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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Disappointing., September 18, 2002
This review is from: The Eyes of the Beholders (Star Trek: The Next Generation, No. 13) (Mass Market Paperback)
I've read and enjoyed both of A.C. Crispin's previous Star Trek novels, "Yesterday's Son" and "Time For Yesterday", and given that the second of those was significantly better than the first (although the first was good) I expected that she was growing as an author, and expected great things from this one. I got some good things, but far from great, and some very BAD things as well. I expected much better. There are basically three parts to this book; there is the main plot and two subplots of note. The main plot is a variation on a common concept, one that was done in one of the original series animated episodes: a spacegoing "Devil's Triangle", an area of space that is a "roach motel" for spaceships. The concept is hackneyed, but it is handled well enough and originally enough that I found myself at least partially willing to overlook the unoriginality of the basic idea. Still, it is a bad sign when the basic idea behind the primary plot needs overcoming. One of the two subplots involved the relationship between an orphaned Andorian girl and a Vulcan physician on the Enterprise; this subplot was handled quite well, and was quite moving. The other subplot, unfortunately, involved Data approaching various members of the bridge crew for their opinions on an (appallingly bad) adventure/romance novel he was writing. In spite of the fact that this particular plotline ended with a serious message, and was tied up rather nicely all things considered, still it is apparent that it was supposed to provide the comic relief for the story; as such, it was not unlike many similar concepts used during various episodes of the series, so at least I have to give Crispin credit for being true to the characters as established for the show. But just as was true in MANY of the similar "Data makes a fool of himself trying to be human" stories that aired, not only was this one NOT funny, it was downright PAINFUL to watch. I fail to understand how any author (who has no doubt experienced the insecurity of asking for the opinion of friends about her writing, as well as being asked for her opinion about the writing of others, and the extreme difficulty of treading the line between being dishonest or downright cruel) could POSSIBLY think that there was ANYTHING funny in this scenerio. On the other hand, if it WASN'T intended to be funny, then we run into the same problem that Troi ran into in critiquing Data's work: if something that was meant to be serious is percieved as being comedy (even failed comedy) then there's something seriously wrong with it. Much of this book was well worth reading; if you're a fan of the subplots in which Data strives futilely (and painfully) to mimic human creativity, you'll no doubt love this one. I don't.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Ratings are in the eyes of the beholders, July 7, 2003
This review is from: The Eyes of the Beholders (Star Trek: The Next Generation, No. 13) (Mass Market Paperback)
Eyes of the Beholders is not even close to being a four- or five-star book, although it had the potential to be. It is, rather, a typically enjoyable Trek read, interesting and amusing at times but not terribly moving or powerful. Crispin is certainly capable of better. Yesterday's Son is a well-deserved classic, and her Han Solo trilogy was very well done. Here, however, she lowered her sights too far. We get an alien artifact that traps the Enterprise and will eventually drive the crew mad (yet none of the major characters except Troi are affected without actually going on board the artifact. Apparently, senior officers are exempt from the effects). And there is a twee sub-plot involving a blind Andorian orphan girl, which is interesting only because it involves the Vulcan Dr. Selar. Where the novel could have excelled is with Geordi LaForge. Crispin makes token references to LaForge's blindness, and early on it seems there will be a tie-in between Geordi and the Andorian girl, Thala. When Geordi ends up being the only one on board who can handle the visual impact of the artifact, one thinks there will be still more insight offered. I don't mean a "blind people are people too" kind of revelation as that would be both cheesy and condescending. Rather, there could have been a situation where Geordi is truly forced to deal with wearing his VISOR or (as he ultimately did) receiving some kind of neural implant to allow him to "see," and Thala's own handling of a similar choice would have provided a perfect foil. Alas, Crispin presents the dilemma in the first dozen pages then largely ignores it. In the end, it is Data, not Geordi who has the revelation. On a side note, I first read this one over a decade ago and, for some reason, it had left a sour taste. It ended up being much, much better than I remembered.
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5.0 out of 5 stars
Aliens and an intersteller "bodice-ripper", October 16, 2011
This review is from: The Eyes of the Beholders (Star Trek: The Next Generation, No. 13) (Mass Market Paperback)
While I loved the main story line, it was the sub-plot that I found the best. Data decides he wants to write a book and would like his friends to critique it. The only way I can describe this is an interstellar bodice ripper that is so horrible it's comical. I laughed so hard at some readings I had tears in my eyes. I loved the flashback of dreams some of the crew from this alien artifact. We get to see Worf as a kid, Riker at seventeen and his "first love", and Picard's first ship. A.C. Crispin knows her Star Trek and it really shows in her work. If you are a long time Trekker or just starting out, this is a great book to read.
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