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Star Trek: The Animated Series Logs Nine And Ten by Alan Dean Foster
01/07/2007 . Source: Eamonn Murphy 
Pub: Del Rey/Ballantine Books. 424 page enlarged paperback. Price: $13.95 (US), $19.95 (CAN). ISBN: 0-345-49585-3. Buy Star Trek: The Animated Series Logs Nine And Ten in the USA - or Buy Star Trek: The Animated Series Logs Nine And Ten in the UK  check out website: www.delreybooks.com and www.startrek.com
Here are two more 'padded Logs' as I call them. Alan Dean Foster had to stretch twenty page cartoon scripts to full novels because the books were selling so well. Happily, he realised this couldn't be done and having started with the original story, added new material to it. The padding is usually better than the original story, to give credit where it's due.
'BEM' the script for Log 9, was by David Gerrold, of tribble fame. 'Bem' is the name of a Pandronian representative foisted on the Enterprise crew by Star Fleet. They have to drag him along on a few missions so he can decide if Pandronia should join the Federation. Naturally, the Klingons want Pandronia in their little Empire so Kirk and crew must impress the alien. He seems distinctly unimpressed by them at first, disdainful of everything but, as in a good buddy movie, they all end up good friends. Bem is, of course, the Science Fiction acronym for bug-eyed-monsters or aliens, so Gerrold is having a bit of fun with us. BEM was also the politically correct acronym for immigrants in England until recently, but now its BME - black and minority ethnics. Someone must have got the joke.
The initial chapters set on Delta Theta Three where a primitive tribe are ruled over by an omniscient being are hardly worth reading except to learn about Pandronian physiology. Once again I must complain about Star Trek repeating themes. Omniscient beings ruling a 'paradise' of simple folk has been done at least twice on the show. Amazingly, Kirk actually upholds the prime directive this time and leaves them alone. There follows what I presume is Foster's add on and it is great. Trouble on Pandronia means the Enterprise must take Bem back there and locate a sacred stolen crown to save the whole planet. The Pandronians are multi-cellular organisms where several bits co-operate to form one being. Evolution on Pandronia consists of separate species incessantly linking up in new patterns to make a new form. If it is successful - like Bem and his race - they stick to it. But, in general, the planet is a chaotic nightmare of new monsters always developing. Gerrold may have invented the Pandronian physiology but Foster runs with it and makes a great story, more particularly a great Science Fiction story. This was my favourite of the series.
The script for Log 10 was by a genuine top of the range Science Fiction writer, namely Larry Niven. The Slavers ruled the galaxy a billion years ago and all traces of their civilisation have vanished except for a few stasis boxes, Science Fictional time capsules that contain precious technology. 'Slaver Weapon' introduces Niven's cat-like Kzin to the Star Trek universe where they give Spock, Uhura and Sulu a hard time trying to get such a box. Kirk, meanwhile, has feline problems of his own when M'ress and two other Caitians crew members go wild and try to take over the ship. Then the Enterprise has to go to the Briamos system and recruit the Briamosites into the Federation. They are being wooed by, you guessed it, the Klingons.
This cold war theme of the good empire and the evil empire competing for favour with third world planets is another one over done in Trek but overall this Log is a good yarn. Foster thinks it is the best of the bunch, proud of the way he adapted Niven's work. Personally, I think Logs 8 and 9 were both better but certainly these last three were the best in the series. In fact, I was left, after ten logs, wishing there were more to read.
Eamonn Murphy
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