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caterpillarguy's review against another edition
4.0
I had never read a TNG relaunch novel before this one, but I started here because the story arc with the Enterprise crew exploring the Odyssean Pass seemed interesting to me. I was a bit worried about jumping in so late in the Star Trek novel timeline, but the book does a good job of filling the reader in on necessary backstory without giving too much detail.
I enjoyed the way the book used the character of T'Ryssa Chen as somewhat of a POV, getting her perspective on a lot of the important story events. Initially, I was a bit put off by such a focus on a novel-original character that I knew nothing about (from what I can tell, Chen is a fairly major character in the TNG novels, so this is probably just a me problem), but it ended up being a non-issue because I found her a really fun character to spend time with. Interesting as well, because she is a half Human, half Vulcan who leans more towards her human side, something we don't see super often in Trek. Plus, she's just super adorable.
My only issue with the book, is that the ending let it down a little. The twist towards the end didn't really land for me(we learn that the aliens in the time ship are actually double agents working for the other set of warring aliens, but this doesn't really change much in the end because they decide not to blow up either planet anyway) , and the way the conflict was resolved felt just a smidge cheap IMO.
Never mind all that, I'm off to binge the rest of the post-TV Next Gen novels and then the Voyager relaunch after that and then might as well do a TNG rewatch while I'm at it somebody please send help
I enjoyed the way the book used the character of T'Ryssa Chen as somewhat of a POV, getting her perspective on a lot of the important story events. Initially, I was a bit put off by such a focus on a novel-original character that I knew nothing about (from what I can tell, Chen is a fairly major character in the TNG novels, so this is probably just a me problem), but it ended up being a non-issue because I found her a really fun character to spend time with. Interesting as well, because she is a half Human, half Vulcan who leans more towards her human side, something we don't see super often in Trek. Plus, she's just super adorable.
My only issue with the book, is that the ending let it down a little. The twist towards the end didn't really land for me
Never mind all that, I'm off to binge the rest of the post-TV Next Gen novels and then the Voyager relaunch after that and then might as well do a TNG rewatch while I'm at it somebody please send help
frakalot's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
reflective
tense
medium-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
5.0
This was a great story. The Enterprise E crew find a derelict ship with some of its passengers in stasis. Crusher inadvertently begins reviving the frozen crew when another vessel arrives demanding custody of the derelict and its occupants. The two groups of aliens are enemies of a long and brutal war and the derelict appears to be a time traveling weapon of mass destruction. What are Picard and the crew going to do now they've unwittingly and unwillingly become entangled in this feud?
It's a classic type of scenario made a little unique by the use of the time traveling weapon, although (as pointed out in the story), it does have similarity with elements of the Xindi threat. The war has been fought for so long now that its original purpose no longer has any meaning and continues mainly because it seems that it must. Both sides desire an end to the war but both are also convinced that total annihilation of their foe is the only way to achieve peace.
Ward typically writes vivid combat scenarios and this was as good as we've come to expect. There are some great tense moments which gave this a mild horror feel at times, it was very atmospheric when the away team were first exploring the derelict and a little later it was especially dramatic when one of the cryo-patients was first revived.
At one point a character steps into view to indicate that they are of a different species and I realised that I don't think any of the alien species were physically described. This seems unusual for scifi and I'm casually wondering if Ward had a secret bet on with some other authors to see if he could pull off a good alien story without once referring to their appearance. It's also possible that I read it and forgot it and made this whole paragraph up with no justification.
I'd say these were excellent characterisations, better than perfect replicas of the crew we love, showing very well who they've become over the years since 'All Good Things...' and 'Nemesis.' Of particular note, Ward has absolutely nailed Picard's dialogue here. It reads as though it was very carefully chosen language, I think, and it all came across just how Picard would in such an ethically and diplomatically ambiguous situation.
I've gotta tell ya, I've got a bit of an awkward love/hate relationship with Taurik. He was easy to despise after his Pon Faux with B'Elanna but he has since had some great character development in the books. He gets a pretty good role here too, isolating himself from the crew by necessity and eventually involving the DTI, Department of Temporal Investigations.
I'm not sure if it's super obvious but I saw the plot twist in the final stretch coming. It kind of made the whole situation easier to be talked down, although that's not exactly an apt description of the way things end.
This begins the final section of the six-part, post-nemesis reading list that I've been following in order to get to the finale, the 'Coda' trilogy, which was published last year. Last year! So, if I'm counting correctly, there's 14 books left until I reach 'Coda' and I'd like to finish those by the end of 2022. Toot-toot, coming through. Look out!
It's a classic type of scenario made a little unique by the use of the time traveling weapon, although (as pointed out in the story), it does have similarity with elements of the Xindi threat. The war has been fought for so long now that its original purpose no longer has any meaning and continues mainly because it seems that it must. Both sides desire an end to the war but both are also convinced that total annihilation of their foe is the only way to achieve peace.
Ward typically writes vivid combat scenarios and this was as good as we've come to expect. There are some great tense moments which gave this a mild horror feel at times, it was very atmospheric when the away team were first exploring the derelict and a little later it was especially dramatic when one of the cryo-patients was first revived.
At one point a character steps into view to indicate that they are of a different species and I realised that I don't think any of the alien species were physically described. This seems unusual for scifi and I'm casually wondering if Ward had a secret bet on with some other authors to see if he could pull off a good alien story without once referring to their appearance. It's also possible that I read it and forgot it and made this whole paragraph up with no justification.
I'd say these were excellent characterisations, better than perfect replicas of the crew we love, showing very well who they've become over the years since 'All Good Things...' and 'Nemesis.' Of particular note, Ward has absolutely nailed Picard's dialogue here. It reads as though it was very carefully chosen language, I think, and it all came across just how Picard would in such an ethically and diplomatically ambiguous situation.
I've gotta tell ya, I've got a bit of an awkward love/hate relationship with Taurik. He was easy to despise after his Pon Faux with B'Elanna but he has since had some great character development in the books. He gets a pretty good role here too, isolating himself from the crew by necessity and eventually involving the DTI, Department of Temporal Investigations.
I'm not sure if it's super obvious but I saw the plot twist in the final stretch coming. It kind of made the whole situation easier to be talked down, although that's not exactly an apt description of the way things end.
This begins the final section of the six-part, post-nemesis reading list that I've been following in order to get to the finale, the 'Coda' trilogy, which was published last year. Last year! So, if I'm counting correctly, there's 14 books left until I reach 'Coda' and I'd like to finish those by the end of 2022. Toot-toot, coming through. Look out!
gerhard's review
2.0
I wish that time travel could be banned from any incarnation of the Star Trek universe, whether cinematic or print. Too often it is a convenient deus ex machina. This is a classic example: here we have the Enterprise-E going boldly and exploring the Odyssean Pass, where it discovers a derelict spaceship that turns out to be a doomsday weapon from the past meant to end the war between two competing species. These civilisations are only cursorily differentiated, to the point where they seem interchangeable. And since when do we have a Temporal Prime Directive? Solidly written, however Ward takes no chances with his toy box, sticking to the well-proven as far as possible. Disappointing.
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