VOY: Protectors by Kirsten Beyer Review Thread (Spoilers!)

Discussion in 'Trek Literature' started by Sho, Jan 19, 2014.

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Rate Protectors.

  1. Outstanding

    36 vote(s)
    40.0%
  2. Above Average

    46 vote(s)
    51.1%
  3. Average

    8 vote(s)
    8.9%
  4. Below Average

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
  5. Poor

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
  1. Enterpriserules

    Enterpriserules Commodore Commodore

    I would encourage you to pick The Eternal Tide, personally thought it was brilliant.
     
  2. Nob Akimoto

    Nob Akimoto Captain Captain

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    Finished, early and brief impression.

    This book felt, to me, like a distillation of the things I really disliked about Voyager when it was on air. The writing is good, but a lot of it just felt too much like "Voyager crew vs the universe" with the universe consistently being overly wrong-headed.
     
  3. Enterpriserules

    Enterpriserules Commodore Commodore

    That's really interesting. For me her books have been the thing that actually made me like Voyager. These characters feel real and the situations they face don't seem any more outlandish than the ones the Enterprise, Titan or any other crew has faced.
     
  4. Nob Akimoto

    Nob Akimoto Captain Captain

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    Well, I felt that way about the first couple of books in the series, starting with Full Circle through Children, but The Eternal Tide and Protectors felt like it went the opposite direction. Though I'm admitting here that I guess I wasn't super fond of TET's take on the Q, especially compared to the other Q portrayal ala Q&A.
     
  5. Enterpriserules

    Enterpriserules Commodore Commodore

    ^ That does make sense. Personally TET was my favorite book in the series so far.
     
  6. Kirsten Beyer

    Kirsten Beyer Writer Red Shirt

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    Ah...I see what you're asking now. The first few times I read the question, I assumed you were asking about why they appeared in the book. We already know my math skills suck...now I'm going to have to start worrying about reading comprehension.

    But to answer, this is not a question or hole in the series I've considered trying to fill. In most cases, I just assumed they were an indication of the size of a species' territory or of their propulsion capabilities or knowledge of short-cuts through the DQ. New Talax is a special case, I think, but I also just have to sort of take it as a "given" that they did manage the journey somehow and ended up where they did. Awfully coincidental, I'll grant you, but this is Voyager we're talking about.

    That said, some of what I am developing throughout the next two books might still answer some of this, though I won't be drawing direct lines there...more...you could infer if you wished.


    Nob, while I'm sorry the newer books don't seem to be quite to your tastes, my first thought on reading this statement was that I, personally, often feel exactly this way about the universe, so if you're seeing it in my stories, that could be the reason why.

    Claudia...

    Stormy really did a nice job of summing up my sense of some of the issues you raised, particularly with Janeway. I would only add that the last scene between Janeway and Chakotay was intended to make you feel exactly as you did. She has just gone through some pretty massive soul-searching as a result of some equally massive traumas and is coming out on the other side we believe, more centered and more at peace and more prepared to meet her future with the fleet.

    That said, she is still human. We may learn something that gives us a better perspective and choose to accept it going forward as a better way to operate, but we are still the same person with the same history and habits. A moment of insight does not guarantee that we will forever, moving forward, in every interaction, live up to our new expectations of ourselves. Particularly in a relationship that is as long and deep as the one she shares with Chakotay, old habits are going to be very hard to break. Her immediate response is to fall back on what she knows. I'm in charge. Period. End of Story. But a few moments of reflection make her regret that position to a degree. We see her soften a bit. We see her apologize to Chakotay. We never saw that in Scorpion, which was in the front of my mind as I was writing this scene.

    She's still in charge. But she needs to make room in her thought processes for more than her needs and opinions, and frankly, her old knee-jerk reaction, especially when dealing with someone she believes she trusts as much as she does Chakotay.

    This moment was written to allow her to face that exact challenge. To let her realize that all she has learned can be lost if she just returns to business as usual. Moving forward, she's going to have to find new ways of handling these complicated situations and my hope is to keep her walking that path, while still honoring the fact that as a human being, she can't always be her best self. She has been assuring herself all this time that the foundation of her relationship with Chakotay is strong enough to endure anything. This moment shows her that it's going to take more than that to make the relationship what she wants it to be in the future. It is not just a "given" but will require work on her part. As, I believe, it would for anyone in her position.

    BillJ....

    So glad to have you back. Really. I sincerely hope you find yourself incredibly bored with nothing to do once again in early October.

    Best,
    Kirsten
     
  7. Kirsten Beyer

    Kirsten Beyer Writer Red Shirt

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  8. Deranged Nasat

    Deranged Nasat Vice Admiral Admiral

    Excellent, thank you, Ms. Beyer. A really interesting overview of this latest Voyager arc :)

    A scene written in Tamarian?

    The Jabberwock, slain! Mayweather, on "Enterprise": Zinda, his face black, his eyes red. Homer Simpson, his gun. Sebastian, Antonio's kindness. Pascal, un-deified, wandering.
     
  9. TerraUnam

    TerraUnam Commander Red Shirt

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    Any timeline ideas for a blurb on Acts of Contrition?
     
  10. Shane Houston

    Shane Houston Commander Red Shirt

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    Thanks for a great interview and for taking your time to talk to us here.

    I could write a long, gushing analysis of what I loved about Protectors...but for now all I want to say is this to you Kirsten and only you as a mutual Voyager fan because you'll understand it in that context...

    Thanks for bringing us Voyagers home.
     
  11. Galekarens

    Galekarens Commander Red Shirt

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  12. Shane Houston

    Shane Houston Commander Red Shirt

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    Hmm...a little birdie on Facebook already told me about this on the greatest Facebook group around...Bring Back Kathryn Janeway. Yeah, we're still around. But I love our little birdie I do. She's the Paul Revere of our troupe and shares every new tidbit about Voyager before I do. I wonder what her name was, if I could only remember. :techman:
     
  13. Slyvon

    Slyvon Lieutenant Red Shirt

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    Just finished this novel last night. Really really enjoyed it! I'm reading all the Star Trek books in chronological order but Beyer's Voyager novels I always read immediately.

    My first thought while reading this was "wow the universe feels small." Its not a criticism so much as an observation. Everyone is bopping about the quadrants now without much worry. I can understand it since the Delta quadrant has always been Voyager's home, but the trade off is a loss of appreciation for the vastness of space.

    I'm fascinated by Captain O'Donnell. He's a great original character. I would love to see an e-novel or something focused on him.

    Everyone has nice little moments here. Its good to see Harry Kim grow into his own, especially since the entire plot line comes from his suggestion. I never did buy him as security chief, so it feels more more comfortable that he would be focusing on the science stuff.

    The only character that gets a little shorted is poor B'Elanna Torres. She doesn't seem to have anything to do! Hopefully she'll be given an interesting engineering challenge to solve in future books that'll get her out of their living quarters!

    I've always loved these characters. Voyager was the first Star Trek series I watched from start to finish. I often tell people Kirsten Beyer "got the band back together" when she took over the Voyager novel line. These characters have been well served in her hands.

    -Chris
     
  14. Reanok

    Reanok Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    Great interview Kirsten I really enjoyed reading your novels. I can't wit to read your next book to find out what happens to Seven and Axum storyline continues in your upcoming book.
     
  15. Kertrats47

    Kertrats47 Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    Spotted it on Amazon today! Started a new thread here: http://www.trekbbs.com/showthread.php?p=9355432

    EDIT: Sorry, didn't see Galekarens post before I did so!
     
  16. C. Cole-Chakotay

    C. Cole-Chakotay Commodore Commodore

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    I just pre-ordered it. I'm behind in my Voyager reading, but it will be there when I'm ready.
     
  17. Galekarens

    Galekarens Commander Red Shirt

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    LOL "only" about 6 1/2 months to go now, am looking forward to it!
     
  18. PaulSimpson

    PaulSimpson Writer/Editor Captain

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  19. Enterprise1701

    Enterprise1701 Commodore Commodore

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    Has it ever been specified what became of the ex-Borg formerly led by Hugh? Would the Caeliar have done the same thing to them as they did to Riley Frazier's group?
     
  20. Markonian

    Markonian Fleet Admiral Moderator

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    It hasn't been stated directly. Presumably they made the same experience, i.e. there could still be the Independent Nation of Borg left somewhere.