The Entropy Effect

The Entropy Effect is a novel by Vonda N. McIntyre set in the fictional Star Trek Universe. It was originally published in 1981 and is the first original story in Pocket Books' long-running series of Star Trek novels (and the second published, after the novelization of Star Trek: The Motion Picture). The novel includes the first occurrence of given names for the characters Hikaru Sulu and Nyota Uhura, each of which were later made canon (in the films Star Trek VI and Star Trek, respectively). Robert Greenberger, the Editor at Starlog Press with responsibility for the Star Trek franchise, reviewed the novel favorably, calling it "captivating reading" and praising the characterization and the "scientific emphasis".: 65  It was the first novel that was effective in giving prominence to a supporting character – Sulu, in this case. McIntyre's naming of Sulu as "Hikaru" became canon through the efforts of George Takei and Peter David in the making of the film Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country.: 2–3  The novel was one of the first to explore "beyond the boundaries of the known Trek universe.": 65  McIntyre developed the novel from a screenplay that she had conceived when she was 18, and this "wonderful volume ... convinced Pocket Books to assign the subsequent three movie novelizations" to McIntyre.: 65