The premise of Keith R. A. DeCandido's Articles of the Federation is deceptively simple: it covers the first year of Nan Bacco's presidency of the United Federation of Planets. There are the usual trials and tribulations, there are some old ghosts that don't want to stay dead, and we see a few famous Star Trek... Continue Reading →
Star Trek: Titan: Sight Unseen
Sight Unseen shares thematic links with Orion's Hounds, the third book in the Star Trek: Titan series but the first to truly undertake the ship's primary mission of exploration. In the latter novel we saw a return of the "Star-jellies", the race of jellyfish-like aliens from Star Trek: The Next Generation's premiere episode, "Encounter at Farpoint", Upon reading Orion's... Continue Reading →
[Retro-Review] The Merchant and the Alchemist’s Gate (2008)
Ted Chiang is an author worthy of praise. Lots of praise. I remember I used to work with a woman named Vonda. Her favorite expression was "I'd kick somebody's back out for some," followed by the noun of her choice. To illustrate: "I'd kick somebody's back out for some Ted Chiang stories." That pretty much... Continue Reading →
[Retro-Review] Star Trek: Titan: Orion’s Hounds (2006)
Orion's Hounds, by Christopher L. Bennett, is the third entry in the Star Trek: Titan series of books, chronicling the adventures of Captain William T. Riker's first command, the USS Titan. The thrust of the series, beginning with Orion's Hounds, will be Titan's exploration of the coreward side of the Gum Nebula, a region of... Continue Reading →
[Retro-Review] Star Wars: Dark Nest Book I: The Joiner King (2005)
The Joiner King is the first volume in the Dark Nest trilogy, written by Troy Denning. Denning is the fan-favorite author of such Star Wars novels as Star By Star and Tatooine Ghost, as well as several other original sci-fi works. The Joiner King is set in the New Jedi Order era, five years after... Continue Reading →
[Review] Star Trek: Titan: Absent Enemies
I like John Jackson Miller's writing. His work on the Star Wars: Lost Tribe of the Sith novellas and short stories went a long way to establishing a unique identity and twist for a well-worn concept. Although I bailed early on his Knights of the Old Republic comic book, I can appreciate that it has its fans... Continue Reading →
[Retro-Review] Star Wars: Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader (2006)
Or, the Sith's Guide to Getting Your Groove Back The sequel to Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith picks up a few weeks after the events of the film. Vader is still adjusting to his suit, which was hastily made and of poor quality. His confidence has also been shaken, and Emperor Palpatine... Continue Reading →
[Retro-Review] Star Trek: Vanguard: Harbinger (2005)
Reviewer's Note: Funny what a difference a decade makes. When I originally read Harbinger, I was not really a fan of the Original Series in the sense that I had barely watched any episodes outside of the movies. Star Trek: Vanguard was crucial in me not only seeking out more Original Series novels to read but subsequently watching... Continue Reading →
Retro-Review: Doctor Who: The Time Travellers (2006)
The Time Travellers is the type of novel that I rarely find. I love reading, but there are few books where I can say that it was actually relaxing to read. The Time Travellers was like that, where laying down and cracking open the book was akin to being with a good friend and sharing... Continue Reading →
Doctor Who: Fear Itself
Fear Itself, by Nick Wallace, was the final Eighth Doctor adventure to be released back in 2005. With the announcement of the new TV series, the Eighth Doctor books- then the ongoing adventures of the current Doctor- came to a conclusion with The Gallifrey Chronicles, and the Eighth Doctor was relegated to "Past Doctor Adventures"... Continue Reading →