The Eyes of the Beholders

[RonG]

I just finished this old TNG novel, and I was surprised at how much I liked it

The novel had a "Classic TNG" feel to it, with the crew all working together, each with a little time at spotlight - it was IMO a true "ensamble" novel, and not a "Data novel" or a "Geordi novel".

The addition of Selar and the mentioning of (future) SCE\CoE's Sonya Gomez were nice touches, and I almost wished that Peter David had incorporated Selar's plotline into New Frontier

All in all, I would greatly recommend this novel, especially to fans who mostly watched the show, and remember the status quo favorably.

 

[Mary Ann]

This is one of my favourite TNG books as well, for the reasons you state. I think it's a shame we never saw more of Selar in the series.

 

[Therin of Andor]

The addition of Selar and the mentioning of (future) SCE\CoE's Sonya Gomez were nice touches, and I almost wished that Peter David had incorporated Selar's plotline into New Frontier

Of course, the Selar-leaving-Starfleet plotline, and her making promises to the little Andorian girl, were permitted because TNG's producers said they had no plans for Selar to return canonically - but, of course, then the screenwriters started name-referencing Selar on the show, just for fun!

I suggested to Peter David several times that it might be fun to see Thala again. Interesting that the whole Aenar-are-blind idea in ENT could get pulled into the mix. With recent changes to NF, her return would still be interesting.

I must admit that it's my least favourite AC Crispin ST novel, but its ideas and characters were great!

 

[chelly]

I wonder if she will be mentioned in the Typhon books. Isn't there one that takes place on Andor.

 

[T'Ressa Dax]

That was easily one of my favorite. Mostly because Geordi was featured more plus the addition of Thala. I also wished that storyline got continued, or at least some passing mention of Thala in NF. But I got used to what PAD did with Selar, so I don't mind.

 

[Joel_Kirk]

I actually liked this one, especially since it had the addition of an Andorian. (Too, it was a short novel that just told a simple story; no chapters or interludes that go through a lot of backstory or exposition).

 

[Therin of Andor]

no chapters or interludes that go through a lot of backstory or exposition.

Well, that possibly got stripped out. AC Crispin had planned to create aspects of Andorian religion to support Thala's plight as a vision-impaired orphan seeking her place in her own society - whether it was slabs of backstory or passing references we don't know - but the then-ST Office stomped on those plans because the canonical series had never given any hints as to Andorian religious practices.

 

[Nardpuncher]

I have fond memories of the Riker flashback to when he went to San Francisco to join Strafleet.

 

[RonG]

while reading it, I also wondered how Riker's .. experiences.. in San Francisco, were approved by the oft-mentioned Richard Arnold.

Wasn't that a case of adding to <gasp> canon?

 

[Nardpuncher]

^^ What do you mean exacty?
I read the book when it came out in 1990 and just sort of remember him meeting a woman, and the last line of that chapter where he leaves her apartment at dawn and heads toward Starfleet academy.

 

[Therin of Andor]

while reading it, I also wondered how Riker's .. experiences.. in San Francisco, were approved by the oft-mentioned Richard Arnold.

The licensed tie-ins rarely ran into trouble give the main characters past romantic liaisons. Siblings were something else though; canonical episodes were more likely to introduce those.

 

[RonG]

the novel clearly states that Riker was a virgin before meeting the woman in question... so it's pretty explicit in regards to what happened (not that I have any problems with it )

 

[Joel_Kirk]

the novel clearly states that Riker was a virgin before meeting the woman in question... so it's pretty explicit in regards to what happened (not that I have any problems with it )

Interesting.

Because Peter David's Imzadi had Riker with a non-Troi lady, then Troi herself. Moreover, if Riker was a virgin, that would mean he and Troi didn't do the deed when they knew each other before serving on the ENT.

*'Cannon' violation!

no chapters or interludes that go through a lot of backstory or exposition.

Well, that possibly got stripped out. AC Crispin had planned to create aspects of Andorian religion to support Thala's plight as a vision-impaired orphan seeking her place in her own society - whether it was slabs of backstory or passing references we don't know - but the then-ST Office stomped on those plans because the canonical series had never given any hints as to Andorian religious practices.

Well, I approve of the changes.










*I am just waiting for someone to point it out.....

 

[RonG]

Actually, the Riker "love flashbacks" in this novel are said to occur in Riker's teen years (concluding in his late teens, academy years), so no canon violation here AFAIK