Indistinguishable from Magic

[Andrea]

I started reading this before the weekend. Was really looking forward to it, since I've always had a particular shining to engineering characters (I play one in a Trek RPG). I mean really... Scotty, Geordi, Barclay... plus a ship from the Enterprise era, what's not to like?

I'm a quarter of the way through it and I'm not enjoying it. It started off kinda eerie, with the mystery of the Intrepid. But I'm finding the jumpiness between characters to be distracting, and the story is being pushed forward by dialogue alone - I don't really feel like there's much character development. I just can't get into it.

At this point I'm considering giving up on it, but I keep hoping it will pick up. Should I keep slogging on?

[Andrea]

So unfortunately I have to say that I couldn't finish this book. Giving up on a book is always a last resort for me. When I posted the above I was about 1/4 of the way through, but I slogged on until halfway and then I just couldn't take it anymore.

I don't usually leave reviews for books I don't finish, but I figured I'd put my thoughts on it here. Caution: there might be a spoiler or two :-/

The mystery of the Intrepid had the workings of a great story, but it fell flat. It initially gave me the heeby-jeebies, but after a few more chapters it became clear that the Intrepid story was only held together by tape.

I think the author overdid it with the characters. He brings all these awesome characters together, but has so many to work with that none of them get the attention or development they deserve. I also felt like the characters weren't true to their personalities.

Also, not quite sure why Barclay was there, when he was supposed to be on Voyager :-/

Another thing that bothered me was that in Paths of Disharmony time was spent getting Geordi set up with a new love interest. Then you get to this book and BAM within one page they are broken up and he doesn't think of her again. Then Leah Brahms is in the picture and they are all over each other - yet there was no real build up for this relationship.

That said, maybe the book was redeemed in the second half? Apparently the story is split into two parts, but I just couldn't make it that far.

Honestly, I would skip this book if I were you, but I'm wondering if I'm just being too harsh on it given the number of 4 and 5 star reviews. But then like I said, it takes a lot for me to give up on a book. :-(

[Kathy]

Didn't you initially give up on the Destiny books? Do you think it's more not the right time for the book? Although it seems like you were wanting to read something in the TNG vein.

[Andrea]

I did give up on Destiny. But that was because I hadn't been able to concentrate on any books except fluff. I was enjoying it, but couldn't focus on it... if that makes sense.

In the case of Indistinguishable from Magic, I wanted to read Trek but this book was just not so good.