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4.05 AVERAGE
4.05 AVERAGE
Although I enjoyed getting to know the previous captain of the Starship Enterprise a bit better, some aspects fell a bit flat. The author makes a point of drawing a contrast between Pine and Kirk, yet they struck me as more similar than dissimilar: young men heavy with the burden of command, quick to action, with a love for women and horses. I suspect when Roddenberry's first pilot was canned, he recast the role but didn't rewrite the character description — hence the similarities.
The story also bounced around across multiple time periods. Originally the story is framed as a flashback of Pine's life as he relates it to Vina, shortly upon Spock returning him to Talos IV. But this device is eventually dropped, and we never see present-day Pine again — what happened to him? Even within a single chapter, it wasn't unusual to start with the end of that vignette then back up to how Pine got there — and then end with a tease of what the implications would be years later. It struck me as an inconsistent narrative.
Overall, it was a fun, pulpy action book, but not one that did much to expand my awareness or appreciation of the Star Trek universe.
The story also bounced around across multiple time periods. Originally the story is framed as a flashback of Pine's life as he relates it to Vina, shortly upon Spock returning him to Talos IV. But this device is eventually dropped, and we never see present-day Pine again — what happened to him? Even within a single chapter, it wasn't unusual to start with the end of that vignette then back up to how Pine got there — and then end with a tease of what the implications would be years later. It struck me as an inconsistent narrative.
Overall, it was a fun, pulpy action book, but not one that did much to expand my awareness or appreciation of the Star Trek universe.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I rarely see a Christopher Pike novel so when I do, it is an almost insant purchase. This novel did not disappoint. Before Strange New Worlds, Trek fans got little about this Captain who was consigned to a wheel chair and brought to Talos IV. This novel does a wonderful job of giving depth and breadth to this character. Adds dimension and helps the reader to understand the inner workings of this brillant and brave Captain. A must read for any Trek fan.
With Star Trek Strange New Worlds on the Horizon, I thought I should give this another shot. I've read some of the other Pike-featuring books (like in the Captain's Table Series and Vulcan's glory) but don't really get a fell for the man.
It's a semi-biography of Captain Christopher Pike, the original captain of the Enterprise, created by Gene Roddenberry for the aborted pilot, 'The Cage'. Despite there not being much character development in his only TOS appearance, his character has fascinated fans for decades, so much so Pike became a mentor character to Kirk in the 'Kelvin' movies.
So is it any good? I think it is - MWB rarely produces a sub-par Trek novel, and this is no exception. A detailed family backstory and a tragic upbringing all add plenty of light and shade to his character and you see his steely anger evidenced in his solo appearance more than once.
I don't know whether any of the past events depicted in this book will be referenced in the new series (I doubt it), but it sits nicely in my head canon regardless.
It's a semi-biography of Captain Christopher Pike, the original captain of the Enterprise, created by Gene Roddenberry for the aborted pilot, 'The Cage'. Despite there not being much character development in his only TOS appearance, his character has fascinated fans for decades, so much so Pike became a mentor character to Kirk in the 'Kelvin' movies.
So is it any good? I think it is - MWB rarely produces a sub-par Trek novel, and this is no exception. A detailed family backstory and a tragic upbringing all add plenty of light and shade to his character and you see his steely anger evidenced in his solo appearance more than once.
I don't know whether any of the past events depicted in this book will be referenced in the new series (I doubt it), but it sits nicely in my head canon regardless.
Wonderful read. I greatly enjoyed the amount of depth given to Christopher Pike and the knowledge of his background.
All I can say is wow. After reading this novel I have a much deeper appreciation. Interest and love for Christopher Pike. He is one hell of a Captain and his life is one hell of a story.
Enjoyed it much more than expected; interesting back story of Captain Pike with a bit of an update from Ambassador Spock's viewpoint. I wasn't sure about Spock's involvement - it seemed a bit something and nothing despite the blurb on the back of the book; the ending seemed very precipitous going from just after Pike going back to Talos iv 50 years into the future with nothing inbetween.
Wonderful read. I greatly enjoyed the amount of depth given to Christopher Pike and the knowledge of his background.