#23 Ishmael
By Barbara Hamley
Spock is sent back in time to 1860s Seattle, with no memory of his identity. He must thwart a Klingon plot while playing along in the Bolt brothers' schemes.
Who would have thought one of the best stories told about Spock would be a crossover between Star Trek and the '70s musical-comedy Here Comes the Brides? Against all odds, it works. In the trivia department, Mark Lenard plays both Sarek and Aaron Stemple, hence an in-joke in the book's last few pages. (There are also references to characters from TV westerns and science fiction series, like Doctor Who.) Spock's christened Ishmeal by the townspeople and discovers an affinity for mathematics and deductive reasoning, but also forges emotional connections Spock would never permit himself. Klingons threaten, as do romance and Ishmael's true nature, all providing suspense.
The novel is not without its slow passages, such as those where Kirk and Co. track down their first officer, similar to some TOS episodes. The melodramatic aspects of the Brides plot also assert themselves often. Still, this is a world Spock would never normally inhabit, and it's wonderful to see him in a new role while remaining utterly himself. Character study at its best.