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jazin95's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
This was an entertaining novel. It felt just like a TNG episode in book form, which was super cosy. I'm so glad I read it.
rebelbelle13's review
4.0
I have to admit that even though I do read the occasional Star Trek novel, this one in particular I chose specifically because of the author. John Peel has done consistently good work in the past with Doctor Who novels and novelizations (usually the ones dealing with Daleks) so I was surprised and intrigued to find his name attached to another science fiction franchise. Peel doesn't disappoint. This is the most fun I've ever had reading a Star Trek novel. Typically they're somber, serious, cerebral and slow moving (which is okay if that's what you're up for) and this entry completely destroyed that mold. Here There Be Dragons was fast paced, plot focused and interesting. Just enough time is spent on the villains and side characters to give them depth, but not so much that you get bored. There's plenty of different perspectives so you get a sense of everything relevant that's happening in the story.
There's quite a bit of fantasy-esque elements here as well, and that might bother some folks. Usually people like to keep their sci-fi and fantasy separate, and here they get a bit muddled. There's a distinct medieval-vanilla-fantasy type feel to the planet, and Picard and Data end up fighting and killing an actual dragon. The cast does have some out-of-character moments, but it's not enough to ruin the story or the reader's enjoyment.
On the whole, this is a fast, enjoyable, fun ST:TNG read.
There's quite a bit of fantasy-esque elements here as well, and that might bother some folks. Usually people like to keep their sci-fi and fantasy separate, and here they get a bit muddled. There's a distinct medieval-vanilla-fantasy type feel to the planet, and Picard and Data end up fighting and killing an actual dragon. The cast does have some out-of-character moments, but it's not enough to ruin the story or the reader's enjoyment.
On the whole, this is a fast, enjoyable, fun ST:TNG read.
djwudi's review
2.0
Possibly could have been an interesting take on the Preservers, or a fun TNG-crew-in-a-medieval-society romp, but was marred by bad character decisions (we must stay undercover in a medieval human society, so Geordi and Worf obviously can't come, but sure, bring the Bajoran Ro and the android Data, that totally makes sense) and overly unfortunately stereotypical plotting decisions (Ro, of course, is nearly immediately stripped naked and placed in jeopardy of sexual assault, and Troi is later threatened with the same, because what other peril would women face? ). Even the titular dragons barely make an appearance. Any interesting bits are far overshadowed by the rest.
boboddduck's review
adventurous
fast-paced
4.0
I'm not usually interested in science fiction books but this one was surprisingly entertaining. I started this book with low expectations, anticipating a crummy "dime novel", and I was correct.
There wasn't a lot of depth to the book, the plot was predictable, and the writing was weak, but it was good, light fun. As a Star Trek fan, I suspect I was predisposed to like this book, being the target audience. Reading this book was like watching an episode of TNG. It was an interesting mix of both fantasy and science fiction. Although, I was annoyed by Captain Picard's uncharacteristic gullibility. Also, the Worf side story seemed unnecessary and distracted from the main plot. "Here There Be Dragons" certainly isn't great literature, but it is entertaining.
There wasn't a lot of depth to the book, the plot was predictable, and the writing was weak, but it was good, light fun. As a Star Trek fan, I suspect I was predisposed to like this book, being the target audience. Reading this book was like watching an episode of TNG. It was an interesting mix of both fantasy and science fiction. Although, I was annoyed by Captain Picard's uncharacteristic gullibility. Also, the Worf side story seemed unnecessary and distracted from the main plot. "Here There Be Dragons" certainly isn't great literature, but it is entertaining.
jedisloth's review
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.5
megadallion's review
3.0
I bought this for my husband because he really likes Middle Ages type stuff and this was a mash-up of medieval times and Star Trek sci-fi goodness so I thought it'd be perfect for him. I ended up stealing it away for myself to read on breaks at work though and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was like reading an extra Star Trek TNG episode, which my husband and I have been watching a lot of lately (because we're nerds like that). The writing wasn't great (I thought a few situations and instances of dialogue were strange and out of character) but the exciting plot makes up for that. Dragons, phasers, knights, spaceships, murder, and intrigue - what more do you need?
books_with_style's review
3.0
This book had a lot of promise, some surprises like the guy who claimed to be a federation agent getting killed early. However the climax with Picard having data open his chest panel to prove he wasn't human seemed very un-Picard like. He would have had data lift something really heavy to prove he was magic.
octavia_cade's review
3.0
Two and a half stars, rounding up to three. A likeable enough read, if uneven in places. Picard and most of the bridge crew end up on an alien planet where a human colony is basically living in the Dark Ages, complete with dragons. When I read books like this I kind of wonder why the author's writing science fiction when clearly they're rather be writing fantasy but then I thought what the hell, may as well go along. It's entertaining even if I can't take it very seriously.
Fun read though it was, however, I can't get over two of the logical problems at the centre of the narrative, and that's what's keeping it from getting the full three stars from me. Firstly, and I realise that Peel is somewhat constrained by canon events from TOS here, the total stagnation of the culture in question... it's just not plausible. Sorry. It wasn't plausible in the canon inspiration for this novel, and it's not plausible here, though Peel does give it a good try what with the effects of outside interference with the dragons. The plot hole that's entirely down to him, however, is that of the gravity bombs, which through handwavium are exerting the gravity of suns and nearly tearing apart the Enterprise... which is all well and good except the Enterprise is orbiting a planet, and these sun-sized gravity effects have absolutely no effect on the planet or the solar system that it's in.
So basically, the whole thing is implausibility on top of implausibility, and while one of the characters references Clarke's law (you know, indistinguishable from magic and so forth), the only magic here is what caused the entire editing staff of Pocket not to notice that gravity affects planets as well as starships.
Fun read though it was, however, I can't get over two of the logical problems at the centre of the narrative, and that's what's keeping it from getting the full three stars from me. Firstly, and I realise that Peel is somewhat constrained by canon events from TOS here, the total stagnation of the culture in question... it's just not plausible. Sorry. It wasn't plausible in the canon inspiration for this novel, and it's not plausible here, though Peel does give it a good try what with the effects of outside interference with the dragons. The plot hole that's entirely down to him, however, is that of the gravity bombs, which through handwavium are exerting the gravity of suns and nearly tearing apart the Enterprise... which is all well and good except the Enterprise is orbiting a planet, and these sun-sized gravity effects have absolutely no effect on the planet or the solar system that it's in.
So basically, the whole thing is implausibility on top of implausibility, and while one of the characters references Clarke's law (you know, indistinguishable from magic and so forth), the only magic here is what caused the entire editing staff of Pocket not to notice that gravity affects planets as well as starships.
electricbolt's review
3.0
This was the first Star Trek TNG novel I read when I was younger and it felt like the right time to read it again, having forgotten most of the story details by this point. The structure of this story felt more expansive than what a tv budget or time constraints could do properly and showcased to me personally what Trek books have the ability to strive towards.
Having read it now, my brain kept characterizing it as a slightly (There's still quite a bit of violence) toned down "Star Trek as Game of Thrones" kinda story, with a super corrupt and wicked duke, a devious advisor, etc etc.
Having read it now, my brain kept characterizing it as a slightly (There's still quite a bit of violence) toned down "Star Trek as Game of Thrones" kinda story, with a super corrupt and wicked duke, a devious advisor, etc etc.