1/6/12
I have to state here and now that the reason i have been reading so many Star Trek the Next Generation books is because I love the characters. Maybe it's the writer in me or something else but characters are one of the best parts of the story also one of the most important, without good characters the story goes flat. The hardest part for author's of these type of books is that they didn't create the characters themselves, the characters have been created and given life by actors most for over seven years.
When the Starship Rhea finds a cluster of carbon planets inhabited by a strange new life form they stop to investigate. The Borg have also found these lifeforms and the crew of the Rhea. These lifeforms have a way of transporting great distances in an extremely short period of time a tool deadly at the hands of the Borg. So the Federation has dispatched the Enterprise to handle the Bord and the new lifeforms.
Some might find this book difficult because it delves into the characters personal life more than some might like. The story is good, well developed, and engrossing. The character stories as I said factor critically in this story not without a point though. The personal stories play into the larger plot making what might appear fanciful indulgences of the writer important to the story. Though some may argue the personal stories are irrelevant and nothing more than fanfiction I disagree. Te show worked well because there were engaging stories/missions but also because of the characters. The characters are critical, the magic of these books and the show comes from the seamless bled of both elements. People want to be able to relate to what they read/watch so by showing us the personal lives we have something to relate to in a setting of the future.
Monday, January 16, 2012
#5: STNG: Q&A: Keith RA Ce Candido
1/5/12
Continuing my astounding pattern of a book a day (at least astounding for me seeing as how I feel like I'm constantly at work). I have finished yet another Star Trek the Next Generation book. When I told someone about my current reading pattern they were skeptical saying "They're only a hundred pages right?" And just so everyone knows they are all over two hundred pages most three hundred plus.
Anyway over the course of our lives we meet people and most leave an impression either good or bad. Then there are people you pray you will never see again, it is no different for Jean-Luc Picard. Q has plagued Captain Picard's life since episode one of the show (Encounter at Fairpoint). As is standard Q procedure the crew fo the Enterprise is faced with a problem . . . the end of the Universe. They must figure out what Q is up to and try to stop the inevitable.
This book was hilarious, as with the show Q in this book brings with him loads of humor. The great thing about this book was the shifting perspectives. We got to see not only the Enterprise crew but got to the Continuum (everyone's name being Q is slightly confusing at first) and even for a brief period other ships and Starbases. Here we get to know more about Q and the Continuum and see how and why certain events unfolded. The Q character, as complex and strange as it is, makes it difficult to write however, DeCandido does so making you laugh out loud and fall in love the character all over again.
Continuing my astounding pattern of a book a day (at least astounding for me seeing as how I feel like I'm constantly at work). I have finished yet another Star Trek the Next Generation book. When I told someone about my current reading pattern they were skeptical saying "They're only a hundred pages right?" And just so everyone knows they are all over two hundred pages most three hundred plus.
Anyway over the course of our lives we meet people and most leave an impression either good or bad. Then there are people you pray you will never see again, it is no different for Jean-Luc Picard. Q has plagued Captain Picard's life since episode one of the show (Encounter at Fairpoint). As is standard Q procedure the crew fo the Enterprise is faced with a problem . . . the end of the Universe. They must figure out what Q is up to and try to stop the inevitable.
This book was hilarious, as with the show Q in this book brings with him loads of humor. The great thing about this book was the shifting perspectives. We got to see not only the Enterprise crew but got to the Continuum (everyone's name being Q is slightly confusing at first) and even for a brief period other ships and Starbases. Here we get to know more about Q and the Continuum and see how and why certain events unfolded. The Q character, as complex and strange as it is, makes it difficult to write however, DeCandido does so making you laugh out loud and fall in love the character all over again.
#4: STNG: Resistance-J.M. Dillard
1/4/12
Days off are meant for running errands, doing necessary household chores, relaxing, and getting caught up on your reading, or in my case ahead. Today on my unexpected day off I did all of these things including finishing yet another book.
Again I have plunged into the world of the starship Enterprise and her crew. Captain Picard and the and other familiar crew member s are back on board the Enterprise and exploring space as they have for well over two decades. This trip, however, is one of the first as well. As so many of the old crew have moved on the old members must now get used to new faces filling old friends' positions.
The ice breaker activities will have to wait as an old foe is moving to rebuild the Empire Picard and the others have crushed, twice. The Borg are back and in a very un-BOrg like fashion they are pissed off. Captain Picard must again face an enemy he knows all too well. Starfleet believes the Borg to be crushed and doesn't believe Picard, now it's up to him and the crew of the Enterprise to take on the Borg . . . again.
Dillard take on a topic so often done on Star Trek it may be over done, the Borg. With so much done ont he Bod it would be difficult to keep it entertaining, but Dillard does. Really for the frist time we get to experience the Borg with the crew and feel their reactions to the threat of the Borg. We feel Picard's anger, live Crusher's fear, and Worf's unrest. Dillard takes up on board with the crew and puts us in their positions, even in their heads.
Days off are meant for running errands, doing necessary household chores, relaxing, and getting caught up on your reading, or in my case ahead. Today on my unexpected day off I did all of these things including finishing yet another book.
Again I have plunged into the world of the starship Enterprise and her crew. Captain Picard and the and other familiar crew member s are back on board the Enterprise and exploring space as they have for well over two decades. This trip, however, is one of the first as well. As so many of the old crew have moved on the old members must now get used to new faces filling old friends' positions.
The ice breaker activities will have to wait as an old foe is moving to rebuild the Empire Picard and the others have crushed, twice. The Borg are back and in a very un-BOrg like fashion they are pissed off. Captain Picard must again face an enemy he knows all too well. Starfleet believes the Borg to be crushed and doesn't believe Picard, now it's up to him and the crew of the Enterprise to take on the Borg . . . again.
Dillard take on a topic so often done on Star Trek it may be over done, the Borg. With so much done ont he Bod it would be difficult to keep it entertaining, but Dillard does. Really for the frist time we get to experience the Borg with the crew and feel their reactions to the threat of the Borg. We feel Picard's anger, live Crusher's fear, and Worf's unrest. Dillard takes up on board with the crew and puts us in their positions, even in their heads.
#3: STNG: Death in Winter- Michael Jan Friedman
1/3/12
It's official I have a serious problem, well two problems I guess. Problem #1 I have read three book in as many days. #2 I have no life enabling me to read three books in three days. Problem number one is only a problem because I'm going to plow through the books I have in record time. There is an upside though, my roommate has a ton of books I haven't read and I work in a bookstore.
Obviously I haven't run out of Star Trek books yet which is cause for much rejoicing, since I'm allowed to further indulge my nerdiness. These books take me to world where I am lost in it's places and characters even when I'm not actually reading the book. While I was working today I found myself thinking about what I was reading and not what I was working on (granted I was just scanning and pulling inventory).
This book takes place shortly after the fourth Star Trek The Next Generation movie (Nemesis). As Captain Jean-Luc Picard faces many changes the most difficult is the departure of his friend Dr. Beverly Crusher from the Enterprise.
When Dr. Crusher goes MIA on assignment it is up to Picard and some of his former Stargazer crew to complete her mission and (most importantly to Picard) locate Crusher and bring her back safely. This book is wonderful for Next Gen fans with great characters, a well developed story, and an old foe who has again reared their ugly heads.
It's official I have a serious problem, well two problems I guess. Problem #1 I have read three book in as many days. #2 I have no life enabling me to read three books in three days. Problem number one is only a problem because I'm going to plow through the books I have in record time. There is an upside though, my roommate has a ton of books I haven't read and I work in a bookstore.
Obviously I haven't run out of Star Trek books yet which is cause for much rejoicing, since I'm allowed to further indulge my nerdiness. These books take me to world where I am lost in it's places and characters even when I'm not actually reading the book. While I was working today I found myself thinking about what I was reading and not what I was working on (granted I was just scanning and pulling inventory).
This book takes place shortly after the fourth Star Trek The Next Generation movie (Nemesis). As Captain Jean-Luc Picard faces many changes the most difficult is the departure of his friend Dr. Beverly Crusher from the Enterprise.
When Dr. Crusher goes MIA on assignment it is up to Picard and some of his former Stargazer crew to complete her mission and (most importantly to Picard) locate Crusher and bring her back safely. This book is wonderful for Next Gen fans with great characters, a well developed story, and an old foe who has again reared their ugly heads.
#2: STNG: Hard Rain- Dean Wesley Smith
1/2/12
Okay space cadets it's time to take a tip with me across time and space out into the stars and to . . . 1940's San Fransisco.
Another Star Trek the Next Generation book under my belt and this one was fantastic. I love it when things I love cross over. For example, when the character I love from the Next Generation are thrown into a good 'ole noir mystery. Captain Picard, Dr. Beverly Crusher, Data, and several other crew members must go onto the holo deck to solve a case that could save all of those in the program but also all the lives on the Enterprise.
So back in 1940's San Fransisco, Dixon Hill, PI, Luscious Bev ( his steady gal), and Mr. Data (his right hand man) must find their prize. As time is running out for the Enterprise and her crew the key to survival could be in the 40's but the question is where?
I loved this book it was well written and expecting and funny. The episode where Picard, Crusher, and Data go into the Dixon Hill program was one of my favorites so to see it continued in a fashion as a book was excellent. Smith did well combining the world of the Enterprise and the world on the holo deck. It was a great mystery perfect for it's setting on the holo deck and a story worthy of the Star Trek name.
Okay space cadets it's time to take a tip with me across time and space out into the stars and to . . . 1940's San Fransisco.
Another Star Trek the Next Generation book under my belt and this one was fantastic. I love it when things I love cross over. For example, when the character I love from the Next Generation are thrown into a good 'ole noir mystery. Captain Picard, Dr. Beverly Crusher, Data, and several other crew members must go onto the holo deck to solve a case that could save all of those in the program but also all the lives on the Enterprise.
So back in 1940's San Fransisco, Dixon Hill, PI, Luscious Bev ( his steady gal), and Mr. Data (his right hand man) must find their prize. As time is running out for the Enterprise and her crew the key to survival could be in the 40's but the question is where?
I loved this book it was well written and expecting and funny. The episode where Picard, Crusher, and Data go into the Dixon Hill program was one of my favorites so to see it continued in a fashion as a book was excellent. Smith did well combining the world of the Enterprise and the world on the holo deck. It was a great mystery perfect for it's setting on the holo deck and a story worthy of the Star Trek name.
#1: Star Trek the Next Generation: Rogue Saucer- John Vornholt
Okay, okay I know what you're all thinking I posted on here that I was going to keep up with my blog and not get behind like I started to at the end of last year. Though I haven't been writing on here I have been writing in the book journal I said I was going to keep and have been busy reading quite a few books. Since I'm now forced to play catch up I'm going to date the next several entries and write them as they appeal in my journal. Also I have read several Star Trek books so I will abbreviate the beginning portions of the title for Star Trek the Next Generation books as STNG.
1/1/12
So I have this quirky obsession with tv shows and movies I like, I never want the story to end. So like any other nerd I go out and buy the books based on the tv shows/movies I love. This can be a hit or miss thing sometimes the books are wonderful and story true to the characters already created other time I wish I'd never read them.
Currently I am reading all the books based on the show Star Trek the Next Generation. I lvoe the show because it's character deep. Rogue Saucer is the second Star Trek novel I read and it was fantastic. This novel is set while the show was still running but written after the show ended. This has the advantage of know what happens in the show but the difficulty of not altering events or revealing things that haven't happened yet.
While the Enterprise saucer receives much needed repairs the hull take and experimental saucer and in typical Star Trek fashion nothing goes according to plan. Now with the Enterprise separated and so is it's crew, they will face challenges they never expected.
Reading this book I fel like I was watching an episdoe of the show. I was laughing and commenting on the book like I would the show. The characters were true to the show and the store was a believable one consistent with the show.
1/1/12
So I have this quirky obsession with tv shows and movies I like, I never want the story to end. So like any other nerd I go out and buy the books based on the tv shows/movies I love. This can be a hit or miss thing sometimes the books are wonderful and story true to the characters already created other time I wish I'd never read them.
Currently I am reading all the books based on the show Star Trek the Next Generation. I lvoe the show because it's character deep. Rogue Saucer is the second Star Trek novel I read and it was fantastic. This novel is set while the show was still running but written after the show ended. This has the advantage of know what happens in the show but the difficulty of not altering events or revealing things that haven't happened yet.
While the Enterprise saucer receives much needed repairs the hull take and experimental saucer and in typical Star Trek fashion nothing goes according to plan. Now with the Enterprise separated and so is it's crew, they will face challenges they never expected.
Reading this book I fel like I was watching an episdoe of the show. I was laughing and commenting on the book like I would the show. The characters were true to the show and the store was a believable one consistent with the show.
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Happy New Year!
Happy New Year everyone!! Here I sit in front of my computer with my nose stuffed fuller than a turkey on Thanksgiving and hacking my lung up ready to start a 2012 and a new book count. 2011 was a decent reading year for me (probably thanks to the fact that I wasn't in school this year anymore and I was working in a bookstore for a majority of it.) I ended 2011 with 75 books on record for the year. There are a few I read that I didn't write about on here that I may write about because they were excellent books that I think everyone should read.
This year as well as keeping a blog about my reading adventures I have decided that I'm also going to keep a written journal of them as well since as I have mentioned I like writing by hand more than typing on a computer. I'm hoping that hand writing my reviews about the books I read will help me keep better track on here as well.
On the topic of new beginnings and resolutions I am here and now making a resolution to put my writing on the front burner again and not make any excuses why I'm not pursuing it. Yesterday I received a letter from a magazine I had submitted a story to back in November. They had decided not to use the story I sent them. I wasn't upset like most people instead I figure it's a step in the right direction at least I'm getting my work out there and looked at. I have started a folder that is in with all my other writing in a folder labeled "Character Building".
Happy New Year Everyone! Enjoy!
This year as well as keeping a blog about my reading adventures I have decided that I'm also going to keep a written journal of them as well since as I have mentioned I like writing by hand more than typing on a computer. I'm hoping that hand writing my reviews about the books I read will help me keep better track on here as well.
On the topic of new beginnings and resolutions I am here and now making a resolution to put my writing on the front burner again and not make any excuses why I'm not pursuing it. Yesterday I received a letter from a magazine I had submitted a story to back in November. They had decided not to use the story I sent them. I wasn't upset like most people instead I figure it's a step in the right direction at least I'm getting my work out there and looked at. I have started a folder that is in with all my other writing in a folder labeled "Character Building".
Happy New Year Everyone! Enjoy!
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