TNG #37: The Last Stand, Brad Ferguson
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^Was that an X-Men joke?
I haven't read my copy of the book yet (even though I bought it like 10 years ago), but I do know that my copy is sort of a scarce edition, but probably not any more valuable than any other copy, and this shows that there is more to the cover pictures than what is printed, since the front cover is about an eighth-of-an-inch wider than the pages, so when I'm reading the back cover, I can see just a little bit of the back of the front cover on the side opposite the spine. And yet it doesn't appear to have been printed off-center or anything else; just cut wider.
Well, sure. Look how it turned out for Custer.
I haven't read this book, but after becoming aware of the reputation that this novel has, I'm inclined to check it out. After all, it was you guys that put me on to reading Balance of Power and that was an... interesting experience.
THEY have a way with words around here when it comes to reading things. None have threatened anyone (yet that I know of anyway) but THEY can be persuasive at times. I may kindle these two titles, the blurbs on amazon look interresting.
I haven't read this book, but after becoming aware of the reputation that this novel has, I'm inclined to check it out. After all, it was you guys that put me on to reading Balance of Power and that was an... interesting experience.
The Last Stand is the opposite of that, I assure you.
I haven't read this book, but after becoming aware of the reputation that this novel has, I'm inclined to check it out. After all, it was you guys that put me on to reading Balance of Power and that was an... interesting experience.
The Last Stand is the opposite of that, I assure you.
Oh dear. Well, I've decided to read it now and push back Dayton Ward's That Which Divides to a later date. I'll probably regret it, but I'm a glutton for punishment.
I haven't read this book, but after becoming aware of the reputation that this novel has, I'm inclined to check it out. After all, it was you guys that put me on to reading Balance of Power and that was an... interesting experience.
THEY have a way with words around here when it comes to reading things. None have threatened anyone (yet that I know of anyway) but THEY can be persuasive at times. I may kindle these two titles, the blurbs on amazon look interresting.
Very true. I think the "Bring Back Janeway" debates have got very close to threats, but not quite.
I'm glad you've decided to read Balance of Power though and it'd be interesting to read someone elses take on it. My advice though is to make sure you've got your sense of humour engaged and just roll with it.
Sorry to drag this thread back up, but I've just finished reading this novel and wanted to highlight my thoughts.
On the whole, I would give the novel a 2.5 out of 5. Besides the storytelling issues, I also had several issues with the dialogue and prose style. At times it felt like I was reading an audio script with characters narrating everything they saw rather than it being described to us in the third person. I also don't believe that Worf would ever say that he had "someone on the horn" when taking a call. 
To sum up, I think the novel had a really good premise about two civilizations preparing to fight each other after thousands of years of myth and legend. Part of the reason why I could see many people not liking the novel is that over half of the novel features Picard ferrying to the Krann ship or with the Lethanta on the planet's surface or in the Enterprise's conference lounge having discussions with all sides to draw up a cease fire.
Negotiations need not be boring as they can be just as tense and dramatic as a physical fight, examples can be found in Trek novels and a particular meeting of the British Cabinet in Torchwood: Children of Earth spring to mind. Unfortunately, Last Stand doesn't really have dramatic meetings. Large part infodumps on the last 7,000 years of history and a bit of pointless posturing and double talk. Not exactly gripping stuff.
However, I found the novel started to come alive in the last quarter when Picard decides to do "something" except hold meetings and dispatches Riker and Troi to the Krann mothership and Data and Ro to the Lethanta's planet in native garb and surgically altered. This is where we start to learn about the two alien cultures and their differing life styles. We also get to see the civilian side of things when the fighting gets going and I particularly found the scene with Data and Ro in the bunker with the old woman and the young lawyer particularly memorable.
Of course, with nothing happening until the last quarter, it means the resolution is even quicker. Oh, the Lethanta have primed some warp reactors to destroy their star. The Enterprise quickly rushes in and destroys it. Then Picard finally brow beats the two sides into negotiating a cease fire. All in about ten pages.
Going back to the original question of whether we want to see this novel followed up, presumably with former Presider Hek and the Seventh Fleet. I'd say no, because following the big revelation that the Lethanta weren't responsible for the destruction the Krann's homeworld, that the wounds would begin to heal. That's what Star Trek is all about.
Saying that though, I did wonder for a time whether Ferguson would take the bold step of having the Enterprise failing to end the war between the two sides as they wiped each other out. Missed opportunity there.
Negotiations need not be boring as they can be just as tense and dramatic as a physical fight, examples can be found in Trek novels and a particular meeting of the British Cabinet in Torchwood: Children of Earth spring to mind. Unfortunately, Last Stand doesn't really have dramatic meetings. Large part infodumps on the last 7,000 years of history and a bit of pointless posturing and double talk. Not exactly gripping stuff.
However, I found the novel started to come alive in the last quarter when Picard decides to do "something" except hold meetings and dispatches Riker and Troi to the Krann mothership and Data and Ro to the Lethanta's planet in native garb and surgically altered. This is where we start to learn about the two alien cultures and their differing life styles. We also get to see the civilian side of things when the fighting gets going and I particularly found the scene with Data and Ro in the bunker with the old woman and the young lawyer particularly memorable.
Of course, with nothing happening until the last quarter, it means the resolution is even quicker. Oh, the Lethanta have primed some warp reactors to destroy their star. The Enterprise quickly rushes in and destroys it. Then Picard finally brow beats the two sides into negotiating a cease fire. All in about ten pages.
Going back to the original question of whether we want to see this novel followed up, presumably with former Presider Hek and the Seventh Fleet. I'd say no, because following the big revelation that the Lethanta weren't responsible for the destruction the Krann's homeworld, that the wounds would begin to heal. That's what Star Trek is all about.
Saying that though, I did wonder for a time whether Ferguson would take the bold step of having the Enterprise failing to end the war between the two sides as they wiped each other out. Missed opportunity there.
I got this one a long time ago it was on a card board stand (huge stand ) in front of Walden books and the price went up, they stopped popping out the covers of the TNG books. So as a child i thought the last sand was the last TNG book. Like after generations or something for some reason. WHo knos i was like 11. But turns it out was a 6th or 7th season. I remember liking it.Similar threads
