annelives's review
5.0
My favorite Star Trek book and just a truly beautiful and sometimes heartbreaking love story that crosses space and time. If you get the chance, listen to the audiobook. Jonathan Frakes narrates it and does a phenomenal job.
nimishg's review
3.0
I liked the story overall, but I didn't like the way Troi and Riker's initial relationship was portrayed (which is arguably the whole point of this novel).
In the show, they seem to be chilled out and adult about their relationship. They seem like a couple that went out for a while, had some good times, didn't work out, became good friends, and re-found each other that way.
In the novel, it's portrayed as a deep and passionate love that neither of them really get into for stubborn reasons. It's also quick, less than a few months. The way they talk on the show makes it seem like they went out for much longer, enough time to have a full relationship at least.
Finally, I can't imagine Data acting the way he did at the end of the novel since it goes against all of his character development.
Spoiler
In the show, they seem to be chilled out and adult about their relationship. They seem like a couple that went out for a while, had some good times, didn't work out, became good friends, and re-found each other that way.
In the novel, it's portrayed as a deep and passionate love that neither of them really get into for stubborn reasons. It's also quick, less than a few months. The way they talk on the show makes it seem like they went out for much longer, enough time to have a full relationship at least.
Finally, I can't imagine Data acting the way he did at the end of the novel since it goes against all of his character development.
mellymel35's review
5.0
Loved it when I read it in high school. Now it's just kinda fanfic creating the history, and not as exciting, but I enjoyed.
chimichannika's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This book gave me so many mixed feelings! On one hand, the characterizations were just about spot on, although I took some issues with the way Lwaxana was depicted in light of her ds9 developments on screen— but, given that this book was published in ‘92, there was no way to know about what they’d do with her character, and given that
On the whole, this was a fun read, and as a Troi/Riker shipper it was so interesting to picture what they’d be like as younger versions of themselves, before they’ve matured and “evened out,” so to speak. My main complaint with this book is the multiple occurrences of 1990s-period-typical sexism and tropes, but even that was delightfully disrupted by multiple queer-affirming/queer-supportive statements and characterizations, which was an absolute delight!! and totally unexpected. Also, the author’s forward to the book was so sweet.
I’d definitely still recommend this book, just keep in mind it is an early-90s writing. Even with that, though, it might surprise you with how progressive it manages to be at times!
Spoiler
Deanna’s death is undone, I’m choosing to believe the conclusion that in the restored timeline, Lwaxana’s is as well, so that we can pretend this fits within greater canon :)On the whole, this was a fun read, and as a Troi/Riker shipper it was so interesting to picture what they’d be like as younger versions of themselves, before they’ve matured and “evened out,” so to speak.
Spoiler
Deanna’s introspections and internal debating between logic-and-thinking-her-way-through-love and coming to terms with what she saw as conflicting “impulses” reminded me so much of my younger self, and was very neat to see represented in a character who we know on screen grows into such an emotionally, sexually, and intellectually healthy and balanced person. 10/10 for that whole aspect!! It made me cringe at parts but out of it being so relatable, which meant it was written really well.I’d definitely still recommend this book, just keep in mind it is an early-90s writing. Even with that, though, it might surprise you with how progressive it manages to be at times!
Content Warnings
Minor: Cursing and Sexual harassment
gon8go's review
5.0
I’m rating this against other Star Trek books not every book I’ve ever read. As a Star Trek book five stars all day long.
Star Trek books are comfort reads for me and the quality of them varies wildly. This is the second book I’ve read by Peter David and he just gets the characters and tone bang on, I could picture this all going down in the fifth or sixth season of TNG and within their budget. I love books that are sequels to episodes, this one involves the guardian of forever from TOS and expands on the relationship between Riker and Troi and how they met and fell in love on betazed. The love story is well done and there’s a lot of humour in the book, if you like Star Trek, especially TNG, this is a really great read.
Star Trek books are comfort reads for me and the quality of them varies wildly. This is the second book I’ve read by Peter David and he just gets the characters and tone bang on, I could picture this all going down in the fifth or sixth season of TNG and within their budget. I love books that are sequels to episodes, this one involves the guardian of forever from TOS and expands on the relationship between Riker and Troi and how they met and fell in love on betazed. The love story is well done and there’s a lot of humour in the book, if you like Star Trek, especially TNG, this is a really great read.
libraryofrick1801's review
5.0
Book Review 18 - Star Trek The Next Generation Imzadi
This is one of my favourite star trek books I have ever read.
Covering a subject which has never been shown in an episode of the The Next Generation, this book explains how the relationship of William Riker and Deanna Troi began with their meeting on Betazed through to their beginning to serve together on the USS Enterprise D at the start of the Next Generation (Encounter At Farpoint). This book has a bit of everything in it including time travel and is a fantastic story so gets
This is one of my favourite star trek books I have ever read.
Covering a subject which has never been shown in an episode of the The Next Generation, this book explains how the relationship of William Riker and Deanna Troi began with their meeting on Betazed through to their beginning to serve together on the USS Enterprise D at the start of the Next Generation (Encounter At Farpoint). This book has a bit of everything in it including time travel and is a fantastic story so gets
loana10's review
5.0
Manifique livre! Très bien écrie. L’histoire est tellement romantique. C'est une vrai aventure dans le temps et l’espace. J'aurais vraiment aimé quel soit une vrai émission. Cela aurais été bien, car on a pas tant parler de leurs histoire dans TNG. À relire encore et encore.
wanderlustlover's review
2.0
Oh, gods. I gotta tell you. This book. I expected so much better of this book, after all the raving about it being the best Imzadi/Riker & Deanna story out there.
This book was horrid. For 2/3rds of the book, we basically had Deanna dead for the act of sleeping with another guy (which she totally does a lot on the show, without this dying inevitability happening), and it's changed to a neater sort of response at the end. That's convenient, by being way too much so, and having no reason for having happened the way it did in the current setup for that timeline of the book.
The only parts I really deeply loved were the early one flashbacks and for that I do give it two stars instead of one. That part is amazingly wonderful, and at least the first two or three scenes are exactly the kinds of meetings I loved best.
This book was horrid. For 2/3rds of the book, we basically had Deanna dead for the act of sleeping with another guy (which she totally does a lot on the show, without this dying inevitability happening), and it's changed to a neater sort of response at the end. That's convenient, by being way too much so, and having no reason for having happened the way it did in the current setup for that timeline of the book.
The only parts I really deeply loved were the early one flashbacks and for that I do give it two stars instead of one. That part is amazingly wonderful, and at least the first two or three scenes are exactly the kinds of meetings I loved best.
slimeandslashers's review
4.0
Imzadi started off a bit slow, but it definitely picked up near the end. The last third of the book was thrilling, and I was totally engrossed in the story. It was also entertaining to read about Troi and Riker's past, but I would have loved more Picard. Alas, his presence only graced a few pages here and there.
Overall, Imzadi was a nice and nostalgic read, and it really was fun to spend more time with a few characters from my favorite version Star Trek -- Star Trek The Next Generation. After reading this, I'm definitely looking forward to diving into more Star Trek TNG novels!
Overall, Imzadi was a nice and nostalgic read, and it really was fun to spend more time with a few characters from my favorite version Star Trek -- Star Trek The Next Generation. After reading this, I'm definitely looking forward to diving into more Star Trek TNG novels!
jlynnelseauthor's review against another edition
5.0
If you’re reading this novel, you’re probably already a fan of TNG’s ultimate power couple: Will Riker & Deanna Troi. This novel is centered on a murder mystery but also includes elements of time travel, alternate realities, naked weddings, flashbacks, and Data’s head used like a dodgeball. This novel helped to cement this power couple’s reign (despite that odd hiccup when Troi and Worf were an item) and is one of the more brilliant TNG novels that I’ve read in terms of plot complexity, character development, and sci-fi adventure.
I've read this book many times after it first came out, but my absence from it made it feel new once again. Peter David has penned a very exciting, emotionally charged, and intellectual story. The voices are dead on especially that of Lwaxana Troi who was always a dramatic delight of the series. Time travel is a difficult concept to do well. The effects can be so complex and consequential to the series its within. David masterfully weaved the story between this difficult concept. It makes no presumptions or changes to the series but it did give us a great story encompassing the sweethearts of TNG: Riker and Troi. It was a tight plotline that was fully realized in the end. The cause and effect of time travel were done brilliantly. One of the best works of TNG fiction.
Riker: "Who really cares about all this physical touching. Not young Deanna Troi. Its the spiritual that's important... that's forever..."
I've read this book many times after it first came out, but my absence from it made it feel new once again. Peter David has penned a very exciting, emotionally charged, and intellectual story. The voices are dead on especially that of Lwaxana Troi who was always a dramatic delight of the series. Time travel is a difficult concept to do well. The effects can be so complex and consequential to the series its within. David masterfully weaved the story between this difficult concept. It makes no presumptions or changes to the series but it did give us a great story encompassing the sweethearts of TNG: Riker and Troi. It was a tight plotline that was fully realized in the end. The cause and effect of time travel were done brilliantly. One of the best works of TNG fiction.
Riker: "Who really cares about all this physical touching. Not young Deanna Troi. Its the spiritual that's important... that's forever..."