From: rccarm00@nx19.mik.uky.edu (ron c carman)
Subject: Star Trek Novels: The Year in Review [1987]
Organization: University Of Kentucky, Dept. of Math Sciences
X-Path: nx19.mik.uky.edu!rccarm00
Date: Sun, 22 Nov 1992 01:04:41 GMT

   This is a review of Pocket Books' Star Trek novels published
during 1987.  
   Ratings translate as follows:
                                     
            Rating    Meaning
            --------------------------------------
              5        SUPERIOR:  Run out and buy this NOW
              4        EXCELLENT: Make sure to buy this soon
              3        AVERAGE:   Purchase as funds allow
              2        POOR:      Wait for your tax refund
              1        AWFUL:     Avoid at ALL costs
                             

   1987 Releases-at-a-glance:
-----------------------------

  Book #  Title                    Date Published     Rating / 5
-----------------------------------------------------------------
   #32     Chain of Attack           February 1987        3+   
   #33     Deep Domain               April 1987           4-
   #34     Dreams of the Raven       June 1987            5+
    G2     Strangers from the Sky    July 1987            5
   #35     The Romulan Way           August 1987          4-
   #36     How Much for Just the Planet?  October 1987    4
   #37     Bloodthirst               December 1987        3+
                                            ----------------
                                            Year Average: 4

/* place comments here */   
   Possible *SPOILERS* for Trek books released in '87.



>#32  Chain of Attack                       Copyright February 1987
>Author:    Gene DeWeese
>StarDate:  UNKNOWN
>
>Plot Summary:
>   While mapping a series of gravitational anomalies, the Enterprise
>is suddenly hurled millions of light-years through space, into a
>distant galaxy of scorched and lifeless worlds... into the middle of
>an endless interstellar war.
>   With no way back home, the crippled starship finds itself under
>relentless and suicidal attack by both warring fleets!  And Captain
>Kirk must gamble the lives of his crew on his ability to stop a war
>that has raged for centuries -- and ravaged a galaxy...

     This is an intriguing tale, and quite well-written.  The plot
is solid, and the characterization and dialogue are above average.
Nothing outstanding here, but no real problems either.

      Characterization:  3+
               Premise:  4
         Plot Handling:  3+ 
             Narrative:  3

                 Total:  3+


Next: Deep Domain


>#33  Deep Domain                           Copyright April 1987
>Author:    Howard Weinstein
>StarDate:  7823.6
>
>Plot Summary:
>   A routine diplomatic visit to the water-world of Akkalla becomes
>a nightmarish search for a missing Spock and Chekov, a search that
>plunges Admiral Kirk headlong into a corrupt government's desperate
>struggle to retain power.
>   For both a Federation Science outpost and Akkalla's valiant 
>freedom fighters have begun uncovering the ancient secrets hidden
>beneath her tranquil oceans.  Secrets whose exposure may mean civil
>war for the people of Akkalla -- and death for the crew of the
>starship Enterprise.

     Here is an interesting, involving tale.  Howard Weinstein
manages here to generally avoid his usual downfall of beating
readers about the head and shoulders with a heavy theme.  True,
we still can see the message clearly, but it's the purpose of
a good novel to bring its message across without making it 
tedious to the reader; this novel succeeds at that.  Character-
ization is good and the plot is solid.  Quite enjoyable.

      Characterization:  3
               Premise:  4
         Plot Handling:  4 
             Narrative:  4

                 Total:  4-


Next: Dreams of the Raven


>#34  Dreams of the Raven                   Copyright June 1987
>Author:    Carmen Carter
>StarDate:  5302.1
>           
>Plot Summary:
>   A merchant ship's frantic S.O.S. sends the Enterprise speeding to the 
>rescue!  But the starship's mission of mercy soon becomes a desperate 
>struggle for survival against a nightmarish enemy Captain Kirk can neither
>identify nor understand, an enemy he must defeat without the aid of one
>of his most trusted officers.
>   For the Leonard McCoy Kirk knew is gone.  In his place stands a stranger
>-- a man with no memory of his Starfleet career, his family, his friends...
>or the one thing James T. Kirk needs most of all.
>   His dreams.

     Carmen Carter has written an absolutely enthralling novel.  
Everything about this piece is well-crafted, from characters to
dialogue and plot to action...  The Ravens are a fascinating
creation, which I would love to see more of.
     This is a novel which makes you feel what its characters
are going through, and that is something which has been sadly
lacking in recent Pocket Books outings.  You may laugh, you may
cry, but you certainly will *not* be bored.  This is a "Must-Read".

      Characterization:  5+
               Premise:  5
         Plot Handling:  5 
             Narrative:  5+

                 Total:  5+


Next: Strangers from the Sky


>G2  Strangers from the Sky                 Copyright July 1987
>Author:    Margaret Wander Bonanno
>StarDate:  8083.6/1305.4
>                 
>Plot Summary:
>   IN THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY:  United at last after countless years of 
>warfare, humanity turns toward the stars.  But when an alien spacecraft 
>crashlands in the South Pacific bearing visitors from another world --
>the Vulcans -- Earth must decide whether to extend the hand of friendship,
>or the fist of war...
>   While in the distant future, horrible dreams torment Admiral James T. 
>Kirk, dreams prompted by his reading of STRANGERS FROM THE SKY, a book about 
>that historic first contact.  Dreams of an alternate reality where he 
>somehow changed the course of history -- and destroyed the Federation
>before it began!

     Ms. Bonanno turns in another stellar product with this novel.
The characterization and dialogue are superior, and the plot is
rock solid.  Fans of Lee Kelso and Gary Mitchell will probably
want to check this one out.  This is definitely one of the elite
"Must-Read" releases in the novel series.
      
      Characterization:  5
               Premise:  5
         Plot Handling:  5 
             Narrative:  5

                 Total:  5


Next: The Romulan Way


>#35  The Romulan Way                       Copyright August 1987
>Author:    Diane Duane and Peter Morwood
>StarDate:  UNKNOWN
>
>Plot Summary:
>   They are a race of warriors, a noble people to whom honor is all.
>They are cousin to the Vulcan, ally to the Klingon, and Starfleet's
>most feared and cunning adversary.  They are the Romulans -- and for
>eight years, Federation Agent Terise LoBrutto has hidden in their
>midst.
>   Now the presence of a captured Starfleet officer forces her to
>make a fateful choice -- between exposure and escape.  Between main-
>taining her cover -- and saving the life of Dr. Leonard McCoy.
>   Here, in a startlingly different adventure, is the truth behind
>one of the most fascinating alien races ever created in STAR TREK --
>the Romulans.

     By now, you're probably used to my ravings about what a good
(no, a great) writer Diane Duane is.  You'll be surprised, then
to see that I didn't think this novel was Duane's best effort.
     Don't get me wrong, _The_Romulan_Way_ is a *good* novel.
I certainly found it quite fascinating.  But the same elements
which made _Way_ such fascinating material for me will cause
most people to say this was not a good novel.
     You see, every other chapter is basically a lesson in
history -- the history of the Romulan (er, pardon me, Rihannsu)
people.  And this will bore most people to tears; I must admit,
those chapters did get a bit long and tedious at times.
     This is a very unusual novel in that way, and also in
one other way: Doctor McCoy is the **only** one of the "Enterprise 7"
that you will see in this novel.  Kirk and the rest of the crew
never even make a single appearance, and that will do this book
in with some people automatically.  But, overall, I found this
to be a well written saga, and a decent McCoy story, to boot.

      Characterization:  5
               Premise:  4
         Plot Handling:  3 
             Narrative:  3

                 Total:  4-


Next: How Much for Just the Planet?


>#36  How Much for Just the Planet?         Copyright October 1987
>Author:    John M. Ford
>StarDate:  UNKNOWN
>
>Plot Summary:
>   Dilithium.  In crystalline form, the most valuable mineral in the 
>galaxy.  It powers the Federation's starships... and the Klingon
>Empire's battlecruisers.  Now on a small, out-of-the-way planet named
>Direidi, the greatest fortune in dilithium crystals ever seen has been
>found.
>   Under the terms of the Organian Peace Treaty, the planet will go to
>the side best able to develop the planet and its resources.  Each side
>will contest the prize with the prime of its fleet.  For the Federation
>-- Captain James T. Kirk and the starship Enterprise.  For the Klingons
>-- Captain Kaden vestai-Oparai and the Fire Blossom.
>   Only the Direidians are writing their own script for this contest --
>a script that propels the crew of the Enterprise into their strangest
>adventure yet!

     In a complete change of style compared to his _Final_Reflection_,
Mr. Ford turns in an absolutely hilarious frolick that is sure to put
a smile on your face (unless you're a Trek purist, in which case you
will probably hate this novel)...
     We get every comical stunt possible, from people singing to the
tune of "Rawhide", to Scotty playing golf with a Klingon in a mine
field, to a good-ol'-fashioned pie fight.  There's even a character
(in a brief scene) named Ensign Ann Crispin... ;-)
     Good clean fun...

      Characterization:  3
               Premise:  5
         Plot Handling:  4 
             Narrative:  4

                 Total:  4


Next: Bloodthirst


>#37  Bloodthirst                           Copyright December 1987
>Author:    J.M. Dillard
>StarDate:  UNKNOWN
>
>Plot Summary:
>   A class one medical emergency summons the Enterprise to the
>Federation outpost Tanis.  There, a grisly surprise awaits them.
>Two of the lab's three researchers are dead, their bodies almost
>entirely drained of blood.  There are no clues.  No records of
>their research.  No remnants of their work.
>   There is only the outpost's sole survivor, Dr. Jeffrey Adams.
>A man with a secret that will rock the very foundations of Star
>Fleet... and a terrible, all-consuming hunger that will bring
>death to the crew of the Starship Enterprise.

     Ms. Dillard has written a bit of a murder mystery with
_Bloodthirst_.  And like a good murder mystery, the reader
is kept guessing as to the outcome until the very end.  
Characterization here is about average, but the plot and
dialogue are solid and well-done.  Mildly enjoyable.

      Characterization:  3
               Premise:  3+
         Plot Handling:  4 
             Narrative:  4

                 Total:  3+


RC Carman     

--
/=======================================================================\ 
|     Ron C. Carman          ||  Quantum physicists get all the girls.  |
| rccarm00@mik.uky.edu       ||  Al.  Is he live, or is he a hologram?  | 
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