Possible Spoilers Ahead.
I had bought Debtors' Planet from Half Price Books about a year and a half ago, if not longer, and I remember reading it then, but it didn't really register with me. I rediscovered it whilst cleaning my room, and figured that I should re-read it (I managed to get all those damn staff reports and minutes taken care of, and will be working on my homework during the Super Bowl).
Anyway, the plot isn't too bad. Summary: A planet, Megara, is discovered to have gone from pre-industrial level to 23rd-century technology level due to the Ferengi (who are used as something of a cat's paw) causing rapid changes to the society, for starters by helping a minor leader conquer the whole planet, then signing a "contract" with said leader, and exploiting the population. The Enterprise-D picks up an Ambassador (hey look, it's the annoying financial guy from the episode The Neutral Zone!) and is assigned to figure out what's going on, and to somehow stop it.
However, once you start getting into it, a few things might throw you off (as they did me). For one thing, W.R. Thompson (the author) gets very anvilicious at times. Granted, the Ferengi are supposed to be like 20th/21st century humans. I get that. However, the "insults" that Ferengi use (surprise! They're all monetary and commercial and banking references. Like "You overdraft on the great checking account of life" or "You badly-written penalty clause") get old after a while. And, yes, we get it. Capitalism Is Bad. Greed Is Bad. The Federation Is Not Like That. The Federation Is Advanced. We Should Look Down Upon Those Who Live Like That. And, in the case of the Wesley/Shrev subplot (quickly: Wesley becomes friends with Ensign Shrev, a member of the Zhuik species. The Zhuik are ultra-polite, insectoid, and kill rude beings. Because they are more susceptible to genetic issues and the like, and because apparently their species is eternally in danger, they kill "mutants" and those with genetic problems, and rude people (because rudeness is a symptom of a genetic problem). For example, during a holodeck session, Wesley watches as Shrev kills another member of her own species because she asked for directions. When pressed, Shrev reveals that Zhuik have built-in navigation systems, and that the inability to ascertain where you are is a sign of, yeah, a genetic problem. Wesley at first is surprised, but then gets over it) the lesson is We Must Be Understanding and Accepting of Other Cultures' Mores and Rituals and The Like. None of those messages or lessons is necessarily bad. But they get hammered home on almost every other page. There are a few "Take That!" moments as well. Apparently, we 20th and 21st century humans come across as a flanderization of ourselves in the 24th century.
Next thing that threw me off is the Megarans. They talk like Yoda, first of all. It's not too bad at first, but after a while you want to go "Really?" And, for a story based around their planet going from Medieval to 23rd century, they don't really figure too highly, and certainly not as the "xenophobic killers" they are presented as in the book summary on the back cover.
We get to the ambassador now. Ralph Offenhouse (the financier from The Neutral Zone, and who has also appeared in the Khan books by Greg Cox, and in later books as Bacco's Secretary of Commerce) is a Big Deal in this book. But he comes across as weird. He's big and loud and demanding one minute, the next he's moping or thinking about his dead son. But, other than that, he's an interesting character.
There are quite a few ridiculous occurrences in the book, and here are a few:
-During a scene where Picard and Offenhouse are held captive, it turns out that the brim of the tophat that Offenhouse was wearing as part of this ridiculous outfit for a formal dinner is actually a saw, and is used to cut out the bars of the cell and help them escape. Further, he also happens to have a device that interferes with the Cardassian ship that is tracking him in the medal pinned to his chest. As Picard observed "That's hardly standard dress for modern diplomats, Mister Ambassador." Quick note: The Ambassador, who was originally from the 20th century, is far more prepared for any unforeseen occurrences than the experienced Starfleet captain.
-Wesley manages to hack into classified documents and information about the mission the Enterprise is undertaking, and no one even bothers to pretend to reprimand him. Further, Ensign Shrev does the same thing, with the same result. The two are even asked for their opinions and observations on the mission. It's treated as a casual thing, a sort of "Oh, That's Our Wesley and Friend!" moment.
-Apparently, the home planet of the Ferengi in this book is Ferengal, and "Federation Intelligence" (I shan't even say the word oxymor-) has "an insight" or something into the Ferengi financial information.
-The Cardassians are hoping to use Megara as a way to attack the Federation without the Federation attacking the Cardassians. Also, the Cardassians that are stationed on the planet are going off of a decade-old plan and playbook, and never contact their superiors or deviate at all.
-Riker's appreciation of the Klingon culture goes to ridiculous levels, such as him eating a Klingon dish that Dr. Crusher had specifically warned him was dangerous. "Bring on the second course!" he says.
-Alexander comes across a bit like Wesley, in that he's super-smart and helping Geordi create a cloaking device detector. Oh, and he's tormenting his dad by taking nightly baths.
I could go on, but I think you get the picture.
Oy vey.
I had bought Debtors' Planet from Half Price Books about a year and a half ago, if not longer, and I remember reading it then, but it didn't really register with me. I rediscovered it whilst cleaning my room, and figured that I should re-read it (I managed to get all those damn staff reports and minutes taken care of, and will be working on my homework during the Super Bowl).
Anyway, the plot isn't too bad. Summary: A planet, Megara, is discovered to have gone from pre-industrial level to 23rd-century technology level due to the Ferengi (who are used as something of a cat's paw) causing rapid changes to the society, for starters by helping a minor leader conquer the whole planet, then signing a "contract" with said leader, and exploiting the population. The Enterprise-D picks up an Ambassador (hey look, it's the annoying financial guy from the episode The Neutral Zone!) and is assigned to figure out what's going on, and to somehow stop it.
However, once you start getting into it, a few things might throw you off (as they did me). For one thing, W.R. Thompson (the author) gets very anvilicious at times. Granted, the Ferengi are supposed to be like 20th/21st century humans. I get that. However, the "insults" that Ferengi use (surprise! They're all monetary and commercial and banking references. Like "You overdraft on the great checking account of life" or "You badly-written penalty clause") get old after a while. And, yes, we get it. Capitalism Is Bad. Greed Is Bad. The Federation Is Not Like That. The Federation Is Advanced. We Should Look Down Upon Those Who Live Like That. And, in the case of the Wesley/Shrev subplot (quickly: Wesley becomes friends with Ensign Shrev, a member of the Zhuik species. The Zhuik are ultra-polite, insectoid, and kill rude beings. Because they are more susceptible to genetic issues and the like, and because apparently their species is eternally in danger, they kill "mutants" and those with genetic problems, and rude people (because rudeness is a symptom of a genetic problem). For example, during a holodeck session, Wesley watches as Shrev kills another member of her own species because she asked for directions. When pressed, Shrev reveals that Zhuik have built-in navigation systems, and that the inability to ascertain where you are is a sign of, yeah, a genetic problem. Wesley at first is surprised, but then gets over it) the lesson is We Must Be Understanding and Accepting of Other Cultures' Mores and Rituals and The Like. None of those messages or lessons is necessarily bad. But they get hammered home on almost every other page. There are a few "Take That!" moments as well. Apparently, we 20th and 21st century humans come across as a flanderization of ourselves in the 24th century.
Next thing that threw me off is the Megarans. They talk like Yoda, first of all. It's not too bad at first, but after a while you want to go "Really?" And, for a story based around their planet going from Medieval to 23rd century, they don't really figure too highly, and certainly not as the "xenophobic killers" they are presented as in the book summary on the back cover.
We get to the ambassador now. Ralph Offenhouse (the financier from The Neutral Zone, and who has also appeared in the Khan books by Greg Cox, and in later books as Bacco's Secretary of Commerce) is a Big Deal in this book. But he comes across as weird. He's big and loud and demanding one minute, the next he's moping or thinking about his dead son. But, other than that, he's an interesting character.
There are quite a few ridiculous occurrences in the book, and here are a few:
-During a scene where Picard and Offenhouse are held captive, it turns out that the brim of the tophat that Offenhouse was wearing as part of this ridiculous outfit for a formal dinner is actually a saw, and is used to cut out the bars of the cell and help them escape. Further, he also happens to have a device that interferes with the Cardassian ship that is tracking him in the medal pinned to his chest. As Picard observed "That's hardly standard dress for modern diplomats, Mister Ambassador." Quick note: The Ambassador, who was originally from the 20th century, is far more prepared for any unforeseen occurrences than the experienced Starfleet captain.
-Wesley manages to hack into classified documents and information about the mission the Enterprise is undertaking, and no one even bothers to pretend to reprimand him. Further, Ensign Shrev does the same thing, with the same result. The two are even asked for their opinions and observations on the mission. It's treated as a casual thing, a sort of "Oh, That's Our Wesley and Friend!" moment.
-Apparently, the home planet of the Ferengi in this book is Ferengal, and "Federation Intelligence" (I shan't even say the word oxymor-) has "an insight" or something into the Ferengi financial information.
-The Cardassians are hoping to use Megara as a way to attack the Federation without the Federation attacking the Cardassians. Also, the Cardassians that are stationed on the planet are going off of a decade-old plan and playbook, and never contact their superiors or deviate at all.
-Riker's appreciation of the Klingon culture goes to ridiculous levels, such as him eating a Klingon dish that Dr. Crusher had specifically warned him was dangerous. "Bring on the second course!" he says.
-Alexander comes across a bit like Wesley, in that he's super-smart and helping Geordi create a cloaking device detector. Oh, and he's tormenting his dad by taking nightly baths.
I could go on, but I think you get the picture.
Oy vey.
Apart from being a horribly inaccurate analysis of the situation, it wasn't even a necessary addition to the story. I mean, it's getting to the point where Picard's attitude is starting to come across as the "24th century Man's Burden".
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