Spoilers TNG: The Stuff of Dreams by James Swallow Review Thread

[zarkon]

Re: TNG: The Stuff of Dreams by James Swallow Review Thread (Spoilers!

Spoiler: really spoilery stuff"

Something that the story didn't address was the actual origin of the Nexus. And I'm glad for this. I think it's an important fact of life that there are some mysteries in the universe that can never be answered; in terms of fiction, this means there have to be elements of the narrative which are never explained, and, indeed, were never meant to be explained. Sometimes I think Trek writers (TV and prose) are a touch too eager to explain things that I had previously felt were not meant to be explained. (Damned if I can think of an example; I was thinking of one just the other day, too. So I could be talking out of my rear here.) So I appreciated James Swallow's approach.

I agree with your point (it's always nice to have unexplained things at the edge of the map), but it has actually been expained before(albeit in a humourous & possibly-just-to-get-a-rise way) in the q continuum trilogy.

 

[Enterpriserules]

Re: TNG: The Stuff of Dreams by James Swallow Review Thread (Spoilers!

Reading it now and can't wait to finish!

 

[Paper Moon]

Re: TNG: The Stuff of Dreams by James Swallow Review Thread (Spoilers!

Spoiler: really spoilery stuff"

Something that the story didn't address was the actual origin of the Nexus. And I'm glad for this. I think it's an important fact of life that there are some mysteries in the universe that can never be answered; in terms of fiction, this means there have to be elements of the narrative which are never explained, and, indeed, were never meant to be explained. Sometimes I think Trek writers (TV and prose) are a touch too eager to explain things that I had previously felt were not meant to be explained. (Damned if I can think of an example; I was thinking of one just the other day, too. So I could be talking out of my rear here.) So I appreciated James Swallow's approach.

I agree with your point (it's always nice to have unexplained things at the edge of the map), but it has actually been expained before(albeit in a humourous & possibly-just-to-get-a-rise way) in the q continuum trilogy.

Heh, I didn't know that. Somehow, given what I know about the Q books, that doesn't bother me.

Also, James Swallow could've decided to ignore that/read it as "Q was kidding" and given a straight explanation.

Still, that's yet another reason why I need to get the Q Continuum trilogy!

 

[dispatcher812]

Re: TNG: The Stuff of Dreams by James Swallow Review Thread (Spoilers!

I was looking forward to this e-book but I must say I was disappointed once I saw the story line being the Nexus. I did enjoy the book but I hope that is the last we see of the Nexus. Can't we come up with anything original? And a nice Soran? Come on.


Sorry for the above, being set after Cold Equations I was hoping for a continuation on the Data arc. Not on something that happened 20 years ago. I feel a new arc coming on, but I hope I am wrong.

 

[Enterpriserules]

Re: TNG: The Stuff of Dreams by James Swallow Review Thread (Spoilers!

I absolutely love this story!

 

[YubYubCommander]

Re: TNG: The Stuff of Dreams by James Swallow Review Thread (Spoilers!

I read the book today rather quickly and found it a very enjoyable read. I love the idea of a return to the nexus, and how other characters viewed what happens in there. Overall, I voted outstanding

 

[JD]

Re: TNG: The Stuff of Dreams by James Swallow Review Thread (Spoilers!

So what is the basic story of this? There are still no "back cover" style descriptions of this anywhere online.

 

[Thrawn]

Re: TNG: The Stuff of Dreams by James Swallow Review Thread (Spoilers!

Captain Picard & the Enterprise-E are sent to help another starfleet vessel destroy the nexus before it flies into Kinshaya space. Wackiness ensues.

 

[JWolf]

Re: TNG: The Stuff of Dreams by James Swallow Review Thread (Spoilers!

Really? Amazon has it for $3.79.

Even better, BooksOnBoard has it for $2.66.

http://www.booksonboard.com/index.p...ITLE=The+Stuff+of+Dreams&AUTHOR=James+Swallow

Wonder why this is E BOOK only.

Hope this changes.

I hope not. This is a novella. It's too short to justify printing it on it's own. But given the price is reasonable, it's worth getting. Also, because of this, we have two Star trek stories this month instead of one. I just do not understand what the dislike to eBooks is all about.

 

[Relayer1]

Re: TNG: The Stuff of Dreams by James Swallow Review Thread (Spoilers!

Really? Amazon has it for $3.79.

Even better, BooksOnBoard has it for $2.66.

http://www.booksonboard.com/index.p...ITLE=The+Stuff+of+Dreams&AUTHOR=James+Swallow

Wonder why this is E BOOK only.

Hope this changes.

I hope not. This is a novella. It's too short to justify printing it on it's own. But given the price is reasonable, it's worth getting. Also, because of this, we have two Star trek stories this month instead of one. I just do not understand what the dislike to eBooks is all about.

Well, part of that is certainly the cost - I just plaid £3.99 which is over $6 for it on Amazon UK which is excessive for a novella.

I will no doubt have to pay again if it is collected in a paperback, a format I still prefer for Trek books.

 

[Markonian]

Re: TNG: The Stuff of Dreams by James Swallow Review Thread (Spoilers!

It was wonderful to have an episode-like adventure once again. I revelled in the continuity, incl. the nods to STTI, the return of the Nexus/nexus (I wonder why it isnt capitalised?), a familiar starship class and the update on the state of the Kinshaya.

The story was solid. Beverly seems to have overcome her resverations about Picard's protective behaviour from Cold Equations.

Now begins the long wait until autumn for the next 24th century adventure.

 

[Garrovick]

Re: TNG: The Stuff of Dreams by James Swallow Review Thread (Spoilers!

Just finished this book this morning... For the first time since Destiny was published I can say I am caught up on 24th century Trek-lit .

Really enjoyed the story - I would have kind of liked to see

Spoiler: The Stuff of Dreams

Picard run into the Nexus-echo of James T. Kirk

but it really wouldn't have added anything to the story that was being told, so I can live with it. Well worth the $3.99 from iBooks. I really hope that Pocket keeps up with the e-novellas, not every good story needs to be 300+ pages after all...

 

[Kertrats47]

Re: TNG: The Stuff of Dreams by James Swallow Review Thread (Spoilers!

Just posted my review. Unlike some ebook-only stories, The Stuff of Dreams was perfectly paced and just the right length to tell the story it wanted to. Definitely enjoyed this one.

 

[Christopher]

Re: TNG: The Stuff of Dreams by James Swallow Review Thread (Spoilers!

Hmm... it's starting to look as though the Kinshaya are becoming the "e-book only" member of the Pact.

 

[Relayer1]

Re: TNG: The Stuff of Dreams by James Swallow Review Thread (Spoilers!

Just finished it and it was O.K. - it didn't excite me, but I quite enjoyed it.

I think part of the problem is the format - unless it's a very small self contained story, novellas often feel rather rushed and part realised.

I'd certainly have liked more for £4 (over $6) !

 

[Paper Moon]

Re: TNG: The Stuff of Dreams by James Swallow Review Thread (Spoilers!

Hmm... it's starting to look as though the Kinshaya are becoming the "e-book only" member of the Pact.

Yeah, that was my first thought too upon seeing them mentioned. Not sure how I feel about that. But I do think Swallow chose them as the adversary because they tied in thematically with the story he wanted to tell, and not just because of the medium of the book.

 

[Enterpriserules]

Re: TNG: The Stuff of Dreams by James Swallow Review Thread (Spoilers!

Just posted my review. Unlike some ebook-only stories, The Stuff of Dreams was perfectly paced and just the right length to tell the story it wanted to. Definitely enjoyed this one.

I completely agree with you! I gave this 10 out of 10 in my review. I love the themes James weaves in.

 

[Mage]

Re: TNG: The Stuff of Dreams by James Swallow Review Thread (Spoilers!

I just hope this novel will not be to essential to The Fall, later this year. I don't have an e-reader, so don't read e-books.

 

[Enterpriserules]

Re: TNG: The Stuff of Dreams by James Swallow Review Thread (Spoilers!

I just hope this novel will not be to essential to The Fall, later this year. I don't have an e-reader, so don't read e-books.

You can read them on your computer.

 

[Relayer1]

Re: TNG: The Stuff of Dreams by James Swallow Review Thread (Spoilers!

If we had one more Kinshaya eBook they could be collected in a paperback edition...