Re: Star Trek: Destiny: Lost Souls - Discuss/Grade
What was the reason for the change in the Borg, to go from assimilation to killing and mass murder of entire populations?
Collective mass insanity. Basically, they tried assimilating the Federation with one cube at a time, and the UFP kept defeating the cubes. Then
Voyager came along and struck a blow to their transwarp conduits — the kind of damage that makes you wince and say, "Oooo, that's gonna leave a mark." At that point the Borg decided to Hell with assimilating us; we weren't worth the trouble, and we were obstructing their other goals. Better to wipe us out before our technology and numbers become any more threatening.
I always find it cathartic to fictionally slaughter hordes of whoever.
But then, I've worked in retail...
I know the feeling — I worked in foodservice.
WARNING TO ALL WHO HAVE NOT READ LOST SOULS — MAJOR SPOILERS FOLLOW....
But, once the Caeliar were introduced as these sort of ominous isolationist pacifists, I was fairly certain that the ending would involve our noble heroes convincing the Caeliar to put their pacifistic ideals aside to exterminate the implacable foe for which there is no other possible way of engaging and surviving. I was still looking forward to reading it, and thinking it would be awesome. But I thought it would be another 'might makes right' shindig.
I had been looking forward to 'Greater than the Sum' ever since I learned Bennett would be writing a book with the Borg, because I thought that would be how Christopher would tackle the Borg. That he'd find the creative peacemakers solution. When the ending to that was essentially destroying the Borg threat, I thought "Man, if Chris can't find a non-violent way of handling the Borg, no one can." Never in a million years did I think that Destiny would end with such a hopeful message for non-violent solutions.
"To find and protect cultures of peace and nonviolence." Wow. Wow.
When I was developing the trilogy outline with my editors, one of my key points for the ending was that "destroying the Borg" was not a true reflection of the Starfleet ethos or the
Star Trek mythology. If this was to represent a step forward for the TrekLit continuity, I wanted to respect the
Star Trek philosophy that it is better to create than to destroy, better to heal than to kill, better to make peace than to wage war.
And to go from that experience to a resolution that affirmed everything that I believe is important about the world. A resolution that could face the Borg... the unstoppable force, the closest thing to a biblical Satan of the Star Trek world, and face it through redemption...
Interesting choice of words, considering my deliberate invocation of language from the New Testament in the final chapters of
Lost Souls.
I know this is fiction... but fiction can be very powerful. Fiction can change the world.
Perhaps not by itself, but I like to think it can help like-minded individuals share good ideas. And that's where change begins.
This book is definitely on the list of books that have changed *my* world.
I know I'm an emotional old softie, but reading about your reaction to the trilogy has even made
me a bit misty. It's very moving to hear that something I created has had such a profound impact on you as a reader. Thank you for sharing your feelings in such detail, particularly in a public forum. I'm both touched and honored.
Also, on a lighter note... I think I'm getting a little fanboy crush on Choudhury... {snip} I can't wait to see where her relationship with Worf goes. Choudhury is easily my favourite Treklit character, and it was a HUGE relief for me seeing her survive.
Yeah, Christopher and I had a great time figuring out what makes her tick.
Her attraction to Worf was one of those things that evolved naturally. At first, it seemed like an attraction of opposites, but when I discussed it with Christopher, we realized the differences between her and Worf are fairly superficial; in their personal histories they have so many parallels that it's scary.
I think it is reflected best in the scene in her quarters, when they talk about "the tree." By the time I reached the end of that scene, I realized that she might be as important a soul mate for Worf as Jadzia was.
And kudos on the tight structure! After book one, I really wondered about the point of the whole Aventine murder mystery. I didn't get why it was there, and felt a bit disappointed by it. Now I get it. The disappointment is gone. It really feels like absolutely every element was needed and used. Well done, sir.
That, apparently, was why my editors insisted that I outline the entire trilogy as a single work before I could be green-lighted to proceed to manuscript. We made sure the narrative had an overall structure and symmetry before I wrote page one.
David - You got to talk to Geddy Lee? AWESOME! And he's reading/read the trilogy? (at least that's what I got from the acknowledgments...) AMAZING!
I met Geddy and Alex in July 2007, backstage at the PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel, N.J., after the concert. (Neil doesn't do meet and greets anymore, but a couple of months later — after checking my bona fides with Kevin J. Anderson —
he sent me a nice thank-you e-mail for the signed copies of
A Time to Kill and
A Time to Heal I had brought for him.)
The whole story of that amazing day can be found on my blog.
As far as whether Geddy's reading the trilogy, I doubt it. I haven't had a chance yet to send it to him (or to the other guys). As soon as I get my box o' comps from the publisher, I plan to inscribe and autograph complete sets for each member of the band, as well as for director Bryan Singer and my pal Randy, who introduced me to all of them. Since the book is dedicated to all of them, and they all make cameos in it, it seemed like a nice Christmas gift.
Thanks again for all of your comments. It's reactions such as yours that make this job feel worthwhile.
Best,
David Mack
P.S. — For those who have read
Mere Mortals and
Lost Souls, you might notice some familiar names of cameo characters from those books when you read my linked blog post…
