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Star Trek: The Original Series #49
The Pandora Principle
A Romulan Bird of Prey mysteriously drifts over the neutral zone and into Federation territory. Captain Kirk and the crew of the Enterprise investigate, only to find the ship dead in space. When Starfleet orders the derelict ship brought to Earth for examination, the Enterprise returns home with perhaps her greatest prize.
But the Bird of Prey carries a dangerous cargo, a deadly force that is soon unleashed in the heart of the Federation. Suddenly, the only hope for the Federation's survival lies buried in the tortured memory of Commander Spock's protégé, a cadet named Saavik. Together, Spock and Saavik must return to the nightmare world of Saavik's birth -- a planet called Hellguard, to discover the secret behind the Romulans' most deadly threat of all...
But the Bird of Prey carries a dangerous cargo, a deadly force that is soon unleashed in the heart of the Federation. Suddenly, the only hope for the Federation's survival lies buried in the tortured memory of Commander Spock's protégé, a cadet named Saavik. Together, Spock and Saavik must return to the nightmare world of Saavik's birth -- a planet called Hellguard, to discover the secret behind the Romulans' most deadly threat of all...
273 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published April 1, 1990
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews
October 7, 2009
I love this book. There are plenty better Star Trek novels, but for some reason, this story struck a chord in me when I was younger. I've read it quite a number of times, and nostalgic value alone makes it one of my favorites.
August 30, 2016
Never mind the weak science. Adventure, suspense, intrigue, *and* interesting characters. Fascinating! One of the highest quality Star Trek novels I've read.
December 14, 2024
What an uneven story! There are some scenes and moments in this book that are written fantastically. There are others that just aren't that good, and the story decisions were just bizarre. I feel like Carolyn Clowes wanted to acomplish a little too much for a single novel, and so the plot and tone is a little all over the place.
First the good: I really liked the premise in the beginning of Spock having to help the kids on the planet, particularly the one who is violent and malnourished. His arguments with the other Vulcans were fun to read and fascinating.
I also really liked the character of Mr. Obo, which was just a breath of fresh air in the story and provided excellent levity. I had a smile on my face every time he was on the page.
I also was intrigued by the character of Mr. Harper, who had an opportunity to provide a great dynamic with Saavik.
Spock's discussions with Saavik throughout the book were really excellent though.
Unfortunately many of the good was not paid off in this book.
Most importantly, Saavik feels way out of character, particularly towards the third act and the end of the book. I understand that Clowes was trying to provide a character arc for her, and tried to do something original, but Saavik just felt odd and out of place and not in character, which is the cardinal sin of media tie-in fiction.
Also, the plot with the derelict ships, mass murder weapons, stowaway, Saavik's homeplanet, and the treasure was just too weird and all over the place. The story should have focused on maybe two of these, especially for how short the book is, but it feels stretched and like it added way too much.
Some of the characters felt like their tv counterparts, particularly Spock, McCoy, and Scotty. However, Kirk really didn't feel like Kirk in this book, and as mentioned earlier Saavik was the biggest discrepancy.
Overall, an uneven book that has some highs and a lot of lows. I still was intrigued, but I didn't particularly like it. 5 out of 10.
First the good: I really liked the premise in the beginning of Spock having to help the kids on the planet, particularly the one who is violent and malnourished. His arguments with the other Vulcans were fun to read and fascinating.
I also really liked the character of Mr. Obo, which was just a breath of fresh air in the story and provided excellent levity. I had a smile on my face every time he was on the page.
I also was intrigued by the character of Mr. Harper, who had an opportunity to provide a great dynamic with Saavik.
Spock's discussions with Saavik throughout the book were really excellent though.
Unfortunately many of the good was not paid off in this book.
Most importantly, Saavik feels way out of character, particularly towards the third act and the end of the book. I understand that Clowes was trying to provide a character arc for her, and tried to do something original, but Saavik just felt odd and out of place and not in character, which is the cardinal sin of media tie-in fiction.
Also, the plot with the derelict ships, mass murder weapons, stowaway, Saavik's homeplanet, and the treasure was just too weird and all over the place. The story should have focused on maybe two of these, especially for how short the book is, but it feels stretched and like it added way too much.
Some of the characters felt like their tv counterparts, particularly Spock, McCoy, and Scotty. However, Kirk really didn't feel like Kirk in this book, and as mentioned earlier Saavik was the biggest discrepancy.
Overall, an uneven book that has some highs and a lot of lows. I still was intrigued, but I didn't particularly like it. 5 out of 10.
September 22, 2025
This novel takes place after The Motion Picture and prior to The Wrath of Khan. It was written before the canon between the two movies was more clearly established, but if I had to place it, I'd say the Flashback scenes with Saavik take place shortly after the V'Ger mission and the bulk of the story fits best after Christopher L. Bennett's "The Higher Frontier" when the second five year mission ended. It isn't perfect cause Chekov is on the Enterprise, and Spock is still a commander, but it definitely had the pre-Wrath of Khan feeling. If I had to pick a date, I'd go with 2279 or 2280.
As for the story itself, I loved the completely unexpected backstory for Saavik, and the build-up of the impending crisis for the Federation was quite compelling. Unfortunately, the resolution wasn't as strong. Saavik also felt out of character, which would have been okay if the author turned her more toward being the chapter we'd expect by the end of the novel. Unfortunately, she didn't. It's not a deal-breaker, though, since based on my estimated date, she'd have another five years to grow up into what we see in Wrath of Khan.
Other than his desire to not be behind a desk, Admiral Kirk also felt woefully out of character. Spock, Bones, and the rest of the crew felt spot on, and there were a couple interesting original characters.
Overall, this was a pretty good one.
4.25 out of 5
As for the story itself, I loved the completely unexpected backstory for Saavik, and the build-up of the impending crisis for the Federation was quite compelling. Unfortunately, the resolution wasn't as strong. Saavik also felt out of character, which would have been okay if the author turned her more toward being the chapter we'd expect by the end of the novel. Unfortunately, she didn't. It's not a deal-breaker, though, since based on my estimated date, she'd have another five years to grow up into what we see in Wrath of Khan.
Other than his desire to not be behind a desk, Admiral Kirk also felt woefully out of character. Spock, Bones, and the rest of the crew felt spot on, and there were a couple interesting original characters.
Overall, this was a pretty good one.
4.25 out of 5
December 29, 2024
This is probably a 4 but I'm going to go ahead and 5 star it anyway. This story can be challenging, and dark, and brutally honest. And what it lacks in canonical continuity it makes up for in creativity.
Given that many other stories place Spock eventually marrying Saavik, this version of their first meeting and blooming relationship is somewhat troublesome, in my opinion. For here we have Spock rescuing and essentially raising a young Saavik from a very bad situation and being a father figure or at least mentor would seem to preclude any future romance, to my way of thinking.
Nevertheless. This is a deep story about Saavik learning to overcome her trauma and finding her way in the Federation.
I'm not necessarily a fan of writers always including some significant connection in our characters' back stories, I just find it a little too frequent and convenient and unnecessary. For example Michael Burnham didn't need to be Spock's adopted sister. But in this case it does seem that Spock would be an appropriate mentor for a Half Vulcan - Half Romulan Saavik.
Given that many other stories place Spock eventually marrying Saavik, this version of their first meeting and blooming relationship is somewhat troublesome, in my opinion. For here we have Spock rescuing and essentially raising a young Saavik from a very bad situation and being a father figure or at least mentor would seem to preclude any future romance, to my way of thinking.
Nevertheless. This is a deep story about Saavik learning to overcome her trauma and finding her way in the Federation.
I'm not necessarily a fan of writers always including some significant connection in our characters' back stories, I just find it a little too frequent and convenient and unnecessary. For example Michael Burnham didn't need to be Spock's adopted sister. But in this case it does seem that Spock would be an appropriate mentor for a Half Vulcan - Half Romulan Saavik.
April 24, 2021
Carolyn Clowes is an author with exactly one book to her credit. Considering how good it is, we are all poorer for the lack of more works from her pen.
Clowes’s focus in the novel is Saavik, Spock’s protégé from the second and third Star Trek movies. It’s a prequel that takes the scant details from the films and uses them to construct an excellent origin story about a Vulcan/Romulan child who is one of a group of near-feral orphans on Hellguard, a dismal planet in Romulan space. They are rescued from their miserable conditions by a secret Vulcan mission, one that goes in search of the crews of Vulcan science ships that have disappeared over the years near the Romulan border. Though the Vulcan crewmembers are nowhere to be found on Hellguard, their children – products of assault and abuse by Romulan guards – remain behind.
As a member of the mission, Spock convinces the others to rehabilitate the children and give them the option to join Vulcan society. And Saavik he takes under his wing, educating her and preparing her for entrance into Starfleet Academy. She is just beginning her first year there when the Enterprise encounters a drifting Romulan warbird with a dead crew and a game-changing new secret. The discovery leads the Enterprise to bring the warbird to Earth to be studied by Starfleet’s best and brightest. As they soon discover, however, the real threat lies not with the warbird, but with the seemingly innocuous cargo it contains – one that threatens to bring about war between the Federation and the Romulans.
Though the novel is rich in plot, Clowes never loses sight of her characters. They’re a careful mix of the familiar faces (Kirk, McCoy, Scotty, etc.) and new ones created from Clowes’s fertile imagination. Yet Saavik and her relationship with her mentor are at the heart of the novel, and it’s one of the most richly rewarding ones to be found in any Star Trek novel. With it we get to see Spock as a parent, not of some long-ago relationship (such as David Marcus) but of someone he consciously chooses to make part of his family. Clowes’s genius comes in making the parallels between the two – mixed Vulcan parentage, emotional struggles – implicit rather than overt. It’s one of the best imaginings of a Vulcan relationship that I have ever seen in the Star Trek franchise, and it’s one that anyone writing about Vulcans should consult. It also makes me mourn the fact that this is the only novel Clowes ever wrote for the franchise, though I can easily accept the argument that she decided to stop while she was ahead. It certainly would have been difficult to follow this novel, which is among the best of the classic Pocket Books series.
Clowes’s focus in the novel is Saavik, Spock’s protégé from the second and third Star Trek movies. It’s a prequel that takes the scant details from the films and uses them to construct an excellent origin story about a Vulcan/Romulan child who is one of a group of near-feral orphans on Hellguard, a dismal planet in Romulan space. They are rescued from their miserable conditions by a secret Vulcan mission, one that goes in search of the crews of Vulcan science ships that have disappeared over the years near the Romulan border. Though the Vulcan crewmembers are nowhere to be found on Hellguard, their children – products of assault and abuse by Romulan guards – remain behind.
As a member of the mission, Spock convinces the others to rehabilitate the children and give them the option to join Vulcan society. And Saavik he takes under his wing, educating her and preparing her for entrance into Starfleet Academy. She is just beginning her first year there when the Enterprise encounters a drifting Romulan warbird with a dead crew and a game-changing new secret. The discovery leads the Enterprise to bring the warbird to Earth to be studied by Starfleet’s best and brightest. As they soon discover, however, the real threat lies not with the warbird, but with the seemingly innocuous cargo it contains – one that threatens to bring about war between the Federation and the Romulans.
Though the novel is rich in plot, Clowes never loses sight of her characters. They’re a careful mix of the familiar faces (Kirk, McCoy, Scotty, etc.) and new ones created from Clowes’s fertile imagination. Yet Saavik and her relationship with her mentor are at the heart of the novel, and it’s one of the most richly rewarding ones to be found in any Star Trek novel. With it we get to see Spock as a parent, not of some long-ago relationship (such as David Marcus) but of someone he consciously chooses to make part of his family. Clowes’s genius comes in making the parallels between the two – mixed Vulcan parentage, emotional struggles – implicit rather than overt. It’s one of the best imaginings of a Vulcan relationship that I have ever seen in the Star Trek franchise, and it’s one that anyone writing about Vulcans should consult. It also makes me mourn the fact that this is the only novel Clowes ever wrote for the franchise, though I can easily accept the argument that she decided to stop while she was ahead. It certainly would have been difficult to follow this novel, which is among the best of the classic Pocket Books series.
April 18, 2012
Another first-rate tale from the movie-era of "Star Trek". This is a fine example of how to plug an interesting continuity hole without sacrificing solid, exciting, gripping, hilarious, poignant storytelling. This is the novel that not only gives Saavik a proper, multi-layered origin story, but cements why she is a worthy second-generation addition to the TOS universe. It's a crying shame Carolyn Clowes never wrote another "Star Trek" novel -- this is gold worthy of a Ferengi's desire.
May 1, 2020
Who is Carolyn Clowes? I can't find any information about this author (and I clicked three pages deep on a Google search!).
This was a fun read: 3.5 stars
What I liked:
*I heard "The Battle in the Mutara Nebula" song in my head for the last half of the book. If a Star Trek book makes me hear that song--I add half a star.
*The first chapter--wow, I was hooked. Vulcan's arguing, Spock camping, an old dead planet, the ethics of feral children. The second chapter was a let down, because it jumped so far forward in time--it skipped the good stuff. But I stayed with the story.
*Saavik is a cool character, I love her questions and reading Spock's answers.
*There's a quarantine! There's nothing like reading a book during a coronavirus quarantine when (some of) the characters are also experiencing quarantine.
*I liked the side characters--especially Obo.
Why I didn't give this book 5 stars:
*I eagerly turned the pages--but I have to admit, I didn't quite follow the story. I liked how the author tied up a lot of the loose ends, but I didn't understand everything. I read it in a lot of 10 page chunks--maybe that's the cause of my failure to grasp all the details.
*The author captured the spirit of the characters--but I didn't hear the voice of the characters in the dialogue. McCoy's dialogue seemed a little repetitive and forced (or is that McCoy? And I love McCoy).
*Some scenes and paragraphs seemed like filler--not enough to make me stop reading, but enough to make me deduct a star.
*It takes place before the Wrath of Khan--but the stakes seem just as high. I don't know why this bothers me, but it does.
This was a fun read: 3.5 stars
What I liked:
*I heard "The Battle in the Mutara Nebula" song in my head for the last half of the book. If a Star Trek book makes me hear that song--I add half a star.
*The first chapter--wow, I was hooked. Vulcan's arguing, Spock camping, an old dead planet, the ethics of feral children. The second chapter was a let down, because it jumped so far forward in time--it skipped the good stuff. But I stayed with the story.
*Saavik is a cool character, I love her questions and reading Spock's answers.
*There's a quarantine! There's nothing like reading a book during a coronavirus quarantine when (some of) the characters are also experiencing quarantine.
*I liked the side characters--especially Obo.
Why I didn't give this book 5 stars:
*I eagerly turned the pages--but I have to admit, I didn't quite follow the story. I liked how the author tied up a lot of the loose ends, but I didn't understand everything. I read it in a lot of 10 page chunks--maybe that's the cause of my failure to grasp all the details.
*The author captured the spirit of the characters--but I didn't hear the voice of the characters in the dialogue. McCoy's dialogue seemed a little repetitive and forced (or is that McCoy? And I love McCoy).
*Some scenes and paragraphs seemed like filler--not enough to make me stop reading, but enough to make me deduct a star.
*It takes place before the Wrath of Khan--but the stakes seem just as high. I don't know why this bothers me, but it does.
March 13, 2019
Overall, an excellent novel detailing the life of one of my favorite ancillary Star Trek characters. I've always wished that Saavik was featured more in the Trek films, and I'm glad that she finally gets her backstory told in this novel. The Pandora Principle would go on to influence further stories about Saavik, including one of my favorites, Unspoken Truth by Margaret Wander Bonanno. Only the sketchy science surrounding the main plot of the story detracts a little from The Pandora Principle, but it is still a very interesting novel that goes to some unexpected places.
Full review: https://www.treklit.com/2019/03/tos49...
Full review: https://www.treklit.com/2019/03/tos49...
June 29, 2013
The first time I read this I found it gripping, but also hard, emotionally, to read, similarly to The Hunger Games, yet with a slightly different, more appealing quality. (which I haven't put my finger on yet. It may have some relation to the public hero dynamic for Katniss or the perpetuation of a truly horrifying system.) At the time, I wasn't aware that Saavik wasn't a one-off character for this book. The second time was easier, but I still cried at the return to Hellguard.
The major storylines are Spock's, as he adopts Saavik; Saavik's, as she endeavors to come to terms with terrible childhood memories and being caught between cultural existences; and Kirk's, as he tries to evade the inevitable desk assignment and deals with being trapped underground at Starfleet HQ. There are at least two more minor storylines entwined in the tale. For a period, Starfleet is on the brink of war. And there's the endearing little creature Obo. "Eeasy fix!"
Yes, the science is flawed. Oh well. It's still a great story.
The major storylines are Spock's, as he adopts Saavik; Saavik's, as she endeavors to come to terms with terrible childhood memories and being caught between cultural existences; and Kirk's, as he tries to evade the inevitable desk assignment and deals with being trapped underground at Starfleet HQ. There are at least two more minor storylines entwined in the tale. For a period, Starfleet is on the brink of war. And there's the endearing little creature Obo. "Eeasy fix!"
Yes, the science is flawed. Oh well. It's still a great story.
May 30, 2020
My only real experience with Saavik is her role in the Trek film Franchise. As many "side" characters have. Saavik has captured my attention. This novel was a great addition to her character and I look forward to exploring her story more in the future.
June 29, 2025
10/10 fixed my daddy issues
girl dad spock ftw
girl dad spock ftw
March 1, 2019
Wonderful. Will join The Romulan Way in my small collection of Star Trek novels I accept as canon.
December 5, 2020
A Star Trek novel that focuses on Saavik, a character that was introduced in the second movie (played by Kistie Alley) and also featured in Star Trek III and IV (played by Robin Curtis).
Author Carolyn Clowes gives us a background for the character and does a great job - real character devopment is rare in these books. In fact, of the dozens of Star Trek books I've read, this is certainly among the better ones. It has a great story, lots of action and adventure, humor, and -missing in most of these tie-in novels- a lot of heart.
Characterization is spot-on. Only Kirk seems a bit off-character, but then he isn't featured very prominently in the story, although his storyline leads directly to his position at the start of Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan.
The cover shows Robin' Curtis's likeness, although Clowes clearly based her Saavik on Kirstie Alley's portrayal.
Excellent read, and a shining star among the many bland Star Trek tie-ins.
Author Carolyn Clowes gives us a background for the character and does a great job - real character devopment is rare in these books. In fact, of the dozens of Star Trek books I've read, this is certainly among the better ones. It has a great story, lots of action and adventure, humor, and -missing in most of these tie-in novels- a lot of heart.
Characterization is spot-on. Only Kirk seems a bit off-character, but then he isn't featured very prominently in the story, although his storyline leads directly to his position at the start of Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan.
The cover shows Robin' Curtis's likeness, although Clowes clearly based her Saavik on Kirstie Alley's portrayal.
Excellent read, and a shining star among the many bland Star Trek tie-ins.
April 13, 2025
“Spock knew nothing of children, except that he had once been one, had managed to get over it, and saw no need to dwell upon things that could not be helped.”
July 12, 2008
Spock's personal history with Saavik.
I have a young friend who wasn't even born when Star Trek aired but she has come to be very involved in the story line through the later shows. We often talk about SF and how it has changed through the decades but I have always adamantly avoided the spin off books so this left a hole in an area she particularly enjoys. So I have been given a selection to read.
I am surprised that I enjoyed them. The science was as weak as I feared, but otherwise they are books within what I class as a bus book. Good to read commuting, easy to put down and easy to restart.
Many technical aspects were flawed but the interpersonal story was fine. I liked the Saavik character's interaction with Spock. Both hybrids and incomplete they find solace in each other.
The first technical complaint comes in the use of the term virus. A virus is a nonliving infectious particle that is incapable of acting outside of a host cell yet the story uses the term for a non-infectious agent that catalyzes a reaction upon exposure to oxygen.
Next was that a reaction that was so spontaneous, easily initiated, it would be highly exergonic and release a great deal of energy probably as heat.
They said the mystery material was an isotope of silicon but then went on to say is was chemically different. Isotopes are chemically indistinguishable!!!
So we are left with a natural mined silicaceous nonradioactive isotope acting as a virus, causing an incredibly fast oxidizing reaction that consumes gaseous oxygen but produces no heat. Somehow it reacts with molecules it isn't even in physical contact with.
I have a young friend who wasn't even born when Star Trek aired but she has come to be very involved in the story line through the later shows. We often talk about SF and how it has changed through the decades but I have always adamantly avoided the spin off books so this left a hole in an area she particularly enjoys. So I have been given a selection to read.
I am surprised that I enjoyed them. The science was as weak as I feared, but otherwise they are books within what I class as a bus book. Good to read commuting, easy to put down and easy to restart.
Many technical aspects were flawed but the interpersonal story was fine. I liked the Saavik character's interaction with Spock. Both hybrids and incomplete they find solace in each other.
The first technical complaint comes in the use of the term virus. A virus is a nonliving infectious particle that is incapable of acting outside of a host cell yet the story uses the term for a non-infectious agent that catalyzes a reaction upon exposure to oxygen.
Next was that a reaction that was so spontaneous, easily initiated, it would be highly exergonic and release a great deal of energy probably as heat.
They said the mystery material was an isotope of silicon but then went on to say is was chemically different. Isotopes are chemically indistinguishable!!!
So we are left with a natural mined silicaceous nonradioactive isotope acting as a virus, causing an incredibly fast oxidizing reaction that consumes gaseous oxygen but produces no heat. Somehow it reacts with molecules it isn't even in physical contact with.
December 12, 2012
Personally, I've never understood why it was good that Hope was left in Pandora's box. As Distress was released in the world, wouldn't we want Hope out, to battle Distress?
Anyway, I liked what Saavik says about the myth:
Anyway, I liked what Saavik says about the myth:
For myself," she said slowly, "I believe that people make their own evils--and the result is not a matter of chance. I believe a box opens... because that is its nature--and curiosity is ours. Trusting in gods does not keep it shut, and hope does not keep its evil from getting into the world. The only way to do that... is not to make the box." p. 264
July 31, 2007
I read this ages ago, and I still love it. I think it's one of the best ST novels for the orginal series. It's fast-paced, well-written, and has lots of character development for Spock.
I was afraid I'd be biased because I know the author, but I think I'd like it anyway even if I didn't know her.
I was afraid I'd be biased because I know the author, but I think I'd like it anyway even if I didn't know her.
November 8, 2010
I like this book for the fact that I was able to discover the history of Saavik. Half-Vulcan, half-Romulan and completely tough, Commander Spock tries to teach her the ways of Vulcan. Her struggles are hard as expected, but worth it. But Spock and Saavik must unite one more time to return to Saavik's birthworld Hellguard to try and stop an evil plan of the Romulans.
August 30, 2023
I was very interested in the whole relationship between Spock and Saavik, so this book gave me a little more insight into that. It's one of my favorites, and one of the few that I've kept to probably read again.
June 30, 2007
One of my favorite Star Trek books of all time. Saavik as she might have been. Spock as a patient, but clueless father figure.
October 13, 2009
A well constructed tale of Savvik's origins / youth. Characterizations were excellent, plot held my interest throughout, and not too heavy on technology issues. A very good read!
July 30, 2022
This is still to this day one of my favorite Star Trek novels. For anyone looking for a better understanding of Spock and Savek's relationship this book is a must read.
June 24, 2012
This was a wonderful story. Well written, I was hooked from the beginning, very hard to put down! Loved the incite into Saavik's life.
August 8, 2012
I love this book, it captures Spock and Saavik's characters beautifully, a must read if you're a Spock fan
December 23, 2024
If you're familiar with Pandora's Box, then you know this Greek myth is about Pandora, the first woman created by the gods, who was given a box by Zeus, with strict instructions never to open it. Apparently all religions see women as complete morons, so of course out of sheer curiosity, she opens it. Hey, you would have done the same! Anyway, she releases all the evils of the world (sickness, death, and suffering), but quickly closes the jar. However, what didn't escape, what was left in the jar, was hope. I had hope this book would be good. When I opened it, it wasn't evil that escaped; but what did escape was... a LOT!
The character of Saavik doesn't appear in a whole lot of novels. After reading Greg Cox's novel, Lost to Eternity, earlier this year, The Pandora Principle seemed like a good one to read to learn more about Saavik's upbringing. We already got some in Vonda N. McIntyre's movie novelizations, but here Clowes dives deep into her past, starting with Spock rescuing her from the planet Hellguard. Her interactions with Spock did a pretty good job establishing their closeness and her growth from a feral child/teenager into an almost Vulcan adult (and her struggle to suppress her Romulan heritage). The scenes with her and Spock were generally pretty good!
Before I get into what really didn't work for me in this book, let me say that I really liked Clowes's prose... Clowes prose... the prose of Clowes... heh... rhyming. Anyway, although I'm about to get into story elements that really grinded my gears, her writing was really, really good. Was it good enough? Maybe not in the end, but with a few tweaks to the story (as I'm about to get into), I think this could really have been a really, really good book.
And with that...
I read somewhere that this book was placed in the literary equivalent of Development Hell. Clowes wrote it in 1985, but it wasn't released until 1990. My friend and Literary Treks co-host, Jonathan, theorized this gap may have been due to Paramount licensing not wanting a Saavik book released quite yet since there were still some simmering plans for her in the feature films. While she only appeared briefly in Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, there were plans for her in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country that ended up falling through for some reason. At any rate, I don't think this five year gap did the book many favors. Who knows what kind of shenanigans were going on with the publisher and what changes to the book were taking place during this time?
This is first and foremost a Spock and Saavik book. Which is great! We don't need Kirk in every book. To that end, the constant scenes with Kirk in this book were completely unnecessary. Locking him in a vault during an incident at Starfleet HQ? Just say Nogura grounded him and leave it at that! The Kirk scenes just felt shoved-in. Every time I got to one, I just wanted to skip it. And I probably could have since they didn't add anything to the story.
The way Saavik spoke in the early part of the book was just cringeworthy. She reminded me of the character of Leeloo in the film The Fifth Element. But done badly.
As far as the whole story goes, well there was just too much going on. I kind of liked the idea of this super weapon that would remove all oxygen from the atmosphere. The setup of that as a Romulan plot and their awareness that the Federation wouldn't be able to hold back its own curiosity about the boxes the weapon was contained within was really clever. But then there was something about treasure which I had completely forgotten about. We had a scene really early on with the Praetor that wasn't paid off for a really long time.
And I'm pretty sure that there were other story elements happening that I've just forgotten about. We talk about some of them on Literary Treks, so make sure to listen to that.
Last but not least, I have mixed feelings on the character of Obo. I felt it was under-used in some ways and completely unnecessary in others. It was a funny little character, adding some comic relief, who then completely saves the day. Given that, I almost wish Obo was in the book more. We'd get a scene with it and then nothing for quite a while. Then another little Obo scene, then nothing. Then, oh it's sacrificing itself (or is it?) - do I care? Well, we needed an ending and it may as well have been Obo to save it all.
Although the Clowes prose was really well done and engaging, I had a hard time picking the book back up whenever I put it down. With everything going on in the book, I would give this 2.5 out of 5 stars. It just didn't hit the Saavik itch that I was looking to scratch. I think there were some good ideas that should have been fleshed out a little more and other things that should have been tightened up or removed from the book altogether.
The character of Saavik doesn't appear in a whole lot of novels. After reading Greg Cox's novel, Lost to Eternity, earlier this year, The Pandora Principle seemed like a good one to read to learn more about Saavik's upbringing. We already got some in Vonda N. McIntyre's movie novelizations, but here Clowes dives deep into her past, starting with Spock rescuing her from the planet Hellguard. Her interactions with Spock did a pretty good job establishing their closeness and her growth from a feral child/teenager into an almost Vulcan adult (and her struggle to suppress her Romulan heritage). The scenes with her and Spock were generally pretty good!
Before I get into what really didn't work for me in this book, let me say that I really liked Clowes's prose... Clowes prose... the prose of Clowes... heh... rhyming. Anyway, although I'm about to get into story elements that really grinded my gears, her writing was really, really good. Was it good enough? Maybe not in the end, but with a few tweaks to the story (as I'm about to get into), I think this could really have been a really, really good book.
And with that...
I read somewhere that this book was placed in the literary equivalent of Development Hell. Clowes wrote it in 1985, but it wasn't released until 1990. My friend and Literary Treks co-host, Jonathan, theorized this gap may have been due to Paramount licensing not wanting a Saavik book released quite yet since there were still some simmering plans for her in the feature films. While she only appeared briefly in Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, there were plans for her in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country that ended up falling through for some reason. At any rate, I don't think this five year gap did the book many favors. Who knows what kind of shenanigans were going on with the publisher and what changes to the book were taking place during this time?
This is first and foremost a Spock and Saavik book. Which is great! We don't need Kirk in every book. To that end, the constant scenes with Kirk in this book were completely unnecessary. Locking him in a vault during an incident at Starfleet HQ? Just say Nogura grounded him and leave it at that! The Kirk scenes just felt shoved-in. Every time I got to one, I just wanted to skip it. And I probably could have since they didn't add anything to the story.
The way Saavik spoke in the early part of the book was just cringeworthy. She reminded me of the character of Leeloo in the film The Fifth Element. But done badly.
As far as the whole story goes, well there was just too much going on. I kind of liked the idea of this super weapon that would remove all oxygen from the atmosphere. The setup of that as a Romulan plot and their awareness that the Federation wouldn't be able to hold back its own curiosity about the boxes the weapon was contained within was really clever. But then there was something about treasure which I had completely forgotten about. We had a scene really early on with the Praetor that wasn't paid off for a really long time.
And I'm pretty sure that there were other story elements happening that I've just forgotten about. We talk about some of them on Literary Treks, so make sure to listen to that.
Last but not least, I have mixed feelings on the character of Obo. I felt it was under-used in some ways and completely unnecessary in others. It was a funny little character, adding some comic relief, who then completely saves the day. Given that, I almost wish Obo was in the book more. We'd get a scene with it and then nothing for quite a while. Then another little Obo scene, then nothing. Then, oh it's sacrificing itself (or is it?) - do I care? Well, we needed an ending and it may as well have been Obo to save it all.
Although the Clowes prose was really well done and engaging, I had a hard time picking the book back up whenever I put it down. With everything going on in the book, I would give this 2.5 out of 5 stars. It just didn't hit the Saavik itch that I was looking to scratch. I think there were some good ideas that should have been fleshed out a little more and other things that should have been tightened up or removed from the book altogether.
April 18, 2024
The Pandora Principle by Carolyn Clowes - 49th novel in Star Trek: TOS series
Adventurous, challenging, emotional,
hopeful, inspiring, mysterious, reflective,
sad, and tense.
Medium-paced
Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25 Stars
When I was a small boy, growing up in the Cincinnati, Ohio area (actually SE Indiana), we watched Star Trek (right when syndication was BIG) during dinner time. Every week day, we watched Star Trek: TOS (all 79 episodes...over and over again). I cannot say how many times...but not nearly enough TBH.
So, picking up this book...is me, reliving my love of that era of Star Trek.
My favourite character was Mr. Spock...for he reminded me of my Da. My Da was logical, looked a bit like him, and was a person who rarely ever laughed. So, early on, I thought my Da was actually a Vulcan.
While reading this time period, my favourite (so far) have been Spock centric stories.
Now, with the TOS movies, especially in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, we are introduced to Saavik...played by the young Kirstie Alley (and she did a good job), but my favourite was Robin Curtis...who took over for Kirstie Alley on Star Trek III: The Search for Spock and the later films of that era.
I always felt that played that roll a LOT better...so this book was truly a joy to read.
It had a great story (overall detante with the Romulans), who at this time...were a more unknown adversary...but the A line story was Saavik's past and her mixed heritage of being half Vulcan and half Romulan...and the conflicts of her early life.
So well done. Edge of your seat moments...and great dialogue between Mr. Spock and Saavik. So many meaty moments of tension and worldbuilding.
The book wasn't perfect. There were moments where I felt the story was too predictable, or too "setup"...so that the flow of the story seemed implausible, nothing to taint the joy of the story being told.
Really glad that I was able to read it. I continue my journey through Star Trek: TOS novels.
Adventurous, challenging, emotional,
hopeful, inspiring, mysterious, reflective,
sad, and tense.
Medium-paced
Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25 Stars
When I was a small boy, growing up in the Cincinnati, Ohio area (actually SE Indiana), we watched Star Trek (right when syndication was BIG) during dinner time. Every week day, we watched Star Trek: TOS (all 79 episodes...over and over again). I cannot say how many times...but not nearly enough TBH.
So, picking up this book...is me, reliving my love of that era of Star Trek.
My favourite character was Mr. Spock...for he reminded me of my Da. My Da was logical, looked a bit like him, and was a person who rarely ever laughed. So, early on, I thought my Da was actually a Vulcan.
While reading this time period, my favourite (so far) have been Spock centric stories.
Now, with the TOS movies, especially in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, we are introduced to Saavik...played by the young Kirstie Alley (and she did a good job), but my favourite was Robin Curtis...who took over for Kirstie Alley on Star Trek III: The Search for Spock and the later films of that era.
I always felt that played that roll a LOT better...so this book was truly a joy to read.
It had a great story (overall detante with the Romulans), who at this time...were a more unknown adversary...but the A line story was Saavik's past and her mixed heritage of being half Vulcan and half Romulan...and the conflicts of her early life.
So well done. Edge of your seat moments...and great dialogue between Mr. Spock and Saavik. So many meaty moments of tension and worldbuilding.
The book wasn't perfect. There were moments where I felt the story was too predictable, or too "setup"...so that the flow of the story seemed implausible, nothing to taint the joy of the story being told.
Really glad that I was able to read it. I continue my journey through Star Trek: TOS novels.
September 1, 2017
This story provides much of Saavik's back story. Her life on Hellguard and the years after Spock and the other Vulcans found the half Vulcan children on the planet. It is amazing that Spock was so patient with a child that was wild and starve and so full of hate. He always answered her questions and told her the truth and gained her trust. This story also includes the first year of Saavik at Starfleet Academy.
This story is also about a Romulan plot that they have been working on for twenty years. It is an insane plot to start a war and gain new territory. The problem is that the weapon is more powerful than they ever considered. The one release is on Starfleet Headquarters and museum the effect is devastating. So the race is on to find a way to counter what is going on and that leads back to Hellguard.
Saavik has never really gotten over what happened on that planet. She still has dreams and knows that something terrible happened that was somehow her fault. It all comes back once the lab is found and she is devastated as the memories over taked her. Spock must fight to save her and Earth.
This is an enthralling stories. There is so much going on and of course there is the build up to a climax that no one sees coming. I found myself racing through the last few chapters just to find out what would happen next. I enjoy all these stories and wish that they wouldn't come to an end. I not sure there could ever be enough of them. None of the other series have ever come close to the original.
This story is also about a Romulan plot that they have been working on for twenty years. It is an insane plot to start a war and gain new territory. The problem is that the weapon is more powerful than they ever considered. The one release is on Starfleet Headquarters and museum the effect is devastating. So the race is on to find a way to counter what is going on and that leads back to Hellguard.
Saavik has never really gotten over what happened on that planet. She still has dreams and knows that something terrible happened that was somehow her fault. It all comes back once the lab is found and she is devastated as the memories over taked her. Spock must fight to save her and Earth.
This is an enthralling stories. There is so much going on and of course there is the build up to a climax that no one sees coming. I found myself racing through the last few chapters just to find out what would happen next. I enjoy all these stories and wish that they wouldn't come to an end. I not sure there could ever be enough of them. None of the other series have ever come close to the original.
December 25, 2025
you know that feeling of not knowing what to do with yourself when you finish a book? yeah. i don’t know what to do without my sweet girl and her guardian. this is one of the only significant saavik-centered pieces of media in star trek. it’s certainly the best one, too. i don’t know where i’m going to get another line of emotional cocaine like this. ofc its the only book this author is credited to, as well. fuck my chungus life
i highlighted & underlined the shit out of my copy. spock loves her more than life itself. it’s so obvious, so striking. saavik and jim. the centers of his universe, despite how badly he wants for purity & kolinahr.
saavik’s characterization is incredible. this woman essentially wrote the bible on saavik. not to mention the relationship between spock & saavik. carolyn took a small dynamic from the movies and transformed it into a beautiful familial tale. there is so much love here i’m illllll
carolyn understands these characters better than many of the other star trek writers. she’s on par with nimoy’s understanding.
i felt the ending was a bit rushed & incomplete. they tied the loose ends too quickly. there wasn’t even a spock & kirk reunion scene :( JIM DIDNT EVEN GET TO MEET SAAVIK
what a way to end my christmas eve 💝🎄
music:
!!!! cities in dust - siouxsie and the banshees !!!!
i’d like to walk around in your mind - vashti bunyan
certainty - big thief
i highlighted & underlined the shit out of my copy. spock loves her more than life itself. it’s so obvious, so striking. saavik and jim. the centers of his universe, despite how badly he wants for purity & kolinahr.
saavik’s characterization is incredible. this woman essentially wrote the bible on saavik. not to mention the relationship between spock & saavik. carolyn took a small dynamic from the movies and transformed it into a beautiful familial tale. there is so much love here i’m illllll
carolyn understands these characters better than many of the other star trek writers. she’s on par with nimoy’s understanding.
i felt the ending was a bit rushed & incomplete. they tied the loose ends too quickly. there wasn’t even a spock & kirk reunion scene :( JIM DIDNT EVEN GET TO MEET SAAVIK
what a way to end my christmas eve 💝🎄
music:
!!!! cities in dust - siouxsie and the banshees !!!!
i’d like to walk around in your mind - vashti bunyan
certainty - big thief
July 27, 2022
For me, this book was a page turner. Each page made me want to read the next page. Saavik is one of my two favorite female characters in the Star Trek franchise. The other is Sela, who like Saavik, is half Romulan. Maybe I'm just fascinated, almost to the point of obsession, with Romulans. Who knows.
I loved learning about Saavik's past. Her childhood on Thieurrull, also called Hellguard. Her meeting Spock. Spock rescuing her from Hellguard. Her and Spock's budding student-teacher relationship. The only problem with this book is: when does it take place? If you read the book, it sounds like it takes place between Star Trek The Motion Picture and Star Trek 2: The Wrath Of Khan but the picture on the cover suggests between Star Trek 3: The Search For Spock and Star Trek 4: The Voyage Home. The reason I think that about the picture is because Robin Curtis (pictured on the book cover) didn't play Saavik till Star Trek 3: The Search For Spock. Kirstie Alley played Saavik in Star Trek 2: The Wrath Of Khan. But I digress on when it takes place. It's a good book whenever it takes place. You may have a hard time finding the actual paper pages book but it's available on Amazon Kindle. That's how I read it, on my 4G Kindle Paperwhite. I highly recommend this book. This concludes this review. Thank you for reading. Live long and prosper, fellow Star Trek fans.
I loved learning about Saavik's past. Her childhood on Thieurrull, also called Hellguard. Her meeting Spock. Spock rescuing her from Hellguard. Her and Spock's budding student-teacher relationship. The only problem with this book is: when does it take place? If you read the book, it sounds like it takes place between Star Trek The Motion Picture and Star Trek 2: The Wrath Of Khan but the picture on the cover suggests between Star Trek 3: The Search For Spock and Star Trek 4: The Voyage Home. The reason I think that about the picture is because Robin Curtis (pictured on the book cover) didn't play Saavik till Star Trek 3: The Search For Spock. Kirstie Alley played Saavik in Star Trek 2: The Wrath Of Khan. But I digress on when it takes place. It's a good book whenever it takes place. You may have a hard time finding the actual paper pages book but it's available on Amazon Kindle. That's how I read it, on my 4G Kindle Paperwhite. I highly recommend this book. This concludes this review. Thank you for reading. Live long and prosper, fellow Star Trek fans.
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