I, Q

Real world article
(written from a Production point of view)

Q's greatest adventure – in his own words!

I, Q is a Pocket TNG novel written by John de Lancie and Peter David. Published by Pocket Books, it was first released in hardback in September 1999.

Summary[]

From the book jacket: The enigmatic entity known as Q remains one of the greatest mysteries in the universe, yet no one, perhaps, understands Q as well as actor John de Lancie, who has played Q on television for more than a decade. Now de Lancie and Peter David, the bestselling author of such acclaimed novels as Q-in-Law and Q-Squared have joined forces to send Q on an unforgettable cosmic odyssey, told from the mischievous trickster's own unique point of view.

The Maelstrom, a metaphysical whirlpool of apocalyptic proportions, is pulling all of reality into its maw, devouring the totality of time and space while bringing together people and places from throughout the universe. The Q Continuum pronounces that the end of everything has come, but Q refuses to meekly accept the end of all he has known. Defying the judgment of the Continuum, he sets out to derail doomsday – at whatever the cost.

Q has been everywhere and done everything, but now he's in for a cosmic thrill ride beyond even his own astonishingly unlimited imagination. Old friends and adversaries wait in unexpected places, transcendent hazards abound, and the multiverse's most unlikely savior encounters wonders and dangers enough to render Q himself speechless. Almost.

Can even Q, reluctantly assisted by Jean Luc Picard, prevent the Universe As We Know It from literally going down the drain? I, Q is a wild and witty voyage through the secret soul of creation – as only Q can tell it!

Excerpts of copyrighted sources are included for review purposes only, without any intention of infringement.

Memorable quotes[]

"This is Mr. Sherlock Holmes, and his 'big mouth,' associate is Doctor Watson."

- Q, addressing Picard and then Data

"Elementary, my dear Q."

- Data

"I am Q, I am forever!"

- Q

"I, Q am the lord of Chaos. I, Q, defy you to the last, and if you think you can stop me just by ending the universe, then I'm here to tell you that you're going to have to do better than that!"

- Q

"Are you saying my father is a decent man?"

- Q Junior, in reference to his father Q

"I worship stupidity, and you're my new God."

- Q, addressing Grand Nagus Zek

"You fool! You fell victim to one of the classic blunders! The best known, of course, is never get involved in a land war on Vulcan. But only slightly less well known is this: Never go up against a Ferengi when money is on the line!"

- Grand Nagus Zek

"I, the Nagus, outwitted. Inconceivable."
"I do not think that word means what you think it does."

- Grand Nagus Zek and Data

Wallace Shawn, who played Grand Nagus Zek in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, also played Vizini in The Princess Bride – accordingly, the above quotes (in slightly altered form) pay homage to his movie role.

Background information[]

It was John de Lancie who was approached by Pocket to write I, Q. As de Lancie noted: "I didn’t know enough about Trek to write a Trek novel. I told them I would write a series of interior monologues because the part I did know was the character." Peter David, assigned to work with de Lancie on the novel, flew out to Los Angeles to meet with him and work out an outline. To the first draft, written by David, de Lancie added extensive Q dialogue; the draft then went back and forth between the two collaborators before the final manuscript emerged. (Voyages of Imagination, p. 218)
The audiobook version was abridged and read by John de Lancie. His wife, Marnie Mosiman, voices the character Melony in the opening and closing sequences.
The Science Fiction Book Club released a special edition of the hardback in October 1999.
An extract from this novel appeared in Star Trek Monthly issue 59.