Belated thoughts on the ATT series

[RonG]

After finally getting the “missing” books in the series (3-6) – I decided to practically devour them in chronological order​

All in all, the series (along with the previous year’s Lost Era miniseries) is the start of the latest “era” of modern TrekLit (the first such “era” IMO would be from the start of the DS9R and including the IKS Gorkon series, SCE/COE and even the first 4 books of the VOY-R).​

A Time to be Born / Die
I found Vornholt’s opening duology to be a strong start to the series. The first book was especially strong, though stretching IMO the severity of Starfleet’s response to the events in Rashanar and its treatment of Picard. I found the second book a bit lacking in its Deux Ex Machina ending by-way-of Wesley, and I originally thought that it would have been a better idea (storytelling-wise) to save the answers for the Rashanar events (i.e. the “demon ship”) for later in the series. Solving the mystery but having the mission be “off the record” was a bit too “convenient”, taking the “easy way” to set the underlying feel of the series. All in all, a solid 7/10 (on account of the strong opening book)​

A Time to Sow / Harvest
Ward and Dilmore’s duology was nice overall, but lacking IMO in consequence in the grand scheme of things. Of course, the entire idea of the mission was that it was a “milk run” that turned out well beyond expectations. Still, as a reader, the importance of events, as expressed by the E-E’s crew was a bit over the top IMO.
I would have liked to further explore the subplot of the growing lack of confidence in Picard by his crew and Starfleet… Still, for what it was, Ward and Dilmore told a solid tale, with engaging characters and setting. All in all, I’d give the duology 7.5/10.​

A time to Love / Hate

I thought this duology was a nice follow up to 2003’s Lost Era: Deny Thy Father (I wonder if the fate of Kyle Riker was in ATT was already planned at DYF’s writing..).While both books were rather short, I found them to be emotionally charged and quite effective, nicely utilizing the underlying subplot of Picard and the E-E’s status.
Last, I thought the character development (especially for Riker, Troi and Crusher) was top-notch, much better than in previous books in the ATT series. Grade-wise, I’d give this a nice 8/10.​

A Time to Kill / Heal
In many ways, the climax of the series, and its most powerful tale IMO, Mack’s duology is gripping and even haunting in its descriptions of Tezwa. While Mack’s prose would reach new heights in later novels (Vanguard and Destiny), his first two full-length Trek novels comprise the best story of the series, revealing the “dark underbelly” of the UFP (something that was felt in the background throughout the series, IMO). I had originally read the duology (and KRAD’s concluding novel) when it first came out, skipping the previous entries, and enjoyed it on its own merits. While the duology benefits somewhat from reading the series in chronological order, I still don’t feel that the previous books are “must-read”. 9/10​

A Time for War, A Time for Peace

KRAD’s concluding chapter of the ATT series is at once a great culmination of subplots, setting and atmosphere. While not as emotionally powerful IMO as Mack’s preceding duology, The novel makes the best use (as it is KRAD, after all) of the overall tapestry of TrekLit. Of course, what makes this novel important to the larger Trek franchise are the “setting” changes put into effect (the election and setting up the Titan series), which are obviously a vital part of current TrekLit, both pre- and post-Destiny. 8.5/10.​

In conclusion, I thought the A Time To… series got better as the volumes progressed, and it is essentially both the beginning of threads that would culminate (in a way) in last year’s Destiny trilogy, and the launching pad for the modern TrekLit franchise – as such, it gets a solid 8/10 for the entire series.​

Comments?​

 

[shanejayell]

I only read Mack's and KRAD's, to be honest. *lol* Mostly because I had picked up Articles of Federation FIRST and wanted to figure out how they GOT there, more or less.

KRAD REALLY writes a very good Worf. I'm tempted to suggest he write a ongoing series of Worf books, along with his Klingon Empire books.

I liked those three, and may eventually track down the others. Any chance they'll come out in a pair of omnibus editions?

 

[wahwahkits]

I enjoyed the whole series apart from one fact: Picards treatment after Rashanar.
Starfleet has a very short memory, didn't he save Earth in First Contact? Didn't he save Starfleet in the ep Conspiracy? What about the millions he helped save on Veridian III? The list is endless, and for Starfleet to treat him the way it did was wholly unbelievable in my opinion.

 

[RonG]

that part was actually mentioned (in a way) in one of the books. The basic logic is that Starfleet tends to dwell on the negative and take the positive for granted...

As I wrote in the OP, I also thought that the treatment of Picard was a bit over the top and mostly a plot device rather than an actual plot.

 

[wahwahkits]

Maybe Starfleets' negativity is a side effect from the ugliness of the dominion war?

 

[RonG]

it was indeed stated that the treatment Picard received was due to the fact that the UFP could not afford a seccession and even war with the Ontailians, so Starfleet had Picard "take one for the team", as stated in the first book.

(still seems a bit far fetched to me.. I mean, who the %%$ ARE these Ontailians?

 

[wahwahkits]

You've hit the nail on the head RonG! The whole thing was a contrived plot device that shouldn't have made it into the books. Humans in the 24th century are supposed to have enlightened morals and sensibilities but I can't see any of that in their treatment of Picard.

 

[RonG]

Thanks, wahwahkits, but my thoughts were more that even in times of war (and its aftermath), while cases of "friendly fire" and outright misconduct are punishable and subject to court martials, it would still be a stretch to subject Picard to the ordeals in the first ATT duology.

And even if you accept that (contrived as it may seem), having that treatment be so obvious and outright malicious throughout the better part of a year paints a juvenile and petty picture of the Admiralty.

I believe that having the prestige of the E-E and Picard himself damaged and demonstrated by fellow captains, crewmembers and maybe even UFP memebers, would have been more subtle and in this case more powerful.

 

[Sci]

Humans in the 24th century are supposed to have enlightened morals and sensibilities

Or at least that's what they tell themselves and others.

Human and Federation political cultures are far more rooted in the principles of modern liberalism and of liberal democracy than real-world political cultures are, but the fact that Picard -- the same guy who has displayed all of the vices of modern humanity at some time or another -- gives a few empty speeches about how much people have improved themselves doesn't make it honest.

 

[wahwahkits]

Humans in the 24th century are supposed to have enlightened morals and sensibilities

Or at least that's what they tell themselves and others.

Human and Federation political cultures are far more rooted in the principles of modern liberalism and of liberal democracy than real-world political cultures are, but the fact that Picard -- the same guy who has displayed all of the vices of modern humanity at some time or another -- gives a few empty speeches about how much people have improved themselves doesn't make it honest.

And lets face it, if every human was perfect the stories would be boring.

 

[wahwahkits]

Thanks, wahwahkits, but my thoughts were more that even in times of war (and its aftermath), while cases of "friendly fire" and outright misconduct are punishable and subject to court martials, it would still be a stretch to subject Picard to the ordeals in the first ATT duology.

And even if you accept that (contrived as it may seem), having that treatment be so obvious and outright malicious throughout the better part of a year paints a juvenile and petty picture of the Admiralty.

I believe that having the prestige of the E-E and Picard himself damaged and demonstrated by fellow captains, crewmembers and maybe even UFP memebers, would have been more subtle and in this case more powerful.

I think the Admiralty is a little jealous of Picard. He has done more than probably any other Starfleet Captain in that century so maybe the Admirals are taking the oppurtunity to try and take him down a peg or two.

 

[RonG]

I think that's a bit simplistic. I do get the idea of what Vornholt (or the editor) was trying to achieve, but in practice, it just fell short IMHO.

I would have had the events of Rashanar be more drastic (maybe causing the deaths of dozens of Starfleet officers, or even Enterprise crewmembers), Picard suspended or transferred of the E-E, go on a quest (a sort of "walkabout") to "find himself", and eventually fight to clear his name and returning to Rashanar to confront the "demon ship".

Meanwhile, Riker would have been in command of the E-E (building him up for the Titan position), and eventually face the Tezwa crisis.

The final entry would have Picard reunited with his crew, but basically other than what I mentioned, the plots would play out ina very similar manner to what we actually got.

 

[Tachyon]

I've read A Time to be Born / Die only, and I did like them. Which was surprising, because I usually cannot stand Wesley in any form (human or traveller). But in the context of these stories he was alright.

 

[RonG]

I think Wesley's main contribution to the series should have been less direct (i.e. trying to stop the E-E's destruction and being the Deus Ex Machina all over the first duology) and more along the lines of:

1. being the reader's POV for the TNG characters - years after he (Wesley), and the "casual" TNG reader, had last seen them

2. developing Beverly's arc, which would lead her off the E-E (as per Nemesis), and later starting a new family with Picard

 

[Therin of Andor]

KRAD REALLY writes a very good Worf. I'm tempted to suggest he write a ongoing series of Worf books

Just ask TerriO to tell him that.