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Risiko

(Star Trek: Typhon Pact #8)

Una McCormack,

Christian Humberg (Translator),

Martin Frei (Coverart)

3.85 · Rating details · 751 ratings · 58 reviews

Ein Roman, der im Universum von Star Trek: The Next Generation, spielt, und in dem die Spannungen zwischen zwei mächtigen Gegnern im interstellaren Raum eskalieren.

Die Venette-Versammlung war bislang immer unabhängig, doch nun ist sie im Begriff, zum Brennpunkt einer angespannten militärischen Pattsituation zwischen zwei Machtblöcken zu werden, die nun den interstellaren R ...more

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Mass Market Paperback, deutsche Erstausgabe, 360 pages

Published September 29th 2014 by CrossCult, Ludwigsburg (first published October 2012)

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Aug 07, 2019 Jerry rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I'm short on time tonight, so, I'll be brief: This is back to what I've come to expect from the franchise. This series has been rather hit or miss, so, it's good to read one of its better entries. ...more

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Jan 23, 2013 Matt Randall rated it liked it · review of another edition

As I was reading Brinkmanship, I kept thinking that at the end, everything would come together and there would be a brilliant reason for the Cardassian ambassador's rudeness, Peter Allen's paranoia, and some way of bringing the Cardassian spy into the rest of the events that would all make sense. But that never really happened. Instead, everything was left in a fairly blurry, uncertain state. I'm not sure what the point of the novel was. It doesn't really feel like it moved the Typhon Pack story ...more

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Jul 08, 2021 Yvette rated it really liked it · review of another edition

This was definitely the best book in the series. Is was not convoluted. Just a straight ahead story. It had intrigue, comedy and some great lines. It got 4 stars because I had read all those other books to get this one.

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Mar 25, 2014 Ron Turner rated it it was ok · review of another edition

It was okay. There are three plots and none of them really went anywhere.

1. Picard and Crusher join Federation, Ferengi and Cardassian diplomats for talks with the Venette Convention, a small power that is strategically located and have fallen under the sway of the Tzenkethi. The diplomatic intrigue is cool. I rather liked the Ferengi female diplomat Ilka. I thought the Venette were interesting. But Crusher was out of place. She just bumbled on along.

2. Ezri Dax investigates possible Tzenkethi b ...more

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Sep 26, 2012 Armen rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, lgbt

This story was an interesting Star Trek rendition of the Cuban missile crisis. I also really liked the further insight into a much more mature Ezri Dax than the one we saw back in the DS9 TV series. I particularly loved her line in the scene where she confronts Alden:

(view spoiler) ...more

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Oct 03, 2012 Sean O'Hara rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: science-fiction, star-trek, space-opera, espionage

Previously on Star Trek: The Typhon Pact we had the Cuban Missile Crisis in Space.

This time on Star Trek: The Typhon Pact, we have the Cuban Missile Crisis in Space.

So to some extent the series is getting repetitive -- pretty much every TNG era book these days has to involve a show-down between the Khitomer powers and the Typhon Pact which will go right up to the edge of war without actually becoming one. And you know what, I don't care -- the original Star Trek was at its best when it was doing ...more

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Oct 28, 2012 John Carter McKnight rated it liked it · review of another edition

I really should've liked this book immensely. I'm a big fan of diplomatic/political intrigue, and the Star Trek universe has done it particularly well a few times. Unfortunately, this fell flat.

One problem was the lack of distinctiveness in voices: a large part of the appeal of tie-in fiction lies in hearing familiar characters in our heads. McCormack not only miscued on that, but her Cardassians, Ferengi and humans all sounded the same.

One of the subplots involved a deep-cover agent going nat ...more

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Jul 22, 2015 Crystal Bensley rated it really liked it · review of another edition

A good political thriller where you learn alot about the Tzenkethi.

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Oct 22, 2015 Nis rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Very nice ending to the Typhon Pact series. Exactly the kind of political thriller I expected the series would be full of.

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Jun 16, 2018 Stephen rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: star-trek, relaunch

Who's up for the Cuban Missile Crisis....in spaaaaaaace? When an otherwise friendly nation on the borders of the Federation and two of its allies signs a treaty with a hostile power, allowing them bases for repair and refueling along the Federation border, Starfleet is understandably concerned -- and doubly so when news arrives that a fleet is enroute to supply the bases for their new tenants, carrying chemicals that could be used in biogenic warfare attacks on the Federation. While the USS Ente Who's up for the Cuban Missile Crisis....in spaaaaaaace? When an otherwise friendly nation on the borders of the Federation and two of its allies signs a treaty with a hostile power, allowing them bases for repair and refueling along the Federation border, Starfleet is understandably concerned -- and doubly so when news arrives that a fleet is enroute to supply the bases for their new tenants, carrying chemicals that could be used in biogenic warfare attacks on the Federation. While the USS Enterprise speeds to meet with the Space Cubans to work the diplomatic angle, the USS Aventime is dispatched to do a little friendly snooping near the proposed base nearest the Federation border. When the Cardassians -- who, along with the Ferengi are the other two threatened allies -- arrive ready for war, and the Space Cubans catch wind of possible spies inserted in their country, events begin to spiral out of control, heading towards a war that no one wants but no one seemingly can avoid. But the drama unfolding in open view is only the smoke and mirrors for another maneuver, one that is using parties on both sides.

I bought this book a couple of years back, intrigued by the possible historical parallels and interested in a book which includes both Picard and Dax. The primary appeal of the book is learning about the Tzenkethi, who along with the Breen were pretty much black holes before the Typhon Pact series began. Romulans, we know, love, and fear; while the Gorn and Tholians can be wrapped up in primal fears about reptiles and insects, respectively. The Tzenkethi are presented as a very stable, very hierarchical society who have a natural affinity for the Space Cubans, another stable and hierarchical society. The Tzenkethi view the Federation as some kind of chaos monster, however, the epitome of their every social fear: it's all argument, class-and-racial intermixing, cats and dogs living together, mass hysteria! Who can tell what they'll do, what new planet will sudden fall under their spell?

Having read beyond this series, I knew that no epic war between the Federation and the Typhon Pact broke out, so the drama was largely dampened for me. I assumed the drama would keep ramping up until something happened out of left field to defuse things, and that's more or less what happens. Still, it's nice to see Picard being the commanding diplomat again, and I'll never say no to a story with Ezri Dax and her ship, in part because the Relaunch developed her in such a commendable way -- turning the awkward 20-something shrink of 2000 into the Captain on the Bridge, and in part because the Aventine looks much different than the other Starfleet ships and I 'm ever curious about it. ...more

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Mar 08, 2018 Nicky2910 rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: genre_sci-fi, star-trek, subseries_relaunch, author_una-mccormack, misc_tie-in, 2018

Star Trek: Typhon Pact: Brinkmanship by Una McCormack While Crusher and Picard attend a conference over the offer by the Venetans to the Tzenkethi to use some of their starbases (those close to Federation, Cardassian and Ferengi space respectively), Dax is joined by SI commander Peter Alden, visiting one of the starbases in question and trying to determine the Tzenkethi motive.

I think the red thread holding this book together is distrust - distrust of enemies in a cold war, distrust of old frie ...more

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Feb 24, 2020 Patrick Hayes rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: star-trek

The focus is on diplomacy, with a bit of action thrown in, for this entry in the Typhon Pact series. No readings of any previous books in this series would hamper one's enjoyment.

The Federation and several of its allies are meeting with Venette Convention because they are leasing three of their starbases to the Tzenkethi, members of the Typhon Pact. Naturally Jean-Luc Picard is sent to head the committee, but the inclusion of one of the Federation's allies turns the meeting on its head.

Captain ...more

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Jan 17, 2016 C.T. Phipps rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: star-trek

The Typhon Pact novels are an interesting experiment in Star Trek literature. They are, in simple terms, an attempt to create a power to rival the Federation which is simultaneously hostile to the Alpha Quadrant's "good guys" but not something which can be just ignored as long as no one crosses the Neutral Zone. This isn't really all that original of an idea since the Klingons used to occupy this role in the Original Series and the Cardassians/Dominion had it for the period they weren't at war The Typhon Pact novels are an interesting experiment in Star Trek literature. They are, in simple terms, an attempt to create a power to rival the Federation which is simultaneously hostile to the Alpha Quadrant's "good guys" but not something which can be just ignored as long as no one crosses the Neutral Zone. This isn't really all that original of an idea since the Klingons used to occupy this role in the Original Series and the Cardassians/Dominion had it for the period they weren't at war with both.

But it's a good idea.

I've reviewed some of the other novels in the series such as Zero Sum Game, Rough Beasts of Empire, and The Struggle Within. In general, they are highly political books which deal with issues of how the Federation is going to deal with someone who has every bit the same level of power as them but only some of the values.

The books are quite clever in that the very act of the Typhon Pact forming from various "bad guy" Star Trek races results in political change as the powers find themselves altering in regards to the new political reality. Isolationism is the tool of the tyrant and those who depended on it among the Tzenkethi, Breen, and other species no longer have that luxury. The books are good, for the most part, but not necessarily to everyone's tastes. For me, I consider them to be the tool of those who really like deep looks into the politics of fiction.

Brinkmanship is, however, my favorite of the novels so far. It's not a difficult plot, being, essentially, "The Cuban Missile Crisis IN SPACE" but that's actually one of its strongest points. Once you get an idea of what they're going for, the plotline and its potential pitfalls become much more interesting. The short version is the Tzenkethi have made alliance with a close-to-the-Federation race called the Venetans.

The Venetans are harmless enough but have leased three of their bases to the Tzenkethi that puts them in striking distance of the Federation. Worse, there's indications that the bases are being stocked with biogenic weapons. Captain Picard, Doctor Crusher, and some newcomers must work on the diplomatic ends while Ezri Dax works with an old academy buddy on the espionage. There's also a subplot with a Cardassian spy on the Tzenkethi homeworld who is enamored of their totalitarian way of life.

There's a lot of very good bits as the central theme of the Typhon Pact is explored: what does one do with someone who is threatening and antagonistic but not an enemy yet? The Tzenkethi might be intending to make a first strike against the Federation or they might just be preparing for the day they need to (or they might not at all). Also, how much of a war is won by persuading the outsiders the other side is the bad guy? What about those who think the grass is greener on the other side or are paranoid to the point of insanity? All good questions in this Thirteen Days-esque adventure.

The book suffers, in my opinion, by making the Venetans too naive for their own good. For example, the concept of spying is considered to be a taboo thing for them to do and the equivalent of a war crime. Finding out the Federation inserted them into the Tzenkethi homeworld is almost enough to derail talks. The fact the Venetans can be worried about this and not about the fact the Tzenkethi are eugenics-obsessed Machiavellian schemers (and Starfleet doesn't bother pointing this out) strains credibility. The Federation could easily destroy the Tzenkethi in any argument where they just pointed out what a complete bunch of bastards they are. But they don't do that because, I dunno, negative campaigning is bad? Maybe the Venetans like totalitarian eugenicist societies.

I also had a bit of an issue with the fact the issues were allowed to reach their boiling point by a faction which had their own agenda. Their agenda is a valid one but given how close things got to intergalactic war, I can't help but think the parties involved deserved to be drug out of their offices and tossed on the street. You'd think the parties involved would have learned their lesson about screwed up backdoor dealings. It's the equivalent of the CIA setting up the Cuban Missile Crisis to catch a ring of KGB agents bribing members of Congress. Yes, it's a big deal but if the result is nuclear annihilation then there better be some arrest warrants issued thereafter.

I will say this novel has a lot going for it with the intricate dealings, world-building, and the stories about people trying to deal with bad faith actors in politics. Doctor Crusher really shines in this and I think the writing for her is top-notch. I also loved the scenes on Tzenkethi and how the two kinds of spies deal with their situation in drastically different manners. I also liked the depiction of Tzenkethi culture and how they've managed to create a society which is thoroughly toxic but its members seem to largely think is a good deal for themselves. The fact they're not 100% successful in this, however, is hope for the future.

I wasn't quite sold on the depiction of Ezri Dax, however, now a starship captain and a character far removed from the bumbling counselor she was on Deep Space Nine. Much of the book is devoted to her being suspicious of a Starfleet Intelligence agent and his conclusions, believing them to be paranoid delusions that might lead to an act of terrorism. The book more or less makes it clear the Tzenkethi are perfectly capable of everything he fears and there's even a moment where Ezri is left gobsmacked when she finds out one of his insane-sounding theories was perfectly sound. Ezri never changes her attitude, though, and I found that to be rather annoying. It's as if she's never heard of the phrase, "just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they're not out to get you."

Overall, I really recommend this for those who love their Trek-politics. Others may find it a bit dry since it's not an adventure novel.

9/10 ...more

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Nov 21, 2021 Claire rated it liked it · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Jan 03, 2021 Stephen rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Not a fan of Una McCormack. "The Way to the Stars" left a bad taste in the mouth for me, but I wanted to give the author another benefit of the doubt.

Unfortunately, that didn't pan out.

Whereas David Mack uses the plot to pique one's interest in the story, Una McCormack tries to string along a story with dialogues which sometimes get nowhere, just like the long drawn-out negotiations between the Federation and the Venetans/Tzenkethi.

Furthermore, the interactions were often shallow, similar to t ...more

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Apr 29, 2018 Scott Williams rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I couldn’t put this down! I think it’s my favourite of the Typhon Pact novels. McCormack does an excellent job of balancing action between Picard on the Enterprise, Dax on the Aventine, and some covert operatives on a planet. I love the espionage and diplomatic stuff and McCormack handles it expertly. Without spoiling anything, I can say that McCormack writes the Cardassians very well.

I think what I most enjoyed about this novel is that it included some exploration of a strange new world, and a ...more

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Nov 30, 2020 Wayne Nelson rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Good buildup, abrupt ending.

I enjoyed most of this novel, but I think it could have been about 50 pages longer to flesh out the finale.

The author's attempts to shoehorn feminist issues into the story doesn't sit well. While the Ferengi and Cardassian story lines lend themselves wholeheartedly to this issue, trying to include members of Starfleet (“...we don’t count. Not really. We’re here to carry spears. We’re here to obey.”) just rings a little hollow and unfair. ...more

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Nov 23, 2018 Preston Pendergraft rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: star-trek

After the two previous two books in the Typhon Pact I found this one to be underwhelming l. I did enjoy the Tzenkethi plot with the spies, but I found the Venetans to be a little off and their naivety to be a bit much. I understand what the author was doing, it just seemed a bit much for me.

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Nov 05, 2019 Tyrone Wilson rated it it was ok · review of another edition

This was pretty disappointing. There were occasional interesting bits within the story line, but nothing close to what might typically be expected of the principal Star Trek NG characters. The actions of the other characters were as confounding. I wondered if the writer ever heard of Star Trek NG.

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Feb 05, 2020 Michael rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Great read. Great point of views.

Too often a Star Trek story is told solely from the pov of the captain or captains. Here, Crusher takes the stage and carries us along on a story of intrigue and misdirection. Great addition to the Star Trek universe.

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Jul 16, 2013 Delray Beach Public Library rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: teen-reader-advisors

In this exciting edition to the Star Trek Universe, tensions are becoming higher every day. The Venette convention has turned to the Tzenkethi coalition for protection and has allowed three of their bases for the coalitions’ use. But if these bases are garrisoned, they would unacceptably close to Federation, Cardassian, and Ferengi space. Captain Ezri Dax and his ship the U.S.S. Aventine are sent to investigate what exactly is going on in these new Tzenkethi bases.

Meanwhile, Captain Picard takes ...more

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Sep 29, 2012 Daniel rated it liked it · review of another edition

The next book in the Typhon Pact series takes us to the Tzenkethi and a non-aligned power, the Venette Convention. The Tzenkethi wish to lease bases from the Venetans right on the borders of three Khitomer powers, which include the Federation. Naturally, Starfleet sends representitives to the Venetans in an attempt to stop the leasing process. What ensues is, as the title points out, a case of brinkmanship with one side accusing the other of various misdeeds while, at the same time, inching clos ...more

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Apr 11, 2013 Maurice Jr. rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I'm enjoying the ongoing saga of the Typhon Pact. This time around, we get the Tzenkethi, whom I find endlessly fascinating.

I enjoyed watching the crews of the Enterprise and the Aventine working together to stop yet another Tzenkethi plot to undermine the Federation and their allies. This time they were using the Venette Convention, a race annoyed with the Federation for what they perceived as ignoring their overtures of friendship. They leased bases from the Venette near the borders of the Fe ...more

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Jan 04, 2014 Barry rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Whether it is the publishing order, or by intention, this book, the 8th and final in the Typhon Pact series seems to be out of place.

The past two books would have been a much better ending to the series than this book is. That's not to say that the story or writing of this book is in anyway inferior but rather that the impact and conclusion are a much more sombre note.

Una McCormack does a fantastic job balancing two unique societies and the Tzenkethi portions of the book are just fascinating and ...more

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Sep 29, 2012 Paul Lunger rated it liked it · review of another edition

With the Typhon Pact novels, there have been at times more hits than misses, but Una McCormack's latest, "Brinkmanship" falls into the latter category. The story is a dual plot involving the Venette Convention a race that was once up for Federation membership that got forgotten about due to the Dominion War & Borg invasion. They've now taken up sides with the Tzenkethi which concerns the worlds of the Khitomer Accords. The Enterprise is dispatched to a peace conference to hopefully stave off any ...more

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Dec 15, 2013 Nathan rated it it was ok · review of another edition

On the whole, I am loving the Typhon Pact book series. That being said, this one was the first that, in my opinion, could be described as a letdown.

Throughout the entire story, everything was falling apart due to machinations that the characters (and reader) were quite oblivious to, and when the big reveal finally came, it was a bit lackluster as well as anticlimactic. There was also the matter of the characters staying in character... Some of them really didn't. There were a few times when I c ...more

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Oct 13, 2012 Daniel Kukwa rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: star-trek

The novel lives up to its title. For 2/3 of its length, I was thoroughly hooked to the diplomatic games, conniving, back-biting...until the final moment, when it seemed as if war was going to break out. If that had been the entire plot of the book, I would have granted it five stars.

However, I found the attempt to highlight the Tzenkethi homeworld & culture rather bland in comparison to the success of other "Typhon Pact" novels in this area, especially with the Breen. It reached the point where ...more

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May 18, 2013 Glenn Crouch rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: scifi

I quite enjoyed this latest instalment in the Typhon Pact :)

I liked the way that the Author successfully explored the two "Alien" cultures and fleshed them out nicely - yet still left me wanting to know more about them.

Also was nice to have a book that is primarily about the Diplomatic side of Star Fleet that TNG did (does) so well.

Whilst those who have read all the Typhon Pact books will understand the setting best, I think this would be an all right book as a stand alone (ie for TNG fans who h ...more

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Jan 30, 2014 Mel rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 21st-century-fiction, library2014, scifi, tbrs

I don't think I've read a Star Trek novel in about 20 years, I gave up watching DS9, I watched the reboot movie but hated it because it was so sexist! This book was totally the opposite of that! It had such a good cast of women, there were women starship captains, diplomats, spies. It was like the universe was actually made up of 50 percent women! It was brilliant! I was also really happy that Beverly and Jean Luc had gotten married!!! Something I thought only happened in fan fiction! As I hadn' ...more

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Aug 11, 2015 Eddie Glade rated it really liked it · review of another edition

One of the better ST books from the last few years. I'm a big fan of both Picard and Dax, and as you can tell this book features them. There's a fair amount of diplomacy, but it doesn't bog down the narrative like some other ST books. There's also a fun espionage subplot that goes through the whole book and is pretty compelling...McCormack keeps you guessing until the end exactly what will happen to the spy and what her importance is the the whole situation. Doesn't exactly tie up the "Typhon Pa ...more

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About Una McCormack

Una McCormack

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Una McCormack is a British writer and the author of several Star Trek novels and stories.

She has also written a number of Doctor Who novels and short stories.

Other books in the series

Star Trek: Typhon Pact (1 - 10 of 14 books)

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Quotes from Risiko

“Tell me what this means," Dax said. "I'm a busy woman with a ship to run and a crisis to handle and I've surrounded myself with smart, dedicated people for the sole purpose of interpreting unintelligible squiggles for me.” — 5 likes

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