Episode :TNG:Darmok

If I were making a list of Star Trek episodes you should watch even if you think you don't like Star Trek, Darmok would be on my short list. If only we were all so dedicated to communicating with other sentients as Captain Dathon. Easily one of the top three TNG episodes.

Book: Vanguard: Reap the Whirlwind by David Mack

Tird in the Star Trek:Vanguard series- set concurrent with the original series. Set mostly at the Space Station Vanguard, but with enough starship action to still be Star Trek. Along with a cadre of fascinating characters created for the book series, we get a glimpse at the early careers of Drs jabilo M'Benga and Carol Marcus. A bit slow in places, but overall a good read.

TNG Episode Review: Redemption

Probably the comsumate Klingon episode. Intrigue, fighting, drunken Kilingon brawls, a and some of my favorite recurring characters- The Duras sisters, Kurn, and Gowron.

Book review-Enterprise: Last Full Measure by Martin and Mangels

Let me start by saying I really, really like the writing team of Michaal Martin and Andy Mangels. They make the characters come alive, let you see into theri hearts and souls, and make you feel you know whyt hey do what they do.

Last Full Measure focuses on the crew Enterprise as they search for the Xindi homeworld following the Xindi attack of Earth. They do more than tell a story- the explore concepts of respect ( or lack theroef) between different service branches, how far humans should or will go to protect their own, and what drives some people to cross the fine line over to torture- and what stops others from ever crossing that line.
Highly reccomended.

Book review: Voyager: String Theory 3: Evolution by Heather Jarman

One of the problems with picking books from the library's online database is that I sometimes end up with a book that's not number one in a series.Such happened with Jarman's Evolution. Third in theVoyager: String Theory series, rhis book focusus on the Doctor, explores Ocampa's ancient history, and includes some quite amusing scenes with paris, Kim and Q. Except for the occasional run on sentence, this was quite an enjoyable read.

Ruminations on a Black Jesus from hollywoodjesus

I found this great article on spirituality in Deep Space Nine on www.hollywoodjesus.com today.

http://live.hollywoodjesus.com/?p=49

I quite enjoyed author Maurice Broaduss's perspective as a Black, Christian, Trekkie.

Book Review: Articles of the Federation by Keith RA DeCandido

This is a book I found fascinating- while admiting that some would be bored silly by it. Articles of the Federation follows the first year in office of Federation President Nan Bacco ( first introduced in deCandido's A Time for war, A Time for Peace ) deCandido creates a diverse, fascinating, and often quirky staff for the Palais de la Concorde, with enough old favorites ( from Ambassador Spock toJoe Sisko) making appearences to please lomg time Star Trek fans. Worth buying.

Book Review- The Buried Age by Christopher L. Bennett

This book is wonderful! The new book by Christopher Bennett ( no relation to Harve) explores Picard's doings in the 9 year period between the loss of the Stargazer and his taking command of the Enterprise D. I won't tell you what he spent that time doing- but we do get to see more of his past with Guinan, and his introduction to Troi, Data, and Yar. This story is much more intellectual than the standard ST novel, leaning toward hard Sci-fi in some areas. If quantum physics, archeology, and Shakepeare are your bag, you will like this book as much as I did.

Episode review- TNG: Suddenly Human

This episode moves slowly. Picard's and Starfleet's motives in the dispostion of Jono/Jeremy (Chad Allen) are sometimes murky. I enjoyed seeing
Picard trying to "parent" a teenager. I would not bother watching this more than once a year.

Book review-Resistance by JM Dillard

This is a well written book, set post Nemesis; it's also after the book Death in Winter, in which, among many other things, Picard and Crusher finally get together. Thisbook sees the return of Locutus and the Borg Queen, plenty of hand to cybernetic implant fighting, and redshirt deaths galore. This book begs the question- after all this time, if they know the Borg will adapt to their energy weapons, why do they not use bladed weapons? Why does Woorf not charge in with a bat-leth and just chop them up? Hubby posits that "the slow blade that penetrates the sheild will not penetrate the armor". (Now, who'se geeky enough to get that?)