A review by siskoid
Avenger by William Shatner

3.0

Shatner's novels always include SOME fun bits, though the Reeves-Stevens have to be largely responsible - or does the Shat lie when he says never watches Star Trek and has never seen an episode of TNG? Because somehow the TNG crew keeps appearing in his books, which are laden with continuity references. Not just filled with them, but HINGING on them. Case in point Avenger, which starts from an intriguing question: Why DID Sarek never mindmeld with his son? The answer may or may not enchant. Sarek and Amanda in cahoots with Kodos, the genocidal tyrant Kirk's youth. These retcons still fit continuity (one of the ghost writers' greatest skills), but they won't be to everyone's tastes. With its abstract threat and very talky middle section, Avenger isn't as exciting as the completely bonkers The Return, but it has its moments - cool ship action, a holodeck escape, and a fun way to include McCoy into the adventure as well. There is still a lot of padding as three different groups come to similar conclusions separately so they can converge. If everyone manages the same feats, it takes away from Kirk's (or whoever's). The contention that everyone should want to have sex with a 62-year-old Kirk probably comes from Shatner and only Shatner, but for the most part, the characters are well drawn, and Kirk's new (one-off) crew has potential.