KMFB continues to earn her name and make me look forward to Voyager's next book more than any other and coming from the DS9 fan, that is saying something. This was another brilliant book!
Spoilers VOY: A Pocket Full Of Lies By Kirsten Beyer Review Thread
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It's been a while since I contemplated voting 'Outstanding' on one of these. Last year's batch of novels contained a lot of solid 'Above Average's, but this was one great rollercoaster ride. Definately one of my favorite entries in the Voyager post-finale series so far. Long spoiler-riddled review below:
Let me start by saying two things: 1) "Year of Hell" is one of my favorite stories from the series, and 2) I play Star Trek Online and thus have seen a bit of Krenim and time travel lately. This naturally meant that I went into Pocket Full of Lies hoping it would do justice to the first and not conflict too much with the second - and I was not disappointed.
PFoL is typical of the way how well Kirsten Beyer manages to weave both an action-packed crisis and character development together in one story. As others have noted above, the two flow into eachother very well - most of the character development is a direct result of the ongoing plot. The two arcs that stand apart - Icheb and Nancy Conlon's - are both part of their ongoing development within the series as a whole and are still highlights for me despite having little impact on rest of the story. I very much liked Icheb's friendship with Phinn, having him interact with characters outside of the established Voyager cast helps define him as his own character and I very much appreciated that. As for Nancy Conlon's story, it's a very different animal. This is arguably an even darker road than the origin story for the denzit, combining both what it means to develop a debilitating illness and the concept of unwanted pregnancy as it does. It's one of those tragedies where there is no easy answer, and I applaud Kirsten Beyer for having the guts to have it play out this way. It's such a very personal story, especially as we get to see it all up close. I must admit that it's been too long since I read the SCE stories to remember much about Conlon, but Pocket Full of Lies really lets us get to know her. I also appreciated the link with B'Elanna's plot in "Drive", even though it ultimately has limited impact on what's happening.
As for the main plot - I'll quote Janeway and admit that time travel gives me a headache if I think about it too much. Even with the Zahl intially painted as the enemy, I kept wondering if this was just because the timeline from Year of Hell has changed, or if there was a Krenim ghost hiding behind the curtain. The idea of the Krenim as an enemy is truly frightening if you start thinking about it; people who can predict your actions in detail before you even perform them, how do you counter that? Having said that, we also discover the danger of drawing conclusions from insufficient data (something that, as a data analyst myself, made me smile - it's so recognizable) and how its effects can be devastating. The lesson of leaving well enough alone is obviously one that they didn't learn. Even though Dayne ends up doing the right thing, I couldn't get myself to appreciate him. The real star of this part however, isn't Dayne, or even denzit Janeway - it's Tuvok. No slight on the Titan line, but PFoL did more with his development in the wake of Destiny than any of his previous appearances. Tuvok and Janeway have such great chemistry, both here and onscreen - I don't mind his move to the Titan series, but this is the one casualty of it I've sorely missed. Pocket Full of Lies brings it back in grand form though, so many thanks!
I'll end with saying I really liked the implied reconciliation between Mollah's (rofl, the dog!) caretakers and Janeway, and am worried about the final scene with Obrist (I really should have seen that 'brothers' thing coming). I've always considered him a likeable character in "Year of Hell", but again - this is time travel headache land at its finest. I wouldn't mind exploring that cliffhanger a bit more at some later date.
So thanks to Kirsten for another fine read. Having to carry this whole line as a single author must be a daunting task, but rejoice: it's only getting better as we go!
PFoL is typical of the way how well Kirsten Beyer manages to weave both an action-packed crisis and character development together in one story. As others have noted above, the two flow into eachother very well - most of the character development is a direct result of the ongoing plot. The two arcs that stand apart - Icheb and Nancy Conlon's - are both part of their ongoing development within the series as a whole and are still highlights for me despite having little impact on rest of the story. I very much liked Icheb's friendship with Phinn, having him interact with characters outside of the established Voyager cast helps define him as his own character and I very much appreciated that. As for Nancy Conlon's story, it's a very different animal. This is arguably an even darker road than the origin story for the denzit, combining both what it means to develop a debilitating illness and the concept of unwanted pregnancy as it does. It's one of those tragedies where there is no easy answer, and I applaud Kirsten Beyer for having the guts to have it play out this way. It's such a very personal story, especially as we get to see it all up close. I must admit that it's been too long since I read the SCE stories to remember much about Conlon, but Pocket Full of Lies really lets us get to know her. I also appreciated the link with B'Elanna's plot in "Drive", even though it ultimately has limited impact on what's happening.
As for the main plot - I'll quote Janeway and admit that time travel gives me a headache if I think about it too much. Even with the Zahl intially painted as the enemy, I kept wondering if this was just because the timeline from Year of Hell has changed, or if there was a Krenim ghost hiding behind the curtain. The idea of the Krenim as an enemy is truly frightening if you start thinking about it; people who can predict your actions in detail before you even perform them, how do you counter that? Having said that, we also discover the danger of drawing conclusions from insufficient data (something that, as a data analyst myself, made me smile - it's so recognizable) and how its effects can be devastating. The lesson of leaving well enough alone is obviously one that they didn't learn. Even though Dayne ends up doing the right thing, I couldn't get myself to appreciate him. The real star of this part however, isn't Dayne, or even denzit Janeway - it's Tuvok. No slight on the Titan line, but PFoL did more with his development in the wake of Destiny than any of his previous appearances. Tuvok and Janeway have such great chemistry, both here and onscreen - I don't mind his move to the Titan series, but this is the one casualty of it I've sorely missed. Pocket Full of Lies brings it back in grand form though, so many thanks!
I'll end with saying I really liked the implied reconciliation between Mollah's (rofl, the dog!) caretakers and Janeway, and am worried about the final scene with Obrist (I really should have seen that 'brothers' thing coming). I've always considered him a likeable character in "Year of Hell", but again - this is time travel headache land at its finest. I wouldn't mind exploring that cliffhanger a bit more at some later date.
So thanks to Kirsten for another fine read. Having to carry this whole line as a single author must be a daunting task, but rejoice: it's only getting better as we go!
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Mostly done. In the past, I would have welcomed Tuvok as an addition to the crew, but with the way Kristen has crafted the latest DQ novels, he does not fit into the dynamics.
I agree. Tuvok has evolved away from Voyager. Also he has to be on Titan until at least 2385.
Although I don't need Tuvok in the Voyager novels anymore as I do feel his place is on Titan, I do think we need this story so he can fully move on now that Janeway is back. I think we needed that "closure" between them following her resurrection, especially since they were great friends.
Yes, I felt like it made sense to utilize him here and you also could see the healing that needed to still take place for him with the events from Before Dishonor. I enjoyed his brief appearance.
Okay. I polished this off this morning. I had very little memory of "Shattered" other than that I liked it when it first aired. I rewatched it today and it's absolutely ridiculous. I didn't remember the Captain Proton stuff at all.
That being said, I really enjoyed the book. The warring factions on a planet nonsense is pretty cliche, but that's really the only problem I have with the novel. The characters were once again fascinating and the plotting was great. I hope we can stay away from Earth and other quadrants and Borg references in the future and see this fleet really go forward.
That being said, I really enjoyed the book. The warring factions on a planet nonsense is pretty cliche, but that's really the only problem I have with the novel. The characters were once again fascinating and the plotting was great. I hope we can stay away from Earth and other quadrants and Borg references in the future and see this fleet really go forward.
Well I finished this yesterday, and it basically goes without saying that it was awesome. For about the first quarter of the book, a big revelation about the unfolding plot would occur, and I would think " Wow this is going to be a great story!' only for something even better to happen a few chapters later.
Kirsten it was amazing that not only did you come up with a great sequel to Year of Hell, but you figured out how to erase the reset button on that episode, which was the only flaw in what I consider Voyager's finest hours.
As always I look very much forward to the next chapter.
Kirsten it was amazing that not only did you come up with a great sequel to Year of Hell, but you figured out how to erase the reset button on that episode, which was the only flaw in what I consider Voyager's finest hours.
As always I look very much forward to the next chapter.
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If I've understood Ryan correctly, "south" would equate to "in the direction of Alpha/Beta Quadrants", and "Eastern" would be towards the Galactic rim. So that would put his idea of the Confederacy's location roughly near the Delta-Beta border. Right about where the Perseus arm disperses into the wild black yonder, according to recent theory. (Subject to correction by GAIA's mapping efforts.)
Of course, he might be thinking in 3-D mapping terms - always more sensible when dealing with this sort of thing - in which case, I'm not sure what should constitute "galactic south".
Your first explanation was what I was originally thinking. Though if the location should be farther from the Beta Quadrant, I could seeit being in the middle third of the quadrant 'north' and 'south' wise, and still the 'eastern' third.
Dan and I had an incredible time talking to Kirsten on Literary Treks about this one, hope you enjoy the interview.
I just finished it. The way the ending was structured lessened the rating of the novel.
- I finished this yesterday. It was fantastic! Voyager was my favorite series growing up and I love being able to enjoy the crews continuing adventures. I really enjoyed this one, although it was a painful read (in a good way). I can't really blame Denzit Janeway for taking the side she did of for trusting Dayne. In many ways Dayne reminded my of Kashyk, if he had chosen to leave the Devore.
- I loved where this one went with Tuvok. I really enjoyed Tuvok's arc in Titan and this fits in perfectly. It makes a lot of sense that something had to happen between Over a Torrent Sea/Synthesis and Seize the Fire. Honestly, I was afraid it was just going to be a cameo for the sake of having him return or something. Wow, was I wrong.
I like how the Voyager novels directly connect to each other in the timeline which makes them far more enjoyable than having every six in-universe months two weeks with the crew of the Enterprise, Titan or Wyntara Mas.
Also I'm totally hyped for Architects of Infinity and the unnamed not-sequel.
Also I'm totally hyped for Architects of Infinity and the unnamed not-sequel.
Jinn I am right there with you, cannot wait to see where the next 2 go.
As I recall, Cheron is canonically described as being in "the southern part of the galaxy."
My name is Roy. And I'm a Stoic. As a child I had an emotional life that could at best be called mercurial. I felt everything. All the time. And I felt it so strongly that it would leave me feeling helpless before a raging torrent. Being a child I didn't have the words to express what I felt. How powerfully I felt it, and how terrified I was of it. Then one day I found salvation. His name was Spock. He struggled with the same things I did. And he managed those same things through the rigorous application of discipline and logic. I did my best to emulate his example. In time I found the book that would become in many ways my Bible. Spock's World by Diane Duane. It was thanks to that book that I began to develop tenets of my own personal philosophy of action drawn equally from Stoicism and Zen Buddhism the same way that Duane drew on those to craft the Vulcan philosophy of C'Thia. As I grew older I began to read about the ideas upon which C'Thia is based. I began to use my mind to help me master my emotions. I quickly learned some rock solid basic truths. Such as the emotions never go away. At first I had hoped there would come a day when I would be "normal". Where when I got mad there would not be the potential for blind rage. Or when I got sad there would not be the possibility of sorrow so deep as to feel like drowning. The disciplines do help to mute the intensity of my emotions somewhat but they are still there and without the disciplines they can break through at any moment. Another truth I learned, I didn't so much learn as have confirmed. Because I had already learned it from watching Spock. People far too often do not understand those who choose to live a life as free of emotionalism as possible. They often seem to fear and/or hate such people. I have been called "unfeeling" and a "robot" far more times than I care to think about in my life. To say that such accusations hurt would be an understatement. Then there is the flip side. The people ready, willing, and more than able to condemn me if my control should slip. Should I lose control of sorrow and weep at something that would not so deeply effect most people I run the risk of being called a cry baby. If I lose control of rage and punch a wall are scream in anger and frustration then I am treated as if I were a monster. Often the very same people lighting the torches and pitchforks of condemnation are the very same ones that when I didn't lose my control derided me as unfeeling.
So now I hear you asking, "What the hell does any of this have to do with the book in question?" Trust me I'm getting there.
So now I've spoken of Spock and how important he was in my development. Next we come to Tuvok. At first I ddin't like Tuvok. Some of it was that he was very different in many ways from Spock. But in later years I realized that a big part of the problem had nothing to do with Tuvok and had more to do with the way his crewmates often seemed to treat him. I'm going to digress for a moment. I've been working on reading a biography of Marcus Aurelius for a while now. I get so far and then I have to set it aside. A big part of this is because the author seems to feel the need every few hundred pages to make some comment about Stoicism and how stupid he finds it. I consider Marcus Aurelius a personal hero and while certainly neither he nor Stoicism are without flaws, it just gets kind of tiring and tiresome. Well often it seems like in many Voyager episodes the way Tuvok is, is treated with at best good natured ridicule and at worst open contempt. As if because he does not conduct himself in a way that makes his mostly human crewmates comfortable he is the problem not them. Sometimes honestly if felt as if the writers on Voyager didn't really understand Stoicism or Vulcans.
Now we come to Pocketful of Lies. I cried. A lot. There are moments in my life when my discipline is the only thing I have keeping me going. There are moments when it feels like going hand over hand one foot at a time over a rope line over a raging river and if I lose my focus I will slip and drown. To say that I know what Tuvok is going through would not be inaccurate even though I've never lost a child, I know what it is to deal with feelings that leave you hollowed out to where you only function because you are willing yourself to function. I saw Stoicism, and Vulcans get perhaps the fairest showing they've ever gotten in Trek literature since Spock's World and Deus Ex Machina by C.L. Bennet. Certainly it was the best more nuanced portrayal of Tuvok in any Voyager story I've ever seen. All of these calls for greater diversity in popular entertainment is because we all want to have the experience of seeing ourselves reflected back to us in the things we love. Well I feel that I found that reflection quite clearly in PoL.
Thank you Kirsten.
Now as for the book as a book. Well... I can't review these any more. Because I don't read them. I experience them. For me at this point it really is like Buffy. I'm just right there. I found the usage of two seemingly unconnected episodes brilliant. I loved the un pushing of the reset button. I loved the use of Q. At this point all I can say is write faster, and take care of yourself so you are around for a long time to write more.
Peace and long life to you.
So now I hear you asking, "What the hell does any of this have to do with the book in question?" Trust me I'm getting there.
So now I've spoken of Spock and how important he was in my development. Next we come to Tuvok. At first I ddin't like Tuvok. Some of it was that he was very different in many ways from Spock. But in later years I realized that a big part of the problem had nothing to do with Tuvok and had more to do with the way his crewmates often seemed to treat him. I'm going to digress for a moment. I've been working on reading a biography of Marcus Aurelius for a while now. I get so far and then I have to set it aside. A big part of this is because the author seems to feel the need every few hundred pages to make some comment about Stoicism and how stupid he finds it. I consider Marcus Aurelius a personal hero and while certainly neither he nor Stoicism are without flaws, it just gets kind of tiring and tiresome. Well often it seems like in many Voyager episodes the way Tuvok is, is treated with at best good natured ridicule and at worst open contempt. As if because he does not conduct himself in a way that makes his mostly human crewmates comfortable he is the problem not them. Sometimes honestly if felt as if the writers on Voyager didn't really understand Stoicism or Vulcans.
Now we come to Pocketful of Lies. I cried. A lot. There are moments in my life when my discipline is the only thing I have keeping me going. There are moments when it feels like going hand over hand one foot at a time over a rope line over a raging river and if I lose my focus I will slip and drown. To say that I know what Tuvok is going through would not be inaccurate even though I've never lost a child, I know what it is to deal with feelings that leave you hollowed out to where you only function because you are willing yourself to function. I saw Stoicism, and Vulcans get perhaps the fairest showing they've ever gotten in Trek literature since Spock's World and Deus Ex Machina by C.L. Bennet. Certainly it was the best more nuanced portrayal of Tuvok in any Voyager story I've ever seen. All of these calls for greater diversity in popular entertainment is because we all want to have the experience of seeing ourselves reflected back to us in the things we love. Well I feel that I found that reflection quite clearly in PoL.
Thank you Kirsten.
Now as for the book as a book. Well... I can't review these any more. Because I don't read them. I experience them. For me at this point it really is like Buffy. I'm just right there. I found the usage of two seemingly unconnected episodes brilliant. I loved the un pushing of the reset button. I loved the use of Q. At this point all I can say is write faster, and take care of yourself so you are around for a long time to write more.
Peace and long life to you.
Kirsten keeps raising the bar on herself. This book was incredible! Can her next book be any better?
No pressure, Kirsten.
No pressure, Kirsten.
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