2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
STNG #22 Imbalance - Slow start but fast finish!, September 14, 2003
This review is from: Imbalance (Star Trek The Next Generation, No 22) (Mass Market Paperback)
"Imbalance" is but only the second of three Star Trek novels written by this somewhat talented author. It is too bad that this author hasn't visited either the twenty third or twenty fourth centuries in quite some time, because they did some fairly decent work. As some of the other reviewers have pointed out, this one definitely has a very slow paced beginning to it but that is soon worked out as the plot turns from a plodding setup into a well paced conclusion.
Capitalizing on the Star Trek The Next Generation first season episode, "The Big Goodbye," the author brings forth some non canon knowledge of the Jaradan race which was never actually seen in the episode. This too was unfortunate as I've always found insectoid races to be an interesting aspect in the Star Trek universe but one that is only practically used in the novels but given the latest technology, we're now able to see them, such as one of the species of Xindi in the third season opener of Enterprise, "The Expanse."
As cover art goes, this early STNG novel has fairly decent cover art but it's nothing too spectacular. Of note though is that the images of Riker and Crusher are "realistic," unlike the cartoon like covers of old.
The premise:
The Enterprise is ordered to Jarada to negotiate an exchange of Ambassadors when the Jarada, a mysterious race of insectoid beings that possess an extreme devotion to protocol seemingly come out of their reclusive nature and offer to open diplomatic relations. Upon arrival at Jarada, Captain Picard and crew suddenly find that the Jarada are being uncharacteristically friendly. Without preamble, the Jarada change their demeanor and Commander Riker and the rest of his away team are cut off from the Enterprise. At the same time, the Jarada attack the Enterprise.
What follows from there is, as stated above, a slow starter that has a well paced finished as Picard must find a way to rescue his away team and salvage any hopes of a diplomatic relationship with the Jarada.
I'd definitely recommend this early STNG novel as it makes an excellent addition to your Star Trek library. {ssintrepid}
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Archetypal Star Trek, December 20, 2009
This review is from: Imbalance (Star Trek The Next Generation, No 22) (Mass Market Paperback)
The Star Trek (The next generation) are sent to Beltaxiyan Minor to negotiate a treaty with the insectoids there. Typical of all Star Trek novels I have read and seen, something goes terrably wrong. The Insectoid race lives and thinks a hive metastability which complicates relationships. Individually, it seems, each crew member on the away team gets into serious trouble. The odds are against them, but somehow (surprise surprise) they pull it off in the end. The thesis is archetypal Star Trek: They ain't like us, but in some ways they are exactly like us, we just need to understand them. I think the author pulls that off okay. Some reviews said is started slow. Maybe so, but I enjoyed the writing enough all the way through.
If you like Star Trek stories I think you will like this one as well. Good, but not brilliant by any means.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
Wow! This was bad., July 29, 2009
This review is from: Imbalance (Star Trek The Next Generation, No 22) (Mass Market Paperback)
I really hate ripping on books, but how can I say positive things about this book? It felt like I was reading filler the entire time. Adding descriptions to make a word count can be good, but only rarely. The foreshadowing(what little there was) was obvious and made the end a Duh! moment. Luckily the pace of the book picks up at around page 230, so the last 50 pages aren't complete torture.
Only read this book if you are one of those people that must read every book in the series and in order.(Like me)
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