Step One Done

Posted By: Peter DavidPosted On:

I’ve finished the first draft of the treatment for “Gene Roddenberry’s Starpoint Academy.” Twenty pages long, providing a beat-by-beat guide through (what hopefully will be merely the first) adventure of the Starpoint students.

As always, there’s many a potential slip along the way. But I’ll keep you guys apprised as matters progress.

Now, off to work on the FF novelization. I’ve even got the first line, which is not in the script. I just like it: “I’m worried about’cha, Reed,” said Ben Grimm. “I think yer stretchin’ yourself too thin.”

PAD

26 comments on “Step One Done”

  1. Great line, Peter. Never let it be said that you’re one to allow a bad joke to slip by.

    Even one as thinly veiled as that one.

    (See, I can do it, too.) 🙂

  2. Nice gag, though I did like “Brain Banner saw that he was making his son, Bruce, angry and he decided that he liked it” opening line from the HULK novelization alot.

  5. Yer killin’ me “about’cha” *snort*

    (Seriously though, I do look forward to reading it.)

  6. Reed’s retort,

    “Coming from someone that’s usually as thick as a brick, that’s pretty intuitive, Ben.”

  7. I think my favorite PAD novel line comes from ST:NF (forget which book)

    “You’re turn.”

    Or was it “You’re shot.”

    I forget which…one of the loudest laugh out loud at a book moments I’ve ever had. And it was on a crowded commuter train do downtown Chicago, in the morning.

  9. Peter, in light of your BID column from a couple of years back, can we expect an implied joke about Reed’s ablity to stretch certain body parts (albeit one buried beneath family-friendly innuendo)?

  11. Peter: So is this novelization gonna be another one of those in which you surpass the movie?

    No offense to PAD, but if he can’t do at least that much in his sleep, he should give up writing. Films can only pack in so much in 2 hours or so. A good writer should at least fill in the blanks enough that it makes even more sense. A great writer, like PAD, will leave you wishing they had filmed the novelization rather than the actual film (which, I know, contradicts what I said at the beginning, but you get what I mean).

    Of course, I have read novelizations that are actually worse than the film, so I would take something PAD writes in his sleep over the “best” works of some other authors.

    Jim in Iowa

  12. Jim, for this topic, we are in agreement. In addition, his novelizations are simply fun to read.

    My big problem with Peter’s novelizations are that I rather read more New Frontier books are B5 spin off novels or his amazing fantasy books.

  13. J. Alexander, well of course we agree. Do you think I only come to this site to have everyone disagree with my religious / social / political views? 😉

    I love ST:NF and his B5 novels. But what do you mean by his amazing fantasy books? Or are you refering to things like “Sir Apropos,” etc.?

    Jim in Iowa

  14. My “favorite” bad joke of PAD’s in books (that I can remember) is in NF, when the Romulans are attacking Excalibur. Riker is the guest captain and Sela says the only obvious line…”Fire at Will”.

    I’m suprised that no other writer would stoop so low as to use that line before…and in that context. : )

  15. What’s next?

    “I know you love me, Sue,” Reed smiled, “I can see right through you.”

  16. Hey Jim. Yep, I do get a kick out of Peter’s fantasy novels like THE WOAD TO WUIN. But I also love the Thorne Smith atmosphere of HOWLING MAD.

  17. That’s why I like PADs writing so much: He can take a character that is established as being serious, even in their sleep, and add the element of humor without detracting from the seriousness of the character. Jean-Luc Picard is a good example. To me it adds a level of humanity to a character that many writers ignore. Hëll, ther’s alot more to drama than pain and suffering. PAD’s writing shows that a sense of humor is often what helps to keep a character on the right side of the line, even if just barely.

    I guess it’s also true of antogonists as well. Humor allows we, the readers, to identify with them enough to not entirely hate them.

    All of which boils down to one simple fact: PADs works are fun to read.

    Regards,

    Mitch Evans

  21. I’m going to have to go with the line about Hermats calling themselves “sheit.” It was one of the first PAD jokes I’ve ever heard, and is still one of my favorite.

  22. “I’ve finished the first draft of the treatment
    for “Gene Roddenberry’s Starpoint Academy.”
    Twenty pages long,providing a beat-by-beat guide
    through (what hopefully will be merely the first)
    adventure of the Starpoint students.”
    —–
    If I may ask a stupid, ill-imformed question
    (Like that’s ever stopped me before), is this for
    a novel or a TV series pilot?
    Because obviously Paramount could do a lot worse
    than have Peter David work up a new series for them.
    (*koffcouldandhavekoff*)

  24. Was I the only one who, before I read the first line, think FF was Firefly, and then say to myself “Hey, ain’t that KRAD’s job?”

    …yeah, I’m crazy…

  25. Me, I liked PADs Riddler in his ‘Batman Forever’ adaptation saying “Somebody, stop me!” ala ‘The Mask’, also with Jim Carrey.

  26. I got through the first couple chapters of Tong Lashing and literally smacked my head against the wall as soon as Apropos grumbled “I deserve a break today.”

    I guess you had to have been there.

    Also, quick question: it took me about seven reads to finally get it, because I’m a moron, but is Doubting Thomas supposed to be a jab at Thomas Covenant or what? 🙂

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