Posted:
13:31:43 on March 28 2002
By: Steve Krutzler
Dept: Reviews - Books | Books BBS Forum
Star Trek: The Next Generation
THE BATTLE OF BETAZED
by Charlotte Douglas and Susan Kearney
Pocket Books, 2002
263 pages with a preview of the Stargazer: Book One: Gauntlet by
Michael Jan Friedman and Pocket Books Star Trek Catalogue
Written for TrekWeb by Alexander Chase, edited by Steve Krutzler
As the Dominion War rages on across the Alpha Quadrant, U.S.S.
Enterprise Counselor Deanna Troi is compelled to free an imprisoned
telepathic killer and bring him to the aid of the resistance movement
on her home planet of Betazed - a world that places the Dominion
within striking distance of Earth. As the Cardassians subject the
Betazoid population to cruel surgical experiments, the Enterprise-E
takes the fight to the enemy with plans for a last desperate attack -
even as Troi uncovers a secret that could shatter her people forever.
Charlotte Douglas and Susan Kearney's first Star Trek novel THE
BATTLE OF BETAZED brings together elements of Star Trek: The Next
Generation and the Dominion War, the popular storyline featured in
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. THE BATTLE OF BETAZED is sure to appeal
not only to fans of the shows, but their own loyal readers and lovers
of science fiction as well.
Douglas and Kearney's THE BATTLE OF BETAZED is a fun, energetic
read that Star Trek fans will find to be a lavish continuity feast on which to feed. The book provides satisfactory answers to several key
continuity questions: what happen to Betazed after it fell during the
Dominion War; where was Lwaxana Troi and what did she do during the
struggle for her home planet's liberation (on Betazed, and, a lot);
what was the reaction of Worf's friends on the Enterprise to the
death of his wife, Jadzia (very little, the greater good took
precedence over individual loss); and what the hell was the
Enterprise-E crew doing during the conflict anyway? The answer to
this last question is the 'what' that the film Insurrection failed so
miserably to address. However, THE BATTLE OF BETAZED squarely places
The Next Generation crew in the struggle against the Dominion.
THE BATTLE OF BETAZED very nicely sets up The Next Generation
story by playing it, so to speak, in Deep Space Nine's sandbox (i.e.
the Dominion War). This is done by incorporating crucial roles for
Worf, O'Brien and the Defiant within the plot in a credible rather
than contrived manner (Worf in command of the Defiant, which is
needed for its cloaking capabilities, and O'Brien for his expertise
in Cardassian engineering). Douglas and Kearney also find a
significant role for the Cardassian 'Dr. Menegale Crell Moset'
(introduced in the Voyager episode "Nothing Human") which makes sense
in concept, even if their characterization of Crell comes off a bit
too whiny for a Cardassian. However, the rest of the
characterizations are spot-on, though non-Star Trek fans may miss out
on some of the nuances, especially most of the humor (for example,
O'Brien telling Riker that the Cardassian codes in his possession
were obtained from someone he knows on DS9 who repairs his pants).
There are other minor inconsistencies in the story. For example,
the incredibly shrinking Dominion fleet surrounding Betazed (which
could have been easily explained but was not) as well as Commander
Vaughn ordering Troi, Crusher and Data during their covert mission
not to refer to him as 'sir' to blend in even as Vaughan continues to
refer to everyone else by their rank. These quibbles are
easily ignored and are not enough to spoil an otherwise exciting
'fill-in-the-gap' storyline. Another criticism has to do with the
cover illustration for the book, which has Troi looking very
Weaver-esque holding a phaser rifle but the Jem'Hadar are
composed from a screen shot lifted straight out of the Deep Space
Nine episode, "Rocks and Shoals." Surely Pocket Books can do better
for their cover illustrations.
In the end, THE BATTLE OF BETAZED resolves the action of its story
by adopting a very THE NEXT GENERATION solution whereby the primary
moral quandary for Troi set up by the authors is avoided due to a
last minute (though believable) alternative. The difficult decision
with long-term implications for the Betazoid people is never made. In
this, THE BATTLE OF BETAZED avoids the sort of ethical dilemma
presented by the Dominion War as seen in such stellar Deep Space Nine
episodes as "Rocks and Shoals" or "In the Pale Moonlight." Rather, the cost of
war is measured merely in terms of sheer number of anonymous (or near
anonymous) casualties rather than the impact of difficult decisions
thrust upon well-known and well-loved characters. However, it is not enough to deflate the reader's enjoyment of The Next
Generation crew's struggle against the Dominion.
TrekWeb's Rating:
Star Trek: Voyager
THE HOLOGRAM'S HANDBOOK
by the Doctor, EMH U.S.S. Voyager
as told to Robert Picardo
Illustrations by Jeff Yagher
Pocket Books, 2002
84 pages
Written for TrekWeb by Alexander Chase, edited by Steve Krutzler
Do you sometimes feel that you're the only intelligent one in
the room? Does the everyday "simplicity" of your fellows scream out
at you? Do you ever feel that everything would fall apart at the
seams if not for your presence?
Perfectly capturing the wry sensibility and sarcastic wit of his
popular character on Star Trek: Voyager, Robert "The Holographic
Doctor" Picardo serves up, with tongue firmly in cheek, a guide to
all things holographic. THE HOLOGRAM'S HANDBOOK is precisely the book
for which Star Trek: Voyager fans have been waiting - whether they
realized it or not. Written by Robert Picardo in the unmistakable
tart-tongued manner of his popular alter ego, Voyager's Emergency
Medical Hologram, THE HOLOGRAM'S HANDBOOK is the manual for
laypersons of all stripes - opening an unprecedented window on the
world of holographic reality. Featuring more than 90 illustrations
throughout, THE HOLOGRAM'S HANDBOOK serves as an indispensable life
manual for holographic beings that are struggling to survive in an
unforgiving organic world. The books offers a collection of comedic
insights and guidelines for the enlightened organic reader on how
better to interact with and understand holographic beings. THE
HOLOGRAM'S HANDBOOK is the essential guide to the everyday
interaction between the holographic and the biological.
And so comes to Star Trek fans, under the category of 'A Waste of
Good Trees', THE HOLOGRAM'S HANDBOOK by the EMH of U.S.S. Voyager "as
told to Robert Picardo." See also the following alternate category
headings: 'Drawing Blood from a Stone', 'Milking the Last Drop from
the Franchise', 'Just How Stupid Do They Think We Are?' and 'What the
Hell Were They Thinking?'
THE HOLOGRAM'S HANDBOOK is a testament to
only one thing - Robert Picardo's ego. It is not funny. It is not
even so bad as to be unintentionally funny. It is just awful. I mean,
do Star Trek fans really need a book which discusses the EMH's Penis
Upgrade with his own alterations above and beyond the parameters
(based on Tom Paris's genitalia no less) set by B'Elanna Torres? Or
his notable sexual exploits on the holodeck once this upgrade was
made, including waxing longingly about his own 'stamina?'
THE HOLOGRAM'S HANDBOOK is only for the most fervent completists and dedicated Star Trek: Voyager fans (even those dozen or so people might want
to give this book a pass), people with money to burn (though they may find actually burning their money a more enjoyable experience than reading
this book), or Robert Picardo. In fact, the only person this reviewer
can think of who might really enjoy this book is Robert Picardo
himself. After all, in 84 pages there are 39 pictures of Picardo and
there is only ONE picture which does not include him - the one
anomaly is of Jeri Ryan as Seven of Nine (must be an editor's error).
In the future, he might want to think about the environment and just gaze
lovingly into the mirror like the rest of us. In fact, the only
thoughtful words in the book come, strangely enough, from Star Trek's
often-beleaguered executive producer Brannon Braga in his
Introduction, where he describes THE HOLOGRAM'S HANDBOOK as "a
hundred-page cry for help." Robert Picardo really ought to tend to
his acting craft before deciding he wants to become a lousy writer.
Don't waste your money. They're sure to be giving away THE
HOLOGRAM'S HANDBOOK free at a Star Trek convention near you soon.
TrekWeb's Rating:
