MU: Rise Like Lions by David Mack Review Thread (Spoilers!)

[light487]

Re: Star Trek: Mirror Universe: Rise Like Lions review thread (spoiler

One thing I am having difficulty with now that I am around 20% of the way through is the sheer amount of characters and different sub-plots. I'm used to a bit of flittering around but this book sees so many different points of views that when you put the book down for a day and pick it up, you kinda get a little lost. Even when reading through continuously, the jumping around gets a bit annoying.

I'm not saying it's a bad book.. no.. I am just saying that it is on such a grand scale in such a condensed form that I am having trouble keeping up.. :S

 

[David Mack]

Re: Star Trek: Mirror Universe: Rise Like Lions review thread (spoiler

Well, again, it's helpful, in my opinion, to have read all the prior Mirror Universe stories, including those that are part of the post-finale DS9 story arc. Otherwise, a lot of these stories seem to come out of nowhere. I did what I could to provide context, but there were a lot of established "facts on the ground" that I had to respect and contend with while I wrote this book.

 

[Csalem]

Re: Star Trek: Mirror Universe: Rise Like Lions review thread (spoiler

Finished it the other day and enjoyed it. My favourite part was the mention of Inis Mór at the end of the novel as my mother is from the neighbouring island of Inis Meain and I'm an O'Brien! The sudden mention of the island caught me completely by surprise and brought a smile to my face, as it did to my mother's. Think it was the first time in twenty years my interest in Star Trek made her smile!

 

[David Mack]

Re: Star Trek: Mirror Universe: Rise Like Lions review thread (spoiler

^ Well, whadda ya know! A very cool confluence of coincidences!

 

[hbquikcomjamesl]

Re: Star Trek: Mirror Universe: Rise Like Lions review thread (spoiler

Pleasantly surprised. I usually don't go for Mirror Universe stuff, but this was really quite good, and quite compelling.

 

[Fer]

Re: Star Trek: Mirror Universe: Rise Like Lions review thread (spoiler

Rated it Outstanding. Thanks for an absolutely wonderful read!

 

[David Mack]

Re: Star Trek: Mirror Universe: Rise Like Lions review thread (spoiler

^ My pleasure.

 

[captcalhoun]

Re: Star Trek: Mirror Universe: Rise Like Lions review thread (spoiler

finished this last night. putting it very profanely, it's a FUCKING BRILLIANT BOOK. i literally had trouble putting it down, it was a real page-turner.

i did wonder about the 2 Selars and even more about the Mirror Dax, so i'm glad i read the whole thread. i chalked the 2 Selars up to simply more than one person with the same name.

 

[David Mack]

Re: Star Trek: Mirror Universe: Rise Like Lions review thread (spoiler

There was never any proof that the Selar in Greg Cox's story died; the reports of her demise might have been a lie ... or an error. There's no reason to think there are two different characters named Selar.

As for the double Dax issue ... just pretend Jennifer Sisko was following Ben Sisko's lead and was also mistaken about Jadzia's surname. Problem solved.

 

[shanejayell]

Re: Star Trek: Mirror Universe: Rise Like Lions review thread (spoiler

I voted 'Above Average.' I liked it, but it didn't blow me away as much as Destiny, for instance. Tho that may be because I haven't found Shards and Shadows yet, too *sigh* Anyway, I only really had two major gripes about this book:

One: Memory Omega does too much. They just... keeps handing the characters solutions to their problems, rather than having the rebels do the work. It feels very let-down-ish to a degree, tho Mack is a good enough writer to sell it, mostly.

Two: the Kes subplot. A left over from the Voyager tie in novel to MU, the Kes subplot is the only one that feels almost completely pointless to the plot. I'm guessing it was included to make the book as 'complete' as possible, but it seems to serve very little purpose. The only scene she DOES anything relevant seemed tacked on.


Anyway, a good, but not great novel, and I AM looking forward to any continuation.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Re: Star Trek: Mirror Universe: Rise Like Lions review thread (spoiler

I just finished RLL. Read the whole thing in one go. Loved it.

"Gul Leoben"...

 

[David Mack]

Re: Star Trek: Mirror Universe: Rise Like Lions review thread (spoiler

^ I was wondering when someone would notice that.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Re: Star Trek: Mirror Universe: Rise Like Lions review thread (spoiler

I also noticed that there were certain characters who had names similar, but not identical, to those in the RU. "Rogan'agar" (Goran'agar), "Temolok" (Tomalak), etc. Are these intended to be MU counterparts to RU characters but whose names aren't exactly the same? Kind of like Soleta's father - in the RU his name is Rajari, but in the MU it's Rojan. Same story here?

 

[David Mack]

Re: Star Trek: Mirror Universe: Rise Like Lions review thread (spoiler

^ No, I was just looking for names that hadn't already been used.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Re: Star Trek: Mirror Universe: Rise Like Lions review thread (spoiler

<Ace Ventura>
Allllll....righty then.
</Ace Ventura>



Also: Is the characterization of mirror Tropp intentional? Meaning: MU Tropp is depressed and fatalistic all the time, contrasting with RU Denobulans who are always so happy and upbeat and optimist?

 

[David Mack]

Re: Star Trek: Mirror Universe: Rise Like Lions review thread (spoiler

^ Yes, but in his defense, the Denobulans have had a hard run of it under the Alliance...

 

[PlainSimpleJoel]

Re: Star Trek: Mirror Universe: Rise Like Lions review thread (spoiler

Outstanding. Picked it up yesterday, and finished tonight.

 

[Sci]

Re: Star Trek: Mirror Universe: Rise Like Lions review thread (spoiler

Apropos of nothing, and please forgive the thread necromancy, but...

I'm discovering the works of Billy Bragg, and I just listened to his rendition of "A Pict Song" (lyrics from a Kipling poem) from his album William Bloke. And it really reminded me of Rise Like Lions -- especially this part:

Yes -- and we little folk too
We are as busy as they
Working our works out of view
Watch, and you'll see it some day

No indeed! We are not strong
But we know of Peoples that are
Yes and we'll guide them along
To smash and destroy you in war

We shall be slaves just the same?
Yes, we have always been slaves
But you -- you will die of the shame
And then we will dance on your graves

 

[TenLubak]

Re: Star Trek: Mirror Universe: Rise Like Lions review thread (spoiler

Ok well I lost my whole post again, which always happens. So I guess what i typed for 20 mins is gone, I got this this morning out in Towson, and I want to say that I am intested to see how Smiley Face O'Brien leads this band of rebels without comprmising his morals.

 

[RonG]

Re: Star Trek: Mirror Universe: Rise Like Lions review thread (spoiler

I just finished RLL, and I have to say that I enjoyed it very much. I voted "Above Average" but I think we should add another option – something like "Very Good", as I think the novel's not *quite* up there with the modern classics (i.e. Destiny, Vanguard..).

I read the novel without reading the previous MU anthologies (I'd read only the expanded TSoE), and while Mack does a great job "tying up" the MU without being dragged down by continuity , the novel could have used a timeline at the start (like DS9R's Unity).