While the first adaptation of the second Star Trek series, this book is definitely one of the lesser works in the entire Trek canon. There's a little more background information than in the episode, but it's just mightily dull, even with the addition of Q and all the introductions. Much like that first episode, the appearance of Dr. McCoy is the highlight of the book. Nowadays, I doubt the series could've been sold on the strength of a pilot episode like this ... it's just too cliched.