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The Galactic Whirlpool is a Star Trek novel, a TOS adventure from Bantam Books in October 1980. This was the 12th of 13 full-length novels in the Bantam TOS series, and the second of three released after the license to commission new stories had been passed to Pocket Books for the numbered series that began with TOS novelization: The Motion Picture in 1979. This was the only full-length original Star Trek novel by author David Gerrold, who had previously written on three episode scripts and would go on to pen the novelization Encounter at Farpoint and script two comic stories in the Star Trek: The Manga series.

Description[]

Beyond the realm of the Federation, beyond the edge of the galaxy, a lost colony of humans in space drifts inexorably toward the galactic whirlpool. Kirk blazes new star trails to these strange people, isolated for centuries. Unless he can convince them that the Enterprise crew members are not "demons," they will be sucked into a churning one-way funnel of doom!

Summary[]

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This article is marked as lacking essential detail, and needs attention. Information regarding expansion requirements may be found on the article's talk page. Feel free to edit this page to assist with this expansion.

References[]

Characters[]

Arex Na EthKatholin ArwenChristine ChapelPavel ChekovFrostMarilyn GarciaJesus Garcia GomezHobieSusan KellyJames T. KirkLasker (commander)MacMurrayLeonard McCoyM'ressMunkerMante N'KomoMicah OmaraKevin RileyMontgomery ScottSpecksSpockUssef StokelyHikaru SuluNyota Uhura
Referenced only
AlphonseAugustusBaalBeelzebubJulius CaesarCaligulaArthur C. ClarkeClaudiusDevilAlbert EinsteinFinagleFredGodGravesgreen-LindaCharles GridleyWPKolothLa ForgeGeorge La ForgeLuciferMurphyNeroIsaac NewtonNoahChristopher PikeRobert the WiseWPSatanShirasSolomon ShortShadowSignpostSpock's great-great-grandmotherTiberiusT'PshawHarry S. Truman

Starships and vehicles[]

catapulterUSS Detroitdragon-classUSS Enterprise (Constitution-class) • landroverMarco PolotorchshipWandererwarp tug

Locations[]

Hell

Starbases and spacestations[]

Deep Space Station K-7Gagarin StationL5 colonyLost Cometary ColonySan Francisco Ship Yards

Stellar[]

CapellaEllison's StarFredGalactic whirlpoolHero's StarPolo's BolosShadowSignpostSirius-BWolf 359

Planets, planetoids, and moons[]

ArthurDonatu VEarthGuinevereJupiterL5 TrojanLancelotLunaMalavarMalcor's PrideMarsMordredMussourgskyNeptuneNoahOrionPlutoSatlinTitanUranusVenusWrigley's Pleasure Planet

Planetary[]

AfricaBaba YagaCaliforniaCentauri colonyGernsback CraterHawaiiHollywoodJovian ColoniesLake MarathonLunar StationNew YorkOld CityRoanoke ColonyRomeSpiderportVan NuysVirginia

Races and cultures[]

CaitianEdosianHuman (EnglishWanderers) • Vulcan
Referenced only
AndorianCapellanCro-magnon manKlingonNeanderthal

States and organizations[]

Boy Scouts of AmericaCouncilJapanL5 NationsMacMurray EmpireMartian SettlementsScience CouncilSolar AllianceSoviet UnionStarfleetStarfleet AcademyStarfleet CommandTen Lost Tribes of IsraelThird World AllianceTri-Planetary Titan Development CorporationUnited Federation of PlanetsUnited States of AmericaWolf Pack #11340

Other references[]

baba yagaballoonbandersnatchbasketballBattle of Donatu Vbenchblack holeCapellan choirCherenkov radiationchessdemonDissemination of Human Knowledge PolicyDNAdrifterDungeonThe Elder and the ChildfiestaFirst Contact Modeghostgremlinhobo-jungleThe Hut of Baba YagaJustaman curveKirk evasionKirk's LawThe Last of the ClaudiansMacMurray EncounterThe Moscow SolutionMurphy's LawNew Federation CharterOath of ServiceRoyal High Minister Plenipotentiary in Total Command of the UniverseRoyal Merchant Marine Emperor of the Galaxyshadow-wraithSpace WarStar-ColonelStarfleet CharterStarfleet CodeStarfleet Code of EthicsStarside Syndromethree-dimensional chessTiberian reverseTrojan positionwitchThe Worry of the Headstrong Captain

Lifeforms[]

algaeantbaboonbearbeeboa constrictorchickenchimpanzeecloverdalm treedogdragondragonbirdduckelephantfennelfireflyGreat Bird of the Galaxyhorsemonkeypythonratsehlatspiderstingfish

Clothing[]

battle-suitflash helmetjacketkiltrobesandleshortssingletslipperspacesuitspectaclestunicvest

Elements, compounds, and substances[]

adrenal-4antimatterbrasscoaldeo-fiveglassgoldhydrogenkrystallin-Gmethanemylarnatural gasneoplastnitrogenoiloxygenplasticplasti-flexredwood

Food and Drink[]

alcoholbasilbuttercakechicken soupdalmdrug-spiceeggE-rationfruitgingerbreadsagesaladsalamistrawberryteatomatotuber

Technology and weapons[]

air-bumsbolocannoncommunicatorcrossbowdart gundisruptorflashbeamgrowlerholo-tapehyposprayimpulse driveinfrared gogglesknifelasermacheteO-fieldO-packparalyzerphaserphaser-cannonprowlerramjetspearsquirtstaplegunstungunstun riflesubspace radiotelevisionTransporter Coordinating Platformtricorder

Chronology[]

720 BCE
The Ten Lost Tribes of Israel are scattered across Asia by the Assyrians. (Referenced as example of missing peoples)
68
The Julio-Claudian dynasty ends. (Referenced in Chapter 1 to explain Kirk's disdain over his middle name)
1587
Roanoke Colony goes missing. (Referenced as example of missing peoples)
1700s
The King of Hawaii was bargained with in a fashion that inspired James T. Kirk during the MacMurray Encounter. (Referenced in recap of MacMurray Encounter)
1997
Admiral George La Forge commissions the USS Detroit for Starfleet. (Referenced in Chapter 1 by Kirk)
2082
The Wanderer was built in Earth's Trojan position. (Referenced for historical framing)
Galactic Whirlpool - Wanderer

Wanderer.

2103
Mars is settled by Earth colonists. Earth is divided between the L5 nations and the Third World nations. (Referenced as historical benchmark)
After the colonization of Mars
The Wanderer leaves Earth orbit and begins traveling back and fourth through the Sol system providing transport out to the Jovian Colonies. (Referenced as historical benchmark)
2117
The Marco Polo discovers Polo's Bolos. (Referenced to explain impending doom)
2100s
The Lost Cometary Colony is never heard from again. (Referenced as example of lost peoples)
2161
The New Federation Charter is signed by Spock's great-great-grandmother. (Referenced in The Elder and the Child)
2250
Admiral La Forge recommends a young James T. Kirk to Starfleet Academy. (Referenced in Chapter 1 by Kirk)
JtkGalacticWhirlpool3

Kirk.

Prior to Stardate 4496.1
The United Federation of Planets surrenders unconditionally on the planet Noah. James T. Kirk is pronounced Royal High Minister Plenipotentiary in Total Command of the Universe by Royal Merchant Marine Emperor of the Galaxy MacMurray in the MacMurray Encounter. (Referenced as example of Kirk's policies)
After the MacMurray Encounter
Starfleet institutes the Dissemination of Human Knowledge Policy. (Referenced as example of Kirk's influence)
2267
The USS Enterprise travels to Mordred, Guinevere, Arthur, and the science station at Lancelot. (Referenced in Chapter 1 to frame story)
Stardate 4496.1
The USS Enterprise locates a missing Human ship, the Wanderer. (Chapter 1)
Before Stardate 4523.3
The USS Enterprise saves the Wanderer from Polo's Bolos and departs for Deep Space Station K-7. (Final Chapter)

Appendices[]

Background[]

  • Riley's command is a quotation of Admiral George DeweyWP's famous command from 1898, "You may fire when you are ready, GridleyWP. Riley misquotes the name as 'Grisly', a mistake that was also used as a gag in Looney TunesWP cartoons referencing the same quote.
  • This novel references that Spock's great-great-grandmother had signed the New Federation Charter. Other sources[citation needed] mention his great-grandfather as a signatory of the Articles of the Federation. (ENT novel: Last Full Measure)
  • The earliest cover art for this book used the description of the round Wanderer to great effect, showing a large scale construct, with a small Enterprise visible behind the object. The uncertain distance of the Enterprise in the image means that deriving a measurable scale is not entirely possible.
  • While the novel has only a very slight mention of the Klingon ship the crew was investigating, the 1980s reissue painted cover took advantage of the mention by showing a fully rendered Klingon D7-class battlecruiser, with detailing consistent with a K't'inga-class vessel seen in the most recent films at the time, The Motion Picture and The Wrath of Khan. At the time, it was the only Klingon ship thus far depicted in Star Trek.
  • The 1990s re-issue features a highly detailed cover by Kazuhiko Sano depicting Kirk and Uhura, as well as persons using glider wings as described in the text.
  • Overseas, the book was re-issued as part of the Star Trek Adventures series by Titan Books, with a cover painting depicting Kirk only.

Images[]

Connections[]

Timeline[]

Published Order
Previous novel:
Perry's Planet
TOS unnumbered novels Next novel:
Death's Angel
Previous novel:
first book
Star Trek Adventures Next novel:
The Price of the Phoenix
Previous story:
Bem
Stories by:
David Gerrold
Next story:
Encounter at Farpoint
novelization
Chronological Order
Previous adventure:
The Shocks of Adversity
Pocket Books Timeline Next adventure:
Precipice
Chapters 37-52
Previous adventure:
Explorers of the Storm
Memory Beta Chronology Next adventure:
Precipice
Chapters 37-52
Previous story:
The Shocks of Adversity
Voyages of the USS Enterprise (NCC-1701), Year Three Next story:
The Trouble with Tribbles
Publication history[]
February 1980
Chapter 15 excerpted as "Captain Kirk Surrenders", David Gerrold's "Rumblings" column in Starlog #31. (O'Quinn Studios)
October 1980
First published by Bantam Books, cover by Paul Lehr. (ISBN 0553241702)
July 1984
Fourth printing by Bantam, cover by Enric Torres-Prat. (ISBN 0-553-24170-2)
July 1993
Reissued in Great Britain as Star Trek Adventures #1, cover by Alister Pearson. (Titan Books, ISBN 9781852864866)
July 1997
Reprinted by Bantam Spectra, cover by Kazuhiko Sano. (ISBN 0-553-24170-2)
Translations[]
December 1981
German: As Der galaktische Mahlstrom, #346 in Terra series, translated by Lore Straßl, cover by Roy Virgo. (Erich Pabel)
January 1989
Italian: As Vortice galattico, translated by Annarita Guarnieri, cover by Marco Patrito. (Garden Editoriale)
1992
German: As Zwischen den Welten, Raumschiff Enterprise #26, translated by Hermann Martlreiter. (Goldmann, ISBN 9783442236213)
18 June 1993
French: As Le Tourbillon Galactique, translated by Gilles Dupreux. (Fleuve Noir, ISBN 9782265047839)
February 2000
Italian: As Vortice galattico, translated by Annarita Guarnieri. (Fanucci)

External link[]

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