Star Trek Enterprise: Last Full Measure - Michael A. Martin & Andy Mangels

Title: Last Full Measure
Author: Michael A. Martin & Andy Mangels
Genre: Sci-Fi
Published: 2006
Formats: Paperback/Ebook

Available at:
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Kobo
Amazon UK

"Last Full Measure" by Michael A. Martin & Andy Mangels is the latest book in my Star Trek Reading Challenge and it was the first of the Enterprise re-launch novels to be released which continued telling original stories after the end of the TV series. Although I will clarify that outside the framing story, "Last Full Measure" is set firmly within the time period of the show and actually follows on quite well from the last Star Trek book I read, "The Expanse".

The central storyline is quite standard compared to most of the other stories set in Enterprise's third season. It is basically based around the Xindi council trying to deflect the Enterprise away from their home world by tricking them into following a false trail. There is nothing really original in that although I do believe that the authors did this so that they could concentrate on the interactions between the characters instead.

The main purpose of this story therefore seems to be in regards to highlighting the various tensions that exist between the MACO's and Starfleet. Whilst it was good to actually see a little bit more about the relationship between these two groups, after the first few examples of issues between them it all got a little bit repetitive. There are only so many times I am going to be interested in reading about how someone is arrogant etc. In addition it was all a little bit too obvious that this would all end up with some sort of happy respect occurring between the two groups although to be honest, this isn't anything new with either Star Trek or other novels.

However, the issues I mentioned above didn't stop me enjoying what really was still quite a fun and action packed adventure. Sometimes Star Trek can be accused of being a little bit too slow and cerebral but anyone reading this novel would have to think otherwise. There were explosions, dangerous space walks, fights and deaths throughout which ensured the book was thoroughly entertaining. The only really negative element of the story was when the novel would jump to some of Trip's thoughts about his sister and her death in the Xindi attack. I just felt that it spoiled the flow of the book and didn't really add anything beyond what I had previously seen in the TV show or in the previous Enterprise novel "The Expanse".

In regards to the characterisation, I have to admit that I was a bit surprised to see the actions taken by Captain Archer in regards to obtaining the "co-operation" of a captive. I understand that he is under some severe pressure due to the threat to Earth, but it just didn't feel right to me, although in honesty it probably does tie in with the way Archer acted in Season 3 but I never really liked his characterisation then either. Other than this, I actually quite like the various characterisations throughout the novel and I loved the fact that Travis was a major character in the novel with some solid development as he has been forgotten many times in the past. The only down side is that once again a plot device is used to make sure that the main ensemble cast is reduced to a smaller number early on. It seems to be a much too common element of Star Trek stories to ensure that writers don't have to worry about dealing with all the characters and can concentrate on a few of the main characters and some of the minor ones.

My final comment is in regards to Reed's history in the city of Leicester which is mentioned in the story. I went to University in Leicester and just can't imagine it ever having a dock district as mentioned in the novel as the river Soar which flows through the city is quite small. Not really an issue in the overall story but it did make me laugh a little bit.

Overall, "Last Full Measure" was an enjoyable novel although as with "The Expanse" I think it suffers a little bit in that the overall story arc's finale is dealt with in the TV series and not in any novels. Martin & Mangels have done a good job capturing some of the various interactions between the characters and kept the story fun and fast paced. As a final note, there is also a little surprise in the framing story that hopefully points to some interesting developments in the novels to come and therefore I am now looking forward to reading the next re-launch novels.

Challenges Book Counts Towards:
Ebook Reading Challenge (The Eclectic Bookshelf)
Ebook Reading Challenge (Workaday Reads)

Frags (Gamers Series Book 2) - Thomas K Carpenter

Title: Frags (Gamers Series Book 2)
Author: Thomas K Carpenter
Genre: Sci-Fi
Published: 2011
Formats: Paperback/Ebook

Available at:
Amazon
The Book Depository
Smashwords
Kobo
Amazon UK

"Frags" by Thomas K. Carpenter is the sequel to "Gamers" a book I have previously reviewed here. It continues the entertaining and fast paced adventures of former High School student, Gabby as she attempts to locate her friend Zaela who was taken away at the end of the first novel by the GSA government. Together with the members of Frags, a group of people who have tried to escape the GSA and the LifeGame, they flee into the Freelands. There, they hope that others who have escaped from the GSA will be able to give them information on what happens to those who fail LifeGame and are taken away. However, the Freelands is full if many disparate groups some of whom have no intention of helping any escapees from the GSA.

As with “Gamers” some sections of the novel deal with reality whilst others take the reader on a journey through various forms of augmented realities that have been created by the residents of the Freelands. Whilst this may sound like it could get confusing I was happy to observe that the author has done a good job in using Gabby’s thoughts and actions in a manner that ensures the reader is usually aware of what is real and what isn’t. The use of augmented reality has been incorporated very well into the novel to show how the Freelands really does allow people to live in any way they want.

The story itself is both entertaining and action packed just like its prequel and I found myself struggling to put it down. One of the best improvements in this novel compared with “Gamers” is that Carpenter has tried to flesh out some of his characters a little bit more which was good to see and I actually began to learn and understand more about each of them. It was easier this time to actually feel something for them and will them on to succeed even with their flaws and imperfections.

Another nice aspect of this novel is that Carpenter has ensured that some of the questions raised in “Gamers” are given answers. I don’t know how many times I get irritated about books in a series that just seem to be filler without actually answering anything from previous instalments. The reader doesn’t get an answer to everything though and this along with the cliffhanger ending ensures that I am looking forward to what will be revealed in the next novel.

Overall, this is enjoyable instalment in the series and whilst I did note that the book does once again use some rather interesting gaming related slang, this isn’t any different from“Gamers”. Basically if you enjoyed the first novel then you should have no issue with “Frags”.

To Say Nothing of the Dog - Connie Willis

Title: To Say Nothing of the Dog
Author: Connie Willis
Genre: Sci-Fi
Published: 1997
Formats: Hardback/Paperback/Ebook

Available at:
Amazon
The Book Depository
Amazon UK

"To Say Nothing of The Dog" by Connie Willis is a novel that was recommended to me last year after I read and enjoyed another of Willis' novels, "The Doomsday Book" which I reviewed here. However, as with many other books, I have never found the time to read it. So when I found out that I had to read a Hugo award winner as part of the Sci-Fi Reader Challenge I jumped at the chance to read this novel.

The story itself is set in the same universe as "The Doomsday Book" although I wouldn't really call it a sequel, even if a few characters do show up again. The reader once again follows a group of time travelling historians from Oxford University as they investigate the past. The main protagonist is called Ned Henry and he has been involved in a project to rebuild pre-WWII Coventry Cathedral and in particular he has been tasked with trying to identify the missions "Bishop's Bird Stump". However, due to his many trips to the past he begins to suffer "time-lag" which is a form of severe disorientation and confusion. So that he can recover and avoid the project manager who doesn't believe in time-lag, he is sent to the rural countryside in Victorian times for a vacation. However, his time-lag affected behaviour and the time-line altering actions of another historian results in a rather comic and enjoyable adventure.

Whilst I have mentioned "The Doomsday Book" as being within the same universe it is important to note for anyone who has read it that the difference between it and "To Say Nothing of The Dog" is like the difference between night and day. Whilst "The Doomsday Book" was dark, sad and depressing at times, "To Say Nothing of The Dog" is funny, light and merry. It is a testament to Willis' ability that I have loved both books hugely and they are written superbly well despite the differences in style.

I found myself smiling and laughing multiple times as I followed the travails of the historians trying to deal with time-lag, the missing "Bishop's Bird Stump" and correct various issues within the time-line. Willis has weaved a very eclectic mix of amusing events and people that kept me thoroughly entertained. In addition, whilst events such as jumble sales in the 1940s and the antics of a goldfish eating cat in the 19th century can appear to be random and unrelated they actually all resolve into quite a clever and well thought out conclusion.

The novel isn't just farcical comedy however; there are some interesting elements towards the later half of the novel regarding paradox and time travel that should appeal to most science fiction fans. What impressed me the most however about these elements was the way in which Willis used her enjoyable and humorous story to make what could be quite a complex subject into something that most people should be able to follow and understand.

In summary, I can't really think of anything negative to say about the story. I found it funny, clever, entertaining and full of enough surprises to keep me hooked from start to finish. If you want to have a good laugh with the underlying seriousness of a well thought out time travel novel then you won't go wrong in picking this book up. Personally, I am going to make sure I go and read the remaining books Willis has written about her time travelling historians. Even if the style is different again, I have a lot of faith in her ability to entertain me.

Challenges Book Counts Towards:
Speculative Fiction Challenge
Sci-Fi Reader Challenge

The Wind in the Willows - Kenneth Grahame

Title: The Wind in the Willows
Author: Kenneth Grahame
Genre: Fantasy
Published: 1908
Formats: Hardback/Paperback/Ebook

Available at:
Project Gutenberg (Free Ebook)
Amazon
The Book Depository
Amazon UK

"The Wind in the Willows" by Kenneth Grahame is one of these stories that I had previously never got around to reading. In addition, I also seemed to have missed watching any of the various TV shows created around the story as well. Therefore, when I signed up to Year of the Fantasy Classic Challenge I decided that I would finally read this classic and actually find out what it really was about.

The story follows the various meandering and pleasant adventures of several anthropomorphized animals such as the Mole, Water Rat, Toad and Badger. The adventures are mainly set in an idyllic English countryside and range from an innocent trip down the river in a row boat to the fears of being lost in the woods on a snowy night. I found the whole thing to basically be a celebration of the simple life of the country that could be lived by well to do bachelors in the late 19th and early 20th century.

Now, I am going to be honest and say that this book isn't fast paced, action packed or full of exciting thrills although there are still elements of each within the novel which I found contrasted well with the more leisurely sections. The books main feature though is its rather enjoyable cozy charm as the reader follows the camaraderie of the characters and their fundamental acceptance of each other. It doesn't delve into any heavy good vs. evil moments, it more highlights some of the profound moments that can be had by simple characters just trying to live their lives.

I found all four of the main characters to be quite interesting individuals with a basic jovial nature and whilst they have been anthropomorphised they did seem to retain some of their intrinsic animal characteristics. The supporting characters however did seem a little bit weaker and a little bit more generic at times but this didn't really detract from the overall story as the antics of the main characters created some really amusing moments, especially those centred on the Toad.

The novel itself is defined as a children's book and there are some lessons for children that have been integrated into the novel, from the issues of being self-centred as seen by the actions of the Toad, to the danger of wondering off alone as shown by the Mole getting lost in the woods. However, I did I find that the writing itself is actually quite complex for a children's book which could cause some children a bit of trouble. Adults however will find the vocabulary to be rich and varied with an easy to follow sentence structure. I would say that this is probably more a book for an adult to read to a child than for them to read themselves.

There were a couple of minor issues I had with the novel, the first of which was that some the chapters seemed to go off on a tangent from the overall story being told. This just meant that the novel at times could feel like a collection of short stories rather than a single piece of fiction. The second issue is that whilst the novel did contain some interesting lessons for children, some aspects weren't something that a parent would necessarily want a child to learn and think was okay. For example there is a part when the main four beat other characters with sticks, and then there is Toad who blatantly keeps breaking the law and then escapes from prison without any real punishment but a telling off by his friends. It didn't really bother me as an adult reader and I would probably read it to my own children but I suspect some parents may not feel the same.

Overall this was quite a heart-warming and cozy novel about friendship and loyalty that really helps to remove the reader from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. I believe that this novel really works well as calming bedtime read that should appeal to both adults and children. Personally, I am glad that I finally read this book and look forward to reading it to my children once they are old enough to really understand its vocabulary and message.

Challenges Book Counts Towards:
Speculative Fiction Challenge
Year of the Fantasy Classic Challenge

Star Trek Enterprise: The Expanse - J.M. Dillard

Title: The Expanse
Author: J.M. Dillard
Genre: Sci-Fi
Published: 2002
Formats: Paperback/Ebook

Available at:
Amazon
The Book Depository
Kobo
Amazon UK

"The Expanse" by J.M. Dillard is the latest book in my Star Trek Reading Challenge and it is a novelization of two Star Trek Enterprise episodes; namely the Season 2 Finale and the Season 3 premier. There was one little quirk regarding this novelization though in that it actually included various scenes that were deleted from the episodes prior to them airing which were quite interesting to read.

The story deals with an attack on Earth by a previously unknown alien species (or actually 5 separate species that evolved on one planet) known as the Xindi. After this attack leaves millions dead, the Enteprise is recalled to Earth where the crew witness the devastation for themselves. However, thanks to information gained from a time traveller, the Enterprise is dispatched on a mission into the Delphic Expanse to try and locate the Xindi homeworld to ensure there are no further attacks.

The book follows the script of the two episodes fairly well, covering the various events exactly as was seen on screen although the reader does get to obtain a little bit more understanding of what may be going on within the character's heads and the various motivations. I particularly thought this was so in regards to T'Pol's decision to disobey the Vulcan High Command and Tucker's attempts to deal with the loss of his sister.

My biggest issue with the novel though is that it just covers the two episodes that were used to set up a major story arc that ran across the entire third series. Therefore, there is no satisfying conclusion to this novel which basically just sets up the major plot line and various goals yet doesn't actually see them through to completion. To be honest, if I hadn't been the fan of the series and therefore knew how it all ends up I would probably have been deeply disappointed.

If you ignore this aspect however, there is no doubt that this is a well written and nicely paced book. The story itself was enjoyable enough already, but the little additions made by Dillard to the story have definitely added to it. It is without doubt the best of the novelizations I have read so far within the Enterprise collection.

In conclusion, this is an enjoyable book that provides a little bit more insight into the characters beyond what a reader may have observed from the TV screen. To be honest though I am not sure if it adds enough to really make it a must buy for a fan of the show and the lack of a proper conclusion probably would irritate someone who had not actually already seen the series. I would probably just advise people to watch all of season 3 instead and only buy the book if you are a completionist.

Challenges Book Counts Towards:
Ebook Reading Challenge (The Eclectic Bookshelf)
Ebook Reading Challenge (Workaday Reads)
Sci-Fi Reader Challenge

On Dark Shores: The Lady (On Dark Shores Book 1) - J.A. Clement

Title: On Dark Shores: The Lady (On Dark Shores Book 1)
Author: J.A. Clement
Genre: Fantasy
Published: 2011
Formats: Ebook

Available at:
Amazon
Smashwords
Kobo
Amazon UK

"On Dark Shores: The Lady" by J.A. Clement is a relatively short fantasy novel that forms the first part in her "On Dark Shores" series of novels. The story is mainly based around the town of Scarlock which is controlled by a tyrannical money lender named Copeland. In the town lives Nereia, a young woman who has become a thief after her family died and Copeland gave her a choice to either steal or become a prostitute. When Copeland threatens Nereia's younger sister, she realises that she needs to do something now before it is too late. And so, a dangerous and rather violent adventure results as Nereia and her sister attempt to escape from Scarlock and the control of Copeland.

The first comment I need to make is that whilst this is a reasonably enjoyable novel, it really didn't feel very satisfying as an individual story. The ending was a little bit sudden and the whole book just came across as being a vehicle to introduce the reader to a large cast of characters and an overarching plot. If the next book was already available to read then it maybe wouldn't have been so bad, but as it currently isn't, I feel like I have read the first few chapters in a novel and then just had to stop.

However, the heart of the story being told is actually pretty solid and there does seem to be a lot of interesting and engaging plot lines that are intermingled quite nicely with each other. I will admit however that some of the sub-plots did leave me quite confused and in particular I still don't really understand what was going on in the first chapter. Luckily there was enough in the core of the story to keep me reading and I am just hoping that some of the more mysterious sections will be explained in the future books.

In regards to the characters, there is quite a variety of them and I did enjoy the way in which the author swapped between them which enabled me to experience the events from various different points of view. However, the usual issue I see with short novels or novellas is glaringly obvious in that none of the characters seem to have been developed to their full potential. There are some superb building blocks there for future development in the coming novels and I think that Nereia has all the hallmarks of what could be a great heroine but at the moment it just feels like we are just getting a sneak peek.

A little niggle I did have with the characters was in relation to section of the story where one of the characters seems to descend into a form of madness. The issue I had with this was that it came across as just being a cheap way for a character to act in a way that they normally wouldn't have done. I had been appreciating how the main characters and secondary characters were being used up to that point and just felt a little bit let down by this.

Overall, this was a rather interesting fantasy novel although it was a little bit flawed by seemingly be used more as a set up for future books than as a story in its own right. Personally, I was able to look past that though due to the interesting and varied characters and the promise of what looks like a rather enjoyable and complex overall plot. I really am looking forward to see how everything is going to fits together in the end and this alone will probably make sure I pick up the sequel when it is released.

Challenges Book Counts Towards:
Ebook Reading Challenge (The Eclectic Bookshelf)
Ebook Reading Challenge (Workaday Reads)
Free Reads Challenge
Speculative Fiction Challenge