Star Trek: Voyager (TV Series) Author, Author (2001) User Reviews

The Doctor writes a novel

[Tweekums · 8/10 · 26 May 2010]

When it becomes possible for crew members to have brief conversations with people in the Alpha Quadrant The Doctor uses his time to contact a publisher; it turns out he has written a holographic novel about the life of an Emergency Medical Hologram aboard a ship stranded in the Delta Quadrant. When Voyager's crew see what happens on The Doctor's fictional USS Vortex they are not impressed, all of the characters are clearly based on them with a few minor changes to names and appearance but their behaviour is very different, the captain's alter ego kills a wounded crewman because The Doctor wants to treat him ahead of a less seriously injured crewman and with the exception of Seven's character all the people on the Vortex treat their Doctor with contempt, thinking of him as a mere tool. The Doctor believes that nobody will think that his book is based on Voyager and the crew are being over-sensitive. When Tom tweaks the novel the Doctor is given a taste of his on medicine when he finds himself on the USS Voyeur where the EMH drugs patients to take advantage of them. He agrees to rewrite his work but his publisher releases the work anyway claiming that as a Hologram the Doctor has no rights so can't protect his work. This leads to a tribunal to determine just what his status is.

I rather enjoyed this episode, finding USS Vortex to be an amusing parody of life on Voyager and I loved Tom's revenge with USS Voyeur. While a similar episode had appeared in "The Next Generation" that had less comic elements and was made many years earlier so I think it was okay to reuse the idea of exploring the idea of rights for artificial life forms.

One of the best!

[planktonrules · 9/10 · 8 March 2015]

I noticed one reviewer referred to this episode as 'the worst of the worst'. Oddly, to me it's one of the better episodes and it's obvious that there are lots of difference tastes out there. For me, the funny episodes they periodically tossed in were among some of the very best--they provided some welcome relief from the otherwise VERY serious nature of the show.

When the show begins, they've established a Skype-like system where crew members can make live calls to the Alpha Quadrant. Surprisingly, one of the most excited about this is the Doctor! Despite being a hologram, he has ideas about becoming a great author and his ego is stroked when a big publishing house wants his novel. Folks are shocked, however, when they see that this novel sure makes it look as if the Doctor is a great, great man and the crew, which is WAY too much like Voyager's, is full of evil jerks who couldn't get along without the Doc. It's VERY funny to say the least. But what is funnier is Tom Paris' re-write. In it, the Doctor is a jerk AND he sports a ridiculous comb-over!

Overall, this episode is very slight but it's also very funny. If you don't mind a tongue-in-cheek episode, it's one of the better episodes of the final season. Well worth seeing--and it's a great chance to see just how far the Doctor's ego has gone!

By the way, two of the guest stars in this ones are Barry Gordon (the blue publisher) and the arbitrator (Joseph Campanella). It's nice to see these familiar faces on the show.

Super Episode! Open Your Mind. Empathize With What Other People Are/Might Be Living With...

[grimdugald · 9/10 · 21 June 2016]

I won't give much away (I usually strive not to with my IMDb reviews, as I prefer to speak in terms of how media makes me feel, while also discussing matters of logic/good writing). But I have to agree with the two positive reviewers of this episode. I find it kind of strange that two people reviewed it so positively, and that two reviewed it soooo negatively! "Author, Author" is a great episode! What needs to be said, is said. And the resultant decision and consequences at the end of the episode are believable and well written.

Just so you know, this is a funny and very touching episode, in equal measure. Seven gets to make more of a connection to reclaiming her humanity, too. So, it's not all about the Doctor.

There are certain parallels occurring even now, in 2016, with regard to acceptance of certain sexual and gender orientations - which this episode strikes a chord with, if you ask me. Not that it covers these topics, per say, but its points can easily be carried through and onto such subjects, and highlight them (for anybody with an empathic enough, and wise enough heart/mind).

When I saw this episode, it again served as a reminder and question of "Just how many times does the Human Race need to make the EXACT SAME MISTAKES over something/somebody which/who is "different" or against "the norm" - how many times does it need to go on the "Witch Hunt" - before it finally grows a gosh darn BRAIN, and learns its lesson!?".

I highly recommend that you watch and enjoy this episode of Voyager (I am sure the latter is an inevitability). And hope that you give that question above some major thought. Because, what are we, if we can't empathize, and put ourselves in the shoes of another? The answer, is NOTHING. Live Long, And Prosper...

The Measure of an EMH

[spasek · 9/10 · 2 August 2021]

Anyone who recalls one of the best episodes of STNG in which Picard is tasked with defending Lt. Data by proving that he has rights, might find a similar parallel here with the Doctor. While Picard was trying to help Data prevent himself from being experimented on, the principle here is relatively the same.

The episode has quite a twist. What initially started out as the Doctor's holo-novel being presented to the crew (with some not quite so pleased about how they are depicted), while on the verge of publication. Some of his depictions are downright hilarious!

Once the Doctor realizes that he may have hurt some of his friends' feelings, he requests time to revise it. Of course, the publication company agrees, but secretly publishes his draft anyway.

A hearing is established to determine of our beloved Doctor has rights. Thus far within Starfleet law, holograms have no rights, as they are programmed to serve. One could argue that Data was held under the same criteria until Picard successfully proved that Data has the right to make his own choices.

This is not a new concept within the realm of the Star Trek universe, and it's a fundamental principle that has been revisted countless times over the centures, concerning women, other races, etc. Do beings have the right to make their own choices?

Robert Picardo--one of my favorite actors of this series--does a fantastic job, and frankly, I don't think that this type of situation can be revisited enough. This isn't a Star Trek principle. It's a universal one.

Maybe the best episode in the series

[smiledaydream · 10/10 · 25 June 2021]

This episode had a lot of laughs. It had a great story. It had a great premise. The things that happened were fantastic. Characters all played their roles and had so much going on. This was just so enjoyable and yet it was a bit stressful and tense. There was no certainty what was going to happen. Oh and the end is great. The end is absolutely fantastic. It just stands on its own as a beautiful little piece. Terribly meaningful yet funny and it's own way.

I Enjoyed the Novel

[Hitchcoc · 7/10 · 19 September 2018]

I know! Will they ever get home? There is something sort of disappointing in the fact that the crew is able to get routine messages home. Some are silly. Some are touching. But that fact of being stranded and making their way is sort of lost. Some real edge has been removed. That aside, the Doctor does a hilarious job of making a total farce of Voyager and the crew. When the captain shoots a guy in sickbay so the doctor can work on Marseilles (Paris) and get him to the bridge, it is hilarious. I do admit that the trial at the end is a tired motif, done many times in a variety of venues. Still, it works well.

More of the same about sentience but it is quite entertaining

[snoozejonc · 7/10 · 10 August 2020]

The Doctor writes a holo-novel based on his time served aboard Voyager.

This episode goes over ground covered many times on Star Trek, the issue of who or what are sentient beings. Thankfully it is done in an entertaining way with plenty of humour.

Many reviews of this and other episodes with similar themes are often negative due to a widespread dislike of the topic. To criticise this episode to the extent that some do would require taking the franchise far more seriously than I do. At the end of the day, this is a television series made for entertainment purposes with a science fiction theme. The key words being are 'fiction' and 'entertainment'. Ultimately, if there is a decent story, interesting dialogue, strong visuals and good performances, I will forgive any themes that stretch the boundaries of plausibility.

The scenes set within the holo-novel are much like those done in "Mirror Mirror" and other episodes where the actors play alternate versions of their characters. I enjoyed them and found myself laughing out loud at what was going on. When The Doctor enters Tom Paris' version of the novel and meets the 'comb-over' version of himself I was in bits!

Robert Picardo delivers another awesome performance with range and excellent comic timing. The other stars are obviously having fun playing caricatures of themselves.

Unfortunately it eventually turns into a replay of "The Measure of a Man" which was a good episode of TNG but wasn't a good idea for this story. Personally, I was having so much fun in the holo-novel, they should have carried that on and ended it with the crew all horrified at what they saw and The Doctor just changing it after he saw the Paris version.

It's a 6.5/10 for me but I round upwards.

the worst of the worst

[lisaweaver · 9 April 2006]

First off, I don't like giving bad reviews. This one however, merits an exception. All it is is a bad rendition of other episodes. It made an attempt at Living Witness (which is quite possibly the BEST voyager ep there is by the way) failed all Mirror Mirror aspects, (the alternate versions eps). And the last half of the ep was, to me, an insult to the greatness of TNG's "The Measure of a Man". I won't go into that for fear of spoiling. You'll just have to see for yourself. (shudder).

The problem in the ep, from the characters Point of view is "how could the doctor write anything so demeaning to us?". MY question is how could the actors agree to anything this demeaning to them! Adding this to the other eps around it gives us only one more question. And that is, quite simply, what were these people thinking?! 1 of 5 stars. And that's only because I can't put zero.

Entertaining but unsubstantial

[beanslegit · 6/10 · 24 February 2021]

The doctor writes a holonovel caricaturizing the main characters of voyager, and making them seem like total a$$wipes. They don't appreciate it very much.

This episode explores the theme of whether holograms that can "think" should be given rights and such. It's very much like a certain TNG episode at times, although that episode was better written in my opinion.

It's a fairly entertaining yarn, but closer to home it does not get this cursed crew.

terrible.

[lisafenix · 2/10 · 14 June 2007]

They advertised this episode as "has voyager stumbled into an alternate universe". I almost wish they had! Please don't advertise it like that in the re-runs. The craziness takes place on the holodeck as one of the doctors latest works of art, And I use the term very loosely as do the crew. And if anyone here has seen TNG's "measure of a man", where Picard defends Data's status/rights as a sentient being, they will recognize the court scenes as a direct rip-off; one that in my opinion was very poorly done.

I like seeing the fate of the other EMH doctors brought up again. I had actually been hoping for it to happen, but not like this. I could not believe that the doctor had chosen this method for getting that point across. Living witness showed an evil version of the crew and I love that episode. But that was the history that Quarren had been taught. But I don't think that display was this despicable and it is despicable to have a crew member write it. The court scenes I mentioned are something you will have to form your own opinion on. But the Doctor and Tom's conversations together really are great, just not enough to save the episode. 1 ½ of 5 stars

You let me down Doc --- I love you but you let me down here.

[thevacinstaller · 6/10 · 21 February 2023]

It is quite the stretch that the Doctor could or would use his Voyager crewmates as the face of the oppressors in his holo novel. These people are crew mates, friends and dare I say family. You don't against the family. For someone who is concerned about his own feelings and how others treat him this smells of hypocrisy. How human of him?

I will admit that I loved the camp of the over the top holodeck novel situations. Chakotay as a bajoran ruffian was particularly amusing.

The Doctor is one of my favorite characters and I am almost always on his side but his actions in this episode just did not sit well with me. You have to give it to the Voyager crew ---- even after having been smeared they fight hard to help the doctor gain individuality under the law. Turn the other cheek indeed.

The measure of a man tribute band didn't work with the holodeck premise for me ---- lack of time and lack of convincing arguments against him. It would hilarious that a campy holo novel being released by greasy publisher would ultimately lead to the liberation of all alpha quadrant synthetics.

Lowbrow vs comb-over

[tomsly-40015 · 7/10 · 10 February 2024]

I'm torn about this episode. For the following reasons:

First: Similar to the TNG episode "The Measure of a Man", a court case is being heard about whether an artificial life form (in this case a hologram) is a person - whether it is conscious and sentient. In other words, whether this artificial intelligence is on the same social and legal level as a human and is therefore entitled to be judged according to the same laws and to claim these for itself.

Unfortunately, this question is asked far too late in the Voyager series. We have already reached the final season. If so, then the series should have dealt much earlier with what values should be measured for a hologram that has outgrown its former programming and become a valuable member of the crew. Especially since Janeway in particular has often shown a rather dismissive attitude towards the doctor and in past seasons has left the question of whether a hologram is equivalent to a human unanswered.

Second: I'm actually a fan of the doctor, but I'm disappointed in him in this episode. After seven years he still feels like he isn't treated equally by the crew? With everything he has experienced in the past episodes and what responsibilities have been given to him and what freedoms he has enjoyed?

The fact that he generally wants to advocate for holograms to have the same rights as organics is a noble goal, but the way he discredits his own colleagues and puts them in a bad light is shameful. How can it be that after seven seasons he still paints a deeply negative image of his comrades? After all, he didn't write a comedy that deliberately exaggerated and pointedly portrayed the actions and character traits of the crew in a satirical and ironic way. He wrote a stirring work that wanted to point out the oppression of holographic life forms and the attitude of many organics who perceive themselves to be of higher status and merely exploit holograms as cheap slave labor. However, none of this applies to Voyager and the crew! If this episode had been shown in the second season, this distorted perception of the doctor could have made sense, because at that point he actually still had to fight for his privileges.

Third: The actual scenes in the holo novel, on the other hand, are hilarious. In my opinion, the authors should have focused on this part and explored it in an amusing way. Similar to the mirror universe of DS9, all the main characters of the series are represented, but they are different in terms of appearance and personality.

When it comes to B'Elanna, however, I have to say: Chapeau! Her character is exactly the same. Her grumpy attitude hits the mark. And Tom Paris' alter ego - Tom Marseilles with a mustache - the laugh! Or this huge and heavy backpack as a mobile emitter. Not to mention the adapted version of the novel, which Tom corrected somewhat: the predatory and condescending doctor with his comb-over hairstyle is simply brilliant. All of these exaggerated characteristics of the holo novel characters could have made a perfect episode. Instead, the authors wanted too much at once.

Absurd and demeaning premise

[loyalcitizenship · 2/10 · 11 May 2020]

I won't remark on the acting or level of amusement offered by this episode.

I will only comment on the depths of disgrace to humanity I felt in reaction to the serious premise of this episode and the claims made at the trial.

To claim that a holographic simulation of a person (the original human doctor) is also a sentient being with rights is an insult to human-kind and a logical absurdity.

If one were to cut a few hundred outtakes of Humphrey Bogart from many of his films and create a program to splice together words and movements, and combine those with a program cataloging and indexing it all, today's technology could create a simulation of Humphrey Bogart reacting to new situations and "making" creative decisions in reaction to the rest of the screnario of a new film.

Now admitedly there could be quality issues since you were "slpicing" together old clips - but the principle should be clear.

What the supposed holograms like the doctor are made of are simply original high-quality simulations of the original doctor's body, mannerisms and voice. This, combined with a huge multi-thousand line program can convincingly simulate the original doctor - though today's technology would only succeed to a limited degree.

But even if the database and program were enlarged to millions of lines of code and data about the original doctor, any actions the holgram did - even creativity - would be nothing more than a SIMULATION of a person!

Such a program can have the hologram display emotion - even act upon emotional algorithms - BUT the fact will always remain that the duplicate doctor is:

* a subset of the original, in range and complexity * a photonic display of a simulated person - having no body or other "place" in which to FEEL anything * the entirety of the holgraphic doctor's "actions" will be the direct simulation and projection of the scenario computed via lines of computer code - executed in electronic circuitry - NOTHING MORE.

The offense I experience at the absurd negation of humanity by such episodes is boundless. Allowing human perception of non-living simulations (just like TV and films) to create political movements to recognize "rights" of non-living creations is nothing less than a psychotic break from reality.

If only the above was the sole negative effect. Unfortunately, this blurring of reality and fantasy has begun erasing both logic and morality, and has started humanity down a slippery slope where feelings are no longer connected to life but are a subjective self-involved world where one cries about a movie (or hologram) and yet finds human life and machines to be equivalent.