| Review : |
I've read many, many Trek novels, this is quite possibly the best. While contradicted by later movies and Enterprise (Carbon Creek), so it may be considered non-canon, the writing is flat out remarkable - surprising, since so many of the official Trek novels are mediocre, and many astonishingly bad. Compelling storyline, characters that are three dimensional, unpredictable, its a book that once you start, you can't put down. I've since read other stuff by Bonanno, and she's a terrific writer, with a great ear for dialog and a great sense of plot and pacing. If you only read one Trek novel...well, you should be reading more, lol, but this is truly a great novel, Trek or otherwise. |
| Review : |
Its Trek dancing to a different beat. Spock is a little unfamiliar, and there is an absurd humor that you'll either love or hate - from the rating, you can tell I loved it. Breezy, with the feel of a Depression-era movie, imaginative if sometimes a little over the top. Reminiscent of "The Sting" in places, well written and well constructed in terms of plot and pacing. It doesn't drop a million Trek references like many official novels, it isn't some homage to the characters, so if that's what you're looking for this isn't the book for you. But if you want a refreshing, funny, slightly skewed point of view on classic Trek, this book is a breath of fresh air. Reading it I couldn't help but think it would have made a terrific episode of the original series - cheap to make, original, reminiscent of "A Piece of the Action" in tone. Overall, a great read by a solid writer, not so much because it's great Trek - at times, it feels like a funny story adapted to the Trek universe - but because its a rollicking good time. |
