Spoilers TNG: Armageddon's Arrow by Dayton Ward Review Thread

[Paris]

Dr. Tamala Harstaad was a welcome character and I liked that she and Geordi have moved in together. My only complaint is that I know so little about her. I feel as though their relationship up to this point is one where we've been told about it, but not 'shown' it very much. [I still think of her as Geordi's Girlfriend first, instead of Tamala Harstaad (who also happens to be dating LaForge) first]

I haven't read this novel yet, but my understanding was that Geordi had been established as polyamorous in an earlier novel (to resolve an apparent contradiction about his relationships in the novelverse). Is this still the case as of Armageddon's Arrow?

As far as I remember, Geordi was kinda with Leah Brahms in David McIntee's Indistinguishable from Magic, and then with Harstad in David Mack's Cold Equations trilogy, then Brahms again in Jeff Lang's The Light Fantastic (and Lang did some retcon work here), and now again with Harstad in Arrmageddin's Arrow. I think the editor(s) may be shitting the bed on Geordi's love life

 

[Idran]

Dr. Tamala Harstaad was a welcome character and I liked that she and Geordi have moved in together. My only complaint is that I know so little about her. I feel as though their relationship up to this point is one where we've been told about it, but not 'shown' it very much. [I still think of her as Geordi's Girlfriend first, instead of Tamala Harstaad (who also happens to be dating LaForge) first]

I haven't read this novel yet, but my understanding was that Geordi had been established as polyamorous in an earlier novel (to resolve an apparent contradiction about his relationships in the novelverse). Is this still the case as of Armageddon's Arrow?

As far as I remember, Geordi was kinda with Leah Brahms in David McIntee's Indistinguishable from Magic, and then with Harstad in David Mack's Cold Equations trilogy, then Brahms again in Jeff Lang's The Light Fantastic (and Lang did some retcon work here), and now again with Harstad in Arrmageddin's Arrow. I think the editor(s) may be shitting the bed on Geordi's love life

No, "Light Fantastic" established it as a poly relationship. (Which was great to see acknowledged as an acceptable thing, I have to say.)

As for TheAlmanac's question, this didn't say anything about it either way, so it's probably still the case.

Edit: whoops, misread the quote block, misattributed the question; sorry about that.

 

[Technobuilder]

I haven't read this novel yet, but my understanding was that Geordi had been established as polyamorous in an earlier novel (to resolve an apparent contradiction about his relationships in the novelverse). Is this still the case as of Armageddon's Arrow?

As far as I remember, Geordi was kinda with Leah Brahms in David McIntee's Indistinguishable from Magic, and then with Harstad in David Mack's Cold Equations trilogy, then Brahms again in Jeff Lang's The Light Fantastic (and Lang did some retcon work here), and now again with Harstad in Arrmageddin's Arrow. I think the editor(s) may be shitting the bed on Geordi's love life

No, "Light Fantastic" established it as a poly relationship. (Which was great to see acknowledged as an acceptable thing, I have to say.)

As for Paris's question, this didn't say anything about it either way, so it's probably still the case.

Hmm, I read The Light Fantastic and recall nothing of a poly-relationship at all. Must not of stuck very well.

 

[Technobuilder]

We got to see a watch officer! (Mr. Aiden Lynley) on the Enterprise.... That never happens lol.

Except in TNG's first season, when Worf was the bridge watch officer.

A.) It was more of a joke saying "That never happens lol"

and

B.) The point was that we were shown someone outside of the "Main Cast" aka Alpha Shift in charge in off-hours. Now that Data can't be up 24/7 running the ship when everyone is off the clock or asleep.

 

[Idran]

As far as I remember, Geordi was kinda with Leah Brahms in David McIntee's Indistinguishable from Magic, and then with Harstad in David Mack's Cold Equations trilogy, then Brahms again in Jeff Lang's The Light Fantastic (and Lang did some retcon work here), and now again with Harstad in Arrmageddin's Arrow. I think the editor(s) may be shitting the bed on Geordi's love life

No, "Light Fantastic" established it as a poly relationship. (Which was great to see acknowledged as an acceptable thing, I have to say.)

As for Paris's question, this didn't say anything about it either way, so it's probably still the case.

Hmm, I read The Light Fantastic and recall nothing of a poly-relationship at all. Must not of stuck very well.

They didn't outright use the term polyamory, but Geordi and Leah had a conversation that basically went "you're in a relationship with me and with her and that's fine".

 

[LutherSloan]

After finishing this the other day, I was surprised there was little focus on how the planet killer got to that planetoid at all. It seemed like it was just mentioned and then not really followed up on.

Maybe I'm crazy, but it seemed like a few plot threads that were started/hinted at went nowhere in this.

1. The entire part with Worf and Elfiki getting captured gets resolved extremely fast, because the Raquilan don't know what transporters are. OK....

2. The sequence with the Golvonek leader and her second in command talking about taking over the Enterprise goes nowhere, other than the capture of the away team stationed on the Arrow. At the resolution of the story there also seem to be no consequences really for the Golvonek soldiers nearly trying to murder the Starfleet officers on the Arrow.

Overall it was good, but like a few of the TNG books the last several years that were not connected to a wider story, it's kind of forgettable.

 

[Technobuilder]

After finishing this the other day, I was surprised there was little focus on how the planet killer got to that planetoid at all. It seemed like it was just mentioned and then not really followed up on.

Maybe I'm crazy, but it seemed like a few plot threads that were started/hinted at went nowhere in this.

1. The entire part with Worf and Elfiki getting captured gets resolved extremely fast, because the Raquilan don't know what transporters are. OK....

2. The sequence with the Golvonek leader and her second in command talking about taking over the Enterprise goes nowhere, other than the capture of the away team stationed on the Arrow. At the resolution of the story there also seem to be no consequences really for the Golvonek soldiers nearly trying to murder the Starfleet officers on the Arrow.

Overall it was good, but like a few of the TNG books the last several years that were not connected to a wider story, it's kind of forgettable.

To your first point.... I thought that was funny. Transporters FTW.

To your second point... This was a big issue for me as well. I kept waiting for this to be addressed and was disappointed when it was just dropped.

 

[hbquikcomjamesl]

Just broke through the halfway point this morning.

Spoiler: I thought it just a bit odd that . . .

. . . Picard wouldn't have heard the reports of "neutronium" and "anti-proton beam," and immediately thought, "planet-killer."

 

[Enterprise1701]

Read Armageddon's Arrow today. Loved it. Not the best-written piece of writing I've ever read, but for a book it captured my attention. I especially loved the exploration of the "lower decks" characters, the Raqilan-Golvonek sociopolitical scenario, and the references to previous Star Trek adventures, canon and non-canon.

I'm really happy with the references to "The Doomsday Machines", Constellations - "Devices and Desires", Vendetta, and Before Dishonor in regards to Starfleet's history with planet killers, but with my extensive browsing of Memory Beta, I'm a bit annoyed that the Wildstorm VOY comic "Planet Killer" wasn't referenced as well. Granted, it's not a very memorable work, but Wildstorm actually cooperated with Pocket Books to maintain continuity.

Picard remembers that according to his history lessons, human and Romulan forces had no ground engagements, something which he finds difficult to believe. With canon TV episodes alone I suppose that's possible. However, we saw ground engagements in the ENT - The Romulan War novels. Are we supposed to chalk this up to facts getting blurred over time?

 

[Markonian]

Picard remembers that according to his history lessons, human and Romulan forces had no ground engagements, something which he finds difficult to believe. With canon TV episodes alone I suppose that's possible. However, we saw ground engagements in the ENT - The Romulan War novels. Are we supposed to chalk this up to facts getting blurred over time?

I don't see why not. What details do you recall about the Napoleonic Wars?

 

[Enterprise1701]

Picard remembers that according to his history lessons, human and Romulan forces had no ground engagements, something which he finds difficult to believe. With canon TV episodes alone I suppose that's possible. However, we saw ground engagements in the ENT - The Romulan War novels. Are we supposed to chalk this up to facts getting blurred over time?

I don't see why not. What details do you recall about the Napoleonic Wars?

Well off the top of my head that the War of 1812 in the U.S. was one front of the larger ongoing wars. And that the War of 1812 ended with the Treaty of Ghent in 1814 but since news of the peace treaty between the U.S. and Great Britain took long, Andrew Jackson led U.S. forces to victory in the Battle of New Orleans in 1815, paving the way for his eventual election as President. Meanwhile in Europe Napoleon, some time after expanding his territory to Russia only for his non-winter-experienced French forces to brutally suffer in the Russian winter, was defeated and exiled to some Mediterranean island. Escaped and tried to return to power only to experience his final defeat at Waterloo and was exiled to St. Helena in the South Atlantic.

 

[Idran]

Picard remembers that according to his history lessons, human and Romulan forces had no ground engagements, something which he finds difficult to believe. With canon TV episodes alone I suppose that's possible. However, we saw ground engagements in the ENT - The Romulan War novels. Are we supposed to chalk this up to facts getting blurred over time?

I don't see why not. What details do you recall about the Napoleonic Wars?

Well off the top of my head that the War of 1812 in the U.S. was one front of the larger ongoing wars. And that the War of 1812 ended with the Treaty of Ghent in 1814 but since news of the peace treaty between the U.S. and Great Britain took long, Andrew Jackson led U.S. forces to victory in the Battle of New Orleans in 1815, paving the way for his eventual election as President. Meanwhile in Europe Napoleon, some time after expanding his territory to Russia only for his non-winter-experienced French forces to brutally suffer in the Russian winter, was defeated and exiled to some Mediterranean island. Escaped and tried to return to power only to experience his final defeat at Waterloo and was exiled to St. Helena in the South Atlantic.

Does this mean you disagree with Markonian's point?

Wouldn't a better example in response to Markonian's rhetorical question be a commentary on tactics rather than history?

(Though the War of 1812 wasn't really a front of the Napoleonic Wars at all, it was us in the US that declared war against the UK and in Europe it was barely even noticed as more than a distraction from the actual wars. England barely cared at all about 1812 beyond sending support to Canada, they were busy fighting Napoleon. That's the whole reason it lasted a full two years and why we were hit with such greater force once Napoleon was beaten and the UK bothered paying our little quarrel some attention again.)

 

[Corran Horn]

Picard remembers that according to his history lessons, human and Romulan forces had no ground engagements, something which he finds difficult to believe. With canon TV episodes alone I suppose that's possible. However, we saw ground engagements in the ENT - The Romulan War novels. Are we supposed to chalk this up to facts getting blurred over time?

I don't see why not. What details do you recall about the Napoleonic Wars?

well, to be fair, there weren't persistent digital records of those conflicts.

I saw it as a Christopher-esque observation that yes, thing X that happened in an episode really made no sense.

 

[Eav'oqative]

On a reread, I feel like it's important for me to say that I think y'all (Christopher, Dayton, the various Davids, KRAD, etc) are outstanding writers women (even/especially ancillary characters.) That's all.

 

[JWolf]

Mine's pre-ordered on iBooks, interesting to see how quickly I get it after midnight...

Please don't ever order any eBooks from Apple. It is their fault prices for eBooks have risen. The best thing is for Apple to tank when it comes to eBooks.

is this an easily accessible novel for those of you who've read it? I've been working through the post-Nemesis stuff. I'm currently on Raise the Dawn. I ask, because this story sounds interesting from the blurb, i'd love to read it now. i was wondering if i could skip ahead? Or would it be better to work through Cold Equations, The Fall, and the other post-Fall books first?

Personally, I'd say not to skip ahead. There are spoilers in here for some of the character arcs that you may not want spoiled.

 

[Bibliomike]

I picked up Armageddon's Arrow because (a) Dayton Ward and (b) it was billed as "a new era of exploration," which is what I felt I needed after too many years away from Trek books and their impressive but exponentially increasing internal continuity. I found AA a solid read - not hard to dig into, and the new characters, while clearly possessed of a lot of backstory I've missed, easy to get to know. (It's also got a fantastic tie to a TOS episode, which I did not know when I bought it, so that was a nice bonus!) If you're diligently working through the post-Nemesis timeline, JWolf is right, and you may not want to skip; but I found the book works well as a jumping-on (or coming home!) point.

 

[kktwin]

It's nice to get the Enterprise E back to exploration. I wonder if a slip-stream Enterprise will ever grace the pages of the prime universe...

I feel the continuity has been worked quite disciplined by the writers; we now have a few exciting Trek literary series to enjoy.

 

[JD]

I finished the book last night and I really enjoyed it.
The Arrow itself was pretty interesting, and I especially got a kick out of the reveal that it was based around a Doomsday Machine, like the one in TOS. I had actually managed to avoid spoilers for this one, or possibly forgot ones I did learn, either way I thought that was a really cool reveal.
The time travel stuff was pretty cool.
I've always liked @Dayton Ward's character work, and this one did not disappoint. I was especially happy that we got a bit more "screen" time for Dina Elfiki than we have gotten in a while.
The two main races, whose name's I'm brainfarting on right now, were also pretty interesting.
It gets a solid above average for me.

 

[thribs]

So if the Arrow crashed into its past self, doesn't that mean that the ship was never completed, which means the ship never crashed in to it past self, meaning that the ship should have been completed and...

 

[Elwro]

Finished this today, as the last of the Odyssey Pass novels (because that's how I roll :-)). One thing I would've liked to be explored in the novel is the motivation of the senders of the Arrow. Since in their timeline basically nothing happens save for the ship disappearing and the two factions continuing their miserable war, and the effect of their actions is the creation of a different timeline (right?) where essentially someone else is enjoying a peaceful life, it's really a selfless act, increasing the amount of happiness in the multiverse (if not the universe).

Enjoyed the read! And I hope the Taurik intel mystery is explained this year!