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Star Trek: A Time to... #8
A Time to Heal
On the cusp of their epic battle with Shinzon, many of Captain Jean-Luc Picard's long-time crew were heading for new assignments and new challenges. Among the changes were William Riker's promotion to captain and his new command, Riker's marriage to Counselor Deanna Troi, and Dr. Beverly Crusher's new career at Starfleet Medical. But the story of what set them on a path away from the Starship Enterprise™ has never been told.
UNTIL NOW.
A cataclysmic war between the Federation and the Klingon Empire has been miraculously averted, and a new government is finally in place on the planet Tezwa. But deadly secrets still threaten the fragile peace accord.
Rebels still loyal to the old Tezwa regime have captured Commander Riker and are willing to kill to achieve their goals...the Orion Syndicate is interfering in the rebuilding -- and may also be involved in much more than that. But the most devastating revelation of all threatens the very foundations of the Federation itself -- leaving Captain Picard to possibly face the very conflict that he labored so hard to prevent....
UNTIL NOW.
A cataclysmic war between the Federation and the Klingon Empire has been miraculously averted, and a new government is finally in place on the planet Tezwa. But deadly secrets still threaten the fragile peace accord.
Rebels still loyal to the old Tezwa regime have captured Commander Riker and are willing to kill to achieve their goals...the Orion Syndicate is interfering in the rebuilding -- and may also be involved in much more than that. But the most devastating revelation of all threatens the very foundations of the Federation itself -- leaving Captain Picard to possibly face the very conflict that he labored so hard to prevent....
341 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published September 1, 2004
23 people are currently reading
502 people want to read
About the author
David Mack
111 books667 followersDavid Mack is the New York Times bestselling author of 39 novels of science-fiction, fantasy, and adventure, including the Star Trek Destiny and Cold Equations trilogies.
Beyond novels, Mack's writing credits span several media, including television (for produced episodes of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine), games, and comic books.
Follow him on Twitter @davidalanmack or like his Facebook page.
Beyond novels, Mack's writing credits span several media, including television (for produced episodes of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine), games, and comic books.
Follow him on Twitter @davidalanmack or like his Facebook page.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
February 13, 2025
Mack's followup to the excellent A Time to Kill is about as dark and violent as Trek gets. It's a story of political intrigue, featuring a conspiracy to coverup the arming of the unaligned planet Tezwa during the Dominion war. A conspiracy that reaches to the very heart of the Federation. And while Picard plays a key role, it's primarily Riker, Troi, La Forge, Crusher and a host of junior officers that share the spotlight. It's a well rounded narrative that, in addition to lots of thrills and action, sees Riker and Crusher in particular grappling with some crucial emotional inflection points.
On Tezwa, the Enterprise crew faces a bloody insurgency by loyalist holdouts, marked by brutal acts of terrorism and a massive body count, including countless civilians. There are a number of claustrophobic, Blackhawk Down like scenes, with the crew surrounded by a relentless, determined enemy. Riker is held captive in the most brutal of conditions, while Troi interrogates a captured general, pushing the boundaries on the ethical treatment of prisoners in a desperate attempt to get information on his whereabouts. She discovers what Nietzsche meant by "And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you".
While Picard and the Enterprise crew never completely abandon Federation principles, they are forced to push deep into the gray areas in order to combat an intractable enemy that has no scruples. And in the process of being used as an unwitting accomplice in the coverup, they uncover one of the Federation's darkest secrets. One that was intended to ensure the "greater good", despite the horrific costs involved.
On Tezwa, the Enterprise crew faces a bloody insurgency by loyalist holdouts, marked by brutal acts of terrorism and a massive body count, including countless civilians. There are a number of claustrophobic, Blackhawk Down like scenes, with the crew surrounded by a relentless, determined enemy. Riker is held captive in the most brutal of conditions, while Troi interrogates a captured general, pushing the boundaries on the ethical treatment of prisoners in a desperate attempt to get information on his whereabouts. She discovers what Nietzsche meant by "And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you".
While Picard and the Enterprise crew never completely abandon Federation principles, they are forced to push deep into the gray areas in order to combat an intractable enemy that has no scruples. And in the process of being used as an unwitting accomplice in the coverup, they uncover one of the Federation's darkest secrets. One that was intended to ensure the "greater good", despite the horrific costs involved.
July 4, 2025
This series delivers yet again! Can't wait to read the explosive conclusion!
March 1, 2019
Overall, A Time to Heal is an excellent novel, showing the true difficulty and associated horrors of a prolonged military occupation. David Mack pulls no punches with this one, subjecting our heroes to a quagmire that was clearly inspired by real-life events in our very recent cultural memory. While the subject matter is certainly dark, Mack never loses sight of the humanity of the characters, presenting us with a story that will, sadly, be relevant for a long time to come.
Full review: https://www.treklit.com/2019/03/ATtH....
Full review: https://www.treklit.com/2019/03/ATtH....
October 10, 2024
Im 2. Teil des David Mack Doppelbandes innerhalb der Star Trek "Zeit des Wandels"-Reihe geht es in erster Linie um die Aufdeckung der Machenschaften um Förderationspräsident Zife und seinen Leuten, die die geheime Waffenlieferung an den Planeten Tezwa zu verheimlichen suchen. Bekanntlich hat Zife veranlasst, während des Dominion-Krieges (siehe Star Trek: DS9) dass dem Planeten Tezwa heimlich geheime und mächtige Förderationswaffen geliefert werden, um einen Sie ger Gründer zu verhindern. Dass dabei das wichtige Kithomer-Abkommen mit den Klingonen verletzt wurde, war mit einkalkuliert. Als auf Tezwa ein blutiger Bürgerkrieg ausgebrochen ist und eine Partei die Klingonen mit diesen Waffen angegriffen hat, wurde die ENTERPRISE und eine kleine Förderationsflotte entsendet, um den Konflikt beizulegen. Bei den verzweifelten Friedensmaßnahmen kam der Besatzung schließlich die Waffenlieferungen ans Licht. Die Sternenflotte drängte danach den Förderationspräsidenten heimlich aus dem Amt. Diese Handlungen werden im der Sektion 31-Romanen innerhalb des Buch-Kanons extra behandelt und der Tod Zifes durch die Sektion 31 genauer durchleuchtet. Dies ist auch der Startpunkt der Post-Nemesis-Romane, genau in diesem Band gekam auch Riker das Kommando über die TITAN. David Mack beschrieb diese Schlüsselromane excellent !
September 13, 2021
Very action oriented, though at a bit of a slower pace than the last. David Mack also continues to balance action and politics without getting bogged down. He also gives a convincing account of what ground warfare must be like and doesn’t stint on the consequences. People get hurt and die. A lot. And sometimes unexpectedly. Even characters you were sure were going to survive. For once in this series, the second half isn’t a padded mess of a letdown.
However, I’m not happy how Mack handles Deanna Troi. Largely we see her pining away for Will and while she does do more than that in the story, even that is a double edged sword. During Riker’s absence she interrogates a high level Tezwan prisoner (a general in their military) and we are reminded of basically how unimaginatively her Betazoid empathy is generally portrayed. After the prisoner slips up a bit under questioning she suddenly has an amazing telepathic flash that the man had “dark secrets” he was concealing. Wow—never saw that coming. At that point she forgets all of her psychological training, allowing her fears of Will’s safety/survival to get the better of her and suddenly reacts emotionally, upping the enhanced interrogation aspects of her prisoner’s confinement. In the next scene with Troi, he seems to have an idea of how that empathy might work in an interrogation, but it’s too little, too late and she gets nowhere. Sorry for spending so much time on this one aspect of the book, really it’s minor—but the empathy thing has bugged me for years how and this time it just triggered me.
The conclusion is very plausible and one I would have thought to see in a Next Generation story, but the same can be said for many of the events in the story. Ultimately, A Time to Kill/A Time to Heal is a Deep Space 9 story told with Next Gen characters but the substitution works to making the war environment a more visceral experience
However, I’m not happy how Mack handles Deanna Troi. Largely we see her pining away for Will and while she does do more than that in the story, even that is a double edged sword. During Riker’s absence she interrogates a high level Tezwan prisoner (a general in their military) and we are reminded of basically how unimaginatively her Betazoid empathy is generally portrayed. After the prisoner slips up a bit under questioning she suddenly has an amazing telepathic flash that the man had “dark secrets” he was concealing. Wow—never saw that coming. At that point she forgets all of her psychological training, allowing her fears of Will’s safety/survival to get the better of her and suddenly reacts emotionally, upping the enhanced interrogation aspects of her prisoner’s confinement. In the next scene with Troi, he seems to have an idea of how that empathy might work in an interrogation, but it’s too little, too late and she gets nowhere. Sorry for spending so much time on this one aspect of the book, really it’s minor—but the empathy thing has bugged me for years how and this time it just triggered me.
The conclusion is very plausible and one I would have thought to see in a Next Generation story, but the same can be said for many of the events in the story. Ultimately, A Time to Kill/A Time to Heal is a Deep Space 9 story told with Next Gen characters but the substitution works to making the war environment a more visceral experience
September 12, 2015
A very intense novel and David Mack is always fantastic!
December 28, 2021
Once again, David Mack gifts Star Trek fans with a wonderful book filled with action, intrigue, political acumen, and interwoven motion. He has a rare capacity for fluid pacing and determined plot machinations that hold your attention and keep you turning the page. Moreover, the heart, passion, and pathos he injects into his work provide a truly rewarding reading experience.
June 16, 2022
Maybe not quite as exciting as the previous novel, but this is an absolutely intense examination of war and military occupation. It deftly mixes politics, action and character beats without holding back. It has a gritter edge than the Star Trek we saw on TV back then and is all the better for it. The book falters somewhat in the pacing and the overabundance of characters who are barely introduced before they disappear for a long time.
David Mack absolutely saved this mini-series.
David Mack absolutely saved this mini-series.
November 11, 2021
My full review will be up on Roqoo Depot soon. This is an excellent political thriller novel, but doesn't quite hit all of the high notes of it's predecessor. Still amazing nonetheless. 4.5 out of 5!
August 2, 2011
Not as good as some of the others. This story seemed forced from the beginning. Throughout, the plot seems very forced. It is a decent story line, but it jumps all around, and the plot follows Murphy's law almost to a ridiculous extreme. I understand that the authors are creating a story line to bridge two of the Trek movies, but the events the crew encounters and the extremes they are subjected to, in about a year's time seem to be overwhelming. The events that transpire "between" the last two movies could be enough for its own movie. While I have enjoyed the series overall, this one just didn't really work for me.
December 11, 2015
The book dragged at certain points. Not one of my favorites of the series.
December 31, 2025
Star Trek: A Time To... 05 A Time to Heal by David Mack
4.75 Stars
challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense
Medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
This was a magnificent story...and the way the author kept us with our heroes, but also never too far away from the disruptors, and the villains...was genius level. Loved how the story was told, but that this was the story that he decided to tell.
I am reading this story in 2025, and with the way the people of Gaza have been like the Tezwa people...used by others, some even of their own people to exploit, leaving them in the very areas of the fight, which another force was trying to give aid at the local level, but even their own "higher ups" were using/abusing this people for their own machinations. Ugh.
While reading about the medics and the soldiers there to protect their own people...as they give aid to this oppressed people, and what they all went through. Having to just try to save the "next one", fail...now just try to save the next one, fail, then the next, fail...then the next, fail. You can see how this could just wear on those providing medical help, those who are providing security for them, and just the police...trying to do their best, when the infrastructure is gone...and the path to health and freedom has collapsed. The feeling of frustration. How can I, this one single person stop the pressure of all these people getting hurt. Ugh.
I've not been a huge fan of this current "A Time To..." series, but this book. Wow! This book brought the feels, that's for sure.
By the end of the book, the amount of correlations I saw about our own reality, as we live were stark and also hard to believe that we are actually living through times so much like this. Why can't we just help each other. Whoever you are, and whoever "they" are. Just find a way, a path forward...to success in life. Why couldn't we actually do this?
These are the types of thoughts that I'm currently having. This isn't a story I'll forget very easily.
There is one more novel in this series, and it has a LOT to live up to. A Time to... 09 A Time for War, A Time for Peace by Keith R.A. DeCandido.
4.75 Stars
challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense
Medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
This was a magnificent story...and the way the author kept us with our heroes, but also never too far away from the disruptors, and the villains...was genius level. Loved how the story was told, but that this was the story that he decided to tell.
I am reading this story in 2025, and with the way the people of Gaza have been like the Tezwa people...used by others, some even of their own people to exploit, leaving them in the very areas of the fight, which another force was trying to give aid at the local level, but even their own "higher ups" were using/abusing this people for their own machinations. Ugh.
While reading about the medics and the soldiers there to protect their own people...as they give aid to this oppressed people, and what they all went through. Having to just try to save the "next one", fail...now just try to save the next one, fail, then the next, fail...then the next, fail. You can see how this could just wear on those providing medical help, those who are providing security for them, and just the police...trying to do their best, when the infrastructure is gone...and the path to health and freedom has collapsed. The feeling of frustration. How can I, this one single person stop the pressure of all these people getting hurt. Ugh.
I've not been a huge fan of this current "A Time To..." series, but this book. Wow! This book brought the feels, that's for sure.
By the end of the book, the amount of correlations I saw about our own reality, as we live were stark and also hard to believe that we are actually living through times so much like this. Why can't we just help each other. Whoever you are, and whoever "they" are. Just find a way, a path forward...to success in life. Why couldn't we actually do this?
These are the types of thoughts that I'm currently having. This isn't a story I'll forget very easily.
There is one more novel in this series, and it has a LOT to live up to. A Time to... 09 A Time for War, A Time for Peace by Keith R.A. DeCandido.
August 21, 2019
Well...I certainly think the crew of the Enterprise E will need some time to heal after this action packed and intense novel. There was not a great deal of opportunity to do that in this story, however. David Mack wrote an adrenaline-fueled war story drawing heavy parallels to US conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq, right down to suicide bombers, a corrupt administration, and issues of torture. While I enjoyed the book and appreciated the author’s storytelling and social commentary, I did find myself feeling quite uncomfortable during several of the ground battle scenes, as well as when Troi was engaging in “enhanced interrogation...” I never would have thought that she would bring herself to engage in those techniques, regardless of her desperate situation.
Mr. Mack’s writing was quite violent this time around and I was unaccustomed to reading about such horrifying aspects of war happening to Starfleet officers in a Star Trek book. I can’t say I would like to repeat that experience. I’m also disturbed that the admiralty decided to remove and execute a sitting president. So did everyone on that big conference call just implicitly understand what being put in “witness protection” meant, then? For Jean Luc’s sake I will choose to assume not...
Overall, I thought the book and story was strong but these factors ended up leaving a weird taste in my mouth upon finishing the book. I look forward to starting the last book in this series to see the fallout of this explosive, shameful, and corrupt mark on the Federation.
Mr. Mack’s writing was quite violent this time around and I was unaccustomed to reading about such horrifying aspects of war happening to Starfleet officers in a Star Trek book. I can’t say I would like to repeat that experience. I’m also disturbed that the admiralty decided to remove and execute a sitting president. So did everyone on that big conference call just implicitly understand what being put in “witness protection” meant, then? For Jean Luc’s sake I will choose to assume not...
Overall, I thought the book and story was strong but these factors ended up leaving a weird taste in my mouth upon finishing the book. I look forward to starting the last book in this series to see the fallout of this explosive, shameful, and corrupt mark on the Federation.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 17, 2020
Wow, I'm sure glad I wasn't a security officer on the Enterprise during the events of this novel.
A fast paced and action packed conclusion to the story. I found this one to be interesting because the overall mission can't really be called successful, and most of the main characters end up not being particularly pleased with how things turn out.
For me, finding out how characters react when they don't achieve the objectives they set out to accomplish makes for a more interesting story than when everything goes according to plan.
I'm finding the relationship between Picard and Dr. Crusher to be interesting. I know in the novels further into the timeline they do get married, but in the "Picard" TV series, there is no mention of an ongoing relationship between them. I'm curious to see what the last novel in this series does with this. It is set a few weeks before the events in the movie "Nemesis".
I'll also have to read the novelization of "Nemesis" to review what happens there. It looks like there are two books between this one and that, one doesn't sound like it fits into the current story arc, the second fits into the arc, but I'll have to check it if takes place before or after "Nemesis".
I'm rather curious to figure at which point the novels would have to be considered to be a completely separate timeline from the TV shows.
A fast paced and action packed conclusion to the story. I found this one to be interesting because the overall mission can't really be called successful, and most of the main characters end up not being particularly pleased with how things turn out.
For me, finding out how characters react when they don't achieve the objectives they set out to accomplish makes for a more interesting story than when everything goes according to plan.
I'm finding the relationship between Picard and Dr. Crusher to be interesting. I know in the novels further into the timeline they do get married, but in the "Picard" TV series, there is no mention of an ongoing relationship between them. I'm curious to see what the last novel in this series does with this. It is set a few weeks before the events in the movie "Nemesis".
I'll also have to read the novelization of "Nemesis" to review what happens there. It looks like there are two books between this one and that, one doesn't sound like it fits into the current story arc, the second fits into the arc, but I'll have to check it if takes place before or after "Nemesis".
I'm rather curious to figure at which point the novels would have to be considered to be a completely separate timeline from the TV shows.
September 19, 2023
Другая репутация Дэвида Мэка в фандоме - что в его книгах много трагических смертей, и уф, здесь она очень подтверждается.
После того, как "Энтерпрайз" остановил сумасшедшую попытку нейтральной планеты объявить войну Клингонской Империи, корабль теперь возглавляет фактическую оккупацию планеты в поддержку нового правительства. Основные проблемы: 1) старое правительство ведет очень эффективную террористическую кампанию и держит в плену коммандера Райкера; 2) неизвестной им настоящей целью этой оккупации является уничтожение улик незаконных действий офиса Президента Федерации, которые привели к этой последовательности событий.
Это довольно тяжелая книга, цена попыток Звездного Флота поддерживать порядок довольно высока. Я пару раз ловил себя на мысли, что количество смертей становится абсурдным, но это может быть намеренно учитывая масштаб событий и их настоящие причины и цели. Хотите понервничать о том, кто из второстепенных персонажей доживет до конца?
Главный недостаток книги - линия, где часть основного каста ТНГ устраивают "юридически не пытки" одного из лидеров старого правительства в попытке выяснить местонахождение Райкера. Они безуспешны, и книга пытается оправдать их поведение эмоционально, но очень неприятно видеть такое 24-подобное поведение от этих персонажей под командованием Пикарда. Первая половина нулевых в Америке была hell of a time.
После того, как "Энтерпрайз" остановил сумасшедшую попытку нейтральной планеты объявить войну Клингонской Империи, корабль теперь возглавляет фактическую оккупацию планеты в поддержку нового правительства. Основные проблемы: 1) старое правительство ведет очень эффективную террористическую кампанию и держит в плену коммандера Райкера; 2) неизвестной им настоящей целью этой оккупации является уничтожение улик незаконных действий офиса Президента Федерации, которые привели к этой последовательности событий.
Это довольно тяжелая книга, цена попыток Звездного Флота поддерживать порядок довольно высока. Я пару раз ловил себя на мысли, что количество смертей становится абсурдным, но это может быть намеренно учитывая масштаб событий и их настоящие причины и цели. Хотите понервничать о том, кто из второстепенных персонажей доживет до конца?
Главный недостаток книги - линия, где часть основного каста ТНГ устраивают "юридически не пытки" одного из лидеров старого правительства в попытке выяснить местонахождение Райкера. Они безуспешны, и книга пытается оправдать их поведение эмоционально, но очень неприятно видеть такое 24-подобное поведение от этих персонажей под командованием Пикарда. Первая половина нулевых в Америке была hell of a time.
December 17, 2023
A exceptionally strong read, considering it's the conclusion begun in A Time to Kill.
There are several problems for the crew of the Enterprise-E to solve. The planet Tezwa is engaged in civil war and Riker has been taken a hostage. Can he be rescued? The Orion Syndicate is trying to re-establish itself in the system, starting with regaining territory on Tezwa. Can it be stopped? The lies of the Federation President are building to a head. Will it lead to the Klingons breaking away and attacking the Federation? Will Dr. Crusher leave the ship to go to Starfleet Headquarter to teach? Will Picard say what his heart wants? Will Troi be consumed by grief, realizing the ship's mission is more important than finding one man--her husband?
Every character has something important to do and the supporting characters are completely realized. I was completely absorbed into this book and loved every page. This is my favorite concluding part in the "A Time to" series.
Highest possible recommendation.
There are several problems for the crew of the Enterprise-E to solve. The planet Tezwa is engaged in civil war and Riker has been taken a hostage. Can he be rescued? The Orion Syndicate is trying to re-establish itself in the system, starting with regaining territory on Tezwa. Can it be stopped? The lies of the Federation President are building to a head. Will it lead to the Klingons breaking away and attacking the Federation? Will Dr. Crusher leave the ship to go to Starfleet Headquarter to teach? Will Picard say what his heart wants? Will Troi be consumed by grief, realizing the ship's mission is more important than finding one man--her husband?
Every character has something important to do and the supporting characters are completely realized. I was completely absorbed into this book and loved every page. This is my favorite concluding part in the "A Time to" series.
Highest possible recommendation.
May 23, 2020
3.5 stars. reading reviews of this one I was prepared for the worst - a grim dark story set on a war-torn world, lots of death and destruction etc. and there was a lot of that but it wasn’t as hard of a slog to read as I thought it might be.
lots of different viewpoints in this. I wasn’t bored by any of them but I did miss just handing out with the enterprise crew. this was very plot-heavy, not a character book. however there were some good insights into the characters. I was fascinated by Troi’s scenes in this. I was expecting some hardcore torture scenes lol after reading some reviews but again it wasn’t as bad as I imagined.
this is probably the best book from the series (so far) though there’s only one book to go. tbh I’m kinda hopeful the next one is a bit more light-hearted/not as heavy.
lots of different viewpoints in this. I wasn’t bored by any of them but I did miss just handing out with the enterprise crew. this was very plot-heavy, not a character book. however there were some good insights into the characters. I was fascinated by Troi’s scenes in this. I was expecting some hardcore torture scenes lol after reading some reviews but again it wasn’t as bad as I imagined.
this is probably the best book from the series (so far) though there’s only one book to go. tbh I’m kinda hopeful the next one is a bit more light-hearted/not as heavy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 12, 2016
David Mack's conclusion to the previous "A Time to Kill" is no less a page turner, but somehow loses some of the polish of the first outing.
Riker's capture by Tezwan Loyalists (devoted to the deposed Prime Minister Kinchawn) is threaded throughout this volume, and while scenes of his confinement are limited in number, the ramifications of his imprisonment form the foundation for this opus.
The multiple events of "A Time to Heal" all take place amidst a background of ever-increasing terrorist attacks and violence on Tezwa as Kinchawn's forces fight a guerrilla campaign against Starfleet and the new Tezwan government. Yet with four starships in orbit and thousands of Starfleet personnel on the surface, the reader is perhaps lulled into a false sense of security that the Loyalists don't have a chance. Indeed, there's an excellent scene near the beginning of the novel where a Starfleet strike team expertly assaults a rebel stronghold and captures the renegade military General Minza... this fed into my expectation that Starfleet wouldn't have any issue holding the planet and effecting the rescue of Riker.
Never one to rest on his laurels, David Mack clearly isn't content to give Starfleet an easy job in rebuilding Tezwa after the Klingon attack. He quickly puts our heroes on the backfoot as the Loyalists launch a series of increasingly more daring attacks which succeed in killing thousands of Starfleet personnel and Tezwan civilians, caught off guard by the brazen nature of their aggressors. There are no punches pulled here, this material is graphic and disturbing: the true horrors of war are brought home in some brutally descriptive prose which chronicles every ounce of suffering and barbarity that the victims are forced to endure. I found myself drawing parallels with some of Deep Space Nine's more close-to-the-bone stories such as "Nor the Battle to the Strong" and "The Siege of AR-558", yet I think in some ways Mack sails past that point. Perhaps it's over-sensitivity on my part, but I bordered on uncomfortable when reading some of the more gratuitous sections.
That brings me to Counselor Troi. Having Riker missing in both this duology and the last was rather shortsighted in retrospect, but these two incidences are miles apart. First of all, there's no Betazoid-empathy/telepathy at work here to reassure the counselor that her Imzadi is safe or even alive. There's just her own rapidly deteriorating hope and inner fears to guide her. And so begins a slow unraveling of Deanna which was shocking to read. Despite the narrative to the contrary, Deanna is very much complicit in inflicting psychological harm to General Minza as he's held in the Enterprise's brig. I winced as I heard the efforts she went to in order to exacerbate the General's mental condition and push him to his edge. Yet to his credit, David Mack confronts this in a rather stark way: Troi recognizes her innate desire for vengeance driven by grief in the famous Nietzsche quote; "If you gaze into the abyss, the abyss gazes also into you." Troi isn't normally known for having dramatic material to play with, so this was a very welcome departure from that norm. The coda to her story where she confronts her dark thoughts with the Amargosa's counselor was a thinly veiled warning to us all: Beware that, when fighting monsters, you yourself do not become a monster.
Other things that really worked in this book (because there's so many!):
* Geordi slowly piecing together the political corruption scandal and not letting it be swept under the rug. Really nice meaty stuff here for Geordi.
* The dance of Beverly and Jean-Luc finally comes to an end. And it's all rather sad as the "chasm" between the characters is laid bare. "Some things you have to leave broken and just move on". Sure, as a P/C fan, this made me sad, but it was so wonderfully written that I can only applaud.
* Data steps up to the First Officer plate. It's only focused on tangentially, but I loved the progression of Data as he was given the chance to move up the ranks. And Riker's lamentation that he "held him back" all these years was very moving and convincing.
And yet I can't quite bring myself to award the same four stars that the first volume earned. While there's a lot to exalt here, the sheer amount of blood and carnage and hopelessness really got to me after a while. I'd rather Mack had reined some of that in in favor of perhaps more of a focus on Picard. Because this leads to one of my chief complaints here. Picard again comes off as rather ineffectual as the captain. Given the increasing violence on the planet, what could possibly possess him to order all THREE other starships in orbit away to pursue a freighter?! It's a major misstep, and results in much of the devastation and atrocities which unfold in the final act.
Speaking of which, Picard's adamance that non-lethal force be used even when hijacked ships are ramming into the Enterprise is so clearly the wrong decision, that no amount of respect for "Rules of Engagement" can justify it. Yet his incompetence is compounded by deciding to wait for a technobabble "solution" to power up so he can repel the ships, rather than using phasers. All this despite the fact that his people are dying by the dozen on the surface and calling out for help. Really not Jean-Luc's finest moment, and it pulled me out of the narrative with it's sheer unbelievability.
In a lesser book, such missteps would have reduced a rating down to two stars, but I can't bring myself to do that when there's so much good material here. Mack leaves all the characters in fascinating positions as their life choices in Nemesis grow ever closer.
Riker's capture by Tezwan Loyalists (devoted to the deposed Prime Minister Kinchawn) is threaded throughout this volume, and while scenes of his confinement are limited in number, the ramifications of his imprisonment form the foundation for this opus.
The multiple events of "A Time to Heal" all take place amidst a background of ever-increasing terrorist attacks and violence on Tezwa as Kinchawn's forces fight a guerrilla campaign against Starfleet and the new Tezwan government. Yet with four starships in orbit and thousands of Starfleet personnel on the surface, the reader is perhaps lulled into a false sense of security that the Loyalists don't have a chance. Indeed, there's an excellent scene near the beginning of the novel where a Starfleet strike team expertly assaults a rebel stronghold and captures the renegade military General Minza... this fed into my expectation that Starfleet wouldn't have any issue holding the planet and effecting the rescue of Riker.
Never one to rest on his laurels, David Mack clearly isn't content to give Starfleet an easy job in rebuilding Tezwa after the Klingon attack. He quickly puts our heroes on the backfoot as the Loyalists launch a series of increasingly more daring attacks which succeed in killing thousands of Starfleet personnel and Tezwan civilians, caught off guard by the brazen nature of their aggressors. There are no punches pulled here, this material is graphic and disturbing: the true horrors of war are brought home in some brutally descriptive prose which chronicles every ounce of suffering and barbarity that the victims are forced to endure. I found myself drawing parallels with some of Deep Space Nine's more close-to-the-bone stories such as "Nor the Battle to the Strong" and "The Siege of AR-558", yet I think in some ways Mack sails past that point. Perhaps it's over-sensitivity on my part, but I bordered on uncomfortable when reading some of the more gratuitous sections.
That brings me to Counselor Troi. Having Riker missing in both this duology and the last was rather shortsighted in retrospect, but these two incidences are miles apart. First of all, there's no Betazoid-empathy/telepathy at work here to reassure the counselor that her Imzadi is safe or even alive. There's just her own rapidly deteriorating hope and inner fears to guide her. And so begins a slow unraveling of Deanna which was shocking to read. Despite the narrative to the contrary, Deanna is very much complicit in inflicting psychological harm to General Minza as he's held in the Enterprise's brig. I winced as I heard the efforts she went to in order to exacerbate the General's mental condition and push him to his edge. Yet to his credit, David Mack confronts this in a rather stark way: Troi recognizes her innate desire for vengeance driven by grief in the famous Nietzsche quote; "If you gaze into the abyss, the abyss gazes also into you." Troi isn't normally known for having dramatic material to play with, so this was a very welcome departure from that norm. The coda to her story where she confronts her dark thoughts with the Amargosa's counselor was a thinly veiled warning to us all: Beware that, when fighting monsters, you yourself do not become a monster.
Other things that really worked in this book (because there's so many!):
* Geordi slowly piecing together the political corruption scandal and not letting it be swept under the rug. Really nice meaty stuff here for Geordi.
* The dance of Beverly and Jean-Luc finally comes to an end. And it's all rather sad as the "chasm" between the characters is laid bare. "Some things you have to leave broken and just move on". Sure, as a P/C fan, this made me sad, but it was so wonderfully written that I can only applaud.
* Data steps up to the First Officer plate. It's only focused on tangentially, but I loved the progression of Data as he was given the chance to move up the ranks. And Riker's lamentation that he "held him back" all these years was very moving and convincing.
And yet I can't quite bring myself to award the same four stars that the first volume earned. While there's a lot to exalt here, the sheer amount of blood and carnage and hopelessness really got to me after a while. I'd rather Mack had reined some of that in in favor of perhaps more of a focus on Picard. Because this leads to one of my chief complaints here. Picard again comes off as rather ineffectual as the captain. Given the increasing violence on the planet, what could possibly possess him to order all THREE other starships in orbit away to pursue a freighter?! It's a major misstep, and results in much of the devastation and atrocities which unfold in the final act.
Speaking of which, Picard's adamance that non-lethal force be used even when hijacked ships are ramming into the Enterprise is so clearly the wrong decision, that no amount of respect for "Rules of Engagement" can justify it. Yet his incompetence is compounded by deciding to wait for a technobabble "solution" to power up so he can repel the ships, rather than using phasers. All this despite the fact that his people are dying by the dozen on the surface and calling out for help. Really not Jean-Luc's finest moment, and it pulled me out of the narrative with it's sheer unbelievability.
In a lesser book, such missteps would have reduced a rating down to two stars, but I can't bring myself to do that when there's so much good material here. Mack leaves all the characters in fascinating positions as their life choices in Nemesis grow ever closer.
August 22, 2017
Book 2 completed the story arc from where Book 1 left off. It really fleshed out the aftermath of Book 1. The scope of the book was really big, talking about some politics, Section 31, the Orion Syndicate, the Tezwan planet, and other ships. It also brought to life some of the characters, especially Peart and Vale. I thought the Dr Crusher storyline was a bit boring though, but her stories usually are. I liked that they couldn't break the Tezwan prisoner they captured. Overall, I enjoyed these two books by David Mack. I look forward to finding out what happens next with the politics too.
April 16, 2021
Probably my least favorite Star Trek book of all time. Of course it was part of a series I haven’t read but I didn’t think it would matter. It mostly follow b-characters while the famous crew are relegated to obscure side roles. Many of the story directions seem very out of place for the characters including Troi engaged in torture of a foreign general. Ugh. I was so excited to read this but it was so disappointing.
January 20, 2025
One of the strongest Time To… books, the first one in a while that didn’t feel like a stretched story to fit the duology format
And things start to gain momentum in the set up for the dissolution of the bridge crew…
And unlike the first book, this one really sold the Tezwa conflict as important to have ramifications Post Destiny..l
And things start to gain momentum in the set up for the dissolution of the bridge crew…
And unlike the first book, this one really sold the Tezwa conflict as important to have ramifications Post Destiny..l
December 14, 2022
AS always, David Mack is one of the best authors for Star Trek novellae. Never once his books deluded me and A Time To Heal is great as the previous I've read of him. ASAP I'll buy and read the Vanguard Series.
July 15, 2023
A shame this comes after the planetwide security effort in 'A Time to Love/Hate', and I don't love the turn into gruff military action, but it's another solid outing from Mack. No wonder they gave him so much work.
July 16, 2025
Peart was definitely named after Rush drummer Neil Peart. Mack confirms he’s a Rush fan in the About the Author section. There wasn’t much about the story that kept me engaged, to be honest. Didn’t really latch onto the less familiar characters. The ending does show the next step for Riker, though.
October 4, 2025
One of the best Star Trek books
I really enjoyed this book. It had a solid build up without being boring. The emotional payoff was really very satisfying as well. I genuinely hurt for these characters the way I would during a really good episode of the series. Recommend it.
I really enjoyed this book. It had a solid build up without being boring. The emotional payoff was really very satisfying as well. I genuinely hurt for these characters the way I would during a really good episode of the series. Recommend it.
April 25, 2018
Really enjoyed the story line and looking forward to the next book.
April 14, 2020
A lot of red shirts died in this book
June 23, 2020
The end of the Enterprise? Never!
March 29, 2022
Just a great book for Trek.
January 21, 2025
A well written but predictable allegory of the Vietnam War.
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