Newsgroups: rec.arts.startrek.current
Subject: Re: Jeff's Spoiler Review: _The Disinherited_
From: <WITHC@CUNYVM.BITNET>
Date: Sunday, 12 Apr 1992 10:00:29 EST
Organization: City University of New York/ University Computer Center

In article <1992Apr04.165807.16867@crash.cts.com>, jhitch@crash.cts.com (Jeffrey
Hitchin) says:
>
>The following contains spoilers for the book _The Disinherited_.  If
>you don't want to be spoiled, skip over.
>
>That's it,  this is the very last time I ever buy a book that
>Michael Jan Friedman is involved with.
>
>        The cover says that the book was written by Peter David,
>Michael Jan Friedman and Robert Greenberger, but honestly, the
>writing style is all Friedman.  Yes, MJ Friedman, the king of
>flabby writing.
>
>        There are three plots that are supposed to come together
>as one unified idea, but they don't really.  Uhura is off on a
>diplomatic mission (as she is the best at non-verbal communication
>skills), while the rest of the crew is trying to figure out who's
>behind a series of attacks, while also trying to petition a planet
>into the Federation.  However, these plot threads don't tie up.
>True, the aliens Uhura is visiting happen to be the home planet
>of the raiding fleet, but when they are told that the raiding has
>been stopped, the aliens are relieved, apologize for their indiscretion
>and everything is just hunky-dory.  Right.  Sure.
>
>        Then there are the characters.  This book couldn't have
>been more boring if they tried.  All the characters seem to do is
>talk.  And that's about it.  There are some nice action sequences
>at the end, but nobody really does anything in this book.  The
>characters may be close to the TV show, however, they just seem
>to talk each other to death.
>
>        Then we come to the writing.  Pure Friedman, pure crap.  When
>will he learn not to have ten names per character?  In one scene
>Sulu is called "Sulu," "The helmsman," and "The navigator" which
>is really confusing since "Chekov," "The Russian," and "The navigator"
>are also in the scene.  When Uhura is by herself in her cabin and
>her door beeps, the text says, "'Come in,' the communications officer
>said."  Yes, we know who is saying that Mike, you don't need to
>remind us so brutally of that fact.  People don't say anything.   They
>affirm gravely, observe admiringly, and muse inquiringly.  If I didn't
>know better, I'd think I was reading a Harlequin romance.
>
>        Stay away from this book, it will only give you headaches.
>I'm just wondering what happened to the parts that Peter David
>wrote.  I couldn't find his style anywhere in this book.  Maybe
>his stuff was completely ripped apart by Friedman's romance writing.
>Who knows?  Anyway, don't buy this book, don't read it.  I wish I'd
>stayed away.
>
>On the Hillcroft scale of Excellent, Good, Fair, Poor, Crap:
>
>_Star Trek #59: The Disinherited_ rates: Crap

Not true, this was a callaboration of DC Comics "finest" writers and
Pocket Book writers.  Even though you see JM Friedman's work, it's really two:
Jan-Michael's and Peter's.  There was a reference to the Modala Imperative from
the comic series and some of the good humor and bantering is Peter's "trademark
All in all, it was an interesting book, but remember, there were two subplots
and later in the end that it reunited with the raiders and the soldier caste as
being the one and the same....
Newsgroups: rec.arts.startrek.current