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Star Trek: The Original Series
Star Trek: A Choice of Catastrophes: A Choice Of Catastrophes
The U.S.S. Enterprise , under the command of Lieutenant Hikaru Sulu, is returning from a mission to deliver medical supplies to Deep Space Station C-15, one of Starfleet’s most distant installations. All is routine until the Enterprise comes within a light-year of the planet Mu Arigulon, when the ship is suddenly thrown from warp and suffers a momentary power cut, having run aground on a spatial distortion not revealed in previous scans of the system. When the pride of Starfleet hits another, much worse distortion, Dr. Leonard McCoy has his hands full caring for officers who have suddenly fallen into comas for no apparent reason. The Enterprise medical team soon discovers that the dying officers are espers—humans with a rare and abnormal level of telepathic and psychic ability. With no choice but to link to the officers’ minds in order to come to their aid, McCoy is plunged into a nightmarish dream-world . . . with the end result being nothing short of the possible destruction of the Enterprise and all aboard her. . . .
352 pages, Paperback
First published August 30, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
February 23, 2012
I really enjoyed this book, the plot was really interesting and the resolution was really well executed.
I didn't like the change to present tense during flash backs, but then I never really like the use of present tense. It felt jarring in the middle of the ongoing narrative. The flashbacks were clear enough without the tense change.
I found McCoy's apparent complete misunderstanding of (or disregard for?) the way that triage works really odd.
On the whole though, this was really good.
I didn't like the change to present tense during flash backs, but then I never really like the use of present tense. It felt jarring in the middle of the ongoing narrative. The flashbacks were clear enough without the tense change.
I found McCoy's apparent complete misunderstanding of (or disregard for?) the way that triage works really odd.
On the whole though, this was really good.
July 7, 2022
Sulu takes command of the 'Enterprise' when the senior staff explore a new planet. Medical necessity forces McCoy to stay aboard and when a subspace disturbance has serious repercussions, McCoy must listen to his inner demons as he works out what has gone wrong.
An interesting plot works well with an unusual first contact mission and Schuster and Mollman have written a novel which is engaging and feels like an episode of the 'Star Trek' series.
An interesting plot works well with an unusual first contact mission and Schuster and Mollman have written a novel which is engaging and feels like an episode of the 'Star Trek' series.
April 19, 2020
It's one of the most intense, plot-packed Trek stories I've ever read, featuring one of the largest cast of characters ever allowed to shine in a single novel. Combined with the interactions of a very new and very alien life form, this novel threatens to collapse under its own weight at times...but it never does. Relentless, exciting, exhausting, surprisingly scary & violent, and occasionally hilarious. A universal translator statement of "exclamation of woe!" will leave you laughing at the most unexpected moment.
February 26, 2017
I took a break from Star Wars books at the end of last year to pick up a Star Trek novel for a change of pace. A Choice of Catastrophes was a refreshing place to dive back in.
The Enterprise is on a mission to deliver medical supplies to Deep Space Station C-15, when the ship is thrown out of warp by a spatial distortion. A light-year away is Mu Arigulon, a planet that houses the ruins of a dead civilization. Is there a connection? Kirk leaves Sulu in command and he and Mr. Spock take two shuttle teams to investigate the planet. Meanwhile, McCoy, who has reluctantly stayed behind to catalog medical supplies, suddenly has crew members showing up in the sick bay who have slid into unexplained comas and are slowly dying.
As the parallel story lines progress, the teams on the surface lose one of their members and suddenly find themselves on a search and rescue mission. They also realize that they may not be alone - something or someone may be alive on the surface still. Meanwhile, on the Enterprise, McCoy can't think of any way to save the unconscious crewmembers. His confidence sags and he begins hearing voices and eventually seeing apparitions - visions of people from his past life who do nothing but question his competence and chip away at his confidence.
Of all the Star Trek novels I've read, this one seems to be as true to the original TV series as any I can remember. Granted, it's longer and more complex than TV episode could be, and some of the incidents would have been very hard to film with 1960's special effects technology. But the plot itself, the handling of the characters and situations, their behaviors within crises, all seem very on-point. Several minor characters from the series (e.g. Dr. M'Benga, Lieutenant Giotto) show up here and get more "screen time" than they ever did on television, which is fun.
The plot has a lot of action and adventure in it, but the resolution of the story is true to the formula of "peace, love and understanding" that is so central to the Star Trek ethos. Perhaps the best thing about the book though is just that we get to spend a lot of time with Dr. McCoy, who was always, to my way of thinking, one of the more complex and human characters in the entire canon. To watch him struggle with his ego, his shortcomings and mistakes and his regrest makes this story worth the time investment. He is a hero with feet of clay, and it is because of this - not in spite of it - that we love him.
This is a solidly written book in which the characters and ideas are represented true to form. It is a good reminder of why the original series was so iconic.
The Enterprise is on a mission to deliver medical supplies to Deep Space Station C-15, when the ship is thrown out of warp by a spatial distortion. A light-year away is Mu Arigulon, a planet that houses the ruins of a dead civilization. Is there a connection? Kirk leaves Sulu in command and he and Mr. Spock take two shuttle teams to investigate the planet. Meanwhile, McCoy, who has reluctantly stayed behind to catalog medical supplies, suddenly has crew members showing up in the sick bay who have slid into unexplained comas and are slowly dying.
As the parallel story lines progress, the teams on the surface lose one of their members and suddenly find themselves on a search and rescue mission. They also realize that they may not be alone - something or someone may be alive on the surface still. Meanwhile, on the Enterprise, McCoy can't think of any way to save the unconscious crewmembers. His confidence sags and he begins hearing voices and eventually seeing apparitions - visions of people from his past life who do nothing but question his competence and chip away at his confidence.
Of all the Star Trek novels I've read, this one seems to be as true to the original TV series as any I can remember. Granted, it's longer and more complex than TV episode could be, and some of the incidents would have been very hard to film with 1960's special effects technology. But the plot itself, the handling of the characters and situations, their behaviors within crises, all seem very on-point. Several minor characters from the series (e.g. Dr. M'Benga, Lieutenant Giotto) show up here and get more "screen time" than they ever did on television, which is fun.
The plot has a lot of action and adventure in it, but the resolution of the story is true to the formula of "peace, love and understanding" that is so central to the Star Trek ethos. Perhaps the best thing about the book though is just that we get to spend a lot of time with Dr. McCoy, who was always, to my way of thinking, one of the more complex and human characters in the entire canon. To watch him struggle with his ego, his shortcomings and mistakes and his regrest makes this story worth the time investment. He is a hero with feet of clay, and it is because of this - not in spite of it - that we love him.
This is a solidly written book in which the characters and ideas are represented true to form. It is a good reminder of why the original series was so iconic.
November 24, 2011
2011 in the realm of Trek literature has not been a banner year & "A Choice of Catastrophes" joins that list of disappointments. The story is essentially a McCoy story that invokes part of his past & his inability to settle down. The basis is a routine exploratory mission to Mu Arigulon V that splits the story into 2 very different subplots. The primary involves the Enterprise under Sulu's command dealing with distortions that cause the ship to be unable to move & put 5 espers into comas. This segment while quickly moving could've been a story unto & of itself despite McCoy's hallucinations & the info on his marriage to Jocelyn. The secondary plot which as well could've been done on its own as a book involves the inhabitants of this world & how they got where they are now. This plot is a tad more convoluted but somewhat works. When the plots finally come together (near the very end) we as readers maybe left asking - why not sooner? What's even more disturbing is the admission in the acknowledgements by the authors of the amount of borrowed material used which also includes some one appearance characters in the series itself. Yet another why now novel for Star Trek as a whole in this mostly forgettable 2011.
February 13, 2012
For something that started with so much promise - a McCoy-centric tale, full of an irritable McCoy's pop therapist internal monologue (SO MUCH ANGST) - I actually tired of this really, REALLY quickly. I ended up skimming the last third of the book, just to get 1 more towards the damn 2012 challenge (30 books this year!). I can't pinpoint the exact problems, except for a general lack of momentum and uninspired narrative. The big reveals in the final chapter just had no real payoff, since I didn't care from page 1 why the espers (ESP-sensitive crewmembers) were in "mysterious" comas. I also didn't care to see all the characters treated as 1-dimensional stock stereotypes of their former selves ("I dinna care!" Scotty thickly demands... while Kirk punches aliens in their "eye stalks"... and Chekov needs to be comforted while he cries...). The alien race introduced in this book - the Farrezzi - also spoke in a pretty lame attempt at "Look, how funny foreign languages can be, ho ho!" This actually *can* be done well in a Star Trek book, such as the Romulan Way, where McCoy is intercepted by a frantic alien - their exchange is pretty humorous. But, alas, here it just felt dry and boring.
May 4, 2018
A great Star Trek novel that predominantly features Dr. McCoy, a mysterious threat that thrusts the ships doctor centre stage as various officers on board the ship suddenly start falling into comas for no apparent reason.
Spock and Kirk have lead two shuttlecraft to Mu Arigulon V, whilst leaving Sulu in charge of the bridge.
The book really captures the characteristics and style of the 60’s show, it was easy to slip into the story. The author really captures their voices.
Though it’s mainly McCoys story, including numerous flashbacks. The rest of the crew get their chance to shine.
Highly entertaining!
Spock and Kirk have lead two shuttlecraft to Mu Arigulon V, whilst leaving Sulu in charge of the bridge.
The book really captures the characteristics and style of the 60’s show, it was easy to slip into the story. The author really captures their voices.
Though it’s mainly McCoys story, including numerous flashbacks. The rest of the crew get their chance to shine.
Highly entertaining!
October 22, 2020
The story with McCoy and the Enterprise is interesting. The rest with the shuttle crews was quite tedious.
May 27, 2022
I think what really did it for me was the awesome character work for McCoy. Every time it cut away to Kirk's mission I was only partially interested , however McCoys plot thread was great. All of his inner turmoil bubbling over was exciting and the filling in of backstory (whether it's canon or not tbh I do not know) was thrilling. It added a depth I didn't know I needed to McCoy but now I am glad I have.
June 16, 2020
Star Trek: A Choice of Catastrophes is an original series novel that mainly follows Dr. McCoy. After returning from a mission to deliver medical supplies, and while nearing planet Mu Arigulon, The Enterprise begins to undergo a series of strange events. It starts with power failures, then excessive turbulence. Then, one by one, several people onboard enter comas with no explanation. Dr. McCoy is unsure of the root cause, and while he searches for answers, he finds himself plagued by something brewing inside.
Over time I've collected quite a few Star Trek novels (mostly TOS), and this book was the first one I came across (and the first one I'm reading).
In theory, this book was an interesting mesh of a plot-based story that was also character-focused. While trying to solve the many problems and health crises faced on The Enterprise, Dr. McCoy slowly falls into a battle with his own inner thoughts and emotions that gets to him more over time. In this part of the story, we learn about his personal history and how he found his way to The Enterprise, and his unresolved problems that return to haunt him endlessly. The main problem I found was that despite this focus, none of the characters in this book really drive the plot. Much of Dr. McCoy's emotions are telling more than showing, as we read his inner monologues and that's as far as we see in terms of what he's going through mentally and emotionally. For an action-based plot this style of writing would make more sense, but for something that was so character-centric, it didn't have the same effect.
Regardless of its execution, the story still was pretty interesting, and this book covers a pretty full cast of characters while covering the complexity of the plot all at once. I can't compare A Choice of Catastrophes to other Trek novels as this is my first one, but this book definitely has me interested in what the rest of the Star Trek books have to offer.
Over time I've collected quite a few Star Trek novels (mostly TOS), and this book was the first one I came across (and the first one I'm reading).
In theory, this book was an interesting mesh of a plot-based story that was also character-focused. While trying to solve the many problems and health crises faced on The Enterprise, Dr. McCoy slowly falls into a battle with his own inner thoughts and emotions that gets to him more over time. In this part of the story, we learn about his personal history and how he found his way to The Enterprise, and his unresolved problems that return to haunt him endlessly. The main problem I found was that despite this focus, none of the characters in this book really drive the plot. Much of Dr. McCoy's emotions are telling more than showing, as we read his inner monologues and that's as far as we see in terms of what he's going through mentally and emotionally. For an action-based plot this style of writing would make more sense, but for something that was so character-centric, it didn't have the same effect.
Regardless of its execution, the story still was pretty interesting, and this book covers a pretty full cast of characters while covering the complexity of the plot all at once. I can't compare A Choice of Catastrophes to other Trek novels as this is my first one, but this book definitely has me interested in what the rest of the Star Trek books have to offer.
October 11, 2016
I've been in a major Trek mood...so I found some Trek books! I wasn't expecting great things... it's a TV show tie-in and, let's be honest, they tend toward mediocre. They can't kill main characters or do anything too far out there (mustn't break continuity) so they tend to fall flat.
But this one was quite entertaining. Kirk and Spock are leading two away teams by shuttle to explore a seemingly abandoned ship while McCoy is left behind on the Enterprise to follow after. The planet is -shock of shocks- not really abandoned and the Enterprise is plagued by mysterious illnesses and subspace distortions. McCoy must battle his inner demons to rescue his patients and the Enterprise while Spock and Kirk take on the requisite space battles and phaser fights.
A bit predictable, yes. But great fun and lots of Bones (he is my favorite). I'll even give it a pass on some of those passive sentences (in the action scenes!). A solid Trek adventure..
I enjoyed it. 3 stars.
But this one was quite entertaining. Kirk and Spock are leading two away teams by shuttle to explore a seemingly abandoned ship while McCoy is left behind on the Enterprise to follow after. The planet is -shock of shocks- not really abandoned and the Enterprise is plagued by mysterious illnesses and subspace distortions. McCoy must battle his inner demons to rescue his patients and the Enterprise while Spock and Kirk take on the requisite space battles and phaser fights.
A bit predictable, yes. But great fun and lots of Bones (he is my favorite). I'll even give it a pass on some of those passive sentences (in the action scenes!). A solid Trek adventure..
I enjoyed it. 3 stars.
May 13, 2021
One of the best Star Trek novels I've read in awhile, but I might be biased, because I am a McCoy fan, but if you like McCoy you will probably like this one as well. I didn't agree with every aspect of McCoy's characterization, but overall I think the authors' did him justice. That being said, there is also a great deal of focus on Kirk and Spock, and a minor focus on Chekov, Sulu, Uhura and Chapel. Plus, the story is chocked full of minor characters from the original series, from Tina Lawton to Lt. Leslie to Dr. M'Benga. The story is action packed, with two separate storylines that ultimately converge. The one drawback of the story is that Kirk, Spock and McCoy spend the majority of the novel separated from one another, I love the original triad, and missed them interacting and their banter.
December 24, 2015
Dr. McCoy is my favourite character in Star Trek, and this novel lets him take centre stage. Kirk and Spock aren't sidelined, either, as they lead an away team to an eerily abandoned planet that may not be all that abandoned. Each of the main seven stars of Star Trek gets a moment to shine, but this story is definitely centred on McCoy. Readers are given an in-depth look at McCoy's past, and how it affects his present, as he tries to save several crewmembers who have mysteriously fallen into comas following the Enterprise's contact with an anomaly in space. Nurse Chapel has a strong supporting role in the story as well. The two plotlines (the ship and the away team) dovetail nicely at the end.
October 21, 2016
This is a must for McCoy fans. Starting off pensive over his third anniversary as CMO of the Enterprise, all his self doubts and regrets are amplified by side effects of a spatial distortion. Which he has to deal with while crew members fall into unexplained comas and the ship is slowly being destroyed. The authors do a good job pulling together various details from his past into little flashbacks.
In addition to this, Spock and Kirk have their own problems away from the ship. While this felt like a side story to me, it showed each officer acting without the others. This in turn highlights how well they work together as its probable the three of them in any of those situations would have done better than any one alone.
In addition to this, Spock and Kirk have their own problems away from the ship. While this felt like a side story to me, it showed each officer acting without the others. This in turn highlights how well they work together as its probable the three of them in any of those situations would have done better than any one alone.
December 15, 2020
It's been a long time since I've read a Star Trek book, as in 40 years or more ago. This book maintains the excitement of the original series, as well as the relationships between the various characters. Dr. McCoy gets a lot of attention in this book, and it's impossible to read it without imagining the late, great DeForest Kelley in the middle of the action. I'm not sure if someone who never watched the TV series would like this, but fans of Star Trek should enjoy it. Michael Schuster has written a fast-paced, exciting book. There is an ecological message in the book, but it's not heavy-handed at all. Bottom line--take care of your planet so you don't have to go into a suspended animation pod until your robotic satellites fix the atmosphere.
August 23, 2017
You need to concentrate to follow the events which are split in 3 major storylines, each having its own protagonists, facing their own dangers and fabricating their own solutions.
This, and the constant switching from perspective make this boook extremele fast-paced. As usual challenges present their questions which in my opinion are not all answered for. The mix of physical en psychological challenges force the characters to go deep inside themselves which gives us an even more profound knowledge of them.
Space, aliens, first contact but not in a standard way. I am not sure that i appreciate it all so much but it certainly was a refreshingly new way of presenting my favorite topic.
This, and the constant switching from perspective make this boook extremele fast-paced. As usual challenges present their questions which in my opinion are not all answered for. The mix of physical en psychological challenges force the characters to go deep inside themselves which gives us an even more profound knowledge of them.
Space, aliens, first contact but not in a standard way. I am not sure that i appreciate it all so much but it certainly was a refreshingly new way of presenting my favorite topic.
July 26, 2014
I enjoyed the real time unfolding of events as they happen to the various parties of the split up crew. No jumping back and forth in the timeline.
The focus character is McCoy for whom there is some insightful backstory. There are are all of the familiar characters from the original series and then some good filler ones as well.
I enjoyed the mystery and action throughout the book.
The focus character is McCoy for whom there is some insightful backstory. There are are all of the familiar characters from the original series and then some good filler ones as well.
I enjoyed the mystery and action throughout the book.
May 30, 2020
One of the great things about reading Star Trek books is that, if done right, a reader can feel like they are “watching” an episode of that particular show that the book takes place in. Yes. There are times that we run into books that feel awkward or incorrect in its execution of the material and fall flat in delivering what the essence of the property is about. Luckily (at least, for me), A Choice of Catastrophes isn’t of the latter.
The overall setup is simple enough: while the crew of the Enterprise is exploring, a flu has ravaged a deep space station, named C-15. Unfortunately, the flu made its way to a nearby planet and did the same thing. C-15 has exhausted its medical supplies and needs a refill. Enterprise, being the only ship that deep in space (of course it is), has to go refill at an automated supply station and deliver the medical stuff. But because there’s not a lot of time in the schedule to explore and bring the supplies, Spock has suggested that two shuttles full of an away team each, could be dropped off at Mu Arigulon (the planet they were supposed to explore) and meet up with the Enterprise a few days later after the medical supply drop off.
Doctor McCoy wants to go on the away mission, but regulations state that the chief medical officer has to oversee the transfer. So, McCoy is stuck making the trip with the ship. Kirk and Spock, on the other hand, lead an away team each. While Kirk’s is landing on the planet to survey, Spock’s group is starting in the atmosphere.
Once en route back to Mu Arigulon, the Enterprise runs into a spatial distortion that causes the ship to run aground. While on the planet, one of Kirk’s crew members goes missing and he is determined to find out what happened to him. Of course, things start to pick up pace and we start to learn what happened to the species that went missing also on this empty planet, as well.
The book doesn’t spend too much time in setting up. It gives the reader the scenario early and the ball starts to roll thereafter. There isn’t any dragging moments that make one quit. I found myself hooked from the beginning. And of course, it helps that the grumpy Doctor McCoy is basically the star.
What drives this tale is discovering what drove McCoy to join Starfleet in the first place and what makes this man really tick. With the situation on the ship heating up (five officers that are considered espers, which are human telepaths, are being affected by the distortion), things begin to take their toll on McCoy on a different kind of level. We really learn about his self doubt and his past mistakes which I think is the highlight of everything.
Something that also works is the characterizations. While the support cast each get some moment or two (a lot of them are from an episode or two from the show), the main group sound and act like their show’s counterparts. Kirk, Spock, Scotty, Uhura, Chekov, Sulu and of course, McCoy. They all felt like the ones I’ve grown to love (especially in a book setting when some of them get to do more things that they might not have been doing in the show).
While the story feels like something from the tv show, what it really does is keeps the same pace as them and keeps things moving along so the reader wants to know what happens next. Yes. There is a lot of mini cliffhangers that jump from character to character, but anyone that can read a story can basically keep up with this one.
While Mr. Schuster and Mr. Mollman set up a daunting amount of crew to keep track of and one that at first I found myself trying to keep on top of, in the end it really doesn’t affect much of anything (especially since they remind us who they are). After a little bit of time, one’s brain has a basic thought of who they are and it keeps everything moving along.
Overall, the authors do a great job of keeping all of it together and provides an adventure that stands up to the rest of the Star Trek universe. It showed me a side of Doctor McCoy we rarely get to see from the show and also had the supports of the main group have moments to shine. I found it to be a thrilling story that had me wanting it to never end.
The overall setup is simple enough: while the crew of the Enterprise is exploring, a flu has ravaged a deep space station, named C-15. Unfortunately, the flu made its way to a nearby planet and did the same thing. C-15 has exhausted its medical supplies and needs a refill. Enterprise, being the only ship that deep in space (of course it is), has to go refill at an automated supply station and deliver the medical stuff. But because there’s not a lot of time in the schedule to explore and bring the supplies, Spock has suggested that two shuttles full of an away team each, could be dropped off at Mu Arigulon (the planet they were supposed to explore) and meet up with the Enterprise a few days later after the medical supply drop off.
Doctor McCoy wants to go on the away mission, but regulations state that the chief medical officer has to oversee the transfer. So, McCoy is stuck making the trip with the ship. Kirk and Spock, on the other hand, lead an away team each. While Kirk’s is landing on the planet to survey, Spock’s group is starting in the atmosphere.
Once en route back to Mu Arigulon, the Enterprise runs into a spatial distortion that causes the ship to run aground. While on the planet, one of Kirk’s crew members goes missing and he is determined to find out what happened to him. Of course, things start to pick up pace and we start to learn what happened to the species that went missing also on this empty planet, as well.
The book doesn’t spend too much time in setting up. It gives the reader the scenario early and the ball starts to roll thereafter. There isn’t any dragging moments that make one quit. I found myself hooked from the beginning. And of course, it helps that the grumpy Doctor McCoy is basically the star.
What drives this tale is discovering what drove McCoy to join Starfleet in the first place and what makes this man really tick. With the situation on the ship heating up (five officers that are considered espers, which are human telepaths, are being affected by the distortion), things begin to take their toll on McCoy on a different kind of level. We really learn about his self doubt and his past mistakes which I think is the highlight of everything.
Something that also works is the characterizations. While the support cast each get some moment or two (a lot of them are from an episode or two from the show), the main group sound and act like their show’s counterparts. Kirk, Spock, Scotty, Uhura, Chekov, Sulu and of course, McCoy. They all felt like the ones I’ve grown to love (especially in a book setting when some of them get to do more things that they might not have been doing in the show).
While the story feels like something from the tv show, what it really does is keeps the same pace as them and keeps things moving along so the reader wants to know what happens next. Yes. There is a lot of mini cliffhangers that jump from character to character, but anyone that can read a story can basically keep up with this one.
While Mr. Schuster and Mr. Mollman set up a daunting amount of crew to keep track of and one that at first I found myself trying to keep on top of, in the end it really doesn’t affect much of anything (especially since they remind us who they are). After a little bit of time, one’s brain has a basic thought of who they are and it keeps everything moving along.
Overall, the authors do a great job of keeping all of it together and provides an adventure that stands up to the rest of the Star Trek universe. It showed me a side of Doctor McCoy we rarely get to see from the show and also had the supports of the main group have moments to shine. I found it to be a thrilling story that had me wanting it to never end.
July 2, 2020
Because one reviewer says 'true to the appeal of the iconographic original series.'
---
And that is accurate. It's a little long, but I love visiting with my favorite characters from the good old days. I loved learning so much about McCoy. I found it fun that some of the more fantastical elements, like being able to run on stimulants w/out sleep for days, and not having the sense to install seatbelts after the inertial dampers have been disabled twice already, are included. I needed those moments of absurdity in order to survive the suspense and drama of the main stories.
I really love the First Contact element. These aliens are fascinating. The Universal Translator has a heck of a time making their *verb-less* language intelligible.
I also appreciate the acknowledgements, as they thank the actors for making the characters come alive and help the authors make this book more engaging, and because they list several other titles that I can focus my quest for good STTOS books on.
A Choice of Catastrophes by Isaac Asimov
Dreams of the Raven
Doctor's Orders
Crisis on Centaurus
Constitution and Shadows on the Sun
McCoy: The Provenance Of Shadows
Enterprise: The First Adventure
The Better Man
---
And that is accurate. It's a little long, but I love visiting with my favorite characters from the good old days. I loved learning so much about McCoy. I found it fun that some of the more fantastical elements, like being able to run on stimulants w/out sleep for days, and not having the sense to install seatbelts after the inertial dampers have been disabled twice already, are included. I needed those moments of absurdity in order to survive the suspense and drama of the main stories.
I really love the First Contact element. These aliens are fascinating. The Universal Translator has a heck of a time making their *verb-less* language intelligible.
I also appreciate the acknowledgements, as they thank the actors for making the characters come alive and help the authors make this book more engaging, and because they list several other titles that I can focus my quest for good STTOS books on.
A Choice of Catastrophes by Isaac Asimov
Dreams of the Raven
Doctor's Orders
Crisis on Centaurus
Constitution and Shadows on the Sun
McCoy: The Provenance Of Shadows
Enterprise: The First Adventure
The Better Man
June 22, 2021
I LOVED IT!!
The mystery kept dragging me forwards and I just couldn't put the book down. I read it clean in like four sittings, eager to learn why things were happening the way they were. The aliens were interesting, the planet was cool and the ship was in perfect danger out in space! I was also very fond of the "splitting up" stories, were we have three teams doing different things simultaneously.
Though the parts on the Enterprise greatly kept me reading, the landing parties with Kirk and Spock didn't capture my interest in quite the same way. If this was because they were more uninteresting or because McCoy is my favourite character, I don't know.
- Also people got hurt a lot. I unironically love reading about people getting hurt.
The mystery kept dragging me forwards and I just couldn't put the book down. I read it clean in like four sittings, eager to learn why things were happening the way they were. The aliens were interesting, the planet was cool and the ship was in perfect danger out in space! I was also very fond of the "splitting up" stories, were we have three teams doing different things simultaneously.
Though the parts on the Enterprise greatly kept me reading, the landing parties with Kirk and Spock didn't capture my interest in quite the same way. If this was because they were more uninteresting or because McCoy is my favourite character, I don't know.
- Also people got hurt a lot. I unironically love reading about people getting hurt.
April 28, 2021
Trapoed
This is another one that I ever read before this year. It seems to be becoming a trend. This was an excellent story although not quite what I am used to for Star Trek. I like the fact that there were multiple things going on in various places and they had quite a few problems to deal with. The author did an excellent job with characters that we are familiar with. All your favorites from TOS are here and they each have a role that plays out very well. He seems to have an excellent understanding of what they are like and how they should act. This is a good read for anyone who likes the earlier days in the series.
This is another one that I ever read before this year. It seems to be becoming a trend. This was an excellent story although not quite what I am used to for Star Trek. I like the fact that there were multiple things going on in various places and they had quite a few problems to deal with. The author did an excellent job with characters that we are familiar with. All your favorites from TOS are here and they each have a role that plays out very well. He seems to have an excellent understanding of what they are like and how they should act. This is a good read for anyone who likes the earlier days in the series.
May 27, 2021
Berättelsen blir svår att penetrera till en början, då spöken från McCoys förflutna hela tiden dyker upp i berättelsen. Då menar jag alltså inte berättelser från förr, spökröster och något som också förekommer, men framför allt just spökkaraktärer som faktiskt pratar med McCoy. Allt detta får visserligen sin förklaring till slut, men jag tycker att berättelsen sammantaget tyvärr förlorar på detta och detta för ner betyget betydligt. Hela boken har sin fokus på McCoy och övriga karaktärer (förutom möjligtvis syster Chapel) berörs inte lika djupt. För er som vill förstå McCoy är detta ett bra tillfälle, men i övrigt är boken för platt för min smak.
July 14, 2024
A wonderful novel that added depth to Doctor McCoy's history and what made him the man he was when he became CMO on the Enterprise. A well thought out story, that played to the strengths of the characters. Enjoyed the first person perspective of McCoy, and seeing his inner struggles/demons come to play as he had to deal with the results of the spatial distortion. A highly recommended read for anyone who is a fan of Dr. McCoy.
(The secondary plot with Kirk & the away team wasn't as well thought out and should have been left out.)
(The secondary plot with Kirk & the away team wasn't as well thought out and should have been left out.)
June 30, 2017
I love this book it reminds me of the classic shows. Very good going with the plots of stories.
It will be a favorite of mine always.
I liked the background of Dr. McCoy.
Some chapters were longer than expected
It will be a favorite of mine always.
I liked the background of Dr. McCoy.
Some chapters were longer than expected
July 26, 2017
Enjoyable read. Interesting new race of Trek aliens
October 27, 2017
Good book
Gives a lot of background on Dr. McCoy. A must read for his fans. Enterprise takes a beating. Kirk and crew solves the mystery.
Gives a lot of background on Dr. McCoy. A must read for his fans. Enterprise takes a beating. Kirk and crew solves the mystery.
September 25, 2018
A lovely read. If you are a fan of McCoy then this is a must read.
January 26, 2020
This book is too rotten to deserve a review. It is such a terrible book that it made me finally give up on reading new Star Trek novels. Too many BAD books in the last few years.
February 15, 2021
Maybe 2.5 stars.
March 1, 2021
Decent read
It started off slow, and drug on for a while. However, I was rewarded for persistence, in the end. Decent.
It started off slow, and drug on for a while. However, I was rewarded for persistence, in the end. Decent.
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