Destiny: Gods of Night by David Mack Review Thread (Spoilers!)

Discussion in 'Trek Literature' started by haubrija, Sep 19, 2008.

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Grade "Star Trek: Destiny: Gods of Night"

  1. Excellent

    69.2%
  2. Above Average

    23.1%
  3. Average

    5.1%
  4. Below Average

    1.3%
  5. Poor

    1.3%
  1. Nardpuncher

    Nardpuncher Rear Admiral

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    Re: Star Trek: Destiny: Gods of Night - SPOILER Thread


    Zing! Good one!:techman:

    I love when someone post, someone else disagrees ,then the first poster whines about some percieved violation of free speech or whatnot.


    It's true what William Leisner said...that debate could trun into some silly 3 page debate about space battles nobody knows about and then McCain/Obama and the Iraq war come up. :(
     
  2. Baerbel Haddrell

    Baerbel Haddrell Commodore Commodore

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    Re: Star Trek: Destiny: Gods of Night - SPOILER Thread


    Maybe they will consider adoption later if all other options have failed. I can understand that they don`t want to give up hope yet. Even if there is really no way to tweak Deanna`s eggs so that they can be used, there is nothing wrong with Deanna`s womb. Even today, women who can`t use their eggs can have a donated egg fertilized with the huband`s sperm. I have heard of cases in which the mother donated eggs to the daughter. In the news there was a report a while ago of a woman who gave birth to her own grandchild. In that case, her daughter had viable eggs but no womb. In the Star Trek universe, there should be even more options.

    Nevertheless, of course there is nothing wrong with adoptions and also couples who are natural parents also adopt. I don`t know if this is also an official adoption but in NF Captain Calhoun adopted an orphaned boy who lives with him on the ship. I don`t live in America but that adoption is frowned upon is new to me. It certainly shouldn`t.

    It occurred to me later, Worf was adopted by human parents. This is another example
     
    Last edited: Oct 11, 2008
  3. Christopher

    Christopher Writer Admiral

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    Re: Star Trek: Destiny: Gods of Night - SPOILER Thread

    Which is why we have A Singular Destiny, Over a Torrent Sea, Full Circle, and Losing the Peace next year. Or, as we refer to them collectively, "Cleaning Up Dave's Mess."
     
  4. Trippy

    Trippy NaNoWriMo Victim Admiral

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    Re: Star Trek: Destiny: Gods of Night - SPOILER Thread

    I'm about halfway through now, and I'm really liking the Columbia and her crew's storyline. I'll admit to not being a big fan of Titan and her crew, but I wasn't a big Riker/Troi fan when TNG was on, so that's not surprising.

    I do wish I'd read Greater Than The Sum first for the TNG crew background story! I bought it last night so it's next :techman:

    In all, an enjoyable read so far :)
     
  5. Thespeckledkiwi

    Thespeckledkiwi Vice Admiral

    Re: Star Trek: Destiny: Gods of Night - SPOILER Thread

    Yep :) I can't wait to read them because frankly, this is so massive that I know I won't be disappointed if it all doesn't wrap up at the end or at least some of the minor plot points.

    Are they going to have a spin off novel with the Avertine? I can't remember
     
  6. JD

    JD Fleet Admiral Admiral

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    Re: Star Trek: Destiny: Gods of Night - SPOILER Thread

    I think KRAD said the Aventine is in A Singular Desinty, but I'm not sure.
     
  7. DEWLine

    DEWLine Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    Re: Star Trek: Destiny: Gods of Night - SPOILER Thread

    I hope so.
     
  8. KRAD

    KRAD Keith R.A. DeCandido Admiral

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    Re: Star Trek: Destiny: Gods of Night - SPOILER Thread

    Actually, I prefer "Cleaning up Mack's Mess," as alliteration is awesome....


    Yes, the Aventine plays a role in ASD, as do a few other ships we've seen before.
     
  9. William Leisner

    William Leisner Scribbler Rear Admiral

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    Re: Star Trek: Destiny: Gods of Night - SPOILER Thread

    Whereas I just tend to throw in an extra descriptive gerund or two...
     
  10. Thespeckledkiwi

    Thespeckledkiwi Vice Admiral

    Re: Star Trek: Destiny: Gods of Night - SPOILER Thread

    But no solo book for the Aventine?

    I don't know why I said Avertine :lol:
     
  11. ncc71877

    ncc71877 Fleet Captain Fleet Captain

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    Re: Star Trek: Destiny: Gods of Night - SPOILER Thread

    So, I just finished GoN and I don't know that I can add anything that hasn't been said up thread. I just loved this first book of the story. The story felt 'real' to me, each crew, each mission/situation they where in, even the advanced enigmatic alien race seemed 'real.' And, I don't know why but the part with the sacrifice of the Ranger at Khitomer and the Klingon Governors reaction, and then Admiral Paris at Starbase 234 had me in tears, like rolling down my face tears, and I don't usually cry reading. Then learning about Tom's family problems had me sniffling.

    Thank you for a really good read Mr. Mack, can't wait for Mere Mortals.

    ncc71877:bolian:
     
  12. Nardpuncher

    Nardpuncher Rear Admiral

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    Re: Star Trek: Destiny: Gods of Night - SPOILER Thread

    This probably came up already, but when the Columbia goes at 0.9c to a star sytem 11 light years away, shouldn't it therefore take them aout 12 or 13 years to get there? My physics ain't so great but they wouldn't feel the relativistic time effects...all the people on the outside would, wouldn't they? And it would be a lot more than 11or 12 years...maybe hundreds.
     
  13. Christopher

    Christopher Writer Admiral

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    Re: Star Trek: Destiny: Gods of Night - SPOILER Thread

    As stated in the text, it does take them nearly 12 years (2156-2168) to cover the nearly 12 light-years to Erigol. Columbia accelerates to within one ten-thousandth of the speed of light, or better than 0.9999c, giving a time dilation factor of roughly seventy to one -- meaning that the passage of time within the ship is about 1/70th that outside the ship, so that 63 days pass for the crew while nearly 12 years pass outside.

    I don't know where you're getting hundreds of years from. Time dilation means that the people in the ship experience a shorter passage of time, not a longer one. And the velocity of 0.9999c is measured from the perspective of outside observers.
     
  14. MHJH

    MHJH Lieutenant Red Shirt

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    Re: Star Trek: Destiny: Gods of Night - SPOILER Thread

    Jesus, that was brilliant. After feeling relatively disappointed in the last Titan and TNG books, I was a bit wary of Destiny, but any fear I had for the next two books has been completely annihilated by the quality of the first. Nearly every book I've ever read that has been part of a trilogy has felt like nothing more than a third of the story, but there was so much going on in this one, so much plot that dovetailed so perfectly with character development and world-building that it felt like a perfect chunk of story. Exactly the right amount to be digested right now, while leaving you salivating for the next bit. It's hard to believe that Mack is actually delivering on the promise he's been making for months around here, a story so huge and world shattering that a full-blown Borg invasion is actually just a portion of the story, but he's doing it brilliantly, and making it look easy.

    Every portion of the story works, from Picard's recurring obsession with the Borg causing seriously off-kilter behavior, the Aventine haunted-house murder mystery, the flashback portions on the Columbia, etc. etc. Even the Riker/Troi pregnancy drama fascinated me, which I didn't think was possible. It's all perfect, every word of it. Thanks for all of your books Dave, but thanks for this book in particular.
     
  15. David Mack

    David Mack Writer Rear Admiral

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    Re: Star Trek: Destiny: Gods of Night - SPOILER Thread

    Thanks, MHJH. I'm glad you feel the first book lived up to the hype I heaped upon it. Here's to hoping that the rest of the trilogy continues to meet your new, raised expectations.

    Best,
    David Mack
     
  16. dukesman

    dukesman Commander Red Shirt

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    Re: Star Trek: Destiny: Gods of Night - SPOILER Thread

    David,

    My God man, what in the hell have you done? :rommie:

    I'm not going to bore you with a lot of detail as most of the previous reviews mirrored all that I liked about this book and then some. You have an excellent grasp of balance and interesting characterization, which is no small feat with this many crews all getting their hands dirty to varying degrees.

    Can't remember now where I saw or read this, but you shouldn't be so reluctant to write starship battle scenes. Every one you've ever done has been exciting and original and that includes those few in GoN.

    One question - who came up with the look for the Caeliar? They are an interesting species and full of potential. I'd love to show you some sketches I've made from reading your descriptions of them.

    Bravo, David. I look forward to the rest of this trilogy!
     
  17. David Mack

    David Mack Writer Rear Admiral

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    Re: Star Trek: Destiny: Gods of Night - SPOILER Thread

    Funny, my defense attorney once asked me the same thing.

    I was not one of those people who expressed displeasure for writing starship combat scenes, but thanks for the encouraging words. :)

    I was actually inspired by some alien concept sketches done by a well-known artist, but I don't want to say which artist or which sketches.

    Thanks. I hope the rest of it lives up to your expectations.
     
  18. Marie1

    Marie1 Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    Re: Star Trek: Destiny: Gods of Night - SPOILER Thread

    LOL!!!!
     
  19. KRAD

    KRAD Keith R.A. DeCandido Admiral

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    Re: Star Trek: Destiny: Gods of Night - SPOILER Thread

    This is a lie.

    Your attorney has asked this a lot more than once.....

    :evil:
     
  20. David Mack

    David Mack Writer Rear Admiral

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    Re: Star Trek: Destiny: Gods of Night - SPOILER Thread

    No, he only asked it of me once. All subsequent queries were phrased as, "My God, man! What have you done this time?"