An ambitious project which hasn’t fully succeeded to fulfill all its promises.
Like I said it was a very ambitious idea to bring together elements from different series and movies, but for my taste it was maybe a little bit to much for one novel. It just feels a little bit crowded, so to speak. Obviously the big point of the novel is supposed to be that we know more than the characters, namely that Kirk’s rescue is the reason for the change of the timeline, but somehow the characters look a little bit naive, when they almost totally rule out that possibility at first. Guinan’s feelings are another thing I could only hardly accept in the way they’re portrayed here. Although they are described as vague by Guinan, they are to specific in relation to what we have seen on TV about her abilities in my opinion. Generally the novel feels to blown up sometimes, maybe more concentration on single plot points would have been better. For example : if you look at it, the whole Guardian of Forever encounter with Guinan isn’t really necessary, Kirk already is ready to “sacrifice” himself to the Nexus/Vortex, Guinan’s experience is “just” a further reassurance. What I enjoyed and would have liked to read more about is the “alternate” Sarek and the whole changed timeline.
The characterizations are O.K., with the exception of Kirk. I just had a feeling of wrongness with him, without being able to exactly pinpoint the feeling. Like with the story, the overcrowding of the novel in some ways doesn’t permit a real in deep look on single characters, the look on them mostly remains superficial. One character I think was portrayed really good though, is Scotty. His “depression” after his resurrection in the 24th century and the permanent mood changes are fully in synch with the man we saw last on the Enterprise – D.
Overall an acceptable novel which hasn’t enough focus for a top novel, but with some good moments.
