Customer Reviews

Gene Roddenberry's Andromeda: Through the Looking Glass (Gene Roddenberry's Andromeda)

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

 

 

Generally, you would think that authors, especially reputed ones such as Josepha Sherman, would actually watch an episode of a show they were doing a tie-in novel of. Not so in this case. Sherman's complete lack of understanding of the Andromeda universe, from the absence of the Eureka Maru, to the fact that the crew was reduced to a collection of cardboard and sound-bytes, with a plot that's been done to death, this was perhaps the worst of any of the tie-in novels that I've seen come out from TOR or Tribune. In fact, it reads like it was written by using a search-and-replace treatment from a generic "Star Trek" novel, before they started making the effort they have of late. Given that this book followed "Waystation," which was thoroughly researched and actually captured the flavour of the series, it makes this book all that much more of an appalling, hollow sham of what tie-in novels should be.

This particular Andromeda book is a little different than the others. First off, if alternate dimensions isn't your thing, you should NOT check out this book, because that's really what the whole plot is about. To be honest? I'm a die-hard Andromeda fan, but after about 100 pages of Dylan surrounded by a bunch of boring, scaly aliens, I started to wonder if I could finish it. However, Dylan actually makes multiple jumps in time, and one of them starts out rather funny and newly refreshing and interesting. Back on the Andromeda, most of the others get a line in here or there, but it's from Beka's perspective mostly. This book is mostly about Dylan, and the different "versions" of himself that the crew has to deal with while their "Dylan" is traveling through the dimensions his "other selves" were sent from.

It isn't the best thing I've ever read, but I'd read it again (although the first 100 pages aren't the most interesting, I do love Andromeda quite a bit) without question.

Overall, I give this a three for the following reasons:
-The plot was a bit of a drag, but still managed to have its interesting points.
-The other characters were all included, however small their parts.
-The Andromeda holo-image and widescreen were mentioned, but nothing about the avatar in any of the dimensions, or the proper one.
-The first and last chapters when the crew is together are the best. I like the crew as a hole, which means a book about them being separated isn't my first choice, but it still had that "Andromeda" feel.

So, I recommend this book to anyone who loves everything about Andromeda. At least give it a chance. If you're a so-so fan, or anything below that, I don't recommend this book to you.

If you do try it out, at least finish it!

My purchased "Gene Roddenberry's Anromeda: Through the Looking Glass" by Josepha Sherman arrived in good and readible condition. I am happy with my order.

... EVER. i couldn't even read all of it. the only Andromeda novels worth reading, thus far, have been Distruction of Illusions and The Broken Places. Waystation was awful too, don't bother.