Book Description
Within every federation and every empire, behind every hero and every villain, there are the worlds that define them. In the aftermath of Unity and in the daring tradition of Spock's World, The Final Reflection, and A Stitch in Time, the civilizations most closely tied to Star Trek: Deep Space Nine can now be experienced as never before...in tales both sweeping and intimate, reflective and prophetic, eerily familiar and utterly alien.
FERENGINAR: Quark's profit-driven homeworld is rocked with scandal as shocking allegations involving his brother's first wife, the mother of Nog, threaten to overthrow Rom as Grand Nagus of the Ferengi Alliance. Making matters worse, Quark has been recruited by Rom's political adversaries to join their coup d'état, with guarantees of all Quark ever dreamed if they succeed in taking his brother down. While Ferenginar's future teeters on the edge, the pregnancy of Rom's current wife, Leeta, takes a difficult turn for both mother and child.
THE DOMINION: Since its defeat in the war for the Alpha Quadrant, the Great Link -- the living totality of the shape-shifting Founders -- has struggled with questions. At its moment of greatest doubt, its fate, and that of the Dominion itself, is tied to Odo's investigation of his kind's true motives for sending a hundred infant changelings out into the galaxy.
As Odo searches for answers and takes a hard look at his past choices, Taran'atar reaches a turning point in his own quest for clarity...one from which there may be no going back.
Customer Reviews:
a pivotal point.......2007-08-07
Apparently, a main character in the Deep Space Nine saga is killed in this installment. It has so many interesting ramifications. Not only was a main character killed, another critical revelation was made which was just as shocking as the killing of a main character. For a while, I was getting a little bored with how this entire series was going, but after reading this I have renewed interest and am eager to start the next book in the series.
Surprisingly Good.......2006-04-23
For some reason, I didn't expect these two stories to be as entertaining and engaging as the pervious stories. Yet, both did manage to bring a new light to the characters and worlds that have been touched on in DS9.
For the Ferenginar story, I actually enjoyed this a great deal. Perhaps what made it so good is that some outsiders involved provided a rather interesting look into the Ferengi culture. Having Ro Laren be a major character in this story was a great idea. Yeah, we got a look into her relationship with Quark, but it just seemed to flesh out the story more. Leeta also provided a rather unique perspective on things. The story in general, centering around Grand Nagus Rom having troubles and having to face down some enemies was interesting. Zek's role in the story also made for an amusing read.
Now, the Odo "Dominion" story. Yeah, it was okay. I felt as if it dragged on in parts and found myself rather uninterested in the story until the end when the action picked up. There were some ideas and questions posed that did manage to pique my interest and the conclusion of the story does leave the reader with the impression that there are big changes in store for the Dominion and Odo. Still, I don't think it was the best story and it seemed to lack something, but it was still decent.
I'd definately suggest you pick this up. It completes the "Worlds of DS9" saga which was overall one of the better mini-series that gives the reader an inside look at a lot of the characters involved in the series, both past and present.
very good book.......2005-06-22
the first story talks about the world according to the ferengi. rom is now the grand nagus and has made sweeping changes, from income tax to giving women equal rights(something that was unheard of). most people seem to like the changes but some want to go back to the old ways including his brother quark. so a plot is hatched to shame him by bringing up dirt on his first marriage to nog's mother.
this story is well thought out and is quite funny. it gives the reader an inside look at the society of ferengi and you get to understand them so much more.
the second book is about the dominion. this one is not nearly as good. it has odo remembering his romance with kira and the conflict he will probaly always have with whether to live with his own people or to have a life with the one he loves.
meanwhile a nova near the founders old planet has the great link anxious. is this the return of the progeitor? some think it is and the story leaves a lot up in the air when it finishes.
the only thing i don't like about this series of novels is that kira is least talked about one. i liked her character on deep space nine the most and the writers seem to have little use for her.
Very real conflict........2005-02-26
Both of these stories are two of the best in the series. The first, Ferenginar, takes the culture seriously. The Ferengi have always been a little on the humorous side, but explores the very real family feelings between two brothers who are on the surface different but were raised with the same values.
The Dominion explore the nature of the "gods" of the gamma quadrent and the consquences of their actions and their disregard for the lives of others. Odo must deal with these consequences.
Greed, power, religion. Something's gotta give........2005-02-08
After reading "Olympus Descending," the Dominion story in Worlds of Deep Space Nine: The Dominion & Ferenginar, I felt like I had been kicked in the gut. This feeling was heightened when I realized that there is no new Deep Space Nine book out this year (the only one on the schedule, Hollow Men, takes place during the television series). What a powerful ending to a fascinating series of stories. "Satisfaction is Not Guaranteed," the Ferengi story by Keith R.A. DeCandido, was also fun as well, but "Olympus Descending," by David R. George III was the perfect capper to the whole series. While quibbles can be made about both stories, none of these little nits can overshadow the fact that these were both great stories. The future of Deep Space Nine is well in hand with these people in charge.
DeCandido's "Satisfaction is Not Guaranteed" is a fun story, a calm before the storm right in between Volume 2's Bajoran story and "Olympus Descending." It does almost the exact opposite of what the other stories have done, as Quark is (albeit reluctantly) fighting to keep the changes that have already happened on Ferenginar. Thus, this is a fight for the status quo, rather than a fight to change worlds as has happened in the other four stories of this series. It's all the better for it, too, as there is some great comedy in it. While I think Ferengi stories are able to have depth, I don't think they work if that depth is too out in the open, without a veneer of comedy. The best Ferengi episodes (not many, I admit) always worked on two levels, and "Satisfaction is Not Guaranteed" is the same way. There are some wonderful scenes between Quark and Rom, especially when the possibility of Rom's having signed a horrible marriage contract comes up and Rom admits to some things that he would rather not admit to.
I think the story works for a number of reasons. First, we don't have actors trying to act smarmy and speaking in annoying, sometimes squeaky voices. That puts it a step above most episodes anyway. However, that's not the only plus to this story. DeCandido is able to examine not only Ferengi society, but the internal workings of individual Ferengi as well. Thus, we see Quark's thoughts about what is happening on his home planet. We see the fact that, while he hates what Rom has been doing to his world, the idea of Brunt being in charge is even worse. DeCandido also avoids showing us a completely stereotypical Ferenginar, showcasing all businessmen as horrible people. I think the show sometimes went too far that way, but DeCandido shows us some of the good in Ferengi society as well. Thus, the story is very well-rounded.
Even better, we get to see an outsider's view of the whole thing. The television show went to Ferenginar once, and it was a pretty horrible episode, partially because it consisted entirely of Ferengi. This time, Ro comes along to help out, and we get some wonderful scenes of her adapting to the planet. Her reaction to the ads that can't be shut off that show Brunt grinning in extreme close-up was hilarious. Even her reaction to the near-constant rain and humidity were very amusing. She gives us that perspective that we really need so we don't get lost amidst all of the Ferengi avarice. The fact that the story also deals with the developing relationship between Quark and her is also a plus. In fact, I think Ro is the best part about the book, though the other characterization is equally well-done. This is excellent work, all the way around.
"Olympus Descending," on the other hand, ratchets up the tension and is consumed by a very foreboding atmosphere. Yet that doesn't bring the story down at all, and in fact heightened my interest in it. I loved the entire philosophical discussions between Odo and Laas, especially when Odo begins investigating Laas' question about why the 100 were sent out. I won't reveal what answer Odo finds, but it brings up a lot more discussion of the nature of religion and the difference between faith and fact. The beginning of the story can be a bit slow, and part of me wishes that George had switched to Taran'atar a little bit sooner at the beginning, but overall it's extremely interesting stuff that has far-reaching consequences for the Dominion, and perhaps the rest of the Deep Space Nine mythos as well. The story ends up tying into Ben Sisko's dire warnings in "Fragments & Omens," which is a good thing and will probably lead into the next series of books.
If the Odo story is fascinating, the Taran'atar story is gripping. We have seen this Jem'Hadar struggle with the mission Odo gave him since the relaunch began, and it's not getting any easier. In fact, he's reached a point where he has to make a decision, but he can't do it without help. He and Kira go on a journey that he hopes will help him decide, but it only makes things worse for him. I've grown to like the character throughout all these books, and watching him go through this was almost agonizing, especially because I knew that something bad was going to happen (unfortunately, I also knew *what* was going to happen, as it had been spoiled for me).
Since the Bajor story had also left one of its plots dangling, it wasn't so jarring this time as "Olympus Descending" does the same thing. I think another reason for the difference in my thinking was because while "Fragments & Omens" just coasted to halt with that plot dangling, "Olympus Descending" was a true cliff-hanger. The wait for the next book is now going to be excruciating. In the meantime, the Worlds of Deep Space Nine books will sate your thirst.
David Roy
Book Description
Within every federation and every empire, behind every hero and every villain, there are the worlds that define them. In the aftermath of Unity and in the daring tradition of Spock's World, The Final Reflection, and A Stitch in Time, the civilizations most closely tied to Star Trek: Deep Space Nine can now be experienced as never before...in tales both sweeping and intimate, reflective and prophetic, eerily familiar and utterly alien.
TRILL: They are a people with secrets. For centuries they kept their true nature hidden, even taking disturbing steps to protect the small population of near-immortal symbionts with whom a privileged few Trill are joined, body, mind, and soul. They are a people who hold memory to be sacred, yet deny their own past. Now amid a whirlwind of scandal, accusations, and growing civil unrest, Ezri Dax must penetrate millennia of lies and deceptions, and rediscover what should never have been forgotten, before her civilization rips itself apart.
BAJOR: The honeymoon is over. Following the euphoria of Bajor's marriage to the Federation, the real business of making that union
work has begun. But even on a world where politics and religion are intertwined, conflicting visions of Bajor's role in the interstellar arena divide the planet's leadership. As newly minted Captain Kira Nerys sets the tone for the kind of Starfleet officer she will be, First Minister Asarem makes a bold move to define Bajor's voice in the Federation, while the returned Benjamin Sisko prepares for a future
that only he, as yet, can see.
Customer Reviews:
astropolitics and intrigue.......2007-01-19
The first part of this volume on Trill was average overall but had it's moments where I thought some starting revelation would reveal itself or some amazing discovery would be made. There has been so much written about the "secrets" of the Trills, but the apparent "secret" isn't all that extrodinary. The revelation which was made doesn't do much to change the direction of the series but we do learn a little more about the origin of the parasites.
I liked the second part (Bajor) much better because we learn what's going on with Sisco and his family and get back into the politics of Bajor which has always been interesting. There are two things which happen in this part which sort of changes the direction of the series. Something happens with Jake and a startling discovery is made. The startling discovery has to do with a destroyed village on Bajor and an Orb. Certain facts have led to the conclusion that there is a mole on board Deep Space Nine.
nice story.......2005-06-03
the first story has to do with the planet of trill. there are riots among the people who are not joined with simbionts. they want equal standing and the truth of the history of the past that has been so well hidden. when the rioting is at it's worse, ezra embarks on a dangerous journey to find the truth. what she finds out could either help or destroy trill.
i thought that this story was well thought out and a real pleasure to read.
the second story is about bajor. according to the back of the book, captain kira would play a big role in the story. she was thrown in almost as an afterthought. the story spent too much time jumping to too many unknown people to be really interesting, and they spent too much time on sisko and his everyday life. there is a nice piece on jake though. any kira fans will be sadly disappointed. the small part she has was so predictable they might as well have left it out.
I enjoyed both stories.......2005-04-08
The Trill story is fantastic, although it does not start out that way. It begins with a now typical Trek story: the people of Trill are frightened, and thus angry at their government, which happens to be habitually secretive, and the extremists are turning to violence. The characterisations are good, although they seem a little lacking in depth. The descriptions are very good, although sometimes they get a bit wordy and excessive. Do they need to describe everything, even once-off things that don't impact the story? What the characters do, and their commentary on why, is very clearly written and done well. The authors have a neat trick of switching to minor characters to describe what Bashir or Dax is doing, and why, which also works very well.
I found the story to be good but not particularly exciting or unique, up to the middle where one of the characters informs Dax that she's going where no one has gone before ... on her own home planet. After that, it's incredible. It has everything: a society on the verge of total chaos, desperate combat scenes, heroic medical drama, and moral debates. Most impressive of all was the voyage of discovery made by Dax. I enjoyed this story tremendously.
The Bajor story is a love story, along with catching us up on the lives of everyone not in another Worlds story, and events on Bajor generally. The characterisations are excellent, as they need to be since they are the core of the story. The descriptions are vivid instead of specific; we are told what we need to see rather than everything (in some contrast to the first story). That worked well. The event scenes (only some qualify as `action' scenes) are clear and well written. The story starts off very low key and took some time to get going. However, the plotting of the romance was good, if perhaps with a rushed ending, and worked in well with the other parts of the story. The one major complaint I have is that the epilogue was full of vague `A Big Threat is Coming' ruminations. There is enough of a transition feel to this story that waving the fact in our faces was quite unnecessary. This story did not impress me as much as the first did, but I enjoyed it quite a lot as well.
Another solid chapter in the DS9 saga.......2005-03-23
I had not expected to like the story set on Trill, being that I've developed nothing but distain for Ezri and Julian during the past few books, but I found Julian to be incredibly sympathetic during this tale, and while Ezri was still annoying, the scene were she descended into the depths of the symbiot pools was fascinating. The movement on the Julian/Ezri relationship was, I think, a long time coming, but it still hit me like a shot in the guts. I'm looking forward to see where this storyline goes. This story (and most of the relaunch for that matter) has done a nice job on taking one of the lamest TNG episodes and making something interesting and entertaining out of it.
The Bajor story was probably my favorite so far in the mini-series. The continuation of Jake's story stood out as a high point, though I would have liked to have seen a longer courtship with his new love interest. Again, I find it interesting that these stories are going back to some of the older (and in some cases hokier) episodes and adding depth and meaning to those stories. I also LOVED the references to my story, Ha'mara.
All in all, this book was pretty solid. I can't wait to see where all this is going.
two very different worlds.......2005-02-26
This, like the other worlds of deep space nine books contains two different stories that focus on one of the worlds and the characters from that world that make up the star trek universe. These are two of the better written, and do push the characters and the story line into different paths.
Trill develops the relationship of the trills further, shows a civilation at war with itself and shows the concequences of political secrets.
Bajor really is more a pleasent read that a complete story. It raises a lot of questions, but does not answer them. You need to read additional books to find out. It does have some interesting characterizations, but is a little shallow.
In that, the whole series is becoming like a Saturday Movie series with its clift hanger endings.
These are cheap shots to keep readers. When you buy a book, it should be complete, not just an episode in the series. Having to buy two books to get the complete story is a cheat, and will loose the interest in readers who want complete stories.
Book Description
The tales featured in Strange New Worlds rocket readers across the length and breadth of Federation time and space, from Captain Jonathan Archer's first exploration of the galaxy on board the very first Starship Enterprise through to Captain Picard's tenure on the USS Enterprise 1701-D -- and beyond. Here you can read a fresh and original take on Captain Benjamin Sisko's role on Deep Space Nine, Captain Kathryn Janeway's homeward journey with the crew of the Starship Voyager, Captain Archer's encounters with the Xindi -- and many more ports of call along the way.
Strange New Worlds 9 includes stories from all five Star Trek incarnations:
Star Trek: The Original Series
Star Trek: The Next Generation
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Star Trek: Voyager
and Star Trek: Enterprise.
Customer Reviews:
Continuing saga.......2007-10-03
I have always loved the Star Trek universe. These stories are good, sometimes great, stories that continue Roddenberry's vision.
Another great book of short stories!.......2007-05-09
If you are already a Star Trek fan, you will love this book! If you're not, you probably shouldn't bother. Knowledge of the "Star Trek" universe is definitely a plus when reading this book, or any of the others in the Strange New Worlds series. These books are compilations of short stories written by non-professional writers who have won an annual contest to have their stories published in this book. (Instructions & rules to enter for next year's book are included. It's a requirement that all contestants not have more than 3 published works, including their current submission.) I've read all the books in this series & have enjoyed and can recommend them all. And, since they're all short stories unrelated to each other, you don't have to have read the previous books to read this one, nor have read any other Star Trek fiction. It's a great way to get your "feet wet" in the world of Star Trek fiction. The fact that these are short stories means you can read a whole story or two in a smaller amount of time than you would need to read a whole book.
Better than I expected!.......2006-09-13
For some reason, I find SNW 9 to be much better than last year's anthology. The stories, on the whole, read much better and are beginning to add in small details from certain series like the DS9 relaunch and The Lost Era. Although, I am at a loss to explain this year's tribble motif. Here is a story-by-story review by grouping:
Star Trek: The Original Series
"Gone Native" by John Coffren: A short, humorous follow-up to the episode "By Any Other Name" - if anyone was curious. It's always interesting to see what people come up with for characters that only appear once in a series.
"A Bad Day for Koloth" by David DeLee: Tribble story #1. So, what happens after the tribbles show up on Koloth's ship after "The Trouble With Tribbles"? Well, first of all, they can't go back home because they are carrying "dangerous contaminants," for starters... A fun read that bridges the Koloth in TOS and the one we meet in DS9 later.
"Book of Fulfillment" by Steven Costa: This was one of my favorites in the book. While I don't think it corresponds to any specific episode, it is a fantastic story with a great twist at the end.
"The Smallest Choices" by Jeremy Yoder: I thought this one should have been a prizewinner. It is definitely my favorite in TOS section. It is a great follow-up to "Amok Time" and brings back the original Star Trek ice queen, T'Pring.
Star Trek: The Next Generation
"Staying the Course" by Paul C. Tseng: I'm not quite sure why this didn't end up in the "Speculations" category, but I liked the story a lot. Worf's last line leaves nothing to the imagination as to what will happen next, which satisfies the reader immensely.
"Home Soil" by Jim Johnson: Data on Earth during the Breen attack. This wasn't my favorite; it was a little too reminiscent of the Dominion War anthology story "Eleven Hours Out" which had Picard and Troi on Earth during the Breen attack.
"Terra Tonight" by Scott Pearson: I liked the TNG-era Scotty portrayal, which ran very true to form, right down to Scotty thinking that a xenopaleontologist should consider an engineering career.
"Solace in Bloom" by Jeff D. Jacques: The Breen and Vorta portrayals were dead-on, as was the weaving in of the small story of Picard's old friend and his science project. Easily my favorite of TNG stories.
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
"Shadowed Allies" by Emily P. Bloch: Kira has to confront someone who wants to test her commitment to Odo. A good read, and a believable story, too.
"Living on the Edge of Existence" by Gerri Leen: Or, Curzon Dax crashes the afterlife in the Celestial Temple. A really amusing, yet poignant story that shows what Sisko has been up to since the end of the series (and before he gets back to Bajor, if you've read the relaunch).
The Last Tree on Ferenginar: A Ferengi Fable From the Future" by Mike McDevitt: This was my favorite story in the whole anthology! Why didn't this one win a prize? A future Ferengi tells the story of how Leeta tried to save the last tree while Rom dithered, Zek grumbled, Ishka looked at the bottom line, Quark plotted, and Ro kept Quark in line. It was the only story that had me laughing out loud, right down to the money-meld.
"The Tribbles' Pagh" by Ryan M. Williams: Tribble story #2. It takes place right after "Trials and Tribble-ations," with Kira trying to figure out how to keep Bajor from being overrun with the furry pests. A cute story.
Star Trek: Voyager
"Choices" (second-prize winner) by Susan S. McCrackin: A combination first-contact story with a medical drama. I liked this story, but it was a bit too formulaic to be a prizewinner, in my opinion.
"Unconventional Cures" by Russ Crossley: Tribble story #3. Told from the perspective of The Doctor, very short and though promising, didn't really translate into a gripping story.
"Maturation" by Catherine E. Pike: My favorite Voyager story. Another take on the assimilation of Annika Hansen, and how her identity is systematically torn apart until she becomes Seven of Nine. I thought this one definitely could have been a prizewinner.
Star Trek: Enterprise
"Rounding a Corner Already Turned" by Allison Cain: An ironic twist to the minds-switching-bodies phenomena. Funny, but predictable.
"Mother Nature's Little Reminders" by A. Rhea King: A traumatic experience from Trip's childhood saves the crew. A lot less formulaic than the author's last story in SNW 8, which is a nice change.
"Mestral" (third-prize winner) by Ben Guilfoy: I liked this story, but how many times can the same one be re-told? A clever weaving-in of Mestral into a portion of the "First Contact" story, but it directly contradicts events depicted in "The Sundered."
Speculations
"Remembering the Future" by Randy Tatano: Kirk gets to go back and save Edith Keeler after he dies, thus creating the "correct" timeline. But if you don't like this post-death Kirk story, you may like...
"Rocket Man" by Kenneth E. Carper: In this story, Kirk is resurrected by Gary Seven and his group, and given a second chance to make a difference.
"The Rules of War" by Kevin Lauderdale: An ancestor of Archer's tries to strike a deal with Augments during the Eugenics Wars, with an officer named Green asking, what if the ideas are not all wrong? Hmmm...
"The Immortality Blues" by Marc Carlson: The man we eventually know as Flint tries his best to go along with the flow of Earth's history, taking a few matters into his own hands every now and then. It has nice touches of the Lost Era and other material woven in, which makes it a pleasant read for the hard-core Trekkie.
"Orphans" (grand prize winner) by R.S. Belcher: It has all the right elements - Section 31, the Guardian of Forever, and just the right protagonist from TNG series to make it clear why this one was the grand prize winner.
Here's to next year!
Book Description
Ambassador Sarek meets his future wife. Captain Ransom atones for his sins. T'Pol pursues a composer, after she is captivated by the human's music. Strands of DNA are woven together from four Starfleet captains, creating one man with one mission. An entity fights for its right to live, despite the fact that it is not alive.
From the ordinary to the extraordinary, all of these stories are embraced by the vision of Star Trek®. When Gene Roddenberry created Star Trek, he also tapped a wellspring of human imagination. Viewers were transformed into fans, who embraced the show and turned the definition of "fan" on its ear. However, when what was on the screen was simply not enough, fans started writing their own stories, which they then shared among friends and family.
Ten years ago, Pocket Books offered Star Trek fans a unique opportunity to become a part of the Star Trek mythos. A contest was created in which the best stories submitted by nonprofessional writers would be published. And over the course of a decade, hundreds of pounds of submissions poured in. Many of the writers who submitted to Strange New Worlds went on to become professional writers.
This time there are nineteen writers: Rigel Ailur, David DeLee, M.C. DeMarco, Rick Dickson, Louis E. Doggett, Aimee Ford Foster, Edgar Governo, Robyn Sullivent Gries, Jim Johnson, Gerri Leen, Muri McCage, Brian Seidman, Randy Tatano, Paul C. Tseng, Rob Vagle, Laura Ware, Carolyn Winifred, Jerry M. Wolfe, and Jeremy Yoder.
We welcome them to the book that is by the fans, for the fans.
Customer Reviews:
SNW: 10........2007-09-10
First of all, this review is JUST MY OPINION. Yours will no doubt be different, I am sure.
Another great book of STAR TREK stories written by the fans. My only complaint is, thus far, in all of the TREK stories in this particular series, NOT ONE has featured a live Tasha Yar or has been placed in TNG's Season 01. Not only that, but I think that MAYBE there has been just one story to take place during VGR's first three seasons (before 07 of 09 came onto the show). Surely there must be stories that fit this criteria that have been written by the fans.
Anyway, on to my review(s).
(In order of appearance with a #3, #6, or #9 rating - #9 being the highest)
TOS
"The Smell of Dead Roses": #9. Awesome! Not only is the story engrossing, but the author uses the much-ignored Saavik in very believable ways. This story is so believable and well-written that one has to wonder if the author didn't perhaps use an incident(s) from their own past with their parents and applied it to Perrin's.
"The Doomsday Gambit": #9. Wonderful! Q and Kirk (I always knew that Q interacted with Humanity before Picard)!
"Empty": #3. I hate to say this, but at the point in time that this story was written (unless my calculations are WAY off, though they are not because Season 01 of TOS is their first year of their 5-year mission. Season 02 is their second, etc.) Kirk refers to the ENTERPRISE incident with Janet Lester as being at the end of their 5-year mission. The timeline is wrong. The incident with Janet Lester would have been at the end of their third year of duty, not their fifth. Besides, I really don't think that Kirk would have been as upset with the Lester incident as he seems to be in this story. Concerned, yes, but he would not throw his career away or make rash judgments because of it.
TNG
"Wired": #6. A good story, but wrapped up a little too neatly and quickly.
"A Dish Served Cold": #9. Awesome! The Borg being reduced to assimilating a Pakled!
"The Very Model": #3. Sorry, but Data is dead, no matter how much anyone wants him alive. Besides, the story is wrapped up WAY too conveniently.
DS9
"So a Horse Walks Into a Bar": #6. Nice story and fills in some bits in the VGR episode "Lifeline" too.
"Signal to Noise": #6. An OK story, but a little pointless.
VGR
"The Fate of Captain Ransom: #6. Good story (and the aliens that Ranson made contact with before his death are very interesting).
"A Taste of Spam": #9. GREAT and very funny! I can totally picture Janeway being furious at what is happening and Paris making jokes (the BEST scene is what the Doctor says to Paris when paris walks into sickbay!)! Besides, any of us that use a computer regularly knows what they are going through!
"Adjustments": #6. An OK story, though I have never been a fan of the Wildmans.
"The Day the Borg Came": #6. Good.
ENT
"The Dream": #6. A good companion to the episode "Similitude."
"Universal Chord: #6. A good story, though it rather is odd.
"You Are Not in Space": #6. A good story, but a little predictable in it's ending (Hoshi saving the day).
SPECULATIONS
"Time Line": #6. An OK story, but WAY too similar to the Greg Cox's novels "To Reign in Hell" - though I am curious as to who tried to prevent (from the future) Khan and the other genetically manipulated children from surviving.
"Echoes: #9. Very original! I really liked it. Janeway destroying the Borg at the end of VGR's episode is WAY TOO simple! The Borg are still a menace even two or so centuries after VGR.
"Brigadoon": #6. A good story, but the idea of a planet disappearing and reappearing like Gaemes' is doing is too much like the DS9 episode "Meridian."
"Reborn": #3. I am not sure what the point of this story is. It seems like it is just a story in which to have Picard, Sisko, and Janeway together.
Book Description
Strange New Worlds VIII features never-before published stories spanning the twenty-third and twenty-fourth centuries, from the early days of Captain Archer and his crew, to the time of James T. Kirk and then on to the later generations of Captains Picard, Sisko, and Janeway. These exciting tales explore and examine the past and future of Star Trek from many different perspectives. Includes over fifteen winning short stories from The Original Series, The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager and Enterprise eras selected from thousands of entries for their story-telling quality and fan appeal. A Star Trek anthology by Star Trek fans for Star Trek fans.
Customer Reviews:
From the Mouths of Babes..........2007-07-17
Some say that setting boundaries enhances creativity. I don't know if that's true, but the "Strange New Worlds" franchise of Star Trek fan fiction has got me hooked. While it maybe easy to dismiss as just another sci-fi anthology, it presents fans of the franchise a look at the storytelling depth and passion that can be found in the ST fan galaxy.
My title is misleading, in that it assumes the contributor base to be amateurs. Judging by the bios in the SNWs (3-9) I've read so far, most of them have made a few dollars "practicing" (to steal a phrase from Mr. Smith) their craft.
I enjoyed all of the stories to some degree (after all, I AM an amateur...), some were quite simple, others had about as much complexity (or at least scale) as one could expect from a short story (the prize-winning "Alpha and Omega"), which I envy in that it brought together several characters I had hoped to one day cover in a story of my own.
I'm on the notification list for SNW 10, (I bought SNW 9 from a competitor to Amazon; call it paying an "impulse tax" - the lighter-than-desired wallet didn't dampen my enjoyment much), which I hope will announce a call for stories for SNW 11.
As an aside, this was the first SNW review I wrote. I shelved it to do some research but changed my mind in light of the other reviews I have since written.
Trek fans are coming up in the world!.......2006-03-14
Another year, another collection of Star Trek stories, by fans and for fans. Yes, it's Strange New Worlds VIII, and it follows the same rules as all of the others (including Strange New Worlds VII). It's a collection of stories written by authors who do not have much, if anything, published. Dean Wesley Smith (with help from Elisa J. Kassin and Paula M. Block) choose the stories that will be included from hundreds of submissions, and they usually make some good choices. As always, not all of the stories work, but they all have something to them that shows us why they were chosen. Unlike last year's edition, however, I disagree with one of the prizes.
The grand prize winner is "Alpha & Omega," by Derek Tyler Attico. This is a huge story about the fall of the Federation to the Borg, how Admiral Janeway and Captain Picard have kept fighting, trying desperately to figure out some way to defeat the Borg. An attempted infiltration of the Borg by Picard and Seven (along with Janeway and Worf), goes horribly awry, and only Janeway's forethought and Dr. Crusher's ability save them from being wiped out. We then discover the true reason Q spent so much time with Picard, and how his ultimate mission has failed. Yet when the end comes, it eventually leads to a new beginning. I was really impressed with this story, and its Grand Prize award is well-deserved. Attico gets the characterizations of our heroes perfectly, with just enough changes to reflect the fact that everything they have known and loved has fallen down around them. Picard still shows some compassion to those drones who are assimilated against their will, and Janeway (along with Seven) is the Borg expert. The ending is perfectly fitting, as the cycle of life and the universe begins again.
The second prize winner is "Concurrence," by Geoffrey Thorne, and it is another "Speculations" story. I can't say too much about this one without spoiling both twists, but I will say that it involves a race from what appears to be beyond the galaxy, having retreated their after a time in the Alpha Quadrant, who have been fascinated with Earth for many years (and the reason for it is logical, so don't roll your eyes about another alien culture fascinated with Earth). They detect a weak distress signal from a planet and send a ship to investigate. They discover what appears to be a Vulcan research installation with all of the inhabitants killed. Could it have been the Dominion? And what about the one Vulcan woman they find alive, in apparent stasis? What's her secret? And will the ship and its crew survive once the secret comes out? This story surprised me as it doesn't have any of the "regulars" in it, but it does have a very concrete tie to the Star Trek universe. It's not apparent for a while, though (except the Vulcans, of course), but it's well worth waiting for. Thorne gives us interesting characters and a puzzle to solve. Even when we discover the truth about one side, the revelation of the other just makes the story even better. Thorne's prose is also quite good, making the story interesting and keeping the reader entranced. It's not quite as good as the Grand Prize, but it gets an acceptable Second Prize.
My choice for the Third Prize, however, would be different. There's nothing wrong with "Final Flight" (a story about Picard trying to deal with Data's death in Nemesis and whether the android B4 will ever make a substitute), but there was one story I liked better. Perhaps it's because I'm one of the biggest DS9 fans around, but I loved "Gumbo," by Amy Vincent. It's a wonderful little story (almost intimate) that takes place very shortly after the finale. Vincent tells the story of how to create Gumbo for your friends and how to host a dinner party that gives your grandfather a little bit of peace about what has happened to his son, who is now with the Prophets. Told in an instructional way ("Take the vegetables you've bought - onions, celery, bell peppers, and okra - and start chopping."), it also has other instructions in it ("Watch Worf swallow the tabasco as though it were water, then give you a pitying look you obviously deserve.") as well. Vincent manages to capture all of the characters beautifully through Jake's eyes as he prepares the gumbo dinner party for all of his friends, and most importantly, for his grandfather. I had a tear in my eye at the end, even knowing that Ben Sisko will eventually be back. This story loses a lot in me describing it. It can only be experienced. If you're a fan of this show, then you will love this story.
This year, there were no stories that affected me negatively, and all of them seem worthy of inclusion (though obviously, I don't know what didn't make the cut. Some are very light (though some, like "Once Upon a Tribble," hold a little bit of darkness to them), some are adventurous, and others are just another story told with our favourite characters, but told pretty well. No major characterization errors leaped out at me and I was able to let these great stories wash over me. Strange New Worlds VIII is well worth a look.
David Roy
Very good and very balanced........2005-08-31
In the past I have bitched about SNW not having an equal amount of stories per series. Well, they (basically) do in this volume. They all round each other out nicely. Another good thing is that in the VGR stories, Seven of Nine does not dominate as in previous volumes. The editor(s) of SNW are finally getting it right.
Fan fiction - as reviewed by another fan.......2005-07-16
I love the concept of the Strange New Worlds contest, because it gives such a fresh perspective to Star Trek and legitimacy to all of us aspiring authors who might want to join in this fun someday. So, it is interesting and informative to see what other people wrote about and what the contest judges chose to accept.
Each SNW anothology has 3 winners and the potential for up to 20 honorable mentions. This edition has 22 stories, which they divide into 6 categories, the five TV series and a section they call "Speculations."
Star Trek:
"Shanghaied" by Alan James Garbers: An interesting tale, set during the original 5 year mission, with ties to old alien abduction stories. An original story, this has no ties to other shows or cameos by other characters.
"Assignment: One" by Kevin Lauderdale: This was probably my favorite among the TOS stories. Although it directly contradicts events in Greg Cox's "Eugenics Wars" books, it is a gripping story that draws two characters and where they were on one of the most important days in recent history - and where they should not have been.
"Demon" by Kevin Andrew Hosey: One of the great "what-ifs" in Star Trek - what would really happen if Kirk was faced with a no-win scenario (this takes place right before the end of the original 5 year mission), with one great big twist at the end. A good story, but we all know what our hero will say to the "offer he can't refuse," so why ask?
"Don't Call Me Tiny" by Paul C. Tseng: A peek into Sulu's childhood and a great spin on his funniest line in Star Trek III. I liked this one a lot, and would even recommend it for young teens to read because of the subject matter - how to deal with bullies. I especially liked the characterization of Sulu's parents; they seemed very real to me.
Star Trek: The Next Generation:
"Morning Bells Are Ringing" by Kevin G. Summers: One shy, awkward glance by a little girl in a turbolift becomes an entire story. This was great, and was very deftly written to convey the relationships involved. I liked this one very much.
"Passages of Deceit" by Sarah A. Seaborne: A covert mission goes wrong for Captain Picard (set after the end of the TV series), where Dr. Crusher has to trust someone she really detests to save the captain's life. Nicely written, but not my favorite. It is just too convienent that the ONLY person who can help is the last person Crusher would want to think about.
"Final Flight" by John Takis (Third Prize winner): What was Data really thinking when he sacrificed himself for the Enterprise and Captain Picard? This is a sad, beautiful tale that deals with Picard's grief and what B-4 may or may not represent. Definitely a prize-winner.
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine:
"Trek" by Dan C. Duval: An okay story, but written with the wrong characters, in my opinion. It directly contradicts the story "Infinity" from "The Lives of Dax," which was a better story and made more sense than this does.
"Gumbo" by Amy Vincent: A nice, uncoventionally written story from Jake's perspective, with nice allusions to the DS9 relaunch novels. The one problem that I have with it is that the timeline for this story is nearly impossible to place, since it has to happen after Sisko joins the Prophets in the series finale, but also has to happen after certain events in the "Avatar" duology. But overall, very good.
"Promises Made" by David DeLee: Kira keeps a promise to someone she thought had some sense of honor and duty - well, he does, but not to who she thought. I think I like the explanations provided by Peter David in "Imzadi II: Triangle" better. But the characters are well-written, even if the plot is hard to swallow.
"Always a Price" by Muri McCage: My favorite of the DS9 stories. The dual nature of Kai Winn is always an interesting, complicated character study, and we learn a surprising secret about her that might have softened many hearts towards her - and one person's silence about it. Well-written moments for Kira make this a wonderful tale.
Star Trek: Voyager:
"Transfiguration" by Susan S. McCrackin: Hands down, my favorite Voyager story. Written from the point of view of a child on another ship interacting with Voyager, her own personal tragedy and her childish hopes collide when reality can't match her dreams. This was the most emotional of the stories in the anthology, and should have been a prize-winner, in my opinion.
"This Drone" by M.C. DeMarco: What is going through Seven of Nine's head after her severance from the collective? A depressing tale, if you didn't know how things eventually turned out.
"Once Upon a Tribble" by Annie Reed: Tom Paris tells a bedtime story to preschool-age daughter Miral that subconciously reveals more than he realizes. Annie Reed obviously likes writing about the Paris family (she wrote "Don't Cry" in SNW VII), and she has the touch with the Voyager crew. A good, nicely written story.
"You May Kiss the Bride" by Amy Sisson: Murphy's Law hits the wedding of Tom Paris and B'Elanna Torres. This could be a story about any couple and any wedding, which makes for a classic. A much lighter piece than I was expecting, and definitely lifts the overall heavy tone of the Voyager section of the anthology.
"Coffee with a Friend" by J.B. Stevens: Captain Janeway has her own personal "It's A Wonderful Life" moment. A nice, slightly spooky story (good first-person narrative) set right after Voyager's return to Earth. Not my favorite, but a good story nonetheless.
Star Trek: Enterprise:
"Egg Drop Soup" by Robert Burke Richardson: Best Enterprise story in the book. Dr. Phlox is so well-written, and this is a sweet, but very emotional story about having hope. This nearly ties with "Transfigurations" for most emotional (for me), but not quite. A fantastic story.
"Hero" by Lorraine Anderson: Short, sweet, and sad. A side story about what one particular crewman experiences while Enterprise is in the Expanse.
"Insanity" by A. Rhea King: The old story about the unknown object causing chaos onboard the ship. Well-written, but I didn't find it that engrossing or original, although it reveals one of Captain Archer's greatest fears.
Speculations:
"Alpha and Omega" by Derek Tyler Attico (First Prize winner): The end of the Star Trek universe by the Borg, and the beginning of the universe as caused by the Borg. You'd better know your Star Trek to keep up with this one. Definitely deserving of first prize, in my opinion.
"Concurrence" by Geoffrey Thorne (Second Prize winner): This story had me confused from beginning to end. It made a little more sense by the end, but this was my least favorite story in the whole anthology.
"Dawn" by Paul J. Kaplan: This one deals with multiple "what-ifs" in the Star Trek universe. Good luck trying to keep all the threads straight, but it is a tightly written story and leaves some great hanging questions out there.
Although I personally prefer the last anthology over this one, each one is worth getting because of the fun the authors had writing the stories, and the fun that the readers can have seeing what they wrote. And there is always next year, especially if you have a story...
Book Description
Within every federation and every empire, behind every hero and every villain, there are the worlds that define them. In the aftermath of Unity and in the daring tradition of Spock's World, The Final Reflection, and A Stitch in Time, the civilizations most closely tied to Star Trek: Deep Space Nine can now be experienced as never before...in tales both sweeping and intimate, reflective and prophetic, eerily familiar and utterly alien.
CARDASSIA: The last world ravaged by the Dominion War is also the last on which Miles O'Brien ever imagined building a life. As he joins in the reconstruction of Cardassia's infrastructure, his wife Keiko spearheads the planet's difficult agricultural renewal. But Cardassia's struggle to remake itself -- from the fledgling democracy backed by Elim Garak to the people's rediscovery of their own spiritual past -- is not without opposition, as the outside efforts to help rebuild its civilization come under attack by those who reject any alien influence.
ANDOR: On the eve of a great celebration of their ancient past, the unusual and mysterious Andorians, a species with four sexes, must decide just how much they are willing to sacrifice in order to ensure their survival. Biological necessity clashes with personal ethics; cultural obligation vies with love -- and Ensign Thirishar ch'Thane returns home to the planet he forswore, to face not only the consequences of his choices, but a clandestine plan to alter the very nature of his kind.
Customer Reviews:
Cardassia needs tighter but Andor better.......2006-08-17
These two novelletes are entertaining and give the dedicated ST reader more background on both planets. The Cardassia part however is not as well written and feels loose. The Andor is better.
Brilliant - with a minor flaw!.......2006-04-08
This review is based solely on the Andorian story, as I could find nothing wrong with the Cardassian story.
While for the majority of the second half of this brilliant book it flowed brilliantly, weaving an intriguing story line with fascinating insights in to the Andorian culture and sexuality - the author ruined the mood of the book and what I felt was Shar's most promising aspect in one foul swoop!
While a last minute attempt in the Epilogue has left me feeling a bit better then I was before I read it, I still am upset at the way it turned out.
Call me a hopeless romantic, but I feel that it should have gone another way. For those who have read the book, you will know of what I speak. For those who are looking to buy this book, I highly recommend it. Until the very end it has no flaws, keeping you interested the whole way (hence my 4am lights out last night). However for the romantics out there, or for those who are deeply attached to Prynn or Shar (or both), beware. Read it - but beware!
Josh
Worlds of DS9 part 1.......2005-12-15
The book consists of two mini novels namely, The Lotus Flower (Cardassia) and Paradigm (Andor). I found both stories average to below average.
The Lotus Flower was mostly a story which focuses on the O'brian family and how they are dealing with life on Cardassia. The story also gets into politics on Cardassia as well, but I thought that aspect of the story was rather weak. The author seems to have more of a talent for getting into the characters heads and giving us internal dialogue. I found Keiko O'brian's thoughts and internal dialogue very interesting. Keiko's character on the whole was better than any of the other characters. It seemed as though she was the only character the author really cared all that much about. I think that the statement about the Lotus Flower sprouting beatifully from a dirty pond says a lot. It sounds rather simplistic but is very profound in that it can be applied to so many things.
Paradigm, was mostly a love story (Prynn and Shar) but like The Lotus Flower, it revolved around politics as well. One thing which annoyed me about this story is that it didn't get into the most pressing questions I have about Andorian psysiology. The species has four sexes (two male and two female), yet the story didn't get into the details of how conception takes place.
3 stars for Cardassia, 1 star for Andor.......2005-07-29
Una McCormack's Cardassia story is a solid effort, with a welcome back into the fold (sort of) of the O'Brien clan. The politics of Keiko's project on Cardassia are interesting to watch, and it's always great fun to see Garak and Gul Macet. I liked the writing and found the story engaging and tense. 3 stars
Heather Jarman's Andor story, though, was written with the romantic sensibilities of a 16 year old girl and the political sensibilities of a high school class president. The story is dull and the writing is confused, with ridiculous onomatopoeia, over-the-top writing, and wandering points of view. If not for the continuing DS9 story, I would have skipped this one after about 20 pages. 1 star
A look at Cardassian Politics and Andorian Sexuality.......2005-05-31
I'm rather split on this book. You have two seperate stories, one that truly is a short story and another that I feel could have been it's own novel. If this review was based only on Una McCormack's "The Lotus Flower," I may have given it an average rating. Yet, there's a lot more to this first volume. Not only do you have DS9's staple alien foe, the Cardassians, taking the spotlight, but you also have the mysterious Andorians, only touched on by the Original Series, Enterprise and this relaunch of Deep Space Nine.
First, McCormack's "The Lotus Flower." While Robinson's look at the Cardassians post-DS9 series finale was engaging and in depth, I felt this story was just weak. It didn't get my interest until the ending, then I was left having to review the entire story in order to understand all the outcomes. It took me forever to get through this book simply because of this story. Here, the O'Briens make their move to Cardassia, which is letting in the Federation to help rebuild it after being decimated by the war. The entire plot seems to hinge on if Keiko's new position and project are going to be well received. By the second chapter or so, the outcome is rather predictable. You have a touch of Cardassian religion, which I found interesting since the series never touched on it.
There are a lot of characters involved here as well. I felt as if a review of the Cardassians in the government could have benefited the story some. I contiually paused and asked "who's this?" or looked up the episode reference to see where all of these characters appeared and how they fit into the plot. You'd have to have read Andrew Robinson's "A Stitch in Time" to get a proper introduction to all of these characters and the current political situation on Cardassia. Not only that, but you'd have to have all the information from that novel pretty well memorized in order to make all the connections in this story.
The plot seemed to go quickly in some parts and drag on it others. To me, Keiko's characterization was also a bit off. I mean, I never took her as being a chippy, hyper, continually optimistic person all the time. The last few seasons of Deep Space Nine portrayed her differently, perhaps a little more pessimistic and moodier than she was here. She continually was yelling or having a whine-type feel to her with too many exclamation points that simply made my eyes role. O'Brien seemed to be on mark, but he was reduced to being rather angry or tense. The Cardassians for the most part were the most interesting of the bunch. Garak less so than those Keiko is working with.
The Andorian story, "Paradigm," by Heather Jarman is a different story. It's much more engaging and plays between different emotions and subject matters. While "The Lotus Flower" seems to be more of an allegory for the world situation today where politics and religion can't seem to find a way to meet in the middle with one another, "Paradigm" takes Ensign Shar's story even further. He returns to Andor at the request of his mother. Her career is on the line, Andor's future is also threatened.
It reads like a romance novel at some places. The weakness of the story comes from the inclusion of Prynn Tenemi and how sappy and juvenile she's portrayed. The added bonus of this story is that the new character, Counselor Phillipa Matthis. She's not the usual counselor, not what we've come to expect from such a character. Seeing her interact with Shar, Prynn and the other Andorians is the best part of the story. Also, it's easy to follow all the plot threads. It starts off slow, picks up and keeps your interest throughout.
Even though some of this novel conflicts with Andorians as they were seen in the series Enterprise, it's a great read. I'd pick up the novel just for Jarman's story. Perhaps others will find the Cardassian story more engaging and interesting than I did. Regardless, it's worth your money and attention.
Average customer rating:
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Endai: Divided World
J.A. Johnson
Manufacturer: PublishAmerica
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 Contemporary
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ASIN: 1424155460
Release Date: 2007-02-19 |
Book Description
In a dream of a soon-to-be future of our world, a place where wars have raged and men fight against themselves, a young scientist knows that his vision of peace can be brought about with the use of his newest invention. As he is charismatic and charming, others believe in his dream, so much that he is sabotaged by his closest ally, under the guise of his protection. When he awakens, three centuries have passed, and he finds himself on a foreign planet, a planet dedicated to his philosophies, though perverted and distorted by time. Awakened by one side of this world plunged into civil war, he is charged with leading and bringing back together a world alien to him. Surrounded by allies he cannot trust, forced into living a lie he never envisioned, he must face man's greatest challenge, the search within himself to discover if he can become the leader even he is unsure he can be.
Book Description
Windows On A Lost World
While Captain Kirk and a landing party from the Starship Enterprise™ explore the ruins of an ancient civilization on the uninhabited planet Careta IV, they discover strange devices that appear to be windows.But the mysterious windows prove to be more than they seem when Kirk, Chekov, and two security guards enter them and disappear.
Suddenly, Kirk and his team find themselves find themselves trapped in a strange alien enviorment and must fight with all their strength to survive and keep their sanity. Now Spock must locate his missing comrades and solve the window's ancient mysteries before his captain and crewmates are lost forever....
Download Description
While Kirk, Spock, Chekov and an archaeological team are exploring the ruins of an ancient civilization on the uninhabited planet Careta IV, they discover strange devices that appear to be simple windows. But the windows prove dangerous when Kirk and Chekov enter them, and disappear. Now, while the two struggle to survive, Spock struggles to unravel the mystery--while fighting off aliens.
Customer Reviews:
Crab Sledding and Overreacting.......2006-12-13
The novel starts out well, the Enterprise finds a major artifact on a distant world and investigates. Then they go through the window and turn into crabs.
Now, that in itself isn't a story killer. However, these crabs culture is explained over and over for the next hundred or so pages, with some salvation in short chapters where Spock can't understand the totally alien technology.
It gets boring very fast. I wanted to yell to the author, "enough! I get it...they are xenophobic and have color/movement based language!"
Speaking of boring, the story is very non-dramatic. Spock tries to decipher the technology while Kirk/crab slides down hills on his back chasing a female crab.
I would have given this story 2 stars because it was boring but not bad...until the end. The post story briefing is, to put it mildly, stupid. Without giving it away for those determined to read this, the ending is somewhat like if, having seen a horror movie and deciding that it was so bad you will never watch a movie again. There is a massive overreaction to the events in the story and to the artifacts. It also felt like the author was tired of his/her own story and decided to just be done with it.
There are tons better Trek novels, don't waste your time on this one.
Not Worth Reading.......2005-03-02
Star Trek novels are certainly not works of creative genius or high literary quality, but they are generally fun to read. "Windows on a Lost World," however, was not. Many of the beloved Star Trek characters, Dr. McCoy and Chekov in particular, behave in ways that run counter to their carefully developed personalities. The plot device of having main characters turn into crabs wears thin quickly. There are some fairly major holes in the plot as well.
My wife and I have read many Star Trek novels over the years, and we both agreed that "Windows on a Lost World" is by far the worst.
Fascinating story, extremely well told........2004-09-04
There are flaws; how the alien race can have a "name" for themselves that translates into a verbal sound (Kh!lict) when their language has no sounds, but is one of color and movement, is a question I find unanswerable. Still, there are relatively few such flaws in an otherwise exquisite story. Good pacing, good characterization, fascinating plot hook. One of the best. But in spite of the cover, don't expect Chekov to play a major role, he really doesn't. This is a classic Kirk/Spock story.
A Trek book with a unique perspective........2004-01-04
This is the story of an archaeological mission that goes spectacularly and uniquely wrong. The crew discover a transporter-like device that converts Kirk, Chekov and several others into the long-dead aliens that originally inhabited the planet. Kirk has to figure out how to contact Spock from inside an alien body while Spock must decipher the alien technology and change the converted crew back before they go insane. The scenes with Kirk in the alien body are very well written and the slow unravelling of the alien society is well paced and depicted. The archaeological investigations of Spock are also written, although others may find them to be lacking in events and with too much time on descriptions. Stories in which the crew actually spend their time in scientific exploration are fairly rare, and this is a very good and detailed one.
Made Me A Bit Crabby.......2002-08-15
Windows on a Lost World is one of the more technical Star Trek novels. My background lies more with the humanities, so I felt the story dragged a bit, but even though I wasn't particularly interested in the anthropology, geology, and oceanography related issues that were dealt with, I recognized that it was well thought out and written.
A Trekker who is interested in such subjects will this a worthwhile read.
Average customer rating:
- spock's world
- Obviously written by a female
- Overtaken by canon, but still a good read
- The history of Vulcan
- Worst Star Trek Novel?
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Spock's World (Star Trek: The Original Series)
Diane Duane
Manufacturer: Star Trek
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
Duane, Diane
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STAR TREK PRIME DIRECTIVE (Star Trek)
ASIN: 0671667734 |
Book Description
It is the twenty-third century. On the planet Vulcan, a crisis of unprecedented proportion has caused the convocation of the planet's ruling council -- and summoned the U.S.S. Enterprise™ from halfway across the galaxy, to bring Vulcan's most famous son home in its hour of need.
As Commander Spock, his father Sarek, and Captain James T. Kirk struggle to preserve Vulcan's future, the planet's innermost secrets are laid before us, from its beginnings millions of years ago to its savage prehistory, from merciless tribal warfare to medieval court intrigue, from the exploration of space to the the development of o'thia -- the ruling ethic of logic. And Spock -- torn between his duty to Starfleet and the unbreakable ties that bind him to Vulcan -- must find a way to reconcile both his own inner conflict and the external dilemma his planet faces...lest the Federation itself be ripped asunder.
Diane Duane, author of three previous bestselling STAR TREK novels and an episode of the new STAR TREK NEXT GENERATION® television series, as well as countless other bestselling science fiction and fantasy novels, has crafted a tale of unprecedented scope and imagination, at once a generations-spanning historical novel and a thrilling science fiction adventure.
Customer Reviews:
spock's world.......2006-08-10
this could have been a very interesting book. the concept is intriguing - a general 'star trek' adventure interspersed with a history of vulcan, stretching back to the people's and even the planet's prehistory. yet, it wasn't.
the 'vulcan' interludes are somewhat enjoyable. the 'enterprise' chapters should be, but aren't. a ridiculous crisis somehow engulfes the entire population of vulcan, causing them to consider seceding from the federation. kirk, spock and mccoy of course manage to avert this catastrophic event. the character k's't'lk wants to be more than she is, but is reduced to biting a debate opponent in rebuttal. the enterprise computer, moira, helps save the day. all this alongside a scheme that wouldn't work on the students of a primary school, let alone the inhabitants of the intellectual crown of the 'star trek' universe.
Obviously written by a female.......2005-07-18
When I first started reading "Spock's World," I didn't pay attentnion to the author. But soon into the reading, I came across a sentence that described Jim's thoughts about a certain "handsome" man. I thought it odd for the author to consider Kirk's thoughts concerning the beauty of another man, so I flipped to the cover and discovered that the author was a woman. There's not much to that in itself but (Diane) Duane continually effeminates "Spock's World."
The best example is the Vulcan psyche, which Duane sentimentalizes. Another example of Duane's unorthodox and overall poor grasp of the "Star Trek" tradition is the silly nature imbued within Kirk, Spock, and McCoy. In the story, McCoy, Spock, and Kirk present themselves to a secretary so they may be admited into an assembly hall to speak against "Sessionism." Here, McCoy asks the secretary if a bowl of popcorn may be brought to his seat at the assembly. Kirk follows this joke with one of his own. I did laugh, however, I found the time inappropriate for cheap comedy. Of more reason, Duane continually forces Kirk, McCoy, and Spock, yes, even Spock, to give air to a funny side not yet shown in the "Star Trek" series until now, thankfully so - mostly because Duane's humor was cliche.
These characters of Duane's are her own creation. They are not the "Star Trek" charcters familiar to most readers. The Vulcans are emotional and dramatic, which is the story's main downfall.
Overtaken by canon, but still a good read.......2005-03-09
The people of Vulcan have known the people of Earth for more than a century. The United Federation of Planets, of which both worlds are founding members, has a 75-year history behind it. Apparently the relationships forged between Vulcans and Humans are prospering, with one man - Spock, the first Vulcan/Human hybrid - standing between them as a living symbol. Yet now there's a movement among Vulcans to pull out of the Federation, and it has enough support to force first a planet-wide debate and then a vote. Sarek, Spock's father and Vulcan's long-time ambassador to Earth, goes home to testify...for secession?
This makes no apparent sense, because secession will require Sarek to choose between his Human wife, Amanda, and every other tie he has except the shared one with their son. No non-Vulcan will be allowed on the planet afterward, not even as a visitor; and any Vulcan who insists on continuing to associate with members of other species must do so by going into irrevocable exile. Yet Sarek finds it his duty to testify in favor of secession. Just as James T. Kirk, Dr. Leonard McCoy, and Spock will testify against it. What's going on here?
While a great many of this book's details have been contradicted by canon (filmed Star Trek) since its publication, that needn't stand in the way of a reader's enjoyment. Author Duane has an excellent grasp of the "big three" TOS characters, and her version of Vulcan's history stands well on its own. My only criticism is that I can't imagine how she justifies portraying Sarek, and other Vulcans of his era, in the - well - flagrantly emotional way she writes them. Sarek laughing for an hour over one of Amanda's jokes? That did NOT work for me. At all. I had the feeling that I was reading something by a fan fiction author who didn't like canon and was working hard to fix what she didn't like about it to her own satisfaction.
But that by no means spoils the book. A great read otherwise!
The history of Vulcan.......2004-11-20
SPOCKS WORLD, logically enough, focuses on Vulcan and its citizens. The story shifts through various turning points in Vulcan's history, ranging the 'present day' crisis concerning Vulcan's proposed withdrawal from the Federation to the earliest days of Vulcan prehistory.
The Enterprise crew is called to Vulcan to testify in favor of Vulcan remaining a part of the Federation. Many 'old friends' from both the TV series and previous books are included in this book. Among the more well known are T'Pau and T'Pring as well as Spock's parents, Amanda and Sarek. The real star of this novel is Vulcan itself. We are given much background into the workings of the planet and its society, background that is well thought out, consistent with the original series and immentiently logical.
This is one of my all time favorite Trek novels of any series (of the 100+ I've read so far) and definitely a must for any Trek fan. This one could also be enjoyed by someone with only a passing acquaintence with TOS but would probably not be of much interest to anyone completely unfamiliar with the original series.
Worst Star Trek Novel?.......2004-08-23
I'm a very junior-level Star Trek fan. I've always enjoyed the movies and television series, but I longed for a deeper understanding of the characters and the plots, and I thought that's what the book series would get me. I've read about a dozen so far.
As Spock is my favorite character, I was excited to read this title.
Diane Duane appears to be one of the most prolific formula fiction writers of our time, contributing several novels eachto a few different series before starting one of her own. Quality was apparently overwhelmed by quantity early in her career, as this book leaves the reader with absolute tripe!
I've just forced myself to finish it, and I think I might be demanding my money back. The story is almost incoherent, lost in rambling tangents that add little or nothing to the story. The hardcore fan might find them incredible sources of trivia and background, but a casual fan like me will find them boring and distracting. Worst of all, unrewarding, as dozens of pages of story end without any link to the main story, consequence to its story line or characters, or without any internal resolution, either!
Stripping away these digressions would leave the reader with a book about a third as long, and many times more readable. But it would also help the reader realize that the underlying story (about Vulcan's plan to secede from The Federation) is held together weakly, with holes as big as the great outdoors. The plot twits are poorly planned, weakly executed, and randomizing even against the disarray of the book's twitchy timeline.
Read it if you want to win a trivia contest at a convention. Otherwise, save your free time for a more worthy pursuit.
Product Description
Star Trek Voyages of the Enterprise. Nostalgia World Comic Section number 1. 1979-1980. Magazine format with newspaper print pages. This is a collection of comic strips from the LA Times newspaper circa 1979/1980 that were put together in this book format. Scarce. It is estimated that less than 1,000 of these were ever produced.
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