Author: A.C. Crispin
(Watch the episode "All Our Yesterday's" for reference {3rd season})
The book takes place about 14 years after where the episode "All Our Yesterday's" leaves off.
Previously, Spock and McCoy had been sent back into the planet Sarpeidon's past by accident, it's ice age, where they met a beautiful woman named Zarabeth. Spock reverts back into the barbarism of the Vulcan people of 5,000 years before, an effect of not having been prepared through the Atavachron by Mr. Atoz . McCoy suffers from the effects of frostbite and hypothermia through most of the episode, keeping him out of the picture, so to speak. Of course Spock and Zarabeth 'fall in love'. (Go Spock!!) The one tear-jerker is that even after both Spock and McCoy escape Sarpeidon's past, and the Vulcan comes back to his sense of reality, he still loves her. If you look, it is quite apparent in his expression and tone. (even moreso than that blond chick , Leila, from "This Side OF Paradise")
14 years later:
Through pure chance, Spock discovers he has had a son by Zarabeth. He uses the Guardian Of Forever on the planet GateWay to go into Sarpeidon's past', and along with Kirk and McCoy, goes off in search of the son he never knew he had. Spock discovers that Zarabeth had been killed, and Zar, his son, was left alone to fend for himself for seven years. He brings back Zar, and the entire crew of the ENTERPRISE wonders just WHO he is and WHAT relation exactly he has with Spock. Zar has strong mental abilities, a key factor in this story's plot. Eventually, a problem arrises with the Romulans, excuse me, Rihannsu, and forces the ENTERPRISE to defend the Guardian against tampering. In order to hide it from the Rihannsu, a force field is needed around the Guardian to protect it. Of course, Spock and Zar are the only logical two who can successfully accomplish this feat, right? You bet. Using his mental abilities, Zar makes it possible for the two to manuever around the dangerous Rihannsu guards. After the skirmish, Zar uses the portal to go back into his own time, and discovers that he is needed there more than any where else.
Review: ***** 5 stars. This book is still one of the most popular TOS novels written. It is witty and at times, quite humorous. It also has heart, and you really feel Zar's emotional turmoil as he tries to understand the father he never knew. I admit, I cried at the end when Zar goes back to Sarpeidon. The mindmeld scene was so 'touching' to me, and the charactars quite vivid. This is one of the finest of the earlier ST novels, and I feel that it deserves all the praise that has been given to it. Plus, If you LOVE Spock stuff, this is your chance to read a novel all about him, his family and the struggles of his own son. Quite fascinating.
Note: This book has a sequel, entitled "Time For Yesterday." In the words of Roald Dahl, it is also "quite scrumdidilyumptious!"
