I just started reading the Slings and Arrows series and figured I'd do a run down like I did for Mere Anarchy. I did look at some of the existing threads for Slings and Arrows as I usually try to use already existing threads for books, but most of the Slings and Arrows threads were about whether it would ever be released in a print format and complaints about pricing, nothing really from a review standpoint so I figured I'd just create a new one. So a little background first. It was a 6 part series of novellas that were only released as E-Books back in 2007 (I assume if no print edition has come out by now it never will, which is why I finally decided to just download it). I was a little surprised to see each book is $6.99 after all these years, esp. considering they are just over 100 pages each. Anyway, the series takes place between Generations and First Contact, just after the Enterprise-E is launched.
So I just completed the first book, A Sea of Troubles by J. Steven York and Christina F. York:
Memory Alpha lists the year as 2372. This story, being the first, is during the Enterprise-E's shakedown cruise. They are engaged in a war game exercise with another ship, the Samson. This is all due to Starfleet's belief that war with the Dominion is probably inevitable. They are in a nebula and after the exercise the Enterprise receives crew replacements and then the Samson is destroyed. They discover that a Founder is likely to blame and they find out she came aboard with the crew replacements. Lt. Hawk (the conn officer seen in First Contact) is made temporary security chief and Captain Picard attempts negotiations with the Founder. The Founder shows an unusual interest in the Federation and solids, though she still shows disdain for 'solids.' But is this all part of an elaborate deception. She still claims to be loyal to the Great Link and the Dominion, but she may have her own agenda. I won't give it away what happens, but obviously the ship makes it out in one piece (I mean, that's a given).
Being a novella it moves at a quick pace. But the plot seemed to be handled well. I thought the authors captured the characteristics of a Founder pretty well. You really never know what her true agenda is, even at the end (I call the Founder 'she' only because she only assumed female forms and it sounds better than saying 'it'). I'd say it was a good read. It's also always interesting to read stories and novels that feature TNG facing off against the Dominion. Other than some token mentions in Insurrection and Nemesis, TNG characters never faced the Dominion on screen. Data is still getting used to his emotion chip here also, which leads to a few difficulties. And Captain Picard hopes diplomacy might be a possibility with the Founder, though he knows how unlikely that can be. But Picard still gives it his best shot, while not being fooled at the same time. Some of the other characters are given a bit of a short end of the stick. Hawk basically takes on the role Riker usually would have in his over protectiveness of the Captain, and the other characters are sporadically seen. Though, again this is a 6 part series so I'm sure the other characters will get their fair share.
So I'd say this story was a pretty good start. I was never bored. We'll see where things go from here.
So I just completed the first book, A Sea of Troubles by J. Steven York and Christina F. York:
Memory Alpha lists the year as 2372. This story, being the first, is during the Enterprise-E's shakedown cruise. They are engaged in a war game exercise with another ship, the Samson. This is all due to Starfleet's belief that war with the Dominion is probably inevitable. They are in a nebula and after the exercise the Enterprise receives crew replacements and then the Samson is destroyed. They discover that a Founder is likely to blame and they find out she came aboard with the crew replacements. Lt. Hawk (the conn officer seen in First Contact) is made temporary security chief and Captain Picard attempts negotiations with the Founder. The Founder shows an unusual interest in the Federation and solids, though she still shows disdain for 'solids.' But is this all part of an elaborate deception. She still claims to be loyal to the Great Link and the Dominion, but she may have her own agenda. I won't give it away what happens, but obviously the ship makes it out in one piece (I mean, that's a given).
Being a novella it moves at a quick pace. But the plot seemed to be handled well. I thought the authors captured the characteristics of a Founder pretty well. You really never know what her true agenda is, even at the end (I call the Founder 'she' only because she only assumed female forms and it sounds better than saying 'it'). I'd say it was a good read. It's also always interesting to read stories and novels that feature TNG facing off against the Dominion. Other than some token mentions in Insurrection and Nemesis, TNG characters never faced the Dominion on screen. Data is still getting used to his emotion chip here also, which leads to a few difficulties. And Captain Picard hopes diplomacy might be a possibility with the Founder, though he knows how unlikely that can be. But Picard still gives it his best shot, while not being fooled at the same time. Some of the other characters are given a bit of a short end of the stick. Hawk basically takes on the role Riker usually would have in his over protectiveness of the Captain, and the other characters are sporadically seen. Though, again this is a 6 part series so I'm sure the other characters will get their fair share.
So I'd say this story was a pretty good start. I was never bored. We'll see where things go from here.
