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5.0
Just as the stage is set for the final chapters of the vanguard story, they do an anthology to delay the end... Then it turns out the anthology is excellent in its own right!
Almost tomorrow
The prequel that the series always needed, we see everyone,eet each other, a Vulcan intelligence operative faling in love and turning a Klingon spy. The lonely commodore meeting his new lovely JAG, and a brand new station still not entirely finished. I found it very nice to finally see how this cast of characters got together in the first place, just an excellent read.
Hard News
Tim Pennington has just released the story of his journalistic career, all his past blunders are seemingly forgotten. When what at first seems to be an adoring fan comes knocking at his door with a new story, he is reluctant at first to challenge the crime Lord Gantz, who may seem like a quark like character but is far darker still. Tim learns that while fame has its privileges it also comes with dangers.
The Ruins of Nobel Men.
Reyes is back, but while he seems close he might as well be light years from his friends Desai and Fisher. Both are seriously contemplating a drastic career change when they’re send on a diplomatic mission to a colony which cut its ties with the federation. A story of mystery and danger enfolds brining desai and fisher closer together before they separate permanently.
The Stars Look Down
The only story that moves the larger vanguard plot forward in this anthology, as Bridy and Quin go on what they promised each other would be their final mission, never a good sign. While the mission reveals much that our hero’s need to know, it nearly destroys Quin bringing him to a place he might never recover from.
Excellent collection, looking forward to the final chapters of vanguard!
Almost tomorrow
The prequel that the series always needed, we see everyone,eet each other, a Vulcan intelligence operative faling in love and turning a Klingon spy. The lonely commodore meeting his new lovely JAG, and a brand new station still not entirely finished. I found it very nice to finally see how this cast of characters got together in the first place, just an excellent read.
Hard News
Tim Pennington has just released the story of his journalistic career, all his past blunders are seemingly forgotten. When what at first seems to be an adoring fan comes knocking at his door with a new story, he is reluctant at first to challenge the crime Lord Gantz, who may seem like a quark like character but is far darker still. Tim learns that while fame has its privileges it also comes with dangers.
The Ruins of Nobel Men.
Reyes is back, but while he seems close he might as well be light years from his friends Desai and Fisher. Both are seriously contemplating a drastic career change when they’re send on a diplomatic mission to a colony which cut its ties with the federation. A story of mystery and danger enfolds brining desai and fisher closer together before they separate permanently.
The Stars Look Down
The only story that moves the larger vanguard plot forward in this anthology, as Bridy and Quin go on what they promised each other would be their final mission, never a good sign. While the mission reveals much that our hero’s need to know, it nearly destroys Quin bringing him to a place he might never recover from.
Excellent collection, looking forward to the final chapters of vanguard!
graff_fuller's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I did not know that this book was a collection of FOUR short stories. I'm really NOT a fan of short story collections, but when they are done right within a series...they actually do DO an important work within the overall arc. For the most part, this was really good.
The first story was written by Dayton Ward, and it is called Almost Tomorrow. This is a prequel story. Ugh. Another "not my favourite thing", but I do believe that this story had been written earlier in the design phase of this series...for it felt appropriate to the context of everything that actually happens in the story...it is just that we were NOT privy to these facts until now. I actually was not as pleased as I was hoping for this story. I rated it 3.5 Stars.
The second story was written by Kevin Dilmore, and it was called Hard News. I really enjoyed this story...with the protagonist being Tim Pennington. At first, he was a pain in the rear, but the Vanguard series is more relateable BECAUSE of him. This is a present day story...which I liked, and was thankful that the entire short story collection was NOT going to be prequel stories. Phew. I rated it a 4.25 Stars.
The third story was written by Marco Palmieri and it was called The Ruin of Noble Men. This story is present day (2268) and the past (2259). It primarily focuses on Rana Desai and Dr. Fisher. I really shouldn't have enjoyed this story, but for some reason it made me VERY emotional. The end was me wiping tears away...so that I could finish reading the story. Oof. I rated it 4.5 Stars.
The fourth and final story in the collection was written by David Mack (who's becoming one of my favourite Star Trek authors)...and his story was called The Stars Look Down. This one was heart breaking, too. Cervantes Quinn and Bridy Mac really have become the dynamic duo...and that ending. Wow! But...there were parts of this story that just didn't jive with me. Not sure I could put my finger on it, exactly...but it was good, but it could've been the best in the collection and just fell short. I rated it 4 Stars.
Overall, it was good/great, but putting a short story collection into the middle/end of an already set storyline just didn't work for me. I would've liked it...if there had been a way to weave it into one cohesive narrative. Oh well.
16.25 overall, divided by four = 4.0625 Stars (4.1 Stars).
Hoping the next book, #7 What Judgments Come by Dayton Ward & Kevin Dimore.
The first story was written by Dayton Ward, and it is called Almost Tomorrow. This is a prequel story. Ugh. Another "not my favourite thing", but I do believe that this story had been written earlier in the design phase of this series...for it felt appropriate to the context of everything that actually happens in the story...it is just that we were NOT privy to these facts until now. I actually was not as pleased as I was hoping for this story. I rated it 3.5 Stars.
The second story was written by Kevin Dilmore, and it was called Hard News. I really enjoyed this story...with the protagonist being Tim Pennington. At first, he was a pain in the rear, but the Vanguard series is more relateable BECAUSE of him. This is a present day story...which I liked, and was thankful that the entire short story collection was NOT going to be prequel stories. Phew. I rated it a 4.25 Stars.
The third story was written by Marco Palmieri and it was called The Ruin of Noble Men. This story is present day (2268) and the past (2259). It primarily focuses on Rana Desai and Dr. Fisher. I really shouldn't have enjoyed this story, but for some reason it made me VERY emotional. The end was me wiping tears away...so that I could finish reading the story. Oof. I rated it 4.5 Stars.
The fourth and final story in the collection was written by David Mack (who's becoming one of my favourite Star Trek authors)...and his story was called The Stars Look Down. This one was heart breaking, too. Cervantes Quinn and Bridy Mac really have become the dynamic duo...and that ending. Wow! But...there were parts of this story that just didn't jive with me. Not sure I could put my finger on it, exactly...but it was good, but it could've been the best in the collection and just fell short. I rated it 4 Stars.
Overall, it was good/great, but putting a short story collection into the middle/end of an already set storyline just didn't work for me. I would've liked it...if there had been a way to weave it into one cohesive narrative. Oh well.
16.25 overall, divided by four = 4.0625 Stars (4.1 Stars).
Hoping the next book, #7 What Judgments Come by Dayton Ward & Kevin Dimore.
jonfucius's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
bdplume's review
3.0
This was a collection of hit or miss short stories. The first one didn't land for me and I think that set a tone for the book. the other three are pretty good, especially the first-person perspective Tim Pennington piece. If you care about the Vanguard storyline at all, this one's worth a read as the last story features some fairly important plot developments. On the whole this was OK, but the Vanguard series has seemed pretty sweeping and broad which is a little harder to convey in four short stories. If they'd tried to capture that feel by just adding a few more stories, it might've weakened the whole thing, though. Now I'm rambling. My point is I think the elements in these stories would've worked better as part of one long novel than as four smaller units.
rdnlsmith's review
adventurous
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
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