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Star Trek Classic #76
Best Destiny
As James T. Kirk prepares to retire from a long and illustrious Starfleet career, events in a distant part of the Federation draw him back to a part of the galaxy he had last visited as a young man, a mysterious world called Faramond whose name takes Kirk on a journey back to his youth.
At sixteen, Kirk is troubled, estranged from his father, and has a bleak future. However, a trip into space with Kirk's father George and Starfleet legend Captain Robert April changes James Kirk's life forever, when a simple voyage becomes a deadly trap. Soon Kirk and his father find themselves fighting for their lives against a vicious and powerful enemy.
Before the voyage ends, father and son will face life and death together, and James T. Kirk will get a glimpse of the future and his own best destiny.
At sixteen, Kirk is troubled, estranged from his father, and has a bleak future. However, a trip into space with Kirk's father George and Starfleet legend Captain Robert April changes James Kirk's life forever, when a simple voyage becomes a deadly trap. Soon Kirk and his father find themselves fighting for their lives against a vicious and powerful enemy.
Before the voyage ends, father and son will face life and death together, and James T. Kirk will get a glimpse of the future and his own best destiny.
398 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 1992
About the author
Diane Carey
76 books111 followersDiane Carey also wrote the Distress Call 911 young adult series under the name D.L. Carey.
Diane Carey is primarily a science fiction author best known for her work in the Star Trek franchise. She has been the lead-off writer for two Star Trek spin-off book series: Star Trek The Next Generation with Star Trek: Ghost Ship, and the novelization of the Star Trek: Enterprise pilot, Broken Bow.
For more information, please see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diane_Carey
Diane Carey is primarily a science fiction author best known for her work in the Star Trek franchise. She has been the lead-off writer for two Star Trek spin-off book series: Star Trek The Next Generation with Star Trek: Ghost Ship, and the novelization of the Star Trek: Enterprise pilot, Broken Bow.
For more information, please see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diane_Carey
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews
December 30, 2021
An exciting and entertaining look at Captain Kirk's younger years.
January 3, 2020
Apparently it's bring your kid to work day at Star Fleet because Commander George Kirk brings his "snot nosed", disillusioned, hell-raising teenager of a son Jimmy along on what's supposed to be a mundane mission to a remote planet where the remains of an ancient, highly advanced alien race have been uncovered. Cool. But, watch out for those... ! Young James T Kirk and his father and crew are thrust into a deadly situation. Lessons are learned, especially the honor of being ready to sacrifice one's self for others, and a fractious relationship with his father is mended. And who knows, maybe Jimmy will change his ways and his life will take on a new direction? Stranger things have happened.
June 23, 2016
Best Destiny is the story of the development of two men. The story starts 45 years before the events of ST VI: Undiscovered Country. A 16 year old, rebellious, trouble-making and downright snotty "Jimmy" Kirk runs away from home to get aboard a ship in order to be a deckhand. Promptly "recovered" by his father, a Starfleet Security officer. Deciding to teach his troublesome son some lessons he and Captain April take Jimmy on a routine exploration mission. Of course nothing is routine about this mission. Here young Jimmy runs into Roy Moss near a planet called Faramond. The pirate ship captained by Big Rex, Roy's father, has been raiding vessels near an area of space known as the Blue Zone.
The pirates attack and capture the small Federation vessel. From here we see the development, almost in parallel, the two men- Kirk and Moss. For Kirk, he shifts from a snotty, arrogant, know-it-all (believe me the teenage Kirk was an annoying nightmare) brat to the man who will one day become a legendary Starfleet Captain. For Moss, an abused by highly intelligent boy, he goes from being a teenage boy with problems to the man who one day becomes a pathologically driven lunatic.
Eventually Kirk, his father and Captain April are able to defeat the pirates and call in the Enterprise. Moss is arrested and Kirk goes on to join the Academy and gain fame.
Fast forward 45 years and Captain Kirk and the Enterprise crew are notified that a Starfleet vessel has gone missing near the planet of Faramond. It seems Moss has managed to return and discovered an old alien technology that could have grave consequences for all of Starfleet.
The rest of the story you will have to read to find out. The book really isn't about the adventure at all. This book tells the story of the development of Kirk into the man he is, and in parallel it tells the story of how Roy became who he became. This book gives a great insight into Kirk and what makes him Kirk. The annoying young brat who learned about duty and discipline during this voyage also manages to connect with his father and start preparing for his Starfleet career. Meanwhile Roy goes from bad to worse as he becomes power mad and megalomaniacal.
This is a great story for any fan of Kirk. It gives a great look into what motivates Kirk, as well as where he gets his maverick approach to things. The story itself is relatively pedestrian in comparison to the biographical portrait sketched about Kirk. A well written Star Trek tale that will help fans understand the legend that is James Tiberius Kirk. Highly recommend to any ST fan, but most especially for those with a soft spot for Kirk.
The pirates attack and capture the small Federation vessel. From here we see the development, almost in parallel, the two men- Kirk and Moss. For Kirk, he shifts from a snotty, arrogant, know-it-all (believe me the teenage Kirk was an annoying nightmare) brat to the man who will one day become a legendary Starfleet Captain. For Moss, an abused by highly intelligent boy, he goes from being a teenage boy with problems to the man who one day becomes a pathologically driven lunatic.
Eventually Kirk, his father and Captain April are able to defeat the pirates and call in the Enterprise. Moss is arrested and Kirk goes on to join the Academy and gain fame.
Fast forward 45 years and Captain Kirk and the Enterprise crew are notified that a Starfleet vessel has gone missing near the planet of Faramond. It seems Moss has managed to return and discovered an old alien technology that could have grave consequences for all of Starfleet.
The rest of the story you will have to read to find out. The book really isn't about the adventure at all. This book tells the story of the development of Kirk into the man he is, and in parallel it tells the story of how Roy became who he became. This book gives a great insight into Kirk and what makes him Kirk. The annoying young brat who learned about duty and discipline during this voyage also manages to connect with his father and start preparing for his Starfleet career. Meanwhile Roy goes from bad to worse as he becomes power mad and megalomaniacal.
This is a great story for any fan of Kirk. It gives a great look into what motivates Kirk, as well as where he gets his maverick approach to things. The story itself is relatively pedestrian in comparison to the biographical portrait sketched about Kirk. A well written Star Trek tale that will help fans understand the legend that is James Tiberius Kirk. Highly recommend to any ST fan, but most especially for those with a soft spot for Kirk.
November 6, 2012
I liked the look into Kirk's past.
November 21, 2016
3 1/5 Like the story, writing style was not my favorite.
December 3, 2020
I found this book interesting. I enjoyed the story of Jim becoming a man.
I was surprised by the amount of gore in the book though. I wasn't prepared lol
I was surprised by the amount of gore in the book though. I wasn't prepared lol
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 10, 2021
The tale of a young James T. Kirk's first adventure involving the Enterprise is documented with a linked framing story involving the Enterprise crew at the end of their careers following the sixth movie.
I found the young sullenly Jimmy Kirk a bit difficult to believe (for me he didn't mesh with the older Kirk seen on screen) but I enjoyed the main story featuring his interactions with Captain April and his Enterprise crew. It's unfortunate they don't get much of a follow-up at the end of the book.
The latter set framing story is good although the epilogue seemed to undo the end of the sixth movie and I found this unnecessary and disappointing.
I found the young sullenly Jimmy Kirk a bit difficult to believe (for me he didn't mesh with the older Kirk seen on screen) but I enjoyed the main story featuring his interactions with Captain April and his Enterprise crew. It's unfortunate they don't get much of a follow-up at the end of the book.
The latter set framing story is good although the epilogue seemed to undo the end of the sixth movie and I found this unnecessary and disappointing.
January 8, 2018
Best Destiny tells the story of young James T. Kirk and what made him the heroic captain we know him to be. This is an excellent story that has held up in the couple of decades since I first read it, and I recommend it for any fan of Star Trek novels. Diane Carey has constructed a compelling story, both in the flashbacks to Jim's early years and in the crisis that Captain Kirk and his crew face shortly after the end of Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country. It is still one of my favorite Star Trek novels.
Full review: http://treklit.blogspot.com/2018/01/B...
Full review: http://treklit.blogspot.com/2018/01/B...
November 24, 2008
For the die hard Star Trek fan, they might rate it higher. I read it and found nothing too bad about it--but nothing exceptional either. Especially, I find the relatively quick change is Kirk;s character a bit hard to swallow.
November 7, 2008
This book is a must read before the next Trek movie.
June 28, 2017
An ok read, but kinda slow in some places.
February 15, 2021
This wasn't what I was expecting. Even so, it was fun to see an alternate beginning to Captain Kirk.
August 28, 2021
Great read! Imaginative tale of Robert April, George Kirk, and James T. Kirk aboard the original Enterprise 1701 and on an away mission in space.
January 29, 2022
Loved it. Took a few minutes to get into it, and then I struggled to close it.
May 1, 2022
Thrilling, interesting and adventurous story about a legendary captain. 💫💫💫
October 14, 2022
Fun little backstory about a young Jimmy Kirk, interposed with an updated James Kirk. Flavors of Khan what with fighting someone that he's fought before. Spoiler* he wins. He always wins!
June 23, 2018
4.5 stars. I considered just listening to the audiobook version of this, but I’m so glad I read the actual book. Heck, I’ve had it on my shelf, unread, for years!
I dinged this a half a star for two reasons. First, there were times I felt the story dragged on a little too long. At 398 pages, it’s a lengthy book for its time. I can’t put my finger on specific scenes, but some of the stuff on the Shark probably could have been trimmed a little. All the bickering between the crew really solidified how bad they were, but it was also pretty evident early on.
Second, I was really hoping for some closure on how Veronica would fare. Maybe just a could sentences with older Kirk thinking about her and his amazement at her recovery. I mean, she was in rough shape and I know she survived, but the last we see of her after all she went through was her in a hospital bed falling asleep.
The thing I loved most about this book was how much I really didn’t like Jimmy at first and then his literal U turn and the subsequent events on the Shark. There was definitive redemption for Jimmy and I feel like we really got to see him become the Jim we all know and love. From his ability to annoy the crap out of his captor with his verbal jujitsu to probably the first occurrence of the double-fist hammer-punch which only came about because his hands were tied together.
Overall, a great adventure and one that I can’t believe has taken me so many years to delve into. A must-read for avid TOS fans!
I dinged this a half a star for two reasons. First, there were times I felt the story dragged on a little too long. At 398 pages, it’s a lengthy book for its time. I can’t put my finger on specific scenes, but some of the stuff on the Shark probably could have been trimmed a little. All the bickering between the crew really solidified how bad they were, but it was also pretty evident early on.
Second, I was really hoping for some closure on how Veronica would fare. Maybe just a could sentences with older Kirk thinking about her and his amazement at her recovery. I mean, she was in rough shape and I know she survived, but the last we see of her after all she went through was her in a hospital bed falling asleep.
The thing I loved most about this book was how much I really didn’t like Jimmy at first and then his literal U turn and the subsequent events on the Shark. There was definitive redemption for Jimmy and I feel like we really got to see him become the Jim we all know and love. From his ability to annoy the crap out of his captor with his verbal jujitsu to probably the first occurrence of the double-fist hammer-punch which only came about because his hands were tied together.
Overall, a great adventure and one that I can’t believe has taken me so many years to delve into. A must-read for avid TOS fans!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 5, 2017
This is a good story spotlighting both Kirk's youth and his later years. It does have it's flaws, though. The framing device of Kirk and the crew heading for an apparent disaster seems to cut into the story of young Kirk and his father with no apparent structure nor direct correlation of the moments recounted.
There were also times when the editor or proofreader missed something glaring. In one instance Kirk steps up to Spock's science station. A moment later, he is said to get up from his command chair, which he should have already done in order to step up to the science station. Later, a character is described holding a communicator and having a control box on his belt. On the very next page, the control box and communicator apparently swap places. Normally I wouldn't nitpick such things, but they were so jarring that they took me out of the story.
They did not, however, ruin the story. It's a good book about what drives Kirk and the other people in Starfleet, a story of hope for the future.
There were also times when the editor or proofreader missed something glaring. In one instance Kirk steps up to Spock's science station. A moment later, he is said to get up from his command chair, which he should have already done in order to step up to the science station. Later, a character is described holding a communicator and having a control box on his belt. On the very next page, the control box and communicator apparently swap places. Normally I wouldn't nitpick such things, but they were so jarring that they took me out of the story.
They did not, however, ruin the story. It's a good book about what drives Kirk and the other people in Starfleet, a story of hope for the future.
February 7, 2018
A good book. The first Star Trek novel I’ve read.
Best Destint switches between Captain Kirk on what might be his last mission on the Enterprise, with a young brash Jim Kirk on his first space adventure.
Things I liked: the plot was good! It was tense and the character development was pretty smooth. Seeing the ins and outs of a Starship in a more intimate way than in the TV series was nice. Plus, a disabled main character (Veronica) was a refreshing addition. The metaphors, while there were too many, added strong imagery to scenes and feelings. The philosophy, whily cheesy at times, was solid.
Things I thought could use improvement: the story dragged, especially in what could have been more tense parts. After young Jim’s story all but finishes, there’s the story of older Jim that keeps going. I lost interest the last 3 or 4 chapters. The story would’ve been just as strong being purely about young Jim. Also, the author used some othering language about the characters of color, as exotic or relating them to food, etc.
Best Destint switches between Captain Kirk on what might be his last mission on the Enterprise, with a young brash Jim Kirk on his first space adventure.
Things I liked: the plot was good! It was tense and the character development was pretty smooth. Seeing the ins and outs of a Starship in a more intimate way than in the TV series was nice. Plus, a disabled main character (Veronica) was a refreshing addition. The metaphors, while there were too many, added strong imagery to scenes and feelings. The philosophy, whily cheesy at times, was solid.
Things I thought could use improvement: the story dragged, especially in what could have been more tense parts. After young Jim’s story all but finishes, there’s the story of older Jim that keeps going. I lost interest the last 3 or 4 chapters. The story would’ve been just as strong being purely about young Jim. Also, the author used some othering language about the characters of color, as exotic or relating them to food, etc.
May 2, 2019
This was interesting - we see teenage, moody, pain in the ass Jimmy Kirk (just like in the reboot Trek movie), but with his father. George Kirk takes him on a mission that happens to have him see and go on board the newly built USS Enterprise, commanded by Robert April. And it's hardly a spoiler to say that stuff goes wrong, he sees the light - and his future - and grows by the end of the story. It was an interesting story based on when it was written, before the image I have in my head from the first rebooted crew movie where we see the lost Kirk acting out before he meets Pike. Here, April kind of fills that role, but more so the mission and the bad guys.
James Doohan narrated this one - geez, sometimes, the voices he does are so great, it made me wonder if they were really him (yep, they are); and he can do a really good Kirk too!
James Doohan narrated this one - geez, sometimes, the voices he does are so great, it made me wonder if they were really him (yep, they are); and he can do a really good Kirk too!
February 7, 2018
Of course book about a 16 year old James T. Kirk would still involve the Enterprise. Yes, that Enterprise, Good ol' NCC-1701. It's the kind of unnecessary eye-roller fan service detail that makes the whose universe seem small.
That being said, I really liked this a lot. Best Destiny is not only a good Star Trek story, but a good adventure story. Even though we know Jimmy's getting out alive, Diane Carey manages to give us a suspenseful survival tale with a palpable sense of danger (RIP Redshirts). While a little long in some places, the story overall moves pretty well thanks to Carey's strong sense of characters.
That being said, I really liked this a lot. Best Destiny is not only a good Star Trek story, but a good adventure story. Even though we know Jimmy's getting out alive, Diane Carey manages to give us a suspenseful survival tale with a palpable sense of danger (RIP Redshirts). While a little long in some places, the story overall moves pretty well thanks to Carey's strong sense of characters.
January 5, 2021
Cmdr. George Kirk calls in a favour with his old commanding officer when his sixteen year old son Jimmy is in danger of going off the rails. Captain Robert April decides a diplomatic mission to Faramond might open Jimmy's eyes to new possibilities. However, when the Starfleet cutter is attacked by another ship, Cmdr. Kirk realises that he may have exposed his son to nothing more than imminent danger.
Carey's 'Best Destiny' is a great sequel to 'Final Frontier', but stands very well on its own. Carey expertly regresses the younger Kirk to a rebellious teen without direction and a deep fount of anger.
Carey's 'Best Destiny' is a great sequel to 'Final Frontier', but stands very well on its own. Carey expertly regresses the younger Kirk to a rebellious teen without direction and a deep fount of anger.
March 11, 2024
Oh man, I am done with Diane Carey. I didn't finish. I couldn't swallow this garbage anymore. Her characterizations are awful. Her dialogue is childish. Her insistence on everyone in Starfleet talking like a sailor from the 20th Century is ridiculous. I have endured her novels in the past but no more. I get infuriated just reading this. Not only is her writing awful, she doesn't even think about the details of Star Trek. Plus this novel is being told by Kirk about when he was a teenager... then why is that story being told from his father's perspective most of the time?!
She is the absolute worst Star Trek novelist. How she kept getting work is beyond my understanding.
She is the absolute worst Star Trek novelist. How she kept getting work is beyond my understanding.
September 23, 2023
Another of the random assortment of Star Trek books in our personal library.
Unlike Probe which I liked a little better than I expected, Best Destiny was way worse than I expected.
Early 1990s writing style just can't match up to what I'm used to reading with Star Wars fiction these days. Plot did not hold my attention, and I absolutely hated teenage Jimmy Kirk.
The only reason I didn't DNF is because we owned it so I felt an obligation to finish it.
This book fulfilled the 2023 PopSugar prompt #1 - A book you meant to read in 2022 (the last one of my backlog).
Unlike Probe which I liked a little better than I expected, Best Destiny was way worse than I expected.
Early 1990s writing style just can't match up to what I'm used to reading with Star Wars fiction these days. Plot did not hold my attention, and I absolutely hated teenage Jimmy Kirk.
The only reason I didn't DNF is because we owned it so I felt an obligation to finish it.
This book fulfilled the 2023 PopSugar prompt #1 - A book you meant to read in 2022 (the last one of my backlog).
July 12, 2024
This was a lot of fun - the bookending plot from the end (or is it?) of Kirk’s career with an event from before the start of it was nicely handled but I didn’t enjoy the parallels between him and the villain as it’s an overused cliche. But overall it’s a gripping adventure only slightly let down by the cheesiness of the ending.
November 30, 2018
I liked this book towards the end, but in the beginning I wanted to beat the heck out of that snotty little Jimmy, Reminded me of pinocchio the book not the disney movie, But I was glad to see that his attitude was the point. This was a good read.
April 12, 2019
It was an interesting take on seeing young James Kirk and George Kirk's relationship. The story was alright but I don't agree with the whole "you can't hand the truth" theme, which in my opinion doesn't fit with the concept of Star Trek. Overall I liked the book.
April 29, 2021
This is a fairly fun book about a young pre-starfleet Kirk. It was fairly fun but too much time was spent showing you why Kirk became the man we know from the show and movies without developing the story in an interesting fashion. It's still a solid read for Kirk fans!
December 14, 2017
Another good Star Trek entry by Diane Carey
August 21, 2018
I read this 23 years ago. I know I liked it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews