Spoilers TNG: Indistinguishable From Magic by McIntee Review Thread

Discussion in 'Trek Literature' started by Thrawn, Mar 22, 2011.

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Rate Indistinguishable From Magic

  1. Outstanding

    51 vote(s)
    28.5%
  2. Above Average

    69 vote(s)
    38.5%
  3. Average

    27 vote(s)
    15.1%
  4. Below Average

    16 vote(s)
    8.9%
  5. Poor

    16 vote(s)
    8.9%
  1. Hartzilla2007

    Hartzilla2007 Vice Admiral Admiral

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    Re: Star Trek: TNG: Indistinguishable From Magic Review Thread

    My preorder just downloaded to my nook.
     
  2. JD

    JD Fleet Admiral Admiral

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    Re: Star Trek: TNG: Indistinguishable From Magic Review Thread

    So if Alyssa Ogawa is the CMO of Challenger, does that mean she won't be in the Titan books anymore?
     
  3. Julio Angel Ortiz

    Julio Angel Ortiz Fleet Captain Fleet Captain

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    Re: Star Trek: TNG: Indistinguishable From Magic Review Thread

    I'm guessing not, which leads me to the following question...

    How exactly *did* she get from Titan back, since Titan's mission currently has it months away from Federation space.
     
  4. Christopher

    Christopher Writer Admiral

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    Re: Star Trek: TNG: Indistinguishable From Magic Review Thread

    Seize the Fire is set in August 2382, while Indistinguishable from Magic begins in January 2383. There's time. (For that matter, was the character in question even in StF? The previous TTN book before then was set a year earlier.)
     
  5. Julio Angel Ortiz

    Julio Angel Ortiz Fleet Captain Fleet Captain

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    Re: Star Trek: TNG: Indistinguishable From Magic Review Thread

    Good question. I don't have the book in front of me but I don't recall her being there. But I'm pretty sure she was mentioned / appeared in the book previously, and the impression in books was that Titan continued to push outwards, and didn't return to Federation space at any time. Of course, they could have rendezvoused with another ship in that time.

    Then again, it's all fiction, so it doesn't really matter. :rommie:
     
  6. Lonemagpie

    Lonemagpie Writer Admiral

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    Re: Star Trek: TNG: Indistinguishable From Magic Review Thread

    Dunno -
    Depends whether other writers use her there, or whether CBS picked her for this book because they had some plans for her anyway. Not up to me...

    And luckily it's *been* months...

    Plus there are some ships with slipstream who could have fetched and carried.
     
  7. Deranged Nasat

    Deranged Nasat Vice Admiral Admiral

    Re: Star Trek: TNG: Indistinguishable From Magic Review Thread

    Well, Ra-Havreii needs his Levithi nuts. I'm sure a Vesta could zip over and keep them resupplied with essentials - and switch a few crewmembers if desired.
     
  8. mbruno

    mbruno Lieutenant Red Shirt

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    Re: Star Trek: TNG: Indistinguishable From Magic Review Thread

    I noticed what might be an error. On page 272 Ogawa mentions Scotty having spent 80 years in a transporter buffer. However, from what I remember, Scotty was stuck in the transporter buffer for 75 years. Or is Ogawa just estimating?
     
  9. Lonemagpie

    Lonemagpie Writer Admiral

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    Re: Star Trek: TNG: Indistinguishable From Magic Review Thread

    It's not an error, just an example of a person, as most people do, rounding to the nearest multiple of ten while talking.

    Now, Tomalak being named as still being Proconsul, *that's* an error! (cos a global search and replace would have changed the name of the Romulan ship as well, and I missed a mention while editing by eye!)
     
  10. Deranged Nasat

    Deranged Nasat Vice Admiral Admiral

    Re: Star Trek: TNG: Indistinguishable From Magic Review Thread

    ^ Yeah, I did notice that. But that's not too hard to explain away, so never mind ;):

    The reasons for his departure weren't clear, it just said he was off. With Tal'aura gone I guess he felt he lacked political capital and thought returning to the fleet was his best move...for now. Perhaps after returning to the fleet he spent a few months overseeing the final deployment of this vast new flagship (I got the clear impression it's a unique vessel or part of a prototype class?), and named it for himself. Keeping his name and influence prominant while waiting to see exactly how the new regime shapes up - and what his relationship to it is going to be. Then maybe people complained that due to Praetor Kamemor's proconsul being from her own family it was too much power concentrated in one place and certain power blocs in the senate and/or the Hundred desired someone else in the role? Maybe in the case of some of them (the less moderate ones) they wanted someone whose outlook was more to their liking, as a counterpoint to Kamemor's outlook. So Kamemor, being diplomatic as she is, agrees, and Tomalak rides a wave of popular support back into the position. Or something :)
     
  11. Truth

    Truth Lieutenant Junior Grade Red Shirt

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    Re: Star Trek: TNG: Indistinguishable From Magic Review Thread

    question, i was looking at the ships on star trek online, and noticed the luna class was listed , that got me thinking , does that mean if that the other ships listed can be used, if so i think that would be great, becasue i find alot of the var ships to be intresting, that and it would allow writers to introduce new classes , with out having to invent new ships.
     
  12. shanejayell

    shanejayell Captain Captain

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    Re: Star Trek: TNG: Indistinguishable From Magic Review Thread

    Uh, wha?

    Wrong thread, maybe?
     
  13. mbruno

    mbruno Lieutenant Red Shirt

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    Re: Star Trek: TNG: Indistinguishable From Magic Review Thread

    Ah, I thought that might have been the case, but wasn't sure. I'm quite enjoying the book, though.
     
  14. Wally

    Wally Lieutenant Commander Red Shirt

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    Re: Star Trek: TNG: Indistinguishable From Magic Review Thread

    Loved it. Easily my favorite since before the whole Typhon Pact started. Finally Geordi got the development he needed and I think it's perfect where he ended up.
    First book in a long time that wasn't steeped in politics and such, although there was some. Loved the cool sci-fi ideas on display.
    If I had to pick, I would complain that some of the Challenger's crew were fairly underdeveloped, such as Carolan, and that the Tal Shiar Chairman's characterization seemed a little...off. Too soft.
    Otherwise, best Star Trek book in a long time and I recommend. :)
     
  15. Thrawn

    Thrawn Rear Admiral Premium Member

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    Re: Star Trek: TNG: Indistinguishable From Magic Review Thread

    Just finished. Not a game-changer, this book, but so many of them have been lately that if anything that's in its favor.

    There have been so many stories lately about our crews coming up against impossible situations, apocalypses, irrational political movements, and everything else... It's not that I'm complaining; that may have been my favorite thing about Destiny in the first place, but still. It's nice to be reminded every once in a while that these people are incredibly good at their jobs. This was a sequence of creative and complicated problems that our characters just jumped to and fixed; great fun, not too implausible, and well-situated in current continuity while still being 100% accessible to anyone that'd just picked it up cold.

    I did think it would've worked better as two books; parts seemed a little hurried, especially the beginning of part 2, which was exactly where I wanted the pacing to slow a little bit and get some more character stuff on Geordi & Leah.

    It's a small thing, though; overall, definitely a nice job all around. Add McIntee to the list (Thorne, Leisner, Bick) that I hope to see more than just one full-length novel from someday.
     
  16. Ronald Held

    Ronald Held Vice Admiral Admiral

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    Re: Star Trek: TNG: Indistinguishable From Magic Review Thread

    Only three chapters in, so I will ask, what year is the prologue set in, 2161? Shouldn't Taurik be a Lieutenant Commander in this book?
     
  17. BrotherBenny

    BrotherBenny Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    Re: Star Trek: TNG: Indistinguishable From Magic Review Thread

    I finished the book a little while ago and have just cruised through the thread.

    I give it an 8/10 primarily because of the way the gap was handled and the short, sharp points at the end of the second half (which should have been a full-sized novel on its own) but overall it was a brilliant book.

    I liked the new characters introduced and I wonder if a certain CMO will return to her former ship as a doctor or be reassigned to another vessel. I hope this isn't the last we've seen of her.

    I did have a question about something that bothered me but I don't remember what it was now. Perhaps it will come back to me.

    David, excellent job and I look forward to your next piece.
     
  18. Truth

    Truth Lieutenant Junior Grade Red Shirt

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    Re: Star Trek: TNG: Indistinguishable From Magic Review Thread

    This for the writer , .. would you want to do a on going novel if pocket book offered.. just wondering that.. this has been the first novel of a new crew i have actually liked since the first new frontier series

    Spoiler

    [COLOR=#ff0000]Option[/COLOR][/B]] I,m not clear on the captian of engineering, scott old spot,does that mak him the head of the COE
     
  19. ProwlAlpha

    ProwlAlpha Fleet Captain Fleet Captain

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    Re: Star Trek: TNG: Indistinguishable From Magic Review Thread

    My only compliant was Nog going from engineering to security, unless he went back and got training in security.

    Is the Stormcrow supposed to be a Mogai-class (Valdore) or was there a new type of ship called the Valdore-class with a brand new Valdore?
     
  20. fleetcaptain

    fleetcaptain Fleet Captain Fleet Captain

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    Re: Star Trek: TNG: Indistinguishable From Magic Review Thread

    I'm almost finished myself. Have really enjoyed this book and cant wait to finish part 2 soon.