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green_amaryllis's review
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Vomit, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Xenophobia, and Confinement
Minor: Fire/Fire injury
toastlover1's review
2.0
These days when I see a Star Trek novel at a used book sale, I pick it up (if I don't remember having read it as a kid) for nostalgia sake. I have read a diverse enough selection of fiction at this point in my life that I do not anticipate that these novels be anything more than mildly entertaining and comfortingly familiar. A reminder of my geeky childhood before I knew the difference between fan fiction and "real books." Most of the time, I find exactly what I expect.
In the case of "Imbalance," I was disappointed even with my low expectations. Waht I can say for the book was that it is easy to read and although filled with tired expressions and lazy idioms that we read over and over again, it does not detract from the story. The problem mainly lies with the story itself. Although other reviewers have given specifics already, I will just say that the main story is thin. We get to read about the experiences of many of the main characters (even the often overlook Keiko), but they don't get to do much. The author took a lot of time developing the world of the aliens, but then used that elaborate setting for a lame and simple plot.
The worst area of the book was the subplot with Keiko and Miles. It was completely unbelievable that enlightened and intelligent people living in the 24th century, where humans have expanded throughout many worlds, solved most of their problems and successfully live in peace with countless aliens, would have culture clash and misogynistic issues that sounded like a throwback to the 1950's. I skipped many sections of the book that dealt with that part of the story.
I gave the book 2 stars (instead of one) because the author did make an interesting and detailed alien culture for the crew to interact with, and the book flowed well enough despite its shortcomings. However, unless you have read all the other hundreds of Trek books out there, this one is definitely one that is safe to skip.
In the case of "Imbalance," I was disappointed even with my low expectations. Waht I can say for the book was that it is easy to read and although filled with tired expressions and lazy idioms that we read over and over again, it does not detract from the story. The problem mainly lies with the story itself. Although other reviewers have given specifics already, I will just say that the main story is thin. We get to read about the experiences of many of the main characters (even the often overlook Keiko), but they don't get to do much. The author took a lot of time developing the world of the aliens, but then used that elaborate setting for a lame and simple plot.
The worst area of the book was the subplot with Keiko and Miles. It was completely unbelievable that enlightened and intelligent people living in the 24th century, where humans have expanded throughout many worlds, solved most of their problems and successfully live in peace with countless aliens, would have culture clash and misogynistic issues that sounded like a throwback to the 1950's. I skipped many sections of the book that dealt with that part of the story.
I gave the book 2 stars (instead of one) because the author did make an interesting and detailed alien culture for the crew to interact with, and the book flowed well enough despite its shortcomings. However, unless you have read all the other hundreds of Trek books out there, this one is definitely one that is safe to skip.
djwudi's review
2.0
This one starts with an interesting premise, as the Enterprise is sent to negotiate with aliens only briefly encountered before, the Jarada (the unseen, highly demanding aliens that were the B story in “The Big Goodbye”). But while there are hints of an interesting society, the rest of the book doesn’t hold together well. Actions are taken by the aliens that are never really explained, and Enterprise characters are either reduced to repetitious mannerisms (Dr. Crusher brushes locks of her flaming red hair out of her face nearly every time she’s mentioned) or simply badly portrayed (I know Keiko and O’Brien have difficulties, but in this book they’re both rendered nearly incompetent by their insecurities). Toss on a rather abrupt end to the whole thing, and this is one I wasn’t disappointed to reach the end of.
fruitkate's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-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? No
2.0
lizlogan's review
4.0
I picked this up because I enjoyed it a lot in previous years. It's not as good as I remember, but I still love the characters.
octavia_cade's review
3.0
Picard and company are in negotiations with an insectoid race who is considering joining the Federation, and initially things seem to be going better than expected, which is always a portent of disaster. The Jarada are subject to a medical condition which is inexorably sending them all insane, and the away team is split up and forced to deal with a society consisting of individuals who are increasingly unbalanced and increasingly dangerous. It's an enjoyable read, with focus split between a number of characters, which I always like, and it's good to see Keiko get a starring role for once... if only the focus had stayed on her botanical skill, and there'd been less of the squabbling with her husband. I like O'Brien, but he was an unmitigated arse here and I didn't enjoy the implications that Keiko was equally to blame because she wasn't. That is a small quibble, though, and I'm prepared to put up with the tedious marital squabbling if it means I get more Keiko working with plants.
A rather larger quibble - although one that didn't much interfere with my enjoyment, as it was really only there in the last ten percent or so of the book - was the solution to the Jarada insanity. I don't want to give too much away, but for a space-faring race to be so limited in their basic science is just not very believable. Environmental factors should have been one of the first things tested for, and that it wasn't just isn't credible.
A rather larger quibble - although one that didn't much interfere with my enjoyment, as it was really only there in the last ten percent or so of the book - was the solution to the Jarada insanity. I don't want to give too much away, but for a space-faring race to be so limited in their basic science is just not very believable. Environmental factors should have been one of the first things tested for, and that it wasn't just isn't credible.
bdplume's review
3.0
Not bad. I did enjoy especially the swapping perspectives as each crew member picked up a piece of the puzzle once they were separated.
rosenectur's review
2.0
A run of the mill Star Trek novel, but I love the TNG cast. And this book has a very interesting setting and alien race.
apostrophen's review against another edition
3.0
This was another solid Trek: Next Generation novel, in that it dealt with a race that was teased on the show, but never seen: the Jarada. Now obviously, an insectoid race wasn't going to happen on the budget of a weekly sci-fi show, and this book filled in much more about the race.
The Enterprise is called to a Jaradan colony, and the crew must unravel what is going wrong with the colony - something seems "off" right from the start - and as Dr. Crusher and a few others of the away team are down on the planet and separated on various tours, a madness seems to spring up throughout the populace, and soon everyone is running for their lives as well as trying to figure out why the alien race has suddenly gone murderously mad. It was well done.
The Enterprise is called to a Jaradan colony, and the crew must unravel what is going wrong with the colony - something seems "off" right from the start - and as Dr. Crusher and a few others of the away team are down on the planet and separated on various tours, a madness seems to spring up throughout the populace, and soon everyone is running for their lives as well as trying to figure out why the alien race has suddenly gone murderously mad. It was well done.
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