well written and the plot is interesting. I was shocked as the crew of the Enterprise were picked off one by one, but as the story unfolded, I had to laugh whenever they died, even if it was multiple times. After all, I knew they would be back.
Overall, Mudd in Your Eye is one of the best Star Trek novels I have read. I highly recommend this book to any lover of science fiction and, of course, to anyone out there that enjoys the Star Trek series. This one is a winner!
I rated this book a 9 out of 10.
Harcourt Fenton Mudd, from the original Star Trek series, has always remained a favorite character of mine. He appeared in two different episodes, "Mudd's Women" and "I, Mudd." He also appeared on the animated series in a show called "Mudd's Passion." All of the episodes are funny and I loved the Stella android that was tasked to watch over him.
In this story, Harry Mudd once again makes an appears in the Star Trek Universe, along with Stella, when he stops a war that has been killing people for twelve thousand years. The question that should be asked here is, "Why did Mudd do this?" Well, it sure wasn't to help the people out, as it may seem on the surface. Harry Mudd always has an ulterior motive for the things he does. And if he can get rich in the process, all the better for him.
The story by Jerry Oltion is both fun and fast. I was shocked when some of the Enterprise crew were killed on the planet. I knew that they would be back . . . but how? After all, you cannot kill main characters in a book, unless this is the last Star Trek book ever, which it isn't. So, how did Captain Kirk, Scotty, Sulu, Chekov and Mudd get out of being killed? Well, they didn't? Hmmm . . . seems to be a mystery here. I am not going to tell you how the books ends, you are just going to have to read it to find out.
I loved this book. The story was well-developed and engaging. The characters are very well written and the plot is interesting. I was shocked as the crew of the Enterprise were picked off one by one, but as the story unfolded, I had to laugh whenever they died, even if it was multiple times. After all, I knew they would be back.
Overall, Mudd in Your Eye is one of the best Star Trek novels I have read. I highly recommend this book to any lover of science fiction and, of course, to anyone out there that enjoys the Star Trek series. This one is a winner!
I rated this book a 9 out of 10.
October 30, 2012
When the worlds Prastor & Distrel give up fighting after 12 millennia of warfare, the Enterprise is sent to investigate why & encounter old nemesis Harry Mudd. Thus is the plot of Jerry Oltion's "Mudd in Your Eye" which brings back the old nemesis of the Enterprise in novel form. The overall concept behind the story seems relatively simplistic but gets out of hand when the reasoning behind the war gets revealed & even Mudd's tactics get old very quickly along with the return of android wife Stella. Oltion's plot goes on far too long & this story which amounts to an overdrawn episode of the show itself & keeps adding plot twists simply to lengthen the story. Granted, Mudd's appearance is nice to see, but should've been kept far briefer than what it was.
October 27, 2013
I’m guilty when I first saw this book, because I really liked the no account scoundrel that is Harry Mudd, and it’s a real shame that his character didn’t appear again in the Original Classic Series. While this book has many of the same stereotypical situations, that the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise encountered during the series (ie. a society that is run by a computer, and the death of a beloved character only to be revived again later in the episode). I feel that this would have been a decent episode for the Original Series.
October 7, 2010
Yet another computer-run civilization. At least this time it wasn't Kirk that broke the Prime Directive to put it back in what the rest of the universe would consider "normal". Characterizations were somewhat flat, and the plot dragged on in places, but overall it was far better than some other Trek books.
June 22, 2012
"Mudd in Your Eye" just scrapes its way to a 3 star rating. The novel has a light & pleasant tone, some solid action writing, and a neat plot twist. But I find Harry Mudd & his Stella-droid to be largely unnecessary to the proceedings, and the overall tale didn't exactly compel me to finish the novel quickly. Harmless, forgettable fun.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews