Re: TNG: The Persistence of Memory by David Mack Review Thread (Spoile
One thing about this novel that I appreciated was the sense of humour, some of it approaching the level of meta-humour. The example of Galor IV, with its governor wondering whether it was the mere presence of the Enterprise that triggered planetary emergencies, was one example.
One thing about this novel that I appreciated was the sense of humour, some of it approaching the level of meta-humour. The example of Galor IV, with its governor wondering whether it was the mere presence of the Enterprise that triggered planetary emergencies, was one example.
Two meta-jokes that stood out for me involved Soong's failure to determine a consensus among the locals whether the actual name of Alpha Centauri IV is a
Velestus, Centaurus or Al Rijil IV, or his purchase of a class-M moon called Yutani IIIa presumably named after the android-making Weyland-Yutani Corporation] of Alien fame, or--for that matter--his discussion of how incredibly difficult it is to amass the funds necessary to buy a world outright (sorry quark). Later, in a different sort of meta-joke Faur warns Picard that taking the Enterprise to hide in the atmosphere of a gas giant could have calamitous results--why, look at what happened to the Da Vinci when it entered the atmosphere of Galvan VI.
There are other, non-meta, bits of humour, too. There's Soong's complete surprise when the Borg open fire on his Yutani IIIa in 2381 without communicating a word, and then there's the Breen reaction to the surprise of the Enterprise landing party when they offer them prisoner of war status (basically, that they had to change things a bit when they signed onto the Typhon Pact, but they still retain the right to execute spies).
I liked this. There's nothing quite like reading a good book that's also incidentally funny.
Velestus, Centaurus or Al Rijil IV, or his purchase of a class-M moon called Yutani IIIa presumably named after the android-making Weyland-Yutani Corporation] of Alien fame, or--for that matter--his discussion of how incredibly difficult it is to amass the funds necessary to buy a world outright (sorry quark). Later, in a different sort of meta-joke Faur warns Picard that taking the Enterprise to hide in the atmosphere of a gas giant could have calamitous results--why, look at what happened to the Da Vinci when it entered the atmosphere of Galvan VI.
There are other, non-meta, bits of humour, too. There's Soong's complete surprise when the Borg open fire on his Yutani IIIa in 2381 without communicating a word, and then there's the Breen reaction to the surprise of the Enterprise landing party when they offer them prisoner of war status (basically, that they had to change things a bit when they signed onto the Typhon Pact, but they still retain the right to execute spies).
I liked this. There's nothing quite like reading a good book that's also incidentally funny.
Now I need to finish IM and get on with the show.
