Customer Reviews

I, Q (Star Trek The Next Generation)

5 star:		(32)
4 star:		(25)
3 star:		(11)
2 star:		(11)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

When I first picked up this book, I was expecting a good story about Q, as only John De Lancie can tell it. Unfortunatly, I was greatly disappointed in the final product. On the cover of inside jacket, it basically says that Q will be fighting against the end of the Universe with the help of the Next Generation crew. However, the entire book ends up as nothing more than a tour of the stages of death. Q does nothing except whine and attempt to make himself look brave, and Picard and Data, the only members of the enterprise to actually show up, are used even less, often disappearing for no apparent reason. Finally, Q's amazing powers, which could have saved the book and made it somewhat interesting, are immeditaly 'nullified' as soon as he enters the land of death. As a result, he simply bumbles through to the end of the book, which is a simple, contrite ending, written simply to end the book and satisfy the reader. All in all, this book is a serious blemish on an otherwise amazing character.

Did you ever notice the bad reviews never seem to have names? Anyway. The makings of a good story: Tight concise plot, focused narration, great conclusion. Introduce characters, building action, climax and denoument.

If this is an unbreakable law to you, do not pick up this book.

If you can, however, stretch your mind around something different, to new places, challange yourself to allow something OTHER than the ordinary, pick it up.

Consequently, if you suffer from accute attention deficit disorder, you love it, too.

What you have here is a narrative put forth by that omnipotent, omniscent, trickster, Q, chronicling his attempts to save the universe and his family, with Jean Luc Picard and Data by his side. The narrative jumps from one place to another, and often completely OFF story as Q digresses into some farflung largle irrelevant, but always entertaining, story from his past. And in the end, well...lets just say in the end you may or may not be sure what to make of it.

And that is the books greatest strenght, for which most will damn it. It leaves you not knowing what to expect from one minute to the next, not entirely sure how to grasp what you're reading. It's always challenging, always involving, and, as told by Peter David (writer of stuff) and John De Lancie (Q, himself) always entertaining...well worth the trip it takes to get there.

The one minor flaw is that much of the book seems too familiar, too humanizing, though, that too is explained in the pages.

So, give it a chance. Or, if you've already purchased it, give it another one. Allow your mind into new possibilities and see where they take you...after all, isn't that what Trek's been about all along?

The above people are likely Trekkie fans, and read this book solely because it was in the Star Trek section. Believe me, this book is one of the best I have ever written, and definitely is one I recommend to anyone seeking to understand the universe better. The entire story (almost) was written by Q, as a narrative. Some people apparantly did not like this. I did. It showed a lot of wit, philosophy, and just plain good writing. Some of the jokes were incredibly funny, like the one about the man complaining to god. And I spent much of the book wondering about the hidden jabs against both religion and atheists. But which one is truly being supported? I cannot say. This book however, is really a funny view on life in general with the camoflage of being just another dull Star Trek adventure. I hope to see more books from Q's viewpoint written as well as this in the future.

Yes, I am another one of those people who was disappointed with "I, Q" given how much I usually enjoy Peter David's STNG novels. The first half of the book was rather torturous reading for me, and I kept trying to figure out why? There are a couple of problems. First, the book is done in first person, and there is only so much of Q's ramblings that you can stand. In that regard the book does a wonderful job of making you feel like Picard; you become exasperated. Second, Q goes on and on about his omnipotence, but the more he talks the more it becomes clear that he is not as smart as he thinks. Of course, the story involving the sudden disappears on Lady Q and q along with the imminent End of the Universe requires Q to be at a loss or else the story would be over. I always tend to prefer Q stories that are more intimate (such as David's hilarious "Q-in-Law" novel versus Greg Cox's bloated trilogy). Third, Q might be an alien, but virtually all of his references are to Earth (Shakespeare pops up a lot in this one). Of course, we mere mortals cannot see Q as he really is so it is probably the same thing when it comes to words. Picard and Data are along for the ride on this one, but it is the android that has most of the good scenes in this one. Maybe all this boils down to is that too much of Q is not a good thing. It is fitting that the book starts off with the universe (literally) going down the drain, because the authors throw everything including the kitchen sink in this one. How else to describe a book that makes explicit reference to Dr. Kubler-Ross on coping with death and an homage to "The Princess Bride" that rests on knowing Wallace Shawn plays the Grand Nagus on "Deep Space Nine." The last half of the book certainly picks up and one thing I truly admire about this novel is how the authors make use of font sizes and blank spaces to great advantage. The punch line to the book is actually a pleasant surprise, since it does offer a return to a universe of sanity and potential order, which is totally contrary to the universe according to Q. That was enough to bump "I, Q" back to four stars, which certainly surprised me. For most of this novel I was convinced I was going to pan it big time. That's why David is one of my favorite Star Trek writers.

I haven't read as many Star Trek novels as many Trek fans probably have, but of the ones I have read, "I, Q" is easily the best, the first trek novel to fully equal the very best installments of any of the television series or the best movies. Though I'd read good Treks before, to be honest before reading this I was almost tempted to give up on the novels as a whole, with some of the recent ones I'd read having been major disappointments. There have been some very good ones over the years, but there have also been those that introduce tremendous concepts and then steadily peter out over the course of ensuing chapters, or books that read like very promising first drafts but appear to have been published prematurely, without the extra reworkings required to make them truly well-realized stories. That's just my personal opinion; I know there are readers who devour trek novel after trek novel voraciously and are very pleased with all of them, but a number of them just haven't done much for me. Just personal preferences, I guess. Besides, with literally hundreds of Star Treks published, it would be unrealistic to expect every single one of them to be a gem.

"I, Q" is a gem though. It's narrated first person by Q, which is a risky venture. Done poorly, this could have been a blight on one of Star Trek's greatest characters. And how could it really be done well? Onscreen appearances are one thing, but how can a novel get inside the head of a pretty-much-omniscient character in first person format and hope to do justice to their inner workings? A built-in safety device is present with Q - he's an embellisher and an exaggerater (or a liar to call a spade a spade, albeit a charismatic and entertaining one), he simplifies certain things for the sake of readers whose minds he feels don't approach his own (throughout the narrative he speaks to the reader directly and manages to toss out insults and be hilarious at the same time) and he, by his own admission, makes certain changes for dramatic effect. Thus, anything he says that doesn't strike the individual reader as faithful to established Trek tendencies can be easily written off as the entertaining ramblings (or boastings) of one of the universe's ultimate showmen.

Personally, I think everything fits in perfectly. This is the story of the dawn of an ultimate universal catacyslm, one even the Q-Continuim seems powerless to intervene against; disaster on an epic scale - imagine the Next Generation 2-parter "All Good Things Must Come To An End" taken to the Nth level for an idea of the magnitude. Starting off light and witty, giving Q a chance to offer his perspective on everything from the nature of the universe to the human condition to the individual characters who populate the Star Trek universe - witness his introduction to the reader of Picard (this isn't giving anything away, it happens on page 14) - 'he is a middle-aged, bald, oddly accented man who oversees activities aboard the Starship Enterprise. The Enterprise is a vessel belonging to an organization called Starfleet, and the Enterprise is the flagship of the fleet, which makes it the most advanced ant on the anthill.' Hardly a typical introduction to Picard and Enterprise, but perfectly fitting coming from Q, and like the rest of the narration so easy to hear in Q's own voice. We also witness a friendly debate between Picard and Data on the pros and cons of a goldfish's limited memory capacity, which presents a very surprising and thought-provoking way of pondering such matters, the kind of non-nihilistic philosophising one often finds in the best Treks and seems to go right over the heads of all the critics who dismiss the series as pap.

Once the initial wit and boat-top verbal meanderings are over though, the cataclysm hits with startling tension, and the metaphysical adventure begins. Q's acidy but humourous commentary continues, but it's now altered. Much of the time, it's not what he says but what he doesn't say that is most intruiging, and at other points we find Q asserting certain points (like the fact that since he's omnipotent, he has nothing to fear) and certain things that he believes and doesn't believe, that it becomes very telling how he repeats these things more and more as the situation becomes more dire; initially it seems that he's trying to make sure that the reader is certain of his (Q's) convictions, but it later seems more likely that he's trying to convince himself. Although this is a "Next Generation" novel, characters from elsewhere in the Trek universe make welcome appearances. Also, the tale sums up the relationships between Q and Picardn (less antagonistic than one might think), Q and Data, and Picard and Data, better than anything I've encountered. Q's surprisingly insightful take on the Picard/Data relationship in particular is compulsory reading for Trek fans, and Picard himself might be highly surprised were he privy to Q's take on the dynamics between he and Data.

Star Trek has been called by some mindless entertainment. I'll agree that it's highly entertaining, but mindless? (Sidestepping the question that never seems to occur to professional critics that doesn't one Need a mind to be entertained by anything in the first place?) This novel of epic metaphysical imagination rips the mindless arguement to shreds. (Doubters should also view, to name two, the Next Generation episode "The Survivors" and the Deep Space Nine episode "Marritza") Trek's had a few rough patches lately, but reading this book a few months ago and the unexpected dramatic improvement of "Enterprise" (after a number of bumps it's suddenly consistently hitting Season One levels of quality again) has got me all fired up about the Trek mythos again. "I, Q" is pure gold.

This book was probably one of the most interesting things to come down the pike in a long time. Never since the book, "How to Be a Superhero," have I laughed so hard and so often at the text. Not that the text is that bad, rather, it's that good. It is more ripe with humorous observations, from the point of view of Q, than a Dave Barry book. It gripped me and left me craving it like a narcotic every time I was away from it until I finished it. When I finished, I laughed the insane laughter of Sam Neill at the end of "In the Mouth of Madness," as I had figured out the ultimate irony in the story. Now, I am only wondering one thing: How much of this was written by John DeLancie, and how much was by Peter David? I am usually unimpressed with Peter David's predictible plots and utter horrible B-movie endings, (he did ruin the once promising "Trancers" movie series, you know). This book however, left you guessing right to the end, even when the answer is given to you at point-blank range, you just seem to overlook it, (much like the movie "The Game"), because your mind is so busy trying to conjure up some meaning much greater than the actual meaning. But sometimes simplicity has its place, as with the ending here. I just wonder how much DeLancie collaborated with Peter David in suggesting endings for the story. Basically, this was a delightfully twisted romp abundant with hilarious, mirthful philosophical observations. Never once did it disappoint.

I really liked this book, because it was so not trek while still feeling like trek. In short: simply something that fit well, but was too risky to be tried earlier. It's completely absurd, twisted and surreal and by all means I do not recomend this to everyone, but I found it original and risk-taking enough to give it five stars,wich I dont often do.

Q is one of my favorite STNG characters and Peter David is an excellent story teller ,so I was eager to read this book. I find the narrative style, with all the asides and distractions ,annoying. I keep wishing they would just tell the story. Maybe Q, who is so full of himself, is not really the best narrator for this tale. Anyway, I usually finish a ST book in 2 days. This time I'm battling to finish the book. It's not exactly a page turner. Peter David is capable of much better work.

This is astonishingly the first time I've given a Peter David novel less than a 5 star rating! This is one of those types of books were you read certin things in the plot and wonder "Was there a huge underlineing signifigance about this part, that I missed, or what?"

Be mindful, though, that this book did have some very good points. Some surpriseingly drimatic points. Like Picard's encounter with a mirror image of him self as Locutus of Borg - or Q's travels in the vally of dispair. (Truely, I could almost feel the hopelessness.) The characters were very in-character. (Why another reviewer would think otherwise is a mystery to me. There always seem to be people who think that, for the strangest and unkown reasons.)

The story, as a whole, is very symbolic - which, based from past Star Trek episodes, you'd expect. Symbolism can be very confuseing, sometimes, but some times, also, very enjoyable. I think the "End of the Universe" plot of this story was very symbolic of our approching "End of the Century" Which I found as a very enjoyable twist. The symbolism, though, gets strange at the end, concerning the end of the universe. (Which we wen't really told how it ended.) But, then again, to not understand is to truely understand.

A good book, but not really worth the cost of a normal hard cover. (Too small for a hardcover) Wait for the paper back, which might look a little bigger in terms of size.)

Here is what happen... I had started Q Squared, from what I have heard one of the best Star Trek books out there. I read 100 pages in the two days when I was visiting my dad. Great book!!!! Then I came back home and my book didn't, so it is 3 hours away. Since I am going back in a week and a half I didn't really want him to mail it. So I decided to pick up I,Q.

Two days later and I am done with the book. I will admit I did have some extra time on my hands but this is a book that I just couldn't put down. The story is very well written. Told by Q in the 1st person. You can almost here Q talking from the moment you open the book. Q will be telling the main story of the book and then that will remind him of a side story that will somehow connect to what is going on. Peter David is terrific. From what I have read from Q Squared and this book he can write Q very well. What am I saying? He writes everyone in the Star Trek universe well.

I mentioned the main story... here it is. The universe is coming to an end. Q is deep sea fishing with his family (They are at the bottom of the ocean) that what makes it "Deep Sea Fishing". Q and his wife and child end up being sucked down a drain and Q cannot find them when he reaches his destination. He does however, find Picard and Data who had a similar experience on the Holodeck and they decide to work together to find out what is going on. They come to find out that the world is coming to an end and every new place they go is a different level of exceptance of this event. As with all my reviews it will be a nonspoiler, but I strongly recommend this book. If you are a Q fan it is a can't miss.

There is one part of the book that I was unsure about. Q is very vulnerable at the end of this book. I am not sure if I like that or not. Certainly the man's family was involved which would humble anyone. On the other hand we have seen Q show signs that he has some good in him many times. The Borg was on there way to federation space anyway, so he sent the Enterprise to the Borg so that Starfleet could get ready for what would become their most terrifying enemy. He saved Picards life when his artificial heart stopped. You knew Q had a soft side but you had to look close to find it. Here you didn't, it was right there. I am pretty sure that I was ok with that but I might have to think on it a little more. I will also have to think on the end of the book. Get ready to do some thinking. I had to go back in the book to get an idea of what it meant. Happy Reading.

Grade: A