Customer Reviews

Enigma (Star Trek Stargazer, Book 5)

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This features a huge, unstoppable alien fleet heading straight for the Earth. It is also very slow and not much happens. Those are two things that should not go together, but the author managed it. With that said, the characterisations are fairly good and the action that does happen is clearly described. The author also manages to slowly but surely build the tension level and get some anticipation for a big ending going. The ending is one of the most unexpected and bizarre in style that I have come across in Trek reading. I prefer not to give out spoilers, but it will appeal to those who like diplomacy but not those who favour big space battles. Overall, this book is mediocre, not memorably good or bad. The main flaw is simple: this is not a story worth 250 pages. It could and should have been told in less. There is a lot of material that is just here to keep minor storylines going until they can, presumably, be resolved in the next book. So, anyone who has read the Stargazer series up to this point might as well get it. Anyone looking for a good story in its own right will have to look elsewhere.

Star Trek: Stargazer is an interesting series for the TREK book line. Within this series, we see the early days of Picard's first command, the USS Stargazer (as seen in the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode "The Battle"). It takes place during a little-charted era in Star Trek lore, so there's breathing room for storytelling. However, we've seen a good number of the crew 30+ years later chronologically in the Next Generation novel "Reunion". So we know who lives and doesn't from the main Stargazer crew (for example, you know Picard lives on to command the Enterprise). So where's the suspense and drama?

It comes from two areas. First, if you're a die-hard Trek fan or really into the books, it comes from watching a young (28-year old) Picard dealing with his first command, as an Admiral works in the background to undermine and strip him of it. Secondly, it comes from the cast of secondary characters or senior crew memebers we don't see in "Reunion". Friedman has developed a nice cast to fill the Stargazer, each with their own idiosyncrasies. From Jiterica, who lives on the Stargazer within a containment suit because her native planet is a gas giant to mild-mannered Obal, the last guy you'd imagine would be in security as he look like a plucked chicken but could tear you up in two point three second. There's also the development of the main characters. The Asmund twins make an interesting pair, humans who were raised by Klingons, and the clandestine (and tragically tumultuous) relationship between one of the twins (Gerda) and Doctor Greyhorse. It's also interesting to see a younger, unsure Picard (with hair!) and the relationship he has with his first officer, who is a year younger than him and also his best friend. It provides a contrast to the relationship he'd have with Riker in later years.

So, how about the latest entry, "Enigma"? It's a well-told story. Friedman's style is very concise and straight-forward. The Stargazer books read like episodes you'd watch on television. This makes them very accessible and quick reads. But this may bother others who want more "meat" out of their books. I don't mind at all, however, Friedman gets on with telling a good tale, and doesn't let a lot superfluous details get in the way.

I won't spoil the plot; reading the back cover blurb tells you everything you need to. The main stars of the book are Ben Zoma (who finally gets some good "screen time") and Picard, each in their own plot threads that intertwine. The one slight criticism I would make of "Enigma" is that it continues some of the plot threads that have been building since "Gauntlet", and this may confuse some new readers. Friedman gets readers up to speed quickly, but regular readers will get more out of Ulelo's plight than someone coming into this book cold.

"Enigma" is decent, solid Trek, better for the character development than the actual story, which isn't very original. Some might feel "been there, done that" when reading this story. However, if you completely buy into wanting to read about Picard's adventures aboard the Stargazer, you won't mind, and shouldn't pass this book up. For people who dip in and out of the range, I'd still recommend this book. Friedman's chronicling of this era deserves attention.

The evil, indomitable aliens are cutting a swath through Federation space! Picard can solve it, and without bloodshed! But only because . . . something. It was sort of not clear why he ignored the orders to attack the enemy, which wasn't supposed to happen until he had finished negotiations so perhaps was done for dramatic effect. Also why did the aliens decide to stop the big attack, and bring their spy back, but let everyone know about their intent? Anyway it's an okay story and fits into the series of Picard establishing himself as a life-long Federation officer.

Still not a great story, but a very good one, this book is better than any of its predecessors in the "Stargazer" series, and is the first of the series to really live up to what I expect from Michael Jan Friedman, who is a solid, dependable storyteller if not generally a producer of truly memorable tales.

The characterizations in this book are excellent, with even Admiral McAteer being somewhat less 2-dimensional than usual, and we finally have some real progress made in a few of the subplots that have been treading water since book one. As usual for Friedman, there are few if any of the careless typos that all too often show up in mass-market paperbacks, and the story unfolds smoothly and competently. Definitely worth a read if you enjoy Star Trek at all, and possibly even if you're not overly familiar with the genre. If you're already familiar with the genre and hostile toward it, there's nothing here to make you change your mind, though.

I started the 'Stargazer' series with this book. It pretty much filled in the situation w/o having to purchase the 1st book, 'The Valiant'.
Story begins quite early with the crew's discovery of a 'sabatuer' on board the USS STARGAZER. We don't know WHY he did what he did, then we find out, neither does HE! This induced me to continue reading.
Novel has a miffed, if not jealous Admiral whom has a strong dislike for the young Capt.Picard. I liked the tension between them, and politics of behaving around each other.

Con: A few of the crew members sort of bored me, but the author doesn't remain mired down long on any of them before shifting gears. One character becomes it's own story but as a side note.

Pro: The character makes the story more real as he becomes a washout and doesn't remain a crewmember. The Federation soon reports the loss of some Starships as they encounter a new, dangerous, more powerful enemy. The Stargazer crew has a mystery of trying to find out who this new enemy is, as well as the motives behind their sabatuer, [in the brig].
I like the 2 methods taken, by 2 individual people to deal with the prisoner. Author writes a good mystery, plenty of Starship action, puts in twists with a surprise ending.
I thought it was a decent read.

I have read the Stargazer series from the beginning. The stories are loosely interconnected much like the TV series. To get the full understanding of the plot ending, you will need to read the two preceeding books. However, the plot ends abruptly and without much notice.

Read the book for the characters, who well done and are a pleasure to read. I actually like the series for the interaction of the characters. Like good Star Trek, the characters is what makes the series interesting.