The Search for Spock is the third theatrical film release of the Star Trek franchise, premiering in 1984. The story was a direct sequel to TOS movie: The Wrath of Khan. The film was adapted as a novelization from Pocket Books and a comic book adaptation released by DC Comics. A young reader storybook was also issued by Pocket.
Description[]
- As the crew grieves for Mister Spock, the awesome Genesis Device, now controlled by the Federation, has transformed an inert nebula into a new planet teeming with life. But Genesis can also destroy existing worlds.
- The creators of the device want it given freely to the galaxy. But Starfleet Command fears that it will become a force of evil. And the enemies of the Federation will not rest until they seize it—as their most powerful weapon in the battle to conquer the galaxy!
Summary[]
At Captain Spock's funeral, Rear Admiral James T. Kirk eulogizes his friend. Scotty's bagpipes play as Lieutenant junior grade Saavik codes the torpedo launcher to shoot Spock's coffin, a photon torpedo casing, into orbit of the Genesis Planet. Spock lands in a dense plant-filled jungle on the planet's first morning.
- The opening of the film was created by adding stock footage from TOS movie: The Wrath of Khan. The comic version of the story adapted the scene on the planet, but no such recap was included in the novelization, which began with a narration of a later memorial service.
The Enterprise crew meets on the recreation deck for a wake for fallen colleagues organized by Doctor McCoy and Mr. Scott. With a large amount of alcohol available, the gathering is somber and depressed. Doctor McCoy has noticed an odd detachment in his mental state, and is only pretending to imbibe the drinks, even though he is quite disoriented without actually being drunk.
After toasts to Spock, Peter Preston and the lost scientists and cadets, Saavik and David Marcus have a private conversation, and McCoy becomes more disoriented, climbing on the table to finish his toast, proclaiming that "grief is not logical". Admiral Kirk talks him down off the table. Hikaru Sulu takes a moment to thank David Marcus for resuscitating him following the battle with Khan Noonien Singh, but Marcus is nearly too despondent to notice the officer's genuine gratitude, and Sulu makes an attempt to counsel Marcus on the difficulties of dealing with the loss of the Genesis Project. Saavik and David finish their conversation, with Saavik revealing that she does not partake of alcohol for fear of uncovering the tendencies of her Romulan heritage.
Kirk and Carol Marcus share a word of the lost scientists, and Saavik muses on her decision to set the course for Spock's coffin to soft land on a wavefront of energy from the Genesis effect, against her orders that the coffin should burn up in the atmosphere of the Genesis Planet.
After making a clumsy attempt to avoid an offer of company from Admiral Kirk, David and Saavik leave the gathering and share an intimate moment in quarters. David happens to notice Saavik's family mark, and discusses the uncomfortable topic of her parentage, and the experimental nature of the intimacy they were experiencing, between a Human and half-Romulan.
Kirk dismisses the cadets attending the wake and orders the last attendee, Mr. Scott, to return to his quarters, and wakes McCoy. A drowsy McCoy again frustrates Kirk by quoting Spock, commenting on the foolishness of imbibing poison for recreational purposes.
The next morning, Dr. Christine Chapel checks on McCoy, who remains passed out and slightly feverish. McCoy recognizes her and comments "Vulcans do not love", angering her with a remembrance of her infatuation with Spock years earlier. Meanwhile, Saavik wakes next to David, after a vivid dream where she heard Spock's voice calling to her.
Aboard a hired freighter, the Merchantman, a ship's crew wonders about their captain's intentions and a mysterious cargo, and the numerous course changes they are making near the border of Klingon space.
The Enterprise catches up with the USS Grissom, and Captain J.T. Esteban comes aboard to debrief David and Carol Marcus on the state of the Genesis Project. David is infuriated at the secrecy the Federation intends to apply to what the public sees as a dangerous new weapon, and Carol is adamant in her refusal to continue participating in the research, and declines an offer to travel aboard Grissom and study the Genesis Planet.
- The opening of the novelization was not featured in the film or comic adaptation.
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References[]
Characters[]
Movie characters[]
- Pavel Chekov • Miguel Darby • J.T. Esteban • Foster • Scott Heisenberg • Gerrold Kilendar • James T. Kirk • Knorr • Kruge • Maltz • David Marcus • Hans Markheim • Leonard McCoy • Harry Morrow • Harry Price • Regnor • Saavik • Sarek • Montgomery Scott • S'lith • Spock • Lawrence Styles • Hikaru Sulu • T'Lar • Tahglio • Torg • Nyota Uhura • Valkris • Warrigul • Genesis worms • unnamed Starfleet personnel • unnamed USS Excelsior personnel • unnamed USS Grissom personnel • unnamed Klingons • unnamed Humans • unnamed aliens
- Referenced only
- David Andrew McCoy • Skon • Solkar
Novelization characters[]
- Christine Chapel • Pavel Chekov • J.T. Esteban • Farrendahl • Foster • Fred • R. Grenni • Scott Heisenberg • Kendra • James T. Kirk • Kruge • Aquila Madison • Maltz • Carol Marcus • David Marcus • Leonard McCoy • Harry Morrow • Terrence Laurier • Harry Price • Saavik • Sarek • Montgomery Scott • Spock • Star • Dannan Stuart • Lawrence Styles • Hikaru Sulu • T'Lar • Torg • Tran • Nyota Uhura • Valkris • Warrigul • unnamed Merchantman personnel
- Referenced only
- Mandala Flynn • Jedda Adzhin-Dall • Kiosan • Vance Madison • Delwin March • David Andrew McCoy • Eleanora McCoy • Ngarakkani • Peter Preston • Skon • Solkar • Zinaida Chitirih-Ra-Payjh
Comic adaptation characters[]
- Pavel Chekov • J.T. Esteban • Foster • James T. Kirk • Knorr • Kruge • Maltz • David Marcus • Leonard McCoy • Harry Morrow • Harry Price • Saavik • Sarek • Montgomery Scott • S'lith • Spock • Lawrence Styles • Hikaru Sulu • T'Lar • Torg • Nyota Uhura • Valkris • Warrigul • Genesis worms
- Referenced only
- David Andrew McCoy • Skon • Solkar
Starships and vehicles[]
- IKS B'rel (B'rel-class bird-of-prey) • USS Enterprise (Constitution-class refit heavy cruiser) • USS Excelsior (Excelsior-class) • USS Grissom (Oberth-class) • Merchantman • orbital shuttle
- Referenced only
- Albatros D-III • USS Federation (Federation-class) • USS Firenze • USS Hermes (Hermes-class) • USS Magellanic Clouds (Federation galaxy ship) • USS Ranger (Enterprise-subclass Constitution-class heavy cruiser) • USS Saladin (Saladin-class) • Spad 7
Locations[]
Shipboard locations[]
- IKS B'rel
- bridge • crew area • transporter room
- USS Enterprise
- bridge • corridor • engineering • quarters (McCoy's, Spock's) • recreation deck • sickbay • torpedo bay • transporter room
- USS Excelsior
- bridge • engineering • quarters (Styles's) • turbolift
- USS Grissom
- bridge
Planetary locations[]
- Vulcan
- Mount Seleya
- Earth
- San Francisco (Kirk's apartment • Quasar Bar and Grill • Starfleet Headquarters • Old City Station)
Stations and outposts[]
Planet and planetoids[]
- Earth • Genesis Planet • Regula • Vulcan
- Referenced only
- Amenhotep IX
Stars and systems[]
- Referenced only
- Amenhotep system
Stellar regions and locations[]
- Andromeda Galaxy • Mutara sector • Organian space • sector 001 • Vulcan sector
Races and cultures[]
States and organizations[]
- Klingon Defense Force/Klingon Imperial Fleet • Klingon Empire • Starfleet • United Federation of Planets
- Referenced only
- Romulan Star Empire
Science and classification[]
Technology and weapons[]
- antimatter inducer • cloaking device • computer • d'k tahg • dagger • data record • Genesis Device • lava lamp • medical tricorder • phaser • shuttle • starship • transwarp computer • transwarp drive • tricorder • turbolift • type 2 phaser • warp drive
Lifeforms[]
Materials and substances[]
- terminium • protomatter
Food and beverages[]
- Altair water • Arcanis Lager • Kentucky bourbon
Medicine[]
Drugs and treatments[]
Occupations and titles[]
- admiral • cadet • captain • chief engineer • chief medical officer • commander • commanding officer • commander of Starfleet • communications officer • duelist • first officer • fleet admiral • lieutenant • lieutenant junior grade • lord • rank • rear admiral • science officer • second officer • security
Other references[]
- auto-destruct • beverage • blue alert • darts • drug • energy • food • French language • game • genetic hybrid • government • "The Great Experiment"• The Hunting of the Snark • katra • Klingonese • lifeform • metal • parlor game • planet • kotegaeshi • kellicam • matter • medicine • Project Genesis • prototype • races and cultures • sector • shakedown cruise • snark • space • star • star system • technology • title • Vulcan gong • Vulcan language • Warrigul • weapon
Appendices[]
Related media[]
- TOS movie, novelization & comic adaptation: The Wrath of Khan - The Search for Spock was a sequel to The Wrath of Khan and continues on with the story of Genesis and aftermath of Spock's death.
- The Genesis Wave (TNG novel miniseries) - The Genesis Wave series revisits the Genesis technology in the 24th century, with prominent appearances by Kirk's Klingon prisoner: Maltz, and Doctor Carol Marcus.
- DS9 - The Lives of Dax short story: "Infinity" - The DS9 short story establishes that Torias Dax was involved in the transwarp project established in the film.
Background[]
- Regarding the comics adaptation, writer Mike W. Barr said, "I would have sold my sainted mother to the Klingons for a look at the script to what, after Spock's death in Star Trek II, was one of the most eagerly-anticipated films of the year. That Paramount was paying close attention to DC's comic Trek was indicated by their comments on our adaptation. I rewrote Commander Morrow's line that the Enterprise was '20 years old' to either 30 or 40 years old, based on the lore that both Captains April and Pike had commanded her before Kirk, but this was not permitted to stand." (Star Trek Magazine Issue 153/US 26: "Minding the Gaps, Part 1")
Video releases[]
Images[]
Adaptation images[]
Comic adaptation images[]
Novelization images[]
Connections[]
Timeline[]
| published order | ||
|---|---|---|
| Previous novel: Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan |
TOS movies & novelizations | Next novel: Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home |
| Previous novel: The Final Reflection |
TOS numbered novels | Next novel: My Enemy, My Ally |
| Previous story: The Wrath of Khan |
Stories by: Vonda N. McIntyre |
Next story: Enterprise: The First Adventure |
| chronological order | ||
| Previous adventure: The Azphari Enigma |
Pocket Books Timeline | Next adventure: A Vulcan, A Klingon, and an Angel |
| Previous adventure: Chekov's Challenge |
Memory Beta Chronology | Next adventure: A Vulcan, A Klingon, and an Angel |
| The above chronology placements are based on the primary placement in 2285. The Memory Beta Chronology places events from this story in 1 other timeframe(s): | ||
| Previous adventure: The Wrath of Khan The Search for Spock film prologue |
March 2285 Chapters 1 – 2 of novelization |
Next adventure: The Wormhole Connection |
Publication and production history[]
- 1984, June
- Movie released.
- Pocket Books publishes novelization by Vonda N. McIntyre as number seventeen in the TOS numbered novel series.
- DC Comics publishes comic book adaptation by Mike W. Barr with art by Tom Sutton and Ricardo Villagran.
- 2004, October
- Pocket Books reprint novelization in the Signature Edition omnibus: Duty, Honor, Redemption, along with The Wrath of Khan and The Voyage Home.
- 2008, September
- Comic adaptation re-released in The Complete Comic Book Collection released by Graphic Imaging Technologies.
- 2009, November
- Comic adaptation re-released as part of the Movie Omnibus, with other TOS movie adaptations. Published by IDW Publishing.
Translations[]
- 1984
- German language: Star Trek III: Auf der Suche nach Mr. Spock, translated by Hans Maeter. (Heyne)
- 1984
- Japanese language: 宇宙大作戦 スター・トレック3 ミスター・スポックを探せ!, translated by Noriyoshi Saito. (Hayakawa Bunko)
- 1990
- French language: A la recherche de Spock, translated by Gilles Dupreux. (Arena)
- 1996
- Russian language: В поисках Спока, translated by R. R. Muftahov. (Rusich)
External links[]
- The Search for Spock article at Memory Alpha, the wiki for canon Star Trek.
- Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (novel) article at Memory Alpha, the wiki for canon Star Trek.
- Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (comic) article at Memory Alpha, the wiki for canon Star Trek.