Another novel I just completed. It was released in 1997 and takes place in the early seasons, I believe the 2nd season maybe (Kes is still aboard and the Kazon are still mentioned). Voyager is running low on food supplies and Neelix recommends a planet that might have good food supplies that he believes is uninhabited. But while on the planet they discover there are indeed aliens on the planet, known as Urrythan's. They also discover ruins. The aliens allow the crew to gather food, but otherwise maintains their distance. Then one of the Voyager away team members falls into what appears to be a coma. Turns out the plant life causes it. The aliens explain that this is a normal thing on the planet as this occurs before they transition to a new phase of existence. Janeway, of course, wants to find an antidote and afraid of contaminating the ship she decides they have to stay on the planet until an antidote is found. The aliens do not understand why Janeway wants an antidote to something they feel is wonderful and they take Kayla, the crewwoman who is down, to their underground sanctuary while the rest of the crew is dazed or otherwise occupied. Janeway initiates a search and because that will take them through the sacred sanctuaries, a couple of the younger aliens take it upon themselves to stop them. Then the planet starts to undergo earthquakes and they sense a massive life force. Turns out every several thousand years the life force of the elders who are in their deep sleep pass on to the next level of existence for their people. And the younger aliens who try to stop Janeway realize they have made an error and tries to make amends. That's the basic gist of the story.
At first I wasn't sure I would like this story. I thought it was another Voyager needs supplies mission and the focus would be on that. But it was actually a pretty good story about the beliefs of an alien species that differ from our own. On the one hand Janeway wants to respect what she feels are their religious beliefs, but at the same time the lesson is that their are many different beliefs. There is a bit of a lesson here that what is right for the Urrythans is not the same as for aliens like those on Voyager's crew. The Urrythans realize it was wrong of them to assume what worked for them was not the case with Kayla and the other members of Voyagers crew. Now what the Urrythans believe was more than just religion. They do in fact undergo a change, or an evolution. But it's their evolution, not necessarily meant for other species.
The book ends up being a very interesting look at faith in the 24th century. And a reminder that even in the 24th century there are things we don't fully understand. And the author handles it in such a way that it doesn't mean it's something supernatural or mystic, but could be a real thing that can be seen and observed. Sometimes modern science can't explain it, and just because science can't explain it doesn't make it impossible.
At first I wasn't sure I would like this story. I thought it was another Voyager needs supplies mission and the focus would be on that. But it was actually a pretty good story about the beliefs of an alien species that differ from our own. On the one hand Janeway wants to respect what she feels are their religious beliefs, but at the same time the lesson is that their are many different beliefs. There is a bit of a lesson here that what is right for the Urrythans is not the same as for aliens like those on Voyager's crew. The Urrythans realize it was wrong of them to assume what worked for them was not the case with Kayla and the other members of Voyagers crew. Now what the Urrythans believe was more than just religion. They do in fact undergo a change, or an evolution. But it's their evolution, not necessarily meant for other species.
The book ends up being a very interesting look at faith in the 24th century. And a reminder that even in the 24th century there are things we don't fully understand. And the author handles it in such a way that it doesn't mean it's something supernatural or mystic, but could be a real thing that can be seen and observed. Sometimes modern science can't explain it, and just because science can't explain it doesn't make it impossible.
