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Spock's first mission aboard the Enterprise!Vulcan's Glory was a novel, 44th in the Pocket TOS series of numbered books. Written by D.C. Fontana, Vulcan's Glory was released in February 1989.

Description[]

Here is a very special Star Trek novel—from the woman constantly voted by the fans as their favorite writer from the original Star Trek television series!
D.C. Fontana, writer of such classic Star Trek episodes as "Journey to Babel" and "This Side of Paradise", here brings us the never-before-told story of a very young Mr. Spock, on his first mission aboard the USS Enterprise. You'll also meet Captain Christopher Pike and his enigmatic first officer "Number One" (previously seen only in the original Star Trek pilot, "The Cage"), as well as the ship's brand new engineering officer, Montgomery Scott.
Vulcan's Glory is the tale of Spock's struggle to reconcile his many obligations - those forced on him by his Vulcan heritage, and those chosen by him upon his enlistment in Starfleet - to balance the wishes of others against the desires of his own heart.

Summary[]

At Ka'a Beach on Kauai, Hawaii, Lieutenant Spock walks barefoot and reminisces about the events surrounding his kahs-wan ritual. He has recently been promoted and assigned to the USS Enterprise, but has received two weeks' leave prior to his new assignment, during which he has been ordered to relax by his previous commanding officer, Captain Daniels of the USS Artemis. Spock receives a message from his father, Sarek, ordering him to return to Vulcan.

On Vulcan, Sarek refuses to see his son but communicates through Amanda his disappointment with Spock's management of family properties and of his delayed marriage to his betrothed T'Pring. After coming to an agreement with his father, Spock goes to visit T'Pring, where she expresses her own dissatisfaction with their arrangement. Only after Spock agrees to make a formal announcement of their marriage and pay a bride price to her family for the duration of their "engagement" is T'Pring satisfied (along with her secret lover, Stonn).

Meanwhile, the USS Enterprise prepares to resume its mission after a shore leave over Earth, while Captain Christopher Pike and his first officer Number One discuss their new second officer – Spock. Shortly after his transfer is complete, the Enterprise is ordered to the planet, Areta, to follow up on a previous mission during which Pike masqueraded as an Aretian to promote trading among three isolated populations on the planet, still recovering from a deadly nuclear holocaust. However, soon after launch, the Enterprise is redirected to investigate a new lead in the historical mystery of Vulcan's Glory, a priceless historical emerald that disappeared from Vulcan centuries ago.

When new research determines the course of the Vulcan ship He-shii carrying the Glory, the Enterprise follows it to an uncatalogued world. Pike allows a team of Vulcans to investigate the world where the He-shii might have crashed out of cultural sensitivity regarding the Glory. On the team, Spock and a junior scientist, T'Pris discover the remains of the Vulcan ship, missing an escape pod. Eventually, it is determined that the likely destination of the escape pod was Areta itself and the Enterprise resumes its original mission.

Meanwhile, the newly-transferred junior engineer Montgomery Scott and his roommate Bob Brien, engage in an age-old tradition of brewing engine room "hooch," or moonshine, during the downtime of the graveyard shift. Spock finds himself gradually drawn to T'Pris, in part for her difference from T'Pring and the two grow close as their mission advances. When the Enterprise arrives at Areta, the site of the escape pod's landing is discovered and the Vulcan away team transports down -- and soon discovers the Glory cradled in the arms of a dead Vulcan.

While Pike resumes his mission of promoting trade among the three populations of Aretians, a pair of star-crossed Aretian lovers (from opposing factions) are abducted by the third population (the mutant survivors of the nuclear war). On the Enterprise the ship's geologist, Meadows, seeks authorization to study the Glory, despite Pike's orders to keep it in a security vault. Even as Spock and T'Pris develop a romantic relationship, Meadows forges the captain's signature to obtain the Glory from the vault and takes it to study. Soon after, Spock is called away from T'Pris to learn that Meadows has been murdered and the Glory stolen.

When Spock points out that the method of Meadows' murder could only have been performed by a Vulcan, the few Vulcan crew members are put under investigation, including himself and T'Pris.

On Areta, Pike encounters a familiar tribe of nomads and learns about the abduction of the lovers -- the son of a nomad leader and daughter of a city-dweller leader -- and becomes involved in the search for the two youths. Eventually, it is discovered that the youths were taken by mutants and the fathers become convinced their children are dead. But Pike insists on continuing the search and requests an away team assist him.

On the Enterprise, Number One puts T'Pris in charge of the investigation, which leads the Vulcan woman to search personnel histories for a clue into the possible non-Vulcan suspects. However, before long, T'Pris becomes a victim of the murderer herself and her research is erased.

Spock, Pike, and the other officers discover the location of the mutant settlement and stage a rescue attempt of the lovers, only to discover that they intend to stay with the surprisingly-civilized and docile mutants. However, the mutant leader soon explains his purpose for abducting them: to serve as ambassadors between the mutants and two other populations. When Pike returns with the lovers, they serve to establish trade between the three populations and he realizes his mission is complete. Upon returning to Enterprise, Spock learns his own lover is dead and requests to conduct the investigation himself.

In the end, Spock realizes that the murderer is a human-Vulcan hybrid like himself but one with more human genes than Vulcan, and therefore able to masquerade as a human. The officer is eventually taken into custody, explaining his intentions to avenge his banished Vulcan great-grandmother for injustices received by Vulcan.

References[]

Characters[]

USS Enterprise personnel[]

AndelaCaitlin BarryBlaytonPhilip BoyceBob BrienPete BryceArs DanDaviesEndelGeorge MeadowsNumber OneOrloffOyamaChristopher Pike/KreesDaniel ReedSandsonMontgomery ScottSeforSpahnSpock/Selek (alias)Myoki TakaharaT'Prisunnamed USS Enterprise personnel (transporter chief, shuttlebay chief) • Zacharia

Other characters[]

Barden AliatMelkor AliatBerendelAndor CliteDanielsDurlinFarnahIngarinNeepahPanlowSarekT'Sai Amanda Aduna SarekSenakSileneSirakSolenStonnT'DarT'Pringunnamed Vulcans (the healer)
Referenced only
Alicia BoyceJaneese CarlisleArthur Conan DoyleSherlock HolmesSanford LynchEdgar Allan PoeSadar-esSenak of ZayusSepelSidakSorrdSpensStepnT'ClarT'DessT'Lan

Starships and vehicles[]

USS ArtemisUSS Enterprise (Constitution-class) • unnamed shuttlecraft (maintenance shuttles, inspection shuttle, passenger shuttle)
Referenced only
He-shiiUSS LionheartUSS MusashiUSS Yorktown (Constitution-class)

Starship types[]

cuttercruiserlife shellshuttlecraft

Locations[]

Shipboard or stationbound locations[]

USS Enterprise
bridgebriefing roomcorridorengineeringgymnasiumJefferies tubequarters (Spock's, Pike's, Scotty's, Reed's) • recreation roomshuttlebaytransporter room (3) • turbolift

Outposts and stations[]

Starbase 12
Referenced only
Starbase 13

Planets and planetoids[]

AretaEarthGS391LunaVulcan
Referenced only
Delta Indus IIVulcan

Planetary locations and institutions[]

Earth
Hawaii (Ka'a Beach & Lihue, Kauai; Honolulu) • Pacific Oceanreferenced only: California (Carmel; Starfleet Academy, San Francisco; Mojave) • Cape Cod, MassachusettsColorado Springs, ColoradoScotland (Linlithgow, West Lothian)
Luna
Armstrong Lunaport
Vulcan
Llangon HillsShiKahrIn-Yarreferenced only: KeldeenLanVulcan Science AcademyZayus
Areta
AndasiaAntorin OasisDruncara RangeSendaiTisirah Oasis

Stars and star systems[]

Beta CircinusDelta IndusSol (Sol system) • Vulcan system

Races and cultures[]

AretianDioptanHuman (IndianScot) • IllyrianKelyanVulcan
Referenced only
Tellarite

States and organizations[]

FederationStarfleetStarfleet CommandVulcan High Council

Vulcan clans[]

Ansa-sen-tarArchenidaKawardaTalek sen-deen

Science and classification[]

Technology and weapons[]

communicatordreefood synthesizerground carimpulse engineknifelancelibrary computermessage beaconnuclear weaponphaserpressure suitshort-hoppershuttlecraftspacedockspace probestarshipstillsubspace radioswordtargetransportertricorderturboliftuniversal translatorwarp enginewarp nacelle

Lifeforms[]

Animals[]
apebirddogdolphinfishinsectle-matyameercanoxreptiliansehlat (I-Chaya) • ucha
Plants[]
barrel cactusbirchbonsaicandlestick treegrassindukuisukekaranjikerramapleoakrose

Substances and energies[]

alcoholantimatterdilithiumemeraldmattermetaloxygen
Radiation[]
gamma ray
Food and drink[]
engine room hoochfruitfruit-waterGlenlivetgrapeherb teamashSaurian brandysayaScotch whiskysweetmeattartletteaucha meat stewwaterwhiskywine

Ranks and titles[]

ambassadorcadetcaptainchiefchief engineerchief medical officercommandercommanding officercommunications officerdoctorengineerensignfirst officerlieutenantlieutenant commanderlieutenant junior grademaklehnavigatorofficerscience officersecond officersecuritysecurity chiefshinseishuttlebay chiefspecialistsuperintendanttechnicianthird officertransporter chief

Other references[]

agricultureAretian languageastrobiologyastrophysicsBattle of Deen T'zalbiologycardschesschookacityclass M planetcloudcommunicationscreditDecemberdiplomacyDNAdrinkfoodgamegemologygenetic engineeringgenetic hybridgeologygovernmentgravityholographykahs-wankeshelkilometerkoanlanding partylan-dovnalifeformlight-yearliteraturelogicmarriagemeditationmineralogymoneymutantnakhnation-statenull-G ballorbitphilosophyplanetplanetary classificationplantpoetrypokerpon farrrankscienceserial numbershore leavesmokingspacespaceportstarStarfleet regulationsStarfleet uniformsubspacetal-shayatechnologythree-dimensional chesstitleuniformvidvidramaVulcan language (Ancient High Vulcan) • Vulcan luteVulcan neck pinchVulcan's Glory

Chronology[]

1443 (Vulcan year)
The Glory is taken from the house of Kawarda by the clan Archenida at the battle of Deen T'zal.
796 AD
Areta's nuclear holocaust.
2215
Orloff born.
2237
Spock reminisces of his kahs-wan
2253
Spock is transferred to the Enterprise, when that vessel recovers an ancient Vulcan starship and travels to Areta in search of the Glory stone.

Appendices[]

Related media[]

Background[]

  • To better present Number One in the novel, author D.C. Fontana discussed the character with actor Majel Barrett. "She told me a little bit about what she thought the background of the character was, how she had been created, and why she was called Number One. Then I thought to myself, 'Now, these two people (Number One and Pike) have a relationship that calls for a great deal of one-on-one interaction. Why not lay in a potential relationship that may or may not have happened by the time we got to "The Cage".' ... Even though she was rather cool and emotionless on the bridge, I never felt that that was the woman underneath. That was just her professional side." (The Official Fan Club Magazine Issue 66: "Where No Man...: Vulcan's Glory")
  • Vulcan's Glory was reissued in 2006 as part of the Star Trek 40th Anniversary celebration, along with The Entropy Effect, Federation and Strangers from the Sky.
  • This novel contains an early mention of Vulcan's Forge, a concept that would eventually be used in canon episodes of Star Trek: Enterprise, as well as many other sources. The Forge was first mentioned in Fontana's script for TAS episode: "Yesteryear".

Images[]


Connections[]

Star Trek: Early Voyages
comics: "Flesh of My Flesh" • "The Fires of Pharos" • "Our Dearest Blood" • "Nor Iron Bars a Cage" • "Cloak & Dagger" • "Cloak and Dagger, Part 2" • "The Flat, Gold Forever" • "Immortal Wounds" • "One of a Kind" • The Fallen • "Futures, Part One" • "Future Tense" • "Futures, Part Three" • "Now and Then" • "Thanatos" • "Nemesis"
related works: episodes: "The Cage" • "The Menagerie" • DSC season 2Short Treks: "Q&A", "The Trouble with Edward", "Ask Not" • Star Trek: Strange New Worldsnovels: Vulcan's GloryThe Captain's Table: Where Sea Meets SkyBurning DreamsDSC: The Enterprise Warrelated comics: "To Walk the Night" • "Captain's Log: Pike"
main characters: Christopher PikeNumber OnePhillip BoyceSpockJosé TylerNanoMoves-With-Burning-GraceSita MohindasGabrielle CarlottiMia ColtNils Pitcairn
recurring characters: Robert AprilDermot CusackKaaj, son of TorgVirkaKirShane SamsonJames T. KirkMontgomery ScottChang
ships and places: USS Enterprise
IKS VarchasUSS CortezUSS NelsonBountyUSS Enterprise-AUSS Excelsior
Algol IIDarien 224EarthMarrat NebulaStarbase 45TemaziTheta Kalyb
races and cultures: HumanVulcanKlingonLirinNgultorChakuunTemazi
writers and artists: Dan AbnettIan EdgintonPatrick ZircherGreg AdamsMichael CollinsSteve Moncuse
Media featuring Christopher Pike
Episodes and movies The Original Series The CageThe Menagerie
Movies Star TrekkStar Trek Into Darknessk
Discovery Will You Take My Hand?BrotherNew EdenPoint of LightAn Obol for CharonSaints of ImperfectionThe Sound of ThunderLight and ShadowsIf Memory ServesProject DaedalusThe Red AngelPerpetual InfinityThrough the Valley of ShadowsSuch Sweet Sorrow
Short Treks Q&AThe Trouble with EdwardAsk Not
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds
Novels Killing TimeaEnterprise: The First AdventureVulcan's GloryLegacyThe RiftWhere Sea Meets SkyBurning DreamsA Less Perfect UnionaThe Children of KingsChild of Two WorldsDesperate HoursThe Enterprise WarThe High Country
Short stories "Conflicting Natures" • "A Private Anecdote" • "Sins of the Mother" • "The Greater Good"m
Comics Early Voyages "Flesh of My Flesh" • "The Fires of Pharos" • "Our Dearest Blood" • "Nor Iron Bars a Cage" • Cloak and Dagger (12) • "The Flat, Gold Forever" • "Immortal Wounds" • "One of a Kind" • The Fallen (12) • "Futures, Part One" • "Future Tense" • "Futures" • "Now and Then" • "Thanatos" • "Nemesis"
Starfleet Academy "Return to the Forbidden Planet" • "A Prelude to War"
Crew "Shadows of the Past" • "The Ends of Eternity"
other "All Those Years Ago..." • "To Walk the Night" • "Door in the Cage" • Alien Spotlight Alien Spotlight, Volume I (VulcansOrions) • Mirror Imagesm (1245) • Spock: Reflections, Issue 2Star Trek Movie Adaptationk (23456) • Captain's Log: PikeAftermath (123)
k : Kelvin timelinem : Mirror Universea : alternate reality

Timeline=[]

published order
Previous novel:
The Final Nexus
TOS numbered novels Next novel:
Double, Double
chronological order
Previous Adventure:
Flesh of My Flesh
Flashback
Memory Beta Chronology Next Adventure:
Alien Spotlight: Vulcans
Previous Adventure:
Chaotic Response
Sections 5 & 7
Pocket Next Adventure:
Shadows on the Sun
Book Two
Previous Adventure:
Flesh of My Flesh
Flashback
The Early Voyages of the
USS Enterprise (NCC-1701)
Next Adventure:
Alien Spotlight: Vulcans


Translations[]
1993
German : Vulkans Ruhm, translated by Andreas Brandhorst. (Heyne)
1993
French : La Gloire de Vulcain. (Fleuve Noir)
1994
Japanese : ヴァルカンの栄光, translated by Hiroshi Saito. (Hayakawa Bunko)

External link[]

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