Customer Reviews

Vendetta: The Giant Novel (Star Trek the Next Generation)

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

The ending of the this giant novel justified a solid three star rating. If you are a fan of Borg vs. Starfleet then you should enjoy this book. I felt the plot lines dragged on at times but the action generated at the end make it a readable trek.

After reading one or two Peter David novels, one quickly learns that his novels are to be looked forward to with great anticipation. Vendetta is no exception to this rule as it is an outstanding story that makes one wonder why it wasn't published as a hardback. Of course, at the time of this exceptional novels release, Star Trek The Next Generation stories hadn't quite made it to hardback status yet.

What can one expect from a Peter David Star Trek novel? An intriguing and exceptional plot; extraordinary humor; writing that is very true to characters; and so much more, all of which is delivered in this novel.

The premise:

The Enterprise answers a distress call from a planet that is under attack by the Borg. Rushing in, they discover a lone survivor named Delcara. Delcara is thoroughly outraged by the atrocity she bore witness to and sets herself on the path of revenge. Seeking to completely destroy the Borg for their crime against her people and others, she sets out to find a Doomsday Machine. When Captain Picard and crew learn of her intentions they must find a way to stop her because they "know" that the Doomsday Machine will not stop with the Borg...

What follows from there is as stated above, one of Peter David's earliest Star Trek stories and one of his best from that timeframe. I'd definitely have to say that the most hilarious part of this story is a Ferengi Damon being assimilated by the Borg to fill a role much similar to what they did to Picard when they assimilated him into Locutus.

I would definitely recommend this novel to any and all fans of Star Trek fiction and especially to Peter David fans; it is definitely not to be missed. {ssintrepid}

Peter David...easily one of the best authors in the Trek Universe has written another fantastic winner here. Not only does he visit the Borg, one of the better 'bad guys' that has come from Trek, new series or old, but David also goes back in time and gives us a tale about the Doomsday machine that was featured in the original series. We remember that with the help of Commodore Decker, the doomsday machine was ultimately rendered useless when they rammed a shuttlecraft and eventually an entire starship down it's gullet. Okay, now that we've revisited that episode, David gives us a plausible explanation as to why the doomsday machine was built in the first place: to combat the Borg.

Peter David has so clearly captured the 'feel' of the Star Trek Universe that the characters we have come to know and love are not just actors we see on TV, they are real, and they feel (except for Data...) and they hurt. Just a fantastic example of what a REAL Next Gen book SHOULD be like. How he ties the doomsday machine in with the Borg is just fantastic AND truly creative. You root for Delcara, but you don't necessarily want to because you know what her winning will mean to countless innocents. Do NOT go another day without getting to know Peter David as clearly one of the top 3 Trek authors currently in print (or OUT of print for that matter). 'Vendetta' is a great story and a worthy addition to the Trek Universe and definitely worthy of YOUR time.

In Vendetta, the Enterprise again meets the Borg. This time, however, the Borg have an enemy that, initially at least, can cut through a Borg cube ship like a hot knife through butter. But the Borg learn and adapt, remember? Then Starfleet has to decide who is their biggest concern: multiple Borg ships coming into Federation space to battle this new threat, or this new ship that has technology that could either be assimilated into the Borg (if they lose) or roam Federation space devouring planets for energy (if they win). Which is the biggest threat?

An exciting STNG story. The side story in attempting to "un-Borg" a captive is also interesting.

Peter David is, perhaps, the best author of Star Trek books that I've run across, at least the best with more than one such book to his credit. The other book of his that I've read is "Strike Zone", which is a marvellously funny book much in the tradition of "Trouble With Tribbles", with drama and danger present in the plot, but still not taking itself too overly seriously.

This book is very different; it is a very serious and gripping story, action-packed and not at all lighthearted, but also very well done.

It's a pleasant enough surprise to discover an author who can write well in one or the other of these styles; it's a revelation to discover one who can do both. Personally, I prefer a somewhat lighter touch, and so prefer "Strike Zone" to this book, but this book is unquestionably a keeper.

The Federations most deadly enemy is back, the Borg have returned! This time the crew of the USS Enterprise 1701-D not only have to defend the Federation against the cybernetic mosters called the Borg, but also stop something menacing from Kirk's time! They meet up with a woman named Delcara who is obsessed on destroying the Borg, no matter the cost...innocent lives hang on what the Enterprise & other Starfleet ships do or don't do! Peter David has out done himself on this book!

I have been reading Trek books for a few years now, and this is the best one! I think it would also make a great story line for a film. It grabs you from the get go and ingeneously ties together story lines from the original Trek and Next Gen. If your interested in blasting Borg. . . buy it

This is the first book of ST:TNG I ever read. It is action-packed in the right places with enough humor to keep you interested. I love how the author merged The Doomsday Machine from a classic ST episode with my favorite ST:TNG villan.

"Vendetta" is epic. It's about an ancient quest for revenge against one of the most feared and relentless races in the cosmos. It's about the human quest for knowledge and adventure, and the folly of going too far in pursuit of an unattainable goal. It is a tale of love and obsession and spectacular battle scenes, with a good dose of humor thrown in. Delcara, the sole survivor of a race obliterated by the Borg centuries ago has acquired an incredible weapon, of which the infamous doomsday machine from the original series was but a prototype. It is a ship that consumes planets for fuel, and it is possessed by the vengeful souls of yet another culture wiped out by the Borg. And if they have to annihilate half the galaxy to destroy their destroyers, so be it. All that matters is the vendetta, but Captain Picard still believes Delcara is worth saving. All in all, Peter David does a spectacular job in crafting a tale that you don't have to be a Trekkie to enjoy.

I would actually classify "Vendetta" more as science fantasy than the traditional "hard science fiction" rubric Star Trek usually falls under ("Vendetta" is rather like Star Wars in that respect). A lot of the story involves what one character disparagingly calls "metaphysical claptrap": haunted ships driven by will alone and love at first sight linking two strangers across light-years. Not surprisingly, Peter David is a highly original author whose works easily transcend the label of mere "Star Trek books." And "Vendetta" is no exception.

This novel has some great tie-ins to the original series. The best, however, being the return of the planet killer. The idea that it was sent from just outside our galaxly into the heart of Borg space, preferably straight through the Terran system as well, was awseome. Also, having the spiked doomsday machine destroy a Tholian web was astounding! The Vastator of Borg character was a great added bonus. My favorite part of the book is the final battle between the Borg cubes, the planet killer, and the Enterprise. I recommend this book to Star Trek fans everywhere.