Customer Reviews

Star Trek: Voyager: String Theory #2: Fusion (Bk. 2)

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1 star:		(1)

 

 

Star Trek: Voyager String Theory, Book 2 Fusion written by Kirsten Beyer is the second installment in the trilogy called String Theory.

As we left "Cohesion" in a cliff-hanger, "Fusion takes right off where "Cohesion" left off. As Tuvok takes a shuttle for an unathorized flight to the center of the Monorhan system, it is Kathryn Janeway who is the main character in this volume. She is on a quest to learn the meaning of why is there life in this binary system where no life should exist at all. Kristen Beyer does a very good job of hold the story's interest to the reader with all of the different threads floating about in this story. "Fusion" takes the initial story and runs with it, making the reader engrossed and well entertained with the storylines. As the cosmos unravels, Janway is in pursuit of Tuvok as he finds a space station the size of a city next to a singularity that was the second star in the binary system. The space station in powered by the singularity and the crew of the Voyager make quick studies as to what the station can do to get them home to the Alpha Quadrant. With all of its mistique, the space station proves vexing to the crew of the Voyager as they discover a 50 year old spaceship docked in the hanger of the station and no crew to be found.

Later we find out the consequences as to what happened and will it affect Voyager and her crew. This is an interesting storyline woven into the fabric of this book's story. Beyer does a good job holding the readers attention and makes you read on till the end where there is another cliff-hanger making you want to read the third installment "Evolution".

All in all, this is a captivatingly interesting story that is true to the Voyagers characterizations. You feel like you're part of the story and you want to help Voyagers characters solve the mysteries that are presented.

I found the book a fast read with intrigue and mystery,true charactizations and a well-written storyline. This is a solid five stars and you won't be disappointed reading this story. Job well done to Kristen Beyer in her first attempt into the realm of Star Trek fiction. You've capitvatd me as I suppose others will praise this book.

String Theory: Fusion, by Kirsten Beyer, continues the strong Voyager performance shown in Cohesion, though there are more minor problems here than there were in the first book. Still, Beyer does herself proud with her first novel (she has a lot of screenplay and teleplay credits, however). It has a bit more technobabble than the first one did (and that one did have a lot), but Beyer doesn't completely forget the characters. In fact, she concentrates on the Voyager crew even more than Lang did.

The starship Voyager continues its trek through an area of space that shouldn't exist. Space continues to fall apart around it, but the crew has more to worry about. Tuvok, their security officer, has made off with a shuttle (it's amazingly easy to steal these things) and is answering a psychic call that leads him to a fueling station inside the singularity. Risking the entire ship to follow him, Janeway and her crew manage to navigate (with a little help from the array itself) to a docking port, where they discover the answer to all of their refueling needs. They also discover a mystery, one that will lead them to the answer of what happened to the 14th tribe of the Monoharans that left their home planet in search of paradise. They also find another mystery, one that harkens back to one of their early adventures, and one that could ultimately lead to their destruction. Even if they rescue Tuvok in time to prevent a hideous (or joyous, in his thoughts) transformation, will they be able to save Janeway?

There are passages in Fusion that tend to drag, mainly when Janeway is having the entire history of the alien race explained to her. The plotting isn't as crisp and the flow isn't as smooth as Cohesion, but Beyer still manages to have a good number of character moments in the book, demonstrating that she really does have a handle on these characters. She even manages to not have Neelix be too annoying. In fact, Neelix gets some very good characterization, showing how his love for Naomi Wildman, the little girl for whom he is the godfather, has given him another purpose in life after the events of a past episode where he discovered that the Talaxian version of the afterlife is not true. His soul-searching does go on a bit much at times, but overall his characterization is really strong.

Beyer captures the other characters just as expertly, and she doesn't have to worry as much about the alien viewpoint as Lang did, with only one alien character (the one who is pretending to be Janeway's sister). One thing these authors are really highlighting (I'm assuming Heather Jarman will too, in the third book, but maybe she won't) is a sort of unrequited love between Chakotay and Janeway, something the series hinted at but never resolved. Some of Chakotay's pining in Janeway's ready room is more than just the "Janeway's such a good captain, how can I replace her?" whining. I always found that romantic tension between them a little annoying, so it becomes even more so here. However, it is true to what the series gave us, so Beyer is just working with what she's been given, and she does it effectively. Lang managed to make it a little less certain than Beyer did, but that's a completely subjective judgment, in a "I'll know it when I see it" manner. She doesn't use the narrative technique of calling Janeway "Kathryn" when a passage is told from Chakotay's viewpoint, or at least not as much. Of course, there aren't as many scenes with them together, so that would explain that.

So what about the plot? I liked how it reflected back to the beginnings of Voyager's trek through the Delta Quadrant, and the use of continuity was extremely well-done on Beyer's part. In hindsight, there's a lot there, but it's not that intrusive. In fact, there were a couple of times where I had a little trouble realizing what she was referring to, which shows that she wasn't over-explaining every little reference. I enjoyed that. As I said, there is more technobabble here than in the other book, but it's not completely out of left field. The huge "war in heaven" explanation for the alien race does go on a bit long at times, but I appreciated that Beyer *showed* us the history (through the allegorical reenactments for Janeway's benefit) rather than just doing a massive infodump. Janeway and Phoebe are still talking through the entire thing, but at least it was a start.

Fusion also makes a nice continuation to Cohesion. It is certainly capable of standing on its own, as anything from the previous book is explained in this one (such as the Torres/Seven link that was done in the first book, as well as the key that ends up being very important here). However, it adds to the rich texture of the first book, explaining one of the mysteries from it and adding even more. The book, much like its predecessor, ends on a cliffhanger, but this particular story has been told. It will all link together, but you can come in to the series at any point and know what's going on. It's an effective way of telling a trilogy.

Finally, I liked the little touches. Fusion uses, as a way to move the plot forward, a reference to the episode Deadlock, where Voyager is split in two. It's these subtle (though well-explained, for the reader who never saw the episode) things that I really enjoyed about the book. Fusion is another in a string (pardon the pun) of great Voyager novels. Worth checking out if you have any kind of liking for the Voyager crew. And even if you don't, maybe you will.

David Roy

While I have only reviewed a few Voyager novels on amazon.com, I have read roughly a dozen. "String Theory: Fusion" is hands-down the best.

As an earlier review noted, this novel is Voyager's epic. Instead of using the same old recyclable plots like some Star Trek books do, "Fusion" had a unique premise and managed to juggle multiple plots successfully. Initially, I was quite confused, finding myself faced with too many new characters as well as a complicated plot. Still, this confusion only furthered my drive to continue reading.

"Fusion" begins right where its predecessor ended. Tuvok has mysteriously stolen a shuttle and headed off for an enormous structure in Monorhan space that looks more like a giant city than a space station. Meanwhile, the "key" that was given to Janeway at the end of "Cohesion" has attracted the attention of a powerful species who will go to any lengths to protect their own interests. To top all of this off, an intriguing new technology has the potential to bring Voyager home. (Okay, so we as readers know that's not going to happen, but the crew is highly motivated by the discovery).

In the end, Beyer does not disappoint: she beautifully weaves the various plots and characters together to reveal a unified story. And while Tuvok is on the front cover, Janeway is the main protagonist of this tale. Tuvok and the rest of the crew do play significant parts, but ultimately it is Janeway who must discard her previous understanding of the universe and use this new knowledge to discover the true history of Monorhan space.

The stakes waged in "Cohesion" are raised in "Fusion" as the very fabric of the universe (not just the fate of a single planet) depends on Voyager's success.

This may be Beyer's first Voyager novel, but she has an intimate feel for the characters and her incredible story will leave you wanting more. "Fusion" is a must-read for any Voyager fan. Even if you don't normally read Star Trek novels, give this one a try. You'll be pleasantly surprised.

If there's one good thing that stands out about the "String Theory" series it's that it definately carries the tone and weight of an epic. The first novel was fun and great, focusing a bit on the strained relationship between B'Elanna and Seven. This one continues from where "Cohesion" left off, and the focus is on the entire cast. There's a part in this novel for everyone. The crewmember in danger for this novel is Tuvok, while everyone else, even Neelix and Harry Kim, have their moment in the spotlight.

Captain Janeway's life is on the line in this epic tale as the Nacene (the Caretaker race) returns. There's also that classic Voyager plot going on in the background; Tom Paris and Kim may have found a way to return Voyager to the Alpha Quadrant thanks to some alien technology. The ship has encountered an alien space station that holds all the answers to their current situation. It may also lead to their untimely deaths.

I think the strength of the novel comes from it's focus on the entire cast instead of on parts of the crew. There were times when the explanation of the true conflict got a bit complex and lead to some confusion, on my part, but that's the only time that I really struggled to get through the novel. This is definately a great Voyager novel, better than most of the "relaunch" novels put out so far. It really does have a mini-series epic tone to it, up through the end and the final pages when you feel the final leg of the journey/adventure is coming around.

I'd definately recommend this novel to any Voyager or even a simple Star Trek fan. There's a lot of science-fiction at play, something that perhaps the series lacked for a while. Everyone played a hand in saving the day and yet the novel doesn't end on an awkward note. Things aren't all well by the end and the cliffhanger is subtle enough to make you want to read the final installment. This is a great series, one of the best mini-series for the Voyager line of books. Definately recommended and worth your money.

Finally, a book that puts true depth to all these wonderful characters. I don't know where this Miss Beyer is from, but she sure as heck is one gifted writer.....I recommend this book to not only Star Trek fans....but to fans of great literature everywhere.

I agree wholeheartedly with the other reviewers who say that this second installment of a Voyager trilogy, is very well written and an improvement over the first one, although I enjoyed the first one as well. Beyer keeps the action rolling and maintains interest by keeping multiple threads of the story going throughout. The story line is more complex and more creative than Book 1 and definitely leaves you wanting to read the third and final installment of the series. With only occasional exceptions ("liberties"), the characters are true to the TV series.

To an earlier comment that this book is fantasy and not science-fiction, last time I checked those terms were synonymous! This story doesn't seem to me to be any more fantastic than just about any Voyager episode. Again, I believe this story, like its predecessor, would make an excellent big screen movie.

This book was SO much better than Volume 1 of this yet-to-be-completed trilogy. Kirsten Beyer has a masterful understanding of the characters and the entire Voyager saga. Without giving too much away here, let me just say that she manages to bring real sense to the Caretaker and what he meant to the Ocampa and to Voyager's fate. She gives every Voyager character a chance to shine, often focusing on some of the "lesser" characters. I look forward to reading more Voyager tales from Ms. Beyer. Especially after the great tease of a cliff-hanger she uses close the epilogue!

This novel was simply a joy to read. I'm a big Star Trek fan, and my favorite series is Voyager. I know the series inside out, so I'm typically a harsh critic of ST:VOY books, but there is absolutely no way this book gets any less than 5/5 stars from me.

Fusion sports a fast paced plot that twists, turns, and even plunges through many layers of excitement. Each and every page held me captivated, and I had the hardest time in the world keeping my face out of this book. The writing style is descriptive enough for Trek fans who enjoy reading about familiar and new settings, but also moves along with good dialogue that matches the characters' voices from the TV show.

Since the String Theory series takes place between VOY seasons 4 and 5, the most interesting part for me was seeing the evolution of character development in this book. Events in Fusion connect to episodes in season 4 and before, as well as episodes in season 5 and beyond.

Again, this book was amazing, and I recommend it for everyone. I strongly encourage you read Book 1: Cohesion before starting Fusion.

The Monorhans' world is coming apart quite literally, as the anomalous region of space where their system is located rushes toward cosmic doom. In the second third of the tale begun in Jeffrey Lang's Cohesion, Captain Kathryn Janeway and her crew continue their efforts to discover what's causing the unraveling process - and halt it - before this intelligent humanoid species loses its home. Since no Monorhan ship can leave the star system, thanks to the same conditions that spell that sytem's doom, relocating them isn't an option.

The middle installment of any trilogy presents its author with problems. The plot needs to be complicated, but not to the point of confusing most readers. The characters need to learn from their experiences, yet remain consistent with the first book. The pace must keep the reader turning pages, but at the end there's got to be another book's worth of story left to tell. Kirsten Beyer has done remarkably well, I think, in writing the middle book of this particular trilogy as her first completed and published novel. She clearly knows the characters well, and loves them dearly - they act and speak just as they ought, throughout. I found some of her prose a bit awkward, but that was a minor matter. Overall, a fine outing for my favorite Trek crew! Beyer definitely left me eager to read Book 3.

This review is for the book `Fusion' by Kirsten Beyer, which is book 2 of the 3 book `Star Trek: Voyager - String Theory' series. The other books within `Star Trek: Voyager - String Theory' series are `Cohesion' by Jeffery Lang and `Evolution' by Heather Jarman. This review is intended as a critique of the writing and flow of the book, not to reveal "spoolers". Please note: This review assumes that the reader has read the prior books of the `Star Trek: Voyager - String Theory' series before reading this review. If not, the reader may wish to skip past the next paragraph for my overall review and recommendation of this book, which will not contain any information about previous books.

This book picks up where `Cohesion' left off; `Blue Eye' has collapsed, the Monorhans have been returned to home, Janeway has been gifted the Key to Germadia, the most prized artifact of the Monorhan people, and Tuvok has left the ship. Janeway follows Tuvok's trail to a space station whose existence is even more incredible that the existence of the area of space in which the Voyager crew finds themselves. Will this provide the answers they have been searching or will it add to the confusion. Perhaps Janeway's sister, Phoebe, will know the answers.

The book is well written, but uses a number of cliché plot devices to maintain the status quo within the time-line. The author did return to an often ignored fact about specific members of the Voyager crew, which was surprising and greatly appreciated. As stated within my other reviews of the books of the `Star Trek: Voyager - String Theory' series, this book contains the same fatal flaw of the Star Trek: Voyager television series, characters which are one-dimensional and, since the crew is cutoff from Starfleet and cannot replenish any losses, it is difficult for an author to develop a true sense of tension and mystery as to the outcome. This is compounded by the fact that this book takes place within an already established continuity which has progressed beyond this point within the time line. This book appears to focus on Tuvok, but he is mainly the catalyst on which the rest of the story relies.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoyed the `Star Trek Voyager' TV series and books. I would only recommend this book, and `Star Trek: Voyager - String Theory' series, to readers of other `Star Trek' books if the reader is looking for an interesting story which has neither impact on the `Star Trek: Voyager' continuity, nor any other setting within the `Star Trek' universe.

A Note to Readers new to Star Trek: Like most shared settings, especially those stemming from gaming or other media types, the `Star Trek' books are written with the assumption that the reader has some familiarity with the `Star Trek' setting. Since Star Trek has been around and part of the world culture for over 40 years, most readers interested in a book set within the `Star Trek' universe will have some familiarity with the setting. It is important to note that the books set within the `Star Trek' universe do tend to be a bit grittier then the TV series or movies. As a reader reads more books in the `Star Trek' setting, they will become more familiar with the world and its inhabitants, making the experience more pleasant.