Spoilers PIC: Firewall by David Mack Review Thread

[David Mack]

Do you have higher priority Trek novels you would rather write, Mr. Mack?

I don't know if I would categorize possible writing jobs by degree of priority. Certainly, there are ideas and/or series that I am more interested in at any given moment. Right now I'm trying to finagle my way into writing a Strange New Worlds novel, simply because I really enjoy that series and would love to write an adventure for those characters. That said, I can easily think of a few other story ideas based on other current Star Trek series that I would enjoy writing if the editors asked me to do so.

I admit, I would actually really like (and this isn't a story suggestion as is terrible to give licensing authors, just a thought) a book that follows Seven's relationship with Bjayzl. It didn't have to be romantic in Season One but it certainly came off that way as to why Seven felt so personally betrayed.

I think you're right about the implication of romantic subtext between those two characters. It certainly seems plausible to me, for the reasons you cited. I think it was Jessie Earl (aka Jessie Gender) who noted that she liked the fact that Seven's queer relationships in Firewall were each different in tone and substance: from casual (the Andorian woman), to soulful (with Ellory), to predatory (implied with Bjayzl).

Also, kudos for the focus on Seven's identifying as Borg being Starfleet's main sticking point. In addition to the obvious deadnaming parallel, it also reminds me of how personally Starfleet took the Marquis in DS9. It's not that they're terrorists, it's the fact they turned their backs on the federation and thus called into question that they're the bestest of the best.

Part of my thinking was also that the Federation in 2378 is only five years after the most recent Borg attack on Earth. Also, except for Picard, neither Starfleet nor the people of the Federation have much experience with persons liberated from the Borg Collective after prolonged periods of assimilation. Starfleet Command and the Federation Council both are gunshy, and the sheer power that Seven possesses, both physically and intellectually, is intimidating as hell, particularly because she chooses to continue to self-identify as her Borg persona.

 

[hbquikcomjamesl]

except for Picard, neither Starfleet nor the people of the Federation have much experience with persons liberated from the Borg Collective after prolonged periods of assimilation.

And Janeway.

 

[David Mack]

And Janeway.

The people of the Federation wouldn't know much about that, since it happened in the Delta Quadrant, and would likely be treated as highly classified information by Starfleet. Knowledge of that event might even be strictly limited to a few members of the Federation Council on a need-to-know basis, so I didn't think that would have been as significant a factor. And again, Janeway's assimilation was extremely brief when compared with Seven’s 18+ years.

 

[Charles Phipps]

The people of the Federation wouldn't know much about that, since it happened in the Delta Quadrant, and would likely be treated as highly classified information by Starfleet. Knowledge of that event might even be strictly limited to a few members of the Federation Council on a need-to-know basis, so I didn't think that would have been as significant a factor. And again, Janeway's assimilation was extremely brief when compared with Seven’s 18+ years.

It's actually kind of tragic that Janeway is probably saying the Borg are probably close to extinction and broken as a people while Starfleet ignores that.

Then again, fans were the same way until PIC confirmed they're bent, bowed, and broken.

So it's extra pointless to be worried about Seven since she's the one who helped break them.

 

[hbquikcomjamesl]

I'd entirely forgotten about Janeway being assimilated (when was that?), and wasn't thinking about Locutus; rather, I was thinking of Janeway as Seven's former CO, and one of her mentors, making her the leading expert on de-assimilated Borg.

 

[Christopher]

I'd entirely forgotten about Janeway being assimilated (when was that?)

In "Unimatrix Zero," but I question whether it actually counts, since Janeway, Tuvok, and Torres let themselves be semi-assimiliated but had an "inoculation" that let them maintain their will, so they could infiltrate a cube. Tuvok eventually succumbed and became fully assimilated for a brief period, but I don't think Janeway did.

 

[hbquikcomjamesl]

I remember the episode, and remember it being one of the few enjoyable, uplifting Borg stories. Just not that detail. But my own comment was entirely about Janeway's experiences as a mentor to Seven (and to Icheb). Now that i think about it, we also have Hugh's various mentors from TNG.

And within 36 hours, I can begin reading the present opus: I am currently between The Epistle of James and The First Epistle General of Peter.

 

[Ronald Held]

I don't know if I would categorize possible writing jobs by degree of priority. Certainly, there are ideas and/or series that I am more interested in at any given moment. Right now I'm trying to finagle my way into writing a Strange New Worlds novel, simply because I really enjoy that series and would love to write an adventure for those characters. That said, I can easily think of a few other story ideas based on other current Star Trek series that I would enjoy writing if the editors asked me to do so.

I think you're right about the implication of romantic subtext between those two characters. It certainly seems plausible to me, for the reasons you cited. I think it was Jessie Earl (aka Jessie Gender) who noted that she liked the fact that Seven's queer relationships in Firewall were each different in tone and substance: from casual (the Andorian woman), to soulful (with Ellory), to predatory (implied with Bjayzl).

Part of my thinking was also that the Federation in 2378 is only five years after the most recent Borg attack on Earth. Also, except for Picard, neither Starfleet nor the people of the Federation have much experience with persons liberated from the Borg Collective after prolonged periods of assimilation. Starfleet Command and the Federation Council both are gunshy, and the sheer power that Seven possesses, both physically and intellectually, is intimidating as hell, particularly because she chooses to continue to self-identify as her Borg persona.

I would be interested in read a SNW story written by you.

 

[Oz Trekkie]

Thoroughly enjoyed this story.

 

[hbquikcomjamesl]

I see that what I'd brought up earlier, i.e., that Janeway would of course be the Federation's leading expert on mentoring ex-Borg, is an early focal point of the story. And that it's a major point that this isn't enough to keep Seven from having to deal with extreme ostracism and de jure discrimination.

I'd always assumed that "Fenris" was the name of a person, not a place.

Seven frequenting the mosh pit of a punk bar catering to beings of other-than-conventional ("queer and trans") sexuality. And then losing her panties to the trophy case of an Andorian female (but which sub-gender of Andorian female?). So many layers of meaning there; any outright allusions?

I'm also seeing an amazing level of detail in worldbuilding, right up there with ADF.

 

[Christopher]

I'd always assumed that "Fenris" was the name of a person, not a place.

I would've assumed the opposite. A ranger is literally someone who patrols and defends a range of territory -- park rangers, forest rangers, Texas Rangers, Galaxy Rangers, etc. -- so it's to be expected that an "X Ranger" would be associated with a region named X. Or alternatively they could be named for a group or entity they're a subset of, like Army Rangers.

Fenris or Fenrir is the wolf who brings about Ragnarok in Norse mythology, so I would have figured it was either a place name or a symbolic usage, like calling your group the Wolf Rangers.

 

[Avro Arrow]

I'd always assumed that "Fenris" was the name of a person, not a place.

I think Fenris was identified as a planet in season 1 of Picard.

 

[The Wormhole]

It was indeed.

 

[hbquikcomjamesl]

Missed it, somehow.

 

[Charles Phipps]

It's interesting to note that this is probably the only book in the history of science fiction (barring Robocop) where a bunch of contracted law enforcement ala Star Helix in the Expanse or Blue Suns in Mass Effect where the mercenaries serving as police officers are unequivocably the good guys. I wonder if the Federation's distrust of capitalism is another factor in why they hate the Fenris Rangers.

I mean, no one's paying them now but they were originally what would be described as mercenaries/private security/PMC doing what is normally a public service job.

 

[hbquikcomjamesl]

Seven has been issued a used uniform and a stun pistol. For some reason, the latter had me thinking of a deceptively compact weapon known as a "Noisy Cricket."

 

[Cloud]

I just finished this novel. If all modern Trek novels are as high quality and as enjoyable as this one was, I can totally accept not having a monthly Trek book. I don't even mind paying for a hardcover, haha.

I loved the action sequences and the overall tone of the book. David Mack did such a good job of balancing some heavy topics with adventure and great character building. I would also love to see a continuation of the story in a future novel.

Congrats Mr. Mack. I hope this one's a huge seller for you!

 

[David Mack]

I just finished this novel. If all modern Trek novels are as high quality and as enjoyable as this one was, I can totally accept not having a monthly Trek book. I don't even mind paying for a hardcover, haha.

I loved the action sequences and the overall tone of the book. David Mack did such a good job of balancing some heavy topics with adventure and great character building. I would also love to see a continuation of the story in a future novel.

Congrats Mr. Mack. I hope this one's a huge seller for you!

Thanks for the kind words! Much appreciated.

 

[hbquikcomjamesl]

Hmm. "Snub fighter." The only other references to that term I can find are (of course) Star Wars, and something I'd never heard of before (evidently some sort of computer game) called "Star Citizen."

Spoiler: And I've just witnessed . . .

. . . Kohgish's retribution atrocity alongside Seven.

Kohgish reminds me a lot of Trump. Although the name reminds me of a greeting from Walt Disney World's late lamented Adventurers' Club (one of the only two Pleasure Island entertainment venues that appealed to me, and not coincidentally, just about the only Pleasure Island entertainment venue that admitted [accompanied and well-behaved] children).

And I just stumbled onto a spoiler (elsewhere, not here) that told me more than I needed to know about him at this point (answering a lingering "what happened to the mouse" question I also was not ready for yet).

 

[Charles Phipps]

Hmm. "Snub fighter." The only other references to that term I can find are (of course) Star Wars, and something I'd never heard of before (evidently some sort of computer game) called "Star Citizen."

Spoiler: And I've just witnessed . . .

. . . Kohgish's retribution atrocity alongside Seven.

Kohgish reminds me a lot of Trump. Although the name reminds me of a greeting from Walt Disney World's late lamented Adventurers' Club (one of the only two Pleasure Island entertainment venues that appealed to me, and not coincidentally, just about the only Pleasure Island entertainment venue that admitted [accompanied and well-behaved] children).

And I just stumbled onto a spoiler (elsewhere, not here) that told me more than I needed to know about him at this point (answering a lingering "what happened to the mouse" question I also was not ready for yet).

I didn't get much of a Trump vibe with Kohgish but I did feel he was very different from typical Star Trek warlords. He didn't seem nearly as motivated by raw power and ego as your typical Star Trek warlord-of-the-week. Instead, I liked his mono-focus on money to the point of being almost Ferengi-esque. True, the money is to get him a battle cruiser so he can take over the Sector even more thoroughly but I feel like he really is just determined to retire as a local trillioniare over actually ruling-ruling.