Host: Welcome to today's Star Trek Book Club with author Dave Stern and editor Margaret Clark.

Dave Stern: Hey everybody, thanks for coming!

Margaret Clark: Hi. This is the first one I've done. I hope everyone is enjoying the Enterprise book. Let's pick some interesting questions!

Guest: Which did you prefer - writing a Malcolm story or a Trip story?

DS: I preferred writing the Trip story because I really feel like the actor brings a lot to that role, a lot between the lines, there's a little bit of that old Dr. McCoy, the crusty Southerner.

bandy: Mr. Stern, thanks for doing this chat. In the book you have Trip sleeping with a married woman. How do you reconcile this with his behavior with Phlox's wife Feezal in the episode "Stigma," where he said he would not do such a thing because it goes against the way he was raised?

DS: Well, I think it's a different situation. If I'm remembering the epsidoe right, even though Phlox's wife was there only for a couple of days , it wasn't the pressure-filled environment that I tried to put him in for "Daedalus" where he's not only had to make some choices affecting the lives of a lot of other people, but his own life is very much at risk and probably facing his mortality — again, Daedalus' events take place over a couple weeks — and he also does resist the temptation for a goodly portion of that time.

Roseanne: Thanks for chatting with us today. I was wondering how you chose the length of time between releasing the two books. I want to see how it ends, but I have a while to wait. :)

MC: The biggest problem was that Dave and I wanted to do a really good book. The lead time to put a book together wouldn't have allowed us enough time for the book he wanted to do. We had six months to get the book out, and that was a crash schedule for a book.

DS: As I wrote in the author's note for "Daedalus," it did take me a while to finish that first book, but Margaret was great in getting me the time to finish it.

Ripper: I love the fact you called part 2 "Daedalus's Children" and not simply "2 of 2." Was it your decision?

DS: That was your title, wasn't it Margaret?

MC: The title was mine because the way contracts are set up here it needed a title. With the evolution of the plot I was reading, this seemed to be the theme of the book. "Surak's Soul" was another book where the title was chosen for the purpose of being on the paperwork, and then it turned out to match the theme of the book. So it stuck!

Bartnick51: I have a question, why are there so few books about Enterprise compared with the other Star Trek series?

MC: When a show is in production it's really hard to tell stories that aren't going to be told on the show. We tried to pace them out more so we have a better feeling for the characters. If you look at the DS9 books, when they were on the air, the books did not come out as frequently. It has to do with not stepping on the show's stories.

Slappy MacPants: How much research do you have to do for an Enterprise book? Do you just watch all the episodes or is there more to it?

DS: For this one there was a little more to it. I have a friend who is a neurobiologist who helped me with some of the science. There's always a little bit of research because it is set in the future, you have a free hand iwth your imagination, but at the same time you want to have some details that people can relate to today. So for "What Price Honor?," the Malcom Reed book, I did some research into British Naval history to tie in the interest the show had established.

indy500: Mr. Stern, thanks a lot for coming on today, I was wondering if you could tell us about when during the T.V series this took place.

DS: I belive there is a little note at the front of the book.

MC: Events take place prior to Archer being taken by the Tellarite bounty hunter in 2153. Just after episode 51. When Dave started this we didn't know what would happen in the expanse. So you try to fit in for continuity. Between "Bounty" and "The Expanse".

vulcan3324: How do you decide on a cover for the book?

DS: I think, usually, it's more the editor's call, unless the author has a strong idea. Both of these books were Margaret's idea, since I did not have a strong image idea.

shortee787: Can you give us any hints as to how the story will progress in Daedalus's Children? :)

DS: Where's the fun in that? (laughter) The whole crew does get very involved, as this book (Daedalus) is strictly a Trip story, the next book it very much becomes Captain Archer's story. We got the dog in there, too!

MC: Even Porthos has a bit part!

J_Archer: Would you like to do a continuing series of Enterprise or other Star Trek books?

DS: I'm talking to Margaret about doing another Star Trek project, so it's a lot of fun.

vulcan3324: Did you have the book plotted out when you started or did it evolve as you wrote it?

DS: I had the big mileposts plotted out, I knew that there were going to be a couple of major turning points, that Trip would discover his old mentor in prison, and that the book would end with his realization that he's been trapped in a parallel universe. I knew those two things for sure.

chatter: Who is Margaret Clark?

MC: I'm the editor of the Enterprise books, also some of the new TNG books coming up. I have done a lot of the non-fiction books, and have a wonderful job where I get to decide what to do. I am now William Shatner's editor.

shortee787: Why was this project split into two books? I don't think I can wait... :P

DS: That's why! (laughter) We really wanted to have the space to tell the story.  

MC: I don't think "Daedalus" was too short, or anyone felt cheated. The first book opens up with Archer in prison, having been removed from his ship, trying to figure out how to get out of here. In one story arc you get two complete stories. I wanted to make sure if you hadn't read book one, you could pick up book two and still go "Wow!"

shortee787: The twist at the end of the book was great! However, is this something like the mirror universe?

DS: I think parallel universe stories are a staple of the genre, and the trick is How do you make it seem different? What I was trying to do with this book was to not have them know that they'd crossed over into a parallel universe, to have the differences be so subtle, in other words, not to have characters with beards or wooden legs, so subtle differences, so yes, it's been done before, but I hope it's different enough that they enjoy it.

purplenylon: Hi Dave Stern, I just wanted to say I really enjoyed reading "Daedalus." I liked the idea of an alternate warp capable ship and that Trip is involved with both. I am looking forward to Book Two. 

DS: Thanks!

Anthony: How do pronounce Sadir? is it Sad-ear or Sad-eye-er? Coz me and my friend say it differently and we can't decide who's right. 

DS: I always said it Suh- deer, but who knows?

Jennifer.B: Where did you get the idea for the book? And why name the ship Daedalus? Was it after the actual ship? (My grandfather served on it.)

DS: Hmmm.

MC: When Dave described the story to me it seemed as if the Vulcans were telling the humans they weren't warp-capable. It reminded me of the myth, and Daedalus WAS able to fly. It was my artsy-fartsy education. I knew that mythos is in the Star Trek background and it was a nice way to pay homage to it.

DS: There is a class of ships, the Daedalus class, if you want to take it that far. Maybe this ship is what they're named after.

KirkRules: What's your favorite Star Trek series or Star Trek era (Enterprise, Original Series, TNG)? 

DS: Well, I grew up with the Original Series, so it's still TOS, but I must admit the best Star Trek was the last couple years of TNG on TV. A lot of really terrific shows.

MC: I'm going to take the fifth! I can't claim to have favorite children.

Bartnick51: Mr. Stern are you going to write a book dealing with the Romulan War?

DS: As counsel, I must advise her to take the fifth. No, not that I know of, anyways.

Ripper: Will we ever get an archer or Phlox or Hoshi or Travis or T'pol-centric novel?

MC: The T'Pol novel was "Surak's Soul." A Mayweather proposal has been approved, and a Hoshi one is on my desk ... after that ... who knows?

Ripper: Which are you most proud of? The "Deadalus" saga or "What Price Honor?" I prefered WPH, but I am biased as Malcolm is a Brit like me.

DS: I actually thought that, I like parts of both books. As a writer you're never entirely satisfied, but I like the twist at the end of "Daedalus." I thought that was neat, I like that.

J_Archer: Margaret, will you be involved in William Shatner's next "Kirk" trilogy after "Captain's Glory"?

MC: Right now we don't have a contract with Mr. Shatner, we're talking, but that's as far as it's gone. He's very excited about a project he wants to do, we don't have a deal in place, but I would be the editor.

SillyRabbit: Which of your books are you most fond of?

DS: I think I just answered that.

indy500: In comparision to your other Enterprise books, which was your favorite.

MC: With me it would be like trying to pick from your favorite children. I've done so many that I couldn't say. Each one has something that makes you say "Wow - that was really great" and something that you say "Just give me two more weeks to fix that ..."

indy500: Mr. Stern, would you be interested in doing a book about a pleasure planet, much like the episode when they go to Risa?

DS: (laughter) Is that an offer for work? I can't say that I would, but who knows?

bandy: Margaret, many Trip fans were unhappy that Trip wasn't on the cover of "Daedelus" as Reed was on the cover of "What Price Honor?" Why did you not put Trip on the cover?

MC: Believe it or not, Pocket Books is here to make money. We take a lot of feedback. The feedback we got was that we needed people to buy this book that normally don't buy Star Trek books. That meant not to put the characters on the cover. So it meant I could design a cover with a theme. "Shockwave" is like that. The image is not really from the episode, it's more of a composition. We're trying to help people who would never pick up our books, pick them up. I thought it was very symbolic. Connor is very cute ... We needed something different. It doesn't mean there won't be a character on a cover in the future...

Bartnick51: Will you ever do an audio book for any of the Enterprise novels?

MC: The audio books are a totally different division here at Simon & Schuster. We have no influence over that. They are doing fewer Star Trek audio books than they have in the past.

Bartnick51: If you (Pocket Books) ever do an audio book for Enterprise have Gates McFadden perform it. She has done a bang up job on the TNG books she did.

MC: We always try to get interesting people to do the books. Again, not a decision made by us. All they ask is for is the manuscript. We make suggestions, but ...

vulcan3324: Would you like to see a movie based on "Daedalus"?

DS: Sure!

MC: Boy, the effects budget on that would be HUGE! One of the advantages of books: We don't worry about the budget. Blow up a planet? No problem! 500 ships? No problem.

broadcasterbot: Ripper: What can you *not* write in Star Trek books?

MC: You have to stay true to the characters, and how they're written. That's what they are. You can't have him not act the way he did on the show. As long as it's true to the spirit of what was established on the show, you can do pretty much anything.

DS: The only other constraints with Enteprise, is you're dealing a show that's on the air so you have to be careful you don't do anything with the main characters the show would like to reserve to itself, that sort of thing.

J_Archer: Dave, was the character of Alana Hart in WPH? based on anyone that you've known in real life?

DS: No, it wasn't, I haven't thought about that in a while. I will say that you take certain instances from your own real life and graft them on to some of those scenes you write. Certain dealings, certain impressions, but that character wasn't based on anything.

vulcan3324: How many books have you written?

DS: Probably close to 20 all told.

J_Archer: Have either of you seen the Enterprise episode "Azati Prime"? What did you think of it?

DS: I didn't see it.

MC: Of course I saw it! I watch Enterprise every week! I'm waiting to see how everything pays off. I'm dying! They've laid some interesting groundwork there.

indy500: Mr. Stern, you said that there was a Hoshi book on your desk, does that mean its done?

MC: It's just a proposal. It needs some tweaking. The Mayweather proposal is done. It's an interesting idea.

robj: Dave, what else have you written other than Star Trek? Any original stuff or just tie-ins?

DS: Mostly tie-ins. I did some stuff on the "Blair Witch" movies, some of which I did for Margaret. I did "Tomb Raider novelizations ... I just did the "Punisher" novelization. I did an original horror novel called "Black Dawn" that I was given a plot to execute, but I was given a lot of lattitude. I'm working on something now, it's sort of a horror/alien invasion, it's a dossier style book done like the "Blair Witch Project" dossier, a collection of articles and pictures that tells a story. I should be done with that in a few weeks. It is at present untitled.

vulcan3324: Which section of your book would you say was the hardest to write?

DS: I would say probably the scenes with the various commanders, because I think in retrospect, I think I have too many characters in those scenes, and it's always tough, because it's hard to differentiate with that many characters. I prefer fewer characters in scenes, where more can happen other than lots of people talking. It's something you learn-as-you-go, because if a scene is hard to write, maybe it's not good. The words should fly from your fingers.

BranicXerosea: Ms. Clark, Which timeframe do you feel most comfortable being involved with, TNG, ENT...?

MC: I actually enjoy both the 22nd and 24th centuries, but like Dave I am an Original Series fan. The biggest thrill of my life was to have Bob Justman call me for a favor. The fan in me said, "This man worked with Gene Roddenberry and he's asking me for a favor." I love the way DS9 was written, the characters on Enterprise. There's something in each series that makes me say, "That's fun. We could do a book about that."

BranicXerosea: Did you find it difficult to reset the characters at the end of the next book?

DS: No, I think you have to go in knowing that you have to do that. And that's one of the things working for an episodic series or set of characters like the Star Trek crew, you have to leave them basically unchanged. You can add to their wealth of experiences, you can find a character flaw or trait that hasn't been exposed before, but you have to leave them as you found them.

designationlocutus: What was your inspiration for the Cascading Ion Drive used on the Daedalus, where did that idea originate?

DS: Where did that come from, Margaret?

MC: It was a line in "Spock's Brain"

DS: They had an ion drive.

MC: Spock said the humans had explored it but rejected it. We needed another kind of warp drive. One little line from the original series, add a word in front of it, and voila! A new warp drive.

DS: And then of course that gave me the chance to watch "Spock's Brain" again, and that's always a treat.

TrelliumGood: Have you ever been to, and do you like going to conventions?

DS: I went to the 20th Anniversary Convention when I was the Star Trek editor. It was an experience, but I didn't feel the need to go again.

MC: I actually went to the original committee conventions in New York City, all of them. I went to fan run conventions, Shore Leave ... I've been to 5 or 6 Grand Slams, on panels. Quite a few. The original committee conventions stick in my mind, because it was the first time a show had any kind of thing like that. Just little panels, not like conventions today. I went to the Huntsville convention. Most people in my office hadn't been. They were surprised that parents let their kids run around. They'd never seen that kind of vibe before. I've been to far more than you, Dave. THis is like standing up at an AA meeting ...

ATimson: How was it, going from the editorial side of Trek books to authorial?

MC: This is where you get to say how awful I am... (laugh)

DS: I had a long break in between 6 years, the reason I left the editorial side was I got "Trekked out" now it's kind of fun to play around in the Trek universe. I am a fan!

vulcan3324: Are the aliens in the "Daedalus" books the same as the Eymorgs and Morgs, then?

DS: No, not intentionally. There are similarities, but it's unconscious.

Guest: Mr. Stern, would you write any DS9 books?

Bartnick51: Is there going to be an Enterprise hardback original novel?

DS: You I have to say that I did not watch DS9 regualrly. I don't know if I could without doing a lot of watching. What I did see, it was a great show. They kept things moving forward in a very coherent way, so that would be a lot of work. But never say never.

MC: I have one on the back burner that I can't discuss. There is a story that could wind up in a hardcover. And that's all I 'm saying.

everythingsroses: Why did you choose Hoshi to accompany Trip in the cell ship? Why not alone?

DS: To tell you truth, I don't know why I chose Hoshi. I think I intended, when plotting it out, that the alien languages, but I never got to follow up on that.

MC: Ah, the ugliness of plotting ...

designationlocutus: Was it in the original drafting to make Brodesser as eccentric as Dr Soong, for example?!

DS: No, not really. That's another thing, truthfully, I would have liked ot have more time to work on his relationship with Trip. It sort of evolved. Originally, they were peers, then it became much more mentor-to-student.

vulcan3324: Do you get a lot of fan mail?

MC: Star Trek fans are the most technologically advanced, and they post on message boards.

DS: We definitely look at what people have to say about the books, great feedback. Well, it's not always great feedback (laughter), but it's good to get feedback.

broadcasterbot: Ripper: do you ever get input from the actors or episode writers?

MC: By and large, no. Bob Picardo about his book. Andrew Robinson, Armin Shimerman  about their books. Not about other books. These guys are so busy, the have very long hours. I haven't heard anything from the Enterprise folks.

regan: Dave, for someone who has not read your book, tell me why I should? What makes your book so good?

DS: (laughter) Well, I think if you're an Enterprise fan, this provides you with hopefully some insight into one of the main characters you might not have had before. This book is mostly about Trip. And if you're not an Enterprise fan, then perhaps this is a way of dipping your toe into the science fiction/Star Trek waters and enjoying the sensation. 

DS: Thanks everydoby very much for taking the time to participate and ask questions, I hope you did enjoy "Daedalus" and I hope you will enjoy "Daedalus's Children"!

MC: He stole my line!

DS: I hope you will enjoy Margaret Clark's other works!

designationlocutus: Thank you for taking the time to be here.

vulcan3324: Thank you!

TrekkieGirlIsabel: Bye!

Roseanne: Thank you & keep the books coming!!