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gossy's review against another edition
4.0
I remember adoring this book as a kid; it was one of my earlier finds of a book with aliens that took the extra step beyond “this species looks like X and fills Y role and their culture is like Z” and into “these species *exist* differently; they encounter the world through different modalities.” I also remember being absolutely enchanted by all the dreamlike sequences.
I was a bit less actively enchanted this time around, mostly because my suspension of disbelief was shakier. I wasn’t all that attached to most of the new characters, and some of the earlier philosophizing in the book failed to interest me.
That said, I still enjoyed it!
This book has several genuinely profound lines and moments, and I still felt swept along in many of the dreamlike cascades of rapid experiences; in the wonder found in profound purpose. Some of it was downright moving.
I also still enjoyed reading a Star Trek book that takes advantage of its format and leans into *diversity* in its aliens. The reminders were sometimes small but were also nearly constant, in every mention of crowds and side characters and crew. The whole book seems to be delighting in the possibilities of varied perspectives, and inviting the reader to share in that delight. For that alone, it’s easy to love this.
“Everything was the same size, really, until consciousness endowed that size with affect. If the “sea” seemed huge, and his vessel small, and the radiant Galaxy infinitely beautiful, it was because he saw them, and loved them, that way—”
I was a bit less actively enchanted this time around, mostly because my suspension of disbelief was shakier. I wasn’t all that attached to most of the new characters, and some of the earlier philosophizing in the book failed to interest me.
That said, I still enjoyed it!
This book has several genuinely profound lines and moments, and I still felt swept along in many of the dreamlike cascades of rapid experiences; in the wonder found in profound purpose. Some of it was downright moving.
I also still enjoyed reading a Star Trek book that takes advantage of its format and leans into *diversity* in its aliens. The reminders were sometimes small but were also nearly constant, in every mention of crowds and side characters and crew. The whole book seems to be delighting in the possibilities of varied perspectives, and inviting the reader to share in that delight. For that alone, it’s easy to love this.
“Everything was the same size, really, until consciousness endowed that size with affect. If the “sea” seemed huge, and his vessel small, and the radiant Galaxy infinitely beautiful, it was because he saw them, and loved them, that way—”
theseventhl's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this book and everything in it - the world-building, the science, the wibbley-wobbley timey-wimey aspects (I've got Doctor Who in your Star Trek - and Diane Duane is a Whovian!), the Duane-created OCs, and Kirk. Kirk being Kirk! Older, wiser Kirk who is still the same Kirk everyone loves! There's tentacles and body swapping and Starfleet folks who don't conform to a gender binary because the galaxy's too big for that mess and Sassy!Bones and a whole lot of eyebrow quirking from Spock and everyone on the Enterprise loves each other the end ♥
Also, this gets five stars because page 190 of the paperback, the line "the problem with the tribbles", and the immense self-control Diane Duane must have had not to write 'trouble' instead of 'problem'. Really want to pass this on to my other Trekkie friends so they too can love it like I do.
Also, this gets five stars because page 190 of the paperback, the line "the problem with the tribbles", and the immense self-control Diane Duane must have had not to write 'trouble' instead of 'problem'. Really want to pass this on to my other Trekkie friends so they too can love it like I do.
nomadtla's review against another edition
4.0
A bit confusing and slow to start it pays off near the end.
seadeepy's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
The best of the Diane Duane ST books by far! There was some really beautiful prose in this one, and as usual her characterization and associated humor is so excellent.
hendrix67's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.25
graff_fuller's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Such a really interesting story within the Star Trek universe (and outside it).
I wasn't ready for this type of plot. This one, and The Entropy Effect...were able to take really high minded theories...explored in a way that led the readers through the high concept.
Loved the core crew members had they're time on the page. Good to see Checkov, Sulu, Uhura and Scotty having their moments, along side Kirk, Spock and Bones.
The introductions of new crew members like K't'lk and the others that we came in contact with.
This is one thing that I love about the novels...that we didn't really see in The Original Series. The United Federation of Planets and Starfleet is intergrated with many lifeforms...that is one of the HUGE pluses of Star Trek: Discovery, Strange New Worlds, Lower Decks and Prodigy.
I wasn't ready for this type of plot. This one, and The Entropy Effect...were able to take really high minded theories...explored in a way that led the readers through the high concept.
Loved the core crew members had they're time on the page. Good to see Checkov, Sulu, Uhura and Scotty having their moments, along side Kirk, Spock and Bones.
The introductions of new crew members like K't'lk and the others that we came in contact with.
This is one thing that I love about the novels...that we didn't really see in The Original Series. The United Federation of Planets and Starfleet is intergrated with many lifeforms...that is one of the HUGE pluses of Star Trek: Discovery, Strange New Worlds, Lower Decks and Prodigy.
always_a_scientist's review against another edition
5.0
Wow. This is an amazing book; it demonstrates the fun and depth that good science fiction writing can achieve. It had profundity, depth, and wonder encapsulated in a Star Trek novel. I finished it in about three days, part of which was on a plane from Rapid City to DFW. I was actually frustrated when the pilot announced we were landing because that meant I would need to stop reading.
One of the advantages of a science fiction book over a TV show or film is that books are not constrained by special effects budgets or the limitations of humans playing alien characters. Duane creates far more fantastic aliens that we have seen in Star Trek's on screen incarnations, including a felid, a transporter operator with multiple tentacles, and the book's main character, a sentient arachnoid (spider-shaped) glass-clear engineer named K't'lk. The apostrophes take the place of the only vowel in her species' language, "an E above high C, surrounded by shivery harmonics."
We also have alien genders. Most characters (including K't'lk) are easily categorized as male or female, but others are referred to as "it" and "hir" as a matter of course. Another species has 12 genders, all of which claim to be male, especially those that bear children.
The book takes us from a fairly ordinary beginning of the Enterprise testing a new drive system to the far side of another galaxy and an encounter with another universe; in fact, another kind of universe. As a physicist, I find the most compelling and fascinating sections of the book to be those that deal with the relationships among entropy (or the lack thereof), time, pain, death, and the nature of God.
I think I see the influences of C. S. Lewis in many sections of this novel, most obviously because of a ship named Malacandra. Other scenes remind me of The Magician's Nephew and Peralandra.
One of the advantages of a science fiction book over a TV show or film is that books are not constrained by special effects budgets or the limitations of humans playing alien characters. Duane creates far more fantastic aliens that we have seen in Star Trek's on screen incarnations, including a felid, a transporter operator with multiple tentacles, and the book's main character, a sentient arachnoid (spider-shaped) glass-clear engineer named K't'lk. The apostrophes take the place of the only vowel in her species' language, "an E above high C, surrounded by shivery harmonics."
We also have alien genders. Most characters (including K't'lk) are easily categorized as male or female, but others are referred to as "it" and "hir" as a matter of course. Another species has 12 genders, all of which claim to be male, especially those that bear children.
The book takes us from a fairly ordinary beginning of the Enterprise testing a new drive system to the far side of another galaxy and an encounter with another universe; in fact, another kind of universe. As a physicist, I find the most compelling and fascinating sections of the book to be those that deal with the relationships among entropy (or the lack thereof), time, pain, death, and the nature of God.
I think I see the influences of C. S. Lewis in many sections of this novel, most obviously because of a ship named Malacandra. Other scenes remind me of The Magician's Nephew and Peralandra.
vesper1931's review
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Kirk and his crew on the Enterprise have been chosen to test the new Intergalactic Inversion Drive lead by the chief of the installation team, K't'lk. What could possibly go wrong.
Another entertaining re-read.
Another entertaining re-read.