I look forward to it personally.
Full Circle Review Thread (Spoilers)
- Thread starter Kirsten Beyer
- Start date
I look forward to it personally.
As do I.
On a side note, I was in my local Oxfam shop a few weeks ago and they had a used (and slightly abused) copy of Full Circle in their book section for a couple of quid which I was a bit miffed at.
!
I take it from the avatar that congratulations are now in order, Kirsten?
Congratulations! It's a JPEG!
Seriously, I hope mother and baby are doing wonderfully.
I literally just finished Full Circle. I'm glad I waited until I finished reading to post my thoughts on the book. The first part of the novel kinda dragged on for me, and I questioned whether or not I would keep going. I just really don't care much about the Klingons and Miral's destiny. I don't find it particularly interesting, so all of the focus on Miral getting kidnapped and all of the stuff with the Kuvah'magh... I really just wanted to get through it as quickly as possible. I realize that this is material that came up in the VOY series, so the novels have been trying to keep the continuity. Hopefully most of the Klingon stuff is behind us now.
Once I got past all of that, the focus returned to the rest of the VOY characters, the pacing picked up and I became far more interested. I really enjoyed the J/C stuff, I have to admit. It's a shame that Janeway's tragic death has robbed us of some really good material between these two characters. But I'm not one of those rabbid J/C 'shippers who is hoping to have Janeway resurrected by the Q. She's dead and it's time to move on.
I admit that I'm a little surprised by just how spread out the VOY characters are. As with the TNG and DS9 relaunch series, characters have come and gone and new people have been needed to fill the void. But as of the end of Full Circle, the only members of the old crew still serving on Voyager are Paris and Kim. Janeway's dead. Chakotay's resigned his commission. Seven is on earth. Torres is in hiding (though she's going to rendezvous with the fleet). The Doctor is serving on the medical ship. Tuvok's over on the Titan. Will everyone be brought together again? And what would that mean for all of the new characters introduced in this novel?
I have to say that I'm at least interested in reading Unworthy. Kirsten Beyer did a pretty good job with Full Circle. This is a big improvement over Golden's efforts. I honestly didn't think I would ever care about what happens to the VOY crew and the series as a whole. That may change now.
Once I got past all of that, the focus returned to the rest of the VOY characters, the pacing picked up and I became far more interested. I really enjoyed the J/C stuff, I have to admit. It's a shame that Janeway's tragic death has robbed us of some really good material between these two characters. But I'm not one of those rabbid J/C 'shippers who is hoping to have Janeway resurrected by the Q. She's dead and it's time to move on.
I admit that I'm a little surprised by just how spread out the VOY characters are. As with the TNG and DS9 relaunch series, characters have come and gone and new people have been needed to fill the void. But as of the end of Full Circle, the only members of the old crew still serving on Voyager are Paris and Kim. Janeway's dead. Chakotay's resigned his commission. Seven is on earth. Torres is in hiding (though she's going to rendezvous with the fleet). The Doctor is serving on the medical ship. Tuvok's over on the Titan. Will everyone be brought together again? And what would that mean for all of the new characters introduced in this novel?
I have to say that I'm at least interested in reading Unworthy. Kirsten Beyer did a pretty good job with Full Circle. This is a big improvement over Golden's efforts. I honestly didn't think I would ever care about what happens to the VOY crew and the series as a whole. That may change now.
I feel like, in an ideal world, the first half of Full Circle, the second half of Full Circle, and Unworthy would've been this huge trilogy relaunching (re-relaunching?) the series - the previous status quo, the transition, and the new status quo. I loved Full Circle, but I'm eagerly awaiting Unworthy to be able to see the story in its entirety.
Then again, this way, those of us who read FC got the old stuff wrapped up AND an idea of what's next...
Also, congratulations to the mama!
Yeah, but it did make the book a little bi-polar. Still awesome, but a little bi-polar.
I take it from the avatar that congratulations are now in order, Kirsten?
I couldn't resist. That's her at six days old. She's 3 and a half weeks now and so far, so good.
Thanks for all of the warm wishes everyone!
Best,
Kirsten
My compliments on Full Circle, Kirsten.
It was a book I really didn't think I'd like, but nothing else had caught my eye when I was at the bookstore that day.
Found the first half far more enjoyable than the second half though. I kept waiting to dig into the meat of what 'Project Full Circle' was going to encompass, yet only got a few scraps...
***Spoiler***
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Not sure how I feel about the Eden arc though. Kinda feels like we're replaying the DS9 Odo arc. But maybe you'll give it an interesting spin.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Wasn't real fond of what was going on with Chakotay either. But by the end you seem to at least have him on the right path.
*** End Spoiler***
Guess I'll be out nine bucks when Unworthy comes out. My wife will be pleased...
It was a book I really didn't think I'd like, but nothing else had caught my eye when I was at the bookstore that day.
Found the first half far more enjoyable than the second half though. I kept waiting to dig into the meat of what 'Project Full Circle' was going to encompass, yet only got a few scraps...
***Spoiler***
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Not sure how I feel about the Eden arc though. Kinda feels like we're replaying the DS9 Odo arc. But maybe you'll give it an interesting spin.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Wasn't real fond of what was going on with Chakotay either. But by the end you seem to at least have him on the right path.
*** End Spoiler***
Guess I'll be out nine bucks when Unworthy comes out. My wife will be pleased...
Congrats Kirsten, hope the little one brings you years of joy.
I'm not working at the moment but my bank balance is still dropping precariously low as I spend on ST books. I can't help it.
I'm not working at the moment but my bank balance is still dropping precariously low as I spend on ST books. I can't help it.
Maybe, but in the same way that the Doctor's character was replaying Data's arc. Individuals searching for their origins isn't a new trope, in sci fi or in literature in general.
I enjoyed Full Circle. I felt that the characters were spot on and while I was sad about Janeway, I understand that these things happen and it was a decision made long ago.
Onto the book itself, the plot was as a whole excellent, although I felt the narrative started to drift a little in the second half. It's possible that you set up massive expectations after a wonderful first half, but the second half didn't seem to flow as well for me. Mainly, I think, because of the time jumping element as opposed to the mostly linear structure of the beginning.
As previously mentioned, the characters were handled well, and I could picture each of the actors from the show speaking the dialogue with little to no difficulty. The new characters were also easy to read, and I especially liked the character of Cambridge, possible because Bristol is within spitting distance of where I live.
To summarise, I loved this book and I look forward to reading Unworthy and any other stories you'll hopefully write in the Voyager universe.
Onto the book itself, the plot was as a whole excellent, although I felt the narrative started to drift a little in the second half. It's possible that you set up massive expectations after a wonderful first half, but the second half didn't seem to flow as well for me. Mainly, I think, because of the time jumping element as opposed to the mostly linear structure of the beginning.
As previously mentioned, the characters were handled well, and I could picture each of the actors from the show speaking the dialogue with little to no difficulty. The new characters were also easy to read, and I especially liked the character of Cambridge, possible because Bristol is within spitting distance of where I live.
To summarise, I loved this book and I look forward to reading Unworthy and any other stories you'll hopefully write in the Voyager universe.
Just finished Full Circle and thought I'd share my thoughts...
Kirsten - First, belated congratulations
Second, you have done something I'd never thought possible. You made me love a Voyager novel!
I never connected to VOY, neither as a TV series nor in the novels. Oh, I'd read quite a few VOY novels (even liked a few such as Echoes and Mosaic), but they almost always seemed to me as a true reflection of the one Trek series I thought was a waste of potential and (IMHO) sub-par, for most of its duration.
When VOY was a part of multi-title crossovers, I'd bought and read the entries, only to be underwhelmed and re-assured yet again that VOY novels were the weakest of the Trek line.
When the VOY-R started, I gave it yet another chance and was without question sure I'd seen the worst Trek novels in years (again, IMO). To my "horror", VOY-R was nothing more than Trek Romance Novels. After the Homecoming duology, I had finally said my "Bon Voyage" (or rather "Goodbye and don't let the door knock you on your way out") to VOY - didn't even buy Old Wounds...
When Janeway was killed in Before Dishonor, I didn't mind much (for severalreasons, including my personal dislike of her portrayal in TNG-R). During Destiny's glimpses of VOY and the beatingboth ship and crew took, I didn't mind much (After all, they weren't important enough to be one of the lead ship / crew in Destiny
...). In ASD, seeing B'Elanna and Miral's names on the casualties list did nothing...
I had not planned on bying Full Circle, but after a while, my inner TrekLit voice got the better of me. After all, Destiny was to me, the best Trek story ever, so I wanted to read its aftermath...
... and this was one of the best TrekLit purchases of recent years!
By distancing Full Circle from previous VOY-R and at the same time bringing its plotlines to a finish, Kirsten has written what is IMHe a modern TrekLit masterpiece
Kirsten got me to actually care about the VOY characters, their setting, trials and relationships with on another. I remember the Klingon plot from the start of VOY-R and I can't believe it had me glued to the pages!
Kirsten created a slew of fantastic new characters (especially the House-like Hugh Cambridge
) and settings, and actually made me want to read Unworthy NOW!
Also, Kirsten actually made me look at Janeway's death and *feel* the tragedy while gaining new insights into what led to it.
This was one hell of a ride - let's see what's next!
Kirsten - First, belated congratulations
Second, you have done something I'd never thought possible. You made me love a Voyager novel!I never connected to VOY, neither as a TV series nor in the novels. Oh, I'd read quite a few VOY novels (even liked a few such as Echoes and Mosaic), but they almost always seemed to me as a true reflection of the one Trek series I thought was a waste of potential and (IMHO) sub-par, for most of its duration.
When VOY was a part of multi-title crossovers, I'd bought and read the entries, only to be underwhelmed and re-assured yet again that VOY novels were the weakest of the Trek line.
When the VOY-R started, I gave it yet another chance and was without question sure I'd seen the worst Trek novels in years (again, IMO). To my "horror", VOY-R was nothing more than Trek Romance Novels. After the Homecoming duology, I had finally said my "Bon Voyage" (or rather "Goodbye and don't let the door knock you on your way out") to VOY - didn't even buy Old Wounds...
When Janeway was killed in Before Dishonor, I didn't mind much (for severalreasons, including my personal dislike of her portrayal in TNG-R). During Destiny's glimpses of VOY and the beatingboth ship and crew took, I didn't mind much (After all, they weren't important enough to be one of the lead ship / crew in Destiny
...). In ASD, seeing B'Elanna and Miral's names on the casualties list did nothing...I had not planned on bying Full Circle, but after a while, my inner TrekLit voice got the better of me. After all, Destiny was to me, the best Trek story ever, so I wanted to read its aftermath...
... and this was one of the best TrekLit purchases of recent years!
By distancing Full Circle from previous VOY-R and at the same time bringing its plotlines to a finish, Kirsten has written what is IMHe a modern TrekLit masterpiece
Kirsten got me to actually care about the VOY characters, their setting, trials and relationships with on another. I remember the Klingon plot from the start of VOY-R and I can't believe it had me glued to the pages!
Kirsten created a slew of fantastic new characters (especially the House-like Hugh Cambridge
) and settings, and actually made me want to read Unworthy NOW!Also, Kirsten actually made me look at Janeway's death and *feel* the tragedy while gaining new insights into what led to it.
This was one hell of a ride - let's see what's next!
Just wanted to say hello and thanks to those who have recently posted their thoughts on Full Circle. It's always nice to hear that people are responding positively to your work. It's especially nice right now when dealing with the new and marvelous challenge of motherhood to stay connected to this part of my life. In the short run, I will undoubtedly have less time than I would like to interact with all of you, but know that I'm checking in when I can and your kind words and supportive comments never fail to lift my spirits.
Best,
Kirsten
Best,
Kirsten
