Customer Reviews

Serpents Among the Ruins 2311 (Star Trek: The Lost Era)

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Novels don't get much better than this, any type of novel. "Serpents Among the Ruins" by David R. George III has every element that makes for an exceptional reading experience. An original and imaginative plot, phenomenal characters, and a distinctive style that the author is able to sustain from the beginning to the end.

The year is 2311 and the event is the mysterious and infamous Tomed Incident. The Federation and the Romulan Star Empire are on a countdown to war. Neither side has any doubt that war will come. Step by step, inch-by-inch, through a series of events large and small the two powers move ever closer to the seemingly inevitable conflict. The only questions there seem to be are what will be the spark that ignites the hostilities, and who will the Klingons side with.

After eighteen years in command of Starfleet's flagship, the Enterprise-B, Captain John Harriman is a seasoned and experienced leader, a man with more than his share of experience with the Romulans. Many things have transpired through the years to bring Harriman to this point in his career and this point in history. And it will take every resource at his disposal and a bit of luck too; to make sure that the Federation survives.

Dramatic and suspenseful are the first words that spring to mind as I try to describe my thoughts about this spectacular novel. At the same time "Serpents Among the Ruins" manages to be a contemplative and poignant story as well. A story driven by the characters that are in turn driven by the events they find themselves caught up in.

This novel builds slowly, allowing the reader to get to know the principal characters: their motivations, their nature, their flaws and strengths, and their hopes and dreams. It allows you to see the events from the perspective of Romulans and Klingons as well as citizens of the Federation. The first one hundred pages or so sets the stage with narrative so richly detailed that the events seem entirely real. You feel as if you are watching these momentous, albeit fictitious, events unfold before your eyes.

The author, David R. George III, exhibits extraordinary craftsmanship as he carefully takes the reader through the brilliantly plotted events. He draws for the reader the portrait of a man, John Harriman, who has been born and breed to serve the Federation. An open and deceptively casual man who projects a confidence he does not always feel but who is totally secure with himself and his convictions. A man with the weight of the Quadrant on his shoulders, who before the story is done you can't help but both like and admire.

The other characters who populate "Serpents Among the Ruins" are just as striking, each in their own way. No matter what each readers preconceived notions are of the who, what, where and how of the Tomed Incident that "Serpents Among the Ruins" so powerfully and impressively illuminates, nothing in your imagination could compare to this gripping and shocking tale.

In John Harriman, David R. George III has given us a character light years beyond the green captain we met in "Star Trek Generations," a man who has grown as a starship commander, and as a man, into a fully realized character deserving of the honor of being captain of a starship Enterprise.

But it's the events unfolding around Harriman and his crew that really makes this story a worthwhile experience. Steeped in Trek history, we're witness to the complex and deadly political machinations pulling the Federation, the Romulans and the Klingons in a direction that can only lead to war. The uncertainty of this prospect, as well as the events leading up to the infamous Tomed Incident, keeps the reader on the edge of their seats and immersed in George's storytelling ability right to the last page.

David R. George III is unquestionably, along with Diane Duane and Peter David, among the best writers working in the "Star Trek" universe today. "Serpents Among The Ruins" is a spellbinding account of the events which led to the infamous "Tomed Incident" between the Romulans and the United Federation of Planets. Not surprisingly caught in the middle of escalating tensions between both powers is the Federation flagship USS Enterprise, NCC 1701-B, commanded by Captain John J. Harriman, Jr. with Hikaru Sulu's daughter Demora, as his Exec. Harriman goes on a desperate undercover mission which will involve Starfleet Intelligence officer Lieutenant Elias Vaughn, seeking to stop an insane Romulan admiral. We are also witness to the signing of the Treaty of Algernon, which reaffirms the existence of the Neutral Zones between the Romulan Star Empire and the Federation and Klingon Empires. There is ample political intrigue on Romulus and the Klingon homeworld which will satisfy diehard fans familiar with the politics of both interstellar empires. Without question, this was an enjoyable read and a worthy addition to "Star Trek" fiction.

Star Trek - The Lost Era: "Serpents Among the Ruins" 2311 written by David R. George,III is a well-written complex story that shows that everything is not just black and white, but the gray areas are where the action and the real running of politics comes into play with the Federation, Klingon Empire, and the Romulan Star Empire.

Yes, this is a complex story and I must admit that this story took longer to read to keep all of the characters straight in your mind as you read on. This is a character driven story with some mystery and intrigue and covert actions. This story portrays the Federation as a farther thinking operation than what you'd imagine. Charater driven we have Captain John Jason Harriman, Jr., Captain of the U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-B. The famous ship in "Generations" that lost James T. Kirk to the Nexes and supposedly killing Kirk. Elias Vaughn of special ops and later the Commander of the "Defiant," Admiral John "Blackjack" Harriman the hardened Admiral of Starfleet who makes life especially difficult for Harriman, Jr.

Azetbur Chancellor of the Klingon Empire, Demora Sulu daughter of Hikaru Sulu and Exec of the "Enterprise," and Admiral Aventeer Vokar of the Romulan Star Empire and Commander of the "Tomed." All of these charaters interplay making for and interesting story. Anytime you get the Federation, Klingons, and Romulans together you should get an interesting story of duplicitous undertows and this story delivers in spades.

This story takes place in the year 2311... the year famous for the "Tomed Incident," eighteen years after the presumed death of Captain James T. Kirk aboard the U.S.S. Enterprise 1701-B in Star Trek Generations, and fifty-three years before the launch of the Enterprise-D in the "Encounter at Farpoint." This story will fill you in on the escalating tensions among the Klingons, the Romulans, and the Federation.

When reading this book you'll find that it starts on slow and you get a lot of background and character development and the plot is being set. It is interesting that when Starfleet tests a new drive called "Hyperwarp" on the inaugural flight of the U.S.S. Universe things go wrong in a hurry and the story is filled with intrigue and covert operations from that point on in the story.

I can't give you too many details as that would spoil this well-written story. I found that you really need to pay attention to keep all of the characters and their plotting straight as this is not a book that you can scan-read to get the salient points. If you like character driven writing than this is the book to read as you will not be disappointed and the is plenty of action-adventure and tight situations.

I gave this book a solid 5 star rating for good character development and interplay with a plausible plot. Also, this portrays the Federation in a light that the gray areas and not just the black and white can tell a good story. This book reveals the true personalities and shows that this ensamble of characters are worthy of a book that tells the tale of what truly went on with the "Tomed Incident" and the destruction of the Foxtrot Sector near the Romulan Neutral Zone. Where the Romulans have retreated into their empire and closed their borders.

I was so excited to finally read the tale of the Tomed Incident. I had always thought that Tomed was a planet, not a starship.
As I read, it didn't really make sense what the final plan was until much, much later into the book. Why steal a Romulan starship? It didn't make any sense to me. The Federation ALREADY has a cloaking device why get another. Then the pieces started to fall into place. With the desstruction of the Tomed, I actually dropped my jaw on the amount of devistation. Without giving away the twists, it was an enjoyable book (a bit slow in the middle for me, though). I do recommend it to people fond of historical Star Trek tales. It is NOT a Next Generation perfect world book. It is much darker than that, so HUGE fans of Next Generation please be aware: You may not like this book.

I love the introduction of the UNIVERSE, a new and experimental starship, as tensions mount between the Klingons, Romulans, and the Federation. Tons of action and, more importantly, believable political intrigue. I rank this book up there with: "Stranger in a Strange Land", "Puppet Masters", "2001", "2010", "Rendezvous with Rama", "Ringworld", all the "Star Trek" and "Star Wars" books, as well as books as new to the genre as "Advent of the Corps" and others.

Wow! "Serpents" has it all! David George III takes us to the brink (and beyond) of galactic war, explores what a person will do and risk to prevent that war, and even throws in a dandy love story too!

I thoroughly enjoyed the eloquent prose in this novel. "Serpents" provoked both laughter and tears, sometimes both at same time!

The moral quandaries explored in this novel have stayed with me. I've found myself considering the actions of our heroes for several weeks since reading the book, a rare thing indeed.

Thanks David!

David R George III takes a Star Trek novel and pushes it into the real world. I enjoyed this book because it reminds me of many plots in Deep Space 9. It shows a Federation that is not perfect. A Starfleet willing to deceive. A captain willing to take big risks.

This novel and I fought from the first page. The first 120 pages were slow and a struggle to read. I even put the book down twice to pick up another one. Finally pushing through the initial introduction, I spent the next two nights hunting for time to finish the adventure.

This is a novel readers are going to hate or are going to love. Its plot pushes the world of Star Trek into questionable actions and develops characters that stretch beyond the pages of the book. The part of me that trust the "goodness" of the Federation struggled with this book but the part of me understands the world is full of grays and not just black and white enjoyed the it.

This was a novel about characters. The good and the bad of the characters. The moral and duty of the characters. The internal turmoil of the characters. Even in the end, the resolution felt almost contrived but absolutely honest to the characters themselves.

I find that most Star Trek books as run of the mill plotted by the numbers stories, it was refreashing to read a indepth story that did not include Kirk, Spock, or Piccard. The characters were very well done. For example, I didn't think much of Capt. Harriman and com. Sulu until I read this book. I don't want to give away the book but I was kind of sad to what happen to Harriman, not schocked but sad. This is one of the few books that I did not guess the ending 50 pages before it happen. If your a Star Trek fan, this is a good read.

David George's Serpents Among the Ruins is everything a novel should be. It has a great plot, excellent characters and an attention to detail that is missing in many otherwise fine books. The story holds ones attention from the beginning to end. We see a greatly matured John Harriman who isnt afraid to make hard decisions when necessary. In this novel we see the events of the Tomed Incident. There is little I can say that can add to Jackie Bundy's excellent review which is right on the money. This novel is a must read.