 First edition cover | |
| Author | Mack Reynolds |
|---|---|
| Illustrator | Sparky Moore |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Science fiction |
| Publisher | Whitman |
Publication date | 1968 |
| Publication place | United States |
| Media type | Print (Hardcover) |
| Pages | 210 |
| OCLC | 40742101 |
Mission to Horatius is a novel based on the American science fiction television series Star Trek: The Original Series. It was published in 1968 by Whitman, and was the first original novel based on the series; the first novel for adult audiences, Spock Must Die!, was not published until February 1970. Mission to Horatius details the adventures of the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise investigating where a distress signal had originated, resulting in them engaging with several different human colonies.
The novel was written by Mack Reynolds, and was Whitman's only original fiction based on the series. The producers of Star Trek had issues with the book, as they were concerned that it was dull and poorly written, in addition to containing offensive descriptions of both Sulu and Uhura. Gene Roddenberry intervened, stating that he would rather call off the publishing deal than see the property harmed. It was corrected, but Roddenberry was still dissatisfied with the novel. As Whitman had gone out of business years earlier, Pocket Books was able to re-publish the book in celebration of holding the Star Trek license for 20 years.