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katenetz's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
fast-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? No
5.0
Thank God for official fan fiction! I totally approved of the end of Voyager (what an ending!) but was naturally desperate to find out more.
It was a cheap trick to turn this novel into two, but Golden's interpretation was adventurous and exciting and sometimes surprising. I loved it.
It was a cheap trick to turn this novel into two, but Golden's interpretation was adventurous and exciting and sometimes surprising. I loved it.
kevinod's review against another edition
5.0
Great follow on from the TV series. Looking forward to reading the second book in this story.
taaya's review
2.0
The first half feels like a good fix-it fanfiction. The author takes the storylines that have yet to be finished and tries to give all the characters some much needed closure that the series finale denied them.
But then all goes south.
The storyline about citizen rights for holograms would have been enough and a good, classic Trek story. One could have done so much with it. It could have been the binding element both among the Voyager crew and even among the crews of Enterprise and (if one had wanted to add them) DS9. One could have had a court case deciding if holograms can get citizen rights and which of them qualify as citizens. The binding element would have been that all the Voyager officers could testify on behalf of the Doctor, while the Niners could have brought up Vic Fontaine and the Enterprise crew could have added not only Moriarty, but also Data who had already won the right to be his own man, although he is just as artificial as the holograms. And all the while the author could have explored how the Voyager crew struggles to acclimatize back on earth while still having to fight for one of their own.
That would have been a sufficient and - most importantly - a classic cerebral and moral Star Trek story. And this novel had so much potential. Until it denied the possible storyline I mentioned in favor of the usual conspiracy, dictatorship and dystopian crap that Trek writers seem to love in novels. It’s like they always want mankind to fail and to still be as shitty in the 24th century as we’re right now. They don’t seem to be willing to explore how a better future looks like.
But what I really cannot understand is: Why do they wish to write for Star Trek, then, if they don’t care what Star Trek is about and that they try to diminish the one fictional utopia that we have, the one - and thus far only - franchise that gives people that we can overcome our failures and injustices?
So while the writing style itself is actually pretty good and the first half of the novel was extremely enjoyable, the second half (and the fact that it’s not a complete story) is actually infuriating. Let’s hope the second book of this series can make up for the many mistakes this book had, and find a way to turn this into a guiding light for civil rights. (But I’m not counting on it.)
But then all goes south.
The storyline about citizen rights for holograms would have been enough and a good, classic Trek story. One could have done so much with it. It could have been the binding element both among the Voyager crew and even among the crews of Enterprise and (if one had wanted to add them) DS9. One could have had a court case deciding if holograms can get citizen rights and which of them qualify as citizens. The binding element would have been that all the Voyager officers could testify on behalf of the Doctor, while the Niners could have brought up Vic Fontaine and the Enterprise crew could have added not only Moriarty, but also Data who had already won the right to be his own man, although he is just as artificial as the holograms. And all the while the author could have explored how the Voyager crew struggles to acclimatize back on earth while still having to fight for one of their own.
That would have been a sufficient and - most importantly - a classic cerebral and moral Star Trek story. And this novel had so much potential. Until it denied the possible storyline I mentioned in favor of the usual conspiracy, dictatorship and dystopian crap that Trek writers seem to love in novels. It’s like they always want mankind to fail and to still be as shitty in the 24th century as we’re right now. They don’t seem to be willing to explore how a better future looks like.
But what I really cannot understand is: Why do they wish to write for Star Trek, then, if they don’t care what Star Trek is about and that they try to diminish the one fictional utopia that we have, the one - and thus far only - franchise that gives people that we can overcome our failures and injustices?
So while the writing style itself is actually pretty good and the first half of the novel was extremely enjoyable, the second half (and the fact that it’s not a complete story) is actually infuriating. Let’s hope the second book of this series can make up for the many mistakes this book had, and find a way to turn this into a guiding light for civil rights. (But I’m not counting on it.)
amyz001's review against another edition
5.0
Gripping and exciting - it certainly lived up to the hype I had read. Starting with Voyager and it's initial entry into the Alpha quadrant with all of the reunions we really needed to see at the end of the series and swiftly moving into an exciting mystery adventure. There are a few interesting storylines and I can't wait to see how they all intertwine in the sequel, which I am tempted to leap into straight away!
lefthandedmatt's review against another edition
3.0
The completely lacklustre ending of the Voyager TV show left a lot of questions about what happens next. If you want a semi-official answer then then this series of "relaunch" novels are for you. 'Homecoming' picks up right from where the show ended and lets us see the emotional effects of the crew arriving back home after seven years away. (It also quickly ends the ridiculous and abrupt romantic coupling of Seven and Chakotay, thankfully.)
I was surprised at how fulfilling this was. I never really clicked with the show and struggled through it, never really being able to care about the paper thin characters. Maybe its because this book allows for a continuity, for things to follow through, that I was quite engaged by it. It shows a personal side of the characters that I'd always wanted to see. Christie Golden has a good handle on them and captures their voices well- although I imagine it's difficult to do much with characters like Tuvok and Chakotay.
However, around the half way point of the novel a bizarre new narrative begins, completely from left field. I felt like it just didn't fit, and the fact that the book doesn't tell a complete story only makes it more difficult to enjoy. You'll need to pick up 'The Farther Shore' to continue the story. Fortunately this is a quick and easy read, although that also means that the writing and plotting is very simplistic and the whole thing lacks much needed depth.
I was surprised at how fulfilling this was. I never really clicked with the show and struggled through it, never really being able to care about the paper thin characters. Maybe its because this book allows for a continuity, for things to follow through, that I was quite engaged by it. It shows a personal side of the characters that I'd always wanted to see. Christie Golden has a good handle on them and captures their voices well- although I imagine it's difficult to do much with characters like Tuvok and Chakotay.
However, around the half way point of the novel a bizarre new narrative begins, completely from left field. I felt like it just didn't fit, and the fact that the book doesn't tell a complete story only makes it more difficult to enjoy. You'll need to pick up 'The Farther Shore' to continue the story. Fortunately this is a quick and easy read, although that also means that the writing and plotting is very simplistic and the whole thing lacks much needed depth.
ehsjaysaunders's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Golden kicks off the Voyager Relaunch Era with a fast-paced entry that manages to hit all the needed beats of such a momentous chapter in the lives of the once and future crew.
4/5 Basically all setup, but better in hindsight, if the followup sticks the landing.
4/5 Basically all setup, but better in hindsight, if the followup sticks the landing.
bepisaun's review against another edition
4.0
A great take on the events that deal directly after the last episode of Voyager. It's nice to come across the crew we know and see them as they grow. The growing threat is the best part of this book. The Borg are coming to earth via a virus, consider me hooked.