Spoilers TNG: Hearts and Minds by Dayton Ward Review Thread

[David cgc]

No. I didn’t know they existed. Is Wolf Blitzer in those?
Are there any World War III Ones?

IIRC, the most we've heard about WWIII is in Hearts and Minds, and a bit in the First Contact novelization, which isn't necessarily consistent with the novelverse (and, of course, "Federation," which isn't consistent with anything since it came out just before First Contact, but was still fun).

I'm sure cable news was mentioned in the Eugenics Wars books, but if you're curious about how the news might miss a series of genetically engineered warlords running roughshod over the world, it might be instructive to compare the American Augment in the second book with the way the media treated Cliven Bundy's movement with kid gloves, even after some of his hangers-on became violent.

 

[thribs]

I’m reading the first DTI novel at the moment and I’m there they imply “Future Guy” might have played a role in the war by supplying the necessary information to create Augments. That might be interesting to see.

 

[Enterprise1701]

I’m reading the first DTI novel at the moment and I’m there they imply “Future Guy” might have played a role in the war by supplying the necessary information to create Augments. That might be interesting to see.

That will probably never happen, though. The Eugenics Wars duology is already out, so the first DTI novel got around that by mentioning the (probably unprovable) time police theory that Future Guy supplied Project Chrysalis and then covered his tracks up very well.

 

[thribs]

You could always add to it and tell the “real story” of the war.

 

[JD]

No. I didn’t know they existed. Is Wolf Blitzer in those?
Are there any World War III Ones?

Sorry it took me so long to respond, I was working a lot the last few days and didn't have much computer time.
Star Trek: The Eugenics Wars: The Rise and Fall of Khan Noonien Singh Book 1

An engrossing and fast-paced thriller that explores the secret history of the twentieth century -- and the rise of the conqueror known as Khan.

Even centuries later, the final decades of the twentieth century are still regarded -- by those who know the truth of what really happened -- as one of the darkest and most perilous chapters in the history of humanity. Now, as an ancient and forbidden technology tempts mankind once more, Captain James T. Kirk of the Starship Enterprise™ must probe deep into the secrets of the past, to discover the true origins of the dreaded Eugenics Wars -- and of perhaps the greatest foe he has ever faced.

1974 A.D. An international consortium of the world's top scientists have conspired to create the Chrysalis Project, a top-secret experiment in human genetic engineering. The project's goal is nothing less than the creation of a new, artificially improved breed of men and women: smarter, faster, stronger than ordinary human beings, a super-race to take command of the entire planet.
Gary Seven, an undercover operative for an advanced alien species, is alarmed by the project's objectives; he knows too well the apocalyptic consequences of genetic manipulation. With his trusted agents, Roberta Lincoln and the mysterious Isis, he will risk life and limb to uncover Chrysalis' insidious designs and neutralize the awesome threat that the Project poses to the future.

But he may already be too late. One generation of super-humans has already been conceived. As the years go by, Seven watches with growing concern as the children of Chrysalis -- in particular, a brilliant youth named Khan Noonien Singh -- grow to adulthood. Can Khan's dark destiny be averted -- or is Earth doomed to fight a global battle for supremacy?

Star Trek: The Eugenics Wars: The Rise and Fall of Khan Noonien Singh Boo Two

A strange, violent period in your history." -- Spock
Many unanswered questions remain about the terrible Eugenics Wars that raged on Earth during the 1990s, an apocalyptic conflict that brought civilization to the brink of a new dark age. Centuries later, as Capt. James T. Kirk and the crew of the Starship Enterprise™ are forced to defend a colony of genetically enhanced humans against Klingon aggression and sabotage, Kirk must probe deeper into the past -- and into the glory days of one of the greatest adversaries he has ever faced.
1992. Almost twenty years ago, Gary Seven and Roberta Lincoln, undercover operatives for an unknown alien civilization, failed to prevent the Chrysalis Project from creating an entire generation of supermen and women, genetically engineered to be stronger, smarter, and more resourceful than ordinary human beings. Now, at last, the children of Chrysalis have grown to adulthood, and are rapidly demonstrating that superior abilities spawn superior ambition.
Perhaps the most formidable of this new breed of supermen is the charismatic Khan Noonien Singh. Working behind the scenes of history as head of a vast global conspiracy, Khan's power soon stretches across a quarter of the planet, but that is only the beginning of his grand design. Determined to unite humanity beneath the enlightened rule of a genetic elite, Khan dreams of leading his fellow superhumans to complete and total domination of the world.
But several of his gene-engineered brothers and sisters have equally grandiose visions for the future, visions that recognize no one but themselves as supreme ruler. Gary Seven and Roberta watch in horror as the children of Chrysalis wage a covert war against one another, threatening the safety of millions and the future of the entire world!
The Eugenics Wars: Volume Two is an earth-shattering thriller that reveals the secret history of the twentieth century -- and the ultimate destiny of the tyrant known as Khan.

Just as an FYI these are what I like to call kitchen sik books, as in they include everything but... Pretty much every character who was alive in the 20th Century who was introduced before the books were written makes an appearance of some sort, even if it's just a tiny cameo. I got a big kick out of how the books' author, @Greg Cox, was able to work all of them into it, but I know that kind of thing annoys some people.

 

[JD]

I just finished reading this earlier today and I enjoyed it. It wasn't amazing, but it was a solid, enjoyable story.
The Eizand an interesting society, and the connections to Earth's history were a cool surprise.
I really liked how the reveals about what exactly happened with Earth and the Eizand were revealed in bits and pieces through out the book, it was a nice way to keep things interesting.
It did a pretty good job of moving the story from the other 2 MJ12 books forward. I completely forgot about Vulcan lifespan when I started the book, so I was surprised when Mestral popped up, still alive. While I still really like him, I didn't really like most of this books 21st century characters as much as the characters in Elusive Salvation and From History's Shadow. They weren't bad, I just didn't like them as much.
I was a little surprised the Aegis were sending more agents after WWIII and first contact with the Vulcans, I had always kind of assumed that would have been the end point of their involvement with Earth.
I'm giving it an Above Average.

 

[Stephen!]

Having recently finished reading this, it does raise one question: Why was a ship sent to attack the Eizand named 'Peacemaker'?

 

[Christopher]

Having recently finished reading this, it does raise one question: Why was a ship sent to attack the Eizand named 'Peacemaker'?

The name has been used in the past for weapons, bombers, and the like. I suppose it's to convey the idea that they're necessary to enforce peace with the threat of violence, or to restore peace by destroying those who commit violence. Or maybe it's just an ironic or euphemistic name.

 

[David cgc]

^Just the other day, I was trying to remember which movie was Broken Arrow and which one was The Peacemaker. Not sure why, since I never saw either of them.

 

[Elwro]

Apologies for necroing, but I'm guessing it's better than starting a new thread... I just finished the audiobook. I liked it very much but there's an important plot point I seem to have missed, maybe because I was listening, and not reading.

Here goes: Could anyone tell me what the important info was that Tauric kept secret? For a long time this had seemed like an important plot element: Picard having a fit, thus excluding a potentially very useful person from the away team. I can't recall an occasion on which this information was revealed or its use suggested. And it looks to me that admiral Ackaar is an untrustworthy person who withheld intelligence he possessed, knowingly sending a famous Federation captain on a mission for which that intelligence would have been crucial. (Or does Ackaar actually not know about Peacemaker 1)?

I was surprised that it was a Vulcan officer who freaked out ;-)


I would have loved to read about the briefing the three poor astronauts received. What was the story they heard? How did the Bosses envision explaining to these guys that they should wipe out a planet?...

 

[Christopher]

Could anyone tell me what the important info was that Tauric kept secret?

IIRC, that wasn't revealed in Hearts and Minds. I think it was foreshadowing for some major event in a future book.

 

[Elwro]

IIRC, that wasn't revealed in Hearts and Minds. I think it was foreshadowing for some major event in a future book.

Thank you! I will keep reading, then :-)

 

[Christopher]

To clarify, I don't think the foreshadowing has paid off yet.

 

[JD]

No, we still don't know.

 

[Dayton Ward]

 

[Jinn]

I finally read this, and rated it above average. The concept of shady pre-First-Contact Earth agencies commiting horrible acts on other worlds was intriguing, but I'm a bit disappointed, that the book didn't entirely go through with the consequences. The past sections were interesting, I liked Heffron and loved where Rain ended up, and the rift between her and Gary Seven. I think I liked the 2386 sections a bit more due to the revelations at the end, about Picard's involvement in what amounts to a coup d'état, which were quite chilling. I have never read the A Time to... novels, so I'm only vaguely aware of what's going on there. Was Min Zife's death a thing in the original books, or was that added later? As for the aliens, i thought they were fine, if a bit functional, for lack of a better term. The crew interactions we got were also enjoyable, and IMO less awkward than they were in Headlong Flight.

 

[Reanok]

Min Zife's death is featured in the The Time books and Section 31 is heavily involved with what happens on the planet Tezwa and the Klingons ships getting attacked. And Starfleet trying to use Picard and Enterprise crew trying to blame them for what happens in the ongoing story about who planed it all. When Min Zife and the Prime Minster on Tezwa were responsible for the attacks on Tezwa civillians and Starfleet officers..