chucklebuck's review against another edition
5.0
A true Trek tale, well written and well told.
A great and logical combination of several generations of Starfleet crew, with small references to numerous series and films helping create the sense of a larger universe. Little clues scattered throughout the prose help set the tale as happening after Generations and it's a joy to see how different characters from different series interact with one another in a believable manner. Shatner is a great storyteller, telling the tale with a quick pace told with emotion and aplomb. Picard’s depiction as a celebrated Starfleet captain undertaking more dangerous missions are much more believable and tense than the character assassination present in Picard. Interesting juxtapositions of Picard’s acceptance of a no-win situation and Kirk’s staunch refusal that such a thing exists alongside connections to previous adventures of both crews lead to a fascinating adventure.
A great and logical combination of several generations of Starfleet crew, with small references to numerous series and films helping create the sense of a larger universe. Little clues scattered throughout the prose help set the tale as happening after Generations and it's a joy to see how different characters from different series interact with one another in a believable manner. Shatner is a great storyteller, telling the tale with a quick pace told with emotion and aplomb. Picard’s depiction as a celebrated Starfleet captain undertaking more dangerous missions are much more believable and tense than the character assassination present in Picard. Interesting juxtapositions of Picard’s acceptance of a no-win situation and Kirk’s staunch refusal that such a thing exists alongside connections to previous adventures of both crews lead to a fascinating adventure.
atlantic_reader_wannabe's review against another edition
4.0
This book was good. I wasn't expecting it to be as good as it was; mostly I think I was expecting it to be okay. I was pleasantly surprised and I think that Trekkies/Trekkers who really like the Star Trek Literary Universe would like reading this book too, for the most part.
em_being's review against another edition
5.0
William Shatner was so sad he died in Generations he wrote three novels about how he came back to life and got a girlfriend. This is the second one, where the coming back to life happens. James Kirk coming back to life after Star Trek Generations is honestly only the fifth most ridiculous thing that happens in this book.
It also happens to be a really good book. Consider this the First Contact that never was, a post-Generations adventure that handles the Borg better than that movie ever did. Also 60 year old Jim Kirk defeats Worf in hand to hand combat. That's wild thing number 3.
It also happens to be a really good book. Consider this the First Contact that never was, a post-Generations adventure that handles the Borg better than that movie ever did. Also 60 year old Jim Kirk defeats Worf in hand to hand combat. That's wild thing number 3.
howattp's review against another edition
5.0
Surprisingly, (and with the help of Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens), Shatner has provided some of my favorite Star Trek books. Lots of fun.
vtchris's review
3.0
I used to be a big fan of Star Trek but I started to loose interest when "Enterprise" came out. I also did not care for the pervasive humor in the Star Trek movies after Start Trek IV. This book was lent to me by a friend and I was unsure about it especially considering it was authored by William Shatner. I am using the hard-copy where pages are referenced.
I will admit that I did not get into this story until I was a least past the first third of the book. Many times a book written by someone famous is actually largely written by the co-authors but I do think William Shatner had significant influence on this work. He clearly understands the characters of James Kirk and Spock. Unfortunately the characterization of Picard frequently did not ring as true as Kirk's character.
Also, I found it telling that more than once you find anachronisms like "... he recognized the distinctive blue signature of Starfleet phasers" (page 19). Feel free to correct me if I am wrong but I don't remember seeing blue phasers since the original series.
I also found it interesting that there were more than a few significant references to Star Trek V (also authored by William Shatner). At least these point to a William Shatner authorship!
The book could have used another proof read too. You can expect to find awkward sentences like: "There're not my conclusions..." (p163) or "...Riker wondered if there such things as ghosts." (p200). Several such occurrences jumped out at me...
So if you can get past these issues, the story is engaging!
Spoilers Follow!
[spoilers]I could have done without Data's interest in swearing, it is unfortunate that we don't have Gene Roddenberry's guiding hand anymore, but in Shatner's defense, he isn't breaking any new ground here that wasn't already part of the Star Trek Generations movie. Keeping on the same subject of base humor, I also could have done without Deanna's reference to the cleanliness of Quarks holosuite.
Although I love Dr. McCoy and enjoyed many of his lines and observations, it is getting a little hard to admit that he is still alive at this point. One begins to wonder if any of these characters will ever pass in the Star Trek universe. For a character that didn't like the transporter does he strike you as one that would submit to three heart transplants?
The new perspective on the Borg was interesting. I liked the idea of each race having its own "Locutus". I liked the V'Ger tie in and the visuals of the Borg assimilation atrocities made this an interesting read!
I don’t blame William Shatner for wanting a more fitting final mission for Kirk’s character and in my opinion, this story does a good job in correcting it.[/spoilers]
I will admit that I did not get into this story until I was a least past the first third of the book. Many times a book written by someone famous is actually largely written by the co-authors but I do think William Shatner had significant influence on this work. He clearly understands the characters of James Kirk and Spock. Unfortunately the characterization of Picard frequently did not ring as true as Kirk's character.
Also, I found it telling that more than once you find anachronisms like "... he recognized the distinctive blue signature of Starfleet phasers" (page 19). Feel free to correct me if I am wrong but I don't remember seeing blue phasers since the original series.
I also found it interesting that there were more than a few significant references to Star Trek V (also authored by William Shatner). At least these point to a William Shatner authorship!
The book could have used another proof read too. You can expect to find awkward sentences like: "There're not my conclusions..." (p163) or "...Riker wondered if there such things as ghosts." (p200). Several such occurrences jumped out at me...
So if you can get past these issues, the story is engaging!
Spoilers Follow!
[spoilers]I could have done without Data's interest in swearing, it is unfortunate that we don't have Gene Roddenberry's guiding hand anymore, but in Shatner's defense, he isn't breaking any new ground here that wasn't already part of the Star Trek Generations movie. Keeping on the same subject of base humor, I also could have done without Deanna's reference to the cleanliness of Quarks holosuite.
Although I love Dr. McCoy and enjoyed many of his lines and observations, it is getting a little hard to admit that he is still alive at this point. One begins to wonder if any of these characters will ever pass in the Star Trek universe. For a character that didn't like the transporter does he strike you as one that would submit to three heart transplants?
The new perspective on the Borg was interesting. I liked the idea of each race having its own "Locutus". I liked the V'Ger tie in and the visuals of the Borg assimilation atrocities made this an interesting read!
I don’t blame William Shatner for wanting a more fitting final mission for Kirk’s character and in my opinion, this story does a good job in correcting it.[/spoilers]
djpax13's review against another edition
2.0
This is the second Shatnerverse novel I've read and I have to admit that I may not read any more. While it was cool to see many different threads from around the Trek canon tied into each other, this novel is very very VERY adoring of Captain Kirk.
Shatner himself wrote it, so I suppose some of that is to be expected. Even so, Kirk seems almost a godlike figure at times and some of the other characters are either quite diminished from their on-screen development or even poorly-written caricatures. Some of the scenes are simply unbelievable in terms of what that character would do.
Yes, I think it's time to leave the Shatnerverse behind and revisit some of the other more tried and true Star Trek authors.
Shatner himself wrote it, so I suppose some of that is to be expected. Even so, Kirk seems almost a godlike figure at times and some of the other characters are either quite diminished from their on-screen development or even poorly-written caricatures. Some of the scenes are simply unbelievable in terms of what that character would do.
Yes, I think it's time to leave the Shatnerverse behind and revisit some of the other more tried and true Star Trek authors.
polywogg's review
3.0
BOTTOM-LINE:
Worst of the three
.
PLOT OR PREMISE:
This is the second in a Star Trek trilogy, with renegade Romulans working with the Borg.
.
WHAT I LIKED:
There are some decent scenes with Data, and some interesting interactions between old TOS crew and new TNG crew.
.
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:
Most of the TOS crew are not really much like themselves, except Spock, so not very "believable". Bones is almost a caricature. Kirk and Worf have a fight that is ridiculous.
.
DISCLOSURE:
I received no compensation, not even a free copy, in exchange for this review. I am not personal friends with the author, nor do I follow him on social media.
Worst of the three
.
PLOT OR PREMISE:
This is the second in a Star Trek trilogy, with renegade Romulans working with the Borg.
.
WHAT I LIKED:
There are some decent scenes with Data, and some interesting interactions between old TOS crew and new TNG crew.
.
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:
Most of the TOS crew are not really much like themselves, except Spock, so not very "believable". Bones is almost a caricature. Kirk and Worf have a fight that is ridiculous.
.
DISCLOSURE:
I received no compensation, not even a free copy, in exchange for this review. I am not personal friends with the author, nor do I follow him on social media.
disiscaro's review
3.0
3,5/5, actually.
The whole premise of the book (a Romulan-Borg alliance + some hero resurrecting) makes it great fun. Some STRONG captain (ahem, well... mostly, Shatner) ego does make its way through, though. While sometimes it provides some over-the-top drama that is endearing (I mean Picard and Kirk had to have a fistfight, obviously.... oh well, why not after all, it's supposed to be a fun book, right? Two generations crossing each other's path, etc.), it also tends to create ridiculous situations where other characters end up being frustratingly obtuse and forcingly suspicious for the sake of over-the-top drama when... you know, they're actually cleverer than that and also are better at diplomacy than that (yes, I'm talking about Spock, Picard and perhaps a bit of Riker as well, although reading him being confused by this galactic mess and also very much tired by some captains' shenanigans was actually very fun). And I have to admit that some scenes did hit home with some well aimed feels. SO yeah. I had fun with this book.
The whole premise of the book (a Romulan-Borg alliance + some hero resurrecting) makes it great fun. Some STRONG captain (ahem, well... mostly, Shatner) ego does make its way through, though. While sometimes it provides some over-the-top drama that is endearing (I mean Picard and Kirk had to have a fistfight, obviously.... oh well, why not after all, it's supposed to be a fun book, right? Two generations crossing each other's path, etc.), it also tends to create ridiculous situations where other characters end up being frustratingly obtuse and forcingly suspicious for the sake of over-the-top drama when... you know, they're actually cleverer than that and also are better at diplomacy than that (yes, I'm talking about Spock, Picard and perhaps a bit of Riker as well, although reading him being confused by this galactic mess and also very much tired by some captains' shenanigans was actually very fun). And I have to admit that some scenes did hit home with some well aimed feels. SO yeah. I had fun with this book.
bdplume's review
5.0
So good. So what if this whole series flies in the face of canon? I look at these books as fictional stories that would be told about Kirk within the ST Universe. The fiction within the fiction, you see.