Customer Reviews

Survivors (Star Trek The Next Generation, No 4)

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When the Enterprise receives a distress call from the planet Treva, security chief Tasha Yar and android science officer Data are dispatched to investigate. What the two discover, however, is far more than a simple conflict between the government and a group of rebels. Data must escape from the clutches of the exotic Trevan president Nalavia, while Tasha is forced to confront painful memories when a member of the resistance turns out to be the first man she ever loved, Darryl Adin, a former Starfleet officer convicted of treason and murder six months before they were due to be married. With time running out, Data and Yar must discover the truth in order to save both the planet of Treva from destruction and escaped criminal Dare Adin from life imprisonment in a rehabilitation clinic...

Of all the Star Trek books I have read so far, I would rank "Survivors" as one of the highest. Tasha Yar was my favourite of the Enterprise-D crew up during the first season and I always felt that her death in the episode "Skin of Evil" was a disappointing end to the one of the strongest female characters seen on Star Trek to date. There were so many aspects of the character that could have been developed or were never explained and this book at least provides some consolation. I'm not completely sure, but as far as I know this is the only novel to focus on Tasha and for that reason alone "Survivors" is a must-have for all fans of the character. Very little of the remainder of the Enterprise crew is seen: Data and Yar are the principal characters and much of the novel is set in flashbacks to Yar's past. There are a few minor continuity errors of course, no mention is made of Tasha's sister Ishara and her home planet is given a new name - not the author's fault because these facts were revealed long after the book's publication. Overall, this was a fantastic book and I definitely recommend it to all Star Trek fans and especially to those of Tasha Yar.

Of all of the early Star Trek The Next Generation novels, this one definitely stands out among the rest as being one of the better ones. Granted, there are a few back story or canon errors within this one but that is to be expected as this one was written very early in the series run on television and the author had no idea where the series was going to go with respect to certain aspects. The sad thing is that this fine author has only published four novels in the Star Trek arena, two Original Series novels and two STNG novels. Considering how well she wrote these novels, it would be very nice to see her make a foray back into Gene Roddenberry's universe. For fans of Lieutenant Tasha Yar, this quick but excellent novel is a real treat.

The premise:

As this was written very early in the television series, the author picked up well on the dynamic interpersonal relationship between Commander Data and Lieutenant Tasha Yar. In doing so, she put these two characters in the midst of away mission on their own, dropping them off on a human colony known as Treva. They quickly become embroiled in the situation to include running into a Starfleet fugitive that just so happens to have been Tasha's former fiancé. While this human colony "was" intent on becoming a Federation member (which is a bit of an irony considering that it is a "human" colony), they find themselves having to deal with a violent revolution. Now Data and Yar find themselves in the middle of a bloody revolution and having to find a way to end the bloodshed and stay alive at the same time.

What follows is as I stated above, an excellent early STNG novel that captures the dynamic of the relationship between Data and Yar extremely well. The last chapter of this outstanding novel is also quite intriguing as well.

I highly recommend this novel to any and all fans; die hard or casual, of the Star Trek genre as it well exceeds the Star Trek novels of its time. {ssintrepid}

The life of Tasha Yar,Next Generation's Security Officer, unfolds in a story even a non-Trekkie could love!From her sad childhood as a wild orphan,to her rescue by the dashing Dare, and finally her death in the hands of the evil Armus, the reader is drawn in by her unwavering sense of duty to Starfleet.Even her love for Dare could not distract her from her mission in life. Tasha Yar was a perceptive, caring woman who cherished her relationship with the android Data. Her perception of him enhanced our understanding of his almost humanoid qualities. Once they were lovers,but then they were colleagues facing war together.Surprisingly, the android could be jealous of Tasha's rekindling of her relationship with Dare. This book is a meaningful tribute to a strong woman, a great role model and one of the most shining characters in Star Trek history, Lieutenant Tasha Yar.

I never did forgive the writers of "Star Trek: The Next Generation" for their treatment of Tasha Yar, easily the most interesting character on the show. First they radically underutilized her, then wrote her out of the show entirely. Okay, they wrote her out because the actress wanted out, but perhaps if the character hadn't been so underutilized, Denise Crosby wouldn't have wanted out. And in any case, if they were going to write her out, they could have done so without killing her, and if they absolutely HAD to kill her off, they could have done so in a way that wasn't so completely trivial and worthless.

This book gives us a wonderful look into the character of Tasha Yar, as well as a bit of insight into Data and the interrelationship of the two. It is a marvellous precursor to "Metamorphosis", another Next Generation Novel by Jean Lorrah. It is easily the best "Next Generation" novel I've read to date. The ending seemed a bit rushed, as Ms. Lorrah takes us through the story of the end of Tasha's life, without being willing to go into great detail, assuming that we've seen the episode that tells that story. But that is my only complaint, and it is a minor one, because she DOES tell enough of the story to fill in someone who isn't familiar with it. It simply felt a bit rushed, as I say.

I just finished this book and I really enjoyed it! It fills you in on the backstory of Tasha Yar. How rough was her life before? How did she get rescued? All these questions and more are answered. I really didn't like this character before reading this book. There just wasn't enough information about her. I'll admit though I still got teary eyed hearing her farewell message and Data's confusion to Capt. Picard. It also fills you in a little bit about what happened after Tasha and Data's tryst. All of this and there's a second story. Data and Tasha have benn sent to investigate a distress call on Treva. They soon figure out things are not what they seem. Tasha is reunited with a old flame. We see that Data really does have feelings for Tasha. I liked this it showed him more human than machine. It ends with Tasha's death in Skin of Evil. As a finishing touch Data asks Cpt. Picard to let him deliver Tasha's last farewell message to Darryl Adin(Her rescuer, her old friend, lover and supposedly betrayer) All in all I think this book is the best in the series so far. Don't get me wrong they are all pretty good better than some in the Voyager series. I would definitely recommend this one and also Imzadi(Focuses on Deanna and Riker's relationship)

This book offers a glimpse into the brief life of the Enterprise's late security chief Tasha Yar. We barely got to know her on the television show, now you can read all about the events which made Yar the strong woman she was. Because this book was written early into the series, the characters may act diffrently then what your used to. But do yourself a favor and read this gem. Be warned though, the ending may bring you to tears. Keep that box of tissues handy

Survivors centers around my two favorite ST:TNG characters, namely Lt. Tasha Yar and Lt Cmrd. Data. It reveals intimate details of Tasha's past that were never allowed into the series due to her untimely demise at the hands of the creature Armus (she was killed because he was BORED?! How dumb is that?!). Her relationship with Dare, a man from her past, as well as her friend Data, the android, create an air of tension you normally wouldn't find in a story invovling Data pre-emotion chip. His constant thoughts about the event that 'never happened' and his jealousy (if it can be called such) directed at Dare and Tasha's rekindling relationship create a very 'humanizing' face for the seemingly emotionless android.

This is a touching, emotional must-read for any Data or Tasha fans. Tasha/Data shippers unite!

Trust me, this is one fine novel.

I'm a 57 year old, very practical, lawyer. I'm not a particular Trekkie, though I have watched and read a fair amount of it. And of all I've ever seen, this is absolutely the finest.

But it would be excellent if it weren't Star Trek. This is a story of God's greatest effort, human beings, sentient, feeling, caring, helping-one-another beings, as you will ever find. In my experience developing characters is the hardest of all things for writers to do well. This is as fine a job as I recall seeing.

Star Trek or not, READ THIS BOOK!!

Out of every ST book I've read, this is still my favourite. It provides you with much-needed information about the late security chief, Tasha Yar. It's filled with emotion and passion about her past and her character.

It also adds depth to the relationship she had with Data. After reading this, be sure to check out METAMORPHOSIS, also by Jean Lorrah.

Alright, this is my favorite book. I began reading and watching Trek in June and even if I wasn't a Trekker, I would love this book. I picked it up at the library b/c it had Tasha Yar on the front, my favorite character (and I'm not asking for hatred for speaking my beliefs: I get that enough!) and I had no idea what a great book this was. If I hated Tasha Yar, I would still like it. It is well written and well paced, and a fine book all-around.