Customer Reviews

Star Trek: The Next Generation / The Dominion War, Book 1

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(18)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

First, books 1 and 3 should really be part 1 of the Dominion War, and books 2 and 4, part 2 (or vice-versa) since there is no overlap between the two whatsoever. I agree that it was a little questionable of Picard to let Ro off so easily and 'welcome' her back, but it is understandable given the context of the Dominion War and the Federation losing thus far. Crusher and Troi are virtually ignored. Riker is his typical self, macking on a woman. Data kicks ass alone, though I wish more of his inner thoughts were explored. Geordi is good, but Ro and Picard and Sam Lavelle steal the show. Grof's character is well written and evokes an emotional response. Picard is his usual brilliant self and Ro evokes the same strong character as on the series. The cover of the books (all four) are rather misleading (esp. the 4th), but I don't agree that books 1 and 3 are lacking when viewed in the context of the Dominion War. Books 2 and 4 are where the gusto is, where we see some of the Federation Fleet attack some of the Dominion fleet. Books 1 and 3 are the small scale level of undercover ops about what has to be done to save the quadrant. Both series (1&3, 2&4) are essential turning points in the War, and I'm very glad to see that Picard was his usual brilliant self saving the entire Quadrant... yet again. If either Sisko or Picard had failed, while the other succeeded, it would all be for nought, which makes this 4 part series somewhat intertwined. Personally I prefered books 1&3 to 2&4 since 2&4 were for the most part taken straight from the TV show. My only complaint, why does the Enterprise drop shields to fire her quantum torpedoes? Answer: she doesn't, or at least she shouldn't!

As one of the first novels by John Vornholt, I really enjoyed the start of this adventure. This is the first review I will write after completing this book, but will come back and revise it after I have completed the series.

I was overjoyed to see the return of some of my favorite minor characters. The return of Sam Lavelle and Taurik from the Next Generation Episode "Lower Decks" as prisoners of war fighting for their lives and their freedom. We also see Ro Laren return to the Federation to continue on with the good fight.

The development of Data and Riker in this novel showed unexpected twists and turns. The loneliness of duty and the personal losses people suffer during tragic times played a wonderful but somber reprieve from the action filled development of Picard and Ro.

Going back after the completion of the Next Generation movies, the finale of Deep Space Nine, and the re-launch of the Deep Space Nine novels, I question where the development of characters should be. The expansion of the Ro character in this story arc has been well done but I reserve how well the transition from the end of this arc to the beginning of Avatar by S.D. Perry. To read my final say on the matter, jump over to the review of the final novel in this arc.

These two novels in the Dominion War series are two of the best ST books I've read. All action plot line and you really believe that these characters have come off the screen into the book - in other words John Vormholt writes about the people we got to know in 7 years of TNG and this isn't true of all the authors who write TNG books. A twist to the normal, the Captain stays on the ship story line, gives Picard the action while Riker gets the ship repaired by becoming romaticaly entangled with the woman in command of the repairs - that is the part of the plot which meant, in my opinion, that the book was not worth 5 stars. The book is a good read - it doesn't deal with new theories about space, but it does give the definitive story about how Picard saved the Federation. What else would you expect from the best Captain in Starfleet?

A ton of action and suspence. I felt that I was really in the story. Read this book. 5 stars

This was a great book! It is great to see how the Dominion War affected the crew of the Enterprise. Ever since the Enterprise-E was in service there has only been 3 movies of the new starship, and countless novels. I am a Voyager fan, so I thought it was important to read what was also going on in the Alpha Quadrant at this time (when Voyager was lost at sea), and how people back at home were handling things. I think though the Dominion Conflict is better served through the eyes of Captain Sisko and DS9, than Picard and the Enterprise. But this was another great book that played well into the Dominion conflict! I didn't enjoy "Tales of the Dominion War" as much as I did these 4 books.

While watching Deep Space Nine I always wondered if the Enterprise had any missions against the Dominion. Afterall, this is the flagship of the Federation were talking about. Books 1 and 3 focus on the Enterprise crew, and they are probably the best the series has to offer. The plot is excellent and John Vornholt does a fantastic job with all the characters. Its good to see Ro Laren playing a part in the novel. She was always a fascinating character in the series that the writers should've concentrated more on. After reading books 1 and 3, I wished Paramount used this storyline for the last Star Trek film. Instead, we got the usual garbage on screen. In any case, if your a fan of Star Trek, especially the Next Generation, then you will love this novel.

I liked how John Vornholt brought back Sam Lavelle, Taurik, and most especially Ro Laren, being a fan of her. The story moved very smoothly, and like the new character, Enrak Grof, an unjoined Trill. If you're tired the same old Dominion war battles, then you should read this book and enjoy!

John Vornholt has an interesting way of pointing the reader from different points of views at a broad spectrum of story lines. It captures the essence of the Star Trek series with plenty of suspense and plot twists. I highly recommend this book for any TNG fan who likes the unexpected. If you have not followed up on the Dominion War episodes in the t.v. series, this book provides a good introduction of the relationship between the Jem`Hadar, Cardassians, and the Founders. The details and background info of this association in Behind Enemy Lines is consistent with the rest of the Star Trek series. As a final word, the overall storytelling is fresh and intelligent. Don't pass this one up.

Deep Space Nine is the best Star Trek series, and I've watched all of them, even that pathetic Voyager series. So when I heard they were going to make a novel series about the Dominion War, I was excited. When I read the first story, Behind Enemy Lines, I thought it wasn't very good. I was hoping for a lot of action, and there is, but there are some strange things. Such as: why does the Enterprise lower its shields every time it fires? It never had to before. And the Jem'Hadar ships are way too powerful. If it was a battleship, I'd undestand. But you don't see those alot in the Dominion fleet. So one Jem'Hadar ship couldn't possibly destroy an Ambassador-class starship, unless it was a battleship. Besides that, it's an average book. The beginning is excellent, then it degenerates into just another book. The real highlight besides the beginning is the Corzanium. That's a real original idea. But no matter what, I wish L.A. Graf would've written this.

I read this book mainly to see the Enterprise crew get involved in the grand Dominion War plot line from Deep Space 9 (My favorite Trek show). I was hoping for large scale starship combat and front line hand-to-hand duels, and phaser battles with Jem Hadar. I got very little of that. True there were some nice action scenes of what I wanted, but they were very brief and did not come that often. I wanted to see the Enterprise in combat, which it is in the beginning but it spend the latter half of the book at a starbase getting repairs. Also there is some action with Data, but come the latter half of the book he to is left to sit on the side lines The scenes the author chooses to concentrate on are interesting at times, but they also tend to drag. The espionage mission with Ro, Picard, and Geordi could have been speeded up a bit. The scenes focusing on the minor characters are probably the weakest and unfourtunately they are the majority of the book. The author really doesn't make us care enough about the crew of prisoners assinged to the anti-matter tanker. I think they were not strong enough characters to be focused on that much. So there is enough action in Behind Enemy Lines to keep me interested in the rest of the books in The Dominion War series. but I hope they are better than the first book in the series.