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vortimer's review
3.0
Solid "bottle" novel. Most character's get at least a little to do. Unusual in that it must be one of the last appearances of the Ferengi as true villians, and a rare TNG appearance of the Cardassians before they where fleshed out.
djwudi's review
This one surprised me in good ways. I wasn’t optimistic at first, with its focus on Ferengi, who can be annoying (especially in the pre-Quark days), and with it bringing back an (intentionally) annoying character from the show. But it handled both of these elements surprisingly well; the primary Ferengi antagonist is a little more thoughtful than most of the era, and the returning character is actually given some depth and is able to use his traits and quirks in ways that advance the story. Add in some amusing Worf/Riker bits and Wesley actually being treated like a worthwhile character as he forms a friendship with an alien ensign, and this (notwithstanding some confusion over how the Federation handles money and an “offscreen” sexual assault that wasn’t really necessary) is definitely an above average entry in the series.
octavia_cade's review
3.0
A little way into this I was really regretting picking it up. It was about the Ferengi. Wesley had a large role. And one of the guest characters was one of those science fiction staples: the person from the past, thawed out of cryogenics and trying to find their way in the future. I am entirely indifferent to that trope, I am largely irritated by the Ferengi, and I fucking loathe Wesley Crusher. But I stuck with it and you know what? Thompson subverted pretty much all of my expectations, and this ended up a likeable read.
First off, the Ferengi, though awful, were used effectively (i.e. sparingly) and got theirs in the end. Secondly, Wesley was also used effectively for once in his plot-armoured life, by which I mean no barely trained super genius saving the day. He was pretty much in disgrace anyway, back on the Enterprise after the Nick Locarno incident at the Academy, and much of his storyline was quietly doing junior officer level stuff with another junior officer from an insect race, and their friendship was low-key and well developed and if this was how Wesley had always been used, I wouldn't hate him nearly so damn much. Finally, the cryogenic time-jumper was clearly going through trauma from having to adapt to a new century, and trying to move on from what he had lost, and while that isn't a new twist in the trope it was honestly a fairly well-executed one, and married well with the main plot, which involved the exploitation of an developing world by Federation enemies. Much more enjoyable than I thought it would be, and given Thompson made me like this despite the three expected handicaps described above, I'll be keeping an eye out for other Trek novels by them in future, as I wade my way through the enormous backlist of this franchise.
Good thing I have a library card.
First off, the Ferengi, though awful, were used effectively (i.e. sparingly) and got theirs in the end. Secondly, Wesley was also used effectively for once in his plot-armoured life, by which I mean no barely trained super genius saving the day. He was pretty much in disgrace anyway, back on the Enterprise after the Nick Locarno incident at the Academy, and much of his storyline was quietly doing junior officer level stuff with another junior officer from an insect race, and their friendship was low-key and well developed and if this was how Wesley had always been used, I wouldn't hate him nearly so damn much. Finally, the cryogenic time-jumper was clearly going through trauma from having to adapt to a new century, and trying to move on from what he had lost, and while that isn't a new twist in the trope it was honestly a fairly well-executed one, and married well with the main plot, which involved the exploitation of an developing world by Federation enemies. Much more enjoyable than I thought it would be, and given Thompson made me like this despite the three expected handicaps described above, I'll be keeping an eye out for other Trek novels by them in future, as I wade my way through the enormous backlist of this franchise.
Good thing I have a library card.
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