39 replies to this topic

[TheHSBR]

^Re: #3 I'm not sure what you mean by that...I think Pocket Books' editors do an outstanding job keeping tabs on the novels.

The biggest difference between Trek and Wars is that all of Wars comics, novels, cartoons, etc. are treated as canon and part of the complete universe. Trek/Paramount (now CBS) has NEVER taken novels or comics into consideration in production of onscreen content. And I seriously doubt they ever will. It WOULD be nice because I'd love to see the DS9 continuation novels turn into canon. (*sigh* I miss that show more and more these days )

And where have all the fans gone? Ironically I think there are a lot of fans who are reluctant to buy from purely online markets. Also I have to wonder about economic considerations as well. i.e. peeps like me are now POH (that's poor for the uninitiated) compared to income we were making in the 90's and early 00's.

I disagree completely. Authors are constantly writing over each other. Case in point the Mirror Universe has so many different variations its hard to keep track of them all. Just recently some normalcy came about with the various relaunches and it seems like there may be a singular vision in place. Im not sure if Lucas ever acknowledged that stuff other than the movies is "canon" but he sure keep a tight reign on it to make sure that there is a singular vision and that authors have to work within guidelines. I wish Star Trek could have something like that too where we have a "continuing mission" per se.

Im hoping that this focus group does a lot of good for Star Trek merchandise. Keep those good ideas coming!

[Gothneo]

I'm a bit confused on what you dissagree with thehsbr?!

I thought Wildcard was saying that Star Wars Comics & books have some Continuity with the Movies and official SW Universe, while anything outside of the Movies/TV in Trek does not.

[Jedigreedo]

For Star Wars, Lucas has stated on a few occasions that despite Lucasfilm setting guidelines for SW authors and having to approve of the final version before something gets made, nothing other than the movies (and kinda the Clone Wars cartoon) are canon. Novels, comic books, guides, etc. work within the canon universe, but are not officially canon until Lucas rips off err acknowledges it.

This generally helps a steady flow in the EU-canon though, as it often means stories don't contradict one another. However, Lucas' official canon can contradict anything in the EU if he wants.

It sounds like the Trek novels are open to whatever canon the author wants to apply.

[Gothneo]

That's how I understaood it Jedigreedo.

Basically I think in start trek, only the TV shows and Movies are considered Cannon by most.

Some (like me) consider the Cartoons Cannon too, but I don't think ofically they are.

Once of the big difference between the two are that there is so much MORE in the Trek Universe!

28 years of TV episodes alone and 10 movies to star wars 6 movies!

[Thomas E. Johnson]

I've been accepted into the group as well.

[Wildcard]

It sounds like the Trek novels are open to whatever canon the author wants to apply.

Not exactly....all the books are bound by what's appeared on screen at the time they go to writing. The only exception being the Animated Series...which some writers have used (i.e. Peter David) and others have ignored it. The series writers were never held to TAS either, so it's debatable what to do with this poor step-child of a series.

Sometimes, especially during the early days of TNG and the TNG novels, this overlapped and so some novels were published with information that had already been contradicted by a new episode. The production time just didn't allow for changes to be made to a novel that takes months of work before publishing to adhere to an episode that's going to air in two weeks.

Also, as I was mentioning in another thread, until relatively recently there wasn't a whole lot of interoffice communication between editors in regards to continuity. The current editors are doing a much more diligent job of this. However there are some accepted and expected exceptions. I.e. the Strange New World anthologies are not held to novel "canon"; the Shatnerverse is considered it's own sub-universe (think Ultimate X-men to Uncanny X-Men).

For more information, see the other thread about the Expanded Universe. Let's leave this thread to the focus group discussion.

[Jedigreedo]

So, has anyone received any emails aside from the one that said your name was put on the focus group back in September?

[Artistix]

Nope. Haven't heard a thing (aside from the initial message you mentioned).

[JMW326]

Nope just the first message and nothing since.

[TheHSBR]

the same.

[TheHSBR]

Just got an email stating that this group wants to go forward in the beginnings of 2008.

[JMW326]

same here

[Artistix]

Yeah, they were saying something about Chris Pine...did anyone send a responce yet? I've been thinking about it.

[Jedigreedo]

They want to know your dream item, but no I haven't responded yet. I have alot of ideas, but am thinking they probably want something that is pretty realistic and practical.

[TheHSBR]

i responded with a 2008 encyclopedia much like the star wars essential guides

[Jedigreedo]

I gave'em a couple ideas, my first true fantasy one would probably be much too expensive. It's a replica of Picard's "History of the Enterprise" cabinet from First Contact scaled to fit on a desk, with voice clips from each Captain and an introduction clip by Majel Barret as the Starfleet computer.

My more practical fantasy was a cloth version of the Trek XI teaser poster made using the same fabrics as the costumes.

[Jedigreedo]

I wonder what their progress has been with this, as it's been almost a year?

[knightone]

I gather no other emails other than the first one have gone out? I hope this program is still in the works.

[TheHSBR]

After the first email there may have been a second but pretty much nothing. I still think its a good idea though.

[Jedigreedo]

Yeah, there was the first email and then there was the dream item email, after that it's been completely quiet though. Hoping they still plan on continuing it, I really liked the idea of them getting fans involved.