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graff_fuller's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I really enjoyed the focus being on Lt. Uhura. It is rare that she, Nichelle Nicols ever got much spotlight within the TOS TV series, nor in the films...but we see her front and center in this story. She even has a tempestuous love story with a Guy (joke).
The creatures they encounter on the planet...were fairly well developed and how they interacted with the space/time ripple was an interesting concept.
All in all, I really enjoyed it. Our three favourites, Kirk, Spock and McCoy were their usually selves (with great banter back and forth). Even Scotty got some page time, but it really was Lt. Uhura's story.
Some things that were not as well received was the parts with the Klingons. Though there are aspects of this story that do not jive with what we NOW know of the Klingons and their culture/lore, it was still an interesting story.
Kor and the Klingons within this book...are the more human like Klingons, and NOT the ones we see in the movies and later in TNG.
I look forward to my next book in the Star Trek: TOS series...which is Uhura's Song, also written by Melinda Snodgrass...so I believe we are going to be in good hands.
The creatures they encounter on the planet...were fairly well developed and how they interacted with the space/time ripple was an interesting concept.
All in all, I really enjoyed it. Our three favourites, Kirk, Spock and McCoy were their usually selves (with great banter back and forth). Even Scotty got some page time, but it really was Lt. Uhura's story.
Some things that were not as well received was the parts with the Klingons. Though there are aspects of this story that do not jive with what we NOW know of the Klingons and their culture/lore, it was still an interesting story.
Kor and the Klingons within this book...are the more human like Klingons, and NOT the ones we see in the movies and later in TNG.
I look forward to my next book in the Star Trek: TOS series...which is Uhura's Song, also written by Melinda Snodgrass...so I believe we are going to be in good hands.
vesper1931's review
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Stardate 3126.7 The Enterprise is sent to Taygeta V as the area is experiencing a strange spatial effect. There they discover the Taygetians and their song, human hunters, and the Klingons headed by Kor.
Can they solve the problem and survive.
An entertaining re-read
Can they solve the problem and survive.
An entertaining re-read
manonette's review
adventurous
funny
informative
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
protovulcan's review
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
The best part of this novel is that Uhura is the main character. She gets a romance and gets to put her skills to use. Her and the female Klingon Kali are well written. The rest...yikes. Spock had a few out of character rage moments, the Klingons didn't talk like Klingons half the time, and this author thinks that tax dollars and poor working conditions somehow exist in the Federation. The plot is about a race of aliens being hunted for their crystal tears that you can only get by killing them, and apparently it's the latest fad for Federation women. Totally mind boggling. Probably a parallel to the growing anti fur movement in the 80s but why make it the *Federation* who are mass killing aliens for fashion? And where did all this talk of money, working to survive, tax dollars. etc come from.
If the rest of this book wasn't stupid as hell, it'd be a 4 star.
If the rest of this book wasn't stupid as hell, it'd be a 4 star.
bev_reads_mysteries's review
4.0
The Enterprise is at a space station for a little R&R and a mandatory check of the ship. Uhura meets one of the most talented musicians since Mozart and there is romance in the air. But when a space freighter disappears in a space warp near the Taygeta V system, shore leave is cancelled and the Enterprise is sent to investigate. Taygeta is the home of a species of "singers" that has long been hunted for the crystal tears excreted upon their death. Spock proposes that a species that can create music must be intelligent and that the hunting is wrong...and Kirk doesn't disagree, but there are bigger issues to be faced. First, they need to find a way to stop the space warp from expanding further (and engulfing the planet)...then they can save the Taygetians from the hunters.
Before leaving the space station, Spock's research into the Taygetians' music reveals that the songs themselves may be essential to solving the space warp crisis and he tells Kirk that the Enterprise needs a musician to interpret the music. So, Guy Maslin, our latter-day Mozart, is called upon for service (under a little-used Federation regulation) and off they go to Taygeta. Of course, saving the universe wouldn't be everything it could be without the Klingons getting involved too. Kirk's old rival Kor shows up and then they manage a truce (without the need for Organian influence), but there are hard-core Klingons on Kor's ship who might not let their captain be so cozy with earthers. While Kirk and Kor try to keep things calm in space, Uhura, Guy, and Spock work to unravel the song and make meaningful contact with the Taygetians before it's too late.
This is one of the few Star Trek novels to feature Lieutenant Uhura and give her the attention she deserves. She not only helps to save an entire species and their planet, but also helps them save the space-time continuum. The plot makes use of her musical talents as well as her abilities as a language specialist. I enjoyed this one very much the first time I read it (when it was first released and looking back now, it's interesting to know that this book came out in 1984 and featured a rescue through a species' song and it wouldn't be long before Star Trek IV would be released and whale song would feature so prominently. ★★★ and 3/4 (rounded up here)
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block.
Before leaving the space station, Spock's research into the Taygetians' music reveals that the songs themselves may be essential to solving the space warp crisis and he tells Kirk that the Enterprise needs a musician to interpret the music. So, Guy Maslin, our latter-day Mozart, is called upon for service (under a little-used Federation regulation) and off they go to Taygeta. Of course, saving the universe wouldn't be everything it could be without the Klingons getting involved too. Kirk's old rival Kor shows up and then they manage a truce (without the need for Organian influence), but there are hard-core Klingons on Kor's ship who might not let their captain be so cozy with earthers. While Kirk and Kor try to keep things calm in space, Uhura, Guy, and Spock work to unravel the song and make meaningful contact with the Taygetians before it's too late.
This is one of the few Star Trek novels to feature Lieutenant Uhura and give her the attention she deserves. She not only helps to save an entire species and their planet, but also helps them save the space-time continuum. The plot makes use of her musical talents as well as her abilities as a language specialist. I enjoyed this one very much the first time I read it (when it was first released and looking back now, it's interesting to know that this book came out in 1984 and featured a rescue through a species' song and it wouldn't be long before Star Trek IV would be released and whale song would feature so prominently. ★★★ and 3/4 (rounded up here)
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block.
elysareadsitall's review
2.0
Unique aliens. I liked seeing Kirk and the Klingons start to trust each other and want to see more of the truce coming to fruition. Uhura is the star here, and I always love the stories focused on her.
frakalot's review
4.0
This is a pretty good story, an alien race (the Tageytians) is somehow linked to a destructive spatial rift and Kirk and cohort head over to make contact and see if they can mend the rift. The Klingons get involved led by a very familiar TOS era captain.
The aliens appear to communicate with a mathematical language through music and an "expert" is brought on board to assist.
The story occasionally has some good humour. The "love stuff" is classic TOS era laaaaame, but becomes a fairly important part of the story. And the Klingon stuff is actually great, some of the older stories have klingons painted semi-Romulan but this story doesn't.
"and there was a burst of agitated singing from Shing. It was a rapid fire of song and thought, far too fast for Spock to follow." This passage made me picture the Taygetians having a bonafide rap battle to debate their issues.
The Tears of the Singers is a good and fun old fashioned Star Trek adventure.
The aliens appear to communicate with a mathematical language through music and an "expert" is brought on board to assist.
The story occasionally has some good humour. The "love stuff" is classic TOS era laaaaame, but becomes a fairly important part of the story. And the Klingon stuff is actually great, some of the older stories have klingons painted semi-Romulan but this story doesn't.
"and there was a burst of agitated singing from Shing. It was a rapid fire of song and thought, far too fast for Spock to follow." This passage made me picture the Taygetians having a bonafide rap battle to debate their issues.
The Tears of the Singers is a good and fun old fashioned Star Trek adventure.
amelianicholebooks's review
4.0
I liked the mystery, I especially enjoyed the Klingons and the unique aliens.
I wasn't fond of how Uhura and the female Klingon Kali were handled.
I wasn't fond of how Uhura and the female Klingon Kali were handled.