Showing posts with label tv series. Show all posts
Showing posts with label tv series. Show all posts

9/13/2012

The War of the Prophets (Star Trek Deep Space Nine, Millennium Book 2 of 3) Review

The War of the Prophets (Star Trek Deep Space Nine, Millennium Book 2 of 3)
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Well, so far, the Reeves-Stevens clan is definitely making me re-think my aversion to Star Trek books, mentioned in my review of "The Fall of Terok Nor". This second chapter of the "Millenium" trilogy is also a winner.
One of the most interesting things about the DS9 TV show was its ability to include the topics of faith, religion, spirituality and mysticism in the Star Trek universe, topics that were rarely touched upon in the original series and Next Generation. This book's primary focus is on those topics, which puts a fascinating spin on the events that unfold.
The second book brings on the titular "War of the Prophets", as the crew of the crippled Defiant, after witnessing the destruction of Deep Space Nine by a *second* wormhole at the end of the first book, finds itself in a distopian future (25 years ahead of the "real" Star Trek universe), with a Bajoran/Romulan-led Jihad consuming the entire galaxy. Starfleet is in tatters, humans, Klingons, Cardassians, and Founders are all but extinct. The leader of the Bajoran Ascendancy, Kai Weyoun (! ), is claiming he is the Emissary to the True Prophets (the Pah-Wraiths), and that Sisko's appearance heralds nothing less than the end of the universe itself. In the meantime, Captain Nog and Admiral Jean Luc Picard race against time and apocalypse, embarking on an extremely dangerous plan to change the past without destroying the present ... or the future.
Whew! This book had a LOT to keep track of, with no less than four major plotlines interweaving with each other, as well as numerous side plots or character asides to keep things interesting. Yet the story never gets unwieldy, even though I felt I was being propelled at warp speeds through the action.
Once again, certain characterizations are spot-on. Jake and Garak shine again, and Gul Dukat was pretty horrifying, but the authors really have got the obsequious (and now galactic messiah/warlord) Weyoun down cold. I miss seeing that smarmy little Vorta every week! :) However, again, Kira serves little more purpose than to provide strident counter-point to the less-than-spiritual Bajoran Commander Rees, which is a shame, given the fact that in this future, her people have become every bit as despotic as the Cardassians she fought to drive from her homeworld in the series. A couple of characters, most notably Picard and some of the Voyager crew, feel like they were little more than pointless cameos, though I reserve final comment on their use until the third volume.
The book ends with an even more jaw-dropping cliffhanger than the first volume. With the two wormholes in the Bajor system now joined, it seems the true "war of the Prophets" will be fought on a battlefield where time literally has no meaning. The final volume of this so far outstanding series has a lot to live up to, and if it does, this trilogy should go down as one of the best.

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The crew of Deep Space Nine must carry out their separate missions to ensure the survival of the Federation. But scattered across the Quadrant, they cannot know that Gul Dukat, Emissary of the Pah-wraiths, has raised an army of mindless warriors, the Grigari.

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7/05/2012

Star Trek: Voyager: Full Circle Review

Star Trek: Voyager: Full Circle
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Voyager fans have had a rocky few years. The first 4 Relaunch books were less than fantastic IMO, but at least we had something. Then 5 years without any major post-series action. Of course we had Tuvok in the extremely well written Titan series. There were cameos by multiple crew members in other titles. And we had the death of a beloved character in the shocking if moving 'Before Dishonor' by Peter David; a Next Generation title that starred Janeway & Seven. Seven also saw quite a bit of development in the exciting Destiny trilogy by David Mack.
But now we have 'Full Circle' and Voyager hasn't been this good in ages. The author, Kirsten Beyer previously wrote the excellent middle volume in the Voyager "String Theory" trilogy. She got the characters right then, and she's perfected them beyond my hopes in this new integral installment. Those who feel that the loss of 1 character from the ensemble is too much to bear may understandably want to skip this one, but if they choose to do so they are missing out on quite a ride - and easily the best post-series Voyager story yet. Those that felt that the first 4 Relaunch titles by Christie Golden were missing something need to give this one a shot! The characters have rarely been this well written. The story has never been this moving. The series feels reinvigorated. And I for one am very happy with what is happening in the post-Voyager landscape.

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When the U.S.S. Voyager is dispatched on an urgent mission to the planet Kerovi, Captain Chakotay and his first officer, Commander Thomas Paris, must choose between following their orders and saving the lives of two of those dearest to them. B'Elanna Torres and her daughter, Miral, are both missing in the wake of a brutal attack on the Klingon world of Boreth. With the aid of their former captain, Admiral Kathryn Janeway -- as well as many old friends and new allies -- Voyager's crew must unravel an ancient mystery, placing themselves between two warrior sects battling for the soul of the Klingon people...while the life of Miral hangs in the balance. But these events and their repercussions are merely the prelude to even darker days to come. As Voyager is drawn into a desperate struggle to prevent the annihilation of the Federation, lives are shattered, and the bonds that were forged in the Delta Quadrant are challenged in ways that none could have imagined. For though destiny has dealt them crushing blows, Voyager's crew must rise to face their future...and begin a perilous journey in which the wheel of fate comes full circle.

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7/02/2012

War Dragons (Star Trek: The Captain's Table, Book 1) Review

War Dragons (Star Trek: The Captain's Table, Book 1)
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The first "Star Trek" novel to be told from the first person perspective through the eyes of captains James T. Kirk and Hikaru Sulu is a treat to read. Each character takes turns telling his story and it works rather well. Graf has captured both captains well and getting to hear their takes on things is a real treat. The best part is the first half of Kirk's story that deals with his first days as captain of the Enterprise and the building of the legendary crew as a unit, working together. After that story ends, it's a rather pedestrian affair to stop insterstellar war in the movie era. However, based on the strength of Kirk's narrative in the first half of the novel, I highly recommend it.

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There's a bar called "The Captain's Table," where those who have commanded mighty vessels of every shape and era can meet, relax, and share a friendly drink or two with others of their calling. Sometimes a brawl may break out but it's all in the family, more or less. Just remember, the first round of drinks is always paid for with a story...even beyond the final frontier. Captain James T. Kirk must join forces with Captain Hikaru Sulu, new commander of the U.S.S. Excelsior, to resolve a simmering political situation in a distant star system. For more than twenty years, the ancient enmity between Nykkus and Anjiri has resisted the best efforts of Federation diplomats. Now Kirk and Sulu have one last chance to end the bloodshed -- before it erupts into a full-scale interstellar war!

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1/03/2012

Cold Wars (Star Trek New Frontier: Gateways, Book 6) Review

Cold Wars (Star Trek New Frontier: Gateways, Book 6)
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Peter Davids latest New Frontier Cold Wars is his best effort to date. This book finds our heros Calhoun and Shelby going to thallonian space to investigate Iconian gateway activity. On the way they get sidetracked to two planets whom have been at war with each other forever and are now using gateway technology to once again start the war back up. Shelby's new ship the Trident is a galaxy class ship. We meet two of her new crew members right off. Arex and M'Ress from TOS anamated have joined the crew after separate temporal incidents. Another new crew member is Lt Cmdr Gleau a Selelvian who is the science officer on Shelby's ship. Calhoun's new 1st officer is someone you will never suspect. The story is fast paced and the book impossible to put down. Character development is great. Selar has some good moments such as when Moke ask her to be his mother. Burgy and Selar have some good moments also. And there is something for the fans of Calhoun and Shelby. Shelby and Mueller have several good scenes one which is very amusing when they discuss Calhoun. This book has a nice polished feel to it that was sadly lacking in the last outing Restoration. I highly recommend this book for all Star Trek fans and especailly for New Frontier fans

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Scattered throughout the galaxy are Gateways which link star systems across unfathomable distances. The technology that built them has been lost for tens of millennia...but that doesn't mean that it can't be found again. Missing for two hundred millennia, the legendary Iconians have returned, bringing with them the secret of interdimensional teleportatin across vast interstellar distances. Awakened once more, their ancient Gateways are rewriting the map of the galaxy, and nowhere more than in the New Frontier...A century ago, the imperial Thallonians separated two feuding alien races, depositing each of them on a new world safely distant from that of their ancestral enemies. Now, however, the Gateways have made it possible for the long dormant blood feud to begin anew. Captain Mackenzie Calhoun of the U.S.S. Excalibur and his partner, Captain Elizabeth Shelby of the U.S.S. Trident, find themselves fighting a losing battle to keep the horrific violence from escalating, even as they gradually realise the catastrophic danger posed by the Gateways themselves!

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11/30/2011

Star Trek: Enterprise: The Romulan War: Beneath the Raptor's Wing Review

Star Trek: Enterprise: The Romulan War: Beneath the Raptor's Wing
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Overall, very well done:
The pros:
- Excellent job continuing to bridge the gap between Enterprise and TOS. Enterprise was in a tricky place as a prequel in a strongly established universe, and this book continues to work to bridge the gaps left behind after the early cancellation of the series. It is not perfectly in line with all trek ever written, but then with hundreds of books, that is an impossible task nowadays.
- Good continuation of the Trip-T'Pol connection without making this a sappy love story where everything works out magically for the couple. I like the emphasis on the dynamic between Trip's sense of service and his love for T'Pol.
- Good nod to those of us in the fan base who like what TOS was known for, subtle, and sometimes not so subtle, social commentary. It continues well with the Enterprise series' relation to modern times.
- Good level of plot complexity.
- Overall, good character development with an interesting plot; this is exactly what I want from trek.
The cons:
- More depth into the subplots would have improved this book.
- The writer is toying a careful line between rushing the plot and keeping the story fast paced.
This is the best book in the relaunch series thus far. This is a must for anyone who likes Enterprise. I can only hope that the next book in this series comes out quicker; I get impatient waiting for the next step in Enterprise.

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