Customer Reviews

The Eugenics Wars Vol. 2: The Rise and Fall of Khan Noonien Singh (Star Trek)

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(16)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(10)

 

 

Lets make this very clear: this is a Star Trek novel. Like most Trek novels, one does have to have some familarity with the characters and concept. So, when talking about this novel, let's keep it within the context it's about. It's Star Trek, and like many others, I have a fondness for Star Trek.
Based upon both the classic television series and the second Star Trek movie, the novel tells the continuing tales of Gary Seven, Roberta Lincoln, and the rise of the tyrant Kahn in the late 20th century.
The story flows smoothly, keeping the consistant development of the characters from which have known and are used too. It does whallop you with cameos from every series ('Enterprise' inculded) but that just for excessive continuity. It continues the tale of Kahn, how he took over one quarter of the planet, and lost his empire to his and other own egos. (You don't ahve to be superhuman to have an excessive ego.) Hey, its fun. It is interesting to see that Eugenics Wars were conducted covertly, and although I was not surprised with the way Kahn was portrayed, although at one monemt in the passages, Kahn did seem concerned about humanity, briefly. I was both interested and annoyed with the development of his super brothers and sisters. The Romainan butcher was acceptable, the yankee superman was stretched, but the Amazon women was pushed too far.(Someone's DNA molecule was dropped one too many times while gestating). I think, as the story flowed, we learned a great deal about Kahn and why he did (and the author stayed witin character. See the portaryal of Kahn by the actor in the episode 'Space Seed'. NOT The Wrath of Kahn.) what he did but we also saw what happened to two other characters we liked as well. While Gary Seven and Roberta were not played out a two diemnsional cartoons, I would have liked to have more development with them. They were there as the protagonists against Kahn's antagonist / rebellious protagonist. I was intriguied by the way the story unfolded. I already knew Kahn fled Earth. I liked learning how it happened.
To that, the author doesn't disappoint.
Isis was expected, I give it that, but I won't tell more as to ruin it for the reader. As a Star Trek novel, it fills the historical 'Trek' well. It is good reading, not cumbersome and overtly detailed, and the author handles the concept while blending in current events very well.
If you've read Book I, finish the tale with Book II. Its a fun, nicely written, action adventure tale with interesting characters. It fits well with the incredible amout of 'prequel' concepts we seem to be going through at this time. It's also interesting as the background or secondary story deals with Captain Kirk's crew in the 23rd century with 23rd cebtury supermen. And that stroy takes place BEFORE The Wrath Of Kahn.
Again, it Star Trek based; the author shows his like for the Star Trek mythos and in no way dishonors it. You can tell the author enjoys Star Trek.
And that's what a Trek novel should be, a fun, action paced adveture. Give it a shot, both Book I and Book II are really enjoyable and trek fans of all ages with appreciate it.
Maybe, we'll finally get more stories about Gary Seven and Roberta Lincoln as well...

I'm a firm believer that the only real Star Trek is the original series, so I was really excited about this series and bought the first volume the day it was released. Due to some issues I had with the first book, I wasn't as keen on buying this one right away, but I did anyway. So much for voting with my wallet. <G>

There is the same pointless bookending with Kirk and crew from the first volume that frankly could have been dropped all together.

The setup for the Eugenics Wars by Greg Cox was well thought out and believable (within the context of Star Trek). The use of Gary Seven was a very good idea and Cox does a good job with his characterizations of both Mr. Seven and his agent Roberta.

The major failing with the book is that, inexplicably, there are a number of references to characters that weren't created until TNG/DS9/Voyager, etc., are introduced. This was terribly distracting, though I expected it after the experience with the first book in the series.

Even worse, the author decided that we couldn't possibly differentiate between reality and science fiction and tried to hide the events of the Eugenics Wars in our modern milieu. So everything just kind of peters out, leaving one to wonder how, if the Eugenics Wars (was there a war somewhere I missed) were as non-impacting as shown here, there was even a record left for Kirk's time period.

Very disappointing.

After a great start with Volume 1 of this series, this volume turned out to be a real disappointment. I loved the first volume so much that I ran right out and got the hardcover at full price. I must say I wish I had waited for a ... used copy at the Salvation Army.

What really ruins this version is Kahn. Where he was a complex and troubled character in Vol 1 (similar in many ways to Anakin Skywalker) he is now just a raving butthead. At times, his rants and posturing seem absolutely laughable. This guy controls 1/3 of the world? I wouldn't let this [man] rake my leaves, let alone run some shadowy government.

... At one point the line "like a poor marksman, he keeps missing the target" is used. Which is a direct quote from Shatner in Wrath of Kahn. When I read that line I cringed and thought: "oh come on, can't you think of anything more clever than that ...?"

I have high hopes that Volume 3 will improve as it is supposed to cover Kahn's time on Ceti Alpha 5.

Also, be prepared for some rather poor undercover work from Roberta and Gary 7. They seem to always drop their damn servo at the wrong moment.

If you're into this story, you're pretty much stuck reading this volume. But when you do, expect some rather lame characterizations, large plot holes, and rather tepid story telling.

Book 1 was quite plausible and enjoyable, as it was reasonable that the Star Trek timeline not diverge too much prior to 1989. But book 2, which was supposed to show Khan's meteoric rise to world fame and power and his equally sudden fall in just four short years, disappointed me.

I kept waiting, and waiting, and... waiting. I never did see the book explode into a cataclysmic battle where Khan cements his control over a quarter of the globe, establishing himself as dictator over almost two billion people, using biological weapons against his enemies and in general making himself very well-known to the populace as a feared leader, only to be brought down by a combined assault by all the nations which were not yet under Khan's control.

Instead, the Eugenics Wars is supposedly fought in and out of the real events of the 1990s, with shadowy battles with Gary Seven and his associates.

Sorry, but I really don't buy that. Like other reviewers, I know the difference between our timeline and the alternate one of Star Trek, and to see events written in "1992" that never really happened wouldn't throw me for a loop.

If Khan Singh were virtually unknown in the 1990s I have absolutely no idea how this could be reconciled with the knowledge that (a) he is a very vain, intelligent and self-important man and (b) such people do not skulk in corners creating a shadow Khanate through which pre-existing nations do his bidding while pretending to "really" be in control. I have to wonder if Greg Cox understood that his creation is about an alternate timeline, not our own.

Book 1: Leave alone.
Book 2: REWRITE. FROM SCRATCH.

Nothing about this novel makes any sense. None of its events fit at all with the history of this period talked about in the TOS episode "Space Seed."

While it's true that records from that time were fragmentary by the 23rd century, it was still known that World War III happened, and that the "supermen" and DY-100 space ship existed and were known to the world. In this novel, where are the supermen who seize power? Where are the men and women Napoleon-like in ability and ambition? (Never mind that in Space Seed the Eugenics Wars were a result of selective breeding, not genetic engineering.) Trying to make invented Trek history fit in with true history was an effort doomed to failure. It doesn't work. It ruins the fantasy.

Apart from these flaws, Cox also fills the book (as in volume one) with references to later Trek series'. Shannon O'Donnell makes an appearance, as does Rain Robinson. The Kirk-era storyline seems, again as in volume one, tacked on and pointless (and uninteresting). (Even having Gary Seven in it doesn't make any sense, but that's really a complaint for the first book.)

Then there's Cox's writing ability, which is little better than the average fan fiction writer. His editor did a sloppy job, but didn't have a lot to work with.

... Greg Cox continues to plumb the depth with this temporal travesty that, as with the television series "Enterprise", seems to have no respect for the established historical details of "Star Trek". This does unfortunately seem to be a common problem with modern material and I am at a loss to understand why modern fans seems to accept this state of affairs. As for this book, whereas at least the first volume had some clever side references to pulp culture (eg James Bond, The Avengers, The Equalizer etc), this one is almost totally devoid of any real life and is yet another example of a cheap money spinning novel by an author who should have known better. The plot is predictable, the characterizations a joke, and the attempt to fit the story into the "real" world so hamfisted it just makes one shake their head in disbelief. At the end of the day this book is chewing gum, not a fresh piece, but one that has been chewed so long it has lost all its' flavour and you just want to spit it out !!!

I was really blown away by The Eugenics Wars volume 1...big time. I just wasn't expecting a Trek novel to be SO different, so creative, so GOOD. This was an exceptional example of creative juices on overload. Kirk and Spock take a backseat to a few characters from the past, that normally wouldn't command even a 2nd glance -- but Greg Cox's fertile imagination has brought new life to the Trek Universe in ways that brought many smiles to my face as I read through book's 1 & 2.

Volume 2 picks up shortly after vol 1 left off, plus a few years.
Gary Seven failed to stop the Chrysalis Project from creating a few genetically engineered children before he was able to derail the Project from progressing further...but some damage had already been done. Gary & Roberta scattered the children all over the globe in hopes of keeping them from some supreme scheme to take over the world. Gary even attempts a valiant effort to recruit Khan to assist him and Roberta in helping us wayward earthlings from killing ourselves prematurely. A noble idea, but with Khan's impossibly overblown ego, a gesture which was destined to fail...miserably.

Before we know it, Khan has himself an island near the equator and has regrouped the children of Chrysalis and has devised a plan to force the world under his iron rule, which he is convinced is the best way to save mankind. What I found most interesting aside from the clever way Mr. Cox managed to take existing history and mix it up with Trek Lore, was how he managed to give Khan's character depth. We have to remember that he isn't responsible for his own existence, we can thank the Chrysalis Project for that. I never would have thought that his character could be as deep as he was written in these two novels. We all know that eventually Khan and his minions end up aboard the SS Botany Bay, which The Enterprise will encounter a few hundred years in the future, and again in Star Trek II, The Wrath Of Khan (still one of the best movies). This book fills in the gaps of his life on earth and how the Eugenics Wars started, how they end, and how events we have come to know about have a connection to Star Trek that at times evokes outright laughter, not because they are silly, but mostly because of how clever they have been woven into the plot.

Greg Cox has written an amazingly creative story that shows his obvious love of the series. Aside from Judith & Garfield Reeves-Stevens' who write on a level that just about nobody can reach, Cox has gone in another direction which has made this series fresh in a way I never would have thought possible. You have many choices in the world of Trek, and some would say most are not worth the price of a paperback, but The Rise And Fall of Khan Noonien Singh Volume's 1 & 2 are most definitely worth the price, even in hardback. Pick this one up and savor the incredible journey that Mr. Cox has pieced together for us. It is a journey well worth taking, and worth taking more than once.

When Star Trek originally aired, the millennium seemed infinitely far away. Trek writers liberally seasoned the late 20th century with tantalizing historical convulsions. As time goes by, however, we catch up with these events and disprove them. The hardest concept for Trek writers to grasp, it seems, is that Trek takes place not in the future, but in an alternate universe. This universe has its own timeline, including a 20th century that is similar to our own in many ways but also very different. For example, there is no Star Trek in the 20th century of the Trek universe. How could there be?

Unfortunately, Trek writers have a habit of trying to maintain Trek as some sort of extrapolated present, which necessitates ever more squashing and squeezing as Trek's own past becomes better established. Greg Cox, unwilling to accept that Trek's 1993 is not our own, recasts the Eugenics Wars as something that took place "under the radar," camouflaged by religious and ethnic strife around the world, such that no ordinary citizens were aware of it. To the greatest extent possible, Cox tries to render the events of his book as something that could have happened in our own world, while we weren't looking. The fact that this isn't, after all, possible doesn't bother him. He's forgetting what the point really was: This was not about the rise and fall of a single megalomaniac. It was about humanity's catastrophic flirtation with genetic engineering, and the reason such engineering is still banned in the Federation "today."

It's sad that the Trek franchise has felt it necessary to rewrite so much of its own established history, one that is every bit as exciting and complex as our own 20th century has been. From the depredations wrought by Voyager and Enterprise to this book, the universe of Trek has been rendered watery, inconsistent and uneventful. At this rate, we'll never get to World War III, let alone the invention of warp drive. At some point, we have to acknowledge that Trek is not about the future. It's just a story. And if the franchise is to survive as Paramount obviously hopes it will, they will either have to deal with that or allow it to balkanize into dozens of mutually incompatible individual storylines. I'm not holding out much hope.

I hoped these books would be good, but Cox is just plain awful. Full of cute little references to every Trek series, plus inane pop culture references for every time period covered... I sighed many times, and often had to put the book down in disgust.

If you are an insufferable trekkie nerd or just have very low expectations, maybe you can stomach this drivel. If you want intelligent sci-fi, look elsewhere.

Volume Two of the Eugenics Wars starts off where Volume One ended. The reader is treated to events of the 1990s which are explained as if Khan and his superhuman, genetically-selected brethren were the cause. Such things as the hole in the ozone layer and a myriad of others were "created" by these enhanced humans. There are a few memorable light moments (such as a passing referance to the Nancy Kerrigan/Tonya Harding scandal, but nothing like the pop-culture lesson in the previous book. We again read about guest-stars from the various series and movies (Dr. Nichols from ST IV, not to mention Gary Seven, Roberta Lincoln, and Isis who plays a huge role in this one). Seven even time travels to assist Kirk in his decision to recommend a planet which employs human cloning for membership in Starfleet. Only one thing bothered me. The way in which Seven dealt with Khan seemed too much like he way in which Kirk dealt with him in the original episode "Space Seed." However, I thoroughly enjoyed the series.