Customer Reviews

The Devil's Heart (Star Trek: The Next Generation)

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Well, for those who are into star trek this story is just perfect: vulcans, myths and action. For those who are not it still is due to a fantastic 'performance' by Gates McFadden. The story itself a fantastic one with some scifi violence included comes totally to life with its talented reader. It's worth listening to this audiobook wherever time allows to. And its always worth relistening.

Carmen Carter advances the mysterious galactic voyages of our favorite Star Trek crew, not with an alien species, but with a beautiful gray rock that glows when held by the appointed one.

The Devil's Heart is a gem with a mission. It's powers are beyond comprehension, and it ends up in the hands of Captain Jean-Luc Picard. With what control does he wield the great power of Pagrashtak, the bloodstone, this Devil's Heart that can, and has, created and annihilated civilizations?

Pretty much nothing. Be prepared for a history lesson. Carter's tale isn't so much about what Picard does with the stone but, rather, how Picard learns, through an unrelenting amount of dreams, where the stone has come from, and its destiny. The cover of this book caught my attention: Picard with eyes glowing red. What a fantastic cover! Our beloved starship captain with powers not unlike what Riker once held as a gift from Q!

And, oh sure, Picard uses these powers, once. The possibilities of this book went straight down the drain. I find solace in reading adventures about our humble Federation crew, but this was not at all what I expected. Picard becomes neither demon nor saint, but somnambulist.

Fear not, for those of us who expect good writing get it anyway. Carter's sketches of Data's thought processes is so well-written that, if they still produce ST:TNG books, I hope she does one with Data as the lead. She writes every Enterprise character believably (nearly with the same internal descriptions as she does with Data), which is more than I can say about many other ST authors.

This is a reverse quest in the tradition of the Lord of the Rings: Picard gains possession of an artefact that gives its wielder power over time, but will eventually betray him to his death, and every power in the Quadrant comes after the Enterprise to seize the artefact. In addition, we are shown how Trek ancient history has (supposedly) revolved around this artefact, including the rise and fall of the Iconians, Surak of Vulcan, the Romulan Empire, the Klingon Empire and the great plague on Andor. The tone of this book is quite sombre, but uniquely among Trek authors the book is still a very enjoyable read despite that. The quality of the writing is excellent. The descriptions and characterisations are very good, and the whole Enterprise cast has good roles in this. The book specific characters are well done also. There are many short sequences of people and action beyond the Enterprise and all are well done. The author captures the air of a truly epic quest, both in contemporary scope and through time. This is an excellent and thoroughly enjoyable book.

Well, for those who are into star trek this story is just perfect: vulcans, myths and action. For those who are not it still is due to a fantastic 'performance' by Gates McFadden. The story itself a fantastic one with some scifi violence included comes totally to life with its talented reader. It's worth listening to this audiobook wherever time allows to. And its always worth relistening.

This is a very powerful novel, well-written and well-plotted. At first, I thought that it was going to bear too much resemblance to Original Series Novel #30, J.M. Dillard's "Demons" (Vulcan archaologist finds relic that proves dangerous, and leads to much death and devastation) but that is the extent of the similarities between the two; this book is much better written, and has a much more evolved plot. Then I thought that it was too close in concept to "The Lord of the Rings" (mystical item possesses its bearer, making him reluctant to let anyone else touch it, or to put it down, and becoming his "precious" to the detriment of his health, both physical and mental.) But there are enough differences to pass the "original concept" test, although if the book were not so well-written, I might be less tolerant on this score.

Definitely one of the better Star Trek books, good enough to be worth a look from non-Trek fans.

After the great reviews this book received from the readers here, i picked this book up and couldn't wait to read it. The story could have been a very good one but the characters were not protrayed correctly. Worf is way out of character, they have picard acting strangely but the rest of the crew never steps in to take control. For one example Riker and Data are talking on the bridge about taking the "Devil's heart" away from Picard because they can see it is causing him harm. Worf blurts out "Enough" and tell Riker and Data that Picard is the best one to keep it and being the Security officer he would not allow it to be taken by force. UHHHHH!!! the last time i checked Riker and Data both outrank Worf. Riker backs down like a little school girl and says does nothing to put worf in his place. RIker of the T.V. series would never have just let that go especially with Worf and their history. Like i said its not a complete waste of time to read this book but in my opinion when the crew says or does something that is so out of character it messes with the flow of the book.

How someone can say this is the best Star trek book they have ever read need to read more star trek books!!

IF you can pick this up cheap ....go ahead but don't think about paying full price.

The best portions of this book have to do with the dream sequences Picard experiences as a result of his possession of the Devil's Heart: Surak as a boy, Garamond, the Romulans, the early Andorians and the early Klingon Empire. Also intriguing was the revelation that Guinan has a fellow Listener of her El Aurian race.

One nitpick however: Romulans were given their name by the humans. Their original race name is Rihannsu. Please see Spock's World and The Romulan Way for this explanation of how Romulans became a separate race from Vulcans.

There are a handful of more entertaining TREK novels, but this one comes as close to being a literary masterpiece as an entry in this series can get. I was astonished by Carter's overall writing and storytelling abilities which weren't so evident in her previous entries for TOS and TNG. Be warned, however, that there are about twice as many words in this book as in your average TREK novel, while at the same time it's not the kind of book to put aside during a busy week. Immerse yourself in it.

Star Trek-The Next Generation: THe Devil's Heart written by Carmen Carter is a book when read carefully gives you an impression the "Lord of the Rings" but with a Star Trek twist.

I've read this book for a second time and realize that it was one of the books used for the "Gateways" series of books that has transended to whole of the Star Trek genre. As this book tells of a Gateway chamber in the prologue, and the demise of Iconia through a nova of its sun.

Yes, Iconia was dead, but her legacy will remain as the Federation and its resources are always finding relics that relate to the once glorious Iconian culture. This book uses one of those found relics as the basis for a story of mystery, intrigue, morality, bloodlust, and truth. Could the dispairy in technologies trigger an unsettling of other races, just by the knowledge of Iconian superiority, could it foster fear and distrust?

This book fills all of these themes as Jean-Luc Picard is going to go through a true test of his own morality as "The Devil's Heart" a left over icon of the Iconian culture, a legendary object of unsurpassed power and mystery, is found.

This book moves quickly and is extremely engrossing as the Devil's Heart enables its possessor to control minds and amass countless wealth and can control the passage of time as well.

Romulans, Ferengi, and Klingons bring a spice of the TREK universe to this book as our hero Jean-Luc Picard trys to deal with the power and consequenses that are the Devil's Heart gifts. I must say I really enjoyed this book and it lays a foundation to other TREK books that will follow.

I have read this book twice and even have it on tape. I never tire of reading or listening to it. It was well written save for a couple of minor details. Go out and buy it and let your imagination soar!