TOS: Devil's Bargain by Tony Daniel Review Thread (Spoilers!) - Page 3

Frontier · March 4 2013, 08:43 AM

I have to say, I really enjoyed reading this one. In a different way than I enjoy reading most of the novels.

This book really felt like an episode of the show. It was a fun adventure, you know? It was different, and I liked it.

I think... I guess it felt like an olden days novel, you know? It felt a bit like a "put the toys back in the toy box just as they where" story, like all of the novels used to have to be while Trek was on the air? I guess it was nostalgic in a way.

Mind you, I don't want the novels to go back to those days. They're passed now. But dipping your toe back into the pond again is fun now and again.

Kertrats47 · March 5 2013, 08:25 PM

Just published my review. There's a lot to like in this one. I hope we get to see more from Tony Daniel in the future!

Reanok · March 5 2013, 10:15 PM

Kertrats47 I just read your review for Devil's bargain.After reading your review for this novel it makes me look forward to reading this book ASAP, .And i want to find out how this Tos story unfolds with the Horta.Your review was well written and made me intrigued about this novel's storyline Kirk's crew dealing with a crisis you emtione din your review.I'm glad Spock has an important role in this book.This book sounds like a winner.

Kertrats47 · March 5 2013, 10:22 PM

^^ Thanks for reading, glad you enjoyed it! And I definitely think you'll enjoy the book.

zarkon · March 8 2013, 10:10 PM

Enjoyed this. Felt much more like TOS then Allegiance in Exile.

Only cons were that kirk/hannah wasn't great, and every situation resolved a bit too easily.

Favourite bit was that it had the best reason for kirk being willing to get kicked upstairs that I've seen

Ktrek · March 9 2013, 09:51 PM

Ugh! I can't believe I read this one to the end. It was so poorly written it has me even thinking about no longer collecting Star Trek fiction. Some of the prose was just gosh awful as it reads on about a 5th grade reading level. I think the worst episode in season three of TOS would be more tolerable than this shlock. I don't even know if it's possible to recover after this. I think I have to go spend some time with some real science fiction in order to think clearly again.

Kevin

kirk55555 · March 12 2013, 12:48 AM

This was a good book. I thought the Horta stuff was better than the stuff on the planet, and the love interest/Kirk stuff was just kind of generic romance stuff, but I liked the book.

JWolf · March 12 2013, 10:52 PM

The story wasn't bad. But some of the phrasing was a bit off and did take me out of the moment. I gave it average as it wasn't something all that wonderful. If it was better written, the same story would have gotten an above average if not for some of the writing.

timothy · March 13 2013, 05:37 PM

I thought it was a good book it only took me a few days to read. Need more kirk and spock

JoeZhang · March 13 2013, 06:11 PM

Spock didn't sound quite right in some situations and I agree some of the language was a bit low level and the twists were easy to spot...but...but...but... for reasons I can't put my finger on I actually enjoyed this.

Ronald Held · March 13 2013, 08:48 PM

It did seem similar to a television episode. Kirk spends time with a beautiful women but the Ship wins out in the end. Scotty works several hard engineering problems out. McCoy cures a "rock"again. Maybe Spock was off due to long term melding with Horta? I tbought it was all right, after another reading I can always reassess it.

Avro Arrow · March 14 2013, 05:54 AM

Sorry, I had to vote "below average" for this one. I didn't enjoy it as much as I was hoping to. I'm not going to write an in-depth review, but I'll mention a few points and nitpicks. (Note: it's a spoiler thread, so possible spoilers!)

- Characterization of the main regular characters seemed off to me, especially Kirk, and the McCoy/Hox standoff. (I know, bluff, but still...)

- For some reason, I didn't find the "colony in peril" storyline that engaging.

- The Kirk/Hannah romance just seemed like a cliché at this point. There were a few eyeroll moments, including Hannah's introduction... you just knew where it was going to end up. It didn't feel natural at all to me.

- I did really enjoy the look into Horta culture. (Um, you know what I mean!) This was probably my favourite part of the book. I actually wouldn't mind seeing the Star Clan again at some point. (Didn't the book say that "Slider Dan" was the name the Janus VI miners gave him, or am I misremembering that? It would be cool if he was actually Naraht... but I have no idea if Tony Daniel has even heard of Naraht.)

- "Walkers"? Really?

- IIRC, Spock mentions that destroying the asteroid is beyond the limits of their technology. Although he had aleady given an example of exactly how they could do it. That small moon you mentioned that was completely destroyed? Yeah, presumably if that much antimatter can completely obliterate a small moon, it can take out the asteroid too. If they had said something about not having enough time to get that much antimatter this far out, then OK... but it didn't even come up.

- Good thing Sulu and Chekov figured things out at the exact same time that Merling was going to carry out his nefarious plan!

- Speaking of Merling, right after they killed him, Sulu declared that the nanotech threat had been neutralized. Are you sure? That gun casing had been cracked for a few minutes at least. You can't actually see the nanobots... maybe you want to run a scan or something before declaring the "all clear"?

- We've seen other stories set after this. We pretty much knew Spock living out the rest of his days on Janus VI was not going to happen.

- Oh, did I mention the "walkers"?

OK, I'll stop griping now. I'm glad others enjoyed this, but it just wasn't my cup of tea. I seem to recall thinking the same thing about Troublesome Minds a while back, which everyone else seemed to love. Maybe the problem is me. Perhaps I've become so enamoured with the serial, interconnected style of the 24th century novels that I can't enjoy an episodic, standalone, "everything back in the box" type of novel anymore?

Reanok · March 14 2013, 05:06 PM

I got my book in the mail yesterday.I haven't had time to start reading this novel yet.

Stoek · March 15 2013, 06:37 AM

This novel felt very derivative. Especially after watching Masterpiece society on TNG last night.

Reanok · March 17 2013, 04:41 PM

I began reading reading this novel last night. The Visbean's bigotry against Spock and Kirk's crew is exactly like the storyline in Howard Weinstein's novel The Better man. In fact there are a lot similarities when it comes to their attitudes of acting superior and ignoring Spock's warnings about the asteroid being destructive and not wanting to leave their planet.

View Poll Results: Rate Devil's Bargain.
Outstanding	7	15.91%
Above Average	14	31.82%
Average	11	25.00%
Below Average	10	22.73%
Poor	2	4.55%
Voters: 44. You may not vote on this poll

March 4 2013, 08:43 AM	#31
Frontier Vice Admiral Location: Fifth Circle of Hell, IE: Pennsylvania	Re: TOS: Devil's Bargain by Tony Daniel Review Thread (Spoilers!) I have to say, I really enjoyed reading this one. In a different way than I enjoy reading most of the novels. This book really felt like an episode of the show. It was a fun adventure, you know? It was different, and I liked it. I think... I guess it felt like an olden days novel, you know? It felt a bit like a "put the toys back in the toy box just as they where" story, like all of the novels used to have to be while Trek was on the air? I guess it was nostalgic in a way. Mind you, I don't want the novels to go back to those days. They're passed now. But dipping your toe back into the pond again is fun now and again. __________________ Me on Tumblr Me on Twitter

March 5 2013, 08:25 PM	#32
Kertrats47 Fleet Captain Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada	Re: TOS: Devil's Bargain by Tony Daniel Review Thread (Spoilers!) Just published my review. There's a lot to like in this one. I hope we get to see more from Tony Daniel in the future! __________________ Trek Lit Reviews (SCE #4: Interphase, Part I by Dayton Ward & Kevin Dilmore - May 16) 2013 Pocket Books Star Trek Releases

March 5 2013, 10:15 PM	#33
Reanok Commodore	Re: TOS: Devil's Bargain by Tony Daniel Review Thread (Spoilers!) Kertrats47 I just read your review for Devil's bargain.After reading your review for this novel it makes me look forward to reading this book ASAP, .And i want to find out how this Tos story unfolds with the Horta.Your review was well written and made me intrigued about this novel's storyline Kirk's crew dealing with a crisis you emtione din your review.I'm glad Spock has an important role in this book.This book sounds like a winner.

March 5 2013, 10:22 PM	#34
Kertrats47 Fleet Captain Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada	Re: TOS: Devil's Bargain by Tony Daniel Review Thread (Spoilers!) ^^ Thanks for reading, glad you enjoyed it! And I definitely think you'll enjoy the book. __________________ Trek Lit Reviews (SCE #4: Interphase, Part I by Dayton Ward & Kevin Dilmore - May 16) 2013 Pocket Books Star Trek Releases

STAR TREK

CSI

ABOUT US

March 8 2013, 10:10 PM	#35
zarkon Captain	Re: TOS: Devil's Bargain by Tony Daniel Review Thread (Spoilers!) Enjoyed this. Felt much more like TOS then Allegiance in Exile. Only cons were that kirk/hannah wasn't great, and every situation resolved a bit too easily. Favourite bit was that it had the best reason for kirk being willing to get kicked upstairs that I've seen __________________ In defeat, malice. In victory, revenge.

March 9 2013, 09:51 PM	#36
Ktrek Captain	Re: TOS: Devil's Bargain by Tony Daniel Review Thread (Spoilers!) Ugh! I can't believe I read this one to the end. It was so poorly written it has me even thinking about no longer collecting Star Trek fiction. Some of the prose was just gosh awful as it reads on about a 5th grade reading level. I think the worst episode in season three of TOS would be more tolerable than this shlock. I don't even know if it's possible to recover after this. I think I have to go spend some time with some real science fiction in order to think clearly again. Kevin __________________ "Oh...Well, Who am I to argue with me?" Dr. Bashir - Visionary - Deep Space Nine

March 12 2013, 12:48 AM	#37
kirk55555 Captain	Re: TOS: Devil's Bargain by Tony Daniel Review Thread (Spoilers!) This was a good book. I thought the Horta stuff was better than the stuff on the planet, and the love interest/Kirk stuff was just kind of generic romance stuff, but I liked the book.

March 12 2013, 10:52 PM	#38
JWolf Commodore Location: Massachusetts, USA	Re: TOS: Devil's Bargain by Tony Daniel Review Thread (Spoilers!) The story wasn't bad. But some of the phrasing was a bit off and did take me out of the moment. I gave it average as it wasn't something all that wonderful. If it was better written, the same story would have gotten an above average if not for some of the writing. __________________ Jon

March 13 2013, 05:37 PM	#39
timothy Rear Admiral Location: born to be a trekie	Re: TOS: Devil's Bargain by Tony Daniel Review Thread (Spoilers!) I thought it was a good book it only took me a few days to read. Need more kirk and spock __________________ I am currently reading star trek the weight of worlds by greg cox currently watching continuum, being human, lost girl, Arrow, supernatural, grimm, Once upon a time, the walking dead, the vampire diaries, revolution, merlin

March 13 2013, 06:11 PM	#40
JoeZhang Rear Admiral	Re: TOS: Devil's Bargain by Tony Daniel Review Thread (Spoilers!) Spock didn't sound quite right in some situations and I agree some of the language was a bit low level and the twists were easy to spot...but...but...but... for reasons I can't put my finger on I actually enjoyed this.

March 13 2013, 08:48 PM	#41
Ronald Held Rear Admiral Location: On the USS Sovereign	Re: TOS: Devil's Bargain by Tony Daniel Review Thread (Spoilers!) It did seem similar to a television episode. Kirk spends time with a beautiful women but the Ship wins out in the end. Scotty works several hard engineering problems out. McCoy cures a "rock"again. Maybe Spock was off due to long term melding with Horta? I tbought it was all right, after another reading I can always reassess it.

March 14 2013, 05:54 AM	#42
Avro Arrow Commander Location: Ontario, Canada	Re: TOS: Devil's Bargain by Tony Daniel Review Thread (Spoilers!) Sorry, I had to vote "below average" for this one. I didn't enjoy it as much as I was hoping to. I'm not going to write an in-depth review, but I'll mention a few points and nitpicks. (Note: it's a spoiler thread, so possible spoilers!) - Characterization of the main regular characters seemed off to me, especially Kirk, and the McCoy/Hox standoff. (I know, bluff, but still...) - For some reason, I didn't find the "colony in peril" storyline that engaging. - The Kirk/Hannah romance just seemed like a cliché at this point. There were a few eyeroll moments, including Hannah's introduction... you just knew where it was going to end up. It didn't feel natural at all to me. - I did really enjoy the look into Horta culture. (Um, you know what I mean!) This was probably my favourite part of the book. I actually wouldn't mind seeing the Star Clan again at some point. (Didn't the book say that "Slider Dan" was the name the Janus VI miners gave him, or am I misremembering that? It would be cool if he was actually Naraht... but I have no idea if Tony Daniel has even heard of Naraht.) - "Walkers"? Really? - IIRC, Spock mentions that destroying the asteroid is beyond the limits of their technology. Although he had aleady given an example of exactly how they could do it. That small moon you mentioned that was completely destroyed? Yeah, presumably if that much antimatter can completely obliterate a small moon, it can take out the asteroid too. If they had said something about not having enough time to get that much antimatter this far out, then OK... but it didn't even come up. - Good thing Sulu and Chekov figured things out at the exact same time that Merling was going to carry out his nefarious plan! - Speaking of Merling, right after they killed him, Sulu declared that the nanotech threat had been neutralized. Are you sure? That gun casing had been cracked for a few minutes at least. You can't actually see the nanobots... maybe you want to run a scan or something before declaring the "all clear"? - We've seen other stories set after this. We pretty much knew Spock living out the rest of his days on Janus VI was not going to happen. - Oh, did I mention the "walkers"? OK, I'll stop griping now. I'm glad others enjoyed this, but it just wasn't my cup of tea. I seem to recall thinking the same thing about Troublesome Minds a while back, which everyone else seemed to love. Maybe the problem is me. Perhaps I've become so enamoured with the serial, interconnected style of the 24th century novels that I can't enjoy an episodic, standalone, "everything back in the box" type of novel anymore?

March 14 2013, 05:06 PM	#43
Reanok Commodore	Re: TOS: Devil's Bargain by Tony Daniel Review Thread (Spoilers!) I got my book in the mail yesterday.I haven't had time to start reading this novel yet.

March 15 2013, 06:37 AM	#44
Stoek Commander Location: Stoek	Re: TOS: Devil's Bargain by Tony Daniel Review Thread (Spoilers!) This novel felt very derivative. Especially after watching Masterpiece society on TNG last night.

March 17 2013, 04:41 PM	#45
Reanok Commodore	Re: TOS: Devil's Bargain by Tony Daniel Review Thread (Spoilers!) I began reading reading this novel last night. The Visbean's bigotry against Spock and Kirk's crew is exactly like the storyline in Howard Weinstein's novel The Better man. In fact there are a lot similarities when it comes to their attitudes of acting superior and ignoring Spock's warnings about the asteroid being destructive and not wanting to leave their planet.