KRAD said:
No -- we actually do have some standards.....
(I'm kidding Ted. Really. Put down that hammer.....)
Heeeeeeeere's Teddy!
--Ted
Strange New Worlds 10
- Thread starter Reanok
- Start date
Heeeeeeeere's Teddy!
--Ted
The Strange New Worlds stories, being short fan fiction, are always hit or miss. Everyone likes different aspects of the franchise, and a story that works for Dean and Paula may not work for every other reader. The brief length of each story means that the premise has to click with a reader almost immediately to achieve a positive reaction.
The following thoughts were typed immediately after finishing each story. A star before the title means that I think the story is worth a second read in the future. Although the reactions are brutally honest, they are not intended to be mean-spirited. The writing of the stories is decent across the board, and I'm sure that all of the authors are fun people to talk Trek with over drinks and wings. However, if the chosen subject does not appeal to me, then I am not going to have many positive things to say about it.
"The Smell of Dead Roses": Once again, the editors' choice of a Grand Prize winner is much different than what mine would have been. I am not a fan of this conception of Perrin's backstory, especially because she seemed like a different person from the one portrayed in "Sarek."
* "The Doomsday Gambit": This story succeeds at a difficult task: blending together elements from different episodes and series without becoming too cute or contrived. Q and his brother from "Deja Q" act in character with their previous appearances, and the explanation for what the Q were up to during TOS is fitting. Learning more about the events and perspectives surrounding "The Doomsday Machine" is a nice bonus.
"Empty": This story has the same flavor as the other TOS captain/doctor counseling-over-drinks scenes. There are some decent ideas being bandied about, but Kirk's guilt is nothing new, and it's not a particularly compelling TOS-to-TMP bridge.
* "Wired": I felt like I was reading the novelization of an above average TNG episode. It hs a strange new world, moral questions, good characters, and a concept that is relevant to today's society.
* "A Dish Served Cold": The Pakled and Borg meet, and the result is hilarity and irony.
"The Very Model": I have a couple of major problems with this story. First, the cascade method of getting Data back is not very plausible or satisfying. Second, restoring Data's personality negates his sacrifice and the completion of his character arc. I can respect the fact that people love Data and don't want him to be dead, but this is not a great way for him to make a comeback.
"So a Horse Walks into a Bar...": Tying Vic Fontaine's origin to the computer-inhabiting AI from early DS9 is a cool concept, and the characters are well-written. I choose not to accept this origin, though, mostly because I don't think that the alien would have such a keen grasp on 1960s Las Vegas slang.
"Signal to Noise": The hook is great, and it's fun to see Jack again, but something about Jack involved in Prophet visions doesn't feel right to me.
"The Fate of Captain Ransom": I don't like the living version of Captain Ransom, and this story does not make me like him any better as a dead man.
"A Taste of Spam": This has some amusing moments, but it hovered over the line between serious and funny. With a premise like this one, straight-up comedy would have been my preference.
"Adjustments": Everyone is in character, but the story is too much like a half-hour children's TV show. Naomi as the star does not help matters.
"The Day the Borg Came": Where is the story here? It's just a bunch of recaps of Borg incidents from various perspectives.
"The Dream": Beyond seeing Trip and Sim interact for the first time, there's not much here to write about.
"Universal Chord": As a musician and concertgoer, there is some interest and entertainment from T'Pol's concert experience. The ending, however, does not ring true. There is no indication from early Enterprise that T'Pol was glad that she came to Earth.
* "You Are Not in Space": Finally, there is a story that is true to the series it is based on again! All of the main crew have a role to play, and Hoshi's story is so much better than what she gets in "Fight or Flight" and "Vanishing Point."
"Time Line": This story is not bad, but a variation of it already exists in the superior Gary Seven/Khan books by Greg Cox.
* "Echoes": Yes, this has fanwank written all over it, but it is such a cool possible future that it does not matter. Like "The Doomsday Gambit," "Echoes" has the right blend of Trek elements, and they fit together in clever, sensible ways.
* "Brigadoon": The title evokes memories of the abysmal episode "Meridian," but thankfully, the story is much better. I have read very few stories that effectively combine all five series, and this one is among their number. Every crew makes a contribution, and they are all equally respected. If only they could have done something like this for the series finale of Enterprise, we could have been spared "These are the Voyages." I also like the efforts to stay in continuity with the post-series VOY and TTN novels.
"Reborn": As a game of trying to cram as many references to major characters and icons of the franchise as possible into one tale, this story achieves some success. To me, it is too outlandish and contrived to take seriously.
6/19 is my final score. Although there are no more volumes in the foreseeable future, two things could have bumped that number up considerably. First, I would have liked more stories that feel like they could be lost episodes of the series. Second, since nothing new was added to Trek canon during the year, there should have been more stories that added something new to the mythos or chronicled events beyond what we've seen before.
The following thoughts were typed immediately after finishing each story. A star before the title means that I think the story is worth a second read in the future. Although the reactions are brutally honest, they are not intended to be mean-spirited. The writing of the stories is decent across the board, and I'm sure that all of the authors are fun people to talk Trek with over drinks and wings. However, if the chosen subject does not appeal to me, then I am not going to have many positive things to say about it.
"The Smell of Dead Roses": Once again, the editors' choice of a Grand Prize winner is much different than what mine would have been. I am not a fan of this conception of Perrin's backstory, especially because she seemed like a different person from the one portrayed in "Sarek."
* "The Doomsday Gambit": This story succeeds at a difficult task: blending together elements from different episodes and series without becoming too cute or contrived. Q and his brother from "Deja Q" act in character with their previous appearances, and the explanation for what the Q were up to during TOS is fitting. Learning more about the events and perspectives surrounding "The Doomsday Machine" is a nice bonus.
"Empty": This story has the same flavor as the other TOS captain/doctor counseling-over-drinks scenes. There are some decent ideas being bandied about, but Kirk's guilt is nothing new, and it's not a particularly compelling TOS-to-TMP bridge.
* "Wired": I felt like I was reading the novelization of an above average TNG episode. It hs a strange new world, moral questions, good characters, and a concept that is relevant to today's society.
* "A Dish Served Cold": The Pakled and Borg meet, and the result is hilarity and irony.
"The Very Model": I have a couple of major problems with this story. First, the cascade method of getting Data back is not very plausible or satisfying. Second, restoring Data's personality negates his sacrifice and the completion of his character arc. I can respect the fact that people love Data and don't want him to be dead, but this is not a great way for him to make a comeback.
"So a Horse Walks into a Bar...": Tying Vic Fontaine's origin to the computer-inhabiting AI from early DS9 is a cool concept, and the characters are well-written. I choose not to accept this origin, though, mostly because I don't think that the alien would have such a keen grasp on 1960s Las Vegas slang.
"Signal to Noise": The hook is great, and it's fun to see Jack again, but something about Jack involved in Prophet visions doesn't feel right to me.
"The Fate of Captain Ransom": I don't like the living version of Captain Ransom, and this story does not make me like him any better as a dead man.
"A Taste of Spam": This has some amusing moments, but it hovered over the line between serious and funny. With a premise like this one, straight-up comedy would have been my preference.
"Adjustments": Everyone is in character, but the story is too much like a half-hour children's TV show. Naomi as the star does not help matters.
"The Day the Borg Came": Where is the story here? It's just a bunch of recaps of Borg incidents from various perspectives.
"The Dream": Beyond seeing Trip and Sim interact for the first time, there's not much here to write about.
"Universal Chord": As a musician and concertgoer, there is some interest and entertainment from T'Pol's concert experience. The ending, however, does not ring true. There is no indication from early Enterprise that T'Pol was glad that she came to Earth.
* "You Are Not in Space": Finally, there is a story that is true to the series it is based on again! All of the main crew have a role to play, and Hoshi's story is so much better than what she gets in "Fight or Flight" and "Vanishing Point."
"Time Line": This story is not bad, but a variation of it already exists in the superior Gary Seven/Khan books by Greg Cox.
* "Echoes": Yes, this has fanwank written all over it, but it is such a cool possible future that it does not matter. Like "The Doomsday Gambit," "Echoes" has the right blend of Trek elements, and they fit together in clever, sensible ways.
* "Brigadoon": The title evokes memories of the abysmal episode "Meridian," but thankfully, the story is much better. I have read very few stories that effectively combine all five series, and this one is among their number. Every crew makes a contribution, and they are all equally respected. If only they could have done something like this for the series finale of Enterprise, we could have been spared "These are the Voyages." I also like the efforts to stay in continuity with the post-series VOY and TTN novels.
"Reborn": As a game of trying to cram as many references to major characters and icons of the franchise as possible into one tale, this story achieves some success. To me, it is too outlandish and contrived to take seriously.
6/19 is my final score. Although there are no more volumes in the foreseeable future, two things could have bumped that number up considerably. First, I would have liked more stories that feel like they could be lost episodes of the series. Second, since nothing new was added to Trek canon during the year, there should have been more stories that added something new to the mythos or chronicled events beyond what we've seen before.
The Pup wouldn't have needed that knowledge in itself, because it would've been built into the Vic program. The idea is that Bashir's programmer friend Felix (mistakenly called "Fritz" here) created the Vic Fontaine program and the Pup imbued it with self-awareness.
Aren't those somewhat contradictory requests? I disagree with the first, because part of the appeal of short-story Trek anthologies -- particularly SNW -- is that they allow telling really unusual stories, things that could never have been done as episodes.
In most cases, the main characters are the reason I tuned in week after week. I like to see stories that make good use of them and show them following the famous mission statement of Trek. That's the rationale behind the first request.
I don't see the second request as contradictory of the first. To use ENT as an example, why not have a story set during the Romulan War or post-founding of the Federation? That's one way to expand the mythos. Another is to introduce a cool new race or planet like in "Wired" and "You Are Not in Space." Something other than the staples you listed like Borg, tribbles, the Guardian, and Sigma Iotia is appreciated.
I don't see the second request as contradictory of the first. To use ENT as an example, why not have a story set during the Romulan War or post-founding of the Federation? That's one way to expand the mythos. Another is to introduce a cool new race or planet like in "Wired" and "You Are Not in Space." Something other than the staples you listed like Borg, tribbles, the Guardian, and Sigma Iotia is appreciated.
Thank you for taking the time to post your comments on my story and for the others in the book. :thumbsup:
One note--the SNW stories aren't fan fiction, other than in the sense that they are fiction written by fans of the shows. SNW writers were paid professional rates for SNW stories, making them professional sales and credits. Fan fiction stories are not professional sales or credits.
One note--the SNW stories aren't fan fiction, other than in the sense that they are fiction written by fans of the shows. SNW writers were paid professional rates for SNW stories, making them professional sales and credits. Fan fiction stories are not professional sales or credits.
So noted, Jim. I meant it in the sense that each SNW collection has no set plan or theme beyond including contest winners for every series, just like fan fiction sites are conglomerations of unconnected tales. I realize that having official and professional sales are important to the authors, but that has little to no impact on the reading experience.
Ah, but it should, to some extent. SNW stories are professionally edited and are held to a standard set forth by Pocket Books and the Star Trek licensor (and the contest rules). Fan fiction is not held to that same standard and fanfic stories are rarely edited by a professional editor.
And I agree with you, but where was the copy editor that let numerous references to "Janet Lester" go through? (S/B Janice Lester.) Threw me out of the story every time.
Lorraine Anderson said:And I agree with you, but where was the copy editor that let numerous references to "Janet Lester" go through? (S/B Janice Lester.) Threw me out of the story every time.
Well, yeah. There is an exception to every rule, and it turns out SNW 10 has a few exceptions.
Yeah. Drat. The stories were great, however.
Jim Johnson said:
Lorraine Anderson said:And I agree with you, but where was the copy editor that let numerous references to "Janet Lester" go through? (S/B Janice Lester.) Threw me out of the story every time.
Well, yeah. There is an exception to every rule, and it turns out SNW 10 has a few exceptions.
There were more than a few missing words in this volume. I don't blame that on the authors, but the cumulative effect led to some dissatisfaction.
You want to read a badly copy-edited book? Try the fourth Halo novel, Ghosts of Onyx. All but one of the mistakes so far would have been missed by a spellcheck, but there are so many of them that someone should have noticed. For example, rector instead of reactor, twice. Exacted instead of excavated. Best of all, self-perversion instead of self-preservation.
The mistakes were brought to the author's and publisher's attention right away, from what I've read online, but when the mass market reprint was done, no corrections were made. Remember, folks, Tor Books -- one of the best publishing houses for SF in general, but they seem determined to sabotage every tie-in licence they get.
The mistakes were brought to the author's and publisher's attention right away, from what I've read online, but when the mass market reprint was done, no corrections were made. Remember, folks, Tor Books -- one of the best publishing houses for SF in general, but they seem determined to sabotage every tie-in licence they get.
Actually, Dean would frequently put complementary stories within the same volume. In VI, for example, he put two Scotty stories next to each other -- one about Scotty as a child, and one about Scotty feeling very old and useless.
But I do see your point.
--Ted
KRAD said:
Yeah, look at the loser they hired to write their first Farscape novel -- and then they brought in that same useless hack to write the first Andromeda novel!
You'd think they'd learn, getting the same guy twice. You'd think I'd learn, too... I bought both of those books.
Maybe it's not Tor's fault that there were only three Farscape novels; I seem to recall hearing that there was some difficulty elsewhere. But I can't think of any particularly successful media SF tie-in line published by Tor.
Yup. I was all set to write the fourth Farscape book, but Henson's lawyers and Tor's lawyers couldn't get on the same page. And then the show was cancelled, and Tor lost interest in using up any more of their lawyers' billable hours on a contract that seemingly would never be signed to do a book based on a cancelled, low-rated series.
Okay, this thread is several years old, but...
only one poster did a story-by-story review
I just read this book, and
one story, by providing a Data resurrection story, leads into the Countdown miniseries (at least I think it does, not having read issue 2)
Anyway, here's what I thought of each story:
"Smell of Dead Roses" Great story! A story I could have easily hated in the hands of another writer, but I thought this tale was moving, respectful of previous books/comics, and dealt with an important aspect of Trek history. Good pick for grand prize
"Doomsday Gambit" Another great story. The prequel Q tale - great idea, great execution
"Empty" Doesn't keep you on the edge of your seat, but an enjoyable read and a nice job on Bones and Kirk
"Wired" Resembled a standalone TNG episode. Decently written, but I found myself less and less interested as it progressed
"A Dish Best Served Cold" Great idea/so-so execution. Some of the Pakled dialogue made the story less funny that it could have been.
"The Very Model" This is the one where they bring Data back through the body of B4. I would prefer Data stay dead like everyone else seems to, but if he's going to be resurrected, this story did a good job of it. I'd much prefer a simple short story to several novels to explain how it was done. Assuming the Countdown version of events won't soon be challenged, this works for me as the unofficial official explanation on Data
"So a Horse Walks Into a Bar" Could have been tightened up, but an enjoyable tale. Seidman found something in need of explanation, and did a nice job of it
"Signal to Noise" Good, but confusing for me. I'm not familiar with the Jack character, or what episode he's from.
"The Fate of Captain Ransom" Didn't make it through this - not sure I recall the title character
"A Taste of Spam" Great idea, so-so execution. The plot developed well, but Janeway seemed to keep repeating the same line and the ending was anti-climatic.
"Adjustments" Didn't get far. Not familiar with Naomi Wildman
"The Day the Borg Came" Interesting story, kind of a "spot the Borg assimilatee" game. The ending was okay, but I was hoping for something bigger. This story seems like it would have worked better placed after "Echos"
"The Dream" Good companion piece to the Enterprise episode "Similitude"
"Universal Chord" Some interesting insights into 22nd century society and music scene, but story never really went anywhere. I felt like the Star Trek connection was pretty flimsy.
"You Are Not In Space" Good, readable Hoshi story. I was kind of hoping for a more rousing conclusion.
"Timeline" Decent Gary Seven story. Covers some of the same territory as the superior Eugenics Wars book I. For some reason, I found the idea of Gary and Roberta getting cuddly very wrong.
"Echoes" Great concept about the ultimate captain; it builds to an exciting finish
"Brigadoon" Good, but left me a little confused about what each team was getting accomplished. I'm not sure what warranted this story's placement in the Speculations section.
"Reborn" Like the previous story, this tale involved almost all of the crews and also like the last story, would have been more suited to novel length. A fun, rousing story, but a little too fantastic. Despite this, there was nothing about it barring it from the regular continuity, so didn't really belong in the Speculations category, unless crossovers between crews automatically makes it alternate universe(?)
All in all, I thought this was one of the best SNW volumes. It's too bad this series had to come to an end.
only one poster did a story-by-story review
I just read this book, and
one story, by providing a Data resurrection story, leads into the Countdown miniseries (at least I think it does, not having read issue 2)
Anyway, here's what I thought of each story:
"Smell of Dead Roses" Great story! A story I could have easily hated in the hands of another writer, but I thought this tale was moving, respectful of previous books/comics, and dealt with an important aspect of Trek history. Good pick for grand prize
"Doomsday Gambit" Another great story. The prequel Q tale - great idea, great execution
"Empty" Doesn't keep you on the edge of your seat, but an enjoyable read and a nice job on Bones and Kirk
"Wired" Resembled a standalone TNG episode. Decently written, but I found myself less and less interested as it progressed
"A Dish Best Served Cold" Great idea/so-so execution. Some of the Pakled dialogue made the story less funny that it could have been.
"The Very Model" This is the one where they bring Data back through the body of B4. I would prefer Data stay dead like everyone else seems to, but if he's going to be resurrected, this story did a good job of it. I'd much prefer a simple short story to several novels to explain how it was done. Assuming the Countdown version of events won't soon be challenged, this works for me as the unofficial official explanation on Data
"So a Horse Walks Into a Bar" Could have been tightened up, but an enjoyable tale. Seidman found something in need of explanation, and did a nice job of it
"Signal to Noise" Good, but confusing for me. I'm not familiar with the Jack character, or what episode he's from.
"The Fate of Captain Ransom" Didn't make it through this - not sure I recall the title character
"A Taste of Spam" Great idea, so-so execution. The plot developed well, but Janeway seemed to keep repeating the same line and the ending was anti-climatic.
"Adjustments" Didn't get far. Not familiar with Naomi Wildman
"The Day the Borg Came" Interesting story, kind of a "spot the Borg assimilatee" game. The ending was okay, but I was hoping for something bigger. This story seems like it would have worked better placed after "Echos"
"The Dream" Good companion piece to the Enterprise episode "Similitude"
"Universal Chord" Some interesting insights into 22nd century society and music scene, but story never really went anywhere. I felt like the Star Trek connection was pretty flimsy.
"You Are Not In Space" Good, readable Hoshi story. I was kind of hoping for a more rousing conclusion.
"Timeline" Decent Gary Seven story. Covers some of the same territory as the superior Eugenics Wars book I. For some reason, I found the idea of Gary and Roberta getting cuddly very wrong.
"Echoes" Great concept about the ultimate captain; it builds to an exciting finish
"Brigadoon" Good, but left me a little confused about what each team was getting accomplished. I'm not sure what warranted this story's placement in the Speculations section.
"Reborn" Like the previous story, this tale involved almost all of the crews and also like the last story, would have been more suited to novel length. A fun, rousing story, but a little too fantastic. Despite this, there was nothing about it barring it from the regular continuity, so didn't really belong in the Speculations category, unless crossovers between crews automatically makes it alternate universe(?)
All in all, I thought this was one of the best SNW volumes. It's too bad this series had to come to an end.
^"Speculations" doesn't mean "alternate universe." It's a catchall category for stories that didn't fit under any specific series title. After all, there's no continuity among SNW stories and lots of them contradict each other anyway.
I just realized that I still haven't read my copy of SNWX. Talk about being behind the curve...
Fictitiously yours, Trent Roman
Fictitiously yours, Trent Roman
Similar threads
