Can we assume novelizations of aired episodes and movies as (semi)canon? I know that novelizations contain more events than the on-screen version, are these based on cut scenes?
------------------ "Alpha Centauri is a beautiful place to visit, you ought to see it" - Kirk to 1969 USAF officer Fellini, "Tomorrow is Yesterday" (TOS)
Posted by Aban Rune (Member # 226) on :
Some scenes in the books may be based on cut scenes, but some of the novelizations contain things that are out and out made up.
For instance, the novelization of Equinox, I'm told, gives us a close up glimpse of Voyager's dedication plaque as Janeway holds it. The verbage on the plaque in the book is completely wrong.
As far as the stories go, I say, if they don't contradict what we see on screen, why not?
------------------ "A gathering of Angels appeared above my head. They sang to me this song of hope, and this is what they said..." -Styx
In this case then such as the novel descent we have a scene with the crew of the USS Saladin killed by the Borg. Therefore should this be added into the star trek canon?
------------------ "We set sail on this new sea because their is new knowledge to be gained and new rights to be won" John F Kennedy
Was this scene supposed to be in the televised episode? If not, then it's not canon. If it was filmed but not shown, then I suppose you could call it semi-canon. I personally wouldn't, though, since I'm a firm believer in "If it's not on the screen (or in official publications), it's not canon."
------------------ Captain Tenille: "Oh, Simpson, you're like the son I never had." Homer: "And you're like the father I never visit."
Posted by Fructose (Member # 309) on :
Well, reading some of the introduction to the first Chronology, they say that they considered adding some key elements of the books in the chronology. They opted not to because they couldn't decide what to add and felt they should stick to the original idea of a book about the shows. I'd say they sould be considered semi-canon if the Okudas almost put them in the book.
------------------ It doesn't matter if you don't know what you're doing as long as you look good doing it.
Posted by Fabrux (Member # 71) on :
Well, I myself consider novels written by such people as Jeri Taylor semi-canon. I also consider "A Stitch In Time" to be semi-canon as it was written by the only person who could ever write Garak's background, Andrew J. Robinson.
------------------ "When you realized that your website is your business and your software can't handle the traffic, that was an epiphany." -Avery Brooks, IBM commercial
Posted by Elim Garak (Member # 14) on :
What about Robert Wolfe? He could write it!
Anyway, I say "semicanon" insofar as the stuff that comes from the show being 100% canon and the rest 0%.
Posted by AndrewR (Member # 44) on :
How about this one... Is the CD of Vic Fontaine/whats his name canon??
Andrew
------------------ "chocolate cherries allamanda" - Datura, Tori Amos
Posted by Hobbes (Member # 138) on :
I don't believe that any novels or games are semi-canon what-so-ever. The only published materials that should be considered semicanon are the encyclopedia's, chronologies, or technical manuals which are written by the same production staff that writes the technical stuff on the show.
------------------ Sisko: "We run alright, run right at them." Smiley: "Ah, Pattern Suicide." Federation Starship Datalink - New and improved Starship Database!
Posted by Fabrux (Member # 71) on :
You canon zealots depress me. You really do...
------------------ "When you realized that your website is your business and your software can't handle the traffic, that was an epiphany." -Avery Brooks, IBM commercial
Posted by Hobbes (Member # 138) on :
LOL Fabrux... then again you're probably being serious.
------------------ Sisko: "We run alright, run right at them." Smiley: "Ah, Pattern Suicide." Federation Starship Datalink - New and improved Starship Database!
Posted by Fructose (Member # 309) on :
I say who cares whats canon and whats not. If you like something then you can consider what ever you like to be 'official.' It's all made up anyway. Just have fun with it. That's what it's for. Entertainment people! It's not supposed to be life. (Besides, life is much more fun than that if you got the right job.)
------------------ It doesn't matter if you don't know what you're doing as long as you look good doing it.
Posted by TSN (Member # 31) on :
Well, the point of canon is that it's the stuff the writers are supposed to consider "real" when they're writing the show. When we pay attention to canon, we're looking at the stuff that is most likely going to be part of Trek in future episodes/movies.
------------------ "How many Libraries of Congress per second can your software handle?" -Avery Brooks, IBM commercial
Posted by Fructose (Member # 309) on :
Well, that makes sense. I just think it's weird how people get so bent out of shape about what's canon and what's not.
------------------ It doesn't matter if you don't know what you're doing as long as you look good doing it.
Posted by Sol System (Member # 30) on :
That's not entirely true. The powers that be do not have a "canon" in the same sense that we do.
They do; they just can't be bothered to stick to it...
------------------ "How many Libraries of Congress per second can your software handle?" -Avery Brooks, IBM commercial
Posted by Teelie (Member # 280) on :
There's so much Trek EU [Expanded Universe] novels out, I don't follow most of it as canon, execpt the novelized versions of episodes, and even then, it is iffy...
