Customer Reviews

The Price You Pay (Stargate SG-1, Book 2)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

If a good story is more important to you than esoteric details about technology that doesn't actually exist, the errors in this book mean nothing. I didn't even notice them before they were pointed out to me, as I was too deep into O'Neill and Daniel having to evade Serpent Guards on Saqqara. Though purists will have a great deal to nitpick about in this book, I for one read a book for the story, not for Gate mechanics, and, with the exception of McKay's "Retribution," this is the best book to carry the name Stargate. Though unimportant details about how the inner workings of alien devices aren't always on target and she calls Mafdet "Mafret," if you want a good story, you want this book. It's well-told, with a twofold story and likable characters both on the planet SG-1 visits, and on the Goa'uld world that they pay tribute to. The planet M'kwethet's situation is an strange relationship with the Goa'uld: They must pay tribute to Apophis by periodically turning a group of their children over to him. The Goa'uld keep the people free of disease (Apophis wants healthy slaves, after all) but if they refuse to pay tribute, the consequences are, of course, quite unpleasant. These people don't want SG-1's help, feeling it could only lead to an attack by Apophis. At the same time, O'Neill discovers that there is no DHD with which to operate M'kwethet Gate. This may take place before The Torment of Tantalus, in which the idea of manual dialling was introduced. This is where sitting back and enjoying the show comes in: Realize that for right here, right now, no DHD means no way back, and go from there. O'Neill and Daniel figure that, since you can't go into an outgoing Gate and vice versa, and tributes still get from M'kwethet to... somewhere, the Serpent Guards who take them must have a way to make the Gate work from M'kwethet. So, O'Neill and Daniel must take a trip to the Goa'uld world Saqqara as part of the tribute, and try to figure out the key to unlocking the Gate and get back to M'kwethet without getting blasted. At the same time, on M'kwethet, Carter and Teal'c try to protect the victims of the next tribute... whether the people want that or not. And let's just say it doesn't all go as planned. To say any more would give too much away. And it has fun as well; a drunken Daniel and Carter, among other things. Very believable, with not just one, but two good stories. The only thing that could make it better would be if it had been an actual episode. No, scratch that. It'd just make the *show* better if this had been an actual episode.

Like many SG-1 fans, I was excited to see an original novel based on the series. However, Ms. McConnell seems to have some problems writing science fiction. (I've noticed that I dislike her "Quantum Leap" books for much the same reasons.) Not only does she need to watch the series more, in order to more accurately capture the characters and their relationships, she needs to study the series "bible" to figure out the science behind the Gate and various technical devices and situations.

The further into the book I got, the more irritated I became; Carter's character is particularly off-base, first season or not. The plot has large holes in it, most revolving around problems following through on the science of the series; towards the end, it becomes downright illogical. I would have given this book no stars at all, but I love the series -- and the cover picture is nice.

I hope we get more original novels for SG-1, but not from Ashley McConnell.

Although it is obvious that this was written and set very early on in the series, which makes some of the details given seem slightly... off somehow, it is a very enjoyable book that I would recommend to anyone. I liked it better than the other two Ashley McConnell Stargate SG-1 books I have read. The story was interesting and although nothing truly surprising happened, it had enough twists to keep it quite engaging.

The characters were well handled. An admitted Jack O'Neill fan, I rather enjoyed all the little refrences and illusions to his past and of course his deftly portrayed wit. Daniel was well done as well, although he seemed a wee bit over-fixiated on Sha're to the exclusion of all else, but again, this is early SG-1, so that makes sense in a way. Otherwise his character was spot-on. Teal'c was also deftly handled which isn't easy to do as his character can oft be a writer's nightmare. :o) I will admit I'm not entirely sure that Sam Carter's character was portrayed to her full potential, but it was not greatly disrupting from the rest of the book.

All in all, I definitely recommend it as the best of Ashley McConnell's books.

Once again, Ms McConnell has given us a book that is dissapointing. I really think that it is the length of the book that bother me. The book was so short-198 pages-that there is no time for development of the story. The plot is hurried along without giving us a feel for the characters. I do realise that back story on SG-1 is important, but there is a little too much. The end was rushed and the "bad guys" of the story seemed a little too childish and cartoonish to be scarey or believable. I hope the next one is a little longer and more in depth. Perhaps it might do the author well to actually read up on the show a little more.

Ms. McConnell has captured the characters of SG-1 with The Price You Pay and has given a little insight into what goes into preparing for a recon mission. The book is well written and fast paced and even with, what I consider a small continuity error, she has written a book that almost every fan of the series Stargate SG-1 will enjoy reading.

Like many other SG-1 fans I was dying to see an original SG-1 story in print. Alas, the expectation proved to be more exciting than the actual event itself. The first thing that struck me about this book was how small it is! Weighing in at only about 200 pages, this book proves to be lightweight in not only size but also content. The Author's note inside the cover stating that this book is set around midway in the first season seems to be superfluous, as the book does indeed read like one of the poor episodes that came out from early in the first season. The story itself is pretty unengaging and fails to even feel like an SG-1 outing should, I had real trouble visualising it as an actual episode. Although some of the inter-character banter does ring true most of the time it just seems forced. Ms McConnell's time as a fantasy writer seems to have served her well as she had no trouble coming up with twee character names which annoyed me with their sheer twee-ness. I really hope to see more SG-1 novels, whether novelisations of episodes or original stories. Now that the TV series has steadily improved and matured greatly maybe the time is right for a book which matches the series present quality.

A thoroughly enjoyable read for any fan of SG-1 but particularly new fans. One comes away from Ashley McConnell's fast-paced story hungry for more! I love how the author brings the characters to life: O'Neill's dry sense of humor, the true love for knowledge that drives Carter and Jackson. She outlines the basics of Stargate technology, the Goa'uld, and the SGC so new fans know the score but this is artfully woven into the story making it a great read for any fan. What are you waiting for...step through the Stargate and enjoy!

I could rattle about this book all day, I bought it flat out and read it 6 times that summer. Carter and Daniel getting hangovers, Jack getting punched for making a wise crack, what more could you want in a book? This is SG-1 tried and true, none of the other books is as real as this one is, except for Jack not being the drunk one, but Carter puts on quite a show!! If you watch the series, this is the ONE book you HAVE to read!

I enjoyed this book simply because it allows another much needed dose of SG-1. I am an avid fan and have hoped for novels such as have come out for Star Trek. Although there could have been more action and more developement of the culture of the planet, I enjoyed it simply for what it is, a Stagate SG-1 novel. I admit to watching this show and awaiting new episodes impatiently. I, too, will await another installment of the story via the bookstands.

Well I think the author has done a good job with the characters and the first few chapters, hooking the reader easily, the end of the book is wanting. First, the ending seems rushed, second she shifts the story away from the planet M'Kwethet and their homage to the Goa'uld to the fact that M'Kwethet's Stargate had no DHD and SG-1 has to find a way to get home. Like in 'The Morpheus Factor', a book set later in the series which I red first, the natives are left with their problems which may have been made even worse by SG-1's visit.