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Captain Kirk becomes an interplanetary homicide detective!

The Vulcan Academy Murders is a Pocket TOS novel – #20 in the numbered series – written by Jean Lorrah. Published by Pocket Books, it was first released in November 1984.

Summary[]

From the book jacket
Kirk and McCoy accompany Spock to the Vulcan Academy Hospital, seeking experimental treatment for a badly wounded Enterprise crew member. Spock's mother is also a patient in the hospital, and Kirk soon becomes involved in the complex drama of Spock's family…
Suddenly, patients are dying, and Kirk suspects the unthinkable – murder on Vulcan! But can he convince the Vulcans that something as illogical as murder is possible? Until the killer is caught, everyone is in danger!

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

Memorable quotes[]

"What happened on that mission, father? You never would tell me, but I remember you returned home with the vestiges of… a black eye."
"True, but I also returned home with your mother."
"Oh no, I think I'm beginning to see what happened here. The warlord thought you had brought Amanda… as a gift for him?"
"You should consider a career in the diplomatic service, Jim."

-Spock, Sarek, and James T. Kirk


"Your mother will say you are too thin."
"Mother always says I am too thin."

-Sarek and Spock, undressing for sterilization before visiting Amanda's stasis cell


"Why did you marry her, Father?"
"At the time..."
"No. You are not teasing Mother now. I wish to know, truly, why you chose an Earthwoman."
"I did not. I chose Amanda, who happens to be an Earthwoman."

-Spock and Sarek

Background information[]

Cover gallery[]

Characters[]

Canon characters[]

James T. Kirk
Spock
Leonard McCoy
Hikaru Sulu
Pavel Chekov
Sarek
Amanda Grayson
T'Pau
Joseph M'Benga
Amanda Grayson, 2268

Amanda Grayson

Non-canon characters[]

Daniel Corrigan
Human doctor and longtime friend and colleague of Sorel.
He is also featured in The IDIC Epidemic.
Eleyna Miller
Sarek's assistant at the Vulcan Academy.
Carl Remington
Ensign serving on the Enterprise.
Sorel
Vulcan healer, and longtime friend and colleague of Daniel Corrigan.
He is also featured in The IDIC Epidemic.
Soton
Son of Sorel.
Storn
Vulcan engineer.
T'Mir
Daughter of Sorel.
She is also featured in The IDIC Epidemic. Not to be confused with the T'Mir featured in ENT: "Carbon Creek" as they are unrelated characters.
Sendet
classmate of T'Mir, attempting to court her.
T'Par
Vulcan healer working with Sorel.
T'Zan
Wife Of Sorel.

References[]

"Journey to Babel"
Kirk recalls the crew's first meeting with Sarek and Amanda;
"Court Martial"
McCoy suggests to Spock that he "play chess" with the Vulcan Science Academy's computer to discover the root of the tampering, the same way he discovered Benjamin Finney's tampering with the Enterprise computer.
kahs-wan
Klingon
Kolinahr
Orion
pon farr
Rigel
sehlat
Shakespeare
Surak
T'kuht
The sister planet of Vulcan was first named in a 1975 fanzine headed up by Gordon Carleton. The Vulcan Academy Murders by Jean Lorrah was the first licensed publication to pick up the name. Later, in 1988 the spelling would be adjusted to T'Khut in Spock's World by Diane Duane before finally being canonized in 2023 by SNW: "Charades".
T'Pring
Vulcan
Vulcan Science Academy

External links[]


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