Spoilers TF: The Poisoned Chalice by James Swallow Review Thread

Discussion in 'Trek Literature' started by Sho, Nov 17, 2013.

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Rate The Poisoned Chalice.

  1. Outstanding

    55 vote(s)
    50.0%
  2. Above Average

    49 vote(s)
    44.5%
  3. Average

    5 vote(s)
    4.5%
  4. Below Average

    1 vote(s)
    0.9%
  5. Poor

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
  1. Titus Andronicus

    Titus Andronicus Fleet Captain Fleet Captain

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    Re: TF: The Poisoned Chalice by James Swallow Review Thread (Spoilers!

    Man you guys are REALLY making me think about taking a cross-town trip to my local B&N just to get my hands on this book.
     
  2. Jakks

    Jakks Lieutenant Commander Red Shirt

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    Re: TF: The Poisoned Chalice by James Swallow Review Thread (Spoilers!

    Pre-Ordered my copy on Amazon two days ago...arrived today! Diving into it as soon as I power down the computer....in...5...4...3...2...
     
  3. DEWLine

    DEWLine Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    Re: TF: The Poisoned Chalice by James Swallow Review Thread (Spoilers!

    And back to ice hockey for a second. Finally re-read it enough to connect the Alpha Cent worlds with the sport, and we might want to take a look at the icethetics.info website, particularly these pages for inspirational purposes.
     
  4. CaptainDonovin

    CaptainDonovin Fleet Captain Fleet Captain

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    Re: TF: The Poisoned Chalice by James Swallow Review Thread (Spoilers!

    About 1/3 into it & love it. Love it that hockey is still alive & well, hoping the Red Wings are having a better year in 2385 then this year is going so far.
     
  5. timothy

    timothy Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    Re: TF: The Poisoned Chalice by James Swallow Review Thread (Spoilers!

    It showed up on my nook yesterday so it will be a while till I get to it :)
     
  6. James Swallow

    James Swallow Writer Captain

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  7. Reanok

    Reanok Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    Re: TF: The Poisoned Chalice by James Swallow Review Thread (Spoilers!

    I've read a few chapters of this book and it's really is a fast paced read lots of political intrigue and people lying and trying to cover up what happened when Nan bacco was killed.There's Lots of suprising twists and turns with what happens to the Titan crewmembers in the early chapters of this book.Especially with Ishan at a memorial for the former president and the Andorians showing up to pay their respects to President Bacco.:techman:Ishan wasn't a happy about it one being upstage by the Andorians.
     
  8. DEWLine

    DEWLine Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    Re: TF: The Poisoned Chalice by James Swallow Review Thread (Spoilers!

    Ishan sent several "messages" to the Andorian delegation despite claiming to send only one. One of them, so it seemed, was this: "You seceded. You gave up the right to mourn Nan Bacco with the rest of us when you did that. The surrender of that right is being enforced."
     
  9. Corran Horn

    Corran Horn Vice Admiral Admiral

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    Re: TF: The Poisoned Chalice by James Swallow Review Thread (Spoilers!

    Just noticed a Bajoran named Darrah Hayn. Related to Darrah Mace? :)
     
  10. JD

    JD Fleet Admiral Admiral

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    Re: TF: The Poisoned Chalice by James Swallow Review Thread (Spoilers!

    How important are Seize the Fire and Fallen Gods to TPC?
     
  11. Nob Akimoto

    Nob Akimoto Captain Captain

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    Re: TF: The Poisoned Chalice by James Swallow Review Thread (Spoilers!

    Not very. Tuvok reflects on Seize the Fire a little, and Fallen Gods is mentioned very briefly.
     
  12. nickyboy

    nickyboy Fleet Captain Fleet Captain

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    Sydney, Australia
    Re: TF: The Poisoned Chalice by James Swallow Review Thread (Spoilers!

    Awesome book, only one more to go
     
  13. James Swallow

    James Swallow Writer Captain

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    Re: TF: The Poisoned Chalice by James Swallow Review Thread (Spoilers!

    Indeed.
     
    Corran Horn likes this.
  14. Reanok

    Reanok Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    Re: TF: The Poisoned Chalice by James Swallow Review Thread (Spoilers!

    This book is a fast paced read the characters storylines go in directions you totally didn't expect.I certainly have been surprised with all the events that are happening to the Titan crewmembers in this book.
     
  15. Mage

    Mage Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

    Joined:
    Jun 17, 2007
    Re: TF: The Poisoned Chalice by James Swallow Review Thread (Spoilers!

    Well, crap. I had to re-order my copy, since my parcel was lost in transit. Now I've got to wait 5-7 more days. :(
     
  16. Markonian

    Markonian Fleet Admiral Moderator

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    Re: TF: The Poisoned Chalice by James Swallow Review Thread (Spoilers!

    I'm still into the thick of the novel but its rating as outstanding is pretty secure. However, I'm reserving my final judgement until finishing it.

    The plot is a fast-paced political thriller and lives from the morality of its characters. Practically every major character has to make a stand and choose between right and rules. The ongoing thread of suspense is only matched by A Ceremony of Losses.

    However, it isn't 'just' the plot that engages me so and increases my heartbeat, its the smoothless integration of Trek lore. It is a STAR TREK novel: Characters use state-of-the-art technology, inspiring technology; long-lost familiar faces return - including Xelatians, Bynars, Suliban, Magna Romanii; the Challenger is referenced and there's a wealth of minutiae that makes the universe familiar through and through. It feels familiar, in a good way. I'm amazed.

    I wonder whether the Lahit doctor attended Starfleet Academy? To learn more about his species would be interesting.
     
  17. DS9forever

    DS9forever Commodore Commodore

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    Re: TF: The Poisoned Chalice by James Swallow Review Thread (Spoilers!

    Grandson?
     
  18. Nob Akimoto

    Nob Akimoto Captain Captain

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    Re: TF: The Poisoned Chalice by James Swallow Review Thread (Spoilers!

    Titan is referred to as having a "dual warp core" in this one. Can you shed a bit of light on what you meant that to represent, James? Is this a reference to the "twin intermix chambers" line from the deleted Wesley Crusher scene in Nemesis?
     
  19. Reanok

    Reanok Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    Re: TF: The Poisoned Chalice by James Swallow Review Thread (Spoilers!

    I finished this novel tonight I voted outstanding. I certainly was very surprised about how certain storyplots were revealed when it came to certain characters Like Tuvok and Nog and Christine Vale were well written.
    I like the fact we find out the Tellerite Velk was one of the main badguys along with Ishan who were in collusion with the Cardassians who also wanted to get rid of Nan Bacco. So Ishan could be the next President and is up to no good when comes to his political ambitions of of getting what he wants and Getting rid of people who want find out the truth about Cardassians of the true way killing Nan Bacco.. And wanting to destroy all evidence that cardassia was behind the killingnot the Tzenkethi .along with a split Fedration council for actions certain Starfleet crewmembers take to defy Ishan's plans and blame the typhon pact for the crimes they commited against the Andorians in the last book about Bashir using the shedai meta genome to save the Andorians from extinction along with the other doctors who helped him find the cure.They are also under arrestand in danger too.
    This is an excellent followup story to the Ceremony of losses. This whole series has had awesome stories in each novel.Bravo James Swallow for this amazing and exciting book!
     
    Last edited: Nov 29, 2013
  20. James Swallow

    James Swallow Writer Captain

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    Re: TF: The Poisoned Chalice by James Swallow Review Thread (Spoilers!

    The Lahit were created by Diane Duane for her TOS novel Doctor's Orders.

    Yup.

    Yes, that is a reference to Wes's line about the "double refracting warp core matrix".