Customer Reviews

Tears of the Singers

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

 

 

On balance, in fact, it's quite good. The regular characters are handled well, we get a better than usual look at the character of Uhura, as well as a fascinating look at the character of Kor, the Klingon commander from "Errand Of Mercy". And while the character of Kor was a bit more sympathetic than I care for (he didn't strike me as nearly such a reasonable fellow in "Errand of Mercy"), perhaps he had, in fact, matured a bit with age, as he himself suggests. Further, we meet an interesting if unpleasant new character, Guy Maslin, a famous musician every bit as mature and pleasant as, say, Mick Jagger in his heyday, or Frank Sinatra, or for that matter, Wolfgang Mozart.

On the downside, the ending leaves something to be desired; I find it dubious that beings as powerful and accomplished as the Taygetians were demonstrated to be could possibly have been unaware of what, in the end, the Enterprise crew had to teach them, and the love affair between Uhura and Maslin ends predictably, and unsatisfactorily.

A mid-range Star Trek book: much better than many, not nearly as good as others.

In my reviews of Classic Star Trek novels, it must be understood that I adhere to the original canon as invisioned by Gene Roddenberry, and not the "Star Trek" universe accepted by Rick Berman and company.

I generally rate a classic novel thus:

Adherence to Canon -- does this novel adhere to the vision of the original Star Trek?

Yes, in my opinion, it does. The principles of the Prime Directive come very much to the fore.

Believability (within the confines of 23rd century Star Trek viability) -- is this novel well-plotted and well written? Can I picture this novel or imagine myself in it?

Again, yes. Quite so.

Coherence and Consistency -- does this novel internally consistent? Is it consistent with other Star Trek novels by the same author? Is it consistent with what is known of the CLASSIC Star Trek universe?

Again, yes. The fan of "Classic Trek" will appreciate the traditional Klingons.

Mitigating Factors -- pluses or minuses which dramatically affect the enjoyment of this book

As someone who appreciates fine music of many genres, the fact that the entire plot was based on a musical theme was an added bit of enjoyment. The notion of the (literally) creative properties of music was also interesting to me as a theologian. (See the creation sequences in both JRR Tolkien and CS Lewis).

Altogether, an enjoyable "Classic Star Trek" experience.

Revisiting the Clssic Star Trek Series that spread like wild fire in my youth, I'm glad I picked up The Tears Of The Singers. Melissa Snodgrass really nailed the basics of a great science fiction story and coupled it with a fantastic look into the characters that we only got to know from the television series and movies. Published in 1984 Snodgrass gives wonderful depiction of a rip in space that is threatening to dissolve the planet Taygeta. When members of the Enterprise visit the doomed world they discover that it belongs to the cub like Taygetians who continiously sing but are now being threatened by hunters of the human species. With the help of a prodigy musician/composer Guy Maslin, the federation hopes to break through the Taygetian language and figure out why the rip in space exists. Already a difficult task, the Federation is also flanked with a Klingon ship that demands equal insight into the Taygetians at the risk of a battle. Snodgrass delivers the necessary drama of a Star Trek adventure with fine parallells between the Federation and the Klingons as well as a love story between Uhura and Guy Maslin. All the major characters play pivotal points in The Tears Of The Singers as Snodgrass suceeds in delivering a real fine story.

I know one shouldn't judge a book by its cover but I admit to being skeptical when I saw the cover of this book and read the title. I thought it would be one of the 'goofier' star trek paperbacks.

Luckily, I was wrong! Not only is this book far from goofy, it's one of the BEST star trek books I've read to date.

A great adventure for Kirk and Crew as they encounter Klingons on the verge of mutiny, a strange alien race and a space phemonemon that could destroy life as we know it.

And speaking of the Klingons, they were among my favorite characters in the book. It's nice when the author mixes things up from the norm. I leave it to the reader to find out the rest.

Highly recommended! A favorite of mine that stands right up there with Black Fire, Way of The Romulans, My Enemy My Ally, Yesterday's Son and The Covenent Of the Crown. GREAT READ!

The great thing about these novels is that they allow authors to explore characters that were often left as bystanders in the television show. In this case, Uhura is the character that most of the action converges around.

A plausible romance for her though one that progresses oddly and at times inappropriately (in my mind) for her position on the Enterprise, something I think the author was aware of but willing to ignore for the sake of her story.

What was neat was how this book seemed to tie into parts of the Star Trek cannon that haven't even come into existance yet (at the time of the book's publication). The aliens, The Singers, are early on compared to Earth's humpbacked whales, and there is a space time rip that sucks in people and planets but doesn't actually kill them (Nexxus anyone?)

Several non-bridge member characters played large roles in this book. Kor, one of Kirk's classic Klingon adversaries. His wife Kali, a neat addition, who I rather enjoyed, though might have been a bit more klingony. Two other klingons are relatively well developed as well, I really have to object to Kor's best friend's name though--Kandi, is not a male sounding name let alone a warrior klingon.

And most importantly, Maslin, Uhura's love intereste. A sort of Beethoven-esque composer, though less endearing that perhaps that composer. A man of tempers and ill health, he is this story's martyr.

I really loved the complexity of the plot and the aliens that Snodgrass created for this story. My only other complaint was that at times certain characters (such as Spock) spoke and acted in ways that seemed uncharacteristic to me.

All in all this was a very enjoyable book, a nice bit of escapism, and one I could have seen as an episode on the show. Which to me is the ultimate test for these books.

It's worth reading but not at the Kindle price. No paper, no ink, no glue, no fuel costs, no Text-to-speech. Do yourself a favor buy a used paperback. Don't support the "Publishers" price gouging. No TTS, $3.99. with TTS $5.99 max.

This is one of the Best! classic Star Trek Novels I have ever read. I recomend it highly. Very well written. The romance between Uhura and Maslin is wonderful and made me cry. I have read this book more than a few times. If you like tear jerkers make sure you have a box of tissues while you read. Great story
Love and Peace Darlene Little Deer.

I'ved loved Star Trek since the first episode and the first book. However I could not finish this book. It is sooooo obvious that this book was written pre 90s by a person that grew up in the 60s. This book uses words like "CompuSynthesizer" and "Computer Tapes" Tapes? In the 23rd century? Are you kidding me? Those things are obsolete now and it is only 2010! They couldn't even imagine the web? The writer discribed this "compusynthesizer as very large and heavy. Sounds like a eight track reel to reel machine that my Dad used to have in the garage. At one point, Spock slipped a tape (casette?) into the computer. Unreal... The musician smoked cigarettes and was still taking pills for a stress disease! There were quite a few other things that prevented me from submerging myself into the story but wont mention them all. I think you get my meaning. It just amazes me that the writer could not envision a future (200 years into the future) where cigs and pills are obsolete. I just couldn't get into the book because it seemed unrealistic. I know it's not because of the whole series as I have read other Trek books and got completely engrossed. Yeah, it's just this writer. How can you be a good writer of Sci-Fi if you can't envision life beyond your own time period?

Star Trek-The Original Series: The Tears of the Singers written by Melinda Snodgrass is a classic Star Trek adventure. This book is one of the early TREK adventures as Captain James T. Kirk and the U.S.S. Enterprise crew join in with the Klingons to stop a disaster brewing in the Taygeta V star system.

Classic TREK where a time/space warp without all of the baggage is how I'd call this book. The alien culture is interesting and working with the Klingons is difficult, but the storyline is captivating making for good action-adventure.

In this book Uhura is the crew member that shines as this is a well-written book. Taygeta V is inhabited by a semi-aguatic race of beings that are being hunted for their tears. It seems that when they die they secreat a jewel-like substance. Of course Uhura is the communications officer and she can communicate with the Taygetians as they are the singers and they inform her of what is happening.

Spock, of course, puts two and two together and suspects a link between the space/time anomoly with the Taygetians. While the Klingons will be Klingons, this makes for an interesting tale, with the fate of the Federation and with the entire universe to be saved Kirk and crew make it make a valent attempt to make things right.

If you're looking for a classic TREK adventure this is a good book to read. This is early TREK, but the writing is excellent and things that happen in this book even though are minor, will be considered in the whole of the TREK cannon. A multitude of worlds would ring with their particular brand of music that sang to the spheres, the Taygetians are interesting race.

Uhura falls in love in this novel. She falls in love with an arrogant, brilliant, musician. The Enterprise is on it's way to a planet that is going to be swallowed up in a nebula, unless they can find out why it is growing. The strang creatures on the planet sing all day and all night. Hunters hunt them for the tears they shed when they are killed. The Klingons have an intention of claiming the planet. In the end they all work together and solve the problems. This a good book, but I think Uhura is a little too loose.