Star Trek Book Reviews - Part Two

Welcome to our archive of Star Trek book reviews. Here you'll find books covering all five incarnations of Star Trek, including novels, behind the scenes books, reference works, comics, graphic novels and more. Because of the number of reviews we have, we have now split this into two sections, with this part covering Deep Space Nine, Voyager, Enterprise, and Star Trek reference books. If it's in print, you'll find it here...

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine - Novels

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine #4 - "The Big Game" by Sandy Schofield

Quark hosts a poker tournament with players from all over the galaxy. However one of the is soon murdered, and Odo discovers that it is the work of L'sthwan, a murderer who likes to gamble.

Odo must find out which one of the poker players is L'sthwan. A task made even more desperate as he has information that could save Deep Space Nine from the violent subspace waves that could destroy it.

Sandy Schofield doesn't exist. It is in fact the pen name for the writing team of Dean Wesley Smith and Kristine Kathryn Rusch. This is their first attempt at a Star Trek novel, and as such it has both its good and bad points.

This certainly is an improvement over the two previous blood soaked tomes in the Deep Space Nine series. The writers manage to capture nearly all of the characters reasonably well. The only ones who do not strike a recognisable chord are Jake Sisko and Nog. They come across as little more than impish kids with no real depth or substance to them.

The plot is relatively interesting. Not for the first time, the "B" plot (in this case the impending destruction of the station) is more gripping than the clichéd "A" plot. From the outset it is obvious that the writers are both fans of the series and of poker. That is both to their benefit and their detriment.

The writers enthusiasm for the show comes across in the characterisation and plot but also leads to some unbelievable plot points. For instance is it likely that Rasmussen (the time traveller from the Next Generation episode "A Matter Of Time") would be free to roam the galaxy a mere one to two years after being arrested for murder and robbery? Is it also likely that a Vulcan would be a poker player, or that the game itself would be so massively popular across the galaxy?

The other main weakness is the detailed description of the poker that runs the entire length of the book. It becomes tediously boring and confusing unless the reader understands poker. It also slows down the action far too much and is only relevant to the plot in a rather superfluous way.

However if you persevere with the book you are rewarded with a story that is not only true to the characters but also to the spirit of Star Trek. Let's hope that the improvement continues with the next novel in the series.

Reviewer: Tim Smith

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine #5 - "Fallen Heroes" by Dafydd Ab Hugh

Quark obtains a rare Cardassian box. Upon opening he accidentally triggers a device that throws himself and Odo forward in time by three days.

Meanwhile a troop of alien soldiers arrive from the Gamma Quadrant and demand to know where their comrade is. However no-one knows of this comrade, and as the soldiers attack DS9 they must desperately search for an answer...

Quiz question - what do Peter David, K.W. Jeter and Dafydd Ab Hugh all have in common? Answer - they have all written extremely violent novels that have little to do with Gene Roddenberry's Star Trek. "Fallen Heroes" follows the same formula of violent adversaries coming to Deep Space Nine that "The Siege" and "Bloodletter" did. Now whilst these books might (or indeed might not) be exciting, or gripping, or whatever word you might want to use, they really have no place in Star Trek. The best Trek was never about large bodycounts and even larger explosions.

The annoying thing about "Fallen Heroes" is that it has a very good premise that is swamped by unnecessary graphic violence and swearing. This is particularly jarring when the main characters seem to swear at every opportunity. No doubt many will like this style of writing, but I don't, and I also find that it deflects the readers attention away from the plot.

What is good about "Fallen Heroes" is the way that Hugh intertwines the investigation of the destroyed station by Odo and Quark with the events that cause the destruction. Indeed, it is the Odo and Quark plot that is a better read.

Unfortunately that is all that is good about "Fallen Heroes". None of the characters bear any resemblance to those depicted on screen. They all seem to have become experts in military tactics and idiots in reasoning. They never figure out why the invaders are attacking, and when questioned by them they lie!

The author also makes many assumptions about the station and many errors. Petty Officers, and various NCOs seem to litter DS9. This is probably because of the Next Generation episode "Family", where they were mentioned, but that was a script fault. Starfleet does not have either NCOs or Petty Officers. Deep Space Nine apparently revolves (surely not?) and the turbolifts in Ops now have sliding doors, where in all the episodes I have viewed I have never seen them! Finally towards the end of the book Odo changes his features into those of a bionic captain. Now, come on! Virtually everyone knows that Odo cannot morph into other people's forms. That is why he looks like he does.

I think Dafydd Ab Hugh really wanted to write a Borg novel since they seem to be mentioned virtually every other page, and the invaders have many of the qualities that the Borg have. There may well be a time that the Borg turn up at Deep Space Nine, but when they do it should be written by someone who has a lot more skill in capturing the true spirit of Star Trek.

Nice idea, badly written both in style and content.

Reviewer: Tim Smith

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine #6 - "Betrayal" by Lois Tilton

Ambassadors from across the Federation have arrived to participate in trade negotiations that are vital to Bajor's future. However, at the same time a terrorist begins an escalating bombing campaign designed to disrupt those very negotiations. Matters are further complicated when a Cardassian warship, led by the fanatical Gul Marak, arrives demanding the return of Deep Space Nine to the Cardassian Empire.

This is Lois Tilton's first Star Trek novel. I must admit that I was not looking forward to it. After reading that it was a book where the characters were "... running around tearing their hair out." I was expecting another 280 pages of blood soaked garbage.

However, I am pleased to say that I was most pleasantly surprised. Tilton has produced a very good book. Although there are several action sequences, gone are the graphic descriptions of injuries and mindless violence of the previous books. Unlike the preceding novels, "The Siege", "Bloodletter" and "Fallen Heroes", the reader can tell that "Betrayal" belongs in the Star Trek universe.

Tilton achieves this firstly by concentrating on plot and character. Secondly she writes each character's dialogue as they would speak it in the television series. This really adds to the atmosphere of the novel, and brings the characters to life. They actually resemble the characters in the show. All of the protagonists benefit but Sisko, Kira, Odo and Nog come off particularly well.

There are faults. The plot is a little predictable, and it is easy to guess who the terrorist is and who is behind it all, but they are fairly minor quibbles and do not detract from a good read.

The story is all about what the title says - betrayal of one kind or another. The best Star Trek novels, like the best Star Trek television episodes, work on more than one level, and "Betrayal" succeeds in this admirably. The first book since "Emissary" that I have really enjoyed reading, and definitely one that I recommend. I look forward to Lois Tilton's next novel.

Reviewer: Tim Smith

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine #7 - "Warchild" by Esther Friesner

A letter left by Kai Opaka speaks of a child who will heal the wounds of Bajor and Sisko sends Lieutenant Dax to one of Bajor's refugee camps in search of her. Whilst Dax searches for the child, Doctor Bashir must try and cure a terrible plague that is ravaging the camps.

This is the first Star Trek book by Esther Friesner and a really good effort it is too. There are several things to recommend about "Warchild". Firstly, it's the first novel since "Emissary" not to involve either a murderous assassin murdering various people in various graphically described ways, or a mad bomber blowing up various parts of the station. It is a refreshing change to read a DS9 book that really concentrates on the character instead of explosions and death.

Secondly it shows Doctor Bashir in a new light. A lot of his character is explained. Not so much in terms of his background but in terms of what drives him. It is really satisfying to not to have to read him as brash and arrogant, but as a doctor driven by a passion to heal.

There are also a few references to past episodes, but instead of the blatant and crude efforts that are all too frequently used in a lot of other Star Trek novels, here they are sparsely used and carefully woven into the conversation and are much more effective for being so.

It's not a perfect book (but then what is?) - there are a few passages in which the narrative tends to drag a little, but they don't account for a significant part of the novel and they are not crucial passages. The portrayal of Major Kira is slightly off centre. She is written as the more brusque and belligerent person that was depicted in the first half of the first season, but by the books admission the story is set between the first and second season. Kira should be much more accepting of Commander Sisko at the end of the first season and even more so during the second. Kira and Sisko do not only respect each other but like each other.

However, on the whole this is an excellent read and can actually be read as a sort of prequel to the opening trilogy of DS9's second season. I sincerely hope that future DS9 writers will take note of Esther Friesner's style and ideas.

Reviewer: Tim Smith

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine - "Warped" by K.W.Jeter

New holosuites installed on DS9 are causing havoc. Commander Sisko and his crew investigate and discover a secret that could destroy the entire universe.

"Warped" is the first Deep Space Nine hard cover to hit the shelves, so you wouldn't be thought foolish for expecting something rather special. Do you get it? In a word, no. Sure the book has an epic feel to it, but that's about all that it has. You can definitely tell that this is a novel by Jeter. Whilst not as violent as his previous Deep Space Nine novel "Bloodletter", "Warped" is still a book that dwells on disturbing subject matters, and certainly has a nasty feel to it.

I know that there are some people who would say "So what?", and I could understand (but not agree with) that opinion. However this is not my only criticism of the book. The characters are only barely recognisable as those in the television show, and as a general rule neither act or think like they should do. Several times in the novel all of them (bar Quark) either decide not to tell anyone an important piece of information, or take a course of action that defies reason or logic.

The plot is the perfect example of style triumphing over content. Just how the main villain is doing what he does is only explained in a very superficial way, and why he is doing it is never explained at all. For the reader to fully accept the plot requires great leaps of logic and suspension of belief. Yeah, okay, I know I'm talking about science fiction, but if the story doesn't have any reason to it, then it is neither believable nor readable.

This is an improvement on "Bloodletter", but then virtually anything would be an improvement on that book. At the end of the day "Warped" is a missed opportunity. It goes nowhere, and you are left wondering why you bothered in the first place.

Reviewer: Tim Smith

Star Trek: Voyager - Novels

Star Trek: Voyager #16 - "Seven Of Nine" by Christie Golden

The crew of Voyager take on board a small band of aliens who claim to be able to help them cross a vast alien empire. However they are not what they seem, and Seven Of Nine begins to hallucinate. At first she sees ravens appear, and then she begins to experience the past lives of races that as a Borg she assimilated. Just where will the hallucinations end, and what is the connection to the group of alines on board the ship?

This is the first Star Trek novel that I have read for sometime. It is written by Christie Golden who also wrote two previous Voyager novels; "The Murdered Sun", and "Marooned". According to the sleeve notes, on the strength of "The Murdered Sun" she now has an open invitation to pitch stories for Voyager. Well these are claims that many readers may infer that Golden is capable of writing something rather special. Would they be wrong in thinking this?

I have not read either of the previous two novels, but on the strength of "Seven Of Nine", I would say that not only is it justified, but that the staff at Paramount should get her on the writing staff immediately. The trouble that I have found with ninety percent of the past Star Trek books is that they bear little, if any, relation to the personas that we know on screen. Too often they come across as science fiction books (whether good or bad), that have merely changed a few names around to fit it into the Star Trek franchise. It is a relatively rare thing to find that not only does the story make a good Star Trek story (which often does not happen when it is something that has been changed to fit into Trek), but that the characters and the words they speak really can be imagined as coming from those we watch on television.

Well in "Seven Of Nine" Golden has captured the feel of the show, and of the characters to perfection. As I read through this book, I really felt that I was reading a novelisation of an episode, or at least something that was written specifically for Star Trek. this made it an incredibly easy read. Indeed, and I know that this is a bit of a cliche, once I picked this up I could not put it down.

The plot certainly focuses on Seven, but all of the crew contribute to the plot, much like a good episode would allow. There is genuine pathos in Seven's predicament as she experiences the fear of the various races she once assimilated, and in one brief moment when she actually becomes Annika Hansen. The various alien races involved are all described very well, and you without doubt get a feeling for them as three dimensional characters rather than plot filler or cardboard cut out players in the story. The resolution is satisfying too, and very much in line with how you would imagine Seven's solution to the problem to be. Unlike some of the recent episodes of Voyager, the rest button is not pressed, and Seven certainly learns from her experiences, retaining the memories that she goes through during the novel, and becoming just that little bit more human.

I absolutely loved this book. It would have made a brilliant episode. If you haven't read many Trek novels before, or like me you use to but gave up on them, then I would whole heartedly recommend you to go out and buy "Seven Of Nine" now. I will certainly look at Golden's previous two Trek novels, and look forward with anticipation to her first television endeavour.

Reviewer: Tim Smith

Enterprise - Novels

Enterprise - "Surak's Soul" by J M Dillard

The Enterprise answers what seems to be a distress call from the planet Oan, only to find that most of the population were dead, and the ones who had survived died within a few moments of the landing party's arrival. Suddenly, the party are attacked, and in an attempt to prevent Hoshi from being injured, T'Pol fires her phase pistol intending to stun the Oani, only to find him collapse to the floor, dead.

Wracked with guilt over her actions, feeling that she had betrayed her Vulcan upbringing by taking the life of another, she vows to never take another life again, even in self defence or in defence of the ship, and immediately refuses to carry any form of weapon.

Meanwhile, Hoshi is trying to translate the Oani medical records to try to find out what killed them, when an unknown creature approaches Enterprise, makes telepathic contact with T'Pol, and claims to know what killed the Oani and offers to help. Despite his reservations, Archer accepts the offer and allows the being, known as "Wanderer" aboard.

Wanderer reveals that the Oani were killed by a strain of radiation that affected the entire planet, and that in all likelihood, the Enterprise crew were at risk as well because of their proximity. And sure enough, one by one, the crew begin to fall seriously ill. However, parts of his story don't seem to make sense and Archer and his crew become increasingly suspcious about Wanderer, and as Hoshi begins to discover the truth about what happened, events take a sinister turn.

This is a gripping story, well written by Jeanne Dillard. I have often felt that the female Trek novelists have been better at staying true to the shows characters and this book is no exception. I felt that a little too much description was given at the start about each of the characters, almost assuming that the reader knew little or nothing about the series, but after the first chapter, things began to settle down.

There was some good insight into T'Pol and her desire to remain true to the ancient teachings of Surak, but I did feel that this element of the story was lost somewhere along the way and the other characters seemed to push T'Pol to the sidelines. The description on the back of the book implies that the book is all about T'Pol, but that makes up just a small part of the book and it doesn't really impact on, or affect the main plot in any way.

I did feel that the novel was too brief at just over 200 pages in length. I read the book from cover to cover in a matter of hours, and although I was enthusiasticly enjoying the book, I found myself asking "Is that it?" when I reached the books conclusion. It came across as being more of the length of an episode rather than a movie which is how most novels would be perceived.

The climax to the story, and the the major plot revelation was easily predictable, and less than a third of the way into the book and I already knew the ending and major plot points that were to be revealed to me later on.

Saying that, it's still an enjoyable read, and it more than manages to help fill the void between episodes or seasons and is ideal for any Enterprise fan who is looking for something more after their weekly fix of the show.

Reviewer: Simon Plumbe

Reference Books

Star Trek: "Where No One Has Gone Before - A History In Pictures" by J.M. Dillard

Additional material by William Shatner, Susan Sackett, Terry J. Erdmann, Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens, and John Ordover. Photo Consultants - Paula Block and Tyra Turner

The first thing you will notice about this £25 book is that it is available in two different versions. The book is actually identical but the dust jacket is different, with a choice of illustration between the Constitution Class (Mark 2) USS Enterprise NCC-1701-A or the Galaxy class NCC-1701-D. Free with the book is a rather nice bookmark featuring the Star Trek VII, whoops, I mean Star Trek: Generations teaser poster.

The introduction is written by ol' James T. Kirk himself, William Shatner, as he was filming his final ever scenes in that role he has earned the most money for (yeah, until he returns in Star Trek in the future!). Then there is a section for each series, the movies and the wilderness years between the cancellation of the original series and the conception of the Motion Picture including a segment on the animated series.

Each section takes the reader through the conception of each series in brief detail as well as the casting of the major characters and their development. The book gives the average Trekker (you know the people who DON'T pull the legs off their hamsters to make tribbles) a lot more insight into what Star Trek could have been like... bright red Spock anyone? Or maybe Deanna Troi, played by Denise Crosby with four breasts while Marina Sirtis played Chief Security Officer Macha Hernandez aboard the Enterprise-D?

It sure makes you think, and more importantly it seems to be very accurate with only one particular mistake sticking out in my mind, that being that the book states, through Denise Crosby's words, that the half Romulan, half Human daughter of Tasha Yar, Commander Sela, was Crosby's idea. Not so. From what I have heard, the idea was suggested TO Crosby by a fan at a convention and she then proposed it to Paramount as her idea.

Within the movies section there is a double page spread on Generations and the final section of the book deals with the initial ideas for Star Trek: Voyager including sketches of the ship, what they think Gene would have thought and all without giving too much away in the cast stakes prior to the launch of the series (just in case one of them quit!).

The book is full of nice touches such as a publicity photo for the DS9 episode "Blood Oath" where three original series Klingons turn up on the old mining station with photo-inserts above showing the characters as they were in the days of Kirk etc.

A great book that is, I feel, a little dear compared with the technical manuals which way in under the £15 mark. At £19.99 this would be a better buy, and at £25 it really isn't that bad value for money. Have a flick through before buying to make sure that your £25 is going on something you want as some may prefer to buy a couple of (the best Star Trek) videos instead.

Reviewer: Sven Harvey

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