So what are you reading, now? Part V
- Thread starter DimesDan
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Actually the new Pirates of the Caribbean movie is "suggested by" and named after a novel called On Stranger Tides by Tim Powers.
And I think a trek author is doing a tie in novel, too.
http://www.accrispin.com/projectp.htm
Jack's backstory, it seems....
^ The Han Solo Trilogy. I haven't read them myself, so I don't know if they're anygood.
Okay, I've re-written my review of Peter David's Vendetta. Review of Watching the Clock coming soon! Still reading Unspoken Truth, and really enjoying it at the moment.
Just finished Day of the Vipers. Holy shit level amazing book. I agree with some reviewers who call it one of the top 5 ST novels of all time. The first 50 pages or so were a little tough, but the character lists were very helpful keeping track of the new characters and the ones who had appeared briefly in TNG or DS9.
James Swallow did a bang up job further developing the Cardassian and Bajoran political cultures. A neo-Stalinist state (albeit with a small private sector) like the Cardassian Union would be interested in keeping their people hungry and pliable to further the state's interests above all. And the Bajorans aren't just innocent victims either. Dukat is right to point out that Bajor had become stagnant and ripe for the picking. If Cardassia hadn't annexed Bajor, the Tzenkethi, Talarians, or Breen would have eventually gotten there. That doesn't make it right, but it was inevitable considering the tough neighborhood Bajor and Cardassia existed in.
I was surprised how political the book is, in a good way. I can see where the author's British perspective comes into play. Vipers is certainly critical of organized religion and how it is easily corrupted, but also recognizes the power that religion has over believers (Dukat has a profound realization of this about the Oralians). Capitalists like Kubus Oak basically sell out their own people to the Cardassains to further their own power. Bajor's elite's D'jarra system contributes to dooming their people. And the "V" style slow takeover is very realistic and believable.
This book could have easily been two dimensional evil Cardassians and victimized Bajorans, but instead offers a much more multilayered view of imperialism, capitalism, religion, and political elites without resorting to a simplistic worldview or relativism.
James Swallow did a bang up job further developing the Cardassian and Bajoran political cultures. A neo-Stalinist state (albeit with a small private sector) like the Cardassian Union would be interested in keeping their people hungry and pliable to further the state's interests above all. And the Bajorans aren't just innocent victims either. Dukat is right to point out that Bajor had become stagnant and ripe for the picking. If Cardassia hadn't annexed Bajor, the Tzenkethi, Talarians, or Breen would have eventually gotten there. That doesn't make it right, but it was inevitable considering the tough neighborhood Bajor and Cardassia existed in.
I was surprised how political the book is, in a good way. I can see where the author's British perspective comes into play. Vipers is certainly critical of organized religion and how it is easily corrupted, but also recognizes the power that religion has over believers (Dukat has a profound realization of this about the Oralians). Capitalists like Kubus Oak basically sell out their own people to the Cardassains to further their own power. Bajor's elite's D'jarra system contributes to dooming their people. And the "V" style slow takeover is very realistic and believable.
This book could have easily been two dimensional evil Cardassians and victimized Bajorans, but instead offers a much more multilayered view of imperialism, capitalism, religion, and political elites without resorting to a simplistic worldview or relativism.
A Time to Sow!
I'm really enjoying this series so far.
I'm really enjoying this series so far.
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