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graff_fuller's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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? Yes
4.25
The Star Trek franchise of novels hasn't had the best control system for canonicity. It isn't as bad as the Star Wars: Extended Universe (in my opinion), but for all the same reasons...SO many books being written at the same time, with different bosses (overseers), that it just was impossible to keep track of everything.
With this story, it was written really early in the run (at least for Simon & Schuster/Pocket Books novels). Also, even worse...across the many different imprints, too.
I loved this framework of this story...using multiple timelines, and having them form one narrative by the end. The connection is George and James T. (his youngest son).
As we read this story, we recognized little inaccuracies, but NONE of them ruin the story...one bit. Also, they lessen the blow...by saying this/that thing was never logged into the records...so preserving future storylines, that had not happened yet in the franchise...and supporting previous episodes/novels that talked about things that were seen as "set in stone".
It was also a lot of fun to see Captain Robert April at the helm (not literally, but figuratively) of this brand new, un-named ship...doint the impossible things...against all odds.
I really did love this story. One thing that made this story even more "cool" for me...is that there was an important character that had my name...Graff. I was so touched by this...for it has NEVER happened before. Then, the type of character he was in the story...made it that much more cool. Yeah. Loved that special part.
Also, the love shown for these iconic characters, Kirk, Spock, Bones, Scotty, Sulu, Checkov and Uhura was also impressive. On point at all times.
If you haven't tried this story, I highly recommend it.
#BucketListathon2023
With this story, it was written really early in the run (at least for Simon & Schuster/Pocket Books novels). Also, even worse...across the many different imprints, too.
I loved this framework of this story...using multiple timelines, and having them form one narrative by the end. The connection is George and James T. (his youngest son).
As we read this story, we recognized little inaccuracies, but NONE of them ruin the story...one bit. Also, they lessen the blow...by saying this/that thing was never logged into the records...so preserving future storylines, that had not happened yet in the franchise...and supporting previous episodes/novels that talked about things that were seen as "set in stone".
It was also a lot of fun to see Captain Robert April at the helm (not literally, but figuratively) of this brand new, un-named ship...doint the impossible things...against all odds.
I really did love this story. One thing that made this story even more "cool" for me...is that there was an important character that had my name...Graff. I was so touched by this...for it has NEVER happened before. Then, the type of character he was in the story...made it that much more cool. Yeah. Loved that special part.
Also, the love shown for these iconic characters, Kirk, Spock, Bones, Scotty, Sulu, Checkov and Uhura was also impressive. On point at all times.
If you haven't tried this story, I highly recommend it.
#BucketListathon2023
littlemisselvis's review
5.0
This one was a cracker! Mainly focussed on Kirk’s father, centring around the first of the Constitution class ships’ missions. Tied in really nicely with some immediate post City On The Edge Of Forever reaction from Kirk in the more recognisable timeframe. Very nicely done.
cuteasamuntin's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
I don’t particularly care about George Kirk, and this did not inspire me to care any further. That being said, the story could be adapted well as a Short Trek episode or maybe worked into a Strange New Worlds flashback or history lecture in Picard.
The audiobook version gets an additional quarter star from the bookending Nimoy narration.
The audiobook version gets an additional quarter star from the bookending Nimoy narration.
vesper1931's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
2183. Commander George Samuel Kirk was 'recruited' from Starbase 2 to join Captain Robert April on a rescue mission on the newly finished Enterprise. The mission to save a spaceship and its passengers trapped in an ion storm. But things go wrong quickly and they end up in Romulean spce.
2208 Captain James Kirk reads his father's letters and reflects on his life and choices.
A re-read of an entertaining and well-written story.
2208 Captain James Kirk reads his father's letters and reflects on his life and choices.
A re-read of an entertaining and well-written story.
frakalot's review against another edition
5.0
This is a fantastic creation. The characters are solid, both the familiars and the newly introduced. The plot is very clever, very engaging and quite grand in scale.
If there was one thing I'd pick on it'd be how far the "helper" ends up going with their change of heart. But otherwise I absolutely marvelled at this story.
If there was one thing I'd pick on it'd be how far the "helper" ends up going with their change of heart. But otherwise I absolutely marvelled at this story.
octavia_cade's review against another edition
4.0
3.5, rounding up to 4 stars. This bears a strong similarity to the earlier Web of the Romulans, but I enjoyed both of them so the repetition bothers me less than it might have. What does bother me is that both the Federation and Romulan sides of this conflict appear to adhere firmly to the Smurfette principle - and the single woman with any focus on each side is stuck with the stereotypical storylines of her gender. One's a glorified and nurturing love interest, the other gets fridged. Deeply irritating. Overwhelming that irritation, however, and the thing that drags this story up almost single-handedly from the average Trek outing, is the fair and well-explored clash in philosophy between Robert April and George Kirk. As always in this series, diversity of opinion tends to lead to illumination, and in particular I'd like to see more of the idealist April in the future.
bdplume's review against another edition
4.0
Really not bad. I waited too long to review it, but my memories are mostly positive. Only story I know of featuring Captain Robert April, which is a bit of fan service for those even nerdier than I.
linwearcamenel's review against another edition
4.0
I'm rediscovering my love for Star Trek books *is ashamed because of extremely long to-read list involving supposedly better books*
All the same, I LOVE early Starfleet books...all that stuff that was never talked about in the various series. The books are the only place to hear about it, and I love it. Plus, Captain Kirk's father. And Captain April (that one is always a plus to me, for some reason I've always liked Captain April). The Enterprise's very first mission...and I mean first, not first with Kirk, or Pike, or after a refit, or first official mission. First. Ever. She actually gets her name here, which I think is an awesome historical moment of epicness, because, come ON, it's the Enterprise, being named, with all the history yet to come.
Now for the geekery...some continuity quibbles that you are free to ignore, because, after all, this isn't canon. Which is why they don't bother me too much, but I do like things to be accurate.
First, the obvious. The Federation doesn't see Romulans until Balance of Terror, in TOS season 1. OK, the situation in this book was plausible, and cool because Romulans are cool. Plus, I liked the Romulan commander (most of them are awesome, aren't they?). Sets the stage for a lot of the Romulans struggling against their oppressive society thing that became prominent in the series (especially TNG).
Second, and this was more important, I was always under the impression that April commanded the Enterprise for at least a full five-year mission. Here he's taking her out on her very first cruise, but is supposedly not going to command her. That seemed to me to go against canon, but it is from the 80s, so maybe that piece of canon hadn't been established yet? Either way, I liked him as a character, but I thought his ideals were a little limiting...a captain should have the great and wonderful ideas of Star Trek, but not to the point where it's seriously limiting their options, which is what was happening here. I found it unlikely someone who was too good a person, like to the point where they're indecisive, could have risen to Captain, especially in these early days when diplomacy wasn't required as often as it was in the 24th century.
I had also always assumed that the USS Constitution would be the first of the Constitution-class starships, given that the line is named for her. I mean, it's awesome that it's the Enterprise here, because who doesn't love the Enterprise? And I guess it makes sense to name the line something else (they'd have to name every line the Enterprise-class, given each ship's reputation).
Lastly, the smaller story involving Capt. James Kirk is supposedly set after City on the Edge of Forever (it doesn't state whether Operation: Annihilate! has taken place yet, but I assumed not). But Chekov is on the bridge. Hey guys, you're making the same mistake Khan did! Chekov wasn't on the bridge until season 2.
OK, now that I outed myself as way too big a Star Trek geek, I can say that I did enjoy the book, although I do prefer books with s a heavier helping of Spock. If you like early Starfleet, the Enterprise under April, and Jim Kirk's family history, go read [b:Best Destiny|872275|Best Destiny (Star Trek, Giant Novel 8)|Diane Carey|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1179084263s/872275.jpg|210715]. That one has all of that, plus way more of our TOS crew.
All the same, I LOVE early Starfleet books...all that stuff that was never talked about in the various series. The books are the only place to hear about it, and I love it. Plus, Captain Kirk's father. And Captain April (that one is always a plus to me, for some reason I've always liked Captain April). The Enterprise's very first mission...and I mean first, not first with Kirk, or Pike, or after a refit, or first official mission. First. Ever. She actually gets her name here, which I think is an awesome historical moment of epicness, because, come ON, it's the Enterprise, being named, with all the history yet to come.
Now for the geekery...some continuity quibbles that you are free to ignore, because, after all, this isn't canon. Which is why they don't bother me too much, but I do like things to be accurate.
First, the obvious. The Federation doesn't see Romulans until Balance of Terror, in TOS season 1. OK, the situation in this book was plausible, and cool because Romulans are cool. Plus, I liked the Romulan commander (most of them are awesome, aren't they?). Sets the stage for a lot of the Romulans struggling against their oppressive society thing that became prominent in the series (especially TNG).
Second, and this was more important, I was always under the impression that April commanded the Enterprise for at least a full five-year mission. Here he's taking her out on her very first cruise, but is supposedly not going to command her. That seemed to me to go against canon, but it is from the 80s, so maybe that piece of canon hadn't been established yet? Either way, I liked him as a character, but I thought his ideals were a little limiting...a captain should have the great and wonderful ideas of Star Trek, but not to the point where it's seriously limiting their options, which is what was happening here. I found it unlikely someone who was too good a person, like to the point where they're indecisive, could have risen to Captain, especially in these early days when diplomacy wasn't required as often as it was in the 24th century.
I had also always assumed that the USS Constitution would be the first of the Constitution-class starships, given that the line is named for her. I mean, it's awesome that it's the Enterprise here, because who doesn't love the Enterprise? And I guess it makes sense to name the line something else (they'd have to name every line the Enterprise-class, given each ship's reputation).
Lastly, the smaller story involving Capt. James Kirk is supposedly set after City on the Edge of Forever (it doesn't state whether Operation: Annihilate! has taken place yet, but I assumed not). But Chekov is on the bridge. Hey guys, you're making the same mistake Khan did! Chekov wasn't on the bridge until season 2.
OK, now that I outed myself as way too big a Star Trek geek, I can say that I did enjoy the book, although I do prefer books with s a heavier helping of Spock. If you like early Starfleet, the Enterprise under April, and Jim Kirk's family history, go read [b:Best Destiny|872275|Best Destiny (Star Trek, Giant Novel 8)|Diane Carey|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1179084263s/872275.jpg|210715]. That one has all of that, plus way more of our TOS crew.
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