Customer Reviews

The Peacekeepers (Star Trek: the Next Generation)

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This review is for those who in particular may have read a few of the later Star Trek The Next Generation novels or novels from the other series and find yourself interested in reading the earlier STNG novels. While in these early novels, you may find the author's characterizations to be somewhat off and their knowledge of the twenty fourth century techno-babble to be somewhat off as well. What you will generally find though is that the majority of these early stories are well based in science fiction and some of the authors, such as the author of this novel, make up for that lack of back story knowledge by concentrating on what they did know. Of the few Star Trek novels that Gene DeWeese wrote, I found them all to be quite intriguing and generally good reads. I read this one quite some time ago myself, but the basics of the story still resonate, lending to how well the author wrote this one.

The premise:

While returning to the nearest Starbase from a mission dealing with the Ferengi, the Enterprise detects a derelict ship. Being the explorers that they are, Captain Picard orders Data and LaForge to investigate the derelict. While on board, they're transported light years away to a similar ship that is orbiting a planet that is in crisis. While Captain Picard and crew frantically search for his lost crewman, Data and LaForge find themselves embroiled in the middle of a political crisis in which the inhabitants of the ship they were transported to have been and are continuing to use the alien technology of the ship to maintain the peace between all the factions on the Earth like planet below.

I definitely recommend this second novel in the Star Trek The Next Generation series as it is a well written story and it fits well within the STNG series. {ssintrepid}

The Peacekeepers is a cheesy story which takes place during TNG's first season. The story itself is just as poorly told as any first season episode (e.g. 11001001, Lonely Among Us, etc.). The guest characters are incredibly shallow and cliche. All of the main cast have some time in the spotlight, but Geordi and Data are featured more than the others. It's an easy read and it doesn't have anything that disagrees with the Trek storyline so it can easily fit into your personal Trek canon. I personally enjoy the "bad" quality of TNG's first and second seasons so I enjoyed this book. I'm looking forward to reading Ghost Ship next!!!

Bottom line, if you liked the first and second seasons of TNG, then you'll like this book.

When this book was written, the show was probably not even aired yet, and the authors had to go on scripts. Obviously, this one can't compare to the newer novels, in which the authors have 178 episodes of material to draw from. In light of that, I think that this was a decent one, especially for its time. I would not recommend it, however, for the new trek novel fan.

Before I begin to talk about The Peacekeepers, here's my disclaimer: I'm very new to the Star Trek fandom. I have not seen the entire Next Generation series (only what is occasionally reran on television) and this is only my second Star Trek book. Therefore, I do not have a lot to compare it to (only the other Trek book and other science fiction books). That being said, I felt this book was about average. The other Trek novel I read (Ghost Ship) felt a little off, but The Peacekeepers was decently average, if not a bit boring sometimes. Spoilers follow.

The plot largely focuses on the growing friendship between Geordi LaForge and Data as they attempt to solve the mystery surrounding the "Peacekeepers." When exploring a seemingly abandoned alien spaceship, LaForge and Data are suddenly transported to an identical craft light-years away orbiting an inhabited planet. They find themselves thrown into the midst of a political battle of control over the spaceship and pose as the mysterious "Peacekeepers" (the civilization believed by the inhabitants of the ship to have left the spacecraft).

The satellite-like ship supposedly appeared during a time of near nuclear war. Two brothers, Shar-Lon and Shar-Tel, were near the site of its appearance. Shar-Lon claimed to have seen the world bathed in red before viewing the death of his brother and then gained access to the craft, using its weapons to destroy the nuclear weapons on the planet. Peace was restored. Now, however, Shar-Lon leads the group controlling the spaceship and Shar-Tel (who actually lived) leads another group intent on destroying the ship. Both brothers want to sway Geordi and Data to their respective sides.

Meanwhile, the crew of the Enterprise frantically rushes to figure out what exactly has happened to their two missing crewmembers. After a couple of mishaps and false leads, they recreate the conditions that sent LaForge and Data away and end up transporting Riker and Tasha Yar to the orbiting spacecraft. Working together, the four manage to solve the conflict by creatively destroying the ship and reuniting the planet.

Honestly, there isn't a whole lot to complain about. The plot seems pretty safe. There isn't anything particularly new or daring being done, and it suits the characters just fine. I almost appreciated that the book didn't seem to be taking itself too seriously; it was just a brief adventure in the STNG universe. My one complaint with the plot is that it is not really exciting. Sure, it creates a general amount of interest and enough to keep the reader reading, but I found myself getting a bit bored in the middle (the end really picked up, though). To reiterate, the plot can be summed up in one word: safe.

I was actually surprised by the characterization. Although there isn't a lot of character development (from what I've gathered, this is pretty common in early STNG novels), the characters at least feel right. There's nothing glaringly off about them and I personally enjoyed the time spent on the relationship between Geordi and Data. My complaint here is that the secondary, non-Enterprise characters were a bit cliché and forgettable. I often had a hard time remembering who was who.

Overall, I'd say this is about average for a Star Trek: The Next Generation novel. I've heard that the authors of the early books didn't have a lot of material to work with and that the earlier books tend to be a bit lacking in quality when compared with later novels. If this is true, I think Deweese did a pretty decent job with the characters (especially LaForge and Data and their friendship), even if the plot is a little safe. Probably not a must read for Star Trek fans, but it's a fun little adventure, nonetheless.

The Enterprise encounters an ancient spaceship that is drifting through space. It appears to have a power source that is still operating, so an away team is sent. Their presence activates a defense mechanism and while the Enterprise is dealing with the reaction, Data and Geordi are transported an immense distance to a similar structure. The second structure is orbiting around an inhabited planet and is under the partial control of Shar-Lon, an inhabitant of the planet.
Decades earlier, there were many nations on the planet that had nuclear armed missiles that were armed and ready. When the structure arrived, it destroyed all of the nuclear missiles and Shar-Lon was able to learn something about it and even use it to advantage. However, as always is the case with humans, resentments have built up over the years and many people on the planet consider the structure to be an impediment to progress. Furthermore, they also believe that Shar-Lon has used the structure to benefit his group. A large orbiting structure was built that is similar to an O'Neill colony and many of Shar-Lon's followers live there.
Geordi and Data arrive and must quickly learn the situation on the planet and how to deal with it. Having been transported so far from the Enterprise, they have lost all contact and are at this point marooned. Meanwhile, back at the Enterprise Picard and the crew are trying to learn about the spaceship in order to determine what happened to Data and Geordi. After some study, they decide to replicate the event that led to the transporting of Data and Geordi and they are able to send Riker and Tasha to the same place. When all of the Enterprise crewmembers that have been transported join forces, they manage to stave off a major conflict. Eventually, the Enterprise crew is able to establish a trail and follow it, arriving just in time to end the conflict using a great deal of extravagant subterfuge.
While some of the premises of this story are absurd, specifically about the control of the orbiting structure via a helmet that is compatible with the human mind, it is still a good story. There is action, and the Enterprise crew preferred to solve problems by thinking them through rather than shooting things up.

If you are an fan of star trek the next generation books then you will want this book to go with the rest of the books so get you an copy and enjoy reading about the crew of the starship U.S.S. Enterprise-D.

Rondall Banks

This book is the second in the series of novels based on Star Trek: The Next Generation. It was written and published during the show's first season, when we were all getting acquainted with this new cast and crew.

The book starts out as a mystery when the Enterprise D encounters an abandoned spaceship. While investigating the spaceship, Lt. Geordi LaForge and Commander Data are transported to a very distant outpost made by the creators of the spaceship.

They find themselves in a satellite orbiting a planet that is quite similar to mid-20th century Earth politically and technologically. The satellite is being used by one person to prevent the planet from using nuclear weapons, or to develop space technology.

Geordi and Data try to find a way to get back to the Enterprise without getting too involved in the conflicts and situation on this world. Meanwhile, back on the Enterprise the crew feverishly searches for LaForge and Data.

Not a great book, but much better than the first Next Generation novel. It is entertaining once the storyline gets going, and in general a fun, light read.

A good book.Not really profound or anything,but a good,entertaing read.Plot:Geordi and Data stumble upon a intergalactic transporter,and in the blink of an eye,they are taken to a world where war has been outlawed,and they(Data and Geordi)are treated like gods!The thing that keeps war off is artifact called the "Repository" hovering over the planet.The Repository is controlled by a madman,who keeps the peace by forcing it on the populace.But unrest is stirring on the planet below,and Geordi must figure out the secret of the Repository before one final war breaks out!(Note:this about a star trek book.All the other reveiws on this page are about a polictical thriller of the same name)

Early novels in any Star Trek line are characteristically awful at characterization, and this one is no different. I'd say it IS in the Season 1 style because the plot is TERRIBLE. Excitement is at a minimum, and while there are some okay scenes for LaForge and Yar, there's really no reason to care about the "mystery" at hand. It's a good thing this one's out-of-print.