The followup to the Destiny Trilogy, "A Singular Destiny" mainly follows the crew of the Aventine,the hard work placed before Federation President Nan Bacco, and history Professor Sonek Pran. In the wake of devastation by the Borg, the Federation, along with other Alpha and Beta Quadrant races, must rebuild. The fleets are stretched as they attempt to ferry refugees and supplies. The Klingons face an old threat, and the Federation faces a potential new threat. Everyone must grieve.
One amusing thing I must note is DeCandido's obvious nod the The Venture Brothers. Quite amusing. Be warned that this book does have a few moments of "Wow, did he really just kill that character off?"
Friday, April 10, 2009
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
God Bless JJ Abrams
Spoilerific sneak preview review:
http://www.aintitcool.com/node/40683 (language advisory)
Now, this sums up why I love Star Trek:
There’s some powerful thoughts about the future of our people in STAR TREK. That we as a people could be those people in a hundred, two hundred, three hundred years. If we can put away childish notions of borders and differences. If we can culturally keep our differences and celebrate our commonalities. At our best, STAR TREK is our future. Not BLADE RUNNER. Not TERMINATOR. Not any other Science fiction that I’ve seen, but STAR TREK. It’s where I HOPE we’re headed.
It’s the world where we didn’t blow ourselves up, where we didn’t fall prey to the worst of our nature. It’s the part of me that loves reading science journals and reading about the best inventions of any given year.
http://www.aintitcool.com/node/40683 (language advisory)
Now, this sums up why I love Star Trek:
There’s some powerful thoughts about the future of our people in STAR TREK. That we as a people could be those people in a hundred, two hundred, three hundred years. If we can put away childish notions of borders and differences. If we can culturally keep our differences and celebrate our commonalities. At our best, STAR TREK is our future. Not BLADE RUNNER. Not TERMINATOR. Not any other Science fiction that I’ve seen, but STAR TREK. It’s where I HOPE we’re headed.
It’s the world where we didn’t blow ourselves up, where we didn’t fall prey to the worst of our nature. It’s the part of me that loves reading science journals and reading about the best inventions of any given year.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
ST Mirror Universe: Shards and Shadows
This anthology continues stories from various MU timelines, many of them as written in "Glass Empires", "Obsidian Alliances", and "Infinity's Prism". Dave Stern's "Nobunaga" details The Empress Sato One's efforts to eradicate rebellion against her rule.
Dayton Ward and Kevin Dillmore's "Ill Winds" is a prequel to TOS Mirror UNiverse, taking place before Captain Christopher Pike takes command of the Enterprise.
Margaret Wander Bonnano's "The Greater Good is also a prequel, taking place three years before the events of "Mirror, Mirror".
"The Black Flag", by James Swallow, is a tale of Vanguard in the Mirror Universe.
IN "The Traitor", Micheal Jan Freidman looks at the MU through the eyes of the Stargazer crew he introduced in Reunion.
In "The Sacred Chalice", Rudy Josephs gives new meaning to the ancient Betazed artifact entrusted to Lwaxana Troi.
"Bitter Fruit" by Susan Wright has the MU Kes, stranded in the Alpha Quadrant, and kept a secret from all- even the man she loves.
Keith RA DeCandido's "Family Matters" is the only story in the book I couldn't finish- although usually love DeCandido's work, the "subspace communications transcript" style was a bit dry.
IN Peter David's "Homecoming", Soleta returns to Romulus- with deadly cargo.
Jim Johnson's "A Terrible Beauty" answers many question about why Keiko Ishikawa came to Terok Nor, but leaves many more unanswered.
Christopher L Bennet's "Empathy" brings together members of the standard universe Titan crew in a web of love, deceit, and telepathy.
The anthology is brought to a close with David Mack's "For Want of a Nail" brings together the unlikely duo of K'Ehlyer and Barclay as a team raised from childhood to protect the secret of Memory Omega.
Dayton Ward and Kevin Dillmore's "Ill Winds" is a prequel to TOS Mirror UNiverse, taking place before Captain Christopher Pike takes command of the Enterprise.
Margaret Wander Bonnano's "The Greater Good is also a prequel, taking place three years before the events of "Mirror, Mirror".
"The Black Flag", by James Swallow, is a tale of Vanguard in the Mirror Universe.
IN "The Traitor", Micheal Jan Freidman looks at the MU through the eyes of the Stargazer crew he introduced in Reunion.
In "The Sacred Chalice", Rudy Josephs gives new meaning to the ancient Betazed artifact entrusted to Lwaxana Troi.
"Bitter Fruit" by Susan Wright has the MU Kes, stranded in the Alpha Quadrant, and kept a secret from all- even the man she loves.
Keith RA DeCandido's "Family Matters" is the only story in the book I couldn't finish- although usually love DeCandido's work, the "subspace communications transcript" style was a bit dry.
IN Peter David's "Homecoming", Soleta returns to Romulus- with deadly cargo.
Jim Johnson's "A Terrible Beauty" answers many question about why Keiko Ishikawa came to Terok Nor, but leaves many more unanswered.
Christopher L Bennet's "Empathy" brings together members of the standard universe Titan crew in a web of love, deceit, and telepathy.
The anthology is brought to a close with David Mack's "For Want of a Nail" brings together the unlikely duo of K'Ehlyer and Barclay as a team raised from childhood to protect the secret of Memory Omega.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Deep Space 9 : Twist of Faith (Omnibus)
This volume contains 4 novels and a short story which begin the authorised continuation of Deep Space 9 following "What You Leave Behind".
Avatar, Books 1 and 2, by SD Perry introduces us to many of the characters who will populate the post series DS9 universe, and leads us into the continuing lives of well loved personages. IN the wake of Benjamin Sisko's dissapearance, Colonol Kira is now in command of the station. A vedek brings a mysterious artifact to Jake Sisko in the digs at B'hala, comes to the station- and is soon murdered. A long considered heiretical prophecy causes Jake and Kira both to take drastic action- and both their lives are changed.
Abyss, by David Weddle and Jeffrey Lang, brings back the nuch beloved Section 31. With Sloan dead, a new agent has come to change Julian Bashir's plans. A genetically enhanced doctor has found and abandoned Jem Hadar factory and has set himself up as the new Khan. Can anyone but Bashir bring him down?
Demons of Air and Darkness by Keith RA DeCandido is part of the timeline spanning Gateways series. Havoc is wreaked on the sector when Gateways start opening above and on planets. A group of aliens appear claiming to be the ancient Iconians, and they want to bargain for exclusive rights to the Gateway technology. When Nog and the Andorian Shar discover a gap in the Gateway network around the wormhole, they are able to disrupt the Gateways- and expose the aliens.
However, Kira's fateful step into a Gateway is further explored in the short story Horn and Ivory, also by De Candido. Stranded on a planet in the Delta quadrant, Kira was presented by a Gateyay- the went beack and forth between Ops on DS9, and the Celestial Temple. When she stepped through hover, she found herself 30, 000 years in Bajor's past, before B'hala, and at the time the Pah Wraiths ensconced themselves in the Fire Caves. Her journey back to DS9 is one both physical and spiritual.
Avatar, Books 1 and 2, by SD Perry introduces us to many of the characters who will populate the post series DS9 universe, and leads us into the continuing lives of well loved personages. IN the wake of Benjamin Sisko's dissapearance, Colonol Kira is now in command of the station. A vedek brings a mysterious artifact to Jake Sisko in the digs at B'hala, comes to the station- and is soon murdered. A long considered heiretical prophecy causes Jake and Kira both to take drastic action- and both their lives are changed.
Abyss, by David Weddle and Jeffrey Lang, brings back the nuch beloved Section 31. With Sloan dead, a new agent has come to change Julian Bashir's plans. A genetically enhanced doctor has found and abandoned Jem Hadar factory and has set himself up as the new Khan. Can anyone but Bashir bring him down?
Demons of Air and Darkness by Keith RA DeCandido is part of the timeline spanning Gateways series. Havoc is wreaked on the sector when Gateways start opening above and on planets. A group of aliens appear claiming to be the ancient Iconians, and they want to bargain for exclusive rights to the Gateway technology. When Nog and the Andorian Shar discover a gap in the Gateway network around the wormhole, they are able to disrupt the Gateways- and expose the aliens.
However, Kira's fateful step into a Gateway is further explored in the short story Horn and Ivory, also by De Candido. Stranded on a planet in the Delta quadrant, Kira was presented by a Gateyay- the went beack and forth between Ops on DS9, and the Celestial Temple. When she stepped through hover, she found herself 30, 000 years in Bajor's past, before B'hala, and at the time the Pah Wraiths ensconced themselves in the Fire Caves. Her journey back to DS9 is one both physical and spiritual.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Star Trek Alien Spotlight Volume 1 by IDW Comics
Funny story about this one. We got a box from Brian's best friend sent from Amazon, with no explanation of what books were meant for whom. One thing was clear though- everyone hoped that when we heard back from him, they would learn that Alien Spotlight was meant for them.
And the winner was- Andrew. Yes, the kid who could barely read and who less than year ago was as likely to eat a book as to read it.
Luckily, he was willing to share.
This collection of previously released comics spotlights The Gorn, the Romulans, the Vulcans, and the Borg. It spans from a TOS to TNG, and includes the crews of Pike's Enterprise, the Reliant, the Enterprise D, and the Romulan ship from "Balance of Terror".
And the winner was- Andrew. Yes, the kid who could barely read and who less than year ago was as likely to eat a book as to read it.
Luckily, he was willing to share.
This collection of previously released comics spotlights The Gorn, the Romulans, the Vulcans, and the Borg. It spans from a TOS to TNG, and includes the crews of Pike's Enterprise, the Reliant, the Enterprise D, and the Romulan ship from "Balance of Terror".
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Lost Souls by David Mack
The last book in the Destiny series ties up loose ends, surprises you, and points to a very different future for the Federation.
With the Borg determined to destroy all life in the Alpha and Beta Quadrants- not just the Federation, but all sentient life. The Federation and non-aligned powers band together to face the Borg threat. President Nan Bacco awaits in the Palais de la Concorde, helpless to do anymore to stop the destruction of the people she has pledged to protect. The captains of the Enterprise, Aventine and Titan have been given free reign to do whatever is necessary. While millions of lives are taken by the Borg, many light years away, the mysterious Caeliar have saved one small life.
I enjoyed the "cameos" by the daVinci- no one else would have thought of protecting a planet from the Borg by making it appear to disappear.
The ending is one I couldn't have predicted- and I'm not sure I like. It's too tidy. I am also not as fond of the Borg Origins story, much preferring the similar ones I have read in Strange New Worlds and Shinsei Shinsei.
I also did not like the free hand Mack took in killing characters- amkes me wonder if this is supposed to be cannon or not.
With the Borg determined to destroy all life in the Alpha and Beta Quadrants- not just the Federation, but all sentient life. The Federation and non-aligned powers band together to face the Borg threat. President Nan Bacco awaits in the Palais de la Concorde, helpless to do anymore to stop the destruction of the people she has pledged to protect. The captains of the Enterprise, Aventine and Titan have been given free reign to do whatever is necessary. While millions of lives are taken by the Borg, many light years away, the mysterious Caeliar have saved one small life.
I enjoyed the "cameos" by the daVinci- no one else would have thought of protecting a planet from the Borg by making it appear to disappear.
The ending is one I couldn't have predicted- and I'm not sure I like. It's too tidy. I am also not as fond of the Borg Origins story, much preferring the similar ones I have read in Strange New Worlds and Shinsei Shinsei.
I also did not like the free hand Mack took in killing characters- amkes me wonder if this is supposed to be cannon or not.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
ST Destiny Book One: Gods of Night
Gods Of Night begins David Mack's trilogy detailing the crews of the Enterprise and they Aventine as they prepare to fight the Borg, and of the Titan as it discovers a planet encased within a sphere.
On the Aventine, Ezri Dax has risen to the rank of captain after the death of the captain and first officer while fighting the Borg. Unsure of herself, and feeling guilty about the conditions of her advancement, she must fight her own demons before she can command effectively. To make things harder for her, her attempt to unravel a mystery discovered by Jadzia ends in tragedy
On the Enterprise, Picard is plagued by the incursion of the Borg queen into his thoughts as he must prepare to engage the Borg, while battling insecurities about the momentous decision he and Beverly have made.
On the Titan, the crew has discovered subspace tunnels leading from Federation space to a strange planet completely encased in a sphere. When the away team shuttles down, they are kept the the strange inhabitants; a situation complicated by Deanna Troi's delicate physical and mental state.
On the Aventine, Ezri Dax has risen to the rank of captain after the death of the captain and first officer while fighting the Borg. Unsure of herself, and feeling guilty about the conditions of her advancement, she must fight her own demons before she can command effectively. To make things harder for her, her attempt to unravel a mystery discovered by Jadzia ends in tragedy
On the Enterprise, Picard is plagued by the incursion of the Borg queen into his thoughts as he must prepare to engage the Borg, while battling insecurities about the momentous decision he and Beverly have made.
On the Titan, the crew has discovered subspace tunnels leading from Federation space to a strange planet completely encased in a sphere. When the away team shuttles down, they are kept the the strange inhabitants; a situation complicated by Deanna Troi's delicate physical and mental state.
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