Re: A Choice Of Catastrophes review thread
Just finished it; I gave it an "average" score (which is nothing to be ashamed of on my scoring system). It's an interesting novel, and a rather unusual read, which isn't meant as a complaint; it had a memorable structure and a style of writing that stood out from the norm. This prevented it being just-another-TOS-story, though I wish I could actually describe the style; for some reason, I'm finding it difficult to articulate just what was different and interesting about it (I'm a bit ill at present, which is probably partly why). Strong writing throughout.
The character focus on McCoy was good, and the gradual realization of how his POV tied into the unfolding plot was carefully handled. I'm thinking of rereading it when I'm feeling better so I can get a better sense of how the plot, the characterization/POV and the writing style play into each other, because they do intertwine nicely to give the novel a rather unique feel. I'm probably unable to do it justice at present. Another point: it was an interesting and rather fresh way to handle the visions/psychics/dreamscape tropes, which are used often in Trek. The basic description of the plot had me worried it might feel rather bog-standard, but I'm pleased to say that the book did something new with the concepts involved (and, again, tied them into the book's overall narrative structure very well). So it gets points there, too, for finding original and interesting angles on what could be tired ideas.
While it's a McCoy story first and foremost, there's good work in handling the entire crew, by which I mean particularly the minor characters/subordinate officers. It was very rewarding to get a sense of the Enterprise as a working environment with multiple departments and indivuduals keeping it running and carrying out missions - not just a ride for Kirk and the seniors to get them where they want to go. A sense of quietly busy professionalism ran throughout the novel, which was appreciated. I got a real sense of a working community that helped make Starfleet a more three-dimensional organization than it can sometimes appear.
This one didn't quite lift above "average" for me - perhaps because, as interesting and rewarding as the style was, it took a bit of wading into before I felt truly comfortable. Nonetheless, it's a perfectly good Trek novel, it's well written and carefully thought out. It didn't grip me as some Trek books have, but it was a solid read and I can't say anything bad about it. Fans of TOS in particular will be pleased.
.....
PS: Minor notes of interest, that have little or no influence on my overall judgement of the novel but which gain my appreciation:
On the minor alien count, there was an Arkenite.
On the continuity front, there was mention of the Andorian philosopher zh'Mai (mentioned first in A Time for War, A Time for Peace), and the poetry of Shran and S'task. An Orion language was also featured, using an established name for one of their trading tongues. I always approve of little details like this; rewards for those of us who read the entire Trek lit line and enjoy the sense of a shared reality.
Just finished it; I gave it an "average" score (which is nothing to be ashamed of on my scoring system). It's an interesting novel, and a rather unusual read, which isn't meant as a complaint; it had a memorable structure and a style of writing that stood out from the norm. This prevented it being just-another-TOS-story, though I wish I could actually describe the style; for some reason, I'm finding it difficult to articulate just what was different and interesting about it (I'm a bit ill at present, which is probably partly why). Strong writing throughout.
The character focus on McCoy was good, and the gradual realization of how his POV tied into the unfolding plot was carefully handled. I'm thinking of rereading it when I'm feeling better so I can get a better sense of how the plot, the characterization/POV and the writing style play into each other, because they do intertwine nicely to give the novel a rather unique feel. I'm probably unable to do it justice at present. Another point: it was an interesting and rather fresh way to handle the visions/psychics/dreamscape tropes, which are used often in Trek. The basic description of the plot had me worried it might feel rather bog-standard, but I'm pleased to say that the book did something new with the concepts involved (and, again, tied them into the book's overall narrative structure very well). So it gets points there, too, for finding original and interesting angles on what could be tired ideas.
While it's a McCoy story first and foremost, there's good work in handling the entire crew, by which I mean particularly the minor characters/subordinate officers. It was very rewarding to get a sense of the Enterprise as a working environment with multiple departments and indivuduals keeping it running and carrying out missions - not just a ride for Kirk and the seniors to get them where they want to go. A sense of quietly busy professionalism ran throughout the novel, which was appreciated. I got a real sense of a working community that helped make Starfleet a more three-dimensional organization than it can sometimes appear.
This one didn't quite lift above "average" for me - perhaps because, as interesting and rewarding as the style was, it took a bit of wading into before I felt truly comfortable. Nonetheless, it's a perfectly good Trek novel, it's well written and carefully thought out. It didn't grip me as some Trek books have, but it was a solid read and I can't say anything bad about it. Fans of TOS in particular will be pleased.
.....
PS: Minor notes of interest, that have little or no influence on my overall judgement of the novel but which gain my appreciation:
On the minor alien count, there was an Arkenite.
On the continuity front, there was mention of the Andorian philosopher zh'Mai (mentioned first in A Time for War, A Time for Peace), and the poetry of Shran and S'task. An Orion language was also featured, using an established name for one of their trading tongues. I always approve of little details like this; rewards for those of us who read the entire Trek lit line and enjoy the sense of a shared reality.
