So what are you reading now? Part 2
- Thread starter Rosalind
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They're both excellent; Spin, I think, is the superior of the two, but I liked them both quite a lot.
Spin has one of the best slow unfolding of plot twists I've seen in a book. Every time you think it's starting to make sense, it throws you a curve ball. It's remarkably well constructed.
I’m currently 2/3 though Ishmael (Crossroad by the same author is one of my all-time faves). So far it’s got time travel, shifty Klingons and weird aliens. And Spock’s lost his marbles (again). I’m loving it.
I love the idea that 600 years ago Klingons were a subject race of the Karsids, and that when the Klingons revolted they simply took the Karsids’ ships, tech, ruling system etc and adopted them as their own. The idea is that the Klingons are warlike because they were conquered during their primitive tribal period, and the Karsid interference meant they never evolved beyond it before going into space. From what we’ve seen on TV, I never believed Klingons would have been capable of attaining spaceflight –but it all makes sense now!
Then there’s Aurelia the Drelb (a shape-shifting, colour-changing, small-emanating thing with fake eyelashes), who one served on the USS Republic. The USS Republic they say is crewed almost exclusively by Orions, Kzinti and Trisk (and 6 humans). A Federation ship crewed by Orions and Kzinti?? The same ultra-hostile Kzinti who live on their planet in a forced demilitarization/virtual-quarantine run by the Federation? Those guys?
Now if only the Young Kirk/Gary Mitchell Republic novel was set on this version of the ship: Kirk bangs Orions, fights the Kzinti and has to keep Gary out of trouble – and all before the mission’s begun!
I love the idea that 600 years ago Klingons were a subject race of the Karsids, and that when the Klingons revolted they simply took the Karsids’ ships, tech, ruling system etc and adopted them as their own. The idea is that the Klingons are warlike because they were conquered during their primitive tribal period, and the Karsid interference meant they never evolved beyond it before going into space. From what we’ve seen on TV, I never believed Klingons would have been capable of attaining spaceflight –but it all makes sense now!
Then there’s Aurelia the Drelb (a shape-shifting, colour-changing, small-emanating thing with fake eyelashes), who one served on the USS Republic. The USS Republic they say is crewed almost exclusively by Orions, Kzinti and Trisk (and 6 humans). A Federation ship crewed by Orions and Kzinti?? The same ultra-hostile Kzinti who live on their planet in a forced demilitarization/virtual-quarantine run by the Federation? Those guys?
Now if only the Young Kirk/Gary Mitchell Republic novel was set on this version of the ship: Kirk bangs Orions, fights the Kzinti and has to keep Gary out of trouble – and all before the mission’s begun!
^ I love all three of Hambly's Trek novels. Seek out Ghost-Walker if you haven't read it.
Ironically, I just finished rereading The Final Reflection the other day. It's a memorable work; far more "oblique" in style than the typical Trek book.
I'm been working sort of backwards through the Destiny Aftermath; having read A Singular Destiny and Losing the Peace I was sufficiently piqued to pick up the Destiny trilogy. Working on Book II, and it's good stuff.
I found the DS9R omnibus at my library. It took me a while to get into it, repeatedly putting it down and re-reading the same page later, but right around the time they left the Cardassian freighter in Avatar: Book I, I finally got my head into the world (which happened yesterday afternoon). I'm currently about halfway through Avatar II, I imagine. I'm enjoying it so far.
I'm currently reading The Lost Years. I picked up the final book in a used bookstore recently and just started rereading the first installments trying to kickstart my memory about what was going on in that time period. So far it's keeping my interest especially the stuff on Vulcan.
Star Trek Deep Space Nine-The big game
I've been reading the first SCE collection, Have Tech, Will Travel and I just finished the second story (KRAD's 1st SCE story). It was quite enjoyable. I'm going to take a break a read the rest after i've re-read the amazing PAD New Frontier novel, Once Burned. Not to take anything away from the SCE books, but Once Burned has been staring at me from my shelf calling out to be read again. It has been a few years afterall 
Last night I decided to put The Last Oracle aside for now, and I'm trying to read American Gods again. I got it a year or two ago, and tried to read it, but I got to a really really graphic sex scene, and since it made me uncomfortable I put it away. But after seeing how many awards it's won and reading reviews, I decided to try it again anways. I'm past that part now, and despite that scene I am really enjoying it. Before this I'd never read anything with more graphic than what's in the modern Trek books.
I just finished "Gauntlet" the first book in the "Stargazer" series. I have to admit that I approached this book with a bit if trepidation as I grew up with TOS and am not a tremendous fan of TNG athough I do enjoy it. This is the series that deals with Picard's very first command. About half way through the book, which dealt primarily with the reader meeting the new crew, etc. I began to feel a bit of Deja Vu as it was very reminiscent of the first book in the "Titan" series where we are introduced to a number of non-humanoid crewmembers. On board the Stargazer we have a Gnalish, Binderian, and a Nihzak. Also in the book we meet an Admiral by the name of McAteer who seems to set up Picard for failure, also reminscent of Admiral Jellico in the "New Frontier" series. He also hand picks seven new crew members to be assigned to the Stargazer for various reasons - none of which are good for Picard. The story revolves around the mission to capture the notorious pirate knwn as the White Wolf, something that no Federation vessel has been able to accomplish as he has holed up deep within a Lazarus star. The ending is a bit of a surprise and a bit weak but overall enjoyable. All that being said I really did enjoy the book and would recommend it to any TNG fan. Hey where else can you read about a Picard with a full head of brown hair!
I've ignored my box of bright, shiny new books to go with one I got second-hand - Star Trek: Action! For those not familiar with it, it breaks down the various steps in producing an episode, picking out specific parts of a DS9 and Voyager episode. It's really interesting - even just seeing photos of the office environment is fascinating.
If nothing else, it's made me want to watch the episodes again, and no doubt I will appreciate them quite a bit more.
If nothing else, it's made me want to watch the episodes again, and no doubt I will appreciate them quite a bit more.
Back to SCE/COE. I've finally started reading the Grand Designs omnibus.
I love that book. I have it on the shelf next to the DS9 Companion by the same author.
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