VAN: Storming Heaven by David Mack Review Thread (Spoilers!)

[Min Zife]

Blah. I'm glad its over. I gave the entire series a chance. but no. this is not my cup of tea. Kirk couldn't even redeem it. Nice that its over except for Wards ebook next winter. Bring on the 24th century!

[Ronald Held]

I just got mine and will start it on Saturday.

[David Mack]

Min Zife wrote:

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Blah. I'm glad its over. I gave the entire series a chance. but no. this is not my cup of tea. Kirk couldn't even redeem it. Nice that its over except for Wards ebook next winter. Bring on the 24th century!

Another satisfied customer.

Seriously, sorry it didn't work for you. Perhaps you'll find more to your taste in my upcoming post-Nemesis TNG trilogy, Cold Equations.

[Min Zife]

David Mack wrote:

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Another satisfied customer.

Seriously, sorry it didn't work for you. Perhaps you'll find more to your taste in my upcoming post-Nemesis TNG trilogy, Cold Equations.

Eagerly awaiting it. You've got the tng crew down. I think i just like the "established trek universe" rather than the new characters.

[Mage]

Dammit, ordered it yesterday from bol.com, together with Ex Machina which I still need to read. Turns out Ex Machina is out of stock and will be delivered somewhat later. No problem, except I chose to have them both delivered together.

[bok2384]

Just finished this and all I can say was that it was well worth the wait! What an end to a seven-year saga, even though I've read it all over the last year.

One unimportant question considering everything that happened in this novel...

I may have missed this in the text, but I just did a search on my Kindle. In the early chapters it makes reference to the Akhiel and the Buenos Aires operating in the vicinity of Vanguard.

However, during the battle there was no appearance of the Akhiel, although the Buenos Aires was drafted in to defend Vanguard. I just wondered what happened to the Akhiel?

[David Mack]

bok2384 wrote:

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One unimportant question considering everything that happened in this novel...

I may have missed this in the text, but I just did a search on my Kindle. In the early chapters it makes reference to the Akhiel and the Buenos Aires operating in the vicinity of Vanguard.

However, during the battle there was no appearance of the Akhiel, although the Buenos Aires was drafted in to defend Vanguard. I just wondered what happened to the Akhiel?

Based on the conversation between Nogura and Cooper, it's safe to assume that the Akhiel was more than four days away at the time of the emergency, which is why it didn't join the fight.

[bok2384]

David Mack wrote:

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Based on the conversation between Nogura and Cooper, it's safe to assume that the Akhiel was more than four days away at the time of the emergency, which is why it didn't join the fight.

Of course, I thought that would be the case, but I just wanted to check.

Besides, its cooler to have the Enterprise come to the rescue at the last second than a Loknar-class frigate that no one gives a hoot about.

I just want to say again how much I enjoyed this novel. I certainly run the gamut of emotions while reading. You brought me close to tears on several occassions.

[David Mack]

bok2384 wrote:

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I just want to say again how much I enjoyed this novel. I certainly run the gamut of emotions while reading. You brought me close to tears on several occassions.

Then my work here is done.

[T'Bonz]

Got the book today, and just finished it.

Loved it. Bittersweet like the rest.

I correctly predicted two things that would happen; one bad, one good.

The ending was satisfying and it was precisely how I thought the book would end.

But I must confess, I've never been a Carol Marcus fan and her appearance in the Vanguard series made me dislike her even more.

[CaptainSarine]

A great book, a fitting end to the Vanguard series, which has to be one of the - if not the - best series in Trek lit.

One little thing - Ensign Kirsten Heffron, is that a wink to our very own kes7???! Or just a huge massive coincidence?

[nickyboy]

Great book, great end to the series.

I started this series on a train going to Nottingham to start University and I finished the series on my balcony in Sydney. I have great memories reading this series a great big thank you to everyone involved.

[David Mack]

CaptainSarine wrote:

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One little thing - Ensign Kirsten Heffron, is that a wink to our very own kes7???! Or just a huge massive coincidence?

I wasn't aware of her TrekBBS handle. I met her at Shore Leave last year; we were introduced by Marco Palmieri.

So no, not merely a coincidence.

[Dimesdan]

Mine came in the post yesterday which was a pleasant surprise. Given the warm weather here I was reading it out in the back garden earlier.

[MatthiasRussell]

My review:

I spent the last several months longing for this book and I was not disappointed in the least. Storming Heaven was the epic conclusion that such an epic series deserved. Vanguard hasn’t merely been good Star Trek, it has been good science fiction; beyond even being a work of science fiction, it has been a wonderful story about consequences and redemption that kept me reading for the characters as much as the story itself.

I think what I enjoyed most about this conclusion is that although most characters got what they deserved, some of the wonderfully developed good guys met undeserved tragic ends. I’ve read many books where authors won’t kill off beloved characters out of what I imagine to be emotional attachment or a desire to use them again. However, in Storming Heaven I was grateful for the realism of heroic characters dying while doing heroic things with one in particular dying alongside those he was attempting to save thus making a worthless sacrifice. As saddened as I was by that particular loss, I was struck by the realism of soldiers who sometimes die knowing their nobility was in vain. In fact, I was shocked that more key characters didn’t die.

Another highlight about Storming Heaven was the moral conundrum between Dr Marcus, Ming Xiong and their Vault colleagues. I was struck, not only by how well the issues about enslavement, incarceration without trial, and weapons of mass destruction were executed, but also how relevant these topics are to readers. David Mack made me think about my stance in regards to these issues, especially with Carol Marcus’ statement, “Inside every cynic is a disappointed idealist.”

David Mack’s action sequences didn’t disappoint, as usual. The final Taurus Reach showdown was as long and dynamic as I was hoping for after reading the series.

I am very satisfied with Storming heaven and Vanguard itself. I’m glad I followed David Mack’s recommendation that I read these. As much as I wish I could see more of these beloved characters, I’m thoroughly satisfied with the conclusion to their story.