Spoilers Section 31: Control by David Mack Review Thread

Discussion in 'Trek Literature' started by Defcon, Mar 17, 2017.

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Rate Section 31: Control

  1. Outstanding

    57 vote(s)
    58.2%
  2. Above Average

    27 vote(s)
    27.6%
  3. Average

    7 vote(s)
    7.1%
  4. Below Average

    5 vote(s)
    5.1%
  5. Poor

    2 vote(s)
    2.0%
  1. Kilana2

    Kilana2 Vice Admiral Admiral

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    I've just ordered it. I'm quite excited.
     
  2. DS9forever

    DS9forever Commodore Commodore

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    Has anyone read the short excerpt on Amazon?
     
  3. T'Bonz

    T'Bonz Romulan Curmudgeon Administrator

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    Just received mine today. Looking forward to reading it.
     
  4. tomswift2002

    tomswift2002 Commodore Commodore

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    Just picked mine up at Coles today.

    I'll get on it as soon as I'm done The Nancy Drew Files #7 Deadly Doubles.
     
  5. tomswift2002

    tomswift2002 Commodore Commodore

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    I was just reading the sample page at the front of the book. Looks like besides Bashir and Douglàs, we are getting to see more of Data and Lal. I've always wanted to see another story with Bashir and Data since that crossover on TNG!
     
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  6. borgboy

    borgboy Commodore Commodore

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    Any word if this one is getting an audiobook release?
     
  7. Reanok

    Reanok Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    I Preordered Control I can't wait to finally get to read this book at long last.:evil::bolian: I can't wait to find out what happens with the Section 31 storyline .It's going to be good.
     
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  8. Kilana2

    Kilana2 Vice Admiral Admiral

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    My copy has arrived. I might need some time before I can start reading it, because I'm stuck in the middle of two other novels. I'm looking forward to seeing Bashir again, one of my favorite characters.
     
  9. Ronald Held

    Ronald Held Vice Admiral Admiral

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    I looked at a B&N for it, bit it was not there. I will wait until tuesday for the download.
     
  10. Jedi Ben

    Jedi Ben Commander Red Shirt

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    So, read it - the result? Holy hell, er.... How to put this without major spoilers? Nope, no way to do it. Click if you like, don't say you weren't warned:

    It's often said that tie-in fiction is safe and predictable, that at the end the toys are back in the box, all intact - except clearly no one told David Mack that!

    This is a story of staggering nerve and, at times, brutality and very few come out at the end unscathed.

    The cleverest part of this is the final revelation of what Section 31 is and how it came to be. To place an AI at the centre of it all is quite, quite elegant and works perfectly, especially with those final page revelations.

    Bashir manages to finally complete his crusade, albeit at massive cost, though I'm nowhere near as bothered by the death of Sarina as Bashir as I didn't like her.

    Bashir's fate at the end of this book is pretty damn dark, but I like that he's under Garak's care. Talking of whom, he was a delight in this.

    This was a superb pay-off to years of Section 31 stories. Really quite excellent. Oh and it seems like I now need to go and preorder a copy of Titan: Fortune of War too.....
     
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  11. JD

    JD Fleet Admiral Admiral

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    Is there some kind of connection to Fortune of War, or are you just saying that because Control was so good you're anxious for more David Mack?
     
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  12. David Mack

    David Mack Writer Rear Admiral

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    Since there is no narrative link between the stories, I think it would be the latter…
     
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  13. Jinn

    Jinn Mistress of the Chaotic Energies Rear Admiral

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    When does Control take place?
     
  14. Jedi Ben

    Jedi Ben Commander Red Shirt

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    Well, more Mack is always good, but I wouldn't go so far as to say the two are connected as such....

    Oh?
    I had read Control's mentioning of a Titan mission at the end that had worked out well, despite some less than optimal aspects, as possibly referring to your upcoming Fortune of War book. Is that not so after all? If it is, I'd agree it fits 'no narrative link' technically, too. ;)

    Late 2386 and 2140-2156 and the two stories interweave very effectively.
     
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  15. tomswift2002

    tomswift2002 Commodore Commodore

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    I'm about 120 pages into the book and it is really very good so far. Although it'll be interesting to see what happens to Data and Lal, because Lal (and I want to say "literally burnt her bridges", but burnt really is not right, as it was more like termites destroyed her house) has no house to go back too.
     
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  16. T'Bonz

    T'Bonz Romulan Curmudgeon Administrator

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    About 1/4 of the way through the book. So far, so good.

    My only whine is the years that I stopped reading Trek books. It's coming back to bite me in the ass now. :D
     
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  17. Mr. Laser Beam

    Mr. Laser Beam Fleet Admiral Admiral

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    Does Control - in any way, shape or form - lead into the Jake/Nog scenes from The Good That Men Do?

    Meaning, does Control set up the fall of Section 31 that, according to TGTMD, we all know must come?
     
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  18. T'Bonz

    T'Bonz Romulan Curmudgeon Administrator

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    It's getting good. I'm halfway through now but too tired to do sustained reading now. Stupid brain and eyes.
     
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  19. Jedi Ben

    Jedi Ben Commander Red Shirt

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    Yes and there's more to that too.
     
  20. Jinn

    Jinn Mistress of the Chaotic Energies Rear Admiral

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    Thanks, that satisfies my curiosity for the moment :D
     
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