A new Star Trek adventure by Gordon Eklund based on the award-winning television series created by Gene Roddenberry. — Devil World is a Star Trek novel, a TOS adventure from Bantam Books in November 1981. This was the 10th of 13 full-length novels in the Bantam TOS series, and the last released before the license to commission new stories had been passed to Pocket Books for the numbered series that began with TOS novelization: The Motion Picture in 1979. This was the second and final Star Trek book by author Gordon Eklund, after his previous TOS novel: The Starless World. Devil World has subsequently been reprinted several times by Bantam and other publishers.

Description[]

From the original 1979 edition back cover

Voyage to Heartland.

Heartland… a mysterious planet populated by a small but terrifying race of demonic beings.

Heartland… where Captain Kirk falls in love with a beautiful, mysterious woman with a fatal secret.

Heartland… where Kirk, Spock and the rest of the Enterprise crew will be challenged by an awesome disembodied intelligence, more powerful than any other force in the universe!

From the 1995 edition back cover

They were drawn to the quarantined planet of Heartland to find Jacob Kell, the infamous traitor who forsook the Federation for the Klingons. But what they found was a hell where the devil is real and immortality is possible, if you choose to pay the price… eternal damnation!

Summary[]

Captain's log, stardate 4231.2

With the Enterprise now undergoing general maintenance here at Starbase 13, I've decided to take advantage of the opportunity by issuing an order for full shore leave commencing at once and continuing until further notice. After the lengthy duration of our last voyage, the crew has shown no hesitancy in taking complete advantage of the superb facilities available here for rest, recreation, pleasure, and delight.

James T. Kirk and company attend a magic show. Kirk is noticeably worried that the girl sawed in half will not recover. Kirk is then frightened to the point of disgust by images of devils. Kirk notices a masked girl screaming about her father being abducted by devils. The girl is a Jain, and therefore eats very little and wears a mask to avoid killing microbes. Her name is Gilla Dupree, and she is a famous performer whom Spock describes as 'awesome'. Kirk notes that it took him three hours to compose himself after he witnessed a recording of her acting. She convinces the Captain to help look for her father, a reputed traitor. The starbase commander allows him to go in search of her father, so long as Kirk promises to make a man out of his layabout son.

Captain's log, stardate 4246.7

Upon our arrival at Heartland, I ordered my helmsman to place the ship into orbit around the planet. An immediate full sensor scan of the surface will commence as soon as a stable orbit is achieved. From the viewscreen, Heartland appears to be as reported: a lush M-type planet, with large oceans and considerable continental vegetation, an excellent prospect for Human colonization. While here, I intend to investigate the question of continued quarantine and make a recommendation upon our departure. Our passenger, Gilla Dupree, remains under observation in sickbay. The exact nature of her illness—if any—is as yet undetermined.

Kirk and company arrive at a planet inhabited by a people who look remarkably like the Devil. They are all that remains of a once great race, and their species is dying out. Previous colonists on this planet were driven mad and evacuated forty years before, but one stayed and retained his sanity by hiding from the locals. The locals have accepted Gilla's father as one of their own. He insists that the USS Enterprise leave immediately. Kirk stays the night in a hut, and finds a crewman has gone mad the next morning. Kirk is again told to leave. Kirk insists on staying. Gilla gives up wearing the mask and eats local fruit. Spock senses an angry mental presence in the area. That presence is commanding the locals and Gilla's father. Kirk becomes romantically involved with Gilla and professes his love for her. The presence will not allow the crew to transport off the planet. Spock is driven catatonic by the presence. Gilla makes a deal with the presence requiring her to remain provided the others are allowed to go free.

Captain's log, stardate 4257.1

… and so my recommendation remains that the quarantine of the planet Heartland be not only maintained but more strictly enforced in the future. The mysterious machine intelligence that inhabits the planet will continue to present a clear and present danger to the general well-being of the Federation only as long as the Danon race survives. Since extinction appears to be only a matter of a relatively few years away, the situation does not appear to warrant an offensive response. Time is the ally of the Federation. I am further pleased to report that Mr. Spock continues to make substantial progress toward a full recovery and is expected to resume his normal duties within a few days. Our passenger, Jacob Kell, is also much improved. As for Gilla Dupree, I have not mentioned her in my previous log entries because—

Kirk laments leaving Gilla behind. Dr. Leonard McCoy explains that she had an inoperable tumor and would die rather soon. Kirk promotes the wayward son of Starbase 13's commander to a recently available post in security. Spock recovers from his experience, but the insane security guard does not.

References[]

Characters[]

Reni Bates • Christine Chapel • Pavel Chekov • Dazi • Doyle • Gilla Dupree • Faustus • Great Machine • Jacob Kell • James T. Kirk • Lola • Radly Marcus • Leonard McCoy • Mosley • Albert Schang • Wilhelm Schang • Spock • Hikaru Sulu • Nyota Uhura • USS Enterprise (NCC-1701) personnel

Referenced only

William Bligh • Jesus Christ • Devil • God • Ivan the Terrible • Mahavira • Merkle • Natasha • Friedrich Nietzsche • Pavel • Satan • Aurora Schang • William Shakespeare • Leo Tolstoy

Starships and vehicles[]

USS Enterprise (Constitution-class heavy cruiser) • USS Tresher

Locations[]

Hell

Station locales[]

recreation deck • commander's office

Shipboard locations[]

bridge • sickbay

Planetary locales and institutions[]

Heartland colony

Referenced only

Kentucky • Starfleet Academy • Russia • Moscow • Japan

Stations and outposts[]

Starbase 13 • Starfleet Academy

Planets and planetoids[]

Heartland

Referenced only

Ossium IV • Earth • Herbarium • Luna

Stars and systems[]

NC513

Referenced only

Rigellian system

Stellar regions[]

the galaxy

Races and cultures[]

Danon • Human (Chinese • Christian • Cossack • German • Hindu • Jain • Morganite • Russian) • Vulcan

Referenced only

Klingon • Torga

States and organizations[]

Klingon Empire • Starfleet • Starfleet Command • United Federation of Planets

Technology and weapons[]

britebeam • communicator • computer • holographic projector • hypospray • laser • phaser • sensor • starship • technology • tridee visual • viewscreen • warp drive • weapon

Ranks and titles[]

cadet • captain • chief medical officer • commander • commanding officer • commodore • communications officer • crewman • emperor • ensign • first officer • flag officer • helmsman • lieutenant • lieutenant commander • magician • navigator • officer • science officer

Other references[]

angel • bean • bear • berry • Birth of a Living Star • butterfly • cat • captain's log • cards • chicken • chopstick • civilization • clay • colony • continent • couch • court-martial • cow • credit • demon • distress call • dog • Federation Starfleet ranks • Federation Starfleet ranks (2260s) • flower • fly • fog • forest • game • gestalt • goat • government • grain • grape • Great Golden Comet • ham • iron • kaleidoscope • Kentucky bourbon • lamb • leaf • lifeform • log entry • nut • ocean • oil • onion • orbit • oxygen • pepper • planet • poker • polar bear • Prime Directive • rank • religion • rhododendron • rice • robe • root • Russian bear • senso-drama • shore leave • spacerigger's delight • stardate • Starfleet uniform • Starfleet uniform (2265-2270) • title • uniform • utility belt • vitamin • water • water chestnut • wine • zoo

Chronology[]

Circa 7700 BCE

10,000 years prior to the 2260s, the Danons rule a sizable portion of the galaxy. Their visits to Earth and their satyr-like appearances help to contribute to the mythology of the Humans' Devil. During this period, the Danons encounter the Torgas, beginning millennia of war, after which the Danons retreat to their homeworld on the planet Heartland, where they build a Great Machine and worship it. (Cited as an approximation, taking place 10,000 years prior)

6th century BCE

Mahavira founds the Jain sect of the Hindu faith. (Mentioned by century)

2269, shortly before stardate 4231

Enterprise arrives for a layover at Starbase 13. (This would have taken place shortly before the first scene of the novel)

Stardate 4231.2

Enterprise continues to Heartland with new crewmember Albert Schang and Gilla Dupree as a passenger.

Stardate 4246.7

Enterprise arrives at Heartland, discovers a powerful presence, and Kirk and crew are trapped planetside while camping among the locals. Gilla Dupree sacrifices herself to save the ship, Albert Schang saves James T. Kirk, and the Enterprise escapes. Overall, one passenger lost, one passenger gained, one security guard driven insane, one security officer created.

Appendices[]

Related media[]

• The USS Enterprise also encountered an ancient, dying race protected by a non-corporeal intelligence in TOS novel: The Starless World.
• The Danons are said to have contributed to the mythology on Earth regarding the Devil. This is something they share in common with Lucien. (TAS episode & novelization: The Magicks of Megas-tu)

Background[]

On the Corgi Books reprint edition, the refit Enterprise is shown, despite all other versions' cover art placing this story in the 2260s decade, prior to the vessel refit.

Images[]

Cover images[]

Connections[]

Timeline[]

published order
Previous novel: The Fate of the Phoenix	TOS unnumbered novels by Bantam Books	Next novel: Perry's Planet
Previous novel: Planet of Judgment	Star Trek Adventures	Next novel: The Fate of the Phoenix
Previous story: The Starless World	Stories by: Gordon Eklund	Next story: last Star Trek novel
chronological order
Previous adventure: World Without End	Pocket Books Timeline	Next adventure: Perry's Planet
Previous adventure: World Without End	Memory Beta Chronology	Next adventure: Second Nature Star Trek: Seekers
Previous story: World Without End	Voyages of the USS Enterprise (NCC-1701), Year Four	Next story: The Face of the Unknown

Publication history[]

November 1979

First published by Bantam Books, cover by Enric Torres-Prat. (ISBN 0553132970)

January 1985

Second printing by Bantam, new cover by Enric Torres-Prat. (ISBN 0553246771)

March 1985

First published in Great Britain. (Corgi Books, ISBN 0552125806)

October 1994

Reissued in Great Britain as Star Trek Adventures #8, cover by Alister Pearson. (Titan Books, ISBN 1852865326)

November 1995

Third printing by Bantam Spectra, cover by Kazuhiko Sano. (ISBN 0553246771)

Translations[]

July 1988

Italian: As Pianeta infernale, translated by translated by Annarita Guarnieri, cover by Marilena Maiocco. (Garden Editoriale)

1990

German: As Der Teufelsplanet, Raumschiff Enterprise #19, translated by Angelika Weidmann. (Goldmann)

External link[]

• Devil World article at Memory Alpha, the wiki for canon Star Trek.