Q&A (Star Trek: The Next Generation) (Mass Market Paperback)

by Keith R. A. DeCandido (Author)
Key Phrases: riding club, quantum fissure, fissure swallowed, Jean-Luc Picard, Number One, Commander Kadohata (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Nearly two decades ago, Jean-Luc Picard took command of the U.S.S. Enterprise™ NCC-1701-D. The captain knew it was an honor without equal. His new command bore the name of Enterprise. The people who had commanded other like-named starships had gone down in Starfleet's annals. Some officers would be intimidated, but they would not have been given command of Enterprise.

On her first mission, the Enterprise was sent to Farpoint Station. A simple, straightforward investigation. Perfect for a crew that had never served together. Then there was Q. An omnipotent lifeform that seemed bent on placing obstacle after obstacle in the ship's -- and in particular in Picard's -- way. And it hadn't ended with that first mission. When he was least expected, Q would appear. Pushing, prodding, testing. At times needling captain and crew with seemingly silly, pointless, and maddening trifles. Then it would turn all too serious, and the survival of Picard's crew was in Q's hands.

Why was it today that Picard was remembering the day he took command of the Enterprise-D? Now he commanded a new ship, the Enterprise-E. His crew was different. There was nothing about Gorsach that in the least resembled Farpoint. But Picard couldn't shake the feeling that something all too familiar was going on. All too awful. All too Q.

About the Author
Keith R.A. Decandido is a top genre author whose tie-in novels for Pocket include several Star Trek titles across all series as well as Buffy the Vampire Slayer novelizations. He is also known for his Star Trek: The Next Generation comicbook miniseries Perchance to Dream, and is the editor of several science-fiction and fantasy anthologies.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Star Trek (September 25, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1416527419
• ISBN-13: 978-1416527411
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #99,064 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in this category: (What's this?)

  #12 in

  Books > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Media > Star Trek > Next Generation

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Great Starts but Poor Finish, March 3, 2008

By	Don from SF "coach41" (San Francisco, CA USA) - See all my reviews

Been a while since I read Star Trek novels, but my friend got me a couple as a present and I've read both of them ("Resistance" and now "Q&A") in the span of two weeks. Maybe minor SPOILERS.

After going through Q&A, it seems to have the same problem as Resistance. The premise of "Q" being involved in a book is usually pretty exciting. I was curious what the authors could pull out this time. However, the story sort of dragged along with millions of cutovers to other people with Q popping up intermittenly. There are some funny moments (as usual) with Q's interaction with the crew.

However, the setup (while a little dragged) was ok, the climax and ending were (to me at least) a big "HUH" moment. Maybe I was just reading the book to late to grasp all the details, but I felt letdown at the end.

All in all, the book is not terrible and if you're a fan of Q, it's worth a look. But maybe you need to keep your expectations low.

5.0 out of 5 stars Q's Quest is Quite (Qu)great, April 15, 2009

By	8of5 - See all my reviews

After the not especially memorable start to the new post-Nemesis TNG era in Death in Winter and Resistance Q&A gives the series the kick it needs and finally shows us what a great TNG novel can be. Q & A, a Q story, or indeed The Q story, as the book tries, and very much succeeds, in tying every Q story together. The Qish elements of this book are perfect, Q feels very much like Q, and the way all Q's appearances are tied together is brilliant. DeCandido does a great job making the Enterprise feel inhabited and introduces two new big characters; Second officer Miranda Kadohata and chief of security Zelik Leybenzon. These two were about the only parts of the novel I didn't enjoy, I found both quite annoying. While T'Lana was a pest to the Enterprise crew in Resistance, there was something endearing about her, and that continues to be in Q & A. Kadohata and Leybenzon on the other hand, despite all the best efforts to flesh out their characters and establish them as unique and interesting people just didn't have anything that made them stand out and say "look at me, I'm interesting".

DeCandido also manages to make the Trekverse feel much bigger (something really lacking in Resistance) with some brief appearances from characters from all over the galaxy. These short bits of story added a lot of interest and make use of DeCandido's (and others') previously established characters and settings without them seeming out of place or in need of more explanation. All in all Q & A is a very clever, witty and thoroughly enjoyable book.

3.0 out of 5 stars Okay, but not as great as "Resistance" or "Before Dishonor", April 14, 2009

By	Sean Flaherty - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book is not quite as good as "Resitance" and doesn't pick where it left off. I believed that it would, but that wouldn't come later until Peter David's "Before Dishonor". This book does a good job of catching up with the crew members that passed away in "Resistance" and with showing Picard's ire with Q. Overall the book is good- but the next installment is much better.