Customer Reviews

STAR TREK: AVENGER CASSETTE (Star Trek: All)

5 star:		(33)
4 star:		(26)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(10)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

After reading The Return, I wondered how Shatner could top an all time showdown with the Borg, whilst having Kirk and his friends fighting alongside with Picard and his crew, but this story actually continues on just like you would expect the epic saga known as Star Trek to. (Unlike the watered down tepid crap they have been putting on TV and in the theaters these past few years or so) This book takes a story that originates back to Kirk's youth, and it involves Sarek and Amanda and Spock. A possible Vulcan defection? Maybe... Just watch the amazing character development that takes place in this thing. The Kirk/Spock friendship gets a new and deeper dynamic here. An intruiging tale that involves seeming corruption even to the highest ranks of the Federation, and an incurable disease that is spreading throughout the galaxy. I just wish with all my heart that Shatner's books would be considered canonical (I already consider them that way) and were put on the big screen instead of watered down hooey like Insurrection and what not. This is awesome, and just like all the others, you will read it again and again and realize "Hey, this is the way Star Trek used to be!"... and it should be again. Dear Mr. Shatner, Maybe you and Leonard Nimoy and some others that really care about Star Trek and its future ought to consider taking some kind of leadership role in its future.

After reading the fantastic 'The Return' I was eager to devour another great visit from the literary world of William Shatner...and when 'Avenger' came out, I figured I had found my 'fix'. Unfortunately it was a few steps on the ladder below 'The Ashes of Eden' AND 'The Return' in the way of entertainment. I found it interesting indeed, and like another reviewer mentioned, I had to outright laugh when Kirk came on more physically able than Riker, smarter than Data and you could see the behind-the-scenes rivalry Shatner has with Picard because he out-thinks him at virtually EVERY turn, practically making him look stupid by comparison. It was these particular parts that I not only found overblown, but outright ridiculous.

Now with that said, I STILL enjoyed the book...WHY? you might ask? Well unlike some people who read books and tear them to shreds, I understand that I am NOT supposed to take a science fiction novel seriously. C'mon, it's Star Trek for heavens sake! Kirk doesn't really exist, and neither does ANY Trek character, so therefore I understand that no matter HOW contrived the plot may be, it was written for me to enjoy, and that I did, very much (not as much as his first two Trek books, or the subsequent follow-ups, though). Shatners collaboration with arguably the BEST Trek authors in existence (Judith & Garfield Reeves-Stevens') pays off for the most part, but despite a lightning fast plot and fun gadgets galore, its the plot itself that brings 'Avenger' down a notch or two. I find it a bit hard to swallow that the United Federation of Planets, with the combined resources of a slew of planets and preparations, that overpopulation could sneak up on them without a tremendous plan designed to correct it in place decades before it could become a problem...but if I suspend that belief because as I said earlier the book was written for FUN, it was a fairly fun read altogether. Now Shatner's follow-up ('Star Trek: Spectre' and 'Dark Victory') are actually MUCH better overall...and I very much look forward to reading 'Preserver'...but I can't say whether or not I'll wait for the paperback...

For all those complaining that this book is self-serving on Shatner's part, realize this book is about KIRK and SPOCK, not about the Next Generation!!! That said, Shatner writes the BEST Trek books, no doubt. Although RETURN is my true favorite, this one still weaves a good tale, and includes all the best characters. Yeah, I love Shatner, so I may already be a little prejudice in regards to other STAR TREK characters, but to be honest, KIRK was the smartest captain. Kirk was the strongest, coolest, toughest and perhaps, THE BEST! And with that, I recommend this book to any fan of the STAR TREK continuum...

Star Trek "Avenger" is a good conclusion to William Shatner and Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens first Star Trek trilogy that spans well over a century of "Star Trek" time. The first two, "The Ashes of Eden" and "The Return" were absolutely phenomenal in so much as telling a good story about Captain Kirk just before the events of Star Trek "Generations" and after the events of that movie with his return from the dead in "The Return" bringing this compelling character back to Star Trek readers if not moviegoers.

The one unfortunate aspect of "Avenger" is that while it is a very good novel it doesn't quite live up to its two predecessors. The story in and of itself is a pretty good one, it just reaches into some areas of Star Trek that leaves one wondering where the authors were going; by that I mean in the areas where the dialogue more or less puts Captain Kirk in such a glorious light and in doing so demeaning such STNG icons as Captain Picard and Commander Riker. That being said, the overall story is still a very good one where all three authors deftly put together a truly good story that is in good fashion in Gene Roddenberry's universe. The pacing of the novel is exceptional and the overall plot set up and execution is well on the mark.

The cover art for "Avenger" is pretty much more of the same bland stuff that was very typical of Star Trek novels at the time of its publishing.

The Premise:

In true Star Trek style and fashion, William Shatner and the Stevens brought together a story that clearly ties up many of the loose ends set up in the first two novels and set up a reunion between Captain Kirk and Spock. The two storied heroes eventually come together when Captain Kirk, long thought to be dead, sets out to discover the source of a lethal virus that is destroying crops all over the Federation causing famine throughout the Federation with the situation worsened by over population. At the same time, Spock returns home to Vulcan to investigate whether his father died of natural causes or could there have been foul play involved. Both investigations lead them into a long awaited reunion that is told extremely well...

What follows is an exceptionally well written novel with only few technical errors that aren't too difficult to overcome. Overall, I would highly recommend this and the first two novels in this, the first Shatner/Stevens trilogy to any and all fans of good Star Trek fiction! {ssintrepid}

Fresh from the dead and a stint as a Romulan Controlled time bomb berserker- Its James T. Kirk. An opportune time to show up as hisownself, I must say. The Federation is faced with a strange plague that threatens the food supply for trillions of sentients. This one takes the brains and brawn of all our guys, Kirk, Picard, Riker, Data, and the never dying Leonard McCoy in his new suit. I Loved AVENGER. There is enough mystisism and magnetism in the book to equaalize the characters. I know a lot of people tell me that Kirk through William Shatner is the no-option -to- fail, can-do guy with the crooked grin of a thirty year old overachieving schoundrel. I say "so whats your point?" Anybody who expects anything but the classic Kirk from WWm.Shatner dont know him too well do he? Keep it up sir. AVENGER is a wonderful book and I hope as the saga of JTK continues he doesnt lose any of his hubris.

Having read the first 2 books of Shatner's "Star Trek" novels, I was more than eager to read "Avenger" when it came out 4 years ago! Once again, you have Kirk and Spock back together again (oh but look for 144-year old Admiral McCoy in this novel) along with the "Next Generation" crew to save the Federation from this lethal virus! What Shatner does with this story is go against Gene Roddenberry's theory that by the time period of the 24th Century, poverty, desease, war, and hungar will all be obliterated, and we will all live in a heavenly universe! Not so much the case when you have this group of anarchists trying to prove their point to the Federation by unleashing this virus upon solar systems! Shatner must have had this idea a long time ago, because if you read his novel "Teklords," it's the same type of story-telling and style! But it's still fun to read! Again, Shatner works with co-writers Judith & Garfield Reeve-Stevens for this book! They truly have clear knowledge of the "Star Trek" universe, and you can see how creative they are with their story-telling! What's more interesting is Kirk's statement in "Star Trek V: The Final Frontier" of how he's always known that he will die alone! Finally, Shatner answers that question with this novel! Also, he re-unites Kirk with Teilani from "The Ashes of Eden!" She is probably the most perfect person in Kirk's life, and the 2 of them are great together in this novel! Although, we may never see him again on the big-screen or in TV episodes, Shatner keeps Kirk's torch lit with each new novel! Like the saying goes: "To boldly go where no man has gone before!" Keep it up Bill!

William Shatner is my favorite novelist. He knows how to write action stories that are also very thought-provoking. Shatner's name on a book means that you are going to have a quality read.

Avenger is one of his best, thoroughly enjoyable. It is the end of the Trilogy that began with Return. It also preceeds the new series that begins with Spectre.

Kirk, Spock, and Picard must solve the problem of the virogen plauge that is wrecking the Federation. Loose ends from previous Star Trek novels and movies are tied up.

The book leaves one with a lot to think about with regard to ecology and eco-terrorism. The Federation by homogenizing environments puts the galaxy in danger of being overcome by disease.

The story is also very moving and has a surprise ending I will not reveal.

I waited before I had all of the first three Shatner books before I started reading them, and I admit that this one, although not as good as the previous ones ("The Ashes of Eden" & "The Return"), "Avenger" did a great job at tying the previous, seemingly separate books together with itself, and each other.

It had the same movie-like, epic atmosphere on it the prequels had, making the book an exiting read.

On an analytical point of wiew though, some problems are revealed.

The actual plot seems to be a bit ungroundet, and the action takes too much room from the story. The action advances the plot, but is a bit time-consuming.

Nontheless the mood of the book stayes unique and interesting troughout the action, making this a good piece of storytelling.

A good trilogy nontheless wich is every bit as good as it seems.

An entertaining end to the trilogy, however the ending is less than satisfying. This entry seemed to rely a bit too much on episodes from the original TV series's history. I enjoy stories that enhance the original episodes, but this seemed a bit overdone. In retrospect, King Rick Berman would have made a more successful, intricate movie that would have enhanced the Star Trek timeline if he had used the Shatner trilogy, rather than the "Insurrection" plot.

Kirk returns from THE RETURN in an epic tale that spans the generations. With the viral plague spreading throughout the Federation, Kirk returns to Teilani (who is first seen in THE ASHES OF EDEN) and Chal, where he once again teams up with the Enterprise-E crew on an astounding adventure that answers the question of how he knew he'd die alone and reveals the Federation to live but so many years. This is truely a magnificent work.