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shortcub's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
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? No
3.75
ash24314's review
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
trailofdebris's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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? It's complicated
5.0
necrotechnical's review
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
meredith_peruzzi's review against another edition
adventurous
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? No
5.0
David Mack had a lot of territory to cover here: although officially categorized as a Picard series story, the novel is set well before the events in Picard, and so much has to be set up for the Seven we meet in S1E4 of Picard. We learn not just about her own story, but about what Janeway is doing after returning from the Delta quadrant, who the Fenris Rangers are, and what has become of the Romulan Star Empire. Like I said: there's a LOT going on here.
But it is all ably woven together into a cohesive story, and Mack has nearly 30 years of experience writing for Star Trek, so it fits perfectly into every character trait and story arc we've seen so far in this world. It also beautifully reflects nearly 60 years of socially forward-thinking Trek.
Yes, there are queer characters of various sorts in this novel, but at no time is that important to the plot. They are simply there, which allows the queer readers of today to see that there is a future where we are just part of the fabric of society. There is no male gaze here, just some queer folks living their lives like anyone else, and it is heartening.
But it is all ably woven together into a cohesive story, and Mack has nearly 30 years of experience writing for Star Trek, so it fits perfectly into every character trait and story arc we've seen so far in this world. It also beautifully reflects nearly 60 years of socially forward-thinking Trek.
Yes, there are queer characters of various sorts in this novel, but at no time is that important to the plot. They are simply there, which allows the queer readers of today to see that there is a future where we are just part of the fabric of society. There is no male gaze here, just some queer folks living their lives like anyone else, and it is heartening.
djwudi's review
4.0
While Picard is (imho) overall the weakest of the modern Trek series, its literary side is doing quite well. This does a great job of filling in some of the time between when Seven returns to Earth with Voyager and when she appears as a Fenris Ranger, and exploring how the character changed in those years. It’s unfortunate that some are upset that this book discusses Seven discovering her identity as a queer woman; it’s neither propagandistic nor heavy-handed, but simply experiences that wouldn’t raise an eyebrow if they were heterosexual. Also a lot of very pointed commentary about what happens when a major power that had been providing very necessary support for a region just up and disappears when something else catches its attention. Definitely worth reading if you’re a fan of the Picard series or (and especially) of Seven as a character.