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A review by joshknape
The Entropy Effect by Vonda N. McIntyre
4.0
I haven't frequently read Star Dreck novels in many years, but in recent months I've periodically read or reread a few when I was too tired to read anything more challenging, and The Entropy Effect always fascinated me a little.
Partly because it's a temporal chaos story (more than a time travel story); partly because author Vonda McIntyre's characterization of several key characters, especially Spock and Scotty, is so off that she may have been interpreting them as she saw fit rather than feeling obligated to replicate the television series' characterizations. But really, the main reason it's fascinated me, ever since I read it as a child, is the tragedy: a mad scientist murders Kirk in front of the crew, for no apparent reason, with an illegal brain-crushing weapon said to be used only by terrorists.
...
Regrettably, this is one of three novels I know of for a media franchise where the editor did not prevent the author from using the text to work out the author's infatuation with a male character. Here it probably happened because MacIntyre disguised it well enough for it to be permitted: a female security officer who pretty obviously represents the author sleeps with Sulu. At least it was handled more tastefully than in other cases (an earlier Star Trek novel by another author, and a certain Doctor Who novel). I therefore didn't mind continuing the book despite the author's self-indulgence; I just lost some respect for MacIntyre, who otherwise might be the best writer in the entire Star Trek book franchise. (I consistently regret, much more than this unfortunate spectacle, that MacIntyre didn't write more novels for Star Trek.)
Partly because it's a temporal chaos story (more than a time travel story); partly because author Vonda McIntyre's characterization of several key characters, especially Spock and Scotty, is so off that she may have been interpreting them as she saw fit rather than feeling obligated to replicate the television series' characterizations. But really, the main reason it's fascinated me, ever since I read it as a child, is the tragedy: a mad scientist murders Kirk in front of the crew, for no apparent reason, with an illegal brain-crushing weapon said to be used only by terrorists.
...
Regrettably, this is one of three novels I know of for a media franchise where the editor did not prevent the author from using the text to work out the author's infatuation with a male character. Here it probably happened because MacIntyre disguised it well enough for it to be permitted: a female security officer who pretty obviously represents the author sleeps with Sulu. At least it was handled more tastefully than in other cases (an earlier Star Trek novel by another author, and a certain Doctor Who novel). I therefore didn't mind continuing the book despite the author's self-indulgence; I just lost some respect for MacIntyre, who otherwise might be the best writer in the entire Star Trek book franchise. (I consistently regret, much more than this unfortunate spectacle, that MacIntyre didn't write more novels for Star Trek.)