3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Strange New Worlds II - Replete with great Trek stories!, May 3, 2003
Taken as a whole this anthology; second in the Strange New Worlds series stands out miles ahead of its predecessor of a year earlier. The majority of the stories by these non professional authors are extremely captivating and a few of them are quite compelling Star Trek short stories. If you had misgivings or second thoughts about reading these particular anthologies, I recommend you rethink that as each and every story is worth your time. The only downside to this and its predecessor in my opinion is that both contain only two Deep Space Nine stories. This is an oversight as DS9 is a very rich environment that could be explored more thoroughly!
Star Trek
Triptych [Second Prize] by Melissa Dickinson**** - This is an interesting tale about the many outcomes from the TOS episode "The City on the Edge of Forever," in which the question is asked, what if this happened or didn't happened.
The Quick and the Dead by Kathy Oltion ***** - This is a great tale about Kirk and crew taking a landing party down on a planet where everything on the planet is seemingly moving at light speed.
The First Law of Metaphysics by Michael S. Poteet **** - This is a surprisingly well written story about Spock and Saavik's first meeting several years after what happened on the Genesis planet.
The Hero of My Own Life by Peg Robinson ***** - This is an extremely well written tale about a meeting through scientific research of Gillian Taylor from Star Trek IV and Dr. Carol Marcus from Star Trek II.
Doctors Three by Charles Skaggs ***** - This is a beautiful and quite poignant story about Admiral Leonard McCoy circa the 24th century and his desire to meet with Dr. Zimmerman as he's in the process of creating and perfecting the Emergency Medical Hologram program of Star Trek Voyager fame.
Star Trek The Next Generation
I Am Klingon [Third Prize] by Ken Rand ***** - This particular fan fictionist knows his Klingons well and in this story he has written a very plausible explanation of the difference between Klingons of the TOS era and that of the TNG era.
Reciprocity by Brad Curry ***** - This by far is the best story of this particular anthology. The author fluidly takes us to a time some four billion years in the past and tells a short story about the firstborn ones.
Calculated Risk by Christina F. York **** - This is a somewhat interesting tale about the rarely used character of Dr. Pulaski of STNG second season fame.
Gods, Fate, and Fractals by William Liesner ***** - This is another of the better stories of this anthology. The author reintroduces us to agents Dulmer and Lucsley from Starfleet's Department of Temporal Investigations. Presented here is an extremely interesting story about the creation or lack of creation of the Maquis.
I Am Become Death by Franklin Thatcher ***** - This author created here an especially intriguing tale of Data in the far distant future and his altered perspective on how things should come about.
Deep Space Nine
Research by J. R. Rasmussen *** - This is extraordinarily short, short tale is intriguing at best, from the humor standpoint.
Change of Heart by Steven Scott Ripley ***** - This is another of the extraordinarily well written stories of this anthology. The author here has perfectly captured the perceived personality of a "Changeling" who's found her self in a particular situation she doesn't care to be in.
Star Trek Voyager
A Ribbon for Rosie [Grand Prize] by Ilsa J. Bick ***** - It is of wonder that this author won the Grand Prize based on this outstanding tale about Seven of Nine making an unheard of trip into the past.
Touched by Kim Shear **** - This is an interesting tale about two Voyager crew members forced to land on the planet of a non warp species and their chance meeting with one of its inhabitants.
Almost...But Not Quite by Dayton Ward ***** - This is another of the finest stories of this anthology. This author has a fluid and deft style of writing that is captivating and compelling. Capitalizing on Starfleet's Department of Temporal Investigations and agents Lucsley and Dulmer, the author deftly integrates them into the fold when Voyager ended up in orbit of Earth in the year 1996. It is no small wonder why this author has moved on to writing professionally!
The Healing Arts by E. Cristy Ruteshouser & Lynda Martinez Foley ***** - These two fine authors present here an exceptional story of a medical crisis and the Doctor's solution.
Seventh Heaven by Dustan Moon ***** - This is a beautiful story about Seven of Nine and a surprise visit by another well known Borg who had earlier regained his individuality. The author captured Seven of Nine's personality perfectly! {ssintrepid}
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Verdict: thumbs up!, August 20, 1999
By A Customer
Definitely worth purchasing.
Comparison to SNW I: Well, I have to admit - the stories aren't quite as good. But SNW I had 35 years of Trek scribblings to draw from. And II still has excellent stories, they just aren't *quite* as excellent as I. Make any sense?
Downside: Once again, DS9 gets shafted! The other series get 5 stories, DS9 gets a measly 2, and one was so short it hardly counted! The other was pretty imaginative, but (Vortaphiles, hang onto your hats), hinged on the plot point that Vortas would conspire to murder a Founder! Speaking for Vortaphiles everywhere, I am scandalized beyond belief! Augh!
Upside: Unlike last year, this year's grand prize winner really was the best story in the book.
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