Customer Reviews

The Eyes of the Beholders (Star Trek: The Next Generation, No. 13)

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

 

 

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.

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.

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.

I bought this novel recently at a library's sale of discarded books, and frankly I am impressed by this diamond in the rough. It isn't the *best* thing I've ever read, but it is impressive all the same. In fact, it's the best one out of the several Star Trek books I bought at that sale.

I think part of the reason I love it so much is that the style is exactly like a Star Trek episode. Obviously, we get to see inside the character's minds and through their eyes in ways that the TV series couldn't do, but the "look-and-feel" of the book is like watching a new episode on a TV sitting inside your head.

Just like in the TV show, they have three different plots: the main plot and two subplots. One of them, concerning Data, is kind of hard to read but doesn't differ in that respect from many of the other "Data trying to be human" subplots on the TV episodes. Just like on the TV episodes, it makes me cringe a little. Not so much from the awfulness of his writing, but from the poor way the characters deal with it. Data craves genuine criticism, and all they can do is try to spare feelings he doesn't have. If they're afraid of squashing his muse, they needn't be. I've already thought of all kinds of things I could say to him to help him improve.

All told, aside from the cringe factor of that particular subplot, it is an excellent book. Very true to the series, and that's just how I love it. So many Star Trek novels are like movies in book form that it's about time I found one that was a TV episode in book form. I always liked the series better than the movies.

This should be a great book, considering the author and the basic premise, but it is not. The Enterprise is investigating a strange ship that emits a field that drives people lethally insane by forcing them to relive their most emotional moments, usually terrible ones, in their dreams. That is the main plot, but there are three different sub-plots: the Vulcan Dr. Selar and her Andorian patient, accounts of the dreams the main characters have, and Data's efforts writing. There are many short stories throughout the book, and I generally find them so depressing that I just skip them. The main tone of the book is really sombre and it is difficult to find areas that are really entertaining to read. Data's writing efforts, there to provide a little comic relief, don't help either. The example of his writing we are given is deliberately really bad, the amusement from people being unwilling to tell Data so is pretty small, and the conclusion of this sub-story is depressing too. The sections that deal with the actual investigation of the ship are quite entertaining and the away team mission is by far the best part of this book. Those sections are worth reading, but the book as a whole is not.

I found the premise and the setting of this novel to be in good keeping with A. C. Crispin's style of writing and well on par with a Star Trek The Next Generation novel of this timeframe. It's unfortunate that this novel was A. C. Crispin's first and last adventure in the STNG arena. Given this and her past Star Trek novels, it would be nice to see her make a return to Star Trek, in any of its variants, in the full novel format.

The premise:

The Enterprise is called into a recently opened trade route to investigate the disappearance of several Federation and Klingon vessels. Once there, they uncover a graveyard full of ships. They find an extremely large and powerful artifact constructed by an ancient species. Upon studying this ancient artifact, they trigger it and they then find themselves in the positions of having to disable or destroy it before it destroys them.

I would definitely recommend this early STNG novel to any and all fans of Star Trek The Next Generation, casual or die hard alike. {ssintrepid}

The Eyes of the Beholders by A.C. Crispin is a first contact novel something the author is good at and you will not be disappointed here. She writes with a refreshing suspensful style that keeps the reader on the edge of the seat.

As a new trade route opens, there are ships missing, both Federation and Klingon seem to disappear, now the Enterprise and crew are sent to investigate these disappearences and find something rather unique. It seems that a graveyard of ships, of all shapes and sizes, are here and some of them are quite old. This is a Geordi LaForge and Data book mainly as the Enterprise trys to figure out the mystery of this graveyard and an Artifact that seems to weld immensely awesome power.

The Enterprise crew are affected by this power and are threatened by insanity. The author keeps you involved with the story and has good character development throughout the book and gives a lot of information about Data. This story is intriguingly captivating as your intrest is piqued with the first contact.

This is a well told story written true to the TNG characters. Those wanting good action adventure with excellent science fiction should buy this book.

This is undoubtedly the best TNG book I have read. It combines a true adherence to the StarTrek word while providing its own original elements. Crispin has always been fascinated by first contacts, and she chooses here a vessel so alien it makes humans dizzy just looking at it. Data modifies his visual net to be able ot explore the artifact, and that lays the basis for an extraordinary insight into the unique. Data's quest and personality have never been better rendered or more beatifully honored. A first contact with a completely alien race brings the reader for the edge of his or her seat. Not only Trek fans but any science fiction reader should read this book

A good moral and some nice descriptions make up this wonderful book. I like this book better than the ones about Spock's son.

Powerful Artifacts threatening a Strek Trek crew is a typical scenario. This is the first STTNG novel that deals with the scenario, not entirely successfully.

Not one of the stand-out novels in the series.