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A Time to be Born
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Andrea
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May 26, 2014 12:06PM
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I've been doing all study and no play lately so I hope to start on this tonight to get in some me time. :) Can't wait to discuss.
Started reading it again this morning. Will try to stay on pace with everyone else.
haa I am behind you both as I got my days confused and thought today was the first when I realized it was still may I decided to hold off a day or two.
I've decided to join ya'll and re-read this series. I hope I can keep up! So far, I've read chapter 1 and started on chapter 2.
Chakara wrote: "haa I am behind you both as I got my days confused and thought today was the first when I realized it was still may I decided to hold off a day or two."Lol you are not behind. I thought I was. Didn't know a date had been set. Lol
Okay, my essay is done I don't have another paper due for 3 weeks sooooo time to read. :) Ill be back with initial thoughts.
I'm more of a fantasy/urban/paranormal reader so when I try to read sci-fi, its always a difficult transition to all the teck stuff. I understand it just find when watching it though. I had to stop a research on the net the different things that took place in chapter 1, and now I'm finding myself doing the same in chapter two. I'm hoping that things will flow better the further in I get.
I tend to research stuff they talk about as well. We could always discuss those things boss, just throw out some of the things you're researching.
Christine Vale? did she just pop up or is there a history there? i know the Dominion war took place sometime during DS9 but it was confusing then and now
I'm a little over 1.5 chapters in. I've only watched two episodes of DS9. Some of the people I don't know but its not slowing me down I figure if they are important I'll get to know them before the book is over. I don't like how the author keeps calling the female captain of the juno skipper. Doesn't call picard skipper, he's just capt. picard.
I still feel bad for Wesley.
Are we reading one book per month? That would work best for me if we are.
what a relief.the skipper means business huh?
I don't like that word skipper if she's the captain of the ship she should be addressed as so but I'll let it go. I'm almost done with chapter 3. I can feel myself wanting to keep reading but I have to balance my reading with my work these days. No reading for hours :(.
Picard has said make it so like 50 times already and I'm barely 20 precent into the book. I love Data! He's my favorite so I'm happy to see that he has a part in this book.
Chakara wrote: "I don't like that word skipper if she's the captain of the ship she should be addressed as so but I'll let it go. I'm almost done with chapter 3. I can feel myself wanting to keep reading but I h..."
many people have said that about the skipper part in reviews here on GR, however "captain" is an Earth phrase and one must remember that Star Trek is not just about Earth. skipper is another word for captain anyways mostly originating from Britain, meaning the leader of a battle ship. so the title is used as an honor not demeaning. we don't hear that many Earth bound captains called skipper because most of the Earth bound have been explorers, like Picard, because Earth was supposed to be about peace and friendship.
the term skipper is from Britain which is on earth so picard should also be called skipper. But I have learned to ignore little things like that while reading. If I didn't I would never get anything read.
Chakara wrote: "the term skipper is from Britain which is on earth so picard should also be called skipper. But I have learned to ignore little things like that while reading. If I didn't I would never get anythin..."Part of Vaughn's argument makes sense. Picard people have known him as a Captain of the Enterprise D for more time than they have known him as Captain of the E. D was a warship which was supposed to look and function like an exploratory vessel, thus it makes sense that they would call him a captain. The E (and whatever class that is) is admittedly a warship (I believe they mention that in First Contact), therefore he should also be called Skipper, as you say Chakara- but we could probably make a case for his crew just using the term they always have. And since Skipper and Captain can be interchangeable it could just be that Leeden prefers Skipper.
Either way I fail to see how Skipper is in any way demeaning or diminishing, since the two words mean basically the same thing and do not carry any connotations connected race or gender.
Chris wrote: "Chakara wrote: "the term skipper is from Britain which is on earth so picard should also be called skipper. But I have learned to ignore little things like that while reading. If I didn't I would n..."I agree. It means the same to me.
Well when I was a child their used to be this doll called skipper she was supposed to be the sporty Barbie doll. So to me its a bit demeaning . Especially being she seems to be a hard ass type of person as they say. But as I have said it hasn't ruined the book for me I just found it really annoying.
Ahhh, I see! I doubt that is what the author intended. But I can totally see why that would be annoying. There's something to be said for an ever evolving and growing language, words take on connotations. What chapter are we currently on? I am about midway through chapter 6.
I never played with Barbie's but I get your point. I'm still near the beginning.
Whenever I hear skipper, I think of Gilligan's Island! Using skipper for a starship captain just doesn't sound right to me.I haven't had much time to read lately; I only on chapter 2.
I was doing some more research on the term and ran across a few things:Skipper, n., informal term of address for the captain of a ship. From the Middle Dutch or Middle Low German schipper, or sailor, from 1390.
Which would mean Chakara is probably more right than wrong. They should probably not use a less formal term for her as captain regularly.
But I also found this:
In the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Coast Guard, and merchant naval slang, it is a term used in reference to the commanding officer of any ship, base, or other command regardless of rank. It is generally only applied to someone who has earned the speaker's respect, and only used with the permission of the commander/commanding officer in question.
So it could also be something like the above noted, which wouldn't make it too bad.
Anyway, I'm glad you brought it up Chakara, you learned me somethin'.
I've been so frustrated that so many are upset with that little word that i've not read anymore.
Vaughn I think you misunderstand me. I am not upset with the word I more found it strange or weird or out of place. This is my opinion nothing more and I'm not trying to convenience any one that my opinion is right and theirs is not. Its completely related to my experience with the word.
That being said I am enjoying the book I am also watching season 3 which I think is actually more helpful than harmful because I have their voices and mannerisms fresh in my mind. I will read 2 chapters tonight. :)
It's all good. Gonna try to read some this morning before work. There are several other reviews that said the same thing about that word and people on other sites that said they wouldn't continue the series because of the use of that word. I just got frustrated.
Chris wrote: "I was doing some more research on the term and ran across a few things:Skipper, n., informal term of address for the captain of a ship. From the Middle Dutch or Middle Low German schipper, or sai..."
I was just thinking that skipper was more of an informal term, and Captain Picard seems a little to formal for his crew to call him Skipper whereas on a smaller more specialized ship like a science or engineering vessel the term would be more appropriate.
Definitions I found: The often heard term Skipper is of course just a nickname for the Captain. It tends to be used to refer to the Captain of a smaller boat or yacht, or in say fishing vessels, where the Captain is often a friend or relative of the crewmembers, as well as their boss. In most of the world's English-Speaking Naval Forces the person in overall charge of the vessel is the CO or Commanding Officer, but when aboard he too will generally be referred to as Captain.A skipper is the one in charge of a boat at the time. He does not have to have a captains license.
skipper is a hired professional who will take your yacht or boat wherever you want to go. A Captain is the CEO of a ship whose owners commission him to run all aspects of the craft incliding navigation but also safety and administration.
I think she was considered the skipper in this case because she was in charge of securing the vessels that were actually lead by other captains that are now dead. Also, the spacecraft that she's on is not hers, she can leave it whenever she wants, which is how she ended up elsewhere later is the series .So I'm moving on from this topic.
Thanks for the insight Vaughn. I agree with that, and it adds a small nuance to the novel.
I just realized that everyone in this thread besides me, has a first name that begins with C.
I don't care that much about the skipper thing I really don't it just seemed out of place. I'm planning on reading another chapter tonight I started chapter 4 last night but I couldnt keep my eyes open I was so tired and sick.
I finally got to Chapter 5, haven't read it yet but I hope to read it tonight if I have time. I've been doing a lot of school work I have my final paper due this Sunday and I would like to do well in it even though I am bored to death of the class and the work in it. Right now I have to do a TESOL module and then catch up on another buddy read before I can return to A time to be born.
What I think so far POSSIBLE SPOILERS AHEAD FOR CHAPTERS 1-4!!!!!!:
I'm interested in seeing if the androssis make it out with the "hardware". I am also interested in this black whole type thing that seems to be eating anything in its path and it seems to have a mind of its own moving as it pleases. Very interesting.
How is everyone feeling about the book so far. Is it as you thought it would be before or when you first started reading? Do you think it lives up to the TNG name? I'm interested in knowing. Lets not let the thread die out. :)
I just started the book yesterday and am halfway through chapter 5. I didn't have any sort of expectations going into it, and I'm finding the story intriguing after only a few chapters. A lot has happened already and the characterizations of the crew are very true to themselves. It reads like a TNG episode/movie. I also like the appearance of the underused captain's yacht.
Just finished this novel and it left things hanging where I can't wait to read the next one.
woe you finished in two days? i'm still on chapter 5 :)
truthfully i watched about 6 hours of season 3 yesterday when i should have been reading and doing my school work.
I've been in bed with a cold all day, so this was a great way to make me feel better.
It's not at all long I prob would have been finished by now but I am a platinum level procrastinator. :)
I enjoyed this book as part one of a very open-ended story. I'm going to write a full review once I read the next book and (hopefully) learn about the mystery presented here. Spoilers below!
(view spoiler)
I'm already 50 or so pages into the next one...I'll try to keep my comments focused on this book only.
So I had to finish season 3 and the first episode of season four it was indeed the best season so far. Now I am back on track with reading this book. Yeppie :)
Okay so I read chapter 5I didn't understand why troi had the bridge esp. being that data was on the bridge at the time she should have had the bridge. I also think it was stupid of her and riker to go out into that "hole" thingy they should have been a lot more careful. Other than that it was pretty good I hope that it gets more exciting again because honestly that chapter was annoying and boring OFF TO CHAPTER 6 :)
Chakara wrote: "Okay so I read chapter 5I didn't understand why troi had the bridge esp. being that data was on the bridge at the time she should have had the bridge..."
Logically, Data should be manning all the stations since he is more efficient than anyone else. But like a good captain, Picard gives his other officers experience so that they can mature. I have benefited from situations like these personally, and I have also been on the end where I'm the one letting the less experienced person do the job to see if they can handle it. Leaders have to make decisions like that.
That being said, I can't stand Troi, and she shouldn't have any responsibilities anywhere.
I don't think she is a take charge type of person it doesnt mix with her personality plus usually when riker and picard are not on the bridge mr Data seems to have it. Every now and then there are a few different officers picked like leforge a few times, warf, but troi??? I don't think so. This is what I meant by she shouldn't have had the bridge.
