Spoilers SNW: Asylum by Una McCormack Review Thread

[James Swallow]

So what's this whole "beer with twigs" business?

What m'colleague Una alludes to here is a variety of beer - generally referred to as 'real ale' - which is traditionally-brewed, matured in the cask, unfiltered, with what you might call a "rustic" quality to it. Unlike most commercially-made, mass-produced beers, it's not processed for longer shelf-life, doesn't have artificial additives in it, and so on. And the oft-repeated joke is, you can tell it's real ale when you drink it, because it still has bits of twig (from the hops) floating in it. Here in the UK we have the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), a whole organization dedicated to the preservation of it.

 

[Una McCormack]

Thanks for explaining that, James, and better than I could! I just had to explain it too a translator, too!

 

[CaptainCalvinCat]

I'm looking forward to get this book - it will be released in German, right? Probably via Cross Cult, who has the licensing rights, IIRC?

 

[Una McCormack]

I was emailing the German translator, so I hope so!

 

[hbquikcomjamesl]

That explains much. A Google search on "beer with twigs" didn't turn up a whole lot that seemed relevant (although I did learn that alcoholic birch beer is a thing).

Star Trek has always been about exploring the human condition metaphorically, and is often at its best when it forces us to confront our societal mistakes metaphorically. This does that with the scenario, all-too-common in real life, of a dominant culture suppressing a culture (or just an ethnicity) it deems inferior. I would think that comparisons with Janet Kagan's Uhura's Song are probably inevitable, although in that case, it's the nomadic culture that's dominant, and ends up retreating from exploring other worlds (and from written language, while retaining fairly advanced technology in other areas), while the city culture leaves, and colonizes another world.

Spoiler: I will note that finding out . . .

who was responsible for the bomb threat

Spoiler: was a major surprise, and up until the reveal,

Naxhana was my prime suspect

.

 

[CaptainCalvinCat]

I was emailing the German translator, so I hope so!

Ahh, those are good news, Misses McCormack. I'm looking forward to read that book. Live long and Prosper.

 

[JD]

Only the second? I thought we'd already had a few out. . . . . . sure enough, it is. Only The High Country until now. I stand corrected.

The Enterprise War is a de facto SNW novel. Even Desperate Hours, if you squint.

There have also been 2 comic book miniseries so far, The Illyrian Enigma and The Scorpius Run.

 

[Oz Trekkie]

Thoroughly enjoyed reading this novel, given 5 stars on Goodreads.

 

[Una McCormack]

Thoroughly enjoyed reading this novel, given 5 stars on Goodreads.

Thank you!

 

[DEWLine]

Looking forward to getting my own copy as soon as time, funds and other concerns allow.

 

[hbquikcomjamesl]

You won't be disappointed. Only what I cited about Page 89 in a previous post kept me from giving it an "Outstanding."

 

[Tuskin38]

Jessie Gender and Dr Una McCormack talk about Asylum, there are spoilers so warning there. I haven't watched it yet because I haven't finished the book. They also talk about a couple other books, but Asylum is at the start of the video.

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

 

[E-DUB]

I'd give it a solid "B". While I'm sure that Ms McCormack was disappointed to be writing a novel without any Cardassians in it, no doubt that was compensated for by having a main character who shares her first name.

 

[Reanok]

I got my book and read it quickly. This was One of my favorite Strange New world s novels so far. I've read so far.I couldn't put this book down. I really liked Pelia being in the novel she's a great character. I hope we see more of her character being featured in future books. I voted outstanding.

 

[Dr Bonezee]

I loved this book. She really fleshed out the characters and made them feel alive!

 

[DEWLine]

Finally got my copy on 1 February 2025.

Pleased with it, although I think I'm going to need to do a re-read or two to make sure I understand some of the points.

 

[starball]

I haven't decided to buy this one yet - the storyline just doesn't "catch" me.
@DEWLine: Why the re-read? Due to easter eggs? References to other books / certain episodes of the TV show? Complicated story?

 

[DEWLine]

Nuances I need to be sure of.

 

[tonk'peh]

Absolutely loved this! And I'm not even a huge SNW fan- my feelings about the show are pretty mixed overall. Though it probably helped that it focused on Una and Pike- characters I like- rather than SNW Spock who....I'm less of a fan of, to put it nicely.

It was exactly the type of Trek novel I like- quiet and character focused, lots of worldbuilding and themes that feel fresh and urgent. I know a lot of reviewers wanted more plot and action, but I really enjoy these kinds of low key stories. It reminded my a lot of Uhura's Song, maybe my favourite Trek novel, which (as well as the obvious cat person parallels), also focused on fleshing out a people and their culture.

It was also just really well-written. I loved the Una/Pike friendship and seeing it develop. Both their character's journeys (as well as those of the other characters) were really well done. Pelia was hilarious. The (sometimes quite heavy) themes were handled with care and compassion, and really hit emotionally. The characters were all nuanced (lol) and I liked that there wasn't an outright villain, just different people with different ideas who meant well, even if they were misguided. I thought the Academy setting was also really fun, it made me want to pick up some more novels that focus on academy life.

That being said, I have some minor quibbles. These are things that could've been fixed with some more thorough editing, I think...

- The main issue for me is that there seems to be some inconsistency in how much the Federation, and by extension the crew of the Enterprise, including Una, know about Xhio. At first the planet and its people are presented as being a almost total mystery, but since there have been a number of Euxhana refugees on earth for at least 25 years, shouldn't they have access to more info about what's going on on Xhio? The ignorance of the characters more like a way to sustain mystery and tension for the reader than a natural outcome of the plot, though I could be misunderstanding/misremembering.

- I would've liked to see more of Una getting to know the refugee family, this is less of a complaint than a personal preference. I get there's limited space in a book but I think fleshing out that relationship a bit more (in particular how she promised more than she ended up being able to give) would've maybe made it hit more emotionally.

Anyway, like I said these are really minor complaint that didn't detract from my enjoyment of the book, which I loved! I logged in here for the first time in years to gush, so you know it was good lol.