TNG: The Persistence of Memory by David Mack Review Thread (Spoilers!)

Discussion in 'Trek Literature' started by Sho, Oct 21, 2012.

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Rate The Persistence of Memory.

  1. Outstanding

    71 vote(s)
    55.5%
  2. Above Average

    43 vote(s)
    33.6%
  3. Average

    12 vote(s)
    9.4%
  4. Below Average

    1 vote(s)
    0.8%
  5. Poor

    1 vote(s)
    0.8%
  1. rfmcdpei

    rfmcdpei Fleet Captain Fleet Captain

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    Re: TNG: The Persistence of Memory by David Mack Review Thread (Spoile

    It's deserved.
     
  2. F. King Daniel

    F. King Daniel Fleet Admiral Admiral

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    Re: TNG: The Persistence of Memory by David Mack Review Thread (Spoile

    Qapla':klingon::bolian:
     
  3. Mage

    Mage Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    Re: TNG: The Persistence of Memory by David Mack Review Thread (Spoile

    Finished it yesterday. Let it all roll around in my head....

    A shame about Choudhurry. I really liked her, not the stereotypical Tactical officer who always wants to fire phasers to solve issues. Her relationship with Worf made sense to me.

    Data... well.... I'm not a fan of resurrecting the dead, but I suppose with Data's memories residing in B-4, it was bound to happen. And I agree that this isn't just Data. This new person is more then Data was. Not better, but literally more. Capable of more, more memories of other people, more experiences in these new memories in his databanks. And if a person is the sum of his parts, how CAN this be the Data we all know and love? Sure, Data's memories are all there as well, but he himself stated that he's not really sure who he is right now.
    This ending left more more satisfied then Eternal Tide, where Janeway happilly slaps on her combadge and rankpips and goes back to being who she was as if all is cool now. Data's not sure. He was told he died, but can't remember. He can suddenly remember things he never experienced. He's capable of things he wasn't before he died. Five years have passed. And, to top it all off, he now knows that somewhere, out there, is a garanteed way to restore Lal to life. He has a lot to deal with, a lot to comprehend. I'm glad David decided to NOT have him back on the bridge in a uniform going all 'ladida, let's pretend I was never gone'. I, for one, can't wait to read more of this new person called Data.

    All in a all, a great read. I'm going to hold off voting for this one, since I want to grade the trilogy as a whole. I understand they won't be as connected as Destiny was, but still, I want to grade the story in it's totallity.
     
  4. trash80

    trash80 Commander Red Shirt

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    Re: TNG: The Persistence of Memory by David Mack Review Thread (Spoile

    Finished last night, very good book. I enjoyed Part 2 a lot as it was different to normal Star Trek. Can't wait for the next book now.
     
  5. Hugh Cambridge

    Hugh Cambridge Lieutenant Commander Red Shirt

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    Re: TNG: The Persistence of Memory by David Mack Review Thread (Spoile

    Happy for you David :bolian: and happy to have participated, I pre ordered the whole trilogy some time ago.
    Now I am reading Immortal Coil and will go on with Persistence of Memory right after :cool:
     
  6. zarkon

    zarkon Captain Captain

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    Re: TNG: The Persistence of Memory by David Mack Review Thread (Spoile

    Wonder if he'll repair his chameleon circuit

    Or if he'll be like the doctor and not bother to
     
    Last edited: Nov 8, 2012
  7. E-DUB

    E-DUB Fleet Captain Fleet Captain

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    Re: TNG: The Persistence of Memory by David Mack Review Thread (Spoile

    I'm thinking that Data died in Nemesis and the character we "meet" at the end of TPOM is Data 2.0.

    By the way, that chameleon circuit is a great idea and should be used.
     
  8. Brefugee

    Brefugee No longer living the Irish dream. Premium Member

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    Re: TNG: The Persistence of Memory by David Mack Review Thread (Spoile

    Before I continue, I've not read any of the other posts in this thread, I'll go back and read it once done, hopefully not all what I am about to say has already been said.

    Firstly, I would just like to thank you David Mack for what is in my most not so humble opinion the best Trek book to come out this year, if not for a good few years. It was not just fun, but an unexpected joy to read. Some of the events and the structure of the book felt like a "David Mack Greatest Hits Album." We had the Orbital insertion from A Time to Kill. We had a Starship hiding in a Gas Giants atmosphere similar to Wildfire. We also had the extended period of time chronicling the adventures of a secondary character before they meet up with the primary characters. And I loved it, yes you've rehashed ideas, but they felt fresh with new twists, Geordie even made a reference to the Tezwa insertion and how badly that went for his team.

    The story of Soong was fun, I liked the first person perspective narrative in his section, his highs and lows were interesting, although he comes across as a bit of a bastard, he's a lovable one. His unrelenting love for his boys came across on the page and his final sacrifice seemed appropriate and the way Data has been brought back seems plausible, he's Data, but different and if he shows up again, as I suspect he does, I hope we see how different Data now is to how he was before he died. Unlike the recent resurrection of herself which just seemed meh in comparison, the resurrection of Data was brilliant and had me smiling like a loon when I was on the bus.

    I enjoyed the primary story (or is it more a secondary story) of the heist, investigation and subsequent infiltration of the Breen/Borg factory. There are a few questions I have regarding that. Why didn't the factory become inert like all other Borg tech post Caeliar and why was it there? Wasn't the rogue Borg Lore allied with somewhere nearer the Delta Quadrant?

    I did gasp and need to read the sentence twice when Choudhury was killed, it was unexpected and I share Worfs sentiments regarding it being a senseless death.

    As you can probably tell, I really did like The Persistence of Memory, after a few lack luster novels, this was a real joy to read and I can't wait till Silent Weapons is out in a few weeks.
     
  9. Markonian

    Markonian Fleet Admiral Moderator

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    Re: TNG: The Persistence of Memory by David Mack Review Thread (Spoile

    Not to nitpick on details, but you forgot Commander Katherina Pulaski and Wesley Crusher (TNG) as well als Arex and M'Ress (TAS) (not sure about canonicity of TAS). Pulaski and Crusher are still alive and kicking; they never perished.

    OT: When is Katherine coming back, btw? Last thing I heard she was at the Troi's wedding.
     
  10. Turtletrekker

    Turtletrekker Admiral Admiral

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    Re: TNG: The Persistence of Memory by David Mack Review Thread (Spoile

    Yeah, I always assumed that that positronic signal was somehow directed at the Enterprise for the express purpose of getting their attention.
     
  11. Christopher

    Christopher Writer Admiral

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    Re: TNG: The Persistence of Memory by David Mack Review Thread (Spoile

    Me too, but that raises the question of why that didn't make them suspicious.
     
  12. Patrick O'Brien

    Patrick O'Brien Captain Captain

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    Re: TNG: The Persistence of Memory by David Mack Review Thread (Spoile

    Congrats Dave!:bolian: I hope the next book does better.
     
  13. Anika Hanson

    Anika Hanson Captain Captain

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    Re: TNG: The Persistence of Memory by David Mack Review Thread (Spoile

    Just finished it this morning. I will wait until I've read all 3 to give a proper raiting/review but I really enjoyed it. This is how a resurrection should be done imo. I'd read the countdown comics which seemed to indicate something different, which I wasn't happy with, but the way it is dealt with in this book sits well with me. Looking forward to the next book, but its not released until November the 27th in the UK.

    Also congrats to the author on making the NYT bestseller list. Thoroughly deserved.:techman:
     
  14. F. King Daniel

    F. King Daniel Fleet Admiral Admiral

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    Re: TNG: The Persistence of Memory by David Mack Review Thread (Spoile

    Finished it. Very much enjoyed it.

    Killing off Choudhury very quickly and randomly while introducing another female security officer who might as well be Choudhury?:wtf:
     
  15. Christopher

    Christopher Writer Admiral

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    Re: TNG: The Persistence of Memory by David Mack Review Thread (Spoile

    ^Why do you say that? They have nothing in common but their job, their species, and their gender. That's like saying Geordi might as well be Scotty.
     
  16. F. King Daniel

    F. King Daniel Fleet Admiral Admiral

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    Re: TNG: The Persistence of Memory by David Mack Review Thread (Spoile

    It seemed to be as if one fairly generic female officer was being replaced by another fairly generic one. Hopefully we'll learn more about this newcomer (whose name I do not have the skill to type properly here on my phone!) in books 2 and 3 of Cold Equations and she'll seem less like a straight replacement.:shrug:
     
  17. Christopher

    Christopher Writer Admiral

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    Re: TNG: The Persistence of Memory by David Mack Review Thread (Spoile

    Generic? I did my best to make Choudhury unlike any security chief we've ever seen before.
     
  18. Sho

    Sho Fleet Captain Fleet Captain

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    Re: TNG: The Persistence of Memory by David Mack Review Thread (Spoile

    TPoM is actually the first story featuring Choudhury I read. From my brief time with her I liked the character, especially that early chapter when she is having some private moments with Worf. She comes across as a mature adult having a credible relationship with Worf, and frankly that's better than average for a Trek romance (I've always felt that romantic interpersonal relationships were one of the franchise's great weaknesses).
     
  19. Markonian

    Markonian Fleet Admiral Moderator

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    Re: TNG: The Persistence of Memory by David Mack Review Thread (Spoile

    Hint, hint: Have a look on the Enterprise-E bridge officers in Countdown. ;)
     
  20. Jarvisimo

    Jarvisimo Captain Captain

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    Jan 4, 2011
    Re: TNG: The Persistence of Memory by David Mack Review Thread (Spoile

    She's also in Destiny, according to Memory Beta.