Slings and Arrows, Enterprises of Great Pitch and Moment

[Elemental]

I'm now a few chapters into this final ebook in the Slings and Arrows miniseries, and as always KRAD, am greatly drawn in to the very broad scope you give of the Federation at large in your stories, even when the story itself may be focused mainly in a single location. The political attention is something that always grabs my interest. Learning more about the early days of the Zife administration (knowing where that eventually ends up) is great to see. Getting a bit more of a political insight into Picard's and Sisko's views (and how they differ) is also cool. I was surprised when I realized that this is the first Star Trek story I've read to feature Sisko... (not counting the "Emissary" novelization and the DS9 title for Invasion I read over 10 years ago).

I just had one question: the story has referenced several times already to an earlier meet-up of the TNG and DS9 crews post-"Emissary" but obviously pre-Avatar that seems to have a lot more backstory to it than anything mentioned in the TV series. I know the Enterprise-D was docked at DS9 in TNG's "Birthright" but that episode showed minimal interaction of the crews. So, I'm assuming there's another written story that this is referencing that I am unaware of. Can anyone fill me in on the details?

On an unrelated note, I'm a few chapters into DS9's "Section 31: Abyss" now and am already loving it.

 

[Allyn Gibson]

In addition to "Birthright," the Enterprise-D visited the station in the four-issue TNG/DS9 crossover comic and in the Star Trek: Klingon novelization.

It's been a while since I read Pitch and Moment, so I don't remember the details of the previous meetings given there. My hunch is that the other visits amount to an untold tale that don't match up with anything we've seen before.

 

[KRAD]

Thanks so much! Glad you enjoyed it! I had a great deal of fun writing that story....

I just had one question: the story has referenced several times already to an earlier meet-up of the TNG and DS9 crews post-"Emissary" but obviously pre-Avatar that seems to have a lot more backstory to it than anything mentioned in the TV series. I know the Enterprise-D was docked at DS9 in TNG's "Birthright" but that episode showed minimal interaction of the crews. So, I'm assuming there's another written story that this is referencing that I am unaware of. Can anyone fill me in on the details?

Well, Sisko mentions that the Enterprise had docked at the station "any number of times." The only one we saw on screen was indeed "Birthright Part 1," but the tie-in fiction in both book and comic book form has others. (Plus, Picard and Sisko talk earlier in the S&A miniseries, in Book 2.)

There's also a reference Picard makes to an aqueduct, which was the specific reason why the Enterprise went to DS9 in "Birthright," based on the conversation Picard and Crusher had at the beginning of that episode.

 

[Elemental]

So, I finished this ebook back 1-2 weeks ago and just as a bit more glowing praise, I think this was probably the most enjoyable ebook I've read. The reason for this is principally the great portrayals of Picard and Sisko, and seeing these two interact together was pure delight given their unfortunate past. I also liked how this story tied together much of the plots from the previous entries which I never really expected to have as much of a connection. I also liked how the ending led straight into First Contact although the whole plot device that the admiralty only wanted the Defiant manned by people who had been on the station for less than a year seemed a bit forced as an explanation for why Worf was onboard in FC. He was already commander of the Defiant, wasn't he? Wouldn't that be reason enough to make him head the mission?

So, all in all, I enjoyed Slings & Arrows but Mere Anarchy probably still has it beat for all out favourite ebook miniseries. I'm really hoping that another similar series comes along in the future as this made down-time at work or waiting in line at the supermarket a lot more fun as I would always just pop out my PDA and read. Maybe what I'll do is start downloading some of the early S.C.E. stories as they have had to take a backburner as far as the dead tree novels go.

As far as DS9-R novels, I'm now just starting Demons of Air and Darkness.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

what exactly does "great pitch and moment" mean, anyway?

 

[Christopher]

what exactly does "great pitch and moment" mean, anyway?

It's actually supposed to be "great pith and moment." One of the definitions of "pith" is force or strength, and "moment" in this sense means great value or importance.

 

[Sci]

what exactly does "great pitch and moment" mean, anyway?

It's actually supposed to be "great pith and moment." One of the definitions of "pith" is force or strength, and "moment" in this sense means great value or importance.

Interesting. I had assumed that "pitch" was a metaphor for a ship being cast about, to and for and up and down, on a windy and violent storm; as such, I took the phrase "Enterprises of great pitch and moment" to be a metaphor for violent and unpredictable endeavors that are nonetheless of historical import.

 

[Stephen!]

One thing I found odd was that Zimmerman required funding for the development of the EMH, considering the Federation is a moneyless society.

 

[Christopher]

Even without currency, human labor and computer runtime are finite resources that must be budgeted. So there must be a process for determining how to allocate those resources, thus "funding."

 

[KRAD]

So, I finished this ebook back 1-2 weeks ago and just as a bit more glowing praise, I think this was probably the most enjoyable ebook I've read. The reason for this is principally the great portrayals of Picard and Sisko, and seeing these two interact together was pure delight given their unfortunate past. I also liked how this story tied together much of the plots from the previous entries which I never really expected to have as much of a connection.

Thanks so much!

I also liked how the ending led straight into First Contact although the whole plot device that the admiralty only wanted the Defiant manned by people who had been on the station for less than a year seemed a bit forced as an explanation for why Worf was onboard in FC. He was already commander of the Defiant, wasn't he? Wouldn't that be reason enough to make him head the mission?

That wasn't to explain why Worf was on board in FC, it was to explain why nobody else from DS9 was. FC was the only time we saw the Defiant go out without several of the main characters on board.

So, all in all, I enjoyed Slings & Arrows but Mere Anarchy probably still has it beat for all out favourite ebook miniseries. I'm really hoping that another similar series comes along in the future as this made down-time at work or waiting in line at the supermarket a lot more fun as I would always just pop out my PDA and read. Maybe what I'll do is start downloading some of the early S.C.E. stories as they have had to take a backburner as far as the dead tree novels go.

That may be your best bet, as I don't see any new original eBooks happening any time soon.

As far as DS9-R novels, I'm now just starting Demons of Air and Darkness.

Coolness!

 

[Sci]

One thing I found odd was that Zimmerman required funding for the development of the EMH, considering the Federation is a moneyless society.

Star Trek has never been consistent about whether or not the Federation is truly a moneyless society, though.

I for one do not buy the idea that it's a moneyless society (no pun intended).

 

[shanejayell]

Is this coming out in trade too?

 

[Christopher]

^Eventually, probably, but it's not scheduled yet and it'll probably be a couple of years at least.

 

[shanejayell]

Well that sucks. *sigh*

 

[Man of Steel]

Well that sucks. *sigh*

You know the drill. Print them in the order in which they originally came out.

 

[Defcon]

^^^^

Not exactly sure what you're trying to say, but If you tried to imply that the eBooks are reprinted in exactly the order they were originally released, that's not the case.

Out of the Cocoon was released as an eBook almost a year before the first Mere Anarchy book, but Out of the Cocoon hasn't been reprinted yet, while Mere Anarchy has been (to coincide with the new movies release).

So it isn't set in stone that the potential Slings & Arrows reprint will be hold back until CoE has run its course.

 

[Man of Steel]

^^^^

Not exactly sure what you're trying to say, but If you tried to imply that the eBooks are reprinted in exactly the order they were originally released, that's not the case.

Out of the Cocoon was released as an eBook almost a year before the first Mere Anarchy book, but Out of the Cocoon hasn't been reprinted yet, while Mere Anarchy has been (to coincide with the new movies release).

So it isn't set in stone that the potential Slings & Arrows reprint will be hold back until CoE has run its course.

It was meant as a joke Defcon. You know like when you call customer service and they say your call will be nswered in the order it's recieved.

 

[William Leisner]

^ But it's not funny.