Spoilers Section 31: Control by David Mack Review Thread

[Cloud]

I finished the book last night. Powered through the last 150 pages pretty quickly. Really enjoyed it and can't wait to watch the fallout that comes. Primarily loved the stuff with Garak and can't wait to see what happens with the PIcard stuff.

I can't express how much I enjoy a good payoff after investing years into either reading or a good book series or watching a long running TV show. This novel provided that feeling and was a totally unexpected, yet glorious feeling as a long time Trek reader. David Mack is essential to modern trek lit and I can't wait to read his next contribution down the line!

 

[Captain Clark Terrell]

Just to clarify, there's nothing all that unusual about one of us not being currently under contract. Generally we get contracted a book at a time, unless it's for a trilogy or something. I figure Dave just means that he's finished his previously contracted projects and hasn't yet lined up a new project with Margaret, which is the same situation I'm in at the moment. I do have Rise of the Federation still ongoing, but I've been contracted for it one book at a time, except for books 3 & 4, which I conceived as a 2-part arc.

I don't mean to hijack the thread, but I saw this post and had a question. In the case of a series like Seekers, which has no specified length, are contracts also book-to-book? Thanks!

 

[Christopher]

You'd have to ask Dave, Dayton, and Kevin about their Seekers contracts. But Rise of the Federation doesn't have a specified length, and it's mostly been book-to-book, as I said.

 

[Hardtarget]

That sounds like it would probably be a pretty standard scenario industry wide. Hopefully nobody has been burned because if it!

 

[David Mack]

The Star Trek Seekers series was handled on a book-to-book basis.

 

[Captain Clark Terrell]

The Star Trek Seekers series was handled on a book-to-book basis.

Thank you. I guess that means my TrekBBS namesake is perpetually patrolling the Taurus Reach until someone else writes a story that he appears in.

 

[RonG]

I was hoping that the current series would have had defined "series arcs", with a pay-off in mind.
.. does this mean that we could have any of the series (or "writer-specific arcs") just stop, incomplete?
I'm so glad @David Mack got to conclude his Bashir/Sarina/S31/Data story, but I would hate for @Christopher 's Rise of the Federation or @Dayton Ward 's TNG "arc" to get "New Frontier'ed"

 

[Nyotarules]

I bought the kindle edition last night, looking forward to reading it. I am one of those weird folks who reads the last chapter first and I cannot believe you went there!||| Not sure whether this is the Star Trek version of The Matrix or The Bobby Ewing in the shower moment LOL (yes I am revealing my age)
P.S Hope GR does not haunt you from his grave

 

[Markonian]

I was hoping that the current series would have had defined "series arcs", with a pay-off in mind.
.. does this mean that we could have any of the series (or "writer-specific arcs") just stop, incomplete?
I'm so glad @David Mack got to conclude his Bashir/Sarina/S31/Data story, but I would hate for @Christopher 's Rise of the Federation or @Dayton Ward 's TNG "arc" to get "New Frontier'ed"

Yes, that can happen. For example, there's an unfinished Andorian arc on TTN.

 

[MadeIndescribable]

Yes, that can happen. For example, there's an unfinished Andorian arc on TTN.

Haven't read much Titan, but this intregues me. Does it carry on from the whole leaving/rejoining federation from the Typhon Pact/The Fall books?

 

[Nyotarules]

Just a thought, I'll assume Tucker is not successful in shutting down Section 31 since the Romulan war & ROTF novels state he lived happily after with T'Pol after changing his identity and face, then Control never got to him either?
Oh well, will read this after I've read all the other 40 odd Star trek novels I need to read first (Since I am planning to read the relaunch ones in chronological order)

 

[Christopher]

Just a thought, I'll assume Tucker is not successful in shutting down Section 31 since the Romulan war & ROTF novels state he lived happily after with T'Pol after changing his identity and face, then Control never got to him either?

Assumptions are unwise...

 

[Nyotarules]

The more I read the more I accept that Michael Eddington was right, the Federation is a fascist state and they don't even know it..... (This is set in a Myriad universe right?)

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

^ You can't blame the Federation as a whole, for the existence of Section 31.

 

[Nyotarules]

Dear Mr Mack

You killed Bambi, I don't know whether to congratulate you or set Section 31 on you lol
The irony that Hydra ..er Control has been running the Federation for over 200 years

 

[Nyotarules]

Ok I speed read this book while at work, will read it again once I have read the prequel stories. I vote outstanding for this story, despite it smashing the fairytale image of the Federation. You have opened up a Pandora's box for the Star Trek universe, part of me loves the whole idea and part is sad, like finding out there is no Santa Claus.

 

[Nyotarules]

[QUOTE="Mr. Laser Beam, post: 11972197, member: 4374"]I'm just wondering how Bad Robot managed to overlook these things, as they have made it abundantly clear that they refuse to allow the novelverse to mention anything from a Kelvin film.[/QUOTE]
Because there is no Control in the Kelvin verse

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

I don't see how Bad Robot would have a leg to stand on, as Section 31 obviously predates anything Kelvin-related. It was on DS9 well before the first Kelvinverse film was even thought of.

 

[Nyotarules]

Whatever the hell was Uraei doing in the "Yesterday's Enterprise" timeline?

On the other hand, I guess Uraei will ensure the safety of the Federation in "The Chimes at Midnight" and "A Gutted World" timelines.

And I also wonder if and when Uraei was uncovered in the "Brave New World" timeline.

It lost the computer war to an ancient IT system called Poison Apple

 

[Nyotarules]

It may be enough to shield him from jail time or a dishonorable discharge. But if I'm President zh'Tarash, I would absolutely not allow Picard to continue as a Starfleet officer. He would, at best, be getting an honorable discharge.

If the novels choose to deal with real life consequences in the Star Trek universe, then this should happen or Picard retire gracefully to his family vineyard, makes wine and becomes an alcoholic. Maybe this is when Crushers divorces him just as in the Q timeline of All good things