Scan barcode
meggytheweggy's review
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: War, Cannibalism, and Colonisation
books_with_style's review
2.0
Was not a fan of this book. What was interesting though was learning what happened to the Magna Roma after Kirk visited. What was odd to me though is they didn't mention him by name and just said an earlier ship named Enterprise
djwudi's review
2.0
Somehow the Roman gladiator planet from TOS has become a full member of the Federation, with a Starfleet ship crewed entirely by these neo-Romans. It does not go well.
Perhaps there are some pieces of interest buried in here, but I just had too many problems buying that in a scant few decades, with the way they’re portrayed, that there would be a starship crewed nearly entirely by natives of this planet. It’s no wonder everything falls apart.
Beyond that, the book wraps up the secondary antagonist’s issues off screen and out of nowhere, and then the ending is left so far open, I have to wonder if there is a sequel (or if there was a plan for one, whether or not it manifested) later in the series.
Ah, well. I’m still early in the TNG run of novels. They won’t all be gems.
Perhaps there are some pieces of interest buried in here, but I just had too many problems buying that in a scant few decades, with the way they’re portrayed, that there would be a starship crewed nearly entirely by natives of this planet. It’s no wonder everything falls apart.
Beyond that, the book wraps up the secondary antagonist’s issues off screen and out of nowhere, and then the ending is left so far open, I have to wonder if there is a sequel (or if there was a plan for one, whether or not it manifested) later in the series.
Ah, well. I’m still early in the TNG run of novels. They won’t all be gems.
octavia_cade's review
2.0
No matter what you think of the idea of another culture evolving in parallel to Earth's, the central conceit of this book (and of the episode that inspired it) is that such has happened, so might as well swallow down disbelief at the thought of ancient Romans in Starfleet and make the best of it. Essentially, this civilisation has evolved as the Romans did, and became part of the Federation, and Picard and the Enterprise are assigned to work alongside the crew of the Centurion, who are from this Roman world. Credit where it's due, the authors do a decent job of integrating the cultural background of the Centurion into Starfleet. A lot of this integration comes across as anachronistic, but in a universe where Vulcan crews and Klingon crews are accepted as normal, for instance, it's one very short step to a crew defined by a history rather than a culture (they're both very much intertwined, of course, but you get what I mean).
It works here because the captain and crew of the Centurion may not be the heroes of the story, but they put forth a valid viewpoint regarding their assignment to protect a planet from invasion. They're arguing in good faith, and if that good faith doesn't last, exactly (I'm trying not to give away too many spoilers) then it's certainly credible while it does last. Also, there's a junior security officer, one of Worf's cohort, who is likeable and given a central role that is not one of redshirt, which doesn't often happen with security officers in this franchise.
Unfortunately, it's let down by the conclusion, which is absolutely weak. It's like the story ran out of puff... several storylines are wrapped up in bare paragraphs, and the final scene is entirely unearned. Picard may muse about how much of the Centurion's captain is reflected in himself, but the text goes out of its way, many times, to show the exact opposite. It's as if this reflection has been tacked on to end the story on a thoughtful note, and it really doesn't.
It works here because the captain and crew of the Centurion may not be the heroes of the story, but they put forth a valid viewpoint regarding their assignment to protect a planet from invasion. They're arguing in good faith, and if that good faith doesn't last, exactly (I'm trying not to give away too many spoilers) then it's certainly credible while it does last. Also, there's a junior security officer, one of Worf's cohort, who is likeable and given a central role that is not one of redshirt, which doesn't often happen with security officers in this franchise.
Unfortunately, it's let down by the conclusion, which is absolutely weak. It's like the story ran out of puff... several storylines are wrapped up in bare paragraphs, and the final scene is entirely unearned. Picard may muse about how much of the Centurion's captain is reflected in himself, but the text goes out of its way, many times, to show the exact opposite. It's as if this reflection has been tacked on to end the story on a thoughtful note, and it really doesn't.
birdmanseven's review
4.0
I get the negative reviews, this was a very atypical Trek book. It worked for me though. I thought the conflict was interesting and enjoyed how the author took a somewhat silly episode of TOS and made it into thoughtful, entertaining TNG novel.
I had the chance to interview David about this and his other work. Find it here: https://soundcloud.com/allthebooks/episode-149-take-five-with-david-dvorkin
I had the chance to interview David about this and his other work. Find it here: https://soundcloud.com/allthebooks/episode-149-take-five-with-david-dvorkin
libraryofrick180107's review against another edition
5.0
Book Review 20 - Star Trek The Next Generation #8 The Captains Honour by David & Daniel Dvorkin
One of the earliest Star Trek The Next Generation books, this book is set shortly after the death of Tasha Yar (played by Denise Crosby) in the first season episode Skin Of Evil. The crew are dealing with the loss of their friend and colleague, along with the changed positions for some of the characters.
This book has a story which expands the knowledge of the planets in the Federation and how some of the planets are not as advanced as some of the others.
This story involves the Enterprise and a starship called the Centurion which is crewed by a crew of modern Romans.
This crew proves to be less than trustworthy and deeply involved in the situation that they put the Enterprise crew into.
This book was a fantastic story and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
#rickrecommends
#ricksrecommendation
5*
*****
One of the earliest Star Trek The Next Generation books, this book is set shortly after the death of Tasha Yar (played by Denise Crosby) in the first season episode Skin Of Evil. The crew are dealing with the loss of their friend and colleague, along with the changed positions for some of the characters.
This book has a story which expands the knowledge of the planets in the Federation and how some of the planets are not as advanced as some of the others.
This story involves the Enterprise and a starship called the Centurion which is crewed by a crew of modern Romans.
This crew proves to be less than trustworthy and deeply involved in the situation that they put the Enterprise crew into.
This book was a fantastic story and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
#rickrecommends
#ricksrecommendation
5*
*****
apostrophen's review
2.0
I barely recall this book in the Next Generation novel series. I do know it involved the Magna Romans, and that it was a butting-heads sort of tale between Captain Picard and a Magna Roman captain of another starship. Beyond that - a blank. It wasn't exceptional in any way, really.
More...