Customer Reviews

Dwellers in the Crucible

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

 

 

This book was by far one of the best ST novels that I've read, for many different reasons. But I suppose that one of them is the fact that it doesn't shy away from difficult, more adult issues as many Trek novels do. The two heroines of the story find themselves in a frightening situation that is entirely plausible in the Trek universe, and MWB does an excellent job of protraying how two women from two vastly different cultures might deal with that situation. There has been much hype over the newly released hardcover 'Vulcan's Heart', saying that it is the first 'adult' ST novel. However, in my opinion, that title belongs to DinTC.

Dwellers in the Crucible was marvelously fascinating and compelling in every way. The crew of the Enterprise are wonderful in their secondary roles, and T'Shael and Cleante are incredible heroines in the story. The author makes use of wonderful supporting characters and I found the book's unpredictability phenominal. This was, by far, the most captivating novel I have ever experienced. The story draws you in from the first page and makes you feel absolutely every bit of the whole experience along with the characters. On a scale of one to ten, I think it's easily a fifteen.

Exploring the dynamics of friendships, Dwellers goes where you've always wanted to in a gripping and exciting way. Two women, T'Sheal and Cleante, (Vulcan/Human), have a budding friendship in it's discovery phase when they are kidnapped by an aggressive species. Through this Crucible, they forge a friendship not completely unlike Kirk's and Spock's. The obvious parrallels are made for clarity without preaching. We learn this fantastic authors idea of Vulcan social structure and human fraility.

This book made me a fan of MWB for life. I highly recommend it.

A most painful experience. I had to force myself to finish it. It took a long, long time.

Too much mindless chatter, not enough Trek, not enough science fiction. Even forgetting about being a Trek novel, the main characters are not likable. I did not care what happened to them.

I have enjoyed some of the author's other books, but this one missed the mark.