DEBTOR'S PLANET -a good TNG novel
Bill Henley
Some time back on this board I took the risky step of
recommending a TNG novel, DEBTOR'S PLANET by W. R. Thompson,
sight-unseen before it was even published. I did so because
I've enjoyed author Thompson's non-Trek science fiction
(mostly published in ANALOG magazine) and was hopeful that
his TNG novel would be as good.
Fortunately, now that the book is actually out I don't have to
retract my recommendation-- it's a very entertaining read,
well above the average for Pocket Trek novels (especially TNG
novels which have been really cheesy lately for some reason).
Thompson has a good handle on the TNG characters (there are
some great lines here and funny character bits) and tells a
good story. Take a look at this book, even if you've been
disenchanted with the Star Trek book series lately.
--
"Arise, Columbia's sons, arise; arise that you might yet be free;
Cast off the forces that made lies of Jefferson and Liberty."
Bill Henley (aa396), Assistant Sysop, Cleveland Free-Net Science
Fiction & Fantasy SIG (which is not responsible for my opinions)
Thomas Gray
Bill Henley:
>Take a look at this book, even if you've been
>disenchanted with the Star Trek book series lately.
I, for one, have been EXTREMELY disenchanted with the Trek
books lately. What I do now is go into the store, pick up the book,
and read until I gag from the sheer awfulness. If I make it to page
40 or so, I'll buy the book. I made it to page 15 in _Debtor's Planet_
before I gave up. Here's why:
1.Awful writing style. Thompson insists on telling us EVERYTHING about
characters that we already know about. Like explaining that Data is
an android, that Worf is a Klingon, that Riker is human, etc. Plus
we have at least sixteen different names per character, and Thompson
seems to be loathe to use the same one twice in a row. Also, Thompson
dislikes "said" in favor of more colorful language. I find this tedious
and not really necessary. Things like "'Damn!' he cussed." are kind
of self-explanatory. Then there's the flowery language and really
silly metaphors and similes.
2.Bad characterization. Can you imagine Alexander saying, "I like
humans, I'm glad we didn't annihlate them." I can't. She also has
Worf always eating in a small cafeteria in a far away place on the
ship. Funny, in the show he's always in Ten Forward.
3.Long episode synopses. When Thompson made a reference to an episode,
it was immediately followed up with a long description or synopses of
the episode it came from. In the first ten pages there are at least
three of these. I know that references were made to "The First Duty"
and "The Neutral Zone" and I've seen those episodes, so I was irritated
by these long re-hashes.
By that point, I knew I would have trouble finishing the book.
I even skipped to the middle to see if the book's general feel improved,
and it didn't, so I'm afraid I can't share Bill's wholehearted
recommendation. I'd put this one in the dumper.
Jeffrey Hitchin
Maniac968
Henley) writes:
Fortunately, now that the book is actually out I don't have to
retract my recommendation-- it's a very entertaining read,
well above the average for Pocket Trek novels (especially TNG
novels which have been really cheesy lately for some reason).
Thompson has a good handle on the TNG characters (there are
some great lines here and funny character bits) and tells a
good story. Take a look at this book, even if you've been
disenchanted with the Star Trek book series lately.
You are right about the other ones, of late, with the exception of "Fallen
Heroes", DSN novel. I just finished Debtor's Planet and it was very good. It
might have been very good if it was a three part episode. <wistful thinking
but too late>
p.s. (For those hard core trekkies): never mind... :)