Order from a Major Online Bookstore
Ultimate Book Price Comparison Engine
Save Your Time And Money
| AnyBook4Less.com | Order from a Major Online Bookstore |
|
| Home | Store List | FAQ | Contact Us | | ||
| Ultimate Book Price Comparison Engine Save Your Time And Money |
||
 |
Title: War Dragons (Star Trek: The Captain's Table, Book 1) by L. A. Graf, John J. Ordover, Dean Wesley Smith ISBN: 0-671-01463-3 Publisher: Pocket Books Pub. Date: 01 June, 1998 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $6.50 |
Average Customer Rating: 3.64 (22 reviews)
Rating: 3
Summary: Surprisingly enjoyable
Comment: Twenty pages in, there were enough strikes against War Dragons that I doubted I would enjoy it. The whole "Captain's Table" concept turns out to be misleading; there's no time warp that allows Kirk/Picard/Sisko/Janeway to tell stories to each other - even though a look at each cover strongly implies it. The frame story involving the Captain's Table bar is weak and unconvincing. Kirk's and Sulu's stories are told in voices that do not sound like Kirk or Sulu; nor are they told in ways we'd expect a story to be told at a bar. Too much introspection, too much detail.
And yet War Dragons is one of the better Star Trek books out there. The plot structure is intriguing. Kirk's and Sulu's stories occur twenty years apart and are told in alternating chapters until they converge for the last third of the book. Each story has plenty of suspense and action and, once one puts aside the frame story, are well-written. There are excellent Trek moments, including a charming description of the beginning of Kirk & Spock's working relationship, and a tasteful cameo by Tuvok. Also interesting is the idea that Sulu pegged Chekov to be his first officer; Graf successfully explains Chekov's eventual return to the Enterprise.
Not great literature, of course, nor great science fiction (read Harry Harrison's West of Eden for a masterful treatment of reptilian cultures that speak with physical movement as well as verbal cues). It is, however, very good Star Trek - amusing, entertaining, and satisfying.
Rating: 3
Summary: Almost had me...
Comment: I really enjoy the founding premise of this series; the stories told in the first person narrative of the captains themselves. However, I found the bar interludes a little cheesy. I find it hard to believe that in this particular time frame a Klingon or a Gorn would find themselves at a Federation outpost, especially Utopia Planetia.
I was a little disappointed by how Sulu was characterized, a little too soft for my taste. Specifically, all that business about the lizard he found in the gardens. I haven't found a story beyond those of canon, yet, that has really captured the Sulu we know and love. The characterization of Kirk was pretty on. What really halted me on the story was in the characterization of Chekov. A lot of his character development is based on a faulty premise. The premise being that the crew of his first command post, The Reliant, had been killed during the Kahn incident. That is completely UNTRUE. It is KNOWN that Khan did not kill the crew of the Reliant, he stranded them down on Ceti Alpha V. After the incident Kirk returned with the Enterprise to pick them up. I might as well have been reading unlicensed fan fiction. The whole mess developed Chekov in to someone he shouldn't have been.
That part aside, the book wasn't bad. One of the cool items was the FL-70. A neat piece of technology, wouldn't mind seeing it again. A decent plot, however, not so much a page turner as others I've read. I hate to come off as a total Trekkie crank, but someone had to do it. The book is worth a read if you are bored or are delving into the whole Captain's Table series as a whole.
Rating: 3
Summary: A poor beginning to a great series
Comment: Overall the LA Graf writing team has put out some really good work in the past, however, this book in my opinion doesn't really fall into that category. I started this book, put it down, picked it up again and put it down again. Due to an extremely demanding job I actually didn't read any books at all for around a year. I picked this one back up and trudged through it. There was a good story in there somewhere, the author's couldn't seem to find it and neither could I. The rest of the Captain's Table books, however, are absolutely a must read for all Star Trek fans.
 |
Title: Captain's Blood (Star Trek) by William Shatner, Judith Reeves-Stevens, Garfield Reeves-Stevens ISBN: 067102129X Publisher: Star Trek Pub. Date: 01 December, 2003 List Price(USD): $23.95 |
 |
Title: Fire Ship (Star Trek Voyager: The Captains Table, Book 4) by Diane Carey ISBN: 0671014676 Publisher: Star Trek Pub. Date: 01 July, 1998 List Price(USD): $6.50 |
 |
Title: Stone and Anvil (Star Trek New Frontier) by Peter David ISBN: 0743429575 Publisher: Star Trek Pub. Date: 01 October, 2003 List Price(USD): $23.95 |
 |
Title: Preserver (Star Trek) by William Shatner ISBN: 0671021265 Publisher: Star Trek Pub. Date: 03 April, 2001 List Price(USD): $6.99 |
 |
Title: Three (Star Trek: Stargazer, Book 3) by Michael Jan Friedman, Michael Friedman ISBN: 0743448529 Publisher: Star Trek Pub. Date: 01 August, 2003 List Price(USD): $6.99 |
Thank you for visiting www.AnyBook4Less.com and enjoy your savings!
Copyright� 2001-2021 Send your comments
