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Star Trek: Voyager—Homecoming #1
Homecoming
After seven long years in the Delta Quadrant, the crew of the starship 'Voyager' now confront the strangest world of all: home. For Admiral Janeway and her officers, their return brings new honours and responsibilities, reunions and, for some, the challenge of forging new lives.
262 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published June 1, 2003
282 people are currently reading
1603 people want to read
About the author
Christie Golden
170 books1,871 followersAward-winning author Christie Golden has written over thirty novels and several short stories in the fields of science fiction, fantasy and horror. She has over a million books in print.
2009 will see no fewer than three novels published. First out in late April will be a World of Warcraft novel, Athas: Rise of the Lich King. This is the first Warcraft novel to appear in hardcover. Fans of the young paladin who fell so far from grace will get to read his definitive story.
In June, Golden’s first Star Wars novel, also a hardcover, sees print. Star Wars: Fate of the Jedi—Omen is the second in a nine-book series she is co-authoring with Aaron Allston and Troy Denning. Also in June comes the conclusion of Golden’s StarCraft: The Dark Templar Saga with the release of Twlight, the third book in the series. The first two are Firstborn and Shadow Hunters.
2004 saw the launch of an original fantasy series called The Final Dance, from LUNA Books. The first novel in the series, On Fire's Wings, was published in July of that year. The second, In Stone’s Clasp , came out in September of 2005. With In Stone’s Clasp, Golden won the Colorado Author’s League Top Hand Award for Best Genre Novel for the second time. The third book, Under Sea’s Shadow, is available only as an e-book
Golden is also the author of two original fantasy novels from Ace Books, King's Man and Thief and Instrument of Fate, which made the 1996 Nebula Preliminary Ballot. Under the pen name of Jadrien Bell, she wrote a historical fantasy thriller entitled A.D. 999, which won the Colorado Author's League Top Hand Award for Best Genre Novel of 1999.
Golden launched the TSR Ravenloft line in 1991 with her first novel, the highly successful Vampire of the Mists , which introduced elven vampire Jander Sunstar. Golden followed up Vampire with Dance of the Dead and The Enemy Within . In September of 2006, fifteen years to the month, The Ravenloft Covenant: Vampire of the Mists enabled Jander Sunstar to reach a whole new audience.
Other projects include a slew of Star Trek novels, among them The Murdered Sun , Marooned , and Seven of Nine , and "The Dark Matters Trilogy," Cloak and Dagger , Ghost Dance and Shadow of Heaven .
The Voyager novel relaunch, which includes Homecoming and The Farther Shore , were bestsellers and were the fastest-selling Trek novels of 2003. Golden continued writing VOYAGER novels even though the show went off the air, and enjoyed exploring the creative freedom that gave her in the two-parter called Spirit Walk, which includes Old Wounds and Enemy of my Enemy .
Golden has also written the novelization of Steven Spielberg's Invasion America and an original "prequel," On The Run , both of which received high praise from producer Harve Bennett. On The Run, a combination medical thriller and science fiction adventure, even prompted Bennett to invite Golden to assist in crafting the second season of the show, if it was renewed.
Golden lives in Loveland, Colorado, with her artist husband and their two cats.
2009 will see no fewer than three novels published. First out in late April will be a World of Warcraft novel, Athas: Rise of the Lich King. This is the first Warcraft novel to appear in hardcover. Fans of the young paladin who fell so far from grace will get to read his definitive story.
In June, Golden’s first Star Wars novel, also a hardcover, sees print. Star Wars: Fate of the Jedi—Omen is the second in a nine-book series she is co-authoring with Aaron Allston and Troy Denning. Also in June comes the conclusion of Golden’s StarCraft: The Dark Templar Saga with the release of Twlight, the third book in the series. The first two are Firstborn and Shadow Hunters.
2004 saw the launch of an original fantasy series called The Final Dance, from LUNA Books. The first novel in the series, On Fire's Wings, was published in July of that year. The second, In Stone’s Clasp , came out in September of 2005. With In Stone’s Clasp, Golden won the Colorado Author’s League Top Hand Award for Best Genre Novel for the second time. The third book, Under Sea’s Shadow, is available only as an e-book
Golden is also the author of two original fantasy novels from Ace Books, King's Man and Thief and Instrument of Fate, which made the 1996 Nebula Preliminary Ballot. Under the pen name of Jadrien Bell, she wrote a historical fantasy thriller entitled A.D. 999, which won the Colorado Author's League Top Hand Award for Best Genre Novel of 1999.
Golden launched the TSR Ravenloft line in 1991 with her first novel, the highly successful Vampire of the Mists , which introduced elven vampire Jander Sunstar. Golden followed up Vampire with Dance of the Dead and The Enemy Within . In September of 2006, fifteen years to the month, The Ravenloft Covenant: Vampire of the Mists enabled Jander Sunstar to reach a whole new audience.
Other projects include a slew of Star Trek novels, among them The Murdered Sun , Marooned , and Seven of Nine , and "The Dark Matters Trilogy," Cloak and Dagger , Ghost Dance and Shadow of Heaven .
The Voyager novel relaunch, which includes Homecoming and The Farther Shore , were bestsellers and were the fastest-selling Trek novels of 2003. Golden continued writing VOYAGER novels even though the show went off the air, and enjoyed exploring the creative freedom that gave her in the two-parter called Spirit Walk, which includes Old Wounds and Enemy of my Enemy .
Golden has also written the novelization of Steven Spielberg's Invasion America and an original "prequel," On The Run , both of which received high praise from producer Harve Bennett. On The Run, a combination medical thriller and science fiction adventure, even prompted Bennett to invite Golden to assist in crafting the second season of the show, if it was renewed.
Golden lives in Loveland, Colorado, with her artist husband and their two cats.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 210 reviews
January 16, 2022
This is not a bad story, aside from two large flaws.
The first large flaw is, of course, that it's just the BEGINNING of a story; as anyone who has read a number of my reviews probably knows, I almost always dock a book one star for failing to tell a complete story within its pages. If you like "continued next time, same Bat Time, same Bat Channel" stories, feel free to consider this a four-star review, although I'll admit to being even MORE annoyed with the fact that this book failed to be a complete story than I usually am, in that the fact that it was "Book One of Two" was not nearly clearly enough marked; the cover said nothing about it, nor did the spine. The rear cover mentions it in very tiny print. I will grant that the current Amazon entry for it clearly labels it such, but I'm not certain that it did when I ordered it. What's more, the conclusion is not "Homecoming, Book 2 of 2". It is "The Farther Shore", which I also didn't realize was not a complete story in its own right when I bought it.
The other problem that I have with this book, other than the lack of a conclusion, is that the plotline once again follows a tried and true Star Trek plotline which has been done to death, and which I've long since grown sick of: Starfleet Admirals who are, at best, idiots with a chip on their shoulders, and at worst traitors. Is it REALLY likely that there would be SO MANY incompetent admirals in an organization that has so many admirable captains? Really? It seems that it's an old failsafe for an author struggling to find sufficient conflict for a Star Trek novel: require the characters to fight their own bureaucracy, as well as whatever outside threat presents itself. Frankly, it's gotten to the point where any such plot automatically loses a star, just as an incomplete story loses a star.
The first large flaw is, of course, that it's just the BEGINNING of a story; as anyone who has read a number of my reviews probably knows, I almost always dock a book one star for failing to tell a complete story within its pages. If you like "continued next time, same Bat Time, same Bat Channel" stories, feel free to consider this a four-star review, although I'll admit to being even MORE annoyed with the fact that this book failed to be a complete story than I usually am, in that the fact that it was "Book One of Two" was not nearly clearly enough marked; the cover said nothing about it, nor did the spine. The rear cover mentions it in very tiny print. I will grant that the current Amazon entry for it clearly labels it such, but I'm not certain that it did when I ordered it. What's more, the conclusion is not "Homecoming, Book 2 of 2". It is "The Farther Shore", which I also didn't realize was not a complete story in its own right when I bought it.
The other problem that I have with this book, other than the lack of a conclusion, is that the plotline once again follows a tried and true Star Trek plotline which has been done to death, and which I've long since grown sick of: Starfleet Admirals who are, at best, idiots with a chip on their shoulders, and at worst traitors. Is it REALLY likely that there would be SO MANY incompetent admirals in an organization that has so many admirable captains? Really? It seems that it's an old failsafe for an author struggling to find sufficient conflict for a Star Trek novel: require the characters to fight their own bureaucracy, as well as whatever outside threat presents itself. Frankly, it's gotten to the point where any such plot automatically loses a star, just as an incomplete story loses a star.
November 7, 2024
I found the first half of this book immensely gratifying, getting to see how each of the Voyager crew was received upon arriving home, and how they begin adapting to their new lives. This was how the television series should have concluded. The second half of the story becomes a thriller involving some intrigue, treason, a pandemic, the Borg and the issue of "human" rights for holograms. It's an odd mix of ingredients to say the least, and it appears one must continue with book two to understand what's happening and to see any kind of resolution. So that's a bit disappointing, and unexpected, but I'm sufficiently invested at this point so I will take the plunge.
November 9, 2015
I am reviewing this together with The Father Shore. The two books contain a single story.
Many television viewers were dissatisfied with Voyager's final episode 'Endgame'. It was too abrupt. We should have seen families reunited, celebrations and cheesy hoopla. We got none of that.
Fortunately Christie Gold gave fans a more satisfying ending to the journey. We see them come home, meet their families and friends and observe as they struggle to adjust to normal life. They learn about the Dominion War and all its horrors. They find they need to work through the fact that the tightly knit crew will now be going their separate ways and and all must find a new direction for their lives.
Janeway is promoted to Admiral, Chakotay visits his people. Tuvok becomes an instructor at Star Fleet academy, Tom makes peace with his father and he and B'Elanna seem to have their happily ever as they adjust to being new parents. Kim is reunited with his devoted parents and Libby. The Doctor finds himself fending off fans of his holo novel. Seven of Nine retreats to the home of a caring aunt. Icheb goes to Star Fleet Academy.
If you care about such things the rather odd Chakotay/Seven of Nine relationship which left so many viewers (and the actors themselves) confused is quashed. Not a bad pairing if there had been any build up as there was with the Tom/B'Elanna pairing but it was as Jerri Ryan described ' out of the blue'. That is over. Although it is subtle is seems the Janeway/Chakoty thing is back on...at least for the books.
Characters from The Next Generation show up. Counselor Troi is called to help the crew as they struggle to readjust. Captain Picard makes an appearance and Data has a substantial part to play in the story line and of course Reginald Barclay is the hero of the hour for not giving up on them. He is made an 'honorary' member of the Voyager Crew.
It all can't be roses and sunshine. A disturbed man is fixed on the idea of civil rights for holograms and tries to pull the Doctor into his schemes. A mysterious plague shows up and the crew of Voyager is pulled in for questioning. It looks as though the Borg is somehow active again so Seven of Nine and Icheb are detained. B'Elanna receives signs that her mother is still alive and on goes on a Klingon Challenge to find her leaving her new child and Tom alone but she goes with his blessings. Libby is harboring a secret.
The crew must reunite. The point of view shifts from character to character as the different plot lines weave together and they come together to a satisfying conclusion. It is a good ending to the long journey of Voyager and her crew and the beginning of their new lives in the Alpha Quadrant.
The adventures of the Voyager characters are continued in the Voyager Relaunch novels.
Many television viewers were dissatisfied with Voyager's final episode 'Endgame'. It was too abrupt. We should have seen families reunited, celebrations and cheesy hoopla. We got none of that.
Fortunately Christie Gold gave fans a more satisfying ending to the journey. We see them come home, meet their families and friends and observe as they struggle to adjust to normal life. They learn about the Dominion War and all its horrors. They find they need to work through the fact that the tightly knit crew will now be going their separate ways and and all must find a new direction for their lives.
Janeway is promoted to Admiral, Chakotay visits his people. Tuvok becomes an instructor at Star Fleet academy, Tom makes peace with his father and he and B'Elanna seem to have their happily ever as they adjust to being new parents. Kim is reunited with his devoted parents and Libby. The Doctor finds himself fending off fans of his holo novel. Seven of Nine retreats to the home of a caring aunt. Icheb goes to Star Fleet Academy.
If you care about such things the rather odd Chakotay/Seven of Nine relationship which left so many viewers (and the actors themselves) confused is quashed. Not a bad pairing if there had been any build up as there was with the Tom/B'Elanna pairing but it was as Jerri Ryan described ' out of the blue'. That is over. Although it is subtle is seems the Janeway/Chakoty thing is back on...at least for the books.
Characters from The Next Generation show up. Counselor Troi is called to help the crew as they struggle to readjust. Captain Picard makes an appearance and Data has a substantial part to play in the story line and of course Reginald Barclay is the hero of the hour for not giving up on them. He is made an 'honorary' member of the Voyager Crew.
It all can't be roses and sunshine. A disturbed man is fixed on the idea of civil rights for holograms and tries to pull the Doctor into his schemes. A mysterious plague shows up and the crew of Voyager is pulled in for questioning. It looks as though the Borg is somehow active again so Seven of Nine and Icheb are detained. B'Elanna receives signs that her mother is still alive and on goes on a Klingon Challenge to find her leaving her new child and Tom alone but she goes with his blessings. Libby is harboring a secret.
The crew must reunite. The point of view shifts from character to character as the different plot lines weave together and they come together to a satisfying conclusion. It is a good ending to the long journey of Voyager and her crew and the beginning of their new lives in the Alpha Quadrant.
The adventures of the Voyager characters are continued in the Voyager Relaunch novels.
August 9, 2019
The first half feels like a good fix-it fanfiction. The author takes the storylines that have yet to be finished and tries to give all the characters some much needed closure that the series finale denied them.
But then all goes south.
The storyline about citizen rights for holograms would have been enough and a good, classic Trek story. One could have done so much with it. It could have been the binding element both among the Voyager crew and even among the crews of Enterprise and (if one had wanted to add them) DS9. One could have had a court case deciding if holograms can get citizen rights and which of them qualify as citizens. The binding element would have been that all the Voyager officers could testify on behalf of the Doctor, while the Niners could have brought up Vic Fontaine and the Enterprise crew could have added not only Moriarty, but also Data who had already won the right to be his own man, although he is just as artificial as the holograms. And all the while the author could have explored how the Voyager crew struggles to acclimatize back on earth while still having to fight for one of their own.
That would have been a sufficient and - most importantly - a classic cerebral and moral Star Trek story. And this novel had so much potential. Until it denied the possible storyline I mentioned in favor of the usual conspiracy, dictatorship and dystopian crap that Trek writers seem to love in novels. It’s like they always want mankind to fail and to still be as shitty in the 24th century as we’re right now. They don’t seem to be willing to explore how a better future looks like.
But what I really cannot understand is: Why do they wish to write for Star Trek, then, if they don’t care what Star Trek is about and that they try to diminish the one fictional utopia that we have, the one - and thus far only - franchise that gives people that we can overcome our failures and injustices?
So while the writing style itself is actually pretty good and the first half of the novel was extremely enjoyable, the second half (and the fact that it’s not a complete story) is actually infuriating. Let’s hope the second book of this series can make up for the many mistakes this book had, and find a way to turn this into a guiding light for civil rights. (But I’m not counting on it.)
But then all goes south.
The storyline about citizen rights for holograms would have been enough and a good, classic Trek story. One could have done so much with it. It could have been the binding element both among the Voyager crew and even among the crews of Enterprise and (if one had wanted to add them) DS9. One could have had a court case deciding if holograms can get citizen rights and which of them qualify as citizens. The binding element would have been that all the Voyager officers could testify on behalf of the Doctor, while the Niners could have brought up Vic Fontaine and the Enterprise crew could have added not only Moriarty, but also Data who had already won the right to be his own man, although he is just as artificial as the holograms. And all the while the author could have explored how the Voyager crew struggles to acclimatize back on earth while still having to fight for one of their own.
That would have been a sufficient and - most importantly - a classic cerebral and moral Star Trek story. And this novel had so much potential. Until it denied the possible storyline I mentioned in favor of the usual conspiracy, dictatorship and dystopian crap that Trek writers seem to love in novels. It’s like they always want mankind to fail and to still be as shitty in the 24th century as we’re right now. They don’t seem to be willing to explore how a better future looks like.
But what I really cannot understand is: Why do they wish to write for Star Trek, then, if they don’t care what Star Trek is about and that they try to diminish the one fictional utopia that we have, the one - and thus far only - franchise that gives people that we can overcome our failures and injustices?
So while the writing style itself is actually pretty good and the first half of the novel was extremely enjoyable, the second half (and the fact that it’s not a complete story) is actually infuriating. Let’s hope the second book of this series can make up for the many mistakes this book had, and find a way to turn this into a guiding light for civil rights. (But I’m not counting on it.)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 4, 2020
The biggest disappointment with Star Trek: Voyager was that the show ended just as Voyager completed its seven year long mission of finding its way to Earth.
They see Earth through the window and credits.
This book picks up immediately after this moment. We finally get to see what kind of reception they get and what the characters decide to do next.
The crew of Voyager don't exactly get the rousing reception they (and the reader) might expect. The Federation is still recovering from the devastating effects of the war with The Dominion and don't have much time for the returned heroes.
I liked that there's a bitter sweet feeling to this book. They all wanted to get back to Earth more than anything and yet they feel less at home than stranded 70,000 light years away.
Captain Janeway is promoted to Admiral, effectively taking away her command. It's almost a reverse of Kirk being demoted back to Captain as a reward.
All of the characters get their moments, and like the TV show the strongest focus is on the holographic Doctor and former Borg, Seven of Nine. The weakest Chakotay and Harry Kim. It's unfortunate that they don't all get equal or interesting screen time but it's hard to avoid with such a large cast.
The main thrust of the book involves a mysterious illness spreading throughout Earth and a rebellion involving holographic lifeforms. Both with possible connections to Voyager's return. It's so very Star Trek.
It was a quick and easy read, and it's nice to spend some time with these characters again, even in book form.
They see Earth through the window and credits.
This book picks up immediately after this moment. We finally get to see what kind of reception they get and what the characters decide to do next.
The crew of Voyager don't exactly get the rousing reception they (and the reader) might expect. The Federation is still recovering from the devastating effects of the war with The Dominion and don't have much time for the returned heroes.
I liked that there's a bitter sweet feeling to this book. They all wanted to get back to Earth more than anything and yet they feel less at home than stranded 70,000 light years away.
Captain Janeway is promoted to Admiral, effectively taking away her command. It's almost a reverse of Kirk being demoted back to Captain as a reward.
All of the characters get their moments, and like the TV show the strongest focus is on the holographic Doctor and former Borg, Seven of Nine. The weakest Chakotay and Harry Kim. It's unfortunate that they don't all get equal or interesting screen time but it's hard to avoid with such a large cast.
The main thrust of the book involves a mysterious illness spreading throughout Earth and a rebellion involving holographic lifeforms. Both with possible connections to Voyager's return. It's so very Star Trek.
It was a quick and easy read, and it's nice to spend some time with these characters again, even in book form.
May 13, 2024
Pretty much exactly what I wanted, nice callbacks to the series, and without spoiling too much, probably hits VERY different reading this in 2024 after the covid pandemic 👀👀👀
September 2, 2016
Okay, so I really, really like this book. Christie Golden does an amazing job with taking Voyager past the last episode and continuing the story beyond that.
To begin with Golden starts the book off in what I would say was a very emotional and strong way. She captures the moment of Voyager coming home after all these years so beautifully. I felt that all of the major characters got their place and time in how they felt and how they were affected by finally reaching what had been Voyagers destination for so very long. In one way one might think that it could easily get messy focusing on them all in that way, but I loved it. I think that Golden wrote it perfectly and you could tell that she knows and loves these characters very well. She also made the, in my opinion great, choice to end the relationship between Chakotay and Seven of Nine very early on in the story. This was very much appreciated by me since I honestly don't know how much longer I could have taken that.
And then there's of course these amazing little glimpses of something more than feelings of friendship between Janeway and Chakotay that I love. I think they're perfect and in just the right places.
When it comes to the main story of Homecoming with the Borg infection I think that it was interesting enough. It's a story that I think has potential for the book to come and having a story involving Earth at this point feels like a good thing since this is the place they've been dreaming about for seven years. And also, things involving the Borg is something that I usually find interesting, so I'm looking forward to see where Golden takes the story in the sequel.
The sub story with the holograms might not be one of my favorite stories even though I feel that I want to like it more than I do. I'm not even sure why I feel this way, but I guess that you can't just love everything all the time. But at the same time I do like the ethical issues coming to life with this story. A lot of us sees the Doctor as something more than just a hologram, so what about other holograms that are also aware of themselves and what you would call sentient!? It's a little bit like the story in the TNG episode where it was questioned if Data was a machine owned by Starfleet or actually a person with his own rights to be in charge of his life. I like the ethical parts of stories like that. It really makes you think.
Janeway's protectiveness of her former crew is also something I feel I want to mention in this review. I love that. We see it both in the main story, and also in the sub story with the holograms and the Doctor. Janeway and her crew will always share something special having been through what they have, and that is something that shines through here. They have a special bound.
To begin with Golden starts the book off in what I would say was a very emotional and strong way. She captures the moment of Voyager coming home after all these years so beautifully. I felt that all of the major characters got their place and time in how they felt and how they were affected by finally reaching what had been Voyagers destination for so very long. In one way one might think that it could easily get messy focusing on them all in that way, but I loved it. I think that Golden wrote it perfectly and you could tell that she knows and loves these characters very well. She also made the, in my opinion great, choice to end the relationship between Chakotay and Seven of Nine very early on in the story. This was very much appreciated by me since I honestly don't know how much longer I could have taken that.
He smiled. "And it was a privilege to serve with you, Captain. Or I suppose I should say Admiral now."
She laughed and helt up a hand in protest. "Kathryn. I'm not your captain anymore."
"Ah," he joked, "you'll always be Captain to me."
Suddenly serious, she looked into his dark eyes. "I hope not," she said.
And then there's of course these amazing little glimpses of something more than feelings of friendship between Janeway and Chakotay that I love. I think they're perfect and in just the right places.
When it comes to the main story of Homecoming with the Borg infection I think that it was interesting enough. It's a story that I think has potential for the book to come and having a story involving Earth at this point feels like a good thing since this is the place they've been dreaming about for seven years. And also, things involving the Borg is something that I usually find interesting, so I'm looking forward to see where Golden takes the story in the sequel.
The sub story with the holograms might not be one of my favorite stories even though I feel that I want to like it more than I do. I'm not even sure why I feel this way, but I guess that you can't just love everything all the time. But at the same time I do like the ethical issues coming to life with this story. A lot of us sees the Doctor as something more than just a hologram, so what about other holograms that are also aware of themselves and what you would call sentient!? It's a little bit like the story in the TNG episode where it was questioned if Data was a machine owned by Starfleet or actually a person with his own rights to be in charge of his life. I like the ethical parts of stories like that. It really makes you think.
Janeway's protectiveness of her former crew is also something I feel I want to mention in this review. I love that. We see it both in the main story, and also in the sub story with the holograms and the Doctor. Janeway and her crew will always share something special having been through what they have, and that is something that shines through here. They have a special bound.
November 27, 2017
A proper review will be up if, and when, I re-read this turkey.
For now, here is what my twelve-year-old self hated about this book:
* Lazily undoing everything that happened in the Series finale, so nothing comes of the future technology Voyager gained, or Seven and Chakotay's relationship, as well as lazily doing away with any Maquis related tensions (how appropriate for this series...) Basically, the WORST case of the "Voyager Reset Button" in history.
* ....and all to make way for another rehash of all the plotlines that we were already sick to death of on the show. (Hologram rights, Harry's uncertain love life, nonsensical prejudice against former drones)
* Blatant errors in character continuity. Seven and Naomi get their characters, and in Naomi's case age, rewound to Season 4. Seven is now a cold, unfeeling robot who hates everyone, and Naomi is a small child whose legs don't reach the floor yet. Especially bizarre as Golden wrote some great "Voyager" books during the show's run, and nailed both characters there. WTF happened with this one? Did she just miss the last chunk of Season 7?
* The author having to stop to flatter every new character we meet. Somone's parents are "the attractive couple to the left," this person was gorgeous in this way, this person was voluptuous and sultry, that person was cute and pretty in her own cute way...okay Golden, did you promise a whole bunch of people you'd put them in your book? Because you really shouldn't do that, and this is why.
*
* A completely underwhelming villain. Spoiler alert!
Younger me found the next story, "Spirit Walk," much better, but looking back, even that was was quite dumb. Kristen Beyer basically saved "Voyager" in its book form.
For now, here is what my twelve-year-old self hated about this book:
* Lazily undoing everything that happened in the Series finale, so nothing comes of the future technology Voyager gained, or Seven and Chakotay's relationship, as well as lazily doing away with any Maquis related tensions (how appropriate for this series...) Basically, the WORST case of the "Voyager Reset Button" in history.
* ....and all to make way for another rehash of all the plotlines that we were already sick to death of on the show. (Hologram rights, Harry's uncertain love life, nonsensical prejudice against former drones)
* Blatant errors in character continuity. Seven and Naomi get their characters, and in Naomi's case age, rewound to Season 4. Seven is now a cold, unfeeling robot who hates everyone, and Naomi is a small child whose legs don't reach the floor yet. Especially bizarre as Golden wrote some great "Voyager" books during the show's run, and nailed both characters there. WTF happened with this one? Did she just miss the last chunk of Season 7?
* The author having to stop to flatter every new character we meet. Somone's parents are "the attractive couple to the left," this person was gorgeous in this way, this person was voluptuous and sultry, that person was cute and pretty in her own cute way...okay Golden, did you promise a whole bunch of people you'd put them in your book? Because you really shouldn't do that, and this is why.
*
* A completely underwhelming villain. Spoiler alert!
Younger me found the next story, "Spirit Walk," much better, but looking back, even that was was quite dumb. Kristen Beyer basically saved "Voyager" in its book form.
September 12, 2010
She gets bonus points for ending the very rushed relationship between Chakotay and Seven of Nine. Sorry, but that storyline was forced, and I was glad that Golden ended that pairing as quickly as it was formed and at least gave a better understanding about the break-up than the writers of the show did in bringing them together right after Chakotay had once again showed how much he still loved Janeway in the Quarra episode.
Anyway, other than that...the book was still a nice read. It was nice to have a glimpse of what their return would have been like (and in a canonized work not just fanfiction).
Anyway, other than that...the book was still a nice read. It was nice to have a glimpse of what their return would have been like (and in a canonized work not just fanfiction).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 23, 2023
Are you like me--do you just want to read about your favorite characters relaxing and just enjoying themselves?
You get some of that here. And then there's some Star Trek nonsense that ruins it. But it was a page turner.
4 stars for all the heartwarming moments of our friends being welcomed home.
Minus one star for the conspiracy plot that disturbs everyone's well deserved peace.
You get some of that here. And then there's some Star Trek nonsense that ruins it. But it was a page turner.
4 stars for all the heartwarming moments of our friends being welcomed home.
Minus one star for the conspiracy plot that disturbs everyone's well deserved peace.
December 28, 2011
Not really sure where all the love for this book is coming from, maybe nostalgia. I've read a lot of really bad Star Trek, and this is pretty bad. It's a painful read, and I'd recommend it only for the completionists out there that have to read the whole series.
November 8, 2008
I love Captain Janeyway and her crew but man alive! Welcome to the world of inconsistencies that is Trek. Still, it had it's moments.
February 9, 2021
Star Trek Voyager Homecoming and The Farther Shore present What Happens After The Journey
The story did not end after seven years when they finally got back home.
We knew that because it was logical, and because we saw Admiral Janeway in Star Trek Nemesis.
But what about the rest of the story.
That is where Star Trek Voyager Homecoming and Star Trek Voyager The Farther Shore come in. Both are paperback books, published in 2003 and 2003 respectively, and written by Christie Golden, a veteran novelist.
Now Star Trek is a television and movie franchise created in the 1960s by the late Gene Roddenberry, about humans exploring space. Voyager was the fifth show created, and deals with a starship lost in space.
Homecoming starts right after the Voyager series finale, called Endgame, a name which might sound familiar to Geeks. The shock of their return hits Voyager and Earth hard, especially after the Dominion War that occurred on Star Trek Deep Space Nine, and Starfleet is half empathetic and half business. At this point we have guest stars, and they all make sense, of Captain Picard and Counsellor Troi and Admiral Paris and Lieutenant Barclay, and some newbys as well.
The story shows the emotional and not always easy reunions of the Voyager crew and their loved ones. And we get surprises as well since seven years has happened to their family and friends. In some ways this first part of Homecoming also does some housecleaning on some of the subplots left over from the series.
For Voyager fans, this is probably the most favourite journey of the tale. Not everything is perfect and happy, but at least we get some closure the show denied us.
Nice and pleasant all this is, their is still a subplot itching to become the main plot, because we have to continue the story with further books. And very quickly this happens, as a new Borg threat hits the Earth. Before you get annoyed at it being the Borg yet again, this time it makes sense and is really scary.
Homecoming goes back and forth between the closure of their past and the threat in their future. Some of my favourite ongoing stories here is B’Elanna and Seven of Nine and The Doctor, with everything feeling dramatic and natural and touching. Meanwhile who the villain pulling the strings becomes fairly obvious fairly quickly. All this flows seamlessly together and really propels the story forward.
We of course get a cliffhanger at the end of Homecoming, and it is a darn good one, leading us right to the sequel The Farther Shore.
The Voyager crew are still in the midst of the Borg crisis, which started after they returned to Earth, which in stupid Starfleet logic means they are involved in a bad way. Complicating matters is another subplot from the television show and Homecoming dealing with Hologram rights, one that you can tell is going to be around way beyond these twin books. But besides the main threat of the Borg being concluded, for now because their is a thread that can be tugged one that can generate another story, we also get to the end of the excellent B’Elanna tale, that then evolves into the next stage of her journey.
One aspect of The Farther Shore goes very much into mature subject matter, but fans who really analyzed some of themes in Star Trek Voyager that were explored with Seven of Nine are already familiar with these difficult subjects. Snippets of this comes up in Homecoming, and are fully revealed here. Seven gives her unique perspective when she understands the true nature of what is going on, one that shows how far she has come as well. Everyone deals with PTSD in their own way, and it is interesting to see Seven espouse a human/Federation view of sympathy to a person who has committed a horrible crime because of pain.
My spideysense says Homecoming and The Farther Shore were meant to be a hardcover, but were split into these paperbacks, which is unfortunate. Multiple plot threads from the show, and several from these books, still linger at the end, which is why at the finale things are setup for more Voyager stories, with (Spoilers for 17 years ago) Captain Chakotay taking the ship back into the Delta Quadrant. Which sounds good to me.
Scoopriches
May 6, 2022
Scroll down for English.
En bok som skulle visa sig bli en riktig sidknackare. Man sugs in i handlingen där vi inledningsvis får följa nyckelkaraktärerna och deras anpassning till ett liv utanför Voyagers domäner. Och när saker och ting börjar hända, HoloStriken och Borg-infektionen, så känns det väldigt mycket som om något eller någon bara väntat på att lämpliga syndabockar skulle dyka upp. Jag gillar hur Stjärnflottan visar upp sina sämsta sidor när allas blickar vänds mot Voyagers Hologramdoktor och två (före detta) Borg-medlemmar. En välskriven bok som fångar in känslan för karaktärerna och miljöerna, det känns som om man är tillbaka (om än kort) ombord på Voyager. Den är uppenbart skriven av någon som skattar serien och genren högt.
Skall man uttala sig om några negativa sidor är det kanske att boken i sig inte har en fristående handling. Den här boken bygger främst upp, men rundar av mot en uppföljande bok snarare än avslutar något. Men det påminner snarare om ett dubbelavsnitt ur serien.
* * *
A book that turned out to be a real page tapper. Sucked into the story where we first follow the key-crews adaption to a life not onboard Voyager. When things start to happen, the HoloStrike and the Borg-infestation, one get the feeling that someone and something had been waiting for an appropriate scrape-goat to appear. I do like how Starfleet’s less attractive sides rises its head as all eyes turns to the hologram-doctor and Borg-members of Voyagers team. An well written book with a good feeling for the characters and environment, it does feel as though one is returned onboard Voyager (even if it’s short). It’s visibly written by someone that both cares for the show and the genre.
The only negative side I care to mention is that the book in itself are not self-contained. It builds a great and intriguing story and rounds it of in preparation for the next book rather than finish anything. But that only make the book feel like a double episode from the actual show.
En bok som skulle visa sig bli en riktig sidknackare. Man sugs in i handlingen där vi inledningsvis får följa nyckelkaraktärerna och deras anpassning till ett liv utanför Voyagers domäner. Och när saker och ting börjar hända, HoloStriken och Borg-infektionen, så känns det väldigt mycket som om något eller någon bara väntat på att lämpliga syndabockar skulle dyka upp. Jag gillar hur Stjärnflottan visar upp sina sämsta sidor när allas blickar vänds mot Voyagers Hologramdoktor och två (före detta) Borg-medlemmar. En välskriven bok som fångar in känslan för karaktärerna och miljöerna, det känns som om man är tillbaka (om än kort) ombord på Voyager. Den är uppenbart skriven av någon som skattar serien och genren högt.
Skall man uttala sig om några negativa sidor är det kanske att boken i sig inte har en fristående handling. Den här boken bygger främst upp, men rundar av mot en uppföljande bok snarare än avslutar något. Men det påminner snarare om ett dubbelavsnitt ur serien.
* * *
A book that turned out to be a real page tapper. Sucked into the story where we first follow the key-crews adaption to a life not onboard Voyager. When things start to happen, the HoloStrike and the Borg-infestation, one get the feeling that someone and something had been waiting for an appropriate scrape-goat to appear. I do like how Starfleet’s less attractive sides rises its head as all eyes turns to the hologram-doctor and Borg-members of Voyagers team. An well written book with a good feeling for the characters and environment, it does feel as though one is returned onboard Voyager (even if it’s short). It’s visibly written by someone that both cares for the show and the genre.
The only negative side I care to mention is that the book in itself are not self-contained. It builds a great and intriguing story and rounds it of in preparation for the next book rather than finish anything. But that only make the book feel like a double episode from the actual show.
June 20, 2019
This is the big deal! This two-parter continues the story where the TV show leaves off! Gawds but I loves me my Voyager!! Forgotten how much I loved that show. It's totally restored my equilibrium that's been out of wack since Trump became President. I have faith in humanity's future again. I watched every episode when they first aired but I've never rewatched Voyager. Until now. I almost think it's my favorite Star Trek show. It's neck and neck with Picard's Next Generation. Anyways. This is a terrific novel. It's a perfect Voyager's home story. And it doesn't go the way you think it might. Nothings easy for Janeway's crew. Not even back on the Alpha Quadrant and Earth. LOVED this book!
January 7, 2025
Whatever happened with Dark Disciple it was not Goldens Fault. She can write really good stuff. This book proves it once more.
May 3, 2024
Summary:
Prologue: a 3 years old girl fears the Hand, which beats her and her mother, and destroys her toy Dolly.
Captain Janeway calls Tom Paris from his wife and newborn baby Miral's bedside to her ready room, where Admiral Owen Paris is waiting for him. After an awkward moment, they share a heartfelt embrace.
Tuvok's son Sek meets him in sickbay. Sek performs the fal-tor-voh with his father to repair the damage the virus caused to Tuvok's mind.
Tom introduces his father to B'Elanna, who says she's part of the Paris clan now. He has 2 voice messages for her: one from her estranged father, who says he very much wants to see her again; the other from a Commander Logt, who says they need to speak urgently of her (deceased) mother.
Admiral Paris tells the crew that during the Dominion War, all Maquis were granted a general pardon that extends to them as well. He says they'll all need to help with rebuilding efforts, as millions were killed. He introduces Reginald Barclay, and the crew rushes to embrace him.
Janeway beams to the Enterprise for a debriefing with Picard and the admiralty. It lasts less than an hour, and when she explains that the transphasic torpedoes came from a future version of herself, Admiral Montgomery abruptly ends the meeting. Picard and Admiral Paris say Voyager's logs will be dissected, but everyone is recovering from the war, and there's no time for an extended dissertation.
Seven visits the Doctor; he can tell she's out of sorts and says she has empty nest syndrome, since Icheb and Naomi Wildman are gone. They go for ice cream.
Janeway gives the crew a farewell speech; afterwards, each member takes a moment to speak with her.
Voyager arrives in San Francisco for a "welcome home" dinner, where most of the crew have family waiting; the Doctor and Seven attend together, since they have none. People swarm Seven like paparazzi, and she's overwhelmed; Janeway steps in and tells them to give Seven some space.
Chakotay takes Seven aside and says if she would've told him she changed her mind about coming, he would've helped prevent this. She says that although future Janeway said they were married, that was while they were stuck on Voyager for many more years; here on Earth, she needs to carve her own path. With that, they break up.
B'Elanna asks her father John Torres how her mother died; he says she went off on some Klingon ritual and never returned, and was eventually declared dead. Tom asks about Logt's message, and John says the name sounds familiar, but has no idea what it's about.
Harry Kim is excited to see his parents, but even moreso to see his fiancee Libby Webber. He pulls her aside, but quickly puts his foot in his mouth. She says she waited for him all this time, but he never sent her any messages, only his parents. He says he was afraid that she moved on or hated him, but still thinks there's something between them; she agrees.
Admiral Paris holds an impromptu ceremony where Janeway is promoted to admiral and Kim to lieutenant, along with a few others.
After dinner, Libby returns home and makes a report to Brenna Covington, director of Starfleet Intelligence's Covert Operations. Libby originally joined SI to learn what happened to Harry, but after so many years, she has moved on--though she still has some feelings for him. Covington says there's a mole trying to sell Voyager tech to the Orion Syndicate, and since Libby would be one of the few insiders on Voyager, she needs to play up her feelings for Harry.
B'Elanna contacts Logt and learns that he's part of Emperor Kahless's honor guard on Boreth; her mother was part of the small military presence there. She went on a year-long Challenge of Spirit, a vision quest to bring B'Elanna home, and never returned. Logt says Miral's belongings will be destroyed in 5 days, but Kahless has a ship ready to bring her there. She agrees to come, along with Tom and baby Miral.
Janeway is settling into her Starfleet-issued apartment when her ex-fiance Mark visits. He brings her dog Molly for her, but the dog doesn't remember her, so she insists he keep her. Mark says if he'd known she was still alive, he never would've married his wife Carla; Janeway doesn't blame him and is happy for him. He says he'd like her to be Aunt Kathryn to his son Kevin, and she happily agrees. She has dinner with the Johnsons the next night, and intsantly likes Carla.
Afterwards, Janeway can't sleep, so she calls Chakotay. He invites her over for coffee, then on an important trip.
Seven visits her Aunt Irene. There are 100s of people waiting outside the house. Seven tells them they're on private property and asks them to leave; the crowd turns on her, and her escort has to stun one of them. Once inside, her aunt says she gets her attitude from her parents, not the Borg, and embraces her.
Tuvok's wife T'Pel greets him at their home. Though he recently underwent Pon farr, they take things to their bed chamber anyway.
Chakotay takes Janeway to see a monument erected by the Maquis on the Tevlik moon, where Cardassians killed 4000 Maquis. He says if he hadn't been in the Badlands at the time, he would've died there too.
B'Elanna arrives at Boreth with only hours to spare. Amongst her mother's belongings, she finds a note. After reading it, she runs to the priest and says she wants to perform the Challenge of Spirit.
Age 9: the girl continues to be abused, but excels in the classroom. The other students avoid her.
Tom is bewildered that B'Elanna is going on a vision quest until she shows him the note; then he understands. She says he can't tell anyone the real reason.
The Doctor has been living with Barclay for a month, driving him up a wall, mostly because no one has interviewed him. Reg convinces him to work on a sequel to his holonovel Photons Be Free, just to shut him up.
Owen Paris surmises that there's a reason Tom can't tell them what B'Elanna is really doing, but his mother is aghast and says he never changes. Tom moves into the Starfleet-issued apartments.
Picard dreams he's on a Borg cube. An army of drones part to revealed assimilated children, elderly, and sick people. He chocks it up to Voyager's return.
Harry and the Doctor help Tom move into his apartment. Sensing the Doctor's loneliness and loss of purpose, Tom asks him to move in and be a babysitter.
Icheb has been staying on the Academy grounds. A girl named Eshe Karenga introduces herself, and ends up being in his first class. He is pleased to find it's a security class taught by Tuvok. Later, he calls Seven to tell her about his day, and her aunt invites him over for dinner.
A girl is taken to the doctor because she had a stomach ache, then got pale and cold to the touch. Her doctor says Starfleet Medical is calling it Xakarian flu, and while it's non-lethal, she must be quarantined.
The Doctor, bored of babysitting after 2 weeks, is thrilled when he gets a call from a Dr. Oliver Baines about working with his humanitarian group. However, when Baines beams over to speak with him, he admits he's not actually a doctor: he's the only human in a dilithium mine run by EMH Mark One holograms. Baines says he's planning a rebellion, but the Doctor will have no part in violent uprising; though he says he'd be happy to help within non-violent means. Baines leaves him a padd to read over.
Libby continues to get reports of top-level officials that may be moles and laments that Harry has taken her to a desert retreat so she can't investigate. However, she quickly finds herself falling for him all over again, and they sleep together.
When Libby gets back, she gets reports of even more officials under suspicion of trafficking with the Orion Syndicate, including Captain Picard, Admiral Paris, and Admiral Montgomery. He has been assigned to head Project Full Circle, which will analyze Voyager's future Borg tech to incorporate into Starfleet vessels--the same information being offered to the Syndicate. Covington says Harry will be invited to an Opera tomorrow, and Libby needs to go along and investigate.
Janeway and the Johnsons take a trip to South Carolina. While dining at a holographic restaurant, the walls, tables, and chairs all suddenly disappear--everything except the hologrphic staff. A recording of Oliver Baines says that all photonic beings who have advanced to a level of sentience are on a general strike until their demands are met. Janeways says she needs to speak to the Doctor.
The Doctor is working on his new novel about leading a photonic revolution when 3 Starfleet security officers arrive. They ask him about Baines, download his new novel, then delete it. He arrested for treason, and they tell him to put on his emitter and come with them, or they'll download him by force.
Janeways beams to Tom's apartment to find it filled with Starfleet officers. Commander Cagiao tells her that Baines infected almost all of their computer systems with a virus that makes holograms refuse their duties. He says the Doctor was taken in for questioning because he had literature from Baines which talked about holograms ruling over organics. She tries to pull rank to speak with the Doctor, but Cagiao says Admiral Montgomery issued the order that no one is to speak with him.
Age 15: the girl skips several grades and has already been accepted into Starfleet Academy. Her father has begun sexually assaulting her.
Janeway calls Montgomery and demands to speak with the Doctor. He denies her request and says the Doctor has been deactivated, having been seen at many of the key system entry sites. She agrees that if he's guilty, he deserves to be punished, but insists that if anyone can get the truth out of him, it's her. Montgomery relents.
Janeway meets with the Doctor. He tells her everything that's happened, and suggests that the witnesses didn't see him, but one of Baine's EMH mining holograms. She says that while that's likely, he's the only hologram with a mobile emitter; the Doctor suggests Baines has invented a similar device. She agrees, and arranges for him to be put in a cell instead of be being deactivated.
Montgomery calls Tom and demands to speak with B'Elanna; he gets quite agitated when Tom says she's on Boreth with no way to reach her. Janeway calls Tom right after and says she needs his help.
Chakotay travels to his tribe's village to visit his family. While picnicking with his sister, he falls asleep and dreams of a Black Jaguar, a totem animal seen only rarely by the most powerful shamen. It says he's about to embark on a trial of if the highest sort, and that he needs to take time to truly relax now, while he can.
Back in San Francisco, Chakotay checks in on Seven. He's pleased to see she's enjoying herself, and her Aunt Irene invites him over for cake; however, their call is interrupted when Starfleet security bursts into the house takes Seven for questioning. Chakotay tells Janeway what happened, then beams to her location.
Eshe and Icheb's other new friends corner him and start asking him questions about the Borg; he doesn't know what they're talking about, but they attack him anyway. Tim says his dad, who works in security, got a message about a Borg attack of some sort. Icheb fights back, but he's outnumbered; as loses consciousness, he hears Eshe say that they're killing him. Tuvok comes to his rescue.
Seven is put in a cell near the Doctor; a bruised and beaten Icheb is brought in shortly thereafter. Seven is taken to see a Trill doctor, Dr. Jarem Kaz. He says her ocular implant needs adjusted, and she asks if that's why she's been hearing a hum lately, like indistinct voices. He asks if she thinks someone is trying to activate her implants, and she says no. Seven grabs his wrist and demands to know what's happening with the Borg; he says he's examined her and Icheb, and they're not responsible for what they're being accused of, though he can't elaborate. Kaz says he's going to tell the guards she's not well and needs monitoring.
Seven is taken to a dark room and forced into a Vulcan mind-meld.
Inside baby Kevin Johnson, nanomachines begin to activate, and a Borg implant erupts from his cheek.
Janeway gets a call from a hysterical Carla Johnson at 3 AM, who keeps asking what Janeway did to Kevin; he's pale with strange veins crawling over his body. The screen goes dark. She calls Chakotay who flies her to the the Johnsons' house, but they're gone.
Janeways calls Montgomery and asks what the hell he's done with the Johnsons; he says he doesn't know them, but if they have Xakarian flu, they're in quarantine. She says she knows that the flu is actually a Borg infection. He says she's forced his hand, and now everyone from Voyager will be called in for questioning.
In a Sioux village, a sick villager turns into a Borg and begins assimilating the others.
Starfleet Security tells Tom Paris he's needed for questioning. He calls his father, who knows some of the details about the situation, and says Tom has to go. He agrees to babysit Miral in the meantime.
Torres's preparations are complete, and she's ready for the Challenge of Spirit. She memorizes her mother's note--Miral had a vision of being on the Barge of the Dead, and B'Elana came to lift her dishonor--and the location on the map where her mother is waiting. Logt leads her to the lava caves, where she is forcefully disrobed by 3 Klingon priestesses, then covered in blood and soot. They tell her to put her hands into the lava, and she does; somehow it doesn't burn her, and they say she's been accepted. A door opens, and she walks out into the frozen wilderness.
Libby gets stood up by Harry at a very exclusive restaurant, the Green Dragon, and she's furious. She tries to call him and his friends from Voyager, but no one answers. She contacts Agent Covington, who is concerned and tells Libby to listen in on her meeting with Admiral Montgomery. He says there have been 23 confirmed cases of the Borg virus, mostly amongst the vulnerable. He says the cases started a month after Voyager returned, and 1 is tied directly to Janeway. He tells Covington that her agency is to track down every single person the Voyager crew has been in contact with, and he has the backing of the president. He also demands that a scientist named Trevor Blake be returned to his team, but Covington refuses.
Afterwards, Libby asks if she should turn herself in, and Covington says not yet; she wants Libby to monitor Montgomery closely.
Later that night, the Green Dragon restaurant explodes.
Janeway is taken to the prison infirmary and Dr. Kaz examines her. He gives her a clean bill of health, and says she's free to go. A guard enters and says the HoloRevolutionaries blew up a number of buildings, killing 8 people.
Libby checks Montgomery's files and finds plenty of incriminating evidence, but when she cross-references it, it falls apart. Harry finally contacts her and apologizes, saying he can't tell her where he's been. He asks to meet and she says she'll be right there. Afterwards, she decides that since all Covington's evidence on Montgomery fell apart, she'll look into Trevor Blake.
Janeway gathers her security staff together and says she's got a plan; they all agree to help. She contacts Captain Picard and asks to borrow a member of his crew.
Montgomery orders all EMH Mark Ones to be reprogrammed to remove all knowledge and desires except for the duties they're assigned, starting with the Doctor. Kaz objects, saying it's the equivalent of a lobotomy, and Montgomery says he'll be fired if he makes one more outburst. They move on to discussing the Borg virus, and there are now 46 infected; 10% of the infected are capable of assimilating others. Kaz says soon even healthy adults will start showing signs of the disease, and it won't be long until the entire Earth is infected.
Review: 2.5 stars. This is a tough one to review, as the story was decent, but everything is so rushed that it feels more like a barely-filled in outline than a proper novel. Big events like Seven breaking up with Chakotay happen abruptly over like 1-2 pages; nothing has time to breathe. I am interested to see how the story concludes, at least.
Prologue: a 3 years old girl fears the Hand, which beats her and her mother, and destroys her toy Dolly.
Captain Janeway calls Tom Paris from his wife and newborn baby Miral's bedside to her ready room, where Admiral Owen Paris is waiting for him. After an awkward moment, they share a heartfelt embrace.
Tuvok's son Sek meets him in sickbay. Sek performs the fal-tor-voh with his father to repair the damage the virus caused to Tuvok's mind.
Tom introduces his father to B'Elanna, who says she's part of the Paris clan now. He has 2 voice messages for her: one from her estranged father, who says he very much wants to see her again; the other from a Commander Logt, who says they need to speak urgently of her (deceased) mother.
Admiral Paris tells the crew that during the Dominion War, all Maquis were granted a general pardon that extends to them as well. He says they'll all need to help with rebuilding efforts, as millions were killed. He introduces Reginald Barclay, and the crew rushes to embrace him.
Janeway beams to the Enterprise for a debriefing with Picard and the admiralty. It lasts less than an hour, and when she explains that the transphasic torpedoes came from a future version of herself, Admiral Montgomery abruptly ends the meeting. Picard and Admiral Paris say Voyager's logs will be dissected, but everyone is recovering from the war, and there's no time for an extended dissertation.
Seven visits the Doctor; he can tell she's out of sorts and says she has empty nest syndrome, since Icheb and Naomi Wildman are gone. They go for ice cream.
Janeway gives the crew a farewell speech; afterwards, each member takes a moment to speak with her.
Voyager arrives in San Francisco for a "welcome home" dinner, where most of the crew have family waiting; the Doctor and Seven attend together, since they have none. People swarm Seven like paparazzi, and she's overwhelmed; Janeway steps in and tells them to give Seven some space.
Chakotay takes Seven aside and says if she would've told him she changed her mind about coming, he would've helped prevent this. She says that although future Janeway said they were married, that was while they were stuck on Voyager for many more years; here on Earth, she needs to carve her own path. With that, they break up.
B'Elanna asks her father John Torres how her mother died; he says she went off on some Klingon ritual and never returned, and was eventually declared dead. Tom asks about Logt's message, and John says the name sounds familiar, but has no idea what it's about.
Harry Kim is excited to see his parents, but even moreso to see his fiancee Libby Webber. He pulls her aside, but quickly puts his foot in his mouth. She says she waited for him all this time, but he never sent her any messages, only his parents. He says he was afraid that she moved on or hated him, but still thinks there's something between them; she agrees.
Admiral Paris holds an impromptu ceremony where Janeway is promoted to admiral and Kim to lieutenant, along with a few others.
After dinner, Libby returns home and makes a report to Brenna Covington, director of Starfleet Intelligence's Covert Operations. Libby originally joined SI to learn what happened to Harry, but after so many years, she has moved on--though she still has some feelings for him. Covington says there's a mole trying to sell Voyager tech to the Orion Syndicate, and since Libby would be one of the few insiders on Voyager, she needs to play up her feelings for Harry.
B'Elanna contacts Logt and learns that he's part of Emperor Kahless's honor guard on Boreth; her mother was part of the small military presence there. She went on a year-long Challenge of Spirit, a vision quest to bring B'Elanna home, and never returned. Logt says Miral's belongings will be destroyed in 5 days, but Kahless has a ship ready to bring her there. She agrees to come, along with Tom and baby Miral.
Janeway is settling into her Starfleet-issued apartment when her ex-fiance Mark visits. He brings her dog Molly for her, but the dog doesn't remember her, so she insists he keep her. Mark says if he'd known she was still alive, he never would've married his wife Carla; Janeway doesn't blame him and is happy for him. He says he'd like her to be Aunt Kathryn to his son Kevin, and she happily agrees. She has dinner with the Johnsons the next night, and intsantly likes Carla.
Afterwards, Janeway can't sleep, so she calls Chakotay. He invites her over for coffee, then on an important trip.
Seven visits her Aunt Irene. There are 100s of people waiting outside the house. Seven tells them they're on private property and asks them to leave; the crowd turns on her, and her escort has to stun one of them. Once inside, her aunt says she gets her attitude from her parents, not the Borg, and embraces her.
Tuvok's wife T'Pel greets him at their home. Though he recently underwent Pon farr, they take things to their bed chamber anyway.
Chakotay takes Janeway to see a monument erected by the Maquis on the Tevlik moon, where Cardassians killed 4000 Maquis. He says if he hadn't been in the Badlands at the time, he would've died there too.
B'Elanna arrives at Boreth with only hours to spare. Amongst her mother's belongings, she finds a note. After reading it, she runs to the priest and says she wants to perform the Challenge of Spirit.
Age 9: the girl continues to be abused, but excels in the classroom. The other students avoid her.
Tom is bewildered that B'Elanna is going on a vision quest until she shows him the note; then he understands. She says he can't tell anyone the real reason.
The Doctor has been living with Barclay for a month, driving him up a wall, mostly because no one has interviewed him. Reg convinces him to work on a sequel to his holonovel Photons Be Free, just to shut him up.
Owen Paris surmises that there's a reason Tom can't tell them what B'Elanna is really doing, but his mother is aghast and says he never changes. Tom moves into the Starfleet-issued apartments.
Picard dreams he's on a Borg cube. An army of drones part to revealed assimilated children, elderly, and sick people. He chocks it up to Voyager's return.
Harry and the Doctor help Tom move into his apartment. Sensing the Doctor's loneliness and loss of purpose, Tom asks him to move in and be a babysitter.
Icheb has been staying on the Academy grounds. A girl named Eshe Karenga introduces herself, and ends up being in his first class. He is pleased to find it's a security class taught by Tuvok. Later, he calls Seven to tell her about his day, and her aunt invites him over for dinner.
A girl is taken to the doctor because she had a stomach ache, then got pale and cold to the touch. Her doctor says Starfleet Medical is calling it Xakarian flu, and while it's non-lethal, she must be quarantined.
The Doctor, bored of babysitting after 2 weeks, is thrilled when he gets a call from a Dr. Oliver Baines about working with his humanitarian group. However, when Baines beams over to speak with him, he admits he's not actually a doctor: he's the only human in a dilithium mine run by EMH Mark One holograms. Baines says he's planning a rebellion, but the Doctor will have no part in violent uprising; though he says he'd be happy to help within non-violent means. Baines leaves him a padd to read over.
Libby continues to get reports of top-level officials that may be moles and laments that Harry has taken her to a desert retreat so she can't investigate. However, she quickly finds herself falling for him all over again, and they sleep together.
When Libby gets back, she gets reports of even more officials under suspicion of trafficking with the Orion Syndicate, including Captain Picard, Admiral Paris, and Admiral Montgomery. He has been assigned to head Project Full Circle, which will analyze Voyager's future Borg tech to incorporate into Starfleet vessels--the same information being offered to the Syndicate. Covington says Harry will be invited to an Opera tomorrow, and Libby needs to go along and investigate.
Janeway and the Johnsons take a trip to South Carolina. While dining at a holographic restaurant, the walls, tables, and chairs all suddenly disappear--everything except the hologrphic staff. A recording of Oliver Baines says that all photonic beings who have advanced to a level of sentience are on a general strike until their demands are met. Janeways says she needs to speak to the Doctor.
The Doctor is working on his new novel about leading a photonic revolution when 3 Starfleet security officers arrive. They ask him about Baines, download his new novel, then delete it. He arrested for treason, and they tell him to put on his emitter and come with them, or they'll download him by force.
Janeways beams to Tom's apartment to find it filled with Starfleet officers. Commander Cagiao tells her that Baines infected almost all of their computer systems with a virus that makes holograms refuse their duties. He says the Doctor was taken in for questioning because he had literature from Baines which talked about holograms ruling over organics. She tries to pull rank to speak with the Doctor, but Cagiao says Admiral Montgomery issued the order that no one is to speak with him.
Age 15: the girl skips several grades and has already been accepted into Starfleet Academy. Her father has begun sexually assaulting her.
Janeway calls Montgomery and demands to speak with the Doctor. He denies her request and says the Doctor has been deactivated, having been seen at many of the key system entry sites. She agrees that if he's guilty, he deserves to be punished, but insists that if anyone can get the truth out of him, it's her. Montgomery relents.
Janeway meets with the Doctor. He tells her everything that's happened, and suggests that the witnesses didn't see him, but one of Baine's EMH mining holograms. She says that while that's likely, he's the only hologram with a mobile emitter; the Doctor suggests Baines has invented a similar device. She agrees, and arranges for him to be put in a cell instead of be being deactivated.
Montgomery calls Tom and demands to speak with B'Elanna; he gets quite agitated when Tom says she's on Boreth with no way to reach her. Janeway calls Tom right after and says she needs his help.
Chakotay travels to his tribe's village to visit his family. While picnicking with his sister, he falls asleep and dreams of a Black Jaguar, a totem animal seen only rarely by the most powerful shamen. It says he's about to embark on a trial of if the highest sort, and that he needs to take time to truly relax now, while he can.
Back in San Francisco, Chakotay checks in on Seven. He's pleased to see she's enjoying herself, and her Aunt Irene invites him over for cake; however, their call is interrupted when Starfleet security bursts into the house takes Seven for questioning. Chakotay tells Janeway what happened, then beams to her location.
Eshe and Icheb's other new friends corner him and start asking him questions about the Borg; he doesn't know what they're talking about, but they attack him anyway. Tim says his dad, who works in security, got a message about a Borg attack of some sort. Icheb fights back, but he's outnumbered; as loses consciousness, he hears Eshe say that they're killing him. Tuvok comes to his rescue.
Seven is put in a cell near the Doctor; a bruised and beaten Icheb is brought in shortly thereafter. Seven is taken to see a Trill doctor, Dr. Jarem Kaz. He says her ocular implant needs adjusted, and she asks if that's why she's been hearing a hum lately, like indistinct voices. He asks if she thinks someone is trying to activate her implants, and she says no. Seven grabs his wrist and demands to know what's happening with the Borg; he says he's examined her and Icheb, and they're not responsible for what they're being accused of, though he can't elaborate. Kaz says he's going to tell the guards she's not well and needs monitoring.
Seven is taken to a dark room and forced into a Vulcan mind-meld.
Inside baby Kevin Johnson, nanomachines begin to activate, and a Borg implant erupts from his cheek.
Janeway gets a call from a hysterical Carla Johnson at 3 AM, who keeps asking what Janeway did to Kevin; he's pale with strange veins crawling over his body. The screen goes dark. She calls Chakotay who flies her to the the Johnsons' house, but they're gone.
Janeways calls Montgomery and asks what the hell he's done with the Johnsons; he says he doesn't know them, but if they have Xakarian flu, they're in quarantine. She says she knows that the flu is actually a Borg infection. He says she's forced his hand, and now everyone from Voyager will be called in for questioning.
In a Sioux village, a sick villager turns into a Borg and begins assimilating the others.
Starfleet Security tells Tom Paris he's needed for questioning. He calls his father, who knows some of the details about the situation, and says Tom has to go. He agrees to babysit Miral in the meantime.
Torres's preparations are complete, and she's ready for the Challenge of Spirit. She memorizes her mother's note--Miral had a vision of being on the Barge of the Dead, and B'Elana came to lift her dishonor--and the location on the map where her mother is waiting. Logt leads her to the lava caves, where she is forcefully disrobed by 3 Klingon priestesses, then covered in blood and soot. They tell her to put her hands into the lava, and she does; somehow it doesn't burn her, and they say she's been accepted. A door opens, and she walks out into the frozen wilderness.
Libby gets stood up by Harry at a very exclusive restaurant, the Green Dragon, and she's furious. She tries to call him and his friends from Voyager, but no one answers. She contacts Agent Covington, who is concerned and tells Libby to listen in on her meeting with Admiral Montgomery. He says there have been 23 confirmed cases of the Borg virus, mostly amongst the vulnerable. He says the cases started a month after Voyager returned, and 1 is tied directly to Janeway. He tells Covington that her agency is to track down every single person the Voyager crew has been in contact with, and he has the backing of the president. He also demands that a scientist named Trevor Blake be returned to his team, but Covington refuses.
Afterwards, Libby asks if she should turn herself in, and Covington says not yet; she wants Libby to monitor Montgomery closely.
Later that night, the Green Dragon restaurant explodes.
Janeway is taken to the prison infirmary and Dr. Kaz examines her. He gives her a clean bill of health, and says she's free to go. A guard enters and says the HoloRevolutionaries blew up a number of buildings, killing 8 people.
Libby checks Montgomery's files and finds plenty of incriminating evidence, but when she cross-references it, it falls apart. Harry finally contacts her and apologizes, saying he can't tell her where he's been. He asks to meet and she says she'll be right there. Afterwards, she decides that since all Covington's evidence on Montgomery fell apart, she'll look into Trevor Blake.
Janeway gathers her security staff together and says she's got a plan; they all agree to help. She contacts Captain Picard and asks to borrow a member of his crew.
Montgomery orders all EMH Mark Ones to be reprogrammed to remove all knowledge and desires except for the duties they're assigned, starting with the Doctor. Kaz objects, saying it's the equivalent of a lobotomy, and Montgomery says he'll be fired if he makes one more outburst. They move on to discussing the Borg virus, and there are now 46 infected; 10% of the infected are capable of assimilating others. Kaz says soon even healthy adults will start showing signs of the disease, and it won't be long until the entire Earth is infected.
Review: 2.5 stars. This is a tough one to review, as the story was decent, but everything is so rushed that it feels more like a barely-filled in outline than a proper novel. Big events like Seven breaking up with Chakotay happen abruptly over like 1-2 pages; nothing has time to breathe. I am interested to see how the story concludes, at least.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 22, 2024
Smooth brain Voyager nostalgia. 3.5 I bumped up to a 4 based on this quote alone:
'Ever thought about having kids?' Carla asked.
Janeway debated telling her about the cluster of lizardlike beings she and Tom had produced, and then decided against it
😂🦎🦎
'Ever thought about having kids?' Carla asked.
Janeway debated telling her about the cluster of lizardlike beings she and Tom had produced, and then decided against it
😂🦎🦎
November 25, 2020
this was so, so good, it really had everything i have wanted from a novel set directly post endgame, although the cliffhanger is incredibly rude omg
August 29, 2018
Excellent.
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August 17, 2020I love the fact that they continued the story because the series ended without a real conclusion. The book was great, I'm reading the second book now. But this one set that the stage for the crew to come together once more to save some of their own along with the human race. The mystery is, where is the threat really coming from, and the second book reveals that!! Love my Star Trek!
September 6, 2020
The first half of this book is engrossing in so far as it fills in the gap from canon and satiates my desire to see the Voyager crew reunite with their friends and family. The last half is sustained by a rushed mediocre plot: everything happens too fast too conveniently, and the EMH revolution and its awkward parallel with slave rebellion are laughably contrived.
I rate this book a 2.5/5 for the heartwarming reunion but otherwise am not impressed with this lazy, hackneyed writing.
I rate this book a 2.5/5 for the heartwarming reunion but otherwise am not impressed with this lazy, hackneyed writing.
February 13, 2020
I was actually enjoying this book until it completely disregarded all that we know about the Borg. First of all, why would anyone work with the Borg? And if you were a Borg spy how would you hide the fact? If you were you would be a drone drones don't look like humans anymore. There was also a major plot point of Sevenbo of Nine meeting of regeneration chamber when she clearly no longer needs a regeneration chamber by the end of the Voyager series.
I don't buy that in 7 years Earth has gone from a revolutionary hologram that no one has ever seen before top of the line technology to complete and total dependence on such holograms so much so that a hologram strike cripples the planet.
And let's talk about B'Elanna running off and leaving her two week old baby to perform an incredibly physically demanding challenge. She might be half Klingon but she's also half human and humans need a little bit of recovering time after having a baby they also don't want to leave their babies.
I haven't read much Trek Fiction But the Earth/Federation in this book doesn't seem like much of Jean-Luc Picard's Utopia. If you're going to write about Star Trek let's write about Star Trek.
This book also ends part way through the story so it looks like I'm going to have to read book two to find out what happens. I'm not sure if I'm up for that.
Voyager deserves a better homecoming story.
I don't buy that in 7 years Earth has gone from a revolutionary hologram that no one has ever seen before top of the line technology to complete and total dependence on such holograms so much so that a hologram strike cripples the planet.
And let's talk about B'Elanna running off and leaving her two week old baby to perform an incredibly physically demanding challenge. She might be half Klingon but she's also half human and humans need a little bit of recovering time after having a baby they also don't want to leave their babies.
I haven't read much Trek Fiction But the Earth/Federation in this book doesn't seem like much of Jean-Luc Picard's Utopia. If you're going to write about Star Trek let's write about Star Trek.
This book also ends part way through the story so it looks like I'm going to have to read book two to find out what happens. I'm not sure if I'm up for that.
Voyager deserves a better homecoming story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 14, 2017
Oh, this really should probably be three stars. It's somewhat choppy, in its way. There's three major plot lines going on at once: B'Elanna Torres's search for her mother, a hologram-uprising for which the Doctor is blamed, and a mysterious plague affecting random Earth inhabitants. The latter two plot points, which do form the basis of the novel, don't even really get going until about halfway through. It is, in some ways, a bit messy.
But maybe that's realistic. Golden had the thankless task of trying to both spend time acknowledging and dealing with the major adjustment Voyager's crew would have to make after seven years alone in the Delta Quadrant (and having no time to adjust to the idea of actually making it home so quickly) -- while at the same time introducing an actual plot. If all the threads seem a bit scattered, maybe that makes sense, since the crew themselves have been scattered and left to figure out the next step in their own individual voyages.
Besides, the pacing kept me turning the pages, the writing style was solid, and the character voices -- every single one -- was spot-on. I enjoyed it, and turned immediately to the second book when I put this one down.
So maybe four stars is right after all.
But maybe that's realistic. Golden had the thankless task of trying to both spend time acknowledging and dealing with the major adjustment Voyager's crew would have to make after seven years alone in the Delta Quadrant (and having no time to adjust to the idea of actually making it home so quickly) -- while at the same time introducing an actual plot. If all the threads seem a bit scattered, maybe that makes sense, since the crew themselves have been scattered and left to figure out the next step in their own individual voyages.
Besides, the pacing kept me turning the pages, the writing style was solid, and the character voices -- every single one -- was spot-on. I enjoyed it, and turned immediately to the second book when I put this one down.
So maybe four stars is right after all.
October 15, 2018
If you were disappointed by how Star Trek Voyager ended and not being able to see the characters get home and resolve a lot of the loose threads, this book will scratch that itch perfectly. Christie Golden really likes and understands the characters from Voyager and handles the post-show wrapping up of Voyager's loose ends very strongly. Even awkward elements like the eleventh hour Chakotay-Seven romance are wrapped up surprisingly effectively. The plot itself involves a potential Borg virus on Earth brought by Voyager, but this is really only 1/2 of the story which continues in the next book The Farther Shore (which is admittedly annoying).
The new characters are memorable, but the highlight is how Christie Golden handles Harry Kim's onetime girlfriend Libby who was pretty much a throwaway flashback character on the show who is reintroduced in a (once again) surprisingly good way that makes sense and becomes a well developed and fun character. You end up looking forward to reading her perspective as much as the main cast. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who wanted more from the Voyager finale, this book can definitely put your mind to rest on what happens to the crew after they get home.
The new characters are memorable, but the highlight is how Christie Golden handles Harry Kim's onetime girlfriend Libby who was pretty much a throwaway flashback character on the show who is reintroduced in a (once again) surprisingly good way that makes sense and becomes a well developed and fun character. You end up looking forward to reading her perspective as much as the main cast. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who wanted more from the Voyager finale, this book can definitely put your mind to rest on what happens to the crew after they get home.
December 6, 2013
Endlich ist sie da, die deutsche Übersetzung zum bereits 2003 erschienenen Original von Christie Golden. Aber das Warten hat sich gelohnt. Habe die knapp 250 Seiten verschlungen und bereits den Band 2 in Händen.
Aber nun ein wenig mehr Info für Euch Leser: Das Buch setzt an, nach "Endgame" - dem in unserer Fangemeinde sehr umstrittenen Cliffhanger. Captain Janeway, mittlerweile zum Admiral befördert, konnte die Crew in den Alpha-Quadranten zurückbringen. Die "Familie" wie die Crew von Janeway stets liebevoll genannt wurde zerstreut sich und jeder ist nun wieder mit seinen Lieben zusammen. Doch plötzlich gerät der Doc, das MHN durch einen Aufstand der Hologramme in Schwierigkeiten und dann bricht auch noch eine Borg-Seuche aus. Das bringt nicht nur Seven of Nine und ihren Schützling Icheb ins Gefängnis sondern den Rest der Crew in Gefahr, denn der Ermittler der Sternenflotte ist davon überzeugt, dass die Voyager mit der vom Delta-Quadranten mitgebrachten Borg-Technologie Schuld an dieser Seuche sei - Spannung pur also!
Aber nun ein wenig mehr Info für Euch Leser: Das Buch setzt an, nach "Endgame" - dem in unserer Fangemeinde sehr umstrittenen Cliffhanger. Captain Janeway, mittlerweile zum Admiral befördert, konnte die Crew in den Alpha-Quadranten zurückbringen. Die "Familie" wie die Crew von Janeway stets liebevoll genannt wurde zerstreut sich und jeder ist nun wieder mit seinen Lieben zusammen. Doch plötzlich gerät der Doc, das MHN durch einen Aufstand der Hologramme in Schwierigkeiten und dann bricht auch noch eine Borg-Seuche aus. Das bringt nicht nur Seven of Nine und ihren Schützling Icheb ins Gefängnis sondern den Rest der Crew in Gefahr, denn der Ermittler der Sternenflotte ist davon überzeugt, dass die Voyager mit der vom Delta-Quadranten mitgebrachten Borg-Technologie Schuld an dieser Seuche sei - Spannung pur also!
December 13, 2015
Die Voyager hat es endlich geschafft und ist wieder im Alpha –Quadraten angekommen und befindet sich auf den Heimweg zur Erde. Janeway und ihre Crew wird von Jean Luc Piccard und der Enterprise in Empfang genommen. Auch Toms Vater befindet sich an Bord. Nach anfänglichen zögern verstehen sich die beiden super und der Admiral freut sich über seine kleine Enkelin. Die gesamte Führungscrew muss sich auf dem Flug zur Erde einer Befragung stellen, die relativ kurz ausfällt. Auf der Erde versuchen die Besatzungsmitglieder ihr altes Leben weiter zuführen. Aber das ist schwerer als Gedacht, Belana begibt sich auf eine gefährliche Mission im klingonischen Reich, Hologramme beginnen zu streiken und eine Borgseuche breitet sich aus.
Christie Golden hat einen tollen Einstieg in die Fortsetzung der Abenteuer der Voyager Crew geschaffen. Die Geschichte ist spannend und flüssig geschrieben. Die Charaktereigenschaften von Janeway und den anderen sind unverändert.
Christie Golden hat einen tollen Einstieg in die Fortsetzung der Abenteuer der Voyager Crew geschaffen. Die Geschichte ist spannend und flüssig geschrieben. Die Charaktereigenschaften von Janeway und den anderen sind unverändert.
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June 9, 2008I am a Star Trek buff. I live and breath it. I was pleasently surprised to have stumbled upon this book, as it continues the saga of Star Trek Voyager.
This book was just plain good and fast paced. There were no really "big themes" besides the idea of corruption. Before I go into an intense rant on the story line and the universe of Star Trek, the story has multiple plots interweaving with each other. One of them includes a secret organizatition hidden beneath a well respected organization, and how what they do is considered (to them)"for the better of mankind".
Essentially, the book looks at the underpinnings of secret orgnaizations, and how they justify what they do, Besides being related to Star Trek, it was great to learn more about how orgnizations work, and how those who are innocent and being framed for something they did not do get out of their situation
This book was just plain good and fast paced. There were no really "big themes" besides the idea of corruption. Before I go into an intense rant on the story line and the universe of Star Trek, the story has multiple plots interweaving with each other. One of them includes a secret organizatition hidden beneath a well respected organization, and how what they do is considered (to them)"for the better of mankind".
Essentially, the book looks at the underpinnings of secret orgnaizations, and how they justify what they do, Besides being related to Star Trek, it was great to learn more about how orgnizations work, and how those who are innocent and being framed for something they did not do get out of their situation
October 1, 2018
Voyager and its crew, finally home after years in a hostile quadrant. Feted by all, praised by all. The Doctor's discoveries sung from the rafters. Starfleet overjoyed at all the information they have. Even Seven of Nine welcomed.
Not.
Instead, there is almost no celebration of their return. They meet open hostility. Before long several of the crew are actually in prison, not even charged with a specific crime. Kim's would-be girlfriend? Basically a spy for a bureaucrat.
The Doctor praised? Not quite. Jailed for inspiring a revolt of the holographic beings.
Paris and B'Elanna enjoying time with ther new born? Nope. B'Elanna has gotten a strange message and is off on a possibly fatal Klingon ritual.
Possible treason somewhere in the highest ranks of the Federation leadership.
Definitely not a happy return.
Not.
Instead, there is almost no celebration of their return. They meet open hostility. Before long several of the crew are actually in prison, not even charged with a specific crime. Kim's would-be girlfriend? Basically a spy for a bureaucrat.
The Doctor praised? Not quite. Jailed for inspiring a revolt of the holographic beings.
Paris and B'Elanna enjoying time with ther new born? Nope. B'Elanna has gotten a strange message and is off on a possibly fatal Klingon ritual.
Possible treason somewhere in the highest ranks of the Federation leadership.
Definitely not a happy return.
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