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A review by davykent
The Last Best Hope by Una McCormack
3.0
Well. This certainly explains the lead-up to Picard. And I suppose this is a fine enough book.
But...
To me, Star Trek has always had an underlying current of perseverance and triumph. Bad things can happen, yes. Defeats can happen, yes. But there is a victory, moral or otherwise. Deep Space Nine is my favourite series, and it's also arguably the most morally grey of the franchise. I'm no stranger to complex ideas, the nuance of tough decisions and people acting immorally.
Yet Picard, and this book, and the reboot of the franchise in general, seem to reject the perseverance and triumph on a moral footing. They strive for the action, the glamour, but seem to neglect the sociological machinations of a better world. The story and conclusions of Picard simply do not belong in Star Trek (for me). Picard suggests a Federation and humanity that is essentially our own, unchanged, unevolved, which is antithetical to the premise of the whole thing.
So, yes, decent book. Well written, paced decently. I just have a fundamental problem with what it's saying in contrast to the label it's carrying.
But...
To me, Star Trek has always had an underlying current of perseverance and triumph. Bad things can happen, yes. Defeats can happen, yes. But there is a victory, moral or otherwise. Deep Space Nine is my favourite series, and it's also arguably the most morally grey of the franchise. I'm no stranger to complex ideas, the nuance of tough decisions and people acting immorally.
Yet Picard, and this book, and the reboot of the franchise in general, seem to reject the perseverance and triumph on a moral footing. They strive for the action, the glamour, but seem to neglect the sociological machinations of a better world. The story and conclusions of Picard simply do not belong in Star Trek (for me). Picard suggests a Federation and humanity that is essentially our own, unchanged, unevolved, which is antithetical to the premise of the whole thing.
So, yes, decent book. Well written, paced decently. I just have a fundamental problem with what it's saying in contrast to the label it's carrying.