TOS: Inception by S.D. Perry Review Thread (Spoilers!)

[Cuhl]

Re: Inception - Grade/Review Thread (probable spoilers ahead)

because that's just what Inception is: A big, fat Star Trek romance novel.

That's how it struck me. Like a Star Trek movie made for the Lifetime channel.

 

[JoeZhang]

Re: Inception - Grade/Review Thread (probable spoilers ahead)

because that's just what Inception is: A big, fat Star Trek romance novel.

That's how it struck me. Like a Star Trek movie made for the Lifetime channel.

I wouldn't go quite that far but it certainly had a bit of a trekchick-lit vibe to it...

 

[Smiley]

Re: Inception - Grade/Review Thread (probable spoilers ahead)

I thought that Inception was an outstanding read. I didn't remember Leila Kalomi at all from TOS, so she was like a new character to me. I very much enjoyed reading a Pike-era novel with Kirk and Carol in it.

Like both of the covers indicate, the book is mainly centered on the relationships between the four main characters. I see this as a nice departure. If this book was written in the 1970s or 1980s, the entire focus would have been on the potential disaster on Mars. While that gets a good 50-60 pages of play, it's more about the people than the science, real or otherwise.

I also like the look at environmental issues and the inner politics of the various activist groups. The book deals pretty fairly with all sides, only condemning the use of violence and threats to make points.

I look forward to more good work from Perry and Dennison, together or separately.

 

[Corran Horn]

Re: Inception - Grade/Review Thread (probable spoilers ahead)

Just finished it - it's... OK.. the prose is fine and the characters are well written but nothing much happens.

Nothing at all happens that we didn't know about, really. It turns out to be all backstory to two stories (Spock/Leila and Kirk/Carol) that (to me) weren't interesting enough to be due a fill-in of that back story. I guess the Carol Marcus story could have been interesting but in this case, it wasn't. The little we learn of their relationship in "Enterprise - The First Adventure" was more interesting to me than this way.

I was surprised that Leila Kalomi came off better that Carol Marcus in the end, principally because Leila

Spoiler: courage

found the guts to actually tell "her officer" how she felt. Carol just kind of wimped out, never telling Kirk what was up. I found her behavior cowardly.

Well I guess it answers whether Carol told Kirk about the pregnancy...not that this is the definitive answer on that either. (so why bother telling the story?)

The whole 'my officer' thing didn't really make any sense either. Why not say his name? Is it because a Vulcan/Human romance would be embarrassing? Is it because Marcus does not mention Leila/Spock when she sees Spock in Star Trek II? If that's the reason it's silly.

It just seems odd...and makes Leila (who already seemed to fall for Spock way too fast, but she was on the rebound I guess) flighty, to me. Maybe I need to watch "This Side of Paradise" again.

 

[Thrawn]

Re: Inception - Grade/Review Thread (probable spoilers ahead)

I also like the look at environmental issues and the inner politics of the various activist groups. The book deals pretty fairly with all sides, only condemning the use of violence and threats to make points.

This was the aspect of the story that impressed me the most. Most Trek books that try to examine an issue try a little harder to make A Point; this was a really thoughtful exploration that didn't take a specific side. It was really intellectually fun to read.

 

[seigezunt]

Re: Inception - Grade/Review Thread (probable spoilers ahead)

I also like the look at environmental issues and the inner politics of the various activist groups. The book deals pretty fairly with all sides, only condemning the use of violence and threats to make points.

This was the aspect of the story that impressed me the most. Most Trek books that try to examine an issue try a little harder to make A Point; this was a really thoughtful exploration that didn't take a specific side. It was really intellectually fun to read.

I enjoyed how that aspect of the novel ended. I was really uninterested in the Redpeace plot, but was glad to see how it ended.

That said, I was a little disappointed in the book overall: not much of anything happened. Not that this is a requirement for me, but if you are going to be light on plot, then be rich on character, and I don't feel we got that either. IMO, we really didn't get much back story for the chicklit characters. I would have like to have learned more about Leila Kalomi in particular.

Not bad, but not really gripping. In their defense, a tough period to write about, because we know what's going to happen.

 

[Ktrek]

Re: Inception - Grade/Review Thread (probable spoilers ahead)

I voted "below average". I found the book to be pretty dull. I do understand that it is not easy writing a novel in which we already know the future of the characters but I have read plenty of Star Trek books that we far more engaging. And compared to most of the recent Trek novels this one was pretty short.

My biggest gripe about the book would be that I just don't believe that SD Perry had much to do with the novel. Yea...here name is on the cover but I get the feeling that Britta Dennison was being given a chance to get her name out there and SD Perry lent her name for the project. It just does not read and feel like any of her other novels and I am a huge fan of Perry's other Star Trek novels, especially the DS9 stuff. I find it hard to believe that she had much if any input into this work. I think her name is mostly on there to sell books. I can't prove that of course but that's what I feel about it. Inception is a book better read when you have absolutely nothing better to read.

Kevin

 

[Icemizer]

Re: Inception - Grade/Review Thread (probable spoilers ahead)

I though it was just ok with one exception. Commander James T. Kirk. This is a part of Kirks life that has largely been skipped over in virtually every form of media. Here we are introduced to a Kirk who is ready for command.(cough, cough Abramsverse) Confident, charismatic, and in command of everything around him. I wish we could have spend more time getting to see this Kirk in action than dealing with a silly mars plot.

 

[Deranged Nasat]

Re: Inception - Grade/Review Thread (probable spoilers ahead)

This, while nothing amazing, was a nice change of pace and a generally good novel. It certainly wasn’t your usual Trek piece. A certain magazine editor of note would probably use the term “navel gazing” along with moans that nothing happens, but I had no concerns. I like variety in my Trek books. I’ve just had my fix of intergalactic politics, exciting Starfleet activities, Tholians, Klingons, Orions etc with the brilliant “Precipice” and plenty more life or death (mostly death) in the Mirror Universe with the equally great “The Sorrows of Empire”, so I was perfectly happy with moving in a new direction for a while. Yes, okay, the intense emotions and relationship angst could be a little thick on the ground at times even for me (I love “Well of Souls”, remember), yes this was essentially a “Trek romance novel”, but, then again, considering the subject matter what else could it be? I’d rather have a romance than an attempt to shoehorn two civilian scientists into a “Starfleet adventure”.

Pros:

We get to see a lot more of civilian humanity. Earth and Mars, and the human business structure, as well as exploration of everyday human lifestyles, helps restore a bit of balance in the face of the overwhelming Starfleet focus Trek usually has. I found it particularly effective the manner in which Earth-bound human’s worldviews were naturally smaller. There were mentions of allied civilizations like Argelius and Axanar, and colonies like Berengaria, but while obviously a part of people’s awareness these have no immediate presence or relevance. It’s a big universe when you haven’t got a high-warp starship underneath you. Exploring Mars in more detail was pleasant, especially since “Beneath the Raptor’s Wing” made it more prominent within the Trek Iit universe. I was also pleased with the little snippets of Vulcan culture and philosophy in the book; the on-going development of these fictional races is always one of my favourite parts of Star Trek literature.

The environmental theme was interesting, worthy of exploration certainly given the almost casual manner in which Starfleet interacts with planetary ecosystems much of the time (or so it seems to me). The debate between Kirk and Kent was very well handled. It was particularly intriguing in light of this being in part a Carol Marcus book. Is not the debate about the wonders and benefits of advanced technological development Vs the dangers and possible abuses taken to its conclusion in Project Genesis? As someone who is probably closer to the Kent side of the argument than the Kirk (although not in any extreme sense, I’m pretty much near the middle, as it were) I couldn’t help but see the Genesis Wave sweeping across planets at this point. (Ha! Take that, planetary ecosystem of Myrmidon! Kent would have had a field day...) Also, it brought to mind the arms race in “The Chimes at Midnight”. Good stuff. Interesting issues, handled in a mostly non-judgemental, open minded manner, and explored in the required complexity.

Young Kirk was also interesting. I must admit, Kirk has never been a favourite of mine. He may be the one Star Trek character I just can’t get a grip on. For some reason he just doesn’t work for me; usually. Here, though, I felt I was getting a sense of who he was, and young Kirk here is quite illuminating in helping me build up a picture of the later Captain Kirk. His...intensity...came across quite well, and this was one of those rare occasions where I think I got a sense of him as a being.

Cons

It felt a bit too “Western” in the naming (perhaps somewhat justified given the location where Marcus was based, but still). I know Misters Poz and Verkin in “Rosetta” said “Anglo-Saxon” culture is Earth’s dominant, but I felt there needed to be more variety. (Personally I don’t think “Western” culture will be dominant in the future; my future Earth’s dominant culture would be a mix of South Asian/Indian subcontinent with Middle East, and some Western aspects incorporated into it. Anyway...)

The whole “only Vulcan in Starfleet” business reared its ugly, lonesome pointy-eared head again.

I could have done without the underlying “young people are foolish” thread. Perhaps I’m exaggerating that aspect of things in my own highly biased mind, but I get quite frustrated with people thinking that insight comes with age, and that youths are inherently more foolish or less insightful than older people. Damn the human concept of “wisdom”, anyway...

Still, overall, I liked it. I’m glad I get to conclude that so often when I review Trek books!

 

[KingstonTrekker]

Re: Inception - Grade/Review Thread (probable spoilers ahead)

I am an avid reader of Trek novels and seldom dislike one (an exception being the recent DS9R Mirror-themed novels). However, I absolutely hated Inception and voted "Poor" in the poll.

It was insipid, uninspired --- it read like poor fan fiction. I expected much more from SD Perry. Leila -- a flaky character from a TOS episode -- is just as horrid in this novel. The plot is completely mundane and you can figure out how the book is going to end long before the end (I am referring to the "Mars in jeopardy" thread.)

It read like a really bad soap opera. Very disappointing. It is too bad that we got this drivel in a year when there are going to be fewer new novels due to the postponement/cancelation of the nuTrek novels.

 

[seigezunt]

Re: Inception - Grade/Review Thread (probable spoilers ahead)

I finished it a month ago, and I can't remember how it ends.

 

[Nardpuncher]

Re: Inception - Grade/Review Thread (probable spoilers ahead)

I just finished it and I quite enjoyed it. I just wish we would have been given the scene where Carol tells Jim about David. I didn't just miss this did I? I was waiting for it, but then nothing...

I came here to post the same question.
It seemed like the prefect opportunity to have that discussion about Carol wanting David in her life and for Jim to 'stay away'.

 

[RonG]

Re: Inception - Grade/Review Thread (probable spoilers ahead)

Somewhat regretfully, I voted "poor" on this novel.

S.D. Perry's novels are some of my favorites (Avatar and Unity are IMO some of the absolute best DS9 novels), and while I found the Terok Nor novels by Perry and Dennison far inferior to Swallow's, they were at least ok..

Inception was.. not

Of course, the notion of a Trek romance novel wasn't that appealing to me in the first place, but I gave it a try anyway. What I found was a paper-thin plot, shallow characterization, and a premise I thought was out of place for TOS.

The notion of corporations, environmental issues etc., felt too "21st century" to me and didn't fit IMO with the feel of the Trek universe (it was IIRC just a few years before TOS). Had this premise been presented in the Enterprise era, I might have found it more plausible.

Even with that in mind, the characters felt off to me (except Kirk and Spock, which were secondary at best). I felt as though Perry and Dennison tried to hammer the character's basic motivations too hard, and it all came off stiff and shallow.

The ending of the novel left me with a resounding "what was it all for " feeling... While we know how and where the characters end up, I feel as though there had been an opportunity here to explore these characters beyond the surface - an opportunity I feel had been wasted.

All in all, IMO this had been the Twilight of Trek, and certainly the worst Trek novel I read since Engines of Destiny...

YMMV, of course...