BN> Rem,ember the First Rule of canon -- the books aren't. ;)  Unless
 BN> I grossly miss my guess , you're referring to a novel, & they
 BN> NEVER have authority -- period. Not even the normally authoritative
 BN> tech books by Okuda are always considered solid & gospel.
There are at least four categories of Star Trek information:
1.  Information seen on-screen and never contradicted.  An example is
Kirk's first name, James.
2.  Information seen on screen, but contradicted, needing rationalization
to explain.  An example is Kirk's middle initial, "R." as seen in Where
No Man Has Gone Before.  Gary was tweeking Kirk's well-known habit of
using his middle initial by using the *wrong* initial on the gravestone.
3.  Information never seen on screen, but which is likely to appear, if
a particular script needs it in the future.  The Okuda books generally
fall into this category, because Mike Okuda is one of the people
responsible for defining the continuity at Paramount.  He should know
what he is likely to include.  :-)
4.  Information never seen on screen, and unlikely to be used by
Paramount at any time in the future.  Most fan-produced materials fall
into this category.
I have never liked the term "canon."   Better is "part of Star Trek
continuity, as defined by Paramount on-screen."
--- GEcho 1.00
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