Kirk trying to give Spock the Enterprise because he intends to leave and go teach at Starfleet, only for Spock to accept on the condition that the Enterprise become a teaching vessel…
Literally not going to let Jim go anywhere alone, even though being a captain would be prestigious, even though he could advance his own career, none of that matters. What matters is being with Jim, and the Enterprise.
TOS novel book review McCoy edition nr 7 - Deep Domain
I knew it was gonna be good and it was 🖖 My biggest problem is that Howard Weinstein is such a funny author but I had to limit myself so this post didn't turn into a hundred quotes from the book...
Link to the previous review
Title: Deep Domain
Author: Howard Weinstein
Year published: 1987
Content warnings: fascism
Plot summary in two sentences:
Post-TMP era, support women's wrongs, where the hell is Spock and Chekov, Kirk can't go anywhere without McCoy, science saves the day. Oh, and there's a lot of sea creatures (there are many benefits to being a marine biologist etc).
Official plot summary:
A routine diplomatic visit to the water-world of Akkalla becomes a nightmarish search for a missing Spock and Chekov, a search that plunges Captain Kirk headlong into a corrupt government's desperate struggle to retain power.
For both a Federation Science outpost and Akkalla's valiant freedom fighters have begun uncovering the ancient secrets hidden beneath her tranquil oceans. Secrets whose exposure may mean civil war for the people of Akkalla - and death for the crew of the starship Enterprise.
This book is for you if you:
Want to read about interesting female characters
Love the mentor relationship between Spock and Chekov
Enjoy Kirk suffering a diplomatic headache
Support McCoy in his role as Kirk's best friend/constant pain in the ass/voice of reason/instigator of trouble/tag-along and so on and so forth
Just want a neat little story with a good mix of action, humor, and character studies
The ultimate McCoy questionnaire under the read-more (minor spoilers):
Is McCoy in it?
If Kirk is there, McCoy is there. This one goes in the McKirk pile.
Quote:
"Going somewhere, Bones?"
"Can't let you get in the middle of an interplanetary war all by yourself."
And
Jim: "Y'know, I wanted you there for more reasons than your renowned diplomatic expertise."
McCoy: "Flattery..."
(It was sarcasm)
2. Is McCoy in it a lot?
It's a well-balanced book and McCoy is in it a reasonable amount.
3. Does he get to be concerned over whatever angst has befallen Kirk lately?
He and Jim are having so much fun together, running around bantering and teasing each other. There are just SO many moments between the two of them (and also with Spock) that delighted me. He does accuse Jim of being homesick and having mooned around for weeks, though.
Quote:
"I'm impressed, Jim," McCoy said with a grin. "You ever thought of being a psychologist or a hellfire an' damnation preacher?"
Kirk felt drained. "How do you know what I said?"
"Cross-circuited the intercom and patched into my office. Heard every word."
Kirk looked mildly annoyed. "I thought you were a doctor, not a communications engineer."
"A man of many talents," McCoy answered modestly.
"Spock - didn't you stop him?"
"He couldn't, Jim," said McCoy. "I threatened to use my medical authority and prolong his next physical."
4. Does he get to have silly little arguments with Spock?
Yes!!! There's a whole bit about how one of the aliens think McCoy is the pinnacle of logic expertise, this is of course very distressing to Spock when he finds out. And there's a lot of fun moments between them.
Quote:
Llissa shrugged. "Leonard's right. We're getting all excited over possibilities. It's a good thing you're so logical, McCoy."
Spock's eyebrow rose sharply. He looked at Kirk. "Has Dr. McCoy undergone some sort of metamorphosis, Admiral?"
"Well," Kirk shrugged. "You have been gone for a whole week, Mr. Spock."
"I should have doubted that an entire lifetime would be sufficient for a modification of such magnitude."
McCoy fixed Spock with an unflinching look. "Somebody had to fill up those Vulcan shoes while you were missing, Spock. Wasn't too difficult, I might add."
And a second quote:
"Mission accomplished," McCoy grumbled. "What do we do now - flap our wings and fly up?"
"You may make the attempt, Dr. McCoy," Spock said, "while the rest of us climb that trail."
And a very important third quote:
"I am familiar with the term. I am also constrained to point out that inappropriate romanticism is hardly a constructive addition to our search for useful data."
"How the hell would a Vulcan know when romanticism is appropriate?" McCoy shot back.
"One does not have to be something in order to be knowledgeable about it."
"Gentlemen," Kirk said, "I hate to interrupt, but we do have business on Akkalla."
5. Is he the damsel in distress?
Spock takes that role this time together with Chekov. Rude.
6. Does he suffer, preferably a lot? Physical and/or psychological torment.
He suffers a little bit of anguish over medical malpractice, and he gets mad at Jim at the end of the book and storms out of the room. But otherwise he's relatively cheerful in this book.
7. Does he get to whine and complain and be right about it? Even better, is he wrong about it?
He has like, a gut feeling that the planet/city isn't very nice. And he does complain a lot about the medical malpractice, which you can see under question 9. Everything works out fine, though, of course.
8. Does he get to throw some of that southern charm around?
He almost causes a diplomatic incident.
9. Does he get to do some medical malpractice?
I don't want to spoil the plot by describing the medical malpractice, so have more quotes instead (I saved way too many quotes from this novel, it's just so quote-able...
"Evaluate," McCoy grumbled sarcastically. "Then it's up to me?"
"It's up to you." Jim smiled. "Aren't you the one who used to claim you could cure a rainy day?"
McCoy snorted. "Damned lousy time to start quoting the gospel according to me..."
More quote (with some skips to avoid spoilers):
The door slid aside, and McCoy came in, looking hunched and grumpy. He plowed a hand through his hair and slumped into the recliner facing Kirk's desk.
"I checked everything I could think of. Did computer simulations. God help me, I even asked Spock for his input."
"And-"
"And it looks like it might work. [...] I just don't know. I-I wish we had another choice."
"Do we?"
McCoy shrugged. "No. But I don't mind telling you, I'm not comfortable with this plan, Jim. I feel like some sort of Dr. Frankenstein, going against nature."
[...]
"You don't have to like it. All you have to do is - do it."
"I guess. [...] I want him close to emergency equipment, in case anything goes wrong."
"I've got faith in you, Bones."
McCoy's eyebrows scrunched into a frown. "Well, I'm glad somebody does."
"Okay. [...] Anything else you need?"
McCoy got up and headed for the door. "Anything else I need-" he muttered. "I need my head examined for getting into this."
And then Jim being concerned over the whole thing:
Kirk's forehead furrowed as he looked into his friend's eyes, glimpsing the turmoil there. It was no secret that McCoy was an emotional man, but those emotions were usually used for particular effect, like tools for psychic surgery. For all his moods and outbursts, Kirk had always believed McCoy to be as soundly anchored and sure of himself as any being he'd ever known. It bothered him to see the doctor in this muddle of uncertainty, bothered him even more to know he'd brought it on by prodding McCoy into approving the experimental treatment.
"I'm sorry, Bones. I don't know what to say."
McCoy shrugged. "That makes two of us."
10. Does Spock call him illogical or similar?
See previous quotes. To be fair Spock was kidnapped for most of the book, so he missed a couple of chances.
11. Is he forcibly put through his arch nemesis the transporter? Or the dress uniform?
He strangely enough says that he doesn't mind the transporter for once. Are pigs flying? I had to check out the window.
12. Does Kirk call him handsome (joke or not this happens more than you’d think)?
No, but there's a funny quote:
"I wish Spock was here," Kirk said.
McCoy raised an indignant eyebrow. "What're we, chopped liver? And besides, we wouldn't have room for him."
"You're right, Bones. And you're not chopped liver."
I guess that's pretty close to a compliment.
13. Bonus points if his accent is pronounced and his speech is full of befuddling southern expressions which make Spock question McCoy’s sanity (and me wondering if I need a dictionary)
He gets a few moments with fun expressions. I think my favorite was "Are you out of your waterlogged mind?"
Criticisms/things I’d change
It's a solid book with a solid plot so not much I'd change. Maybe I'd make the evil sexy military lady even more evil and sexy. Maybe it's a little too solid and predictable if you're the type to enjoy surprises, but the author makes up for it in characterization and humor.
Highlights:
I liked the aliens and their world. McCoy was a highlight of course, and this author is very good at writing them in character. Probably the little bit about McCoy being a logical man was my favorite part. I definitely recommend reading it!
