Spoilers TP: Zero Sum Game by David Mack Review Thread
- Thread starter JD
- Start date
Re: Typhon Pact: Zero Sum Game Review thread
I go backwards and forwards on that - are his actions realistic? Are they well-written? Do they make sense? Yes to all three... yet... in a way I can't really articulate it's not what I actually want to read about in a Trek novel, a Doctor Bashir who's solution to a problem is to
doesn't seem to be very creative to me. Yes, it's completely realistic in the context provided but I'm reading a Star Trek book not Tom Clancy (although there is a argument there is more fantasy in a Tom Clancy book... 
)
I go backwards and forwards on that - are his actions realistic? Are they well-written? Do they make sense? Yes to all three... yet... in a way I can't really articulate it's not what I actually want to read about in a Trek novel, a Doctor Bashir who's solution to a problem is to
murder unarmed civilians
)
Re: Typhon Pact: Zero Sum Game Review thread
I've seen that referenced around these parts, made me chuckle when I read it.
Anyway, I finished reading Zero Sum Game yesterday morning, it was ok but not great. I think the anticipation of it and remembering how good on the whole Destiny was, personally left me a little disappointed. There was one point in the story where in focused on Bashir and Douglas for what seemed like a good one hundred pages and I was wanting to find out what was happening onboard Aventine or even back in Paris.
I've seen that referenced around these parts, made me chuckle when I read it.
Anyway, I finished reading Zero Sum Game yesterday morning, it was ok but not great. I think the anticipation of it and remembering how good on the whole Destiny was, personally left me a little disappointed. There was one point in the story where in focused on Bashir and Douglas for what seemed like a good one hundred pages and I was wanting to find out what was happening onboard Aventine or even back in Paris.
Re: Typhon Pact: Zero Sum Game Review thread
I'm fairly sure I'm going to like both major storylines. As for the politicians' POV, maybe someone could do a sequel to "Articles of the Federation".
Ezri seems like a capable commander. And maybe she sees now that Worf's claim that Julian is sort of an overgrown man-child has merit. There certainly was leftover tension between them.
My wife is a hopeless romantic and was anxious to see Julian and Sarina get together again even if in "Chrysalis" he came off as "some poor schmuck who was constantly leaving unanswered messages on her voicemail or whatever they use in the 24th century". So I have yet to reveal to her the surprise ending (since I'm not supposed to have read it already).
How have some of y'all managed that when I got my copy in the mail just two days ago???
I'm fairly sure I'm going to like both major storylines. As for the politicians' POV, maybe someone could do a sequel to "Articles of the Federation".
Ezri seems like a capable commander. And maybe she sees now that Worf's claim that Julian is sort of an overgrown man-child has merit. There certainly was leftover tension between them.
My wife is a hopeless romantic and was anxious to see Julian and Sarina get together again even if in "Chrysalis" he came off as "some poor schmuck who was constantly leaving unanswered messages on her voicemail or whatever they use in the 24th century". So I have yet to reveal to her the surprise ending (since I'm not supposed to have read it already).
Re: Typhon Pact: Zero Sum Game Review thread
"Leftover tension"? Specs, please?
I just hope it results in "it wasn't meant to be". Sorry about that...you could say I'm something of a romantic, myself (albiet a celibate romantic)--but I'm Julian/Ezri all the way.
"Leftover tension"? Specs, please?
I just hope it results in "it wasn't meant to be". Sorry about that...you could say I'm something of a romantic, myself (albiet a celibate romantic)--but I'm Julian/Ezri all the way.
Re: Typhon Pact: Zero Sum Game Review thread
See dialogue between Julian and Ezri at the end of Chapter 6 (pages 62-66).
See dialogue between Julian and Ezri at the end of Chapter 6 (pages 62-66).
Re: Typhon Pact: Zero Sum Game Review thread
I finished it, but was unsatisfied. Not certain why.
I finished it, but was unsatisfied. Not certain why.
Re: Typhon Pact: Zero Sum Game Review thread
I really wish the polls defaulted to showing how people voted. Mack's Destiny and Vanguard books are outstanding. I'm wondering who puts this in the same class so I can judge how they rate things in the future.
It was a good solid read but in the end it just didn't do a lot for me. I gave it an average. How Bashir and Douglas are able to get around the Breen planet with out being detected and how Ezri gets out of the ambush just seemed a bit convenient. Aside from the dissident I just didn't feel the sense of danger for the characters I felt in his A Time to... books.
In looking over Mack's bibliography, I've read it all, this one rates below most of it. But that means it's still "average" which is what I rated it.
One of the more interesting sentences I read though was in bio page: "His upcoming novels include The Mirror Universe Epic Rise Like Lions and a new original supernatural thriller"
Is that second book a sequel to The Calling or is it another type of supernatural book?
David Mack is one of my top 3 ST writers and I'm looking forward to any new books, it's just that this one didn't hit my buttons.
I really wish the polls defaulted to showing how people voted. Mack's Destiny and Vanguard books are outstanding. I'm wondering who puts this in the same class so I can judge how they rate things in the future.
It was a good solid read but in the end it just didn't do a lot for me. I gave it an average. How Bashir and Douglas are able to get around the Breen planet with out being detected and how Ezri gets out of the ambush just seemed a bit convenient. Aside from the dissident I just didn't feel the sense of danger for the characters I felt in his A Time to... books.
In looking over Mack's bibliography, I've read it all, this one rates below most of it. But that means it's still "average" which is what I rated it.
One of the more interesting sentences I read though was in bio page: "His upcoming novels include The Mirror Universe Epic Rise Like Lions and a new original supernatural thriller"
Is that second book a sequel to The Calling or is it another type of supernatural book?
David Mack is one of my top 3 ST writers and I'm looking forward to any new books, it's just that this one didn't hit my buttons.
Re: Typhon Pact: Zero Sum Game Review thread
Hmm, just finished reading it on my Nook. Excellent novel.
To start off though this story takes place what, five or six years after The Soul Key…I’m so confused it’s not even funny. I know DS9 was a bit behind the time but I’m reading the early chapters on the station wondering “When the hell did all this happen???”
On the other hand, I LOVE what was done with the Breen! Another page flushing out their history would have been nice but whats there ties in very nicely with what we already know.
Visiting Bacco again was nice but seeing how it worked from the other side (Typhon Pack) was better. I always figured they hated each other only slightly less than Federation. And speaking of Nan, does she have a similar council with Donatra, Rom, and Martok?
And finally, I also liked the Cold War politics of it all. With all the plausible deniability threads tying up at the end, how the final confrontation ended couldn’t have been much better.
Hmm, just finished reading it on my Nook. Excellent novel.
To start off though this story takes place what, five or six years after The Soul Key…I’m so confused it’s not even funny. I know DS9 was a bit behind the time but I’m reading the early chapters on the station wondering “When the hell did all this happen???”
On the other hand, I LOVE what was done with the Breen! Another page flushing out their history would have been nice but whats there ties in very nicely with what we already know.
Visiting Bacco again was nice but seeing how it worked from the other side (Typhon Pack) was better. I always figured they hated each other only slightly less than Federation. And speaking of Nan, does she have a similar council with Donatra, Rom, and Martok?
And finally, I also liked the Cold War politics of it all. With all the plausible deniability threads tying up at the end, how the final confrontation ended couldn’t have been much better.
Re: Typhon Pact: Zero Sum Game Review thread
Yet another winner by Mack!
Yet another winner by Mack!
Re: Typhon Pact: Zero Sum Game Review thread
Thoroughly enjoyed finally getting an answer to the huge question mark of who and what the Breen are.
I found the epilogue rather disturbing, though. Never did care for the organization Sarina was revealed to be with (nor with the questions that revelation raised about her sincerity).
Thoroughly enjoyed finally getting an answer to the huge question mark of who and what the Breen are.
I found the epilogue rather disturbing, though. Never did care for the organization Sarina was revealed to be with (nor with the questions that revelation raised about her sincerity).
Re: Typhon Pact: Zero Sum Game Review thread
Many. many moons ago, I read a short story set in a society where everyone was forced to wear masks to hide their looks, weights to negate any physical advantages, and brain implants that would prevent the smarter members from out-thinking anyone else. Needless to say, Dave's depiction of the Breen reminded me of that old tale, and I'm wondering if anyone else might recognize it?
Many. many moons ago, I read a short story set in a society where everyone was forced to wear masks to hide their looks, weights to negate any physical advantages, and brain implants that would prevent the smarter members from out-thinking anyone else. Needless to say, Dave's depiction of the Breen reminded me of that old tale, and I'm wondering if anyone else might recognize it?
Re: Typhon Pact: Zero Sum Game Review thread
My local Barnes and Noble had it on shelves in mid October...
My local Barnes and Noble had it on shelves in mid October...
Re: Typhon Pact: Zero Sum Game Review thread
Google's 3rd result: Harrison Bergeron by Kurt Vonnegut exactly fits your description.
Google's 3rd result: Harrison Bergeron by Kurt Vonnegut exactly fits your description.
Re: Typhon Pact: Zero Sum Game Review thread
^ I actually cited that story, along with Orwell's 1984, as one of the key inspirations for Zero Sum Game on the StarTrek.com forums a few days ago.
^ I actually cited that story, along with Orwell's 1984, as one of the key inspirations for Zero Sum Game on the StarTrek.com forums a few days ago.
Re: Typhon Pact: Zero Sum Game Review thread
Obviously, I'm just not reading the right fora...
Obviously, I'm just not reading the right fora...
Re: Typhon Pact: Zero Sum Game Review thread
I thought it was a great book. I loved the Breen and wish the storyline would've contained a bit more on their history, especially how they convince races to "assimilate" into the group.
I thought it was a great book. I loved the Breen and wish the storyline would've contained a bit more on their history, especially how they convince races to "assimilate" into the group.