Re: TNG: The Persistence of Memory by David Mack Review Thread (Spoile
I am also learning that I should really go back and read his "Destiny" trilogy, right?
Yes, aboslutely, I do indeed concur wholeheartedly.
It's a good jump-in point for the current continuity if you accept there have been changes on
Enterprise since NEM.
Do you think it's fine for me to continue reading the "Cold Equation" trilogy, then go back and read "Destiny"? Or should I finish book 1 of "Cold Equation", then read "Destiny" and pick up with book 2 of "Cold Equation"?
Oh yeah, I think you should just go on and read the rest of
Cold Equations. First, you actually get a not bad summary of the events of
Destiny from another character's perspective in
The Persistence of Memory. But furthermore, while
Destiny is a great jumping off point, its key events and ramifications are very easy summarized, and always are in any sequel that needs to address them.
I actually think that
Destiny is somewhat overrated, or at least, over-recommended for TrekLit newbies. It's an epic story, yes, but mainly because we get an amazing pay-off in the second half of the third book. The first two-and-a-half books are great drama, but they're pretty bleak, and can honestly be a slog.
I think a better jump-off point would actually be the immediate sequels,
A Singular Destiny, which introduces the Typhon Pact, and
Losing the Peace, which addresses the humanitarian crisis left behind after the events of
Destiny, in, frankly, what I think is a much more interesting fashion.
Alternatively,
Q&A is an
amazing novel. Not too long, a fun romp, but also epic in scale. It comes just before
Destiny and it's a much lighter book among many heavier stories.
All that said,
Destiny is a great trilogy, and it might work great for you. But don't get discouraged if you don't enjoy it, and don't feel like you need to finish.
And as
Christopher said, by the time you finish this book, you'll know most of the big changes.
Ouch!
