Ah, that makes sense! I really enjoyed Chekov's role in this novel. His turn as investigator was great for his character. Also, the "Chekhov's Gun" (re: "Chekov's Sneeze") was excellent!
TOS: Foul Deeds Will Rise by Greg Cox Review Thread (Spoilers!)
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Ah, that makes sense! I really enjoyed Chekov's role in this novel. His turn as investigator was great for his character. Also, the "Chekhov's Gun" (re: "Chekov's Sneeze") was excellent!
greg, i'm really glad you took the time to reference these books. it's that extra effort—like consulting mr. scott's guide to the enterprise—that makes the continuity in your work such a pleasure to read. i just got my copy today and will be reading it this weekend.
please, more books set in the movie era! we've seen plenty between TMP and WoK, and WoK through IV is pretty tight...but between V and VI is a great place to mine stories...and as others have pointed out, perhaps interact with the DC comics second run universe.
cheers,
As a lover of the nineties Trek DC comics, I would kill for more movie era fiction. The years between TFF and TUC are way too underrepresented in Trek lore.
This is great to hear.
I know, I know, nothing's finalised, but I'll definitely be on the lookout for further news now...
This is great to hear.
I know, I know, nothing's finalised, but I'll definitely be on the lookout for further news now...
Although, to be clear, that's still at least one or two books down the road . . .
Which reminds me: I'd better get writing!
More TOS-movie era novels would be welcome. Your next one might be years in the future?
I'm should probably hold my tongue until it's officially announced; I I don't want to steal Pocket Book's thunder.
But I am working on a new Trek novel, which is already under contract, and I have a couple of outlines in various stages of development.
Gotcha'. Good luck with getting the outlines finished; by the way, I'm currently making my way through the Terminator Salvation novel series and will likely be reading your book soon.
--Sran
Hope you enjoy the Terminator novel. Just to show off, that one actually won a Scribe Award back in 2010.
Yeah, this one was a real treat; not that I don't enjoy a good 5YM story, but like others here have already said, the whole TFF/TUC timeframe just seems so unexpectedly like a breath of fresh air at this point that I was upset when the novel actually came to an end. Getting to experience the older-and-wiser versions of these characters again is something that doesn't happen too often nowadays in the Pocket TOS novelsphere, and color me thrilled that Greg is contemplating another movie-era book for down the road. I'd buy the crap out of it.
My first impressions so far:
I mentioned in the Disavowed thread about really big Star-Trek-5-level sacrifices to tell the story, and it seems there's another one here. Yes, the story needs to take place aboard the Enterprise, but if I were Kirk, I don't care if Lenore's rehabilitation had been vetted by all the best minds in the Federation AND came with a note from God, I wouldn't let her touch the Enterprise with a 100-kilometer cattle prod, let alone set foot on it, especially just to "continue a conversation." Plus, at first blush, it seems to be just a rehash of "Conscience of the King," except Lenore is now the one being framed, hidden within a lot of diplomatic story padding. It had better get interesting soon. At the moment, it's fighting for my attention.
I was looking forward to this novel - but I have to say that I found it disappointing.
It was interesting to see Lenore again, only I could have done without her quoting Shakespeare at every turn (reminds me a bit too much of Chang) and her melodrama. I know that's who she was back in Conscience, but it's too much here. And also the notion of rekindling the romance with Kirk. First of all, it's 20 years later, much as happened, both are no longer really the same people, so it just feels very awkward - it would have been better IMO to just talk, instead of immediately implying romantic interest. But I guess, otherwise it wouldn't have made much sense for Kirk to invite her onto the ship. Riley's reaction felt very genuine (as much as Kirk's didn't), on the other hand.
The plot itself... it took ages to gain speed, and I am sorry to say, except for the Enemy Within-twist felt very predictable. It lacked a bit the twists and turns I expect from TrekLit nowadays, especially Chekov's allergic rhinitis practically served the real perpetrator on a silver-platter very early in the game, as does the missing warhead. IMO the story suffers a bit from being stretched out to novel-length. It would have worked well enough in novella-length, especially if you cut the hostage-situation which didn't contribute anything to the overall plot, anyway (except for giving Chekov, Kirk and Chekov's second a chance to stretch their legs).
And there are quite a few things that had me wondering, such as the number of shuttles on board the Enterprise (only 2?!?), why not use the transporters the minute the perpetrator is revealed (there's, after all, only one of the species on board, and the risk is, compared to the risk of her running around on the Enterprise sabotaging everything, quite limited), why not immediately use the shuttle to intercept the warhead (instead of only thinking of it after Lenore escapes with it to surrender herself) etc.
And given Chekov's role in this novel, he should have featured on the cover instead of Spock.
The only convincing parts of this book for me are the characterization of the main cast, which is spot-on, and the little nods to continuity - that kept me reasonably interested and going, and raised my final verdict to "below average".
It was interesting to see Lenore again, only I could have done without her quoting Shakespeare at every turn (reminds me a bit too much of Chang) and her melodrama. I know that's who she was back in Conscience, but it's too much here. And also the notion of rekindling the romance with Kirk. First of all, it's 20 years later, much as happened, both are no longer really the same people, so it just feels very awkward - it would have been better IMO to just talk, instead of immediately implying romantic interest. But I guess, otherwise it wouldn't have made much sense for Kirk to invite her onto the ship. Riley's reaction felt very genuine (as much as Kirk's didn't), on the other hand.
The plot itself... it took ages to gain speed, and I am sorry to say, except for the Enemy Within-twist felt very predictable. It lacked a bit the twists and turns I expect from TrekLit nowadays, especially Chekov's allergic rhinitis practically served the real perpetrator on a silver-platter very early in the game, as does the missing warhead. IMO the story suffers a bit from being stretched out to novel-length. It would have worked well enough in novella-length, especially if you cut the hostage-situation which didn't contribute anything to the overall plot, anyway (except for giving Chekov, Kirk and Chekov's second a chance to stretch their legs).
And there are quite a few things that had me wondering, such as the number of shuttles on board the Enterprise (only 2?!?), why not use the transporters the minute the perpetrator is revealed (there's, after all, only one of the species on board, and the risk is, compared to the risk of her running around on the Enterprise sabotaging everything, quite limited), why not immediately use the shuttle to intercept the warhead (instead of only thinking of it after Lenore escapes with it to surrender herself) etc.
And given Chekov's role in this novel, he should have featured on the cover instead of Spock.
The only convincing parts of this book for me are the characterization of the main cast, which is spot-on, and the little nods to continuity - that kept me reasonably interested and going, and raised my final verdict to "below average".
I was disappointed.
There were also quite a few cases where the book likes to point out that Star Trek VI hasn't happened yet and clumsy mentions are made to prove that. In a few cases references to the other films introduced continuity bugs.
The alarms that sound when an unauthorized phaser is fired seem to function some times and not in others - and their existence is even deliberately pointed out.
Plot points like an assassination aboard the Enterprise and crew possibly being involved are discussed as being beyond the realm of possibility. ("(Kirk) hoped he'd never live to see the day...")
Chekov thoughts reveal that a cloaking device that would allow transporters to function doesn't exist--even though this was used in Star Trek IV multiple times.
In my opinion, there were a number of cases where the crew acts stupidly in order to move the plot along.
Kirk bringing Lenore onboard without telling Riley just plain isn't believable. I couldn't believe he would do something so stupid.
At the end of the book, even though multiple lapses of shipboard security have occurred, Kirk thinks to commend Chekov and his security staff.
The plot hinges on a transporter 'trick' that's featured in a TOS episode that's apparently been unclassified and become common knowledge. If this was so easily reproducible it'd be a problem on a galactic scale.
I like the movie era. I wanted to like this book. I didn't.
There were also quite a few cases where the book likes to point out that Star Trek VI hasn't happened yet and clumsy mentions are made to prove that. In a few cases references to the other films introduced continuity bugs.
The alarms that sound when an unauthorized phaser is fired seem to function some times and not in others - and their existence is even deliberately pointed out.
Plot points like an assassination aboard the Enterprise and crew possibly being involved are discussed as being beyond the realm of possibility. ("(Kirk) hoped he'd never live to see the day...")
Chekov thoughts reveal that a cloaking device that would allow transporters to function doesn't exist--even though this was used in Star Trek IV multiple times.
In my opinion, there were a number of cases where the crew acts stupidly in order to move the plot along.
Kirk bringing Lenore onboard without telling Riley just plain isn't believable. I couldn't believe he would do something so stupid.
At the end of the book, even though multiple lapses of shipboard security have occurred, Kirk thinks to commend Chekov and his security staff.
The plot hinges on a transporter 'trick' that's featured in a TOS episode that's apparently been unclassified and become common knowledge. If this was so easily reproducible it'd be a problem on a galactic scale.
I like the movie era. I wanted to like this book. I didn't.
I finished it. It appears that some thoughts were need for all of TOS references. Chekov's allergic reaction was an interesting plot detail. I am not completely certain the main characters were speaking in the late movie era. Probably needs another reading for a better evaluation.
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