I just completed this novel last month. Originally released in March 1999 and according to Memory Alpha takes place in 2375 (which would place it around season 5 of TV series. One of the few numbered Voyager novels to feature Seven of Nine IIRC. According to Memory Alpha, Kotani based the book on a science paper he was working on sometime during the 1980s but decided to adapt it into a science fiction work. Dean Wesley Smith was also credited on the title page, though not the cover (not sure why).
Anyway Voyager decides to study a dying neutron star. They encounter a shuttle escaping form the Qavok Empire, a warlike reptile-like species. The shuttle includes people from a nearby system, the Lekk system. They also encounter a Xorm vessel, ostensibly there for scientific research. Captain Janeway and the crew learn the Qavok are trying to detonate a warp core within the star to divert one of it's flares towards' Lekk to destroy one of their enemies. The crew also learns the ejection could post a significant threat to the Federation in years to come (I'm not sure if that's even possible, given they are thousands of light years away, maybe someone can clarify that). So they decide to try to stop the Qavok and divert the ejection into open space outside the galaxy where it won't harm anyone. But then they learn the Xorm are trying to manipulate the star to do it's bidding and eliminate the Qavok. So they must stop them as well (despite the Qavok trying to eliminate the Lekk, Voyager can no more standby and see the Qavok exterminated than the Lekk).
I found this to be an above average book. I imagine since it was based on what was to be an actual scientific paper it's probably scientifically accurate to a large degree. I did find it very science oriented. Obviously some there was some dramatic license I'm sure to advance the story. But it was very good overall. There's a lot of tension as Voyager must deal with the gravitational changes as the star goes through it's final stages. I suppose if there's one weakness it's the warlike Qavok. They are developed pretty well, but it's a bit obvious making the reptilian species the baddies. It might have been more interesting had they been the good guys for a change. Though the humanoid Xorm are similarly bad guys ultimately so there's that. And Voyager did go to bat for the Qavok as well (which honestly makes sense).
The book did a good job with all the main Voyager characters as well. This apparently was Kotani's only Star Trek novel but I thought the characters were handled well. He also makes a mention to a new shuttlecraft, which I took to mean the Delta Flyer. Memory Alpha also makes mention of that possibility though when the book was written the Delta Flyer had not yet been introduced.
So overall I'd recommend this novel to anyone wanting to read an older Voyager novel. It was an entertaining standalone novel. Too bad Kotani never wrote any other Star Trek novels.
Anyway Voyager decides to study a dying neutron star. They encounter a shuttle escaping form the Qavok Empire, a warlike reptile-like species. The shuttle includes people from a nearby system, the Lekk system. They also encounter a Xorm vessel, ostensibly there for scientific research. Captain Janeway and the crew learn the Qavok are trying to detonate a warp core within the star to divert one of it's flares towards' Lekk to destroy one of their enemies. The crew also learns the ejection could post a significant threat to the Federation in years to come (I'm not sure if that's even possible, given they are thousands of light years away, maybe someone can clarify that). So they decide to try to stop the Qavok and divert the ejection into open space outside the galaxy where it won't harm anyone. But then they learn the Xorm are trying to manipulate the star to do it's bidding and eliminate the Qavok. So they must stop them as well (despite the Qavok trying to eliminate the Lekk, Voyager can no more standby and see the Qavok exterminated than the Lekk).
I found this to be an above average book. I imagine since it was based on what was to be an actual scientific paper it's probably scientifically accurate to a large degree. I did find it very science oriented. Obviously some there was some dramatic license I'm sure to advance the story. But it was very good overall. There's a lot of tension as Voyager must deal with the gravitational changes as the star goes through it's final stages. I suppose if there's one weakness it's the warlike Qavok. They are developed pretty well, but it's a bit obvious making the reptilian species the baddies. It might have been more interesting had they been the good guys for a change. Though the humanoid Xorm are similarly bad guys ultimately so there's that. And Voyager did go to bat for the Qavok as well (which honestly makes sense).
The book did a good job with all the main Voyager characters as well. This apparently was Kotani's only Star Trek novel but I thought the characters were handled well. He also makes a mention to a new shuttlecraft, which I took to mean the Delta Flyer. Memory Alpha also makes mention of that possibility though when the book was written the Delta Flyer had not yet been introduced.
So overall I'd recommend this novel to anyone wanting to read an older Voyager novel. It was an entertaining standalone novel. Too bad Kotani never wrote any other Star Trek novels.
