Tin Woodman (novel)
Encyclopedia
Tin Woodman is a science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...

 novel written by Dennis Russell Bailey and David Bischoff
David Bischoff
David F. Bischoff is an American science fiction and television writer.-General Background:Born in Washington D.C. and now living in Eugene, Oregon, Bischoff writes science fiction books, short stories, and scripts for television...

. It was first published in 1979. The story, about a psychic who makes contact with a sentient spacecraft, was adapted into a Star Trek: The Next Generation
Star Trek: The Next Generation
Star Trek: The Next Generation is an American science fiction television series created by Gene Roddenberry as part of the Star Trek franchise. Roddenberry, Rick Berman, and Michael Piller served as executive producers at different times throughout the production...

episode.

Plot summary

A young psychic boy is taken aboard a starship at the request of the government. The boy is considered both a misfit and dangerous because he has the ability to read minds on earth. However, once aboard he travels into deep space where he comes into contact with a sentient starship. The mission of the crew is to somehow communicate with the alien craft and bring it back to earth. However, things don't go to plan when the young psychic makes contact and decides to take matters into his own hands.

Publication history

  • 1979, USA, Doubleday ISBN 0385127855, Pub date 1 April 1979, Hardback
  • 1980, UK, Sidgwick & Jackson
    Sidgwick & Jackson
    Sidgwick & Jackson is an imprint of publishing company Pan Macmillan. It was founded in Britain in 1908. Notable early Sidgwick and Jackson authors include poet Rupert Brooke and novelist E.M. Forster...

    , ISBN 0283986026, Pub date 1980, Hardback
  • 1980, UK, Readers Union/The Science Fiction Book Club [UK], Pub date 1980, Hardback
  • 1982, USA, Ace Books
    Ace Books
    Ace Books is the oldest active specialty publisher of science fiction and fantasy books. The company was founded in New York City in 1952 by Aaron A. Wyn, and began as a genre publisher of mysteries and westerns...

    , ISBN 0441812929, Pub date, Feb 1982, Paperback
  • 1982, UK, Sidgwick & Jackson
    Sidgwick & Jackson
    Sidgwick & Jackson is an imprint of publishing company Pan Macmillan. It was founded in Britain in 1908. Notable early Sidgwick and Jackson authors include poet Rupert Brooke and novelist E.M. Forster...

    , ISBN 0283988134, Pub date 1980, Omnibus Hardback
  • 1983 France, Les Enfants du Voyage, Opta (OPTA - Galaxie Bis #96), ISBN 2720101826, Cover: J. L. Verdier, 206pp , Pub date Dec 1983, Paperback
  • 1985, USA, Ace Books
    Ace Books
    Ace Books is the oldest active specialty publisher of science fiction and fantasy books. The company was founded in New York City in 1952 by Aaron A. Wyn, and began as a genre publisher of mysteries and westerns...

    , ISBN 0441812937, Cover: Walter Velez, Pub date, Dec. 1985, Paperback

Explanation of the novel's title

The name Tin Woodman is derived from the The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is a children's novel written by L. Frank Baum and illustrated by W. W. Denslow. Originally published by the George M. Hill Company in Chicago on May 17, 1900, it has since been reprinted numerous times, most often under the name The Wizard of Oz, which is the name of...

Tin Woodman
Tin Woodman
The Tin Woodman, sometimes referred to as the Tin Man or the Tin Woodsman , is a character in the fictional Land of Oz created by American author L. Frank Baum...

 character. The name is used as a euphemism for the alien, the subject of the novel, who like the Woodman seeks happiness by having its heart restored.

Adaptations

The novel was based on a short story of the same name, which was nominated for a Nebula Award
Nebula Award
The Nebula Award is given each year by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America , for the best science fiction/fantasy fiction published in the United States during the previous year...

 in 1977.

This book was adapted into a Star Trek: The Next Generation
Star Trek: The Next Generation
Star Trek: The Next Generation is an American science fiction television series created by Gene Roddenberry as part of the Star Trek franchise. Roddenberry, Rick Berman, and Michael Piller served as executive producers at different times throughout the production...

episode, "Tin Man", also written by Bischoff & Bailey. The core story comes from the novel, but the novel itself was not associated with the Star Trek
Star Trek
Star Trek is an American science fiction entertainment franchise created by Gene Roddenberry. The core of Star Trek is its six television series: The Original Series, The Animated Series, The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager, and Enterprise...

universe. Many changes had to be made to adapt the story into the Star Trek universe, such as the characterization of the crew, and the book's ending.
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