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defcons_treklitA for the most parts average novel with some great character work.
The story itself is not very innovative and more or less on the same level as many Star Trek novels from the same time frame (around 1990). First of all : In my opinion the whole story wouldn’t even be possible, because I don’t think Starfleet would be so naive to bring an enemy ship, which was captured under rather strange circumstances I might add, directly into the heart of the Federation. I would assume that Starfleet has some secret research stations for occasions like that. And even if they would bring it to earth I find it highly unlikely that they would send parts of the interior around, even if they don’t have any significance on first sight, like the artifacts. O.K., it is said that Harper’s mom has a high security clearance, but in my opinion that doesn’t mean they would send her anything interesting, but rather that they would invite her if Starfleet needed her expertise.
What makes the novel somewhat special is the very good character work, especially for Saavik and a little bit less for Spock. It’s highly interesting to see her background and where she’s coming from. To see her relationship to Spock grow and how both of them benefit from each other is a very good read and the absolute highlight of this novel. It feels a little bit “Woody Allen-ish” to see the two in some kind of father/daughter relationship here and then later as a married couple in the “Vulcan’s …” series, but that takes nothing away from the great work done for the two characters here in this novel. Kirk and McCoy play rather minor roles here and that’s never a bad thing, if you keep in mind how many “Big Three” – novels there are. None of the other of the main cast get really big roles either, but at least there’s some kind of fairness in the way the attention is divided among them.
Overall a novel which wouldn’t be especially worthy to remember, if not for the great Saavik backstory.
”Defcon’s TrekLit” Rating :
Story : *** of *****
Characterization / character development : **** of *****
Originality : *** of *****
Writing style : *** of *****
Cover : ** of *****
Overall : 75 %
( review based on the german translation „Das Pandora-Prinzip“ )
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terri_osborne, I can see why you think Obo and his people could fit into the S.C.E. series.
The story itself is not very innovative and more or less on the same level as many Star Trek novels from the same time frame (around 1990). First of all : In my opinion the whole story wouldn’t even be possible, because I don’t think Starfleet would be so naive to bring an enemy ship, which was captured under rather strange circumstances I might add, directly into the heart of the Federation. I would assume that Starfleet has some secret research stations for occasions like that. And even if they would bring it to earth I find it highly unlikely that they would send parts of the interior around, even if they don’t have any significance on first sight, like the artifacts. O.K., it is said that Harper’s mom has a high security clearance, but in my opinion that doesn’t mean they would send her anything interesting, but rather that they would invite her if Starfleet needed her expertise.
What makes the novel somewhat special is the very good character work, especially for Saavik and a little bit less for Spock. It’s highly interesting to see her background and where she’s coming from. To see her relationship to Spock grow and how both of them benefit from each other is a very good read and the absolute highlight of this novel. It feels a little bit “Woody Allen-ish” to see the two in some kind of father/daughter relationship here and then later as a married couple in the “Vulcan’s …” series, but that takes nothing away from the great work done for the two characters here in this novel. Kirk and McCoy play rather minor roles here and that’s never a bad thing, if you keep in mind how many “Big Three” – novels there are. None of the other of the main cast get really big roles either, but at least there’s some kind of fairness in the way the attention is divided among them.
Overall a novel which wouldn’t be especially worthy to remember, if not for the great Saavik backstory.
”Defcon’s TrekLit” Rating :
Story : *** of *****
Characterization / character development : **** of *****
Originality : *** of *****
Writing style : *** of *****
Cover : ** of *****
Overall : 75 %
( review based on the german translation „Das Pandora-Prinzip“ )
P.S. :
terri_osborne, I can see why you think Obo and his people could fit into the S.C.E. series.
