Double, Double

Double, Double is a Star Trek: The Original Series novel that continues the story thread from the original episode "What Are Little Girls Made Of?" The narrative centers on an android survivor from Dr. Roger Korby's laboratory who executes a plan for revenge against Captain Kirk. The plot follows a tense situation where the USS Hood falls victim to a deceptive distress call, leading to the capture of its crew. Captain Kirk faces accusations of murder while an android duplicate infiltrates his position as commander of the Enterprise. Kirk must work with the remaining Hood crew members and loyal Enterprise personnel to prevent his android double from misusing the flagship of the Federation. The story moves between the parallel narratives of both the real and artificial Kirk. The novel examines themes of identity, loyalty, and the ethical implications of artificial life, building on classic Star Trek questions about what defines humanity. It presents a fresh perspective on the android storyline established in the original television series.

Readers often describe Double, Double as a straightforward Trek adventure that captures the tone of The Original Series but lacks narrative depth. Readers appreciate: - The author's grasp of classic Trek characters and dialogue - Fast-moving plot with plenty of action - Recreation of TOS episode atmosphere - Clear writing style Common criticisms: - Plot feels predictable and formulaic - Character development remains shallow - Too similar to existing TOS episodes - Resolution described as "too neat" Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: 3.5/5 (387 ratings) Amazon: 3.7/5 (28 reviews) ThriftBooks: 3.8/5 (12 reviews) Several readers note it works best as "comfort food Trek." As one Goodreads reviewer states: "It's a quick, entertaining read that feels like watching a lost episode, but don't expect anything groundbreaking." Multiple Amazon reviews mention it's "fine for passing time" but "not particularly memorable."

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🔹 Dr. Roger Korby, referenced in this novel, first appeared in the original Star Trek episode "What Are Little Girls Made Of?" (1966), where he was nicknamed the "Pasteur of archaeological medicine." 🔹 Michael Jan Friedman has written over 35 Star Trek novels and is particularly known for his extensive contributions to Star Trek: The Next Generation literature. 🔹 The USS Hood, featured in the story, was one of the first Constitution-class starships alongside the Enterprise, and appears multiple times throughout Star Trek canon. 🔹 The concept of android duplicates in Star Trek was explored several times in the original series, including episodes like "What Are Little Girls Made Of?" and "I, Mudd," establishing a rich foundation for this novel. 🔹 The book's exploration of android technology connects to broader Star Trek themes about artificial life, which later became central to characters like Data in The Next Generation.