Customer Reviews

STAR TREK NEXT GENERATION ALL GOOD THINGS (Star Trek: The Next Generation)

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is the unbelievable Series Finale of "Star Trek: The Next Generation", dramatized on two tapes by Jonathan Frakes (Commander Riker). As it's a novelization based on the script(s) of the show, there a few notable scenes on the tapes (my personal favorite: Capt. Picard's first meeting with Mr. Mot, the ship's barber!) that aren't in the TV episode. But I think the extra scenes add greatly to the story, and they turn a two-hour episode into a quite enjoyable three-hour tape recording.

Since Q is a major player in this story, and since his voice is so unique, I was originally hoping that John de Lancie would be reading this novel. But Frakes does a Q impression that really brings out the prankster side of our favorite immortal, so I'm not disappointed. As with other Next Generation audio productions, the majority of the sound effects aboard the Enterprise appear to have been lifted right from the show. This tape is definitely first rate.

"All Good Things" is only the second of three episode novelizations for Star Trek's most prolific author, Michael Jan Friedman. As is standard fare for a Michael Jan Friedman novel, it is another excellent read. When setting out to put a novelization of an episode in print, the main things the readers are looking for are personalization of the characters thoughts during "on screen" moments and some added "between" the scenes, scenes. MJ Friedman accomplishes this with great ease.

The only sad thing about this novel is that it was, at the time of its publishing, just another sign that an era of extraordinary and historic television had come to an end. The upside would be the movies, for the better part, but overall, this show is sorely missed by many.

Credit to Ronald D. Moore and Brannon Braga for the original screenplay for "All Good Things..." which made up the outstanding conclusion to seven years of the some of the best television episodes ever to grace the home theater.

The cover art for this, the hardback and the later published paperback is "right on" with the overall theme of the television shows grand finale!

The premise:

As Star Trek The Next Generation began with Q introducing himself in "Encounter at Farpoint," so does it end with him once again challenging humanities right to be among the stars in "All Good Things..." How does he go about this; in his usual style of harassing but teaching Captain Picard, all at the same time. Captain Picard wakes to find himself on board the Enterprise D at the time in which he belongs, yet before he awoke he was thoroughly convinced several years had passed and he'd been an old man.

What follows from there is nothing short of one of the most brilliant episodes of Star Trek The Next Generation and an outstanding novelization in which Captain Picard is bounced around between three different time periods and the past, present and future of not only the Enterprise and her gallant crew are at stake but humanity itself is at stake.

I highly recommend this novelization to any and all fans of Star Trek, whether you can find it in hardback or paperback. I believe this is one story that Gene Roddenberry would truly have been proud of! {ssintrepid}

IN MY OPINION, THE NOVELIZATION OF TNG'S LAST TELEVISION EPISODE 'ALL GOOD THINGS...', IS MUCH BETTER THAN THE EPISODE. THERE IS A LOT MORE MATERIAL (FOR EXAMPLE, LT. TASHA YAR MEETING DEANNA TROI FOR THE FIRST TIME, ETC.) AND CHARACTERS (LWAXANA TROI, KATE PULANSKI, WESLEY CRUSHER, KEIKO O'BRIEN, GUINAN, THE TRAVELER, ETC.) FEATURED IN THIS BOOK THAT ARE NOT IN THE EPISODE. A GREAT READ! THE ONLY THING THAT I SUGGEST TO THE READER IS THIS, IF YOU ARE PLANNING TO BUY THIS BOOK FOR KEEPS, IT IS BEST THAT YOU TRY AND BUY A COPY OF THE ORIGINAL HARDBACK COVER EDITION. IN THE HARDBACK, THERE ARE WONDERFUL GLOSSY, COLOR PHOTOS. IN THE SOFTBACK, THE PHOTOS ARE SMALLER, AND ARE BLACK AND WHITE WITH VERY LITTLE DETAIL IN THEM.

Star Trek: The Next Generation; All Good Things... novelization by Michael Jan Friedman based on All Good Things... Written By Ronald D. Moore & Brannon Braga is base on the television episode by the same name.

What you found in the television episode is covered in this book, but the leaps in logic and continuity are better covered in this novel. What I found very inteesting was the author's way of coveying time... past, present, and future. It was smooth and integrated in the storyline making for a logical progression.

The book is about Captain Jean-Luc Picard's fight to save the human race from the ravages of the "Q." The verdict is in, and humanity must be destroyed. As Picard makes his case for humanity, "Q" takes Picard on trips to the past and future making for an interesting read.

As Picard looks "Q" in the eye and stoically asks "Q" having reached a verdict... have you decided upon a sentence? "Q" replies that he has... It's time to end your trek through the stars... and make room for a more worthy species. "Q" has wrapped up humanity's fate... You're to be denied existence... you will be destroyed.

Knowing this, Picard makes a valent attempt to save all humanity. This is a Picard/"Q" book and it is very well-written, intriguing and is the novelization of the classic final episode of The Next Generation's television journey. A very fast read as Picard in his effort to save humanity, must sacrifice himself and all those he holds dear... perhaps more than once as this has a time travel theme to it... and if Picard fails... Mankind is doomed.

A must read even if you have seen the TV version! Check out the audio version as well!

I felt that it was a very good and interesting Star Trek novel. the story line was very close to the T.V. show Episode. I really enjoyed the plotline and seeing the tng cast in the future. I think you would enjoy it.

I love everything about this one.... especially * Q, * paradox consisting of 3 tachyon pulses from 3 enterprises of diferrent times, * relatively new concepts in temporal mechanics - anti time vs normal time, * the new Enterprise D with 3 warpnacell and Admiral Riker aboard, * etc. etc. especially :-

When Picard says...after looking at everyone on the gambling table..."I should have done this long time ago"

Given that I have seen the finale of the series "Star Trek: The Next Generation" several times and that Friedman follows the plot very closely, there was nothing in this book that was unanticipated. Nevertheless, it was an entertaining light read, for the action flows smoothly and I was able to mentally fill in the imagery by recalling the specific scenes from the episode.
If there is a weakness, it is due to the lack of explanation regarding Q's motives for his placing Captain Picard in the situation that he is in. For all his annoying traits and powers, the idea that Q might be under orders is one that was not raised before, so an explanation as to why the continuum would have given Q a directive would have done something that had not been done before. Namely, explaining the purpose and motives of the members of the "elite" group that Q is a member of. Given that less advanced people would have considered Q a god, there was a lot of unfilled room for some serious philosophical pondering.

This book takes the last Star Trek: TNG episode and turns it into a decent, short novel. Having seen the episode a few years back, I read the book already knowing the story. But the novel does a good job of taking you through the story and adding a few elements here and there to more fully explain what's going on and why. This book isn't the kind I'm likely to ever re-read, though.

Could not put this one down. This is an amazingly well-written book that trancends the genre.