Customer Reviews

Double, Double (Star Trek, No. 45)

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

 

 

This book is a sequel to the episode "What Are Little Girls Made Of?", and it surpasses the episode that is its inspiration on all counts. Its plot moves more smoothly, it has more consistent and plausible characterization, and is just generally a very good story, very well told.

For a book dealing with evil twins, this one's pretty darn good. It's a sequel to a weak-but-fun first season episode. Read it for excitement and fun.

This just has to be my favorite Michael Jan Freidman novel. The mood, ambiance and pace are consistent with classic `Star Trek' It would have made an excellent two part episode; an end of season cliffhanger with murder, mayhem, conspiracy, a touch of intrigue and the odd space battle. Kirk squares off against his android double. You see the androids want to replace their flesh and blood counterparts and maintain an orderly universe. With sentient beings changed into androids they can be programmed for the better `Can you imagine how life can be improved if we could do away with jealousy . . . greed. . .hate.' Not as naff as it sounds. A good read.

Double, Double is one of the better Star Trek novels, with an engaging story generally well told. There are a few quirks: The turbolifts, no longer voice-activated, have a panel of buttons like a hotel elevator, on which one can choose the "Transporter Level." The U.S.S. Hood, which ends up under the command of the real Captain Kirk, suddenly becomes the U.S.S. Dunkirk around Chapter 26. A communications officer named Paultic is referred to as "Potemkin," right before he puts in a call to the ship of that name. Still, these mistakes are merely amusing rather than annoying, the story is inventive, and characterizations are handled competently. All in all, a worthy effort.

I've been looking forward to this book for a while, as Michael Jan Friedman's first Star Trek novel, and I wasn't disappointed.

Several years after Captain Kirk found, destroyed, and covered up the android machinations of one Dr. Korby, the androids have returned, determined to fulfill Korby's dream of android humanity. An android duplicate of Kirk is created, and his goal is to dispose of his original and to capture the Enterprise.

This novel has conspiracy, intrigue, Romulans, and most importantly, some good knock-down, drag-out fistfights... all elements of what classic Trek storytelling is all about. Get it, read it, and enjoy!