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Star Trek: The Next Generation
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The past comes back to haunt Captain Jean-Luc Picard in this brand new thriller set in the universe of Star Trek: The Next Generation.
Section 31, the covert organization which has operated without accountability in the shadows for more than two centuries, has been exposed. Throughout the Federation, the rogue group’s agents and leaders are being taken into custody as the sheer scope of its misdeeds comes to light. Now Starfleet Command must decide the consequences for numerous officers caught up in the scandal—including Admirals William Ross, Edward Jellico, Alynna Nechayev, and Captain Jean-Luc Picard who, along with many others, are implicated in the forced removal of a Federation president.
Meanwhile, deep in the distant, unexplored region of space known as the Odyssean Pass, Picard and the crew of the Starship Enterprise must put aside personal feelings and political concerns as they investigate a massive mysterious spacecraft. Adrift for centuries in the void, the ship is vital to the survival of an endangered civilization which has spent generations searching for a world to sustain what remains of its people. Complicating matters is a band of marauders who have their own designs on the ancient ship, with only the Enterprise standing in their way....
Section 31, the covert organization which has operated without accountability in the shadows for more than two centuries, has been exposed. Throughout the Federation, the rogue group’s agents and leaders are being taken into custody as the sheer scope of its misdeeds comes to light. Now Starfleet Command must decide the consequences for numerous officers caught up in the scandal—including Admirals William Ross, Edward Jellico, Alynna Nechayev, and Captain Jean-Luc Picard who, along with many others, are implicated in the forced removal of a Federation president.
Meanwhile, deep in the distant, unexplored region of space known as the Odyssean Pass, Picard and the crew of the Starship Enterprise must put aside personal feelings and political concerns as they investigate a massive mysterious spacecraft. Adrift for centuries in the void, the ship is vital to the survival of an endangered civilization which has spent generations searching for a world to sustain what remains of its people. Complicating matters is a band of marauders who have their own designs on the ancient ship, with only the Enterprise standing in their way....
368 pages, Paperback
First published April 9, 2019
About the author
Dayton Ward
117 books301 followersDayton is a software developer, having become a slave to Corporate America after spending eleven years in the U.S. Marine Corps. When asked, he’ll tell you that he left home and joined the military soon after high school because he’d grown tired of people telling him what to do all the time.
Ask him sometime how well that worked out.
In addition to the numerous credits he shares with friend and co-writer Kevin Dilmore, he is the author of the Star Trek novels In the Name of Honor and Open Secrets, the science fiction novels The Last World War and The Genesis Protocol, and short stories which have appeared in the first three Star Trek: Strange New Worlds anthologies, the Yard Dog Press anthology Houston, We’ve Got Bubbas, Kansas City Voices Magazine and the Star Trek: New Frontier anthology No Limits. Though he currently lives in Kansas City with wife Michi and daughters Addison and Erin, Dayton is a Florida native and still maintains a torrid long-distance romance with his beloved Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Ask him sometime how well that worked out.
In addition to the numerous credits he shares with friend and co-writer Kevin Dilmore, he is the author of the Star Trek novels In the Name of Honor and Open Secrets, the science fiction novels The Last World War and The Genesis Protocol, and short stories which have appeared in the first three Star Trek: Strange New Worlds anthologies, the Yard Dog Press anthology Houston, We’ve Got Bubbas, Kansas City Voices Magazine and the Star Trek: New Frontier anthology No Limits. Though he currently lives in Kansas City with wife Michi and daughters Addison and Erin, Dayton is a Florida native and still maintains a torrid long-distance romance with his beloved Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews
February 10, 2020
Section 31's under trial and space adventure!
SECTION 31 IS FALLING
Due events on the novel Control, with actions made by Dr. Bashir along with Data and Lal, it seems that the secretive Section 31 is finally under the light of the entire galaxy and influent Starfleet admirals like Ross, Nechayev, Jellico and Nakamura are put under arrest and waiting trial...
...but not all people will be comfortable with just a day in court...
...willing to take more dramatic...
...and deadly...
...actions!
The moral values that helped to make the Federation are shaking with sad consequences.
Even Captain Jean-Luc Picard is questioned due his involment in what resulted in a Section 31 operation taking down a corrupt Federation president...
...but Picard didn't know that Section 31 took further actions after his involment in the operation changing totally the situation.
MORE SPACE ADVENTURE
However, while the heart of the Federation is in turmoil...
...the USS Enterprise-E and its new deep space mission encounter a massive space vessel...
...but while they are investigating the purpose of that said ship...
...they got under attack of scavenging space cruisers interested in claiming what the massive vessel might offer...
...however, what the massive vessel is offering can be more than anyone can handle!
SECTION 31 IS FALLING
Due events on the novel Control, with actions made by Dr. Bashir along with Data and Lal, it seems that the secretive Section 31 is finally under the light of the entire galaxy and influent Starfleet admirals like Ross, Nechayev, Jellico and Nakamura are put under arrest and waiting trial...
...but not all people will be comfortable with just a day in court...
...willing to take more dramatic...
...and deadly...
...actions!
The moral values that helped to make the Federation are shaking with sad consequences.
Even Captain Jean-Luc Picard is questioned due his involment in what resulted in a Section 31 operation taking down a corrupt Federation president...
...but Picard didn't know that Section 31 took further actions after his involment in the operation changing totally the situation.
MORE SPACE ADVENTURE
However, while the heart of the Federation is in turmoil...
...the USS Enterprise-E and its new deep space mission encounter a massive space vessel...
...but while they are investigating the purpose of that said ship...
...they got under attack of scavenging space cruisers interested in claiming what the massive vessel might offer...
...however, what the massive vessel is offering can be more than anyone can handle!
November 16, 2023
“Existing as a computer program, or a pattern in a transporter buffer, for five centuries. I can’t even imagine …”
Call it vintage next generation TNG Star Trek space opera, if you will.
Deanna Troi has tied the knot of connubial bliss with Riker who has been promoted to Admiral and posted to earth. Picard, still married to his position as captain of the Enterprise, has also married Beverly Crusher. Worf, promoted to Commander, has assumed the position of Picard’s First Officer, “Number One” in Picard parlance. Geordi Laforge remains in charge of Engineering while Data and Lal are in parts unknown.
AVAILABLE LIGHT is, first, the story of the discovery and prosecution of Section 31, a deep cover black organization that has been exposed after two centuries of behind the curtains computer control of earth, humanity, and Starfleet Command. Jean-Luc Picard, among other high level Starfleet Officers, has been implicated in the forced removal and assassination of a Federation President, ostensibly to prevent a possible renewal of war and violence with the Klingon empire. While Starfleet’s Attorney General ponders the path to that prosecution, Picard is passing through a distant, unexplored area of space called the Odyssean Pass. The second story in AVAILABLE LIGHT is a superb “first encounter” tale that unwinds when the Enterprise crosses paths with what appears to be an abandoned derelict ship and a second ship that, like the Ferengi and their Rules of Acquisition, has only profit on its mind as it lays claim to the empty, drifting ship as salvage.
The Section 31 threat is a timely, cautionary tale on the dangers of AI and unwarranted government oversight and surveillance:
“… nearly every Federation citizen for the past two centuries has been under continuous active surveillance, their every action and communication monitored by an advanced artificial intelligence that culls through this collected information, onstensibly searching for patterns or indication of threats. Section 31 agents then acted on that information, to include murdering anyone deemed a danger to Federation or Starfleet interests … without any form of due process or accountability …”
An interesting hypothetical villain, to be sure, that seems to take its origins from Isaac Asimov’s Hari Seldon and his notions of psychohistory in the FOUNDATION series:
“For over two hundred years, a computer program has been analyzing patterns and activity, making predictive calculations and acting on probabilities to shape the course of our history. We’ve all just been told that the freedom and security we enjoy has been engineered by a piece of software.”
Rather strips the gilding off the lily, I’d say! And speaking of homage to literary forebears, how about this random quotation from a Star Trek officer while riffing on Spock’s interminable reliance on cold logic that seems to make a completely obvious nod in the direction of Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes:
“It would be illogical to theorize as to the builders’ motives while possessing incomplete information.”
AVAILABLE LIGHT closes with a small piece of homespun philosophy that seems worth bearing in mind as we live our lives, 21st century or 24th century!
“… our reason for being is to make a difference, rather than simply marking the passage of time.”
Despite its continuing (and completely annoying) perpetuation of the nonsensical idea that emissions from phasers can be seen as they leap from weapon to target and provide that target with time to duck and roll:
“Chen had just enough presence of mind to duck as the yellow green energy beam surged from the shadows. It passed over her head as she dropped to one knee, while instinct made her draw her phaser and snap a quick shot at the beam’s point of origin.”
AVAILABLE LIGHT is a worthy and compelling addition to the Star Trek canon and the vast library of human-alien first contact stories. In fact, I would hazard a guess that classic sci-fi editor John Campbell would rate Dayton Ward’s creation of the Osijemal species and their search for a new planet after the destruction of their home world as one of the more unique and interesting alien species in the sci-fi repertoire.
Defnitely recommended.
Paul Weiss
Call it vintage next generation TNG Star Trek space opera, if you will.
Deanna Troi has tied the knot of connubial bliss with Riker who has been promoted to Admiral and posted to earth. Picard, still married to his position as captain of the Enterprise, has also married Beverly Crusher. Worf, promoted to Commander, has assumed the position of Picard’s First Officer, “Number One” in Picard parlance. Geordi Laforge remains in charge of Engineering while Data and Lal are in parts unknown.
AVAILABLE LIGHT is, first, the story of the discovery and prosecution of Section 31, a deep cover black organization that has been exposed after two centuries of behind the curtains computer control of earth, humanity, and Starfleet Command. Jean-Luc Picard, among other high level Starfleet Officers, has been implicated in the forced removal and assassination of a Federation President, ostensibly to prevent a possible renewal of war and violence with the Klingon empire. While Starfleet’s Attorney General ponders the path to that prosecution, Picard is passing through a distant, unexplored area of space called the Odyssean Pass. The second story in AVAILABLE LIGHT is a superb “first encounter” tale that unwinds when the Enterprise crosses paths with what appears to be an abandoned derelict ship and a second ship that, like the Ferengi and their Rules of Acquisition, has only profit on its mind as it lays claim to the empty, drifting ship as salvage.
The Section 31 threat is a timely, cautionary tale on the dangers of AI and unwarranted government oversight and surveillance:
“… nearly every Federation citizen for the past two centuries has been under continuous active surveillance, their every action and communication monitored by an advanced artificial intelligence that culls through this collected information, onstensibly searching for patterns or indication of threats. Section 31 agents then acted on that information, to include murdering anyone deemed a danger to Federation or Starfleet interests … without any form of due process or accountability …”
An interesting hypothetical villain, to be sure, that seems to take its origins from Isaac Asimov’s Hari Seldon and his notions of psychohistory in the FOUNDATION series:
“For over two hundred years, a computer program has been analyzing patterns and activity, making predictive calculations and acting on probabilities to shape the course of our history. We’ve all just been told that the freedom and security we enjoy has been engineered by a piece of software.”
Rather strips the gilding off the lily, I’d say! And speaking of homage to literary forebears, how about this random quotation from a Star Trek officer while riffing on Spock’s interminable reliance on cold logic that seems to make a completely obvious nod in the direction of Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes:
“It would be illogical to theorize as to the builders’ motives while possessing incomplete information.”
AVAILABLE LIGHT closes with a small piece of homespun philosophy that seems worth bearing in mind as we live our lives, 21st century or 24th century!
“… our reason for being is to make a difference, rather than simply marking the passage of time.”
Despite its continuing (and completely annoying) perpetuation of the nonsensical idea that emissions from phasers can be seen as they leap from weapon to target and provide that target with time to duck and roll:
“Chen had just enough presence of mind to duck as the yellow green energy beam surged from the shadows. It passed over her head as she dropped to one knee, while instinct made her draw her phaser and snap a quick shot at the beam’s point of origin.”
AVAILABLE LIGHT is a worthy and compelling addition to the Star Trek canon and the vast library of human-alien first contact stories. In fact, I would hazard a guess that classic sci-fi editor John Campbell would rate Dayton Ward’s creation of the Osijemal species and their search for a new planet after the destruction of their home world as one of the more unique and interesting alien species in the sci-fi repertoire.
Defnitely recommended.
Paul Weiss
June 22, 2020
So many things happening on multiple fronts that it's sometimes a bit hard to follow.
But this is classic example of very well written Start Trek novel with lots of what gives ST books an edge compared to the TV series: inner monologues and "behind the scenes" explanations of character turmoils. That might be the sole and best reason to recommend Start Trek books in general, and this one is really rich in that ingredient.
But this is classic example of very well written Start Trek novel with lots of what gives ST books an edge compared to the TV series: inner monologues and "behind the scenes" explanations of character turmoils. That might be the sole and best reason to recommend Start Trek books in general, and this one is really rich in that ingredient.
April 4, 2019
First, a few thoughts: (1) why does the cover depict the Enterprise rendezvousing with a Vorlon fleet right out of "Babylon 5", and (2) why have Trek novels suddenly jumped in size and in price? Well, with that out of the way...this is as well written as I expected it to be, but after recent events in the Trekverse, the scientific/exploration plot left me rather cold, and it was all I could do to race ahead to all the bits focusing on the fallout from Section 31's revelation to the galaxy. These days, it's the political machinations in the Alpha Quadrant that stir my geeky focus...so more (MUCH more) of this, please.
February 6, 2021
Dieser Roman markiert in meinen Augen den Auftakt zu den Prozessen, die demnächst in Zusammenhang mit der Geheimorganisation Sektion 31, anstehen. Sektion 31 hat länger als zwei Jahrhunderte aus dem Verborgenen heraus agiert, dies wurde kürzlich durch Julian Bashir, Sarina Douglas und der Journalistin Ozla Graniv aufgedeckt, siehe
Star Trek-Sektion 31: Kontrolle, und förderationsweit veröffentlicht.
Damit kommt nun das ganze Ausmaß der Verbrechen ihrer Mitglieder ans Licht. Im ganzen Förderationsraum werden die Agenten und Anführer der Sektion 31 festgenommen, unter Ihnen einige der bekanntesten Admiräle der Sternenflotte, wie William Ross, Edward Jellico und Alynna Nechayev (alle bekannt aus den diversen TV-Serien und den Novellisationen).
Und damit wird ebenso Jean-Luc Picards Beihilfe bei dem Sturz des Föderationspräsidenten Min Zife bekannt. (thematisiert im Band "Die Gesetze der Förderation")
Wobei er an dessen anschließender Ermordung nicht beteiligt war. Trotzdem gibt es Überlegungen, den Captain der ENTERPRISE für seine Taten vor Gericht zu stellen.
Derweil ist die ENTERPRISE unter dessen Kommando weiterhin im Odysseischen Pass unterwegs. Dabei entdecken sie ein mysteriöses Raumschiff, welches seit Jahrhunderten durchs All treibt. Und während sie dieses untersuchen, stellt sich heraus, dass sie nicht die Einzigen sind, die es entdeckt haben. Nur, dass die anderen an einer friedlichen und harmlosen Erforschung nicht interessiert sind...
Dieses Buch präsentiert nun zwei Handlungsstränge, die parallel zueinander stattfinden. Zum einen, wie sich auf der Erde Admiral James Akaar (offenbar der Einzige in der Sternenflotte, der mit Sektion 31 nichts zu tun hat) mit dem Fallout der Enthüllungen auseinandersetzt und alles daran setzt, dass die Vorkommnisse lückenlos aufgeklärt werden. Wobei er unsicher ist, ob und wie Jean-Luc Picard sich stellen soll.
Im zweiten Handlungsstrang stellt sich diese Frage dem Captain der ENTERPRISE-E ebenfalls. Wobei er sich zusätzlich auch noch mit einem fremden Raumschiff beschäftigen muss, welches allerdings nicht nur das Interesse der Föderation, sondern ebenso das einer anderen Spezies erweckt. Dies ist der Hauptplot von "Vorhandenes Licht".
Dayton Ward lässt sich dabei Zeit. Er baut die Geschichte behutsam auf und gibt den jeweiligen Plots jede Menge Luft zum Atmen, zum Sich-frei-Entwickeln. Und das tut dem Roman spürbar gut. Denn durch die langsame Fortentwicklung ist es dem Autoren möglich, die diversen Plottwists aufzubauen.
Einer davon wird durch T’Ryssa Chen repräsentiert. Die Erstkontaktspezialistin der ENTERPRISE hat sich, seitdem sie in "Mehr als die Summe"
eingeführt wurde, enorm verändert. Sie ist zwar immer noch ein Paradiesvogel an Bord des Raumschiffes, doch die Abenteuer, die sie erlebt hat, haben sie erwachsener werden lassen, ohne dass ihre Neugier und ihre Extrovertiertheit allzu sehr gedämpft wurden.
In "Vorhandenes Licht" kann man erleben, dass sie in all den Jahren feste Freundschaften geschlossen hat. Darunter auch zu dem Vulkanier Taurik, der in diesem Roman eine essentielle Rolle innehat. Die Interaktionen von Chen mit der Crew und ihr Beitrag zu der Story sind dabei großartig. Es sind vor allem ihre Taten, die dafür sorgen, dass die Geschichte sich so entwickelt, wie sie es eben tut. Und endlich hat man wieder eine Chance, ihre Fähigkeiten als Erstkontaktspezialistin in Aktion zu sehen!
Die Geschehnisse von Sektion 31 nehmen zwar nicht den Hauptplot ein, trotzdem steht dieser Handlungsstrang für mich im Vordergrund, denn seine Auswirkungen werden für den gesamten Star Trek Kanon wohl einschneidend werden. So stirbt mit Admiral William Ross eine Figur, die Star Trek sowohl im Fernsehen wie auch in den Novellisationen lange Zeit begleitet hat. Und man erhält einen Einblick darin, wie die Aufklärungsarbeiten eingeleitet und organisiert werden. Wobei natürlich Jean-Luc Picard auch eine entscheidende Rolle in diesen spielt. Mit der Rolle der Anklägerin Phillipa Louvois präsentiert Dayton Ward wieder einmal eine bekannte Figur aus der TV-Serie TNG, sie hat bei dem Menschenrechts-Prozess um Data eine entscheidende Rolle gespielt.
Am Ende von Vorhandenes Licht schließt Dayton Ward seine Handlung so ab, dass man ahnen kann, das der nächste Band der TNG-Reihe die Geschichte um den Fall von Sektion 31 weiterführt oder sogar abschließt, ich bin sehr gespannt darauf.
Star Trek-Sektion 31: Kontrolle, und förderationsweit veröffentlicht.Damit kommt nun das ganze Ausmaß der Verbrechen ihrer Mitglieder ans Licht. Im ganzen Förderationsraum werden die Agenten und Anführer der Sektion 31 festgenommen, unter Ihnen einige der bekanntesten Admiräle der Sternenflotte, wie William Ross, Edward Jellico und Alynna Nechayev (alle bekannt aus den diversen TV-Serien und den Novellisationen).
Und damit wird ebenso Jean-Luc Picards Beihilfe bei dem Sturz des Föderationspräsidenten Min Zife bekannt. (thematisiert im Band "Die Gesetze der Förderation")
Wobei er an dessen anschließender Ermordung nicht beteiligt war. Trotzdem gibt es Überlegungen, den Captain der ENTERPRISE für seine Taten vor Gericht zu stellen.Derweil ist die ENTERPRISE unter dessen Kommando weiterhin im Odysseischen Pass unterwegs. Dabei entdecken sie ein mysteriöses Raumschiff, welches seit Jahrhunderten durchs All treibt. Und während sie dieses untersuchen, stellt sich heraus, dass sie nicht die Einzigen sind, die es entdeckt haben. Nur, dass die anderen an einer friedlichen und harmlosen Erforschung nicht interessiert sind...
Dieses Buch präsentiert nun zwei Handlungsstränge, die parallel zueinander stattfinden. Zum einen, wie sich auf der Erde Admiral James Akaar (offenbar der Einzige in der Sternenflotte, der mit Sektion 31 nichts zu tun hat) mit dem Fallout der Enthüllungen auseinandersetzt und alles daran setzt, dass die Vorkommnisse lückenlos aufgeklärt werden. Wobei er unsicher ist, ob und wie Jean-Luc Picard sich stellen soll.
Im zweiten Handlungsstrang stellt sich diese Frage dem Captain der ENTERPRISE-E ebenfalls. Wobei er sich zusätzlich auch noch mit einem fremden Raumschiff beschäftigen muss, welches allerdings nicht nur das Interesse der Föderation, sondern ebenso das einer anderen Spezies erweckt. Dies ist der Hauptplot von "Vorhandenes Licht".
Dayton Ward lässt sich dabei Zeit. Er baut die Geschichte behutsam auf und gibt den jeweiligen Plots jede Menge Luft zum Atmen, zum Sich-frei-Entwickeln. Und das tut dem Roman spürbar gut. Denn durch die langsame Fortentwicklung ist es dem Autoren möglich, die diversen Plottwists aufzubauen.
Einer davon wird durch T’Ryssa Chen repräsentiert. Die Erstkontaktspezialistin der ENTERPRISE hat sich, seitdem sie in "Mehr als die Summe"
eingeführt wurde, enorm verändert. Sie ist zwar immer noch ein Paradiesvogel an Bord des Raumschiffes, doch die Abenteuer, die sie erlebt hat, haben sie erwachsener werden lassen, ohne dass ihre Neugier und ihre Extrovertiertheit allzu sehr gedämpft wurden.In "Vorhandenes Licht" kann man erleben, dass sie in all den Jahren feste Freundschaften geschlossen hat. Darunter auch zu dem Vulkanier Taurik, der in diesem Roman eine essentielle Rolle innehat. Die Interaktionen von Chen mit der Crew und ihr Beitrag zu der Story sind dabei großartig. Es sind vor allem ihre Taten, die dafür sorgen, dass die Geschichte sich so entwickelt, wie sie es eben tut. Und endlich hat man wieder eine Chance, ihre Fähigkeiten als Erstkontaktspezialistin in Aktion zu sehen!
Die Geschehnisse von Sektion 31 nehmen zwar nicht den Hauptplot ein, trotzdem steht dieser Handlungsstrang für mich im Vordergrund, denn seine Auswirkungen werden für den gesamten Star Trek Kanon wohl einschneidend werden. So stirbt mit Admiral William Ross eine Figur, die Star Trek sowohl im Fernsehen wie auch in den Novellisationen lange Zeit begleitet hat. Und man erhält einen Einblick darin, wie die Aufklärungsarbeiten eingeleitet und organisiert werden. Wobei natürlich Jean-Luc Picard auch eine entscheidende Rolle in diesen spielt. Mit der Rolle der Anklägerin Phillipa Louvois präsentiert Dayton Ward wieder einmal eine bekannte Figur aus der TV-Serie TNG, sie hat bei dem Menschenrechts-Prozess um Data eine entscheidende Rolle gespielt.
Am Ende von Vorhandenes Licht schließt Dayton Ward seine Handlung so ab, dass man ahnen kann, das der nächste Band der TNG-Reihe die Geschichte um den Fall von Sektion 31 weiterführt oder sogar abschließt, ich bin sehr gespannt darauf.
July 10, 2019
A strong continuation of the on-going story post-Nemesis, drawing a lot from the previous novels going all the way back to the A Time To series. Very excited to see this story continue, and the personal stakes for Picard continue to mount. The main part of the story, involving the exploration of a seemingly-derelict ship, is a lot of fun with some interesting scientific concepts involved. I love the role that T'Ryssa Chen gets to play in this story, and the secondary characters introduced in this novel are quite interesting. Definitely a solid entry in the on-going Star Trek novel-verse!
Full review (video): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WUSjo...
Full review (video): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WUSjo...
August 31, 2020
I picked this up and COLLATERAL DAMAGE as a way to read about the final storylines of the Star Trek Novelverse. With the new Picard series, much of the Novelverse and its lengthy continuity is overwritten and that's a shame. However, this is a good story dealing with Picard on one last exploratory mission to deal with a race that has successfully digitized themselves as well as the scavengers who want to plunder their vessel. It's mostly a standard episode of TNG but the fact it also deals with the fallout from Section 31's exposure gives the book some much needed edge.
April 15, 2019
The B story should have been the A story and the A story should have been more interesting. A while novel could have been done on the 31 fallout—I suppose keeping it in the background here lets them get two books out of it.
Not bad, but a little disappointing.
Not bad, but a little disappointing.
December 20, 2020
really good one and the last few sentences
i had a real moment of fandom love ❤️
i had a real moment of fandom love ❤️
June 22, 2019
**As per all of my reviews, I like to preface by saying that I listened to this book in audiobook format. This does indeed slightly skew my rating. I have found that audiobooks, give me a better "relationship" with the characters if done well, but also kills the book for me if narrated poorly. Also due to the nature of listening to the text, names and places may be spelled incorrectly here as I often do not have the physical volume in front of me.
Also, I have written this review in a "rolling updates" style. In that I basically chronicle my reading as I progress. This may make for a jarring and spoilery review so be warned.**
Alright, it's been almost two years since we've gotten the previous book in the series. The book Hearts and Mind's was pretty much a set up and history of how Section 31 made contact and may have had a pivotal role in early human interference with an alien race.
This is brought to a head when Picard reaches a mysterious planet in the Oddyessian Pass, and triggers one of their crew members, Taurik to divulge that he may have had information about this event. From a previous novel Taurik learns this but is sworn to secrecy. This is all handled by Admiral Akaar, who keeps the chains on Taurik and when contacted by Picard, pretty much tells him to shut up and follow
So this planet that they "discover" is the home world of the Eizand. So the Majestic 12…(pre Section 31) used a captured Eizand fighter that crashed on earth, to launch a strike against the Eizand themselves. The astronaunts who were sent to launch this devastating strike against the Eizand homeworld couldn't/wouldn't complete the mission… Despite this the factions on the planet of Eizand us this 'near miss' opportunity to launch strikes against other Eizand factions and put the blame on humanity. Unfortunately the violence escalated to such a point that it decimated Eizand and forever it was blamed to be a strike by Earth.
This creates a sort of false narrative that Admiral Akaar is trying to hide. Even before this Admiral Akaar is not on good terms with Picard and Akaar's demands to keep this hidden doesn't help…
Anyway Picard and his team is somehow captured and imprisoned...The away team is rescued by an Eizand rogue. He breaks them out, and tells them he wishes to have the truth revealed, that his race, the Ezands have been lied to about human's attack on them…
We get some exposition and waxing poetic of philosophy of what an organization like Section 31 means. And does the end justify the means, and came some smaller crimes be overlooked for great good? Admiral Ross who we get to see in DS9, has retired and like many other ex-Sect 31 members been moved to a sort resort planet where he can live out his days….Yea…until he's rounded up in a sweeping raid of arrests. This again reminds me of post WWII and how many Nazi officers fled to Argentina to hide. Of course i don't really think the same level of maleficence is comparable.
Like Ross we also see the (attempted) arrest of Admiral Nechayev. She has a bit more luck and is able to beam to another location… they follow here there but she seems to be able to make more of struggle..They end up taking her in but we get some exposition in the way of inner monologue that Section 31, while being dismantled may not be so easily stopped. Automation within Section 31 has already been set in place.
the crew conveniently comes upon a massive massive ship that seems derelict. Just as an aside, and this is a smaller complaint, but I'm a bit weary of the story idea of Huge ship that is nearly quadrople the size of the enterprise…as well as derelict mystery alien ship… and this doesn't help that this story of Control is so hot off of the heels of me watching Star Trek Discovery Season 2….which deal literally with a giant alien sphere with data that is used for Control.
This actually is sort of a sticking point for me as not only does this show that there's no real relationship between the "novel-verse" aka the Beta canon and the TV show prime canon… but it also sort of lessens the impact of the novels…
We get a sort of expect 'alien attack' from within the derelict ship. But the ship's defensive mechanism kicks in and destroys the aliens attacking them…but leaves the away team alone.
The book, uses the many many times over used tropes of 'can't beam the team out of danger', interference in weapons and convenient plot devices used over and over in trek.
So the story has taken two paths. It's gone one route with a very interesting story of the idea of Section 31 having the curtain thrown open, and gutted. I like the idea that all of these higher ranking officials are being plucked out of their comfortable living spaces and brought to trial. Admiral Ross who we know from DS9 meets a surprising and gruesome end. Now despite the already tired "Control" story, I really like the story point of having all of these "badmirals" facing trial but still having a sort of justifable defense. The classic greater good question comes up.
Now while I love this portion of the book, it seems like we can't have a Star Trek story without a checklist of things….Alien race in distress….Starfleet finds mystery situation….Alien race may appear hostile…Alien race gets Starfleet to help….a Problem happens….Resolved. I like how Ward continues the exploration of the Odessian pass…but we're just getting a congo line of the same stories..
I know that Trek does well to stick to a format or sort of 'safe script'… and because of the sheer amount of stories told over the years I completely realize that there is a definite lack of new stories….literally running out of possibilities, but I feel like the recipe really needs to be played with a bit.
So anyway the alien race on the ship for whatever reason has gone derelict and projected their consciousness into this sort of hyper realistic simulation. The entire crew has removed themselves from their bodies and I assume needs the help of Starfleet to help them get back on their feet… Big surprise…
Also I like how much DS9 involvement we're getting.. We're getting some good scenes with Worf and Martok…and even Worf's rumminations on his involvement with Dax. So I definitely love the 'deep cuts'.
Martok, who's been pretty much a "brother" to Worf, this is continued here.
The book has two stories here, and it's unfortnately focusing on the more generic alien encounter story line instead of the storyline that is, to me, far more interesting. The trial of the section 31 higher ups is pretty important in the grand scheme of things and it seems a bit underhanded to relagate it to a 'B' plot. I really love the idea that the President of the Federation is an Andorian woman. Kellessar zh'Tarash. She meets with Admiral Akaar, but unfortunately nothing is really resolved.. the dialogue and action in these scenes doesn't really lead or accomplish anything. They just discuss what happened and Akaar says that he would be willing to take the blame. And they basically just agree that it's a crap situation. I really would love to see more of a reaction to the news from different area's around the Federation. Different planets and races and their reaction to this.
We're back with the main story and it's just so routine.. The alien race is still floundering and this guild of scavengers and salvagers is coming to try to take the ship by force… but one ship has met with the Enterprise and are willing to help them. So they have to try to talk down her comrades or stand against them…so yea okay.. sort of interesting. But I can see this as the B plot here.
The story wraps up with a sort of mixed bag of feelings for me. On one hand I really liked that we're now going to see Picard sort of 'suit up' and go to face the music so to speak. He's returning to Earth and going to face up to the charges against him and the other members of S31. After only 3 books in the Oddesyian pass ( or 4?) I still feel as though there should be a return here. The stories we got from the exploration of the Pass itself have been standard Star Trek fair but nothing really pushing the boundaries of story beats. So on that note, it leaves me a bit disappointed overall. Playing into that same idea, the story in this specific book, was also a mix. I wanted more of the S31 story. We're never given 100% of the focus on this. The book starts out focusing on this story but quickly peels away to the standard Trek story of alien species in need. Which… is fine, but it's a bit hard to focus on something so mundane when you have something so 'big' going on that's only getting half or less than half the spotlight.
The chunk of the resolution of the main story is again pretty standard, lots of obstacles for the Enterprise crew to overcome. We get some nice team work with them. It sort of goes a bit…weird when we start getting into the whole consciousness aspect, in which it feels like I need to pop some mushrooms to fully experience what T'ressa Chen and later the rest of the crew experience. The aliens have a method of traveling long distances in that they separate their bodies from their conscious minds. Though…it's never stated what happens to their bodies…or where they are kept oddly enough. But the ship is also host to this holodeck like area but it's not really the same thing. Called "Haven" it's sort of an existential playground where the race can live out a normal (non starship traveling) existence while they are indeed traveling the galaxy. I suppose this race doesn't have as quick of warp drives as the Federation… Since this whole set up would probably be more trouble than it's worth, since traveling at max warp would cut down on the traveling time, that it would make creating a device that lets your consciousness roam and live in a separate realm….feel a bit of a waste.
Anyway all's well that ends well, the pirates that were going to salvage the ship, are beaten back, until they surrender seeing the error of their plundering ways. So it's not a bad story at all. I can't say it's anything mind blowing for one half…but also something extremely vital to the continuing story on the other, which again creates this weird dichotomy.
Overall, I enjoyed it, but wanted more of one aspect, and less of another. Not a bad problem to have I suppose
Also, I have written this review in a "rolling updates" style. In that I basically chronicle my reading as I progress. This may make for a jarring and spoilery review so be warned.**
Alright, it's been almost two years since we've gotten the previous book in the series. The book Hearts and Mind's was pretty much a set up and history of how Section 31 made contact and may have had a pivotal role in early human interference with an alien race.
This is brought to a head when Picard reaches a mysterious planet in the Oddyessian Pass, and triggers one of their crew members, Taurik to divulge that he may have had information about this event. From a previous novel Taurik learns this but is sworn to secrecy. This is all handled by Admiral Akaar, who keeps the chains on Taurik and when contacted by Picard, pretty much tells him to shut up and follow
So this planet that they "discover" is the home world of the Eizand. So the Majestic 12…(pre Section 31) used a captured Eizand fighter that crashed on earth, to launch a strike against the Eizand themselves. The astronaunts who were sent to launch this devastating strike against the Eizand homeworld couldn't/wouldn't complete the mission… Despite this the factions on the planet of Eizand us this 'near miss' opportunity to launch strikes against other Eizand factions and put the blame on humanity. Unfortunately the violence escalated to such a point that it decimated Eizand and forever it was blamed to be a strike by Earth.
This creates a sort of false narrative that Admiral Akaar is trying to hide. Even before this Admiral Akaar is not on good terms with Picard and Akaar's demands to keep this hidden doesn't help…
Anyway Picard and his team is somehow captured and imprisoned...The away team is rescued by an Eizand rogue. He breaks them out, and tells them he wishes to have the truth revealed, that his race, the Ezands have been lied to about human's attack on them…
We get some exposition and waxing poetic of philosophy of what an organization like Section 31 means. And does the end justify the means, and came some smaller crimes be overlooked for great good? Admiral Ross who we get to see in DS9, has retired and like many other ex-Sect 31 members been moved to a sort resort planet where he can live out his days….Yea…until he's rounded up in a sweeping raid of arrests. This again reminds me of post WWII and how many Nazi officers fled to Argentina to hide. Of course i don't really think the same level of maleficence is comparable.
Like Ross we also see the (attempted) arrest of Admiral Nechayev. She has a bit more luck and is able to beam to another location… they follow here there but she seems to be able to make more of struggle..They end up taking her in but we get some exposition in the way of inner monologue that Section 31, while being dismantled may not be so easily stopped. Automation within Section 31 has already been set in place.
the crew conveniently comes upon a massive massive ship that seems derelict. Just as an aside, and this is a smaller complaint, but I'm a bit weary of the story idea of Huge ship that is nearly quadrople the size of the enterprise…as well as derelict mystery alien ship… and this doesn't help that this story of Control is so hot off of the heels of me watching Star Trek Discovery Season 2….which deal literally with a giant alien sphere with data that is used for Control.
This actually is sort of a sticking point for me as not only does this show that there's no real relationship between the "novel-verse" aka the Beta canon and the TV show prime canon… but it also sort of lessens the impact of the novels…
We get a sort of expect 'alien attack' from within the derelict ship. But the ship's defensive mechanism kicks in and destroys the aliens attacking them…but leaves the away team alone.
The book, uses the many many times over used tropes of 'can't beam the team out of danger', interference in weapons and convenient plot devices used over and over in trek.
So the story has taken two paths. It's gone one route with a very interesting story of the idea of Section 31 having the curtain thrown open, and gutted. I like the idea that all of these higher ranking officials are being plucked out of their comfortable living spaces and brought to trial. Admiral Ross who we know from DS9 meets a surprising and gruesome end. Now despite the already tired "Control" story, I really like the story point of having all of these "badmirals" facing trial but still having a sort of justifable defense. The classic greater good question comes up.
Now while I love this portion of the book, it seems like we can't have a Star Trek story without a checklist of things….Alien race in distress….Starfleet finds mystery situation….Alien race may appear hostile…Alien race gets Starfleet to help….a Problem happens….Resolved. I like how Ward continues the exploration of the Odessian pass…but we're just getting a congo line of the same stories..
I know that Trek does well to stick to a format or sort of 'safe script'… and because of the sheer amount of stories told over the years I completely realize that there is a definite lack of new stories….literally running out of possibilities, but I feel like the recipe really needs to be played with a bit.
So anyway the alien race on the ship for whatever reason has gone derelict and projected their consciousness into this sort of hyper realistic simulation. The entire crew has removed themselves from their bodies and I assume needs the help of Starfleet to help them get back on their feet… Big surprise…
Also I like how much DS9 involvement we're getting.. We're getting some good scenes with Worf and Martok…and even Worf's rumminations on his involvement with Dax. So I definitely love the 'deep cuts'.
Martok, who's been pretty much a "brother" to Worf, this is continued here.
The book has two stories here, and it's unfortnately focusing on the more generic alien encounter story line instead of the storyline that is, to me, far more interesting. The trial of the section 31 higher ups is pretty important in the grand scheme of things and it seems a bit underhanded to relagate it to a 'B' plot. I really love the idea that the President of the Federation is an Andorian woman. Kellessar zh'Tarash. She meets with Admiral Akaar, but unfortunately nothing is really resolved.. the dialogue and action in these scenes doesn't really lead or accomplish anything. They just discuss what happened and Akaar says that he would be willing to take the blame. And they basically just agree that it's a crap situation. I really would love to see more of a reaction to the news from different area's around the Federation. Different planets and races and their reaction to this.
We're back with the main story and it's just so routine.. The alien race is still floundering and this guild of scavengers and salvagers is coming to try to take the ship by force… but one ship has met with the Enterprise and are willing to help them. So they have to try to talk down her comrades or stand against them…so yea okay.. sort of interesting. But I can see this as the B plot here.
The story wraps up with a sort of mixed bag of feelings for me. On one hand I really liked that we're now going to see Picard sort of 'suit up' and go to face the music so to speak. He's returning to Earth and going to face up to the charges against him and the other members of S31. After only 3 books in the Oddesyian pass ( or 4?) I still feel as though there should be a return here. The stories we got from the exploration of the Pass itself have been standard Star Trek fair but nothing really pushing the boundaries of story beats. So on that note, it leaves me a bit disappointed overall. Playing into that same idea, the story in this specific book, was also a mix. I wanted more of the S31 story. We're never given 100% of the focus on this. The book starts out focusing on this story but quickly peels away to the standard Trek story of alien species in need. Which… is fine, but it's a bit hard to focus on something so mundane when you have something so 'big' going on that's only getting half or less than half the spotlight.
The chunk of the resolution of the main story is again pretty standard, lots of obstacles for the Enterprise crew to overcome. We get some nice team work with them. It sort of goes a bit…weird when we start getting into the whole consciousness aspect, in which it feels like I need to pop some mushrooms to fully experience what T'ressa Chen and later the rest of the crew experience. The aliens have a method of traveling long distances in that they separate their bodies from their conscious minds. Though…it's never stated what happens to their bodies…or where they are kept oddly enough. But the ship is also host to this holodeck like area but it's not really the same thing. Called "Haven" it's sort of an existential playground where the race can live out a normal (non starship traveling) existence while they are indeed traveling the galaxy. I suppose this race doesn't have as quick of warp drives as the Federation… Since this whole set up would probably be more trouble than it's worth, since traveling at max warp would cut down on the traveling time, that it would make creating a device that lets your consciousness roam and live in a separate realm….feel a bit of a waste.
Anyway all's well that ends well, the pirates that were going to salvage the ship, are beaten back, until they surrender seeing the error of their plundering ways. So it's not a bad story at all. I can't say it's anything mind blowing for one half…but also something extremely vital to the continuing story on the other, which again creates this weird dichotomy.
Overall, I enjoyed it, but wanted more of one aspect, and less of another. Not a bad problem to have I suppose
November 26, 2019
I really wanted to love this one but I can’t bring myself to say that. It feels like Dayton Ward has exhausted his Odyssean Pass ideas—another massive derelict found by the Enterprise. Obviously this has a different story behind it but the surface level similarities to Armageddon’s Arrow didn’t go unnoticed. There is excessive recap and side tracking during scenes, to the point I was wondering DRGIII made a guest appearance. Not a good thing in my view. At least during one of these long winded review info dumps he brought up Headlong Flight, a TNG novel of Ward’s I did enjoy.
The Section 31 fallout B plot really should have been the A plot. This was the continuation I was waiting for—not yet another ‘exploration’ adventure. I wish the plots could have been in some way related. Even thematically...like perhaps Picard could have realized he had to come clean through his experiences during the adventure? That would have been interesting...instead it feels like Picard acts out of character during the first two thirds of the book.
I found myself skimming and glossing over some of the Enterprise focused sections of this book. Not a great sign and not a great product from Dayton Ward this time around.
The Section 31 fallout B plot really should have been the A plot. This was the continuation I was waiting for—not yet another ‘exploration’ adventure. I wish the plots could have been in some way related. Even thematically...like perhaps Picard could have realized he had to come clean through his experiences during the adventure? That would have been interesting...instead it feels like Picard acts out of character during the first two thirds of the book.
I found myself skimming and glossing over some of the Enterprise focused sections of this book. Not a great sign and not a great product from Dayton Ward this time around.
April 23, 2019
After reading the last TNG book and the ending it had I was looking forward to how the section 31 fallout would play out in this novel. Instead we don’t really get to see much of that and it’s pretty much the secondary story in this book. It’s a shame because that was far more interesting than the main story of this book which felt like a generic Star Trek episode which isn’t bad but it isn’t quite good or as memorable either. I would’ve rated this book a star lower if it weren’t for the secondary story. It felt like they pushing it most of the fallout for another book.
Overall this book entertaining enough for me to get through it but it’s not one I think I would read again. I would say it’s worth it for when they actually talk about and show us some of the consequences of Section 31 actions but the main story isn’t anything to write home about.
Overall this book entertaining enough for me to get through it but it’s not one I think I would read again. I would say it’s worth it for when they actually talk about and show us some of the consequences of Section 31 actions but the main story isn’t anything to write home about.
April 18, 2019
Overall a slog!
There have been a dearth of Star Trek over the last few years for some licensing reasons unclear to me. Therefore I was looking forward to a non-Discovery novel. Also considering Dayton Ward is usually one of the better authors, I had hope. The Enterprise story is just ok. It’s like a pastiche of several concepts we have seen before. The Section 31 fallout from the previous novel was boring and ultimately extremely repetitive. Finally, enough with all the fan-wank continuity references. Yes, I’m impressed that the author remembers previous episodes and novels but it all feels like a lot of padding. How about a short synopsis at the beginning to bring us up to speed, like on tv with the “ previously on “ segments. Especially since it is months to years between books.
One more thing: why all the trade-paperback editions now? I was fine with the regular size paperbacks and their prices.
There have been a dearth of Star Trek over the last few years for some licensing reasons unclear to me. Therefore I was looking forward to a non-Discovery novel. Also considering Dayton Ward is usually one of the better authors, I had hope. The Enterprise story is just ok. It’s like a pastiche of several concepts we have seen before. The Section 31 fallout from the previous novel was boring and ultimately extremely repetitive. Finally, enough with all the fan-wank continuity references. Yes, I’m impressed that the author remembers previous episodes and novels but it all feels like a lot of padding. How about a short synopsis at the beginning to bring us up to speed, like on tv with the “ previously on “ segments. Especially since it is months to years between books.
One more thing: why all the trade-paperback editions now? I was fine with the regular size paperbacks and their prices.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 15, 2019
Available Light sees Picard and the gang encountering a race of beings on route to a new planet while on route through the Odyssean Pass! :D They are known as the Nejamri and their ship is the Osijemal, but it is failing, to top this off another race of beings known as the Torrekmat are out to scavenge the vessel and are eyeballing the Enterprise as well! :D At the same time we have the fallout regarding Section 31 as well with Attorney General Phillipa Louvois and Admiral Leonard James Akaar all having to to bring people in connected with it! :D The Plot rotates through these stories with the two neatly crossing over! :D The discovery of the Nejamri is brilliantly handled created a different alien race that has technologies that are mind bending literally and Vorik and Chen investigations really provide great insight into it! :D Meanwhile back on Earth Phillipa's investigations have a ruthless transparency to the them, as we have come to expect from them, even hauling Riker in! :D At the same time the Federation President zh'Tarash comes across as the right person for the job weighing her decisions with history at the forefront! :D There are also brilliant appearances by other characters such as Martok and the Klingon high council band which neatly ties in with the other events of the book! :D
Available Light covers new ground, at the same time dealing with existing plot threads it also set things up for the next plot! :D The book has Picard, Phillipa and Martok acting as you would expect and has them poised for new adventures in a serious what happens next situation! :D Brilliant, high flowing, epic adventure, heroics, battles and action from the start! :D Crisp High Five! :D Highly Recommended! :D
Available Light covers new ground, at the same time dealing with existing plot threads it also set things up for the next plot! :D The book has Picard, Phillipa and Martok acting as you would expect and has them poised for new adventures in a serious what happens next situation! :D Brilliant, high flowing, epic adventure, heroics, battles and action from the start! :D Crisp High Five! :D Highly Recommended! :D
April 9, 2019
The fallout from the exposition of Section 31 leaves Picard out on a limb and the repurcussions of his involvement in the removal from office of President Mon Zife jeopardises not only the crew of the 'U.S.S
Enterprise' but Starfleet itself.
Ward's novel ties together all the threads from 'Star Trek' novels of the past fifteen years and brings Attorney General Phillipa Louvois back to Starfleet intent on securing justice for Picard's victims.
Enterprise' but Starfleet itself.
Ward's novel ties together all the threads from 'Star Trek' novels of the past fifteen years and brings Attorney General Phillipa Louvois back to Starfleet intent on securing justice for Picard's victims.
May 15, 2019
For my latest review, I dive back into the massive universe of extended books that surround the Star Trek television and movie series, with the latest novel from legendary Star Trek fiction author Dayton Ward.
When I reviewed my first piece of Star Trek fiction, The Way to the Stars by Una McCormack, a couple of months ago, I mentioned how substantial the extended book universe around Star Trek was. With a huge number of series that cover various points of the Star Trek universe and over 840 novels to accompany the various movies and television shows, there are so many additional stories and characters out there for dedicated fans to enjoy. Star Trek tie-in novels and comics were not something that I had really gotten into before The Way to the Stars, but after enjoying it, I thought that Available Light would be a good opportunity to expand my knowledge of the Star Trek universe. I also decided that I would try my first Star Trek audiobook; I chose to listen to the audiobook format of Available Light, narrated by Robert Petkoff.
Quite a large amount of the extremely large Star Trek extended universe can be attributed to the author of this book, Dayton Ward. Ward is a prolific author who has been writing Star Trek fiction since 1998 with his inclusions in the long-running Strange New Words collections of Star Trek short stories, becoming the first author to contribute to three separate volumes of this series. Since then he has written more than 20 additional inclusions in the Star Trek universe, including last year’s Star Trek Discovery: Drastic Measures, which made my Top Ten list of Books I Wish I Read in 2018.
Available Light is the latest book in a series of novels which are set after the events of the last Star Trek: The Next Generation film, Nemesis. Available Light takes place in the year 2386, set seven years after the events of Nemesis and continues to follow the adventures of the USS Enterprise E, under the command of Captain Picard. Ward has written the last three books in this specific Star Trek series and Available Light continues several of the storylines established in these previous novels.
For over 200 years, covert organisation Section 31 has policed and protected the United Federation of Planets from the shadows. Following the designs of an artificial intelligence, Control, Section 31 has committed attacks, assassinations, political interference and all manner of illegal actions to preserve the security of the Federation, without any oversight. However, thanks to the actions of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine character, Dr Julian Bashir, all of Section 31’s secrets have been published and are now out in the open for everyone to see. With the entire Federation of Planets now aware of Section 31’s actions, the Federation government and Starfleet move to arrest and prosecute all known Section 31 agents for treason against the Federation.
While numerous crimes and atrocities have been revealed, perhaps none is more controversial than Section 31’s assassination of Federation President Min Zife following his secret deposition by a group of Starfleet officers. More shocking is the revelation that one of the Starfleet officers responsible for the illegal coup d’etat that unseated Min Zife was none other than Jean-Luc Picard, the captain of the USS Enterprise E.
While the politicians and remaining commanders of Starfleet argue about the future of Picard, the Enterprise continues its exploration of the distant and uncharted Odyssean Pass. The Enterprise has come across an incredibly large and ancient spaceship adrift in the middle of nowhere and apparently abandoned. When the Enterprise’s away team boards the ship, they discover that the ship might not be as abandoned as first believed. As Picard and the Enterprise attempt to help the mysterious beings who inhabit the ship, they find their plans complicated by the arrival of a band of salvagers with designs on the massive ship.
View the full review at:
https://unseenlibrary.com/2019/05/15/...
For other exciting reviews, visit my blog at:
https://unseenlibrary.com/
When I reviewed my first piece of Star Trek fiction, The Way to the Stars by Una McCormack, a couple of months ago, I mentioned how substantial the extended book universe around Star Trek was. With a huge number of series that cover various points of the Star Trek universe and over 840 novels to accompany the various movies and television shows, there are so many additional stories and characters out there for dedicated fans to enjoy. Star Trek tie-in novels and comics were not something that I had really gotten into before The Way to the Stars, but after enjoying it, I thought that Available Light would be a good opportunity to expand my knowledge of the Star Trek universe. I also decided that I would try my first Star Trek audiobook; I chose to listen to the audiobook format of Available Light, narrated by Robert Petkoff.
Quite a large amount of the extremely large Star Trek extended universe can be attributed to the author of this book, Dayton Ward. Ward is a prolific author who has been writing Star Trek fiction since 1998 with his inclusions in the long-running Strange New Words collections of Star Trek short stories, becoming the first author to contribute to three separate volumes of this series. Since then he has written more than 20 additional inclusions in the Star Trek universe, including last year’s Star Trek Discovery: Drastic Measures, which made my Top Ten list of Books I Wish I Read in 2018.
Available Light is the latest book in a series of novels which are set after the events of the last Star Trek: The Next Generation film, Nemesis. Available Light takes place in the year 2386, set seven years after the events of Nemesis and continues to follow the adventures of the USS Enterprise E, under the command of Captain Picard. Ward has written the last three books in this specific Star Trek series and Available Light continues several of the storylines established in these previous novels.
For over 200 years, covert organisation Section 31 has policed and protected the United Federation of Planets from the shadows. Following the designs of an artificial intelligence, Control, Section 31 has committed attacks, assassinations, political interference and all manner of illegal actions to preserve the security of the Federation, without any oversight. However, thanks to the actions of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine character, Dr Julian Bashir, all of Section 31’s secrets have been published and are now out in the open for everyone to see. With the entire Federation of Planets now aware of Section 31’s actions, the Federation government and Starfleet move to arrest and prosecute all known Section 31 agents for treason against the Federation.
While numerous crimes and atrocities have been revealed, perhaps none is more controversial than Section 31’s assassination of Federation President Min Zife following his secret deposition by a group of Starfleet officers. More shocking is the revelation that one of the Starfleet officers responsible for the illegal coup d’etat that unseated Min Zife was none other than Jean-Luc Picard, the captain of the USS Enterprise E.
While the politicians and remaining commanders of Starfleet argue about the future of Picard, the Enterprise continues its exploration of the distant and uncharted Odyssean Pass. The Enterprise has come across an incredibly large and ancient spaceship adrift in the middle of nowhere and apparently abandoned. When the Enterprise’s away team boards the ship, they discover that the ship might not be as abandoned as first believed. As Picard and the Enterprise attempt to help the mysterious beings who inhabit the ship, they find their plans complicated by the arrival of a band of salvagers with designs on the massive ship.
View the full review at:
https://unseenlibrary.com/2019/05/15/...
For other exciting reviews, visit my blog at:
https://unseenlibrary.com/
January 20, 2022
Captain Picard has the Enterprise deep in the Odyssean Pass on a mission of exploration, which effectively shields him from the fallout from the exposure of Section 31. Back on Earth, everyone named in the documents released by reporter Ozla Graniv is being arrested and prepared for trial, including Admirals Ross, Necheyav, Nakamura and Jellico. Thanks to his forced involvement with the Tezwa tragedy, Captain Picard is also on the hot seat. For now though, he is two months away from Earth at best speed, and deep in a first contact mission.
The Enterprise encounters a derelict spaceship, but in the course of their investigation, they find it to be both inhabited and targeted by a salvage ship. After beating back an attack from the ship, Worf leads an away team to investigate. Lieutenant T'ryssa Chen makes the most unique first contact in the history of Starfleet when she is drawn into Haven, a computerized super-reality the Nejamri created so that they could endure the long journey from their destroyed world to a new home. Haven combines transport buffers, holographic technology and the ship's computer to go far beyond what Federation technology can do with holodecks. The physical body is stored in their computer banks while the mind exists inside Haven in a facsimile of itself.
The Nejamri drew Chen in because they are trapped in Haven and need help to get out. While she works from inside, Commanders LaForge and Taurik and others work on the ship from the real world. As the away team works to repair the ship and give the Nejamri the chance to free themselves, Enterprise has to fight off more salvagers who came in response to a call from the first ship, which the Enterprise destroyed in battle. A second salvager actually listened to Picard and agreed to help him help the Nejamri, but five more salvagers are en route who probably won't listen.
Back on Earth, JAG Attorney General Philippa Louvois is up to her neck in legal proceedings. Admiral Ross was one of the first big names to be captured, and suspected to be a big wheel in the Section 31 hierarchy. His interview was meant to expose as much as they could get him to tell them about his role in 31, but he was assassinated by one of the security guards assigned to protect Louvois. The guard was angry at learning that the shuttlecraft accident that killed her husband was arranged by Uraei because it deemed the diplomat he was assigned to protect as a threat. She finagled her way onto the guard detail just for the chance to kill Ross, and unfortunately she succeeded.
At the end of a highly successful first contact with the Nejamri, Captain Picard opts to head back to Earth to face the music, with the full support of his crew. I can't wait to see the next book, where Picard gets his day in court. I don't see how they could get him on anything significant, given that he was not given all the necessary information about Tezwa's armaments and was forced to follow orders.
I also want to see how Admiral Necheyav handles being interviewed- she resisted arrest harder than any other admiral mentioned because she knew all too well that Section 31 would have her killed if they thought she was going to talk. She had no way of knowing that with Uraei disabled, 31's power is broken and all operatives not yet arrested are running for their lives.
The Enterprise encounters a derelict spaceship, but in the course of their investigation, they find it to be both inhabited and targeted by a salvage ship. After beating back an attack from the ship, Worf leads an away team to investigate. Lieutenant T'ryssa Chen makes the most unique first contact in the history of Starfleet when she is drawn into Haven, a computerized super-reality the Nejamri created so that they could endure the long journey from their destroyed world to a new home. Haven combines transport buffers, holographic technology and the ship's computer to go far beyond what Federation technology can do with holodecks. The physical body is stored in their computer banks while the mind exists inside Haven in a facsimile of itself.
The Nejamri drew Chen in because they are trapped in Haven and need help to get out. While she works from inside, Commanders LaForge and Taurik and others work on the ship from the real world. As the away team works to repair the ship and give the Nejamri the chance to free themselves, Enterprise has to fight off more salvagers who came in response to a call from the first ship, which the Enterprise destroyed in battle. A second salvager actually listened to Picard and agreed to help him help the Nejamri, but five more salvagers are en route who probably won't listen.
Back on Earth, JAG Attorney General Philippa Louvois is up to her neck in legal proceedings. Admiral Ross was one of the first big names to be captured, and suspected to be a big wheel in the Section 31 hierarchy. His interview was meant to expose as much as they could get him to tell them about his role in 31, but he was assassinated by one of the security guards assigned to protect Louvois. The guard was angry at learning that the shuttlecraft accident that killed her husband was arranged by Uraei because it deemed the diplomat he was assigned to protect as a threat. She finagled her way onto the guard detail just for the chance to kill Ross, and unfortunately she succeeded.
At the end of a highly successful first contact with the Nejamri, Captain Picard opts to head back to Earth to face the music, with the full support of his crew. I can't wait to see the next book, where Picard gets his day in court. I don't see how they could get him on anything significant, given that he was not given all the necessary information about Tezwa's armaments and was forced to follow orders.
I also want to see how Admiral Necheyav handles being interviewed- she resisted arrest harder than any other admiral mentioned because she knew all too well that Section 31 would have her killed if they thought she was going to talk. She had no way of knowing that with Uraei disabled, 31's power is broken and all operatives not yet arrested are running for their lives.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 27, 2020
Dayton Ward. What can I say about his writing. If I was to sum it up in one word it would be BLAND.
I read everything he wrote in the Next Generation Relaunch and it actually stopped me dead in my tracks knowing I had one more novel to finish. A chore is what it felt like to make it through this last final novel he wrote in the relaunch timeline. Dayton is not a terrible writer. He's just a boring one. He is a weak Plotter and a even weaker Characterization writer on the balance between the scales of both. I just can't recommend his writing or the stories he has written including this one. Its just unnecessary reading unless your trying to read them all like I am in the relaunch timeline.
As critical drinker on youtube would say... "Its a rehash of ideas done before by other better writers". It ignores Scotty's terminal illness featured in his epic conclusion in Star Trek "Indistinguishable from Magic" completely. Its just as I said at the beginning. Bland.
Available light has some excellent concepts and ideas, but the dialogue and characterization just feel off. It focuses on T'ryssa Chen who is one of my favorite Brand New relaunch Characters in all of Star trek that is still alive by 2386 mind you, but it easy not to screw her up since she's not overly complex as a character in this story/ She was a complex fun character when she was introduced in Greater than the Sum by Christopher Bennett "one of the Other better writers". Picard and the rest of the crew just don't seem like the crew you know or perhaps after reading other better writers of this series you just know how much your missing out on. Picard as a daddy is a joy that is not in the Picard Series and a total wasted opportunity at every turn when he is omitted from the narrative.
Its serviceable as a story for star trek. It has great ideas and themes, but isn't the best execution. Unfortunately, if you haven't read Star trek section 31 control you will immediately want to know which book I need to read to read this one... and even then it feels like connections to that story and Tezwa in the Time to Series are unfulfilling at best, needless at worst. Just like this entire novel. (might as well include Headlong Flight and Hearts and Minds as well while your at it)
I read everything he wrote in the Next Generation Relaunch and it actually stopped me dead in my tracks knowing I had one more novel to finish. A chore is what it felt like to make it through this last final novel he wrote in the relaunch timeline. Dayton is not a terrible writer. He's just a boring one. He is a weak Plotter and a even weaker Characterization writer on the balance between the scales of both. I just can't recommend his writing or the stories he has written including this one. Its just unnecessary reading unless your trying to read them all like I am in the relaunch timeline.
As critical drinker on youtube would say... "Its a rehash of ideas done before by other better writers". It ignores Scotty's terminal illness featured in his epic conclusion in Star Trek "Indistinguishable from Magic" completely. Its just as I said at the beginning. Bland.
Available light has some excellent concepts and ideas, but the dialogue and characterization just feel off. It focuses on T'ryssa Chen who is one of my favorite Brand New relaunch Characters in all of Star trek that is still alive by 2386 mind you, but it easy not to screw her up since she's not overly complex as a character in this story/ She was a complex fun character when she was introduced in Greater than the Sum by Christopher Bennett "one of the Other better writers". Picard and the rest of the crew just don't seem like the crew you know or perhaps after reading other better writers of this series you just know how much your missing out on. Picard as a daddy is a joy that is not in the Picard Series and a total wasted opportunity at every turn when he is omitted from the narrative.
Its serviceable as a story for star trek. It has great ideas and themes, but isn't the best execution. Unfortunately, if you haven't read Star trek section 31 control you will immediately want to know which book I need to read to read this one... and even then it feels like connections to that story and Tezwa in the Time to Series are unfulfilling at best, needless at worst. Just like this entire novel. (might as well include Headlong Flight and Hearts and Minds as well while your at it)
July 31, 2019
With "Available Light", Dayton Ward continues a pair of major story arcs that have essentially engulfed the modern post-Nemesis relaunch world. On Earth, the fallout over the expose of Section 31's activities continues as some of the high priority figures (Nechayev, Ross, etc) are summarily arrested. Attorney General Louvois also prepares her cases against these individuals while Admiral Akaar & the Federation President continue to do damage control to try to keep things from spiraling further out of control. In the Odyssean Pass, the Enterprise-E under Jean-Luc Picard encounters what appears to be a derelict space ship which is far more than what it appears. The first contact with the Nejamri is further complicated by a a group of individuals who want the ship as salvage which further complicates things.
Ward does a nice job balancing the seriousness of these 2 parallel stories & also reveals a side of Picard which we haven't seen in a while as his involvement in this becomes better known. The book is a quick read with a few twists & turns (including an assassination of a main character) that we the reader have at times come to expect especially as of late. The book is also a nice set up for the Picard's return home in October's "Collateral Damage" which will likely set us up for wherever things go with the novels into 2020 & beyond.
Ward does a nice job balancing the seriousness of these 2 parallel stories & also reveals a side of Picard which we haven't seen in a while as his involvement in this becomes better known. The book is a quick read with a few twists & turns (including an assassination of a main character) that we the reader have at times come to expect especially as of late. The book is also a nice set up for the Picard's return home in October's "Collateral Damage" which will likely set us up for wherever things go with the novels into 2020 & beyond.
May 29, 2022
It isn't unusual for a novel to have two parallel plots that it switches back and forth between, in order to help build suspense by changing which plot is being addressed right at a key point of the other plot. But usually, those plots have at least SOME correlation, and ideally, dovetail together at or near the end of the book.That doesn't happen here; to the extremely limited extent that these to completely unrelated plots are brought together at all, it isn't until the epilogue. And it also doesn't help that the plot that actually SHOULD be the primary plot -- the one involving Picard and the Enterprise crew -- is a cliched, silly encounter that is played deadly seriously, which a summary of would sound like a stereotypical Star Trek plot, while what actual interest and novelty is to be found was in the behind-the-scenes maneuvering going on back at Starfleet and Federation headquarters, setting up the big courtroom scenes in the next book. What can I say? I've read over 500 Star Trek books; they can't ALL be winners, and this one wasn't. Ward is a good enough author to save this from being anywhere NEAR the worst of the lot, but it's the worst I've seen in a long time.
May 16, 2019
A worthy addition to the Star Trek novels series. The subplot regarding Captain Picard and Section 31 can end any book now, as far as I'm concerned, but is still interesting enough to keep me reading. The other self-contained subplot is well-crafted and a gripping read, with space battles and suspense. Perhaps it resolves itself a little too easily, but perhaps not, I haven't made up my mind. The post-TNG crew is comprised of likeable characters, and they continue to be so in this book. My biggest gripe is that the grammar and usage in the narration leaves something to be desired - one more quick proofreading could have made a world of a difference. But I believe fans of star Trek novels will enjoy this new addition to the lineup.
July 10, 2019
Solid entry into the novel verse
'A' plot with the Enterprise mission: - ok, but felt padded out and I feel we've seen this plot many times before... I was craving getting back to the golden nuggets of the 'B' plot....
'B' plot : section 31 fallout - omg excellent! Fast, exciting, moves the universe forward, twisting turning political type story - no filler and should absolutely have been the 'A' plot! More please!
So yes - wish the A and B plots had been reversed.
Would have been interesting to contrast Picard's morals behold called into account 'back home' whilst he's simultaneously on a typical 'enterprise mission'... Felt there was a bit of a disconnect which might have been interesting to contrast instead?
'A' plot with the Enterprise mission: - ok, but felt padded out and I feel we've seen this plot many times before... I was craving getting back to the golden nuggets of the 'B' plot....
'B' plot : section 31 fallout - omg excellent! Fast, exciting, moves the universe forward, twisting turning political type story - no filler and should absolutely have been the 'A' plot! More please!
So yes - wish the A and B plots had been reversed.
Would have been interesting to contrast Picard's morals behold called into account 'back home' whilst he's simultaneously on a typical 'enterprise mission'... Felt there was a bit of a disconnect which might have been interesting to contrast instead?
May 20, 2019
You wouldn't expect anything less
In the hands of Ward, as with David Mack or Christopher K. Bennett or Kirsten Beyer, you know your Trek is "safe": solid storylines complete in themselves but also part of the larger narrative. Vivid characters true to what we know of them.
In fact, that's sort of my one, main complaint in Trek novels: the characters aren't given a descriptive intro, either appearance or nature, particularly those from the TV series. Yet all readers could benefit from a refresher.
The larger storyline certainly has more to be told, and the wait will be difficult.
In the hands of Ward, as with David Mack or Christopher K. Bennett or Kirsten Beyer, you know your Trek is "safe": solid storylines complete in themselves but also part of the larger narrative. Vivid characters true to what we know of them.
In fact, that's sort of my one, main complaint in Trek novels: the characters aren't given a descriptive intro, either appearance or nature, particularly those from the TV series. Yet all readers could benefit from a refresher.
The larger storyline certainly has more to be told, and the wait will be difficult.
May 23, 2019
A job well done.
This is one of the times that I was more interested in the story back on Earth than the compelling story griping the Enterprise and her crew. Over the years it's been fun to see how the Enterprise crew has evolved from Nemesis. I particularly enjoy Chen, Taurik, Elfiki, and Konya, the Next Next-generation. It's also nice to see members of the da Vinci crew pop up, they are missed.
This is one of the times that I was more interested in the story back on Earth than the compelling story griping the Enterprise and her crew. Over the years it's been fun to see how the Enterprise crew has evolved from Nemesis. I particularly enjoy Chen, Taurik, Elfiki, and Konya, the Next Next-generation. It's also nice to see members of the da Vinci crew pop up, they are missed.
November 9, 2019
The final voyage of the Enterprise under the few remaining of
the original Next Generation command crew?
Certainly the herald of major changes to come.
I salute Dayton Ward and the other authors who have kept the Star Trek universe going
since Nemesis. I sometimes forget how long that's been.
From the 1st episode of Star Trek (TOS) to today has been a wondrous ride for me ---
I'm truly glad to have lived long enough to see and read it all to this point.
the original Next Generation command crew?
Certainly the herald of major changes to come.
I salute Dayton Ward and the other authors who have kept the Star Trek universe going
since Nemesis. I sometimes forget how long that's been.
From the 1st episode of Star Trek (TOS) to today has been a wondrous ride for me ---
I'm truly glad to have lived long enough to see and read it all to this point.
February 28, 2020
In some ways I felt like I had come into the middle of the story. The book referenced events of previous books. Ward does a good job of bringing the reader up to speed. This is actually 2 stories mashed together in one book. The problem I had was the stories barely intersected with one another. Each one had their merits but not enough for me. Each story sorta stands on its own. The combination does not make a totally satisfactory whole.
March 22, 2020
A strong TNG story, focused primarily on exploration and a first contact situation with some action/adventure and an interesting new technology to experience as well. Throughout, tension builds via the fallout from a Section 31 exposé that was the focus of a previous book. While the ending isn’t necessarily a cliffhanger, it leads very directly into the next book, Collateral Damage by David Mack. (I’m off to begin that one!)
August 25, 2020
Thoroughly enjoyed this story. The continuity of Trek literature these days is fantastic and to see the repercussions of past actions coming to light in new stories is highly satisfying.
As interesting as the political aspects of the story were, for me it was the situation that The Enterprise encounters in the Odyssean Pass that was most entertaining. Great new aliens and concepts in an investigation laced with plenty of action
As interesting as the political aspects of the story were, for me it was the situation that The Enterprise encounters in the Odyssean Pass that was most entertaining. Great new aliens and concepts in an investigation laced with plenty of action
October 16, 2020
I thoroughly enjoy this book The pacing and the adventure is very reminiscent of the TV show where there's a substory that you know is going to go somewhere probably in a later book and a main story that is like an episode of Star Trek The next generation. I decided to continue on reading this series before going back to normal books I'm very much looking forward to the next one collateral damage.
March 4, 2021
This is a hard book to rate. This is one of those where the people in it act how you wish those in power acted, vs the world we get. When actions from past books in the series have all come to a head, and fallout starts. In the foreground is a classic discovered a new alien species, with the fallout of the previous novels hovering in the background. So you really have two independent stories wrapped together.
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