I really, really dislike that particular word in reference to women. Why can't she be an "asshole" or something?
Spoilers TNG: Available Light by Dayton Ward Review Thread
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Well it would be like calling a male a bastard.
She's a tough woman so of course to certain quarters that makes the character a bitch. I remember an interview with the actress and she was always puzzled by it - I think she said that she worked out it was little men threatened by stuff in real life who felt like that.
So is Janeway, but it would not even occur to me to call her a bitch. Nor T'Pau, for that matter. Kira Nerys was a resistance fighter, for pity's sake, but I would hardly call her a bitch.
I am never one to compare a woman to a female canid lightly.
Your issues are your issues.
Hmm. Isn't that more-or-less how Picard described Kirk, at least before they met face-to-face in the Nexus?
I have no love of martinets. Of any gender. Probably because I've been one: an "instant martinet, just add authority." Which is why authority over others is something I try to avoid. And I see both Nechayev and Jellico as martinets. Maybe not as bad as the result of my own Jeckyll and Hyde transformation, but still plenty nasty. To coin a phrase, "swaggering, overbearing, tin-plated dictators with delusions of godhood." (But they're not soft.)
And what I saw in AL was both Ross and Nechayev being very true to character. Ross, consumed with remorse, had the decency to face the music, whatever the cost. And Nechayev was both defiant and cowardly to the end, fleeing her just comeuppance.
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I don’t know if I would go so far as calling these officers Martinets,a word that has implications.
What they are is human beings and like every human being that has ever lived they believe that they are always in the right.And having gained the ranks that they have someone obviously agrees with them.
What I always saw in Nechayev was a superior officer coming to Picard unprepared to put up with any crap.YMMV.
What they are is human beings and like every human being that has ever lived they believe that they are always in the right.And having gained the ranks that they have someone obviously agrees with them.
What I always saw in Nechayev was a superior officer coming to Picard unprepared to put up with any crap.YMMV.
Im liking this, esp the Louvais plot, but once we learned about the people in the computer I started appreciating the enterprise plot.
I have found some things odd - Riker doesn't mention he was a prisoner of war on Tezwa when interrogated, Worf seems to have forgotten Choudhury even though they were together the same amount of time if not longer as he and Jadzia. Both were pretty weird to not have addressed, esp as one was recently and the other gives Riker an alibi for not being involved in the plot to topple Zife. Not addressing that Chen was in a relationship with Taurik as well as the deputy security guy was another wee dissonance, as was Martok forgetting that the Great Hall was rebuilt twice, one after his accession and secondly after Destiny, despite remembering the demises of his family that occurred with the former.
I have found some things odd - Riker doesn't mention he was a prisoner of war on Tezwa when interrogated, Worf seems to have forgotten Choudhury even though they were together the same amount of time if not longer as he and Jadzia. Both were pretty weird to not have addressed, esp as one was recently and the other gives Riker an alibi for not being involved in the plot to topple Zife. Not addressing that Chen was in a relationship with Taurik as well as the deputy security guy was another wee dissonance, as was Martok forgetting that the Great Hall was rebuilt twice, one after his accession and secondly after Destiny, despite remembering the demises of his family that occurred with the former.
I feel like if Louvois told Riker about poring through Picard's personal logs to learn what he did in Headlong Flight, then there should have been some mention of the events of Rogue, wherein Picard and Batanides found out Zweller was doing Section 31's bidding on Chiaros IV.
Though, to be fair, one minor novel from the past is in the grand scheme of things not very important to this story's point. Moreover, I would honestly have to say I am not surprised Rogue was ignored given that KRAD did not take Rogue into account for Q&A nor did David Mack do so for Control and Fortune of War. I guess it just happens to be a forgettable novel.
Though, to be fair, one minor novel from the past is in the grand scheme of things not very important to this story's point. Moreover, I would honestly have to say I am not surprised Rogue was ignored given that KRAD did not take Rogue into account for Q&A nor did David Mack do so for Control and Fortune of War. I guess it just happens to be a forgettable novel.
Yeah just got there
Rogue is pretty important in the history of queer treklit, however. And I love how M&M wrote Data in that book.
Perhaps the writers didn't like "It's a Wonderful Tapestry"...
Just finished! I enjoyed it for the most part, but it wasn't exactly the gripping fallout to Control that I was expecting. I enjoyed both the Nejamri sections and the Control sections, and would have enjoyed either areas expanded on in their own books, but having them together in this story wasn't working with me as well as it should have. I think my problem is that, even though each part didn't feel complete enough as stories, the time spent in both parts was very meandering and flashbacking.
As far as my two-cents on flashbacking goes, this novel had a lot of the flashbacking that I don't always enjoy. I'm all for refreshing memories, as there have been a lot of books, but I can't stand it when that internal thought the character is having is in the middle of a dramatic moment. It really cuts into the pacing when stuff is going on, only for the character in question to reflect upon an incident from 10 years ago that is mildly similar to what's going on now. I felt that there were quite a few inelegant choices made.
The investigation scenes were working for me when it was a man-hunt and interrogations and mysteries and closet skeletons. Then they stopped working when the scenes just became about characters espousing Federation ideals and the outrage. I also wanted to learn a little bit more about Section 31 itself, but we only got to see the biggest TV-series names. It just felt like the book started off with this great outline of intrigue that devolved into a set of cameos.
The Enterprise story was pretty well served. Spreading the threat of the space not-pirates across three sets of ships made them a little less interesting overall. Brinnimar turned out to be a potentially deep character, so I kinda wish she had just been the overall not-villain the whole time rather than the second set. The Nejamri and their predicament was set up as a really nice mystery, but it felt like there sure where a lot of scenes of the heroes just fixing things, hooking this up to that, complaining about environmental suits (I know... this is not a joke that is going to go away any time soon) or just plain old waving of tricorders. I mean, I get the ship is broken, but more than a couple times I felt like I was imagining people fixing a sink.
I'm gonna call it average. Started off really strongly, but didn't wrap the stories together enough for me...usually spending most of its time waving tricorders or talking about the outrage. I would have liked to see some of that outrage, honestly, other than a single assassination behind closed doors.
Random thing:
T'ryssa Chen and Taurik were nicely written and I love their friendship, but I do not love having to constantly be reminded that they are 'friends'. The amount of times Taurik is referred to as 'friend' in the writing (not the dialogue) it felt like there was some Hollywood style backlash on Taurik and Trys dating that the PR department had to make it DAMN clear that these two are NOT together anymore!
As far as my two-cents on flashbacking goes, this novel had a lot of the flashbacking that I don't always enjoy. I'm all for refreshing memories, as there have been a lot of books, but I can't stand it when that internal thought the character is having is in the middle of a dramatic moment. It really cuts into the pacing when stuff is going on, only for the character in question to reflect upon an incident from 10 years ago that is mildly similar to what's going on now. I felt that there were quite a few inelegant choices made.
The investigation scenes were working for me when it was a man-hunt and interrogations and mysteries and closet skeletons. Then they stopped working when the scenes just became about characters espousing Federation ideals and the outrage. I also wanted to learn a little bit more about Section 31 itself, but we only got to see the biggest TV-series names. It just felt like the book started off with this great outline of intrigue that devolved into a set of cameos.
The Enterprise story was pretty well served. Spreading the threat of the space not-pirates across three sets of ships made them a little less interesting overall. Brinnimar turned out to be a potentially deep character, so I kinda wish she had just been the overall not-villain the whole time rather than the second set. The Nejamri and their predicament was set up as a really nice mystery, but it felt like there sure where a lot of scenes of the heroes just fixing things, hooking this up to that, complaining about environmental suits (I know... this is not a joke that is going to go away any time soon) or just plain old waving of tricorders. I mean, I get the ship is broken, but more than a couple times I felt like I was imagining people fixing a sink.
I'm gonna call it average. Started off really strongly, but didn't wrap the stories together enough for me...usually spending most of its time waving tricorders or talking about the outrage. I would have liked to see some of that outrage, honestly, other than a single assassination behind closed doors.
Random thing:
T'ryssa Chen and Taurik were nicely written and I love their friendship, but I do not love having to constantly be reminded that they are 'friends'. The amount of times Taurik is referred to as 'friend' in the writing (not the dialogue) it felt like there was some Hollywood style backlash on Taurik and Trys dating that the PR department had to make it DAMN clear that these two are NOT together anymore!
The latest episode of Literary Treks, talking about this novel with the author, Dayton Ward, is up!
Literary Treks 266: Bringing the Truth Out of the Shadows.
Literary Treks 266: Bringing the Truth Out of the Shadows.
I listened to your literary treks interview with Dayton Ward. Great interview it was interesting hearing Dayton discuss the Time to novels and the fallout of events with control and working with David Mack to connect the storylines coming up with his upcoming novel Collateral damage.
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I do agree that if anything from Rogue, the introduction of Ranul Keru did make an impact.
Finished a few days back.
Really liked the authenticity of the characters as well as the interplay between them. Plot-wise, I enjoyed it as a typical TNG plot, a unique problem that gets solved by the triumph of truth and conversation and not hard fire. Though there was enough combat and some losses, our heroes once again prove that good intentions and right action, even if risky, will win out in the end. The parallel plotting of the fallout of Ozla Graniv's expose was nicely done and presented a permanent shadow over Picard's actions. In the end, every character did the right thing and it would be really interesting to see how Picard's trial/tribunal/court-martial would play out. This could also be a starting point for Picard's backstory for the upcoming Picard series. If he is honorably or dishonorably discharged from Starfleet, he would need to find a way to pick up the pieces and carry on living his life of exploration and adventure. It may not dovetail exactly with what appears on screen, but I'm sure reconciliations can be made and those annoying "facts" that are irreconcilable, can be quietly ignored and never mentioned again in Treklit. All-in-all Available Light really makes me yearn for more such Trek stories, and I sure want to find out what happens to Picard and his family.
Really liked the authenticity of the characters as well as the interplay between them. Plot-wise, I enjoyed it as a typical TNG plot, a unique problem that gets solved by the triumph of truth and conversation and not hard fire. Though there was enough combat and some losses, our heroes once again prove that good intentions and right action, even if risky, will win out in the end. The parallel plotting of the fallout of Ozla Graniv's expose was nicely done and presented a permanent shadow over Picard's actions. In the end, every character did the right thing and it would be really interesting to see how Picard's trial/tribunal/court-martial would play out. This could also be a starting point for Picard's backstory for the upcoming Picard series. If he is honorably or dishonorably discharged from Starfleet, he would need to find a way to pick up the pieces and carry on living his life of exploration and adventure. It may not dovetail exactly with what appears on screen, but I'm sure reconciliations can be made and those annoying "facts" that are irreconcilable, can be quietly ignored and never mentioned again in Treklit. All-in-all Available Light really makes me yearn for more such Trek stories, and I sure want to find out what happens to Picard and his family.
About half way through this one and enjoying it.
As a survivor of C-rations, I must commend Mr. Ward on his reference to a certain vital piece of military equipment on page 60. Well done, Sir!
(I left the Army nearly 30 years ago, and I still have two of these utterly necessary devices which I keep in my kitchen,)
As a survivor of C-rations, I must commend Mr. Ward on his reference to a certain vital piece of military equipment on page 60. Well done, Sir!
(I left the Army nearly 30 years ago, and I still have two of these utterly necessary devices which I keep in my kitchen,)
I can actually see how male trek fans, with no social skills and no ability to interact with women who aren't their mothers would be incredibly threatened by a formidable, pragmatist like Admiral Nechayev.
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