Tuesday, May 06, 2008

The return of Mr Thelin!


Myriad Universes 2
(Cover art by John Picacio)

A few weeks ago, Paul Simpson, editor of the Titan "Star Trek" magazine suggested that I'd be very pleased by the next issue of magazine, and I assume that means there'll be something Thelin-related with the extract of "The Chimes at Midnight". Maybe the distinctive cover art, by the talented John Picacio, which features Thelin the Andorian, from the alternative timeline of "Yesteryear" (Filmation's animated Star Trek series of the 70s)?

Pocket Books' "Myriad Universes: Echoes and Reflections" collection is due in August. It contains three alternate universe stories. "The Chimes at Midnight" is by Geoff Trowbridge. "In a continuum where Spock died during childhood, an Andorian named Thelin became Captain Kirk’s stalwart friend and first officer. But at the moment of Khan’s final defeat, history takes an even stranger turn, and the emerging potential of Project Genesis is revealed as the galaxy’s greatest hope... and its most ominous threat." I can't wait!

Thelin
Thelin in "Yesteryear"! - this image was tinkered with in Photoshop, several years ago, to give him Andorian blue skin. Famously, on TAS as televised, Thelin's skin is a more of a greyish/causcasian colour, and varies from frame to frame. Although, more recently, on the "Enterprise" TV series, we met the pale blue/white Aenar subspecies who share Andoria with the blue Andorians.

Captain's Log: Supplemental. Here it is: Thelin from the Titan extract:

Thelin
Issue #12 (US), July/August, 2008, p. 56. Thanks Paul! So cool!

5 comments:

De said...

Looks like Thelin made out pretty well for himself if he's an admiral!

Therin of Andor said...

Looks that way, De!

The other two stories in that volume will be:

A GUTTED WORLD by Keith R A DeCandido:
"Terrorist Kira Nerys — from a Bajor that was never liberated — may hold the key to winning a war that has engulfed half the galaxy. But with the Romulans and the Klingons at each other’s throats, and the Federation pulled into the conflict, even victory may not bring salvation."

BRAVE NEW WORLD by Chris Roberson:
"Dr Noonien Soong’s dream has been realized: androids are now woven inextricably into the fabric of the Federation, revolutionizing Starfleet and transforming the quality of humanoid life. But when Soong’s long-missing breakthrough creation, Data, mysteriously resurfaces, civilization reaches a crossroads that could lead to a bright new future, or to ruin."

the previous month (July) sees Volume 1 published. "Infinity's Prism" also contains three alternate universe stories:

A LESS PERFECT UNION by William Leisner:
"More than a hundred years after the Terra Prime movement achieved its dream of an isolationist Earth, humanity is once again at a fork in the river of history... and the path it follows may ultimately be determined by the voice of a single individual: the sole surviving crewmember of the first Starship Enterprise."

PLACES OF EXILE by Christopher L Bennett:
"Midway through Voyager’s journey across the galaxy, Captain Kathryn Janeway and Commander Chakotay must choose whether to brave a deadly war zone or abandon their quest for home. But an attack by Species 8472 cripples the ship, and the stranded crew must make new choices that will reshape their destinies... and that of the Delta Quadrant itself."

SEEDS OF DISSENT by James Swallow:
"Khan victorious! Almost four centuries after conquering their world, genetically enhanced humans dominate a ruthless interstellar empire. But the warship Defiance, under its augmented commander, Princeps Julian Bashir, makes a discovery that could shake the pillars of his proud civilization: an ancient sleeper ship from Earth named the Botany Bay."

De said...

This is the first year I've actually pre-ordered Star Trek books. Despite my hang-ups with The Good That Men Do, Kobayashi Maru was a must have. And now I'll be pre-ordering the Myriad Universe books. Good reading lies ahead!

Therin of Andor said...

I posted a message on artist John Picacio's blog and he says:

"Answer to your question: my portrait of Thelin is based on two reference points: 1. the animated version of him (you're correct on that one); 2. a good friend of mine, Jeff Lucas, who lives here in San Antonio... Jeff's a diehard Trekkie connoisseur from way back, and I thought it would be cool to use his face as the model for Thelin, plus it didn't hurt that he had certain facial features that echoed the animated version."
http://www.johnpicacio.com/2008/05/myriad-universes.html

Therin of Andor said...

I've updated this entry (above) with info about the Titan coverage!