Customer Reviews

Obsidian Alliances (Star Trek Mirror Universe, Bk. II)

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I love this book. It is GREAT sequel (I have always wanted to see the mirror universe Kes). A lot of people are under the false impression that all of the characters in the mirror universe have to be complete opposites of those in our `normal' Trek universe. Wrong. That would be too simple. Some are completely different, and others are only minutely (example: in the mirror universe chapters of "Glass Empires", the Borg are still what they are in our universe, but there are a few differences - Borg King, diamond-shaped ship instead of a cube).

I know that there is going to be confusion for some because of Peter David's "New Frontier" chapters, but if you are confused, go out and read the previous books of "NF". They are some of the best ever Trek-themed novels.

As far as this timeline not following the "Dark passions" reality, no problem. As the TNG episode "Parallels" showed us, there are infinite realties out there. It is up to the reader to decide what they consider `canon' in their reality.

Another thing that I liked about the books is the fact that (even the sadistic characters) have a reason for doing what they do (like with the traitor in the VOYAGER chapters - when you read why they did it, it almost makes you agree with them!).

Also, the mirror universe, some counterparts are much more interesting than those in the regular Trek universe (example being that of the mirror universe Leeta. In the mirror universe, Leeta is not just a dumb Dabo girl, but a fighter and a very intelligent person).

I really hope that we will see a sequel to these great books!

Just for fun I borrowed this book recently from my local public library, and found a rather delightful surprise with respect to "Star Trek" fiction. While readers will not be surprised with the talents of Keith R. A. DeCandido, and especially, Peter David (whose alternative Romulan Star Empire tale worked well on several different levels), they will be amazed with the ample detail and convincing depictions wrought by first-time author Sarah Shaw in her brilliant visit to the alternate "Deep Space Nine" commanded by Terran Rebellion leader General Miles "Smiley" O'Brien. All three authors do a fine job in depicting the Mirror Universe as seen from the prisms of "Star Trek: Voyager" (DeCandido), "Star Trek: New Frontier" (David) and "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" (Shaw). While I'm not going to spoil the fun by revealing plot details to you, I will say that there is ample shipboard intrigue and excitement in store in all three novellas. Moreover, I would say that these are among the finer examples of "Star Trek" short fiction which I've come across. Long-time fans of "Star Trek" will not be disappointed, and most certainly will want to add this volume to their collections.

This was better than the first in the Mirror Series.
Partially because I love the DS9 and New Frontiers Characters but doubly so as I do not care for the Voyager crew and loved that story as well!

If you are a fan of the mirror universe; this book will entertain you. 3 new stories set in and containing characters from Voyager, Deep Space Nine and New Frontier. Deep down these are still the characters you know and love, but how the mirror universe has changed them might supsrise you. IF you are a ST fan, do pick up this book.

When you see the cover you'll think nice cover but bad stories when in fact it is totally the opposite, now you get to see the mirror universe of Voyager and everyone involved and get to see what happens in the mirror universe of Deep Space Nine. The big flaw of this book is the mirror universe involving the new frontier, for me in particular it was really bland nothing exiciting or page-turning.

In the original Star Trek television series, one of the most popular episodes concerned a "Parallel Universe" that four of the characters found themselves in due to a transporter accident; a universe which looked strikingly similar to the one that they came from, but which had radical differences, as well. The biggest differences seemed to be that their counterparts in that universe -- and the counterparts of their crewmates -- were as evil and unscrupulous as they and their crewmates were good. As a result, it was a very dark, unpleasant world which they were very happy to escape.

That episode spun off several more during the "Deep Space Nine" series, and now there are numerous of the Star Trek books that have used that parallel universe as a plot device. In this book, there are three stories set entirely within that universe. They are all well-written, and not without interest, but there is one problem: one of the biggest attractions of the Star Trek series has always been the fact that it is a hopeful, optimistic look at the future, and the characters have, for the most part, been unapologetically heroic. Thus, setting stories entirely in the mirror universe tends to lose a big part of what makes Star Trek so special. Peter David's story avoids a lot of that particular criticism, because there actually is a slight "contact" with the normal Star Trek universe, and it produces a positive influence. But the other two stories, even though they do each have a character or two that have managed to be essentially decent human beings in spite of living in the mirror universe (primarily Chakotay, Kes, & Neelix in the first story, and O'Brien in the third) are mostly just depressing.

If you're interested in seeing a look fairly deep into a world that has many of the same characters as the usual Star Trek world, but in which those characters have lived very different lives and as a result have developed into very different people, this may be an interesting book for you. But if you enjoy Star Trek because you enjoy seeing your heroes be heroes, this is most definitely NOT the book for you.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading both Obsidian Alliances and Shards and Shadows concurrently as one book tied into the other. These two books continue the tale of what happened to the Terran Empire and how The Alliance took over. Once I started reading, it was difficult to put it down as I wanted to see what was going to happen next!

book two of the mirror-universe saga connects star trek voyeger, new frontiers, and deep space nine.
like book one (glass empires), it is an in-depth study of thr geat and small differences in the lives of beloved trek characters in a alternate universe.

Nice job on the alternate universe books. A fast-paced read and very well done.

Husband says it is a great book and he looks forward to reading other on the subject.