david_agranoff's review
3.0
This is my first time reading an Enterprise novel. The Romulan war is to Star trek what the Clone Wars are to Star Wars. I was worried the author ( who local to me here in Portland) could not do enough to match what was in my imagination about the conflict mentioned so powerfully as a part of ST history in the TOS episode Balance of terror. The good news is that I think mission accomplished.
I was most impressed by the feeling of dread, that the coming Romulan posed just beyond the horizon throught the first 3/4 of the book. Great build up and well organized structure for the use of multiple POV. I mean it is for serious Trek nerds only, but well done.
I was most impressed by the feeling of dread, that the coming Romulan posed just beyond the horizon throught the first 3/4 of the book. Great build up and well organized structure for the use of multiple POV. I mean it is for serious Trek nerds only, but well done.
graff_fuller's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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? Yes
4.25
I really, really, really love the Star Trek: Enterprise storyline. This idea of us humans striving for the stars, being introduced to the universe as a whole...and being "bright eyed and bushy tailed", but also woefully ignorant to the larger scope of danger that lurks "just around the corner" in the Romulans.
As many of the fans believe...that last episode of Star Trek: Enterprise didn't REALLY happen, and this series is the TRUE extension to the popular TV series.
The war that has started by the Romulan aggresson...has just gotten a LOT harder...within the story of this book...and I feel for all the humans in this fledgling Coalition of Planets...and for our intreped crew of the Enterprise.
I have been savoring these books...and possibly taking "too long" to read them...for fear that once they have been read...the end of the series will have truly come to pass...and I honestly do NOT want that to happen, BUT this story is really good.
I would read a section. I'd then put the book down...to pick up another story...and get swept away on THAT adventure, but in my heart/mind...I'd revisit this current work..and ponder the next move of either the Romulans, the Coalition, the Vulcans, Section 31...and especially Trip.
I really would have loved to see Connor portraying a Romulan...and later a Vulcan on TV. Ugh...so sad for it's abrupt ending. That should NEVER have happened.
Now, I will pick up the next book...and possibly read it quicker, since now I had to know (urgently), what happens...next.
Loved this book. The characters jumped off the page...into my mind, like watching the show all over again. SO vividly present in my mind.
As many of the fans believe...that last episode of Star Trek: Enterprise didn't REALLY happen, and this series is the TRUE extension to the popular TV series.
The war that has started by the Romulan aggresson...has just gotten a LOT harder...within the story of this book...and I feel for all the humans in this fledgling Coalition of Planets...and for our intreped crew of the Enterprise.
I have been savoring these books...and possibly taking "too long" to read them...for fear that once they have been read...the end of the series will have truly come to pass...and I honestly do NOT want that to happen, BUT this story is really good.
I would read a section. I'd then put the book down...to pick up another story...and get swept away on THAT adventure, but in my heart/mind...I'd revisit this current work..and ponder the next move of either the Romulans, the Coalition, the Vulcans, Section 31...and especially Trip.
I really would have loved to see Connor portraying a Romulan...and later a Vulcan on TV. Ugh...so sad for it's abrupt ending. That should NEVER have happened.
Now, I will pick up the next book...and possibly read it quicker, since now I had to know (urgently), what happens...next.
Loved this book. The characters jumped off the page...into my mind, like watching the show all over again. SO vividly present in my mind.
jecamp86's review against another edition
1.0
This author continues his quest to stick as much of his political leanings in his books as possible that I think he forgets this is suppose to be in interesting story of fiction. Oh well. One more book to go with this author then the series shifts over to someone else
shiv91's review
3.0
3.5 stars.
I thought the last few Enterprise books had too many POVs but this one... Don't get me wrong, I do like seeing things from different characters perspectives. Say, 2 or 3 different people. But this book had SO MANY. I didn't count but off the top of my head, I can think of at least 10.
In my opinion, jumping to a different character pretty much every chapter, ruins the flow of the book and it honestly just annoyed me.
I did however, like the story itself. In parts, it dragged on slightly but as a whole I was eager to know how things would continue to unfold. I do still plan on reading the next book in the series.
I thought the last few Enterprise books had too many POVs but this one... Don't get me wrong, I do like seeing things from different characters perspectives. Say, 2 or 3 different people. But this book had SO MANY. I didn't count but off the top of my head, I can think of at least 10.
In my opinion, jumping to a different character pretty much every chapter, ruins the flow of the book and it honestly just annoyed me.
I did however, like the story itself. In parts, it dragged on slightly but as a whole I was eager to know how things would continue to unfold. I do still plan on reading the next book in the series.
the_bitextual's review
4.0
Things are heatin' up for the Coalition of Planets. Books are fun, y'all. And this series, for a Star Trek fan? Very fun. Mm.
toryp's review against another edition
2.0
Some moments of goodness but
Never struggled so hard to get through
FIVE HUNDRED PAGES
In my life. Longest I've ever taken to read something. Took the joy out of me.
Never struggled so hard to get through
FIVE HUNDRED PAGES
In my life. Longest I've ever taken to read something. Took the joy out of me.
an_readingthings's review
adventurous
challenging
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
amandat's review
2.0
I really want to like this novel (just like I really wanted to "Kobiyashi Maru") but I just can't. It's a slow moving plod of a read (as illustrated by the fact that it took me almost a month to read it). Here are the main points:
THE PLOT
- There's a lot of moving pieces but very little plot arc. Very little remains changed from the beginning to the end- a minor colony gets conquered here, a minor colony gets liberated there, but none of that really matters. There's one colony in particular you'll wonder why Starfleet doesn't better protect - you'll know that part when you come to it (it's a real head scratcher). And after what happened to the Kobiyashi Maru, which in itself is kind of ho hum, only Gannet Brooks (who seems determined to dig up dirt somewhere) and Mayweather (who throws the Boomer equivalent of a hissy fit) seem angry about it. Which is a shame because the novel could easily have done something more about that. Because what the printed word can do, but television can't is give the reader a look inside a character's head. But, since that requires a skill the author doesn't seem to have, that leads into my next point.
THE CHARACTERS
- If you aren't going to have an exciting plot, you should have interesting characters, right? Nope. Mayweather is a limp dishrag who (as mentioned above) has a moment of anger misplaced anger against Archer and because Starfleet seems to be short of mediocre pilots, immediately scores a new job. Lucky for him, because all through the novel we're continually told that Starfleet has a shortage of ships. And Malcolm Reed is a genius (that's sarcasm - you'll know that part too when you come to it). Plus there are a lot of unnecessary and inconsequential characters to keep track of.
The second half is slightly better than the first half, but not by much. Had the book been cut by 200 pages or so to tighten up the thin plot and maybe made us believe the destruction of the Kobiyashi Maru actually mattered to more than just Mayweather, it might (MIGHT) have been a better novel.
THE PLOT
- There's a lot of moving pieces but very little plot arc. Very little remains changed from the beginning to the end- a minor colony gets conquered here, a minor colony gets liberated there, but none of that really matters. There's one colony in particular you'll wonder why Starfleet doesn't better protect - you'll know that part when you come to it (it's a real head scratcher). And after what happened to the Kobiyashi Maru, which in itself is kind of ho hum, only Gannet Brooks (who seems determined to dig up dirt somewhere) and Mayweather (who throws the Boomer equivalent of a hissy fit) seem angry about it. Which is a shame because the novel could easily have done something more about that. Because what the printed word can do, but television can't is give the reader a look inside a character's head. But, since that requires a skill the author doesn't seem to have, that leads into my next point.
THE CHARACTERS
- If you aren't going to have an exciting plot, you should have interesting characters, right? Nope. Mayweather is a limp dishrag who (as mentioned above) has a moment of anger misplaced anger against Archer and because Starfleet seems to be short of mediocre pilots, immediately scores a new job. Lucky for him, because all through the novel we're continually told that Starfleet has a shortage of ships. And Malcolm Reed is a genius (that's sarcasm - you'll know that part too when you come to it). Plus there are a lot of unnecessary and inconsequential characters to keep track of.
The second half is slightly better than the first half, but not by much. Had the book been cut by 200 pages or so to tighten up the thin plot and maybe made us believe the destruction of the Kobiyashi Maru actually mattered to more than just Mayweather, it might (MIGHT) have been a better novel.
alexandra's review
2.0
Why do I keep reading these
What is WITH the Trip characterization in them -- every five seconds he wants something completely different? It's like everything that happens to him is contrived to keep him a spy?!
I don't know, I think I need to be saved from myself.
What is WITH the Trip characterization in them -- every five seconds he wants something completely different? It's like everything that happens to him is contrived to keep him a spy?!
I don't know, I think I need to be saved from myself.
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