Customer Reviews

Fire on High (Star Trek New Frontier, No 6)

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

For those of you who have not yet tried the "New Frontiers" series, I highly recommend it. Peter David is the master of combining wit, characterization and a true Trekker's knowledge of Star Trek errata into entertaining tales of Gene Roddenberry's legendary universe.

This latest volume of the "Star Trek: New Frontiers" series is a solid, if not spectacular, part of this latest addition to the Star Trek firmament. Continuing the story of Captain Mackenzie Calhoun and the crew of the USS Excalibur directly following the events of the rest of the volumes in the series, the book does little to advance any sense of characterization or general plot. But considering how well Peter David has written each character up to this point, this is quite acceptable. The pace is quick, the Captain makes Jim Kirk look like a by-the-book desk jockey, and the inter-species romance is... interesting to say the least.

If nothing else, the offer for the Captain Calhoun action figure should make this book a worthwhile purchase.

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In a refreshing story, the crew of the USS Excalibur is examined more in depth. Though there is an overall peril storyline, it is shadowed by the day to day issues/interactions of the crewmates aboard.

When it is not the topic of romance, we see many of the second string characters develop as well. Its nice to see that the inhabitants of the 24th century have the same day to day dealings we do, and that everybody on the ship has an important role in one way or another.

Think of it as Melrose Place in space. There a quite a few romantic plotlines with numerous twists that are highly entertaining and funny. There is great chapter in which the female Vulcan, Soleta plays an unwilling ships counseler a la Deanna Troi. Crew members want to ask her for advice on the topic of love, and being Vulcan.., well you can imagine the dry logic she expresses and finally subcumbs to frustration. Very funny.

Peter David is an excellent author, the best Star Trek author I've found. He is one of the few who can tell a dramatic, action-packed story without losing his sense of humor, as was done in some of the best episodes in the original Star Trek series ("Trouble With Tribbles", "A Piece of the Action", "Shore Leave") and has only rarely been seen since. I've enjoyed this series so far, and the characters in it (which is, perhaps, the most important thing in a book or a series). But there are a couple of caveats for those considering the series:

First is the one that actually bothers me a bit: I don't really care for the fact that the storyline continues from one book to the next; granted, the last two books in the series have been better about this than the first four, in that they have legitimately been complete stories in and of themselves. But I find that I prefer stand-alone stories for the most part. If you don't share this preference, you may find this a strength rather than a weakness.

Second is the caveat that does NOT bother me, but might well bother some people: while he never becomes EXTREMELY graphic, certainly never tasteless, Peter David's characters have always been a bit more obviously sexually active than we usually see in Star Trek; not that there was ever any doubt about Kirk, but even in his case, it was generally just hinted at, and that was even more true in "Next Generation". Granted, "DS9" and "Voyager" went a little farther in that direction, (remember the opening scene of "What You Leave Behind", the final episode of DS9, with Bashir and Ezre Dax naked in bed together?) but the constraints of network television still kept things a bit more restrained than David feels any inclination to. Certainly, most Star Trek novels follow the precedent set in the shows, and are much more circumscribed about showing what their characters do behind closed doors than he is. I enjoy this, but it does mean that people who do NOT enjoy this sort of thing can be unpleasantly surprised to see so much sexuality in a place that they wouldn't ordinarily expect it.

As to this book specifically, I found the story to be the best of the series so far. But really, I can't recommend it to anyone who hasn't read the previous books, so my recommendation is simply: start with Book One (House of Cards); if you like it, keep reading. If you don't, you've no need to read this one.

One of the great things about this series, in my opinion, is that the author Peter David is not hindered by the guidelines that apply to the stand alone books or for that matter the miniseries that seem to be popping up every couple of months. I've noticed that other reviewers have complained about the sex scenes in the books. Oh well, it adds some flavor and character to the series. Part of Gene Roddenberry's ethos about Star Trek was that he didn't want too much interplay between the main characters like this; the current producers have stuck with that as well. With one exception, Deep Space Nine. Look at how that turned out, DS9 was a wonderful show that showed the darker side of life in the twenty fourth century, and for its last two to three years it was almost serialized in that shows lead from one to another as opposed to the stand alones. That same style is what makes New Frontier what it is, a great series. The continuous building of characters and plot is absolutely great! As you read through these books and then peruse the ones you've read, you can see that the author, while telling the current story, is setting up either the next story directly or indirectly setting up a future story.

In "Fire on High," we have a strange woman who has mysteriously destroyed all life on the planet she's on. There are some wonderful Commander Shelby scenes, ones you wouldn't have figured the character capable of. We meet and more or less welcome to the crew Morgan Lefler, Ensign Lefler's mother. There is the continuing storyline between Selar, Burgoyne 172 and McHenry. A baby "Great Bird of the Galaxy" is growing in the warp core. Everybody seems to be going to the half Romulan, half Vulcan, Soleta for romantic advice, which by itself is very funny. There are a great many more things here that I do not wish to spoil for everybody.

Suffice it to say, Peter David has written another great installment to the New Frontier series, in "Fire on High!"

This series has really come into its own by this book. This time, Lt. Robin Lefler comes to centre stage when her mother - thought dead for ten years - shows up alive and well in the Thallonian Sector.

With some themes that mirror some original-series Star Trek, and some good character development on the parts of Dr. Selar, Chief Burgoyne, the enigmatic Si Cwan, and Commander Shelby, this book definately kicks the "New Frontier" series into high gear.

Peter David has done some wonderful crafting here, especially given that he only had a few moments of screen time for three of the characters he has taken from the Next Generation series. Once again, he proves that well-written characters are the real power behind the Star Trek universe, and "New Frontier" has definately earned its place therein.

You will not be disappointed by this series.

That's one of the reasons I'm finding the adventures of Calhoon and company so enjoyable. In the series, it seemed that the only people doing anything useful were on the Enterprise. The concept of another ship with another crew (who didn't need rescuing) was long overdue.

In regard to the sex in the last two books, I think it was a good story in and of itself. Sela's dealing with the pon farr, Calhoon's reaction at being propositioned, Burgoyne's jealousy, heck even Shelby's conflicting emotions were well handled. Granted sex usually isn't a subject in Star Trek (at best, it's hinted at) but I don't think it was dealt with improperly here. There's worse on televison during prime time.

The original stories that Peter David is coming up with are getting better and better. This one, telling of a woman's quest to find a technologically advanced race, and finding her friend stuck with a machine that has caused the destruction of an entire planet, is great. Also, the way this story continues on from the the last book in the series, Martyr, makes it that much more fun to read. As always, have the next books in the series ready when you finish this one, because you won't be able to put it down.

I enjoyed this novel much more than than Martyr. The return of Robin Lefler's mother and the intrigue surrounbding her was very interesting. Morgan seems like she will play an important role in future books. What I didn't like about this novel was the continued soap opera qualities that other reviewers have alluded to. ***SPOILER*** First, why would most of the crew turn to a Vulcan for romantic advice? They mate only when they absolutely have to, and while they are capable of love, is it really the same as that of other humanoids? I don't think so. Second, Peter David continues to reduce some of the female members of the crew to starry-eyed, lovelorn teenage girls. It just doesn't fit with the overall character of the women, especially women in command. What I really enjoyed was the action-oriented plot. It was fast-paced and built to an amazing crescendo in the end. I look forward to reading more novels in the series.

Very interesting story... Well done... There were two side stories... 1 with Robin Lefler... and 2 with Burgy in engineering... I am not going to say anything... but please read this book carefully... I did and I enjoyed the surprises.

Wouldn't miss a book in this series for anything. Am waiting patiently for the next novel. The blend of characterization and story plot is great. The characters are not overdone yet you get a feeling for the species. This would make an excellent tv series if kept in line with the first six books, or several good movies.