Q-Squared

[Dingo]

I just recently got a CD copy of Q-Squared, the audiobook by Peter David and read by John deLancie. I thought it was a good interpretation, personally and I also enjoyed the actual paperback, remembering it rather well, despite having read it last in 1999.

I just wonder what you guys might have thought about the book. I know there are serious critics of Peter David's style, but I thought that this one was a relatively well written tale.

I liked the inclusion of Trelane, who was a good one shot villain in his first appearance. This book actually inspired me to think of including him as the villain in my Star Trek: Voyager fanfic before I decided on a dimension jumping Armus.

 

[Starbreaker]

It's one of my favorite Trek novels. I've only read about 60, but it's easily in my top 5. I read it about 10 years ago too, but I remember it being a very fun read.

 

[Dingo]

Glad to see others enjoyed it as well.

 

[Jbarney]

Q-Squared was one of the few Trek books that I read in one sitting. I can remember I stared it, read a couple of hundred pages, then my aunt and uncle came over. I had to stop and socialize with them. At about 9:00 that night I was able to start up again and finished it at about 3:30 in the morning. I had a headache by the time I was done.

 

[T'Ressa Dax]

I remember liking it too, though it's also been a decade for me. As for critics of David's writing style... Well, I tend to go back and forth with which books I like or don't like, but Q-Squared is right up there with Q-in-Law, one of the first by him that I read.

 

[Dingo]

I remember liking it too, though it's also been a decade for me. As for critics of David's writing style... Well, I tend to go back and forth with which books I like or don't like, but Q-Squared is right up there with Q-in-Law, one of the first by him that I read.

I recall hearing Q-in-Law on an audiobook when I was 16, but I didn't really enjoy it. Maybe I was too young and immature to understand it. As an English major, I remember a very memorable professor of mine who was critical about the educational system forcing books on students at the wrong junctures of their lives and thus ruining possible enjoyment of literature. Maybe I didn't enjoy Q-in-Law because at sixteen I didn't have the maturity to enjoy it. Well, if I see it at the library, I'll be sure to check it out and give it another whack.

What do you think of New Frontier, Dax?

Q-Squared was one of the few Trek books that I read in one sitting. I can remember I stared it, read a couple of hundred pages, then my aunt and uncle came over. I had to stop and socialize with them. At about 9:00 that night I was able to start up again and finished it at about 3:30 in the morning. I had a headache by the time I was done.

I've read it in one sitting too. It reads fast, and lends itself well to speed reading. But by it's very nature you have to spin three timelines converging in your head and keep constant cognizance of it, so one sitting reads with that book are almost a neccessity. I gather that was the source of your headache or was it sleep deprivation?

 

[donners22]

My absolute, all-time favourite Trek book. It got me into Trek literature.

As for the audio adaptation, I have the tape version, which I presume is the same as the CD. I thought it was good, but I was so familiar with the book that I picked up every scene which was missing.

 

[neogothboy74]

I bought this book a few months ago (along with "Imzadi" & "Q-in-Law") and I'm hoping to read them sometime this summer. Hopefully. lol. I've got a lot of books to read. But I've heard good things about all 3 titles.

 

[T'Ressa Dax]

I recall hearing Q-in-Law on an audiobook when I was 16, but I didn't really enjoy it. Maybe I was too young and immature to understand it. As an English major, I remember a very memorable professor of mine who was critical about the educational system forcing books on students at the wrong junctures of their lives and thus ruining possible enjoyment of literature. Maybe I didn't enjoy Q-in-Law because at sixteen I didn't have the maturity to enjoy it. Well, if I see it at the library, I'll be sure to check it out and give it another whack.

What do you think of New Frontier, Dax?

Hmm, I think I was 13 when I read it, and I don't remember having any problem. Then again when I remember is wondering what Lwaxana and Q would do next.

I like New Frontier for the most part, it's an interesting series once I got into it. Though it did take me two tries to get through Being Human, I'm not entirely sure why. I was pleased to see McHennry and Soleta from the Starfleet Academy book though.
And a bit annoyed that he aged Selar and Burgy's son so fast at first.
I think I forgot to read Missing in Action in favor of other books, and now the book is missing in action on my overloaded shelves! LOL

 

[Dingo]

Must have just been a difference of temperment thing then, Dax. I'm not sure.

Being Human wasn't my favorite of the series. I liked the first few books up to where they discovered the nature of Robin Lefler's mother. I'm glad that the TrekLit verse decided to do more with Lefler's character than TNG decided. I thought that Ashley Judd did fantastic in that role.

 

[Steve Roby]

I'm glad that the TrekLit verse decided to do more with Lefler's character than TNG decided. I thought that Ashley Judd did fantastic in that role.

I've never noticed much similarity between Lefler as played by Judd and Lefler as written by PAD.

 

[neogothboy74]

I liked the first few books up to where they discovered the nature of Robin Lefler's mother. I'm glad that the TrekLit verse decided to do more with Lefler's character than TNG decided. I thought that Ashley Judd did fantastic in that role.

I was excited to read more about Lefler as well. However, I don't think PD's version of her 'feels' like the character as portrayed by Ashley in those 2 Next Gen appearances. So much so, that I actually picture her as a completely different character in the books. Weird, huh? I like both versions of the character, but to me they're very separate. I do however completely embrace his expansion on Dr. Selar, whom I was also excited about spending more time with.

 

[JustKate]

I love Q-Squared. It's one of the few Trek books that I have actually reread. I'm thrilled to hear that it's out on CD - I have it on cassette, but of course I don't have a cassette player in my car any more. I will definitely look for it - de Lancie reads it so well.

Also, I usually like Peter David. Not always, but usually. And he has a real feel for writing Q dialog, IMO.

 

[EliyahuQeoni]

A very enjoyable book. Though I really think making Trelane a Q was a textbook case of Small Universe Syndrome. PAD has a very bad tendency to try and tie everything in the Trek universe together (Like having the Doomsday Machine be an anti-Borg weapon created by the Preservers), which makes some of his work resemble fan-fiction more than professional fiction, imo.

 

[Thrawn]

A very enjoyable book. Though I really think making Trelane a Q was a textbook case of Small Universe Syndrome. PAD has a very bad tendency to try and tie everything in the Trek universe together (Like having the Doomsday Machine be an anti-Borg weapon created by the Preservers), which makes some of his work resemble fan-fiction more than professional fiction, imo.

Where's your sig quote from? I remember it, but I can't place it.

 

[donners22]

^ Kirk in Trouble with Tribbles

 

[neogothboy74]

A very enjoyable book. Though I really think making Trelane a Q was a textbook case of Small Universe Syndrome. PAD has a very bad tendency to try and tie everything in the Trek universe together (Like having the Doomsday Machine be an anti-Borg weapon created by the Preservers), which makes some of his work resemble fan-fiction more than professional fiction, imo.

I take your point on the Doomsday Machine being built to battle the Borg (though I think it was a cool idea, that was written extremely, entertainingly well) - but I disagree that 'making Trelane a Q' was the same kind of deal. I know I wasn't the only fan who thought of Trelane as a Q as we got to know De Lancie's character. It seemed more like the obvious (if delayed) answer than a fan inspired stretch to tie the Trek universe together, IMO.

 

[JustKate]

^ That was my feeling, too. I mean, almost the second we met Q, an awful lot of us starting thinking, "Hmmm, I wonder about Trelane..."

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

The one thing about this novel that I found implausible was that in all the infinite multiverse, out of the infinite number of parallel realities, there's only ONE where Jack Crusher is still alive? No way. Trelane must have been bullshitting him about that.

If there's an infinite number of universe, logically there must be an infinite number where Jack lives. A subset of infinity is still infinity.

 

[Christopher]

Trelane as a Q doesn't make any sense. Sure, he had a similar attitude, but his powers were technologically enhanced; without his machinery he was effectively powerless. And aside from moving Gothos, he did nothing you couldn't do with a transporter, a replicator, and a holodeck. He's nowhere near the level of a Q.

Besides, given the age of the universe, the ancient, highly evolved superbeings must hugely outnumber the mere mortal races. So the odds are that any two highly evolved superbeings are unlikely to be related, especially when they have absolutely nothing in common besides their personality defects.