Scan barcode
djwudi's review
2.0
A collection of six middling short stories. Four are set between the end of TWoK and the main action of TSfS, the final two are set at indeterminate times (Admiral Kirk is in command, Spock is alive). As with the other Rotsler Trek books I’ve found, not really worth searching out unless you’re a collector.
reeshadovahsil's review
3.0
It's terribly difficult to rate books like these, where there is a collection of short stories and some of them are lovely and others are truly dreadful. I suppose I'd settle around a 2.75 on this one if I had the option.
The first story, The Azphari Enigma, is interesting not for its plot (which is fine but unimportant), but more for its examination of Kirk's crushing depression and self-recrimination over Spock's death. There are dark moments explored, if brief, and it was a powerful and sombre way to start off the collection.
The next story, The Jungles of Memory, is an Uhura adventure. So far, in order of publication, the Star Trek novels have not done well by Uhura. Every time we're led to believe she's going to have an adventure, she has a meaningless interaction with some random dude instead. Apparently she's only allowed romance, not adventure...
But this one was different! At first it seems like the story is going to fall apart into a contrived romance, but instead, the fella ends up unconscious for 3/4 of the story while Uhura plays hero, saving both their lives and thwarting a secret evil plot along the way. I loved it!
Things start to go a little sideways halfway through A Vulcan, a Klingon, and an Angel. Again, this story deals with grief, as Scotty is deep in his booze and deep in his memories about the late, great Mister Spock. The story has a touching and powerful start, but it then leads into a badly told, uninteresting story from Spock's past told to a trapped trainee who has no feelings about Spock's death. Both the story and the trainee seem somehow disrespectful to the depth of Scotty's sadness, and it makes for a disappointing read.
The last two stories, World's End and As Old As Forever, aren't worth the paper they're written on. Spock is in both, with no explanation. While painfully out of character, it's clear this is meant to be the old Spock, before his death and resurrection. The stories have no place in the arc this book is meant to portray. Both feel slapped together and are terribly written, as if the author was told, "We need 44 more pages by the weekend! Just write anything!!!"
The book is absolutely worth seeking out just for the Uhura adventure, and for the brief moments where Kirk and Scotty's grief are explored. But I have to rate the book as a whole, and those last two stories are one-star quality at best.
The first story, The Azphari Enigma, is interesting not for its plot (which is fine but unimportant), but more for its examination of Kirk's crushing depression and self-recrimination over Spock's death. There are dark moments explored, if brief, and it was a powerful and sombre way to start off the collection.
The next story, The Jungles of Memory, is an Uhura adventure. So far, in order of publication, the Star Trek novels have not done well by Uhura. Every time we're led to believe she's going to have an adventure, she has a meaningless interaction with some random dude instead. Apparently she's only allowed romance, not adventure...
But this one was different! At first it seems like the story is going to fall apart into a contrived romance, but instead, the fella ends up unconscious for 3/4 of the story while Uhura plays hero, saving both their lives and thwarting a secret evil plot along the way. I loved it!
Things start to go a little sideways halfway through A Vulcan, a Klingon, and an Angel. Again, this story deals with grief, as Scotty is deep in his booze and deep in his memories about the late, great Mister Spock. The story has a touching and powerful start, but it then leads into a badly told, uninteresting story from Spock's past told to a trapped trainee who has no feelings about Spock's death. Both the story and the trainee seem somehow disrespectful to the depth of Scotty's sadness, and it makes for a disappointing read.
The last two stories, World's End and As Old As Forever, aren't worth the paper they're written on. Spock is in both, with no explanation. While painfully out of character, it's clear this is meant to be the old Spock, before his death and resurrection. The stories have no place in the arc this book is meant to portray. Both feel slapped together and are terribly written, as if the author was told, "We need 44 more pages by the weekend! Just write anything!!!"
The book is absolutely worth seeking out just for the Uhura adventure, and for the brief moments where Kirk and Scotty's grief are explored. But I have to rate the book as a whole, and those last two stories are one-star quality at best.
More...