Customer Reviews

Chain of Attack (Star Trek, No 32)

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I read this back when it came out the first time and I loved the story. Gene DeWeese is probably one of the best authors of the novels for the original Enterprise crew. I'm not sure how anyone who enjoys Star Trek novels could think this is boring. I believe that the premise of this book may have had something to do with the development of the TV show Star Trek Voyager. Star Trek novels are rarely of the quality of a good thriller like those of DeMille or Deighton--different target audiences. This book has a sequel entitled The Final Nexus--not quite as exciting, but a good book to read if you enjoy this one.

The main plot of this book is Star Trek at its best, giving a very close look at a basic truth: the reason for most aggression is fear. Unfortunately, the subplot involving Dr. Crandall, the civilian observer and general pest, was not up to the standards of the rest of the book; it was neither original nor believable, and was, in fact, pretty well pointless. The concept that the "outsider" from off the Enterprise, whether an Admiral from Starfleet or a civilian scientist, proves to be difficult and troublesome is done so often in Original Series episodes and books that it is trite beyond words, and the concept that someone as utterly worthless as this clown was portrayed throughout the book could have such a sudden change of heart and selflessly risk his life to save the day is completely out of the realm of possibility. If you wanted him to get to that point eventually, he needed to either have been portrayed with SOME redeeming value earlier, or else have been given more time to digest his transforming experience before acting on it. As it was, people just don't work that way. Not even in a gloriously optimistic place like the Star Trek universe. This cost the book a star, but it was still an excellent book, very thought-provoking, and maintaining much of the feel of an Original Series episode.

This novel is a true masterpiece of science-fiction. It is one of the farthest-reaching STAR TREK stories, with the Enterprise being hurled into another galaxy--so far from home that the ship's sensors cannot even pinpoint the Milky Way anymore. Also intriguing is the concept of alien races relentlessly battling each other in an endless chain of wars which were started by an unknown force (at least, unknown until the sequel, The Final nexus) uncounted years ago. If there is one STAR TREK novel you ever delve into, it should be Chain of Attack.

A pre-voyager book. The enterprise lost in some distant galaxy fighting to stay alive. What all startrek fans want in a story, new aliens, far off places, with suspense and action all the way a centuries old war with the enterprise caught in the middle. What magic can Kirk and crew pull out of the hat to save all concerned.

Gene DeWeese's book is really a great book for people who are voyager fans and have never seen or read about the original series of Star Trek. I liked how the Enterprise came upon a mystery in another part of space. The only reason it didn't get 5 stars is because they make peace with two new alien races, something they do in almost every story. Original, though.

This is a true 'Trek' adventure at it's best. New worlds, new conflicts, new aliens..

The author has put all of it together into a great story. I was captiveted by this page turner.

Well done!

I thought that this novel was a great read , read it a few times and it is enjoyable.
because I read it more than twice it got a deserved 5 star.

I read this after I read Gene DeWeese's 'Engines of Destiny.'

This book was a bit better. (Not spectacular, but better).

This is a simple story--involving two races that the ENT crew comes across, after they hit a gateway to another part of space--that gets a bit confusing with the descriptions towards the end (involving a third race, and a communication issue).

A Federation representative, Crandall, gives Kirk a headache while the ENT captain tries to make sense of the situation and get the ship back to familiar space.

As this is an early Trek novel, there isn't much depth (not that it's a bad thing; sometimes a reader like myself wants a simple storyline that is entertaining and told well). However, the details towards the end (with the aforementioned third race coming into the picture) seems to an element that didn't need to be there; or at least an idea that sounded good, but wasn't executed well.

That 'scene' bogs the story down for me, but overall the book came off as something we've might have seen on the classic series. (Still, I think the book could have been a bit stronger).

This is an extremely riveting TOS Novel. Includes aliens, technojargon, battles and anomalies!

Kirk & friends are famous for solving the worst crises in the galaxy. Now they get to try it in another galaxy.

True to the Star Trek storyline.