Aftershock

Real world article

(written from a production point of view)

Can Spock and McCoy stop an earthquake?

Aftershock is a Star Trek: The Original Series - Starfleet Academy young adult novel – the second novel in the series – written by John Vornholt. Published by Pocket Books, it was first released in September 1996.

Summary[]

From the book jacket: Leonard McCoy was a medical student at Starfleet Academy looking forward to the winter break. He was just trying to have some fun when a football game on Academy grounds got out of hand, and all thanks to that upstart cadet named Kirk. Now McCoy is stuck at the Academy during the break. If only Kirk hadn't gotten him into trouble…

But it's too late for regrets. McCoy has been "volunteered" for the Disaster Relief Service Club. Now he and a humorless Vulcan named Spock are risking their lives to save earthquake victims on the planet Playamar. Constant aftershocks are hampering their efforts, though, and Spock and McCoy begin to wonder: Is this a natural disaster, or are more sinister forces at work?

Excerpts of copyrighted sources are included for review purposes only, without any intention of infringement.

Memorable quotes[]

"Let me tell you something, mister, there is nothing fair about Starfleet. Today you get mess duty, tomorrow you may be the youngest captain in the fleet."

- Vrena

Background information[]

The Pocket Books Star Trek Novel Timeline, as printed in What Lay Beyond, places this story in 2250; the accompanying historian's note states that it takes place during Kirk's freshman year (a date established by the Star Trek Chronology). The Voyages of Imagination edition of the Timeline maintains this positioning.
Besides showing a Daedalus-class starship, the novel also depicts TOS-style Starfleet cadet's uniforms, but with a different collar than the uniform 2250s era cadets wore onscreen.

Characters[]

Canon characters listed below are linked to the main article about them. Non-canon characters are not linked, but those that recurred, appearing or being mentioned in more than one story, are defined further in Pocket TOS characters.
Leonard McCoy: Starfleet medical student. Kirk refers to McCoy as "sawbones".