Due to the tumblr policy change, this blog will be moving out of protest. I hope to continue it elsewhere and will post when I figure out where.

DS9 Novel #19: The Tempest

DS9 #19: The Tempest by Susan Wright Book Jacket’s Summary:      “When a ferocious plasma storm strikes the entire Bajoran system, Deep Space 9 becomes a port under siege, filled to overflowing with stranded space travelers, unpredictable aliens, and Klingon smugglers. Worf and Odo find themselves tested to the limit as they struggle to control the chaos that has consumed the station. But even greater danger faces Dax and botanist Keiko O'Brien when they must fly a runabout into the very heart of the storm – and encounter a strange new form of life!” Yeaka’s Notes:     The Tempest is one of those could-be-an-episode novels set right after Worf’s transferred to the station, and at first, it even contemplates his transition and reminisces on the Enterprise. In its frequent downtimes, this book is a good character study on him, Odo, Sisko, and the O’Briens. One of this book’s unique features is that it gives Keiko central stage—her and Jadzia wind up off together on an important mission, where they science it up, get sick, and talk relationships. As the main plot is an in-coming plasma storm, a lot of the dialogue is technobabble. There are a few easier-to-understand side-plots going on with rowdy Klingons and difficult aliens bothering Worf on the station. Easily the most charming plotline is Odo’s small babysitting adventures with Molly—who knew he was really a big softie inside.     Despite the constant threat of danger, this book doesn’t feel particularly dark. The scientific nonsense gets a tad difficult at times, but mostly, the characters are well used and enjoyable. It has a lot for Worf fans and gives more of the O’Brien family than most. All together, it’s a good read. Noteworthy moments: (below cut)

TOS Novel #51: Enemy Unseen

TOS #51: Enemy Unseen by V.E. Mitchell Book Jacket’s Summary:      “Transporting a diplomatic party is nothing new for Captain James T. Kirk and the crew of the Enterprise – but this particular mission promises trouble from the start.      For one thing, the wife of the Federation ambassador on this trip is an old flame of Kirk's – and she's determined to see that they resume their romance where they left off. Of course, when another ambassador presents Kirk with three of his wives, finding time for the first romance, let alone any of his other duties, is going to prove nearly impossible.      When a diplomatic attaché is murdered, and the prime suspect is one of his crew members, Kirk begins to wish that Starfleet Command would consider using some other Starship to ferry diplomatic personnel…” Yeaka’s Notes:     The bookjacket makes this sound more dramatic than it is. It’s setup as two new species negotiating for a new planet, though only one of them is actually featured, with a Federation diplomatic team following them, and Starfleet’s warning about a murdering spy in the party. For some reason, no one bothers to tell the aliens they have a murderer and imposter amongst them. The diplomatic team also brought with them a married woman that tries to seduce Kirk, although he knows she has a history of trickery and murder, but doesn’t actually do anything to monitor her obviously illicit activities. He does have a very minor fling with a different woman. People occasionally try to negotiate with the one-dimensional, sexist aliens. There are several original characters, most notably two Deltans and Kirk’s school friend, most of which are quite likeable. Kirk has the most to do, along with a bit from Bones, Chapel, eventually Chekov, and Uhura for a brief moment, while Sulu and Scotty rarely appear, and Spock’s shipped off at the very beginning. They’re all in character and have a few good interactions.     Despite the web of characters and immediate plots, the book moves very slowly. The entire thing is spent en route to a planet it never reaches. At some points, the leisurely pace works; the reader has a chance to really enjoy the characters just living their lives. At other times, it’s frustrating, especially because Kirk knows there’s a murderer on board who’s constantly sabotaging things, and yet he doesn’t buckle down to do anything until several people are dead. Warning, the deaths are gore-filled. It’s obvious early on who the killer is, and Kirk would probably find it obvious too if he bothered to so much as interview the suspects or tell his own security what’s going on. Instead, they just keep playing the ‘let’s see what happens next time’ game over and over. It gets a little ridiculous after a while.     That being said, this is still a decent read. It is written well, with some interesting new dynamics. Just be prepared for a slow burn of incredulity. Noteworthy moments: (below cut)

TNG Novels #47-9: The Q Continuum

TNG #47-9: The Q Continuum trilogy by Greg Cox Book Jacket’s Summary:      “The unpredictable cosmic entity known only as Q has plagued Captain Jean-Luc Picard and the crew of the Starship Enterprise since their very first voyage together. But little is known of Q's mysterious past or that of the unearthly realm from which he hails. Now Picard must learn Q's secrets – or all of reality may perish!      Ever since its discovery, the great galactic barrier has impeded humanity's exploration of the universe beyond the Milky Way. Now a brilliant Federation scientist may have found a way to breach the barrier, and the Enterprise is going to put it to the test. The last thing the crew needs is a visit from an omnipotent troublemaker so, naturally, Q appears.      Q has more in mind than his usual pranks, and while the Enterprise struggles to defeat a powerful inhuman foe, Picard must embark on a fantastic odyssey into the Q Continuum itself, with the fate of the galaxy hanging in the balance.” Yeaka’s Notes:     I read this trilogy individually, but as you couldn’t really read them without each other, I’m reviewing them all in one. And frankly, I think they could’ve all been condensed into one book anyway.     Long story short, all three of these carry the continuing, singular plot of the Enterprise (mid-DS9/VOY era) carrying a Betazoid scientist to the barrier that surrounds the edge of the galaxy, where he intends to open up a wormhole to the other side. When they arrive, Q, as well as Q’s wife and baby from Voyager, tell them not to. Picard asks why. Q won’t tell him why. If Q had, this series would’ve been about 600 pages shorter. Instead, Q takes Picard away to show him the long, drawn out story of how teenage-Q royally messed up (including a depressing, detailed tale of mass slaughter) and breaching the barrier will only make it worse. Meanwhile, the visiting scientist is a gratingly terrible father, Beverly, Deanna, Geordi, and Data pick up loose ends, a few other OCs and minor characters try to survive, and Riker tries to keep the Calamarain (TNG: “Deja Q”) from killing them all.     This is a well-written adventure. Some of the OCs are enjoyable, while others are appropriately awful. Q is as sometimes-likeable, sometimes-irritating as ever, and all the worse for having three consecutive books worth. If you’re a Q/Picard fan, this is a must have. There’s a ridiculous amount of references touching on everything from Kirk to Janeway, books, shows, and movies alike, including the history of the godlike being Kirk faced down in The Final Frontier. During those and several thrilling moments, this is a great ride—while during other moments, particularly those with Q needlessly adding a couple hundred pages, it’s almost unbearable.     So... pretty much Q. Noteworthy moments: (below cut)

DS9 Novel #18: Saratoga

DS9 #18: Saratoga by Michael Jan Friedman Book Jacket’s Summary:      “When the Borg destroyed the USS Saratoga at Wolf 359, killing Captain Sisko's beloved wife, one chapter in his life came to a tragic end. Now painful memories are reawakened when the USS Defiant carries the survivors of the Saratoga to an important Starfleet ceremony. But Sisko's bittersweet reunion with his old crewmates is cut short when an unexpected malfunction threatens the Defiant as well as the lives of everyone aboard. Even worse, evidence suggests that the accident was caused by deliberate sabotage.      Has one of Sisko's oldest friends betrayed them all? Sisko and Dax must uncover the truth before death claims the survivors of the Saratoga.” Yeaka’s Notes:     Given the summary, this is a surprisingly, relatively enjoyable read. It does touch on the original Saratoga’s loss to the Borg, including Jennifer’s death, but not graphically, and there isn’t much violence in the current story. The main plotline is Sisko meeting with the other survivors, his old friends: a few quirky humans, a cheerful Bolian, and an odd alien. At first, Bashir and O’Brien are troubled by these officers, but Sisko gets along well enough with all of them. Those officers, Sisko, Bashir, O’Brien, and Jadzia are all sent off in the Defiant to see the new Saratoga. Meanwhile, Kira’s left behind to concoct a somewhat comical counterbalance plotline with Odo, Quark, and Rom. They all get fair screen time, they’re all written well enough, and even the OCs are interesting. The ending could’ve been terribly cliché but wasn’t, and there’s a pleasant wrap up for a falling action. Overall, despite being set during the Dominian War and drudging up some sad memories, this was fun. Noteworthy moments: (below cut)

TOS Novel #49: The Pandora Principle

TOS #49: The Pandora Principle by Carolyn Clowes Book Jacket’s Summary:      “A Romulan Bird-of-Prey mysteriously drifts over the Neutral Zone and into Federation territory. Admiral Kirk and the crew of the Enterprise investigate, only to find the ship dead in space. When Starfleet orders the derelict ship brought to Earth for investigation, the Enterprise returns home with perhaps her greatest prize.      But the Bird-of-Prey carries a dangerous cargo, a deadly force that is soon unleashed in the heart of the Federation. Suddenly, the only hope for the Federation's survival lies buried in the tortured memory of Commander Spock's protégé, a cadet named Saavik. Together, Spock and Saavik must return to the nightmare world of Saavik's birth, a planet called Hellguard, to discover the secret behind the Romulans' most deadly threat of all.” Yeaka’s Notes:     Set between the first two movies, The Pandora Principle is a fascinating thriller that can get incredibly dark but also prove thoroughly rewarding. If you want more of Saavik, or never quite got her and want to understand her better, this is an absolute must have. In the occasional well placed flashback, it tells the overview of Vulcans rescuing her from a nightmarish planet and Spock personally seeing to her education, refusing to give up on her despite the wishes of his people and father. She goes from a feral hellion to an inquisitive cadet, with tons of individual personality. In the present day story, she comes aboard her mentor’s ship only to find chaos from her past. Both sets of stories are intriguing. While the book focuses mostly on Spock and Saavik, all of the original cast members have something to do, even Kirk, who gets hilariously shelved for a good chunk.     Unfortunately, some of Saavik’s memories get truly disturbing—this book should come with a trigger warning for mass death, abused children, mentions of rape, and a couple graphic scenes of torture. Baring that, though, this one is really difficult to put down. It has a few other OCs that are equally unique and compelling, but mostly, this will make you fall in love with Saavik. If you can stomach the occasional bouts of violence, this is a more than worthy read. If it wasn’t for those few scenes, I’d dub this book an excellent and absolute must-have. Noteworthy moments: (below cut, spoilery) 

VOY Novel #15: Echoes

VOY #15: Echoes by Dean Wesley Smith, Kristine Kathryn Rusch, and Nina Kirki Hoffman Book Jacket’s Summary:      “The USS Voyager finds itself in a system where a planet might have existed, but doesn't. Where the planet should have been, millions and then billions of people are appearing from nowhere and dying in the vacuum of space.      To solve the mystery and save billions of lives, Captain Janeway will have to face alternate versions of herself and the crew of Voyager – not just one almost-mirror-image, but many. Janeway will have to find a way to work with her alternate selves, with whom she shares much but each of whom has a different agenda. At stake is the survival ofVoyager and the lives of billions of innocents ” Yeaka’s Notes:     First off, fair warning: the plot of this book gets dark. Like the summary foretells, it has a massive death count, with the crew of Voyager left to witness the corpses. Which Voyager is in the fray can get a little confusing, because the chapters jump back and forth between three different Voyager crews with “different” away teams but still the same characters. They have minimal contact with each other but all seem to reach similar conclusions. One of the Voyagers meets a new alien species that is interesting but, sadly, doesn’t get much of a conclusion. All of them continuously reference the Deadlock episode, wherein they met another Voyager already. The physics of how they deal with these parallel universes and the alien technology is a suspension of belief moment, but whatever: it’s space. Aside from that massive body count and confusion, it’s a decent read. Noteworthy moments:

TOS Novel #48: Rules of Engagement

TOS #48: Rules of Engagement by Peter Morwood Book Jacket’s Summary:     “A sudden revolution on the planet Dekkanar brings Captain Kirk and the USS Enterprise running to evacuate Federation personnel trapped there. But their orders from Starfleet are quite clear; the U.S.S. Enterprise is to assist in the evacuation, no more. No weapons are to be displayed, no shields raised, no shots fired.     Meanwhile, halfway across the galaxy, an experimental Klingon warship sets forth on a mission of its own, a warship with hidden – and heretofore undreamed of – capabilities, commanded by a warrior who will stop at nothing to bring glory to his Empire – and restore his own lost honor.     The Klingon ship's destination? The planet Dekkanar…” Yeaka’s Notes:    Though technically a follow up to the original series episodes “Errand of Mercy” and “The Trouble with Tribbles,” Rules of Engagement is set between the first and second movies. It very heavily references other Trek books, including several of their movie-era characters, and especially their Klingon characterizations. They even mention The Final Reflection, and the Klingons, which are all over this story and have several POV chapters of their own, are indeed more like that than the later TNG and up version. As I personally found The Final Reflection insufferable, that was bad news for me, but if you don’t mind your Klingons in that light, it should be fine. The writing itself can get a bit dense and slow but is otherwise decent. Not a lot actually happens in this one, and the Klingons’ ‘plot’ is weak at best. Most of the original cast is present, and at least they’re in character and have some good humour. Basically this is just one of those ones that wasn’t for me, but if you love old-style Klingons and want more of their internal politics on a small, M-5 like ship, maybe it’ll be worth a shot for you.

TNG Novel #45: Intellivore

TNG #45: Intellivore by Diane Duane Book Jacket’s Summary:      “The Great Rift lies between the Sagittarius and Orion arms of the galaxy. Stars are scarce there, beyond the authority of the Federation, and legends abound of lost civilizations and of ancient monsters that prey on those who dare to venture into the vast darkness between the stars.      When several ships and colonies mysteriously disappear into the Rift, the USS Enterprise leads an expedition to investigate various disturbing reports. Accompanied by two other Federation starships, Picard and his fellow captains discover a bizarre menace of unimaginable power. And the only way to trap this destructive entity is to use the Enterprise as bait.” TW: mass death and comas Yeaka’s Notes:     While every bit as dark as the summary suggests, Intellivore is actually a relatively slow, thoughtful piece. It follows the Enterprise and two other starship, each with likeable new captains, and their tentative exploration of a dangerous region of space. Not a lot can be said without spoiling what they find, so in broad strokes: you’ll get a bit of intrigue, a bit of mystery, a lot of personalized character interactions, and unfortunately, a lot of death tinged in mild psychological horror. The actual struggle with it doesn’t come until the very end, but there’s plenty of upsetting lead-ups. This is the sort of story you want to carry hope through, because the characters are so compelling and it’s written so well, but you’ve been warned: this is a gritty reality, sans any magical fix-its.     While the writing can occasionally become quite technical and dense, it’s overall fluid and extremely intelligent. The pace can be leisurely but never grows boring. Most of the TNG cast is present, especially Picard, Beverly, and Data. Data gets an interesting solo part, and Picard and Beverly share several moments. Despite the sadness in this story, it’s a fulfilling read. Noteworthy moments: (below cut)

Hallmark Itty Bittys

Hallmark Itty Bittys Well, we said this blog is for all Trek merchandise, and we meant it. Besides, these adorable little buggers deserve noting as much as the books. Somewhere along the line, Hallmark figured out fandom + cute = money, and they’re not wrong. I already bought two of the Kirk and Spock set.

You can get a set of four: Kirk, Spock, Bones, and Uhura. These are, as you can see, adorable as all heck. Bones even has his tiny medical tricorder, Spock even has little pointed ears, and everybody but our Vulcan looks oh-so-happy to be yours. In my personal opinion, they should’ve done Uhura in the same style as the others, as it looks like she’s showing her midriff, but then, that’s supposed to simulate her dress and boots, and that might not bother others who prefer to see these as mashed-together-legs rather than entirely legless. Unfortunately, these are also a bit larger than what I would want given the style, but again, that’s a preference. At 4” tall, they’re just a tad larger than Pop Vinyls, and at 30$USD regular for the whole set, they weren’t a bad price—though as a collectors item, you might have to look second hand to get them now. Kirk and Spock are also available separately as smaller keychains, and they’re a perfect 2.75”. Well made, soft, sweet as Spirk, and sold as a set of 2, they’re a steal at 10$USD. Being light fabric, they’ll likely dirty after time—hence my double purchase—but for now, they’re the cutest accessories my purse has ever had. 

The larger sized Data and Geordi are also available as online exclusives for 8$ each. You can see how equally adorable they are. And if you really want to go all out, so are Picard and Worf... in their sweet, sweet ride. They’re 25$USD in their 9”x8” ship. Again, it’s a bit large, but then again, look at these ridiculous dorks.

In summary: d’awww.

TNG Novel #44: The Death of Princes

TNG #44: The Death of Princes by John Peel Book Jacket’s Summary:      “Dangerous assignments come in pairs when Captain Picard and his crew are confronted with two desperate missions on two different worlds.      On the planet Buran, newly linked to the Federation, a mysterious disease devastates the population – and turns them against the visitors from the USS Enterprise. Meanwhile, on nearby Iomides, a renegade Federation observer has disappeared, intent on violating the Prime Directive by preventing a tragic political assassination.      While Dr. Crusher struggles to find a cure for the plague ravaging Buran, Commander Will Riker leads an away team to Iomides. Their forces divided, Picard and his crew find themselves the only hope of two worlds. ” Yeaka’s Notes:     As the bookjacket covers, The Death of Princes is a slow discovery story set on two unrelated planets of new alien species. The first one, where Picard, Beverly, Data, and Worf are battling a terrible plague, is home to an insular avian species new to the Federation. They have a monarchy with a Federation-friendly prince trying to install democracy despite the huge mistrust his people show the Federation. Meanwhile, Riker, Deanna, and Barclay take a shuttle to a pre-warp planet under Federation surveillance, where they’re tasked with finding an old classmate of Riker’s. That planet’s rife with trouble, especially the oft-addressed sexism, but they at least have leaders with more progressive views. In some ways, the two missions cover the best of Star Trek: learning of and about new cultures.     Unfortunately, it doesn’t stop there. Like the summary and title suggest, there’s a massive death count: trigger warning for misogyny, fatal illnesses, torture aftermath, gun violence, and suicides. Even though some of the original characters are quite likeable, it isn’t safe to get too invested in them. And while the plague part is necessary for the story, the scale of it, the torture, the guns, and the suicides really aren’t. This is one of those odd books where it gets quite fun and interesting for a while, only to suddenly shoot someone in the head.     The writing is simple but alright—some of the speculation drags a bit, but the cast is strong and in character. Most of the usual TNG crew is featured, except for Geordi, and Guinan and Ro have short cameos. The original characters are mostly enjoyable. Until they’re gone, anyway. This is another plus and minus one; take heed to your personal tolerances before picking it up. Noteworthy moments: (below cut)

TOS Novel #47: The Kobayashi Maru

TOS #47: The Kobayashi Maru by Julia Ecklar Book Jacket’s Summary:     “A freak shuttlecraft accident – and suddenly Captain Kirk and most of his senior officers find themselves adrift in space, with no hope of rescue, no hope of repairing their craft, or restoring communications – with nothing, in short, but time on their hands.     Time enough for each to tell the story of the Kobayashi Maru – the Starfleet Academy test given to command cadets. Nominally a tactical exercise, the Kobayashi Maru is in fact a test of character revealed in the choices each man makes – and does not make.     Discover now how Starfleet Cadets Kirk, Chekov, Montgomery Scott, and Sulu each faced the Kobayashi Maru… and became in turn Starfleet officers. ” Yeaka’s Notes:    The Kobayashi Maru is unique by Trek book standards. For almost its entirety, Kirk, Sulu, Chekov, Scotty, and Bones are stranded in a broken shuttlecraft amongst asteroids and atmospheric distortions preventing the Enterprise from finding them. Sulu and Kirk are both injured, with Bones attending to them and Scotty and Chekov trying to keep the shuttle in one piece. All of them try to help their situation, but they’re also resigned to a probable death.    For one chapter each, they pass the time with stories of their command school experiences: Cadet Kirk and his road to defeating the infamous Kobayashi Maru test, Cadet Chekov with his unorthodox ferocity in both the Kobayashi Maru and a larger survival test, Cadet Sulu and his close relationship with his dying grandfather and subsequent Kobayashi Maru resignation, and Cadet Scotty with his passion for engineering instead of the command path his parents put him on. Each of the past chapters is interesting and different, offering compelling insight into each character’s youth. Kirk’s is intriguing, Chekov’s is exhilarating, Sulu’s is heartfelt, and Scotty’s is relatable. They’re all engaging enough that each could’ve easily been its own novel, and this feels like a treat for having four in one. The in-between chapters of the current day crew reacting to each other’s stories and working together through their situation are equally enjoyable.    Add to all that that it’s written well and with an obvious affection for the cast, and this becomes a difficult book to put down. If you like any of those command-department characters (or even Bones grumbling at them) you owe yourself this story. Noteworthy moments: (below cut; more spoilers than usual) 

TNG Novel #43: A Fury Scorned

TNG #43: A Fury Scorned by Pamela Sargent and George Zebrowski Book Jacket’s Summary:      “With their sun about to go nova, the people of Epictetus III face annihilation. Although the USS Enterprise-D has come to lead the rescue operation, there is no way to evacuate a population of over twenty million, leavingCaptain Picard to make an agonizing decision. Should he try to salvage the planet's children, its greatest leaders and thinkers, or its irreplaceable archaeological treasures? No matter what he decides, millions must be sacrificed – unless another solution can be found.      With time running out, Data proposes a revolutionary scientific experiment that could save all of Epictetus III, or doom both the planet and the Enterprise as well.” TW: Suicide Yeaka’s Notes:     A Fury Scorned is an interesting read. It’s well written and has well fleshed out, compelling characters. The plot is relatively different than most Star Trek books, and though it has the main problem mapped out from the very beginning, it develops enough to keep the reader hooked, and it doesn’t use all the obvious plot twists that would be expected from its red herrings. There are lots of upsides to this one.     Unfortunately, it’s also littered with death. If you’re triggered by suicide, do not read this book. There’re several and it explores that thought process. The whole problem the Enterprise is facing is horribly unpleasant, but they make it worse by not being honest about the hope they offer. For lightweight and unbelievable reasons, the Federation orders them not to tell the troubled people what help they plan to try. This feels like a ridiculous choice given that they’re making a huge decision about a planet without the consent of the planet’s government, and worse, the government tells the Enterprise of the skyrocketing suicide rate due to people thinking they have no chance, and the Enterprise, knowing fell well that there is a chance, just lets those deaths pile up. Add to that people aren’t told why to follow the Enterprise’s vague instructions, thus causing people to either ignore it or cause trouble, and huge swaths of the death in this book could’ve easily been avoided with simple honesty.     So basically, depending on your grief tolerance, this is either a good or upsetting book. Go in prepared. Noteworthy moments: (below cut)

TOS Novel #46: The Cry of the Onlies

TOS #46: The Cry of the Onlies by Judy Klass Book Jacket’s Summary:       “Boaco Six, a once-tranquil Federation colony, is now caught up in the throes of revolution. The Enterprise's mission is to re-establish contact with the planet, and determine whether or not formal ties between the Federation and Boaco Six should be strengthened.       Negotiations between Captain Kirk and the planet's ruling Council of Youngers proceed smoothly, until the atmosphere of goodwill is shattered by the sudden destruction of a Boacan ship, at the hands of an experimental Starfleet vessel!       In order to prevent full-scale war from breaking out, the Enterprise must recapture the stolen Starfleet vessel and its abductors, a mission that will require the aid of the galaxy's most reclusive genius, and bring Captain Kirk face-to-face with the long-buried secrets of his past.” Yeaka’s Notes:     Despite being set mainly in an all new star system with new aliens, The Cry of the Onlies heavily relies on the original series episodes “Miri” and “Requiem for Methuselah.” Though Miri herself isn’t in it, this has a very Onlies feel, as the new planet is run mostly by youngsters. This gets unintentionally uncomfortable in the face of all the gritty violence it discusses, and especially the way Kirk describes and flirts with the “very young” matriarch. I have to admit this book wasn’t my cup of tea, but then, neither was the Onlies episode; if you enjoyed the focus on disturbed children in that, you’ll likely have a different experience reading this. If you’re interested in Flint, you’ll also get to see where he ends up.     The writing itself is simple if a little dated, and the whole thing does feel very early Trek. It mainly stars Kirk, Spock, and Bones; the rest only appear peripherally. Bones and Spock bicker and criticize one another to the point where it feels like genuine dislike, but some of Spock and Kirk’s thoughts towards one another almost cross the line into shipping. They spend much of the book visiting an under-developed world, some of it traipsing about the galaxy on Starfleet orders, a bit checking in on the Onlies and a fraction in a Klingon skirmish. A rogue Romulan also briefly appears. The plot evolves through a number of different problems, and there’s a nice falling action after everything’s resolved.     Basically, if you want more of the Onlies, Jahn, Flint, an emphasis on youngsters in general, or a pro-Spirk but anti-Spones read, you may want to pick this one up. If you’re put off by mentions of torture, childish babbling, children in adult situations, or the more dated side of TOS in general, avoid it.

DS9 Novel #17: The Heart of the Warrior

DS9 #17: The Heart of the Warrior by John Gregory Betancourt Book Jacket’s Summary:      “While a crucial peace conference fills Deep Space 9 with rumors of intrigue and conspiracy, Major Kira and Lt. Commander Worf embark on a dangerous undercover mission deep into the heart of the Gamma Quadrant. Their mission: to find the secret of the addictive substance that the Changelings use to control their Jem'Hadar warriors. But how long can Worf and Kira remain undetected in the midst of the Dominion? Odo may be their only hope; but to save them, he'll have to stand against his own people.” Yeaka’s Notes:     Despite being set amidst the Dominion War, The Heart of the Warrior reads like an early DS9 episode. It features all of the main cast for one thing or another, even up to Rom and Garak. Mostly, Sisko, Bashir, Jadzia Dax, and O'Brien handle a conference between the Federation, Maquis, Cardassians, and new aliens, while Kira, Worf, and Odo fly to the gamma quadrant. Worf and Kira get some cute bonding time on the way, Odo briskly reunites and re-confronts his people, Sisko survives exasperating politics, and Bashir fumbles like his pre-genetic reveal. Aside from that one thing, the characterizations are all bang on.     To fit in all those character moments, the plot of this one can be brisk and simple, but it's also ever-evolving and still satisfying. The writing is much the same: brisk and simple, but solid. There's also a likeable new character and alien spotlights for Bajorans, Cardassians, Jem'Hadar, and the Changelings. For more DS9 adventures in general, this is a good add to the collection.

Noteworthy Moments: (below cut)

TNG Novel #42: Infiltrator

TNG #42: Infiltrator by W.R. Thompson Book Jacket’s Summary:      “Centuries ago, followers of the tyrant Khan Noonien Singhleft Earth for the planet Hera to continue his experiments in selective breeding. Now, they are finally ready to launch their plan of universal domination – with the USSEnterprise as their weapon. Captain Picard must enlist the help of Heran expatriate Astrid Kemal to defeat her fellow superbeings. Unless the captain and crew of theEnterprise can stop them, the Heran infiltrators could alter the genetic landscape of the galaxy for generations to come.” Yeaka’s Notes:     The bookjacket makes Infiltrator sound like yet another galactic war story (and offers a spoiler to an otherwise interesting plot development for it) but it’s actually a slow-burn tale of understanding and acceptance. It focuses mainly on the Enterprise learning of a colony left over from the time of the Genetic Wars, where the survivors have since been genetically altered to be, as they call it, ‘the perfect weapons.’ The human crew is notably uncomfortable with this, including a difficult admiral constantly on Picard’s back. A few other crewmembers have a different take on genetic engineering, such as a Tellarite officer and an aggressively rude alien on cultural exchange. Geordi gets a love interest in the form of a likeable original character stuck between both sides. All of the characters get something to do at one time or another, even Guinan with her listening ear and Barclay with his paranoia. Worf’s honour is questioned, Riker’s compared to Khan, Beverly’s hard at work, Deanna’s perceptive, Data’s curious, and Picard is staunchly on the side of peace. Eventually Klingons show up to support the Federation with both peace and battle.     Surprisingly, the war mentioned isn’t too unpleasant. The plot is interesting and constantly evolving, and the conflict is based more on misconceptions than actual malice. Morality is called into play more than once, most notably over the concept of eugenics and the events of Simon Tarses’ trial from TNG: “The Drumhead.” For the different take on scifi tropes and the solid character writing, this is a fun, intriguing read. Noteworthy moments: (below cut) 

TOS Novel #45: Double, Double

TOS #45: Double, Double by Michael Jan Friedman Book Jacket’s Summary:      “On a routine exploratory mission, the Starship USS Hoodpicks up a distress signal from a research expedition thought lost long ago – the expedition of Dr. Roger Korby, one of the centuries' greatest scientific minds. Korby himself is dead, it seems, but his colleagues have made a most incredible discovery – a discovery they insist theHood's captain see for himself. Reluctantly, the captain agrees to beam down...      Meanwhile, the crew of the USS Enterprise begins long-overdue shore leave on Tranquility Seven. James T. Kirk is looking forward to a few days of rest and relaxation... until what seems like a bizarre case of mistaken identity plunges Kirk into a whirlpool of mayhem and murder. And puts an inhuman stranger with his memories and abilities in command of the Enterprise.” Yeaka’s Notes:     Though the book doesn’t actually state it anywhere, this is a direct sequel to the TOS episode “What Are Little Girls Made Of?” and it’s absolutely necessary to have seen that first. This story picks up in the immediate aftermath and proceeds to rehash the “evil Kirk android” storyline, “I’m sick of your half-breed interference [Mister Spock]” and all.     In some ways, this is a very frustrating read. It’s a little longer than most of the numbered TOS pocketbooks, and the majority of it is that exact problem that we’ve already seen on the show—an imposter on the Enterprise that we know of, but none of the characters do. Brown is back, and all of the TOS characters feature in it, even Chapel, though not as much as you might expect given that her late fiancé is the cause of all the trouble. More duplicates are made this time, and a few people eventually suspect something, but not until it’s far too late. There is a brief encounter with another alien race at the beginning, wherein Kirk winds up with a young alien boy (that apparently the universal translator won’t work for) following him onto the Enterprise. That particular semi-fatherhood plotline doesn’t go very far, but there’s enough going on as is.     Though the familiar arc is grating for a while, what with the reader knowing so much more than the oblivious characters, the real Kirk does eventually get involved enough to make it interesting again, and by the time the climax has struck, it’s hard not to be thoroughly invested. When the original cast members do get their moments to shine, it’s well worth the wait—Sulu fencing, Bones finally seeing the light, Spock comforting Chapel, Scotty with his full on Scottish brogue, and Uhura knowing just what to do. If you were particularly fond of that episode and wanted to know what Kirk put in his log, you pretty much have to pick this one up. Otherwise, may as well anyway for what really does feel like another old-school TOS episode. Noteworthy moments: (below cut)

TNG Novel #40: Possession

TNG #40: Possession by J.M. Dillard and Kathleen O’Malley Book Jacket’s Summary:      “Eighty years ago, bodiless entities brought a plague of violence and bloodshed to the planet Vulcan. The nightmare only ended when the entities were trapped inside special containers.      Now, on the eve of a galaxy-scale scientific exposition, the containers have been opened, freeing the malevolent entities to possess the minds and bodies of all they encounter, including the crew of the Starship Enterprise. Friends turn into foes, and no one can be trusted, as Captain Picard faces a deadly and insidious threat. Unless the entities can be stopped once more, they will spread their madness throughout the entire Federation.” Yeaka’s Notes:      This is the TNG successor to TOS: Demons, but you don’t need to read that first, as this book never mentions it. Like Demons, Possession is a dark story of infection, but unlike its prequel, it isn’t completely violent chaos—the possessing demons have since learned to better control their hosts and mask their infection. The vast majority is just different crewmembers slowly infecting one another and laying low in the hopes of universal control. Throughout this, they never go for Deanna, whose empathic torment they feed off of instead. Deanna tries to warn Picard, but, unfortunately, she’s brushed off. This is a problem—there are several instances where characters make poor decisions in regards to caution and safety. At times, it’s frustrating to read about characters being clueless for so long when the reader knows every awful thing the villains are thinking. At least once enough people are aware of what’s going down, it becomes unpredictable and interesting.     The entire cast is around with various things to do, most notably Deanna, who can sense the trouble from the start. She’s also haunted by the image of Lwaxana trying to protect her. Worf is also in the thick of things, whilst looking out for Alexander and starting up a romance with a complex human scientist. Geordi’s VISOR becomes important, and Data’s artificial immunity is a saving grace. Beverly tries to keep on top of things. Riker guards the ship and goes out of his way to protect Deanna. Picard has a few intriguing parallels to his experience with the Borg that mix up the usual infection’s repetition. Guinan, luckily for her, is off at a ‘religious retreat’—aka a bartender’s convention. There’s also a healthy dose of Vulcans and two Ferengi at the beginning. There aren’t many answers about the entities involved in both this and Demons, but after all the trouble they’ve caused, it seems acceptable just to be done with them. In the end, this is a decent read for anyone that wants a tense, low-key horror show aboard the starship Enterprise. Noteworthy moments: 

TOS Novel: Mudd’s Angels

TOS: Mudd’s Angels, adapted by J.A. Lawrence Book Jacket’s Summary: “Kirk and his crew match wits with menacing con man Harcourt Fenton Mudd. Previously published under the title Mudd's Angels, this novelization of two classic Star Trek episodes also includes original material by the author, who collaborated with her husband, James Blish, on earlier Star Trek compilations. ” Yeaka’s Notes:     This is one of those older books that has to be read in context, because it is simplistic and sexist, especially given the episodes it draws on. Mudd’s Angels sparsely but accurately covers the two episodes of TOS involving Harry Mudd, neither of which need to be reviewed before this book, because it basically says it all. The third part is a new adventure that goes far beyond the scope of the other two, not having the TV’s shows budgetary restrictions, and is more creative, but still problematic—for example, Harry’s continually referenced as “the obscenely fat man,” repeatedly sighting his obesity despite the fact that he’s really not that big, and far worse, he’s basically made sexbots completely modeled after Uhura’s stolen specifications without her permission, which, for some bizarre reason, she doesn’t seem to mind.     That being said, if you look past the dated issues, it’s not that bad a read—it does feel like a classic TOS episode. Harry does get his comeuppance in the end, and the abused parties get their justice. Spock is too emotional in parts, but the rest of the cast is alright, and Chekov gets some amusing roles. The climax is interesting, the ending satisfying. If for whatever reason you’re a fan of Mudd, I guess you have to have this. Noteworthy moments: (below cut)