The Entropy Effect

Did You Know?

• It was one of the first novels to explore 'beyond the boundaries of the known Trek universe' and the first to give prominence to a supporting character.
• The novel's success convinced Pocket Books to assign the subsequent three movie novelizations to McIntyre.

Plot summary

The Enterprise is diverted from studying a naked singularity to ferry a single criminal, Dr. Georges Mordreaux, from mining colony Aleph Prime to a rehabilitation colony in the same solar system. Mordreaux, a theoretical physicist, was convicted of murder and unethical research on self-aware beings. Spock doubts his guilt, while prosecutor Braithewaite insists Mordreaux is dangerous. During the journey, Mordreaux appears on the bridge, injures Braithewaite, and shoots Kirk and Security Chief Mandala Flynn. Flynn alerts security before dying, but security confirms Mordreaux never left his quarters. Kirk is taken to sickbay, where Dr. McCoy struggles to save him; Kirk dies while Spock is mind-melded to him. Braithewaite later sees Spock and McCoy terminate life support on Kirk's brain-dead body, suspecting a conspiracy. Spock learns from Mordreaux that he was imprisoned for developing a time travel device. Spock concludes that an older Mordreaux from a different timeline murdered Kirk and constructs a time travel device to make several futile trips back in time. An even older Mordreaux joins Spock in confronting the younger Mordreaux just before he first uses the device. The strain kills the oldest Mordreaux, and the singularity is revealed to be the result of his timeline interference. The younger scientist destroys his device and research, and Spock returns to a restored timeline with memories of both realities. Spock tells Kirk the singularity will destroy itself. In a subplot, Hikaru Sulu requests a transfer to the fighter ship Aerfen, but Kirk grants him a field promotion to keep him on the Enterprise.