TOS: Cast No Shadow by James Swallow Review Thread (Spoilers!)

Thrawn · July 22 2011, 05:40 PM

I'm reading that it's out in some stores, so here you go

Mark spoilers for at least the first month or so.

Emh · July 23 2011, 08:16 AM

Damn, this is out already? I guess I should go to Amazon and order it.

Reanok · July 23 2011, 08:07 PM

I ordered my copy I liked James Swallows ds9 books I'm really looking forward to reading this book.

bok2384 · July 23 2011, 09:09 PM

Just a quick question to anyone who might know. Rumor has it that T'Prynn will feature in this novel and, if she does, does Cast No Shadow contain any spoilers pertaining to Star Trek: Vanguard after Open Secrets?

Apologies if its a dumb question.

kc5hwb · July 24 2011, 05:45 AM

Ordered it today and will have it on the 27th.

James Swallow · July 24 2011, 09:46 PM

bok2384 wrote:

Just a quick question to anyone who might know. Rumor has it that T'Prynn will feature in this novel and, if she does, does Cast No Shadow contain any spoilers pertaining to Star Trek: Vanguard after Open Secrets?

Where did you hear that?

I can categorically state that T'Prynn does not appear in any way in Cast No Shadow, nor does the book have any connection to the Vanguard series...

bok2384 · July 24 2011, 10:09 PM

James Swallow wrote:

bok2384 wrote:

Just a quick question to anyone who might know. Rumor has it that T'Prynn will feature in this novel and, if she does, does Cast No Shadow contain any spoilers pertaining to Star Trek: Vanguard after Open Secrets?

Where did you hear that?

I can categorically state that T'Prynn does not appear in any way in Cast No Shadow, nor does the book have any connection to the Vanguard series...

Thanks for getting back to me and I'm glad that I'll be able to enjoy this novel when it is released.

As for the rumor, I'm not too sure. It's plausible that I heard that Elias Vaughn was going to feature and knowing that he was a colleague/acquaintance of T'Prynn, I made the connection in my own mind. My apologies.

ToddCam · July 24 2011, 11:16 PM

Just finished it. Pretty good!

Question for James Swallow:

Mage · July 25 2011, 12:40 PM

ToddCam wrote:

Just finished it. Pretty good!

Question for James Swallow:

Todd, without spoiling, does this novel deal a lot with the political situation in this period, since it's only a few years after the Praxis incident and the Khitomer Accords?

FatherRob · July 25 2011, 02:13 PM

Got my copy on Friday. Only 122 pages in so far, but it's been a rockin' 122 pages!

Rob+

ToddCam · July 25 2011, 04:44 PM

Mage wrote:

Todd, without spoiling, does this novel deal a lot with the political situation in this period, since it's only a few years after the Praxis incident and the Khitomer Accords?

It does deal with the political situation. Without spoiling it's difficult to say how much.

JD · July 25 2011, 05:19 PM

FatherRob wrote:

Well, now I have another reason to look forward to reading this book, not that I'm saying that's a bad thing.

FatherRob · July 25 2011, 08:54 PM

So far, this reminds me of one of those books I'd normally read in a sitting or two, but the timing is lousy at this point to accomplish that. Right now I am limited to reading on my lunchbreak and for about an hour at home (our 21 month old's bedtime is getting later and later as she ages). However, it's really filling my taste for a good Lost Era type voyage to this point!

Turtletrekker · July 26 2011, 12:18 AM

bok2384 wrote:

James Swallow wrote:

bok2384 wrote:

Just a quick question to anyone who might know. Rumor has it that T'Prynn will feature in this novel and, if she does, does Cast No Shadow contain any spoilers pertaining to Star Trek: Vanguard after Open Secrets?

Where did you hear that?

I can categorically state that T'Prynn does not appear in any way in Cast No Shadow, nor does the book have any connection to the Vanguard series...

Thanks for getting back to me and I'm glad that I'll be able to enjoy this novel when it is released.

As for the rumor, I'm not too sure. It's plausible that I heard that Elias Vaughn was going to feature and knowing that he was a colleague/acquaintance of T'Prynn, I made the connection in my own mind. My apologies.

According to the dates established in Mission Gamma: Lesser Evil, Vaughn and T'Prynn didn't work together until 2319.

Jedi_Master · July 27 2011, 04:15 AM

Finished the book last night.

Great stuff.

Four out of five light-sabers.

The book primarily deals with a plot to derail the peace between the Klingon Empire and the Federation following the signing of the Khitomer Accords.

The book features Valeris, the disgraced Lieutenant from Star Trek VI, a much younger Elias Vaughn, and several other new characters.

The pacing is rapid and concise, with several "flashbacks" that reveal a great deal about the motivations and thoughts of Valeris herself.

The book is an easy read, and a great one - off adventure. Swallow does a good job answering some of the unanswered questions in Star Trek VI.

The terrorist plot was refreshingly free of overly political references to the current "War on Terror".

All in all a good read, and nice addition to the Star Trek Literature library.

View Poll Results: Rate Cast No Shadow.
Outstanding	19	33.93%
Above Average	29	51.79%
Average	7	12.50%
Below Average	0	0%
Poor	1	1.79%
Voters: 56. You may not vote on this poll

July 22 2011, 05:40 PM	#1
Thrawn Commodore Location: Washington, DC	TOS: Cast No Shadow by James Swallow Review Thread (Spoilers!) I'm reading that it's out in some stores, so here you go Mark spoilers for at least the first month or so. Last edited by LightningStorm; March 19 2012 at 09:34 PM.

July 23 2011, 08:16 AM	#2
Emh The Doctor Location: Japan	Re: Star Trek: Cast No Shadow Review Thread Damn, this is out already? I guess I should go to Amazon and order it. __________________ "Eccleston was a tiger and Tennant was, well, Tigger. Smith [is] an uncoordinated housecat who pretends that he meant to do that after falling off a piece of furniture." - Lynne M. Thomas "I'm in Hell and it's full of Avons!" - Vila

July 23 2011, 08:07 PM	#3
Reanok Commodore	Re: Star Trek: Cast No Shadow Review Thread I ordered my copy I liked James Swallows ds9 books I'm really looking forward to reading this book.

July 23 2011, 09:09 PM	#4
bok2384 Commander Location: Warwickshire, UK	Re: Star Trek: Cast No Shadow Review Thread Just a quick question to anyone who might know. Rumor has it that T'Prynn will feature in this novel and, if she does, does Cast No Shadow contain any spoilers pertaining to Star Trek: Vanguard after Open Secrets? Apologies if its a dumb question. __________________ Currently reading: Ishmael by Barbara Hambly Next up: Typhon Pact: The Rough Beasts of Empire by David R. George III

STAR TREK

CSI

ABOUT US

July 24 2011, 05:45 AM	#5
kc5hwb Lieutenant	Re: Star Trek: Cast No Shadow Review Thread Ordered it today and will have it on the 27th. __________________ Reading Rookie - My Book Reviews

July 24 2011, 11:16 PM	#8
ToddCam Captain Location: Philadelphia, PA, USA	Re: Star Trek: Cast No Shadow Review Thread Just finished it. Pretty good! Question for James Swallow: What do you think the current (2380s) situation is for Krios? In "The Mind's Eye" it seems to be still struggling for independence, but in "The Perfect Mate" they seem to have some independence, at least so far as to have external relations independent of direct Klingon control (in this case, relating to Valt). At least in modern times, it seems external relations are the last things colonial powers give up to the locals. I believe in KRAD's annotations for Articles of the Federation, he was considering there to be two separate planets called Krios. As it was never outright stated in that book, it doesn't technically conflict. Based on all of these things, I would guess Krios gained its independence sometime between 2366-2368? Maybe during the tumult of the Civil War? Last edited by ToddCam; July 25 2011 at 04:45 PM.

July 25 2011, 02:13 PM	#10
FatherRob Rear Admiral Location: Citizen of the Kingdom of God (Living in Bargersville, IN)	Re: Star Trek: Cast No Shadow Review Thread Got my copy on Friday. Only 122 pages in so far, but it's been a rockin' 122 pages! Definately loving the Sulu/Excelsior mission so far. Glad to see another Excelsior adventure, even if the book isn't totally tied to it. Also interesting to note the reference to the Enterprise-A's destruction in the Shatnerverse novels. Not saying there hasn't been previous mention of it in a 'regular' Trek novel, but I don't immediately recall reading of one. Rob+ __________________ "Purity in doctrine... Compassion in application."

July 25 2011, 08:54 PM	#13
FatherRob Rear Admiral Location: Citizen of the Kingdom of God (Living in Bargersville, IN)	Re: Star Trek: Cast No Shadow Review Thread So far, this reminds me of one of those books I'd normally read in a sitting or two, but the timing is lousy at this point to accomplish that. Right now I am limited to reading on my lunchbreak and for about an hour at home (our 21 month old's bedtime is getting later and later as she ages). However, it's really filling my taste for a good Lost Era type voyage to this point! __________________ "Purity in doctrine... Compassion in application."

July 27 2011, 04:15 AM	#15
Jedi_Master Lieutenant Commander Location: Florida	Re: Star Trek: Cast No Shadow Review Thread Finished the book last night. Great stuff. Four out of five light-sabers. The book primarily deals with a plot to derail the peace between the Klingon Empire and the Federation following the signing of the Khitomer Accords. The book features Valeris, the disgraced Lieutenant from Star Trek VI, a much younger Elias Vaughn, and several other new characters. Although Spock is featured on the cover, he does not play a large role in the book. The pacing is rapid and concise, with several "flashbacks" that reveal a great deal about the motivations and thoughts of Valeris herself. The book is an easy read, and a great one - off adventure. Swallow does a good job answering some of the unanswered questions in Star Trek VI. One such question - what happened to Ambassador Nanclus, Colonel West, and Admiral Cartwright after they were discovered? Why was Valeris moved to join the conspiracy, and to kill in cold blood? What was the motivation, and after effects of Spock's forcible mind meld? That section alone is worth reading. The terrorist plot was refreshingly free of overly political references to the current "War on Terror". All in all a good read, and nice addition to the Star Trek Literature library.