graff_fuller's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
I was surprised that this series (Seekers) is a direct continuation to the Vanguard series (which I loved). Unfortunately, this book had to do a LOT of heavy lifting...from the transition of what had happened on the Vanguard Station, with the Shedai, and Starfleet, the Klingons, the Tholians and the Shedai.
In this story, we see the possible origins of how the Shedai became what we had seen of them in the Vanguard series. From what we currently know...they are the descendants of the Tomol from the planet they call Arethusa.
From primative Logan's Run type society that has the termination age at around 18 (before the change). For hundreds of years, this tradition was accepted, but Nimur fights back against it.
Starfleet realizes that the planet is inhabited by a pre-Warp society, but by other circumstances, finds their landing party in the midst of a fire fight between the priests/priestesses and the fleeing Nimur, and a Klingon landing party.
The Klingons have a nefarious purpose there...and that is their mission.
Tensions rise as Nimur (and her changed) the Klingons and the Federation are at a standoff.
A good start to the series, but it just didn't gel as much as I would've wanted. Oh, well. Hopefull the rest of the series course corrects.
Will read more in this series during Space Opera September 2023.
In this story, we see the possible origins of how the Shedai became what we had seen of them in the Vanguard series. From what we currently know...they are the descendants of the Tomol from the planet they call Arethusa.
From primative Logan's Run type society that has the termination age at around 18 (before the change). For hundreds of years, this tradition was accepted, but Nimur fights back against it.
Starfleet realizes that the planet is inhabited by a pre-Warp society, but by other circumstances, finds their landing party in the midst of a fire fight between the priests/priestesses and the fleeing Nimur, and a Klingon landing party.
The Klingons have a nefarious purpose there...and that is their mission.
Tensions rise as Nimur (and her changed) the Klingons and the Federation are at a standoff.
A good start to the series, but it just didn't gel as much as I would've wanted. Oh, well. Hopefull the rest of the series course corrects.
Will read more in this series during Space Opera September 2023.
toryp's review
3.0
3.5*
I really enjoyed this as the beginning to the Seekers series!
It's been a while since I've finished Vanguard but David Mack did a great job of catching the reader back up. And it was great to be back with the old crew - Thierault and Khatami are the only ones I really remember, other than Kang, but I managed!
I've really missed the way Star Trek novels are written - with characters consistently competent as well as the assumed knowledge of all this Trekky stuff I've learnt over the past five years or so.
Onto the story - I loved the idea of a planet of super beings, and although it's obviously not very original, I think it was done in a super entertaining way. It bordered on horror in some parts - it could have leant into that more. And the entertainment factor of seeing these beings take out a whole Klingon ship was great. Keeping all the ships on one planet was great as well, with downing the Sagittarius and the bird of prey.
I ship Vanessa and Dastin very much but since this is Star Trek I highly doubt that will go anywhere. I also really liked Tormog's character. He's smart and cowardly, which is a great character combo IMO (as long as there are other perspectives to balance it out).
Predictions? Other than Starfleet just leaving the planet well enough alone, I think potentially they'll have to knock out the Changed with some kind of strong gas, and then relocate the other villagers. Or splice their DNA with human DNA rather than Shedai?
I really enjoyed this as the beginning to the Seekers series!
It's been a while since I've finished Vanguard but David Mack did a great job of catching the reader back up. And it was great to be back with the old crew - Thierault and Khatami are the only ones I really remember, other than Kang, but I managed!
I've really missed the way Star Trek novels are written - with characters consistently competent as well as the assumed knowledge of all this Trekky stuff I've learnt over the past five years or so.
Onto the story - I loved the idea of a planet of super beings, and although it's obviously not very original, I think it was done in a super entertaining way. It bordered on horror in some parts - it could have leant into that more. And the entertainment factor of seeing these beings take out a whole Klingon ship was great. Keeping all the ships on one planet was great as well, with downing the Sagittarius and the bird of prey.
I ship Vanessa and Dastin very much but since this is Star Trek I highly doubt that will go anywhere. I also really liked Tormog's character. He's smart and cowardly, which is a great character combo IMO (as long as there are other perspectives to balance it out).
Predictions? Other than Starfleet just leaving the planet well enough alone, I think potentially they'll have to knock out the Changed with some kind of strong gas, and then relocate the other villagers. Or splice their DNA with human DNA rather than Shedai?
judenoseinabook's review
3.0
New adventures with new - mainly, crew and ships. Fast moving interesting plot.
It isn't a stand alone story though so be warned - it ends fairly abruptly and you need to get the 2nd installment to find out what happens
It isn't a stand alone story though so be warned - it ends fairly abruptly and you need to get the 2nd installment to find out what happens
ryano1124's review
3.0
A very good start to a series - has a few too many 'all powerful being' tropes but nothing that beats you over the head. I also would like for the story to end or at least acknowledge a "Part 1 of X" so that I know what I'm getting into by starting the book.
brian's review against another edition
3.0
A new Star Trek series set between original TV series and events in the Vanguard books.
The explorer ship Sagittarius lands a team on a planet to investigate odd energy readings and finds itself caught up in events as everrything starts t head south.
As usual with any new series, there's a wide group of characters to get used to, but they all come across as you'd expect.
The story is good but ends on a cliff hanger, which makes it feel unfinished.
The explorer ship Sagittarius lands a team on a planet to investigate odd energy readings and finds itself caught up in events as everrything starts t head south.
As usual with any new series, there's a wide group of characters to get used to, but they all come across as you'd expect.
The story is good but ends on a cliff hanger, which makes it feel unfinished.
kirabobooks's review against another edition
2.0
I was initially taken by the premise of this Star Trek derivative, but halfway through I lost all interest. It was a total struggle to even finish the book, hence taking over a month to read a short novel that should have taken less than a week. Urgh.
The suspension of disbelief is necessary and even familiar for many Star Trek fans but this went too far. At too many points throughout the novel I thought, "Yeah, there's no way." And it's disappointing to have that happen, considering the infinite possibilities of the Star Trek universe.
The plot is fine, the characters are interesting, the trials and tribulations are much the same as they are in the series, movies, comics, and other novella. It just didn't have the necessary "oomf" to carry it through to the end.
The suspension of disbelief is necessary and even familiar for many Star Trek fans but this went too far. At too many points throughout the novel I thought, "Yeah, there's no way." And it's disappointing to have that happen, considering the infinite possibilities of the Star Trek universe.
The plot is fine, the characters are interesting, the trials and tribulations are much the same as they are in the series, movies, comics, and other novella. It just didn't have the necessary "oomf" to carry it through to the end.
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