| NOVEL | |
|---|---|
| Best Destiny | |
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| Attribution |
| Series: | The Original Series |
|---|---|
| Author(s): | Diane Carey |
| Publication information | |
| Published: | hardback, November 1992 |
| Pages: | 398 |
| ISBN: | ISBN 0671795872 |
| Chronology | |
| Date: | framing story: 2293 backstory: 2249 |
The long-awaited story of a young James T. Kirk's first adventure into space!
Contents |
In the past, some forty-five years earlier, the reader is introduced to a young Jimmy Kirk. At 16 years old, he embodies every parent's worst fears: he is brash, rebellious, impulsive, cocky, and reckless. He is first seen leading a group of similarly rebellious (and criminal) youths on a barely-considered scheme to "escape" from Iowa, sign onto an ocean-going freight vessel as underage deckhands (itself illegal), and make their fortune somewhere in South America. Even at this young age, it is clear that Jimmy is a leader, but he is completely directionless. His father's long absences on Starfleet assignments and his own experiences on Tarsus IV have made him angry and violent, as well as impatient for the right to make his own decisions and live his own life.
Eventually, after Jimmy talks his way aboard a freight ship along with his "gang", the ship is stopped by the authorities and boarded by a Starfleet security team, one of which turns out to be Jimmy's father, George. Predictably, George is extremely unhappy with his son and forcibly returns him to the family farm in Iowa. Once there, however, he is at a loss for how to straighten his son out. It is clear that Jimmy's mother, Winona, can no longer handle him, but George's continuing commitments to Starfleet will inevitably keep him in deep space. Fearing that his son is on the road toward becoming a career criminal and ne'er-do-well, George briefly considers resigning from Starfleet until Winona suggests that he call in some old favors and take Jimmy into space with him.
Warming to the idea, George contacts his old friend, Robert April, and arranges to take Jimmy into space on a routine assignment to the planet Faramond. A new archaological dig is about to get under way there, and April has been asked to break ground. More than that, April has arranged not only to take George and Jimmy with him to Faramond, but to do so aboard the still cutting-edge U.S.S. Enterprise. Although Jimmy displays his usual rudeness and lack of respect for authority on the trip up from the Earth's surface, April displays an uncommon patience and understanding for his godson, even as George experiences continuing frustration. Nevertheless, even Jimmy is impressed by his first view of Enterprise.
This is a sequel to Carey's previous TOS novel, Final Frontier, which chronicled a previously untold adventure of Captain Robert April, Commander George Samuel Kirk Sr. (the father of James T. Kirk), and the newly constructed Constitution-class U.S.S. Enterprise.
This novel actually consists of two separate stories: one set in the past and featuring April, George Kirk, and a 16 year-old Jimmy Kirk; the second is set soon after the events of Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country.
| Published Order | ||
|---|---|---|
| Previous novel: Probe |
TOS hardcovers | Next novel: Shadows on the Sun |
| Previous story: Ghost Ship |
Stories by: Diane Carey |
Next story: The Great Starship Race |
| Chronological Order | ||
| Previous adventure: "All Fall Down" |
Pocket Books Timeline | Next adventure: Sarek |
| Previous adventure: "All Fall Down" |
Memory Beta Chronology | Next adventure: Sarek |
| The above chronology placements are based on the primary placement in 2293. The Pocket Books Timeline and Memory Beta Chronology place events from this story in 1 other timeframe(s): |
||
| Previous Pocket adventure: Sarek Chapter 7, Section 5 Previous MB adventure: Star Trek Chapter 3 (section 4-5) |
2249 | Next adventure: Sarek Chapter 12, 1st entry |
Best Destiny is the title of a biographical work about James T. Kirk. It was written by historian Diane Coulter and published in 2333. Of the many biographies written about Kirk, Best Destiny was generally considered to be the greatest.
Timothy Sinclair read the book during his childhood at Enclave J-12 (it was secretly given to him by Robert Blaisdell). As an adult, he kept a copy of it in his quarters aboard the USS Pendragon. (Star Trek: Pendragon)
Christopher Mackenzie was given a copy of the book as a present from his grandfather, Scott Mackenzie, on his 10th birthday. The biography soon became one of Mackenzie's favorite and was indirectly responsible for inspiring him to enter Starfleet Academy. (Star Trek: Daedalus: "Enlightenment")
After entering a deep coma in 2379, Mackenzie experienced Kirk's life as detailed in the book, with Kirk himself acting as a guide. The wonder and excitement he experienced in his subconscious helped him to recover from his coma and eventually reawaken. (Star Trek: Daedalus: "Starman", "The Light of Day")
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