Customer Reviews

Missing in Action (Star Trek: New Frontier)

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Peter David is without a doubt the best Star Trek novelist and one of the best Science Fiction writers out there. With his New Frontier series, he has created a captain even more outrageous than Captain Kirk-- Mackenzie Calhoun who, although unconventional, to say the least, is extremely likable. David has peppered the series with minor characters from Star Trek: The Next Generation and, unlike other Star Trek writers, is able to have his characters live real lives. They change allegiances, accept promotions, get married, have children, and even die.

In this book, we find Soleta in command of a Romulan intelligence ship, Leffler involved in a Civil War on SiCwan's home world, and the Excalibur trapped inside a strange type of space, unable to escape unless Calhoun can manage to make two sworn enemies work together, while Admiral Shelby defies Star Trek orders to go out and try to rescue her husband.

The characters undergo some major changes in this book- and I don't want to do any spoilers, but I will say that the ending does not leave everything tied up in a neat little package. There are some unexpected twists, and one major death that still leaves me reeling. David has made it pretty clear that this character is dead so I have to believe that he is not going to pull one of the usual Star Trek rabbit tricks out of his hat and tell us in the next book that it was actually a clone that was killed.

This is a great book in a great series by a great author. An easy 5-star read.

When I closed the cover of Missing in Action, I said to myself- literally outloud- "Now that's good storytelling."

I've come to expect that with PAD's Star Trek New Frontier series, but MIA is the best one yet.

Slight SPOILERS to follow:



In MIA, Calhoun finds himself and the crew of his ship, The Excalibur, sucked into a distant universe where the laws of physics are not what we are accustomed to. Space is gelatinous rather than a vacuum and the creatures that inhabit it are just as bizarre. While there, he must end a centuries long feud between two warring races- a feud that has wiped out the entirity of the inhabitants of their universe, except for their own races of course.

Back home, Calhoun's wife, Admiral Elizabeth Shelby, must decide whether to defy Star Fleet and go after him or sit back and wait- as she was ordered too. Always a strict adherent to regulations, she's naturally torn, but in the end makes a decision based on her instincts, much like her cowboy husband always does. (Well, instincts and ALOT of whiskey!)

Before she can reach her husband, she finds herself in the middle of a war at it's breaking point on the Planet of Priatia, in the part of space where Calhoun and The Excalibur disappeared.

Old friends, Lt. Commander Robin Lefler and Captain Kat Mueller, join her- and by this time I was reading fast because the action was so intense.

The climax comes together with Calhoun expertly manipulating his way out of a morass of "peace" negotiations between the warring peoples- a peace negotiation that could have been "do this or die" if it had been any other man- and Shelby, Lefler, and Mueller discovering just how connected the planet of Priatia is to Calhoun's disappearance- and vice versa. A big surprise hits at this point and since I've probably spoilered too much as it is- I leave it for you to discover.

The book concludes with a few excellent little denouements- one with an ironic twist reminiscent of the old The Twilight Zone, and the other, a fable-like scene featuring Q, that lets us know where we measure up in the scheme of things.

MIA is a continuation and finale of a story arch advanced in the previous book, After the Fall. Where as it might be helpful to read the books before MIA, it really wouldn't be necessary to enjoy this story.

PAD writes with a sense of humor that makes me laugh out loud like no other author can. I have yet to read his other books, outside of the Star Trek universe, but I will eventually get to them, of that you can be sure of!

This was, hands down, perhaps the best New Frontier story since "Cold Wars" or the "Excalibur" series. While the last few books have felt lacking, or playing too much into a comic-book feel, this book comes off as fresh and a real page-turner.

There's a nice balance in this book between plot and focus. Finally, we have a book where we get to see perhaps the leading females have their time in the spotlight while Calhoun's plot doesn't come off as very important. Soleta's ties with the Romulans are explored and is linked to the events of Star Trek: Nemesis. Shelby and Mueller finally get a novel where they are the the focus and the ones who have to save the day and think and act outside the box. Also, Robin Lefler's character gets major development here, making this really a stand-out novel for this series.

What I enjoyed most about this novel was how it was a nice blend of Star Trek yet the character were written in a relaxed manner that "New Frontier" started as. They aren't as stiff or formal as the characters in other series; Here, they come off as very real, to the point where you can almost forget that this is all taking place in the Star Trek universe. My favorite scene is the drinking moment between Shelby, Mueller, and Lefler; here they just speak their minds and it makes you laugh and think and ponder all at once about how great these characters are.

You'll need to have read the previous book, "After the Fall", to completely get some of the changes that have taken the character. Be prepared for a major plot twist and development for more than a few of the characters. If this is the bold new direction being taken with this series, I really am looking forward to what Peter David has planned for the characters and plot. Definitely worth your time and money!

Peter David is SO good a writer of Star Trek that this effort, when held up to his others (like "Imzadi" and "Q-Squared"), doesn't quite cut the mustard.

I'm not going to go over how well-developed each and every one of David's characters are, and I'm not going to hit the way he uses humor (very well) in the book.

As a Star Trek novelist with a proven track record, David can do pretty much anything he wants so long as he doesn't break any cardinal rules. His characters curse. They have sex. They do the wrong thing with impunity. But in the end, as normal for Trek, everything comes out okay.

This book, it almost seems too easy. Too formulaic. As if David has developed a specific type of plot for New Frontier and simply plugs in the characters and goes. Perhaps that comes from writing a universe solely developed by and for himself (except for the authors in the short-story collection). Also, there are way too many characters, what with Shelby on the station, Mueller on the Trident, Mac on the Excalibur, Soleta on her ship, and all their various crews, plus the obligatory Captain-vs-new-first-officer dynamic between Mueller and whatshername, the Andorian.

I liked it quite a lot, don't get me wrong. But it's only standard Peter David fare, not the great stuff we've seen from him in the past.

Why, it's series hero Captain McKenzie Calhoun and his entire ship Excalibur, along with remaining crew members that have been at his side for the whole New Frontier saga. It seems beings from a different universe grabbed one or more of the feared Borg and got hold of their tranwarp conduit technology and sucked Mac & Crew over into their side. Left to figure out what happened to their former skipper and save him are his wife Elizabeth Shelby, now an Admiral after gaining command of her own ship (being less of a maverick than one's husband tends to enhance one's chances at promotion), Kat Mueller (who now commands a ship of her own) and Robin Leffler, whose mother Morgan is now the central processor and personality of Mac's onboard computer (kind of sounds like that ancient Earth human insult game The Dozens; "your mama's the onboard computer".) These three ladies in Mac's life (at one time or another) decide they gotta do something, meet in Admiral Liz's quarters to discuss how many Starfleet rules they're gonna break to fish Mac out of the soup, get totally smashed, then it's off to the rescue. One other vessel that saw Excalibur go down the terlet is a Romulan spy ship commanded by none other than Soleta, formerly the Excalibur's half Vulcan/ half Romulan scence officer. To find out where she figures in, and who Mac's abductors are, you'll have to buy the book.

Star Trek: New Frontier Missing in Action written by Peter David is a wonderfully entertaining book and most likely the best so far in the New Frontier series. David developes his charters to the fullist and there is action-adventure, comedy and tragedy.

David developes a sound stand alone book that takes the characters on a ride of their respective lives. As this book starts MacKenzie Calhoun is on a routine patrol in the New Thallonian Protectorate and Sector 221-G when all hell breaks loose. The story is riviting, intriguing, interesting, and mind-blowing as the U.S.S. Excalibur gets sucked into another demension and universe where things take off from there. MacKenzie Calhoun works his magic as he trys to settle an ancient war between some very unusal alien races. Also, he is trying to work his way back to his own time-space and universe.

Calhoun uses all means available to him to accomplish this goal. But there are two stories within the pages of this book as the New Thallonian Protectorate has fallen due to the treachery that Si Cwan has sowen. The stories are interwoven and compliment each other and the worst has happened and David spins his yarn to make interesting reading.

Those who love to read David's work will not be disappointed as David bring the stories to boiling and then a simmer where action takes over and the authors rewards the reader with very interesting reading till the end. The characters are strong without being over bearingAnd when you think about the book you can see David's lively humor evolve in this book.

I gave this book a solid five stars for the action-adventure, stong and well developed characters, a fine interwoven plot, and a very interesting story line. You won't be diappointed by this book it has all of the right stuff to make an intriguing read. I enjoyed this book and hope that you do too.

I loved this book. It was a return to the basics for PAD with the familar outlandish comedy and incredible character development. When I started reading the book, I was uncertain how much I would enjoy it because I was under the impression that this the second book of a hardback trilogy (when did I miss the memo?). Maybe it still is but not with the same story covering all three books. Either way, I'm very glad that the book didn't end with a cliffhanger, although it left many dangling threads to deal with. Plus, how can anyone not like an ending with Q and his son fishing in the cosmos! 8-)

One of my favorite parts of the book was the development of Robin's character. She's finally grown up from the young, naive girl into a strong and defiant woman. We even got a glimpse of what she was once like when she was drunk with Kat and Shelby, making me very grateful of this new development for her character. Additionally, I found response to Si Cwan's death heartening and satisfying.

Speaking of Si Cwan, I was really impressed that PAD killed one of his most important characters of his series. Intially, I wasn't even sure that he was dead even though we saw Si Cwan coming close to breaking free, only to fail and watch Fhermus' blade striking down onto him. I remember thinking, "No, I've been fooled too many times in the past about a character being dead. I won't believe he's dead until I see Si Cwan's head on a silver platter."

Well, then.

I think PAD built a time machine and read my mind. *eek*

Okay, granted it was a bronze tray and not a silver platter, but same difference!

I'm looking forward to seeing future developments of New Thallonian Protectorate under Robin and Kalinda. I'm also curious to see where Kalinda and Xyon's relationship goes. For that matter, I'm curious to see what will happen to Xyon. What will Xyon do with his life? What will Soleta do with hers? And what about Moke? Will Shelby be busted down to the rank of ensign and server under Mac once again? Stay tuned for the next episode of...Soap!

Sorry, I got carried away. Where was I? Oh, right, dangling threads. There's so much potential for future books I'm bubbling in anticipation for the next book.

The one thing I didn't like about the book was how Soleta killed her crew, only to have Lucius survive and then making up and becoming lovers. I don't have the problem of Soleta killing her crew, but I do have a problem of Soleta killing her crew in vain. Oh, well. I'll get over it. One small gripe in a great sea of wonder.

So when is the next book coming out?

A New Frontier novel by Peter David is, in general, a good bet. My only problem with them-we only get a new installment once a year and I find myself having to slow down and savor the book, instead of consuming it all in one gulp like I'd love to do.

The story picks up right after After the Fall left off. It's still three years later and we're slowly filling in details of what happened during those three years. David deftly balanced four separate plot threads, bringing each of the stories together in a satisfying way in the last third of the book. Along the way, David makes some stunning changes to the New Frontier universe. I won't say exactly what they are, but I will hint there are stunning, jaw-dropping and series changing. And the ending while not a literal cliffhanger did leave me looking around, hoping there was more book hidden in the last few blank pages before the binding.

Peppered with David's typical humor and off-beat characters, After the Fall shows exactly why the New Frontier series is the best thing happening in Trek publishing today. Every book is great and worth the wait. But Mr. David, could you please have the next one come out, oh, let's say tomorrow. I'll be first in line for the next one.

This entire series is, I think, the best in the Star Trek collection. I've loved every book related to the New Frontier saga. I can't say enough about it. It's very well written and supports the story line.

Most Star Trek novels fall into the same formula:
* Re-introduce the crew.
* Introduce a new unknown character(s).
* Meet challenge.
* Defeat challenge but it kills new unknown and yet beloved character(s).
* Mourn. Say something pithy about humankind.
* Reset crew/ship to status quo for next mission.

*yawn*

But not so with the New Frontiers series, the beloved mainline characters die, change allegiances, fall in and out of love, become gods or admirals, et al. Much to the consternation and surprise of the readers.

"Missing in Action" is no exception. It is the second book after a 3 year jump in storytime where a lot of character shake-ups happened off-screen in the book "After the Fall". The book context is placed in the STTNG:Nemesis timeframe.

Peter David has a breezy style which weaves in and out of drama and humor with a deep respect to the rich Star Trek lore (The crews include two secondary characters from the Star Trek Animated Series (M'ress [Cat race] and Arex [Bird race]) besides the TV/Movie series [Ashley Judd's character Ensign Liefer]).

I devour every book. It is painful to wait between books but I do.

A worthy heir to the newest adventures in Star Trek Universe.