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Star Trek: Starfleet Academy (2010 series) #4
The Assassination Game
When a terrorist attack rocks Starfleet Academy, it’s clear someone has a very serious—and very deadly—secret agenda.
The rules are simple: Draw a target. Track him down and “kill” him with a spork. Take your victim’s target for your own. Oh, and make sure the player with your name doesn’t get to you first. No safe zones. No time-outs. The game ends when only one player remains.
James T. Kirk is playing for fun. Leonard “Bones” McCoy is playing to get closer to a girl. But when a series of terrorist attacks rock the usually placid Starfleet Academy campus, it becomes clear that somebody is playing the game for real. Is it one of the visiting Varkolak, on Earth to attend an intergalactic medical conference? Or could it be a member of a super-secret society at the Academy dedicated to taking care of threats to the Federation, no matter what rules they have to break to do it? Find out in The Assassination Game, the fourth installment in Spotlight’s exciting series for teens.
The rules are simple: Draw a target. Track him down and “kill” him with a spork. Take your victim’s target for your own. Oh, and make sure the player with your name doesn’t get to you first. No safe zones. No time-outs. The game ends when only one player remains.
James T. Kirk is playing for fun. Leonard “Bones” McCoy is playing to get closer to a girl. But when a series of terrorist attacks rock the usually placid Starfleet Academy campus, it becomes clear that somebody is playing the game for real. Is it one of the visiting Varkolak, on Earth to attend an intergalactic medical conference? Or could it be a member of a super-secret society at the Academy dedicated to taking care of threats to the Federation, no matter what rules they have to break to do it? Find out in The Assassination Game, the fourth installment in Spotlight’s exciting series for teens.
320 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 24, 2012
14 people are currently reading
357 people want to read
About the author
Alan Gratz
46 books4,720 followersAlan Gratz is the bestselling author of a number of novels for young readers. His 2017 novel Refugee has spent more than two years on the New York Times bestseller list, and is the winner of 14 state awards. Its other accolades include the Sydney Taylor Book Award, the National Jewish Book Award, the Cybils Middle Grade Fiction Award, a Charlotte Huck Award Honor, and a Malka Penn Award for Human Rights Honor. Refugee was also a Global Read Aloud Book for 2018.
Alan’s novel Grenade debuted at number three on the New York Times bestseller list, and his most recent book, Allies, debuted at number two on the list and received four starred reviews. His other books include Prisoner B-3087, which was a YALSA Best Fiction for Young Readers pick and winner of eight state awards; Projekt 1065, a Kirkus Best Middle Grade Book of 2016 and winner of five state awards; Code of Honor, a YALSA Quick Pick for Young Readers; and Ban This Book, which was featured by Whoopi Goldberg on The View.
Alan has traveled extensively to talk about his books, appearing at schools and book festivals in 39 states and a half-dozen countries, including Brazil, Canada, China, Indonesia, Japan, and Switzerland, and has been a Writer in Residence at Tokyo’s American School in Japan, the James Thurber House in Columbus, Ohio, and the Jakarta Intercultural School in Indonesia.
Alan was born and raised in Knoxville, Tennessee, home of the 1982 World’s Fair. After a carefree but humid childhood, Alan attended the University of Tennessee, where he earned a College Scholars degree with a specialization in creative writing, and, later, a Master’s degree in English education. He now lives with his family in Asheville, North Carolina, where he enjoys playing games, eating pizza, and, perhaps not too surprisingly, reading books.
Alan’s novel Grenade debuted at number three on the New York Times bestseller list, and his most recent book, Allies, debuted at number two on the list and received four starred reviews. His other books include Prisoner B-3087, which was a YALSA Best Fiction for Young Readers pick and winner of eight state awards; Projekt 1065, a Kirkus Best Middle Grade Book of 2016 and winner of five state awards; Code of Honor, a YALSA Quick Pick for Young Readers; and Ban This Book, which was featured by Whoopi Goldberg on The View.
Alan has traveled extensively to talk about his books, appearing at schools and book festivals in 39 states and a half-dozen countries, including Brazil, Canada, China, Indonesia, Japan, and Switzerland, and has been a Writer in Residence at Tokyo’s American School in Japan, the James Thurber House in Columbus, Ohio, and the Jakarta Intercultural School in Indonesia.
Alan was born and raised in Knoxville, Tennessee, home of the 1982 World’s Fair. After a carefree but humid childhood, Alan attended the University of Tennessee, where he earned a College Scholars degree with a specialization in creative writing, and, later, a Master’s degree in English education. He now lives with his family in Asheville, North Carolina, where he enjoys playing games, eating pizza, and, perhaps not too surprisingly, reading books.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
November 4, 2017
This was another solid book in the Abramsverse setup. Poor Bones and his luck with women :(
The best part was the brief reference to Chateau Picard, the winery that Captain Picard’s family ran during that time period.
-“Ah. Chateau Picard,” Kirk said, reading the label. “Never heard of it.”
The best part was the brief reference to Chateau Picard, the winery that Captain Picard’s family ran during that time period.
-“Ah. Chateau Picard,” Kirk said, reading the label. “Never heard of it.”
July 1, 2012
A fun romp thru Starfleet Academy, where the boys and girl of TOS save the universe as we know it yet again. I think the authors (etc.) are doing a good job of characterizing immature versions of our heros.
Rating is relative to other Star Trek Academy novels and movies.
Rating is relative to other Star Trek Academy novels and movies.
December 30, 2022
3,5
The best book of this series is the last one. It's the most developed and most entertaining and thrilling one, although still an underdeveloped book in many sense. And how is it that every new female character is the villain? 🫡
I liked it but didn't love it, a lukewarm series all togehter.
The best book of this series is the last one. It's the most developed and most entertaining and thrilling one, although still an underdeveloped book in many sense. And how is it that every new female character is the villain? 🫡
I liked it but didn't love it, a lukewarm series all togehter.
September 19, 2020
Actual rating: 2.5 stars
The main plot of this was pretty interesting. The side romantic plots wore me out! Why the heck is everyone so damn horny in this book? Actually, why in this entire series? Yeesh.
Gratz is great at little allusions to Trek canon. Chateu Picard for example. Unfortunately, he fell even deeper into the "actually all the main characters of the movie knew each other way before being introduced to each other and the audience in the movie." So when McCoy makes a comment about Chekov's age that run along the lines of "He's seventeen, Jim." I'm left confused as to why the scene from the dang movie would happen!
Characterization wavered a bit throughout the book. There were moments where things were bang on and then a slip up that would take me out of the action for a moment. McCoy having no problem using a transporter to impress a date was a big one for me. It makes no sense for any Leonard McCoy to no complain about transporters and space, sorry not buying it. I don't care how amazingly charming anyone is. Poor Uhura is given the neurotic pining treatment in this book. Wangsting about Spock and whether they have a romantic connection. The woman is a damn linguistics whiz and can speak this language that includes movement, but the most important thing is whether or not Spock likes her as well? Give me a break. Why do we need this when we all ready know that they are together in the movies.
I feel if this had not been aimed at a teen audience and given to the regular stable of Trek tie-in authors that the story would have been tighter.
The main plot of this was pretty interesting. The side romantic plots wore me out! Why the heck is everyone so damn horny in this book? Actually, why in this entire series? Yeesh.
Gratz is great at little allusions to Trek canon. Chateu Picard for example. Unfortunately, he fell even deeper into the "actually all the main characters of the movie knew each other way before being introduced to each other and the audience in the movie." So when McCoy makes a comment about Chekov's age that run along the lines of "He's seventeen, Jim." I'm left confused as to why the scene from the dang movie would happen!
Characterization wavered a bit throughout the book. There were moments where things were bang on and then a slip up that would take me out of the action for a moment. McCoy having no problem using a transporter to impress a date was a big one for me. It makes no sense for any Leonard McCoy to no complain about transporters and space, sorry not buying it. I don't care how amazingly charming anyone is. Poor Uhura is given the neurotic pining treatment in this book. Wangsting about Spock and whether they have a romantic connection. The woman is a damn linguistics whiz and can speak this language that includes movement, but the most important thing is whether or not Spock likes her as well? Give me a break. Why do we need this when we all ready know that they are together in the movies.
I feel if this had not been aimed at a teen audience and given to the regular stable of Trek tie-in authors that the story would have been tighter.
February 23, 2019
Author Alan Gratz brings us the last Starfleet Academy book for the Kelvin timeline. The Assassination Game deals with students who use a sporke to take out their chosen prey but the woman who is running the game is also apart of a much larger origination within Starfleet itself. The Varkolak are visiting Earth for the inter-species medical conference while the game is going on and Cadet Kirk who is playing the game is also charged with helping guard them. But in Kirk fashion he doesn't follow the rules and the leader of the Varkolak wants him on his personal detail. There are some throwbacks to some scenes from the episode "The Trouble with Tribbles" Where Kirk is being dressed down by the Admiral of the Academy. Also there is a reference to Captain Picard's family wine which we see at the beginning of Star Trek: Generations, plus there is a reference to his line from Star Trek: First Contact where he say's "They must be stopped here, this far no further." This is a great send off for the Kelvin timeline StarFleet Academy books and one not to be missed since it takes the characters to the brink of war and back in perpetration for their fight with the Narada in Star Trek (2009). I highly recommend this book to all Star Trek and science fiction fans.
June 18, 2022
Easily the best of the Starfleet Academy books. While the others were very formulaic and thin, this one was much more complex, didn't follow the same pattern as the others, allowed deeper characterizations from a wider number of the cast. It was closer to one of the regular Trek novels than the other YA stuff. It's a shame that the series didn't continue, as they seemed to finally get a handle on how to write it. Oh well. It ended on a high note, with the best of the series.
February 27, 2023
I really love this series!
Though this is the fourth book, it is the first one I read. In my opinion the characters are spot on, the plot is fun and easy to follow without being overly simplistic, and the book as a whole is well written.
I highly recommended this book to any Star Trek fans or those who enjoy sci-fi!
Though this is the fourth book, it is the first one I read. In my opinion the characters are spot on, the plot is fun and easy to follow without being overly simplistic, and the book as a whole is well written.
I highly recommended this book to any Star Trek fans or those who enjoy sci-fi!
May 25, 2017
Pros:
Intricate and well-developed plot
Characters were very well depicted. Appearances made by Sulu and Chekhov
Secret society
SpockxUhura moments
McCoy has a lover
One of the best books in this series
Cons:
Pacing is slow and takes a while to get into
Intricate and well-developed plot
Characters were very well depicted. Appearances made by Sulu and Chekhov
Secret society
SpockxUhura moments
McCoy has a lover
One of the best books in this series
Cons:
Pacing is slow and takes a while to get into
October 21, 2017
The students hold an unofficial assassination game, where they pretend to kill each other with Sporks. Meanwhile, Bones falls for another student, and Uhura is involved with translating for a visit from a hostile species. This is a lot of fun, the story moves on quickly, and there are some lovely character moments for all involved. This series definitely has potential. A good read.
July 15, 2012
Set in the new continuity of the last movie, this novel is in the series covering Kirk and company's academy days.
This one has an aggressive canine species on Earth for a medical conference. The Varkolak are a war-like species that the Federation would like to join them.
At the same time, a group of cadets are playing the Assassination Game. Every entrant brings an extra ID badge, all are tossed into a bag and each draws one out. The kill weapon is a spork, a titanium combination spoon and fork. You touch your target with it, only when you two are alone, other people in the area makes the target safe, then you get your victim's target badge and move on. The last one standing is the winner.
Because of a fight in a conference room(more on that later), Kirk gets picked by the Vorkolak doctor, Lartal, as a sort of guide. It doesn't take Kirk long to begin to realize Lartal is probably not a doctor.
Someone is secretly working to pin something on the Vorkolak, it seems, as a shuttle explodes when the Federation President is opening the conference. No one is hurt by Lartal seemed to have advance knowledge of the explosion.
There's also a secret group, the Graviton Society, in the Academy whose intent is to protect the Federation by doing things the Federation wouldn't do. Spock has infiltrated them to find out their purposes and has drafted both Uhura and Sulu as members to help.
When a second explosion that hurts a lot of people and kills thirteen, it looks bad for the Vorkolak. A device of theirs had been used to set off the bomb.
Which is a shock to Uhura. She had stolen the device and passed it up the line in the Graviton Society.
War is about to break out between the Federation and the Vordolak and Spock, Uhura, and Sulu race to find the real killer. At that same time, Kirk and McCoy are working it on their own. Someone had tried to frame McCoy for the first explosion.
Not a bad story. I cut it's rating to three stars for two reasons.
The author constructed a fight scene in a conference room and just flat out stole the idea from TOS episode THE TROUBLE WITH TRIBBLES. You remember the one in the station bar with Klingons.
Same scene right down to the dialogue. It's been years since I saw that episode, but the dialogue is virtually word for word. Lartel replaces the Klingon flinging insults at an Admiral instead of Kirk. Kirk takes the Scotty role trying to calm down Leslie, who's doing Chekov's part.
Kirk lets the insults role off, "we're all big enough to take a few insults," until the Vordolak makes a most profane comment about Uhura. Then Kirk starts the fight.
Then no one rats him out to the Admiral, who confines them to their quarters, sends them all off except Kirk, then listens to the insults Lartel leveled at him. "That's when you started the fight?", seeming disappointed when he says no.
My second problem was the author working the opening dialogue of TOS show opening, "to seek out new life, to boldly go where no man has gone before."
It was embarrassing, reading like fan-fic.
This one has an aggressive canine species on Earth for a medical conference. The Varkolak are a war-like species that the Federation would like to join them.
At the same time, a group of cadets are playing the Assassination Game. Every entrant brings an extra ID badge, all are tossed into a bag and each draws one out. The kill weapon is a spork, a titanium combination spoon and fork. You touch your target with it, only when you two are alone, other people in the area makes the target safe, then you get your victim's target badge and move on. The last one standing is the winner.
Because of a fight in a conference room(more on that later), Kirk gets picked by the Vorkolak doctor, Lartal, as a sort of guide. It doesn't take Kirk long to begin to realize Lartal is probably not a doctor.
Someone is secretly working to pin something on the Vorkolak, it seems, as a shuttle explodes when the Federation President is opening the conference. No one is hurt by Lartal seemed to have advance knowledge of the explosion.
There's also a secret group, the Graviton Society, in the Academy whose intent is to protect the Federation by doing things the Federation wouldn't do. Spock has infiltrated them to find out their purposes and has drafted both Uhura and Sulu as members to help.
When a second explosion that hurts a lot of people and kills thirteen, it looks bad for the Vorkolak. A device of theirs had been used to set off the bomb.
Which is a shock to Uhura. She had stolen the device and passed it up the line in the Graviton Society.
War is about to break out between the Federation and the Vordolak and Spock, Uhura, and Sulu race to find the real killer. At that same time, Kirk and McCoy are working it on their own. Someone had tried to frame McCoy for the first explosion.
Not a bad story. I cut it's rating to three stars for two reasons.
The author constructed a fight scene in a conference room and just flat out stole the idea from TOS episode THE TROUBLE WITH TRIBBLES. You remember the one in the station bar with Klingons.
Same scene right down to the dialogue. It's been years since I saw that episode, but the dialogue is virtually word for word. Lartel replaces the Klingon flinging insults at an Admiral instead of Kirk. Kirk takes the Scotty role trying to calm down Leslie, who's doing Chekov's part.
Kirk lets the insults role off, "we're all big enough to take a few insults," until the Vordolak makes a most profane comment about Uhura. Then Kirk starts the fight.
Then no one rats him out to the Admiral, who confines them to their quarters, sends them all off except Kirk, then listens to the insults Lartel leveled at him. "That's when you started the fight?", seeming disappointed when he says no.
My second problem was the author working the opening dialogue of TOS show opening, "to seek out new life, to boldly go where no man has gone before."
It was embarrassing, reading like fan-fic.
September 7, 2016
I was about to give this a 4.5 stars, like the previous book, and frankly this perhaps even deserved a five, since the plot is more complicated than the previous ones and I enjoyed it a lot, and I also love that there's not only Chekov but Sulu on this one and that it's not only about Kirk and Bones and Uhura with Spock on the sides, but also the inclusion of both of them (although predictably they played a somehat minor role compared to the others). I feel like the series is getting more solid and it's no longer an awkward attempt at a mystery happening in a slice of life genre. Pity that this seems to be the last in the series. Oh well. It was good while it lasts.
I think my main problem here (and the reason why I knocked off half a star, or even one) is with the characterisation of Kirk. He's still his usual charming self, it's just that...his supposed "naive belief" in Starfleet directly contradicts his actions and thoughts and characterisation overall in The Edge, the second book of this series. In that story, he was having serious doubts about Starfleet and even goes so far as to...protect some people who went against its rigorous rules. Granted, Kirk isn't a stickler for rules and it's well-known (it's what makes Kirk /Kirk/), and that trait practically defines him, so it can be argued that in The Edge he was defending those who break the rules with the "right" reasons in his perspective, while here, it was more about the ideals of Starfleet--Kantian ideals and whatnot, the "essence" of Star Trek--and it's not necessarily about rules, more like ethos, I think, but it's still...weird, because he's suddenly this big believer in Starfleet. No mentions of events in The Edge, no mentions of his previous doubts. It's as if he's always been a big believer ever since he enrolled, which I'm pretty sure is not the case.
Aside from the inconsistency, I would argue that his characterisation is pretty weak, in this one, and there's not much mental process exposition. He's my favourite character in the AOS timeline (still haven't watched TOS) and one thing I liked about Expanded Universe stuff is, well, they provide more info about him. The previous books has always been good with his character. But this one just...flopped. And I think that's the reason why the author would rather write pretty much everyone else, and why I feel like Uhura and Spock has more screentime (other than their budding romance thing).
At least everyone else's characterisation is decent, and the Uhura/Spock romance isn't obnoxious. It's actually pretty cute and believable. And I feel bad for the good doctor. I really love the budding friendship of Kirk and Chekov and Chekov and Sulu, though. And it's canon! Chekov really is everyone's little brother, including Kirk.
Overall, I love the humour, love the tone, the plot and the writing, and the characterisation is decent. And finally things are getting into space. My only problem is with Kirk's characterisation, but it's considerably minor. This is still an enjoyable read.
I think my main problem here (and the reason why I knocked off half a star, or even one) is with the characterisation of Kirk. He's still his usual charming self, it's just that...his supposed "naive belief" in Starfleet directly contradicts his actions and thoughts and characterisation overall in The Edge, the second book of this series. In that story, he was having serious doubts about Starfleet and even goes so far as to...protect some people who went against its rigorous rules. Granted, Kirk isn't a stickler for rules and it's well-known (it's what makes Kirk /Kirk/), and that trait practically defines him, so it can be argued that in The Edge he was defending those who break the rules with the "right" reasons in his perspective, while here, it was more about the ideals of Starfleet--Kantian ideals and whatnot, the "essence" of Star Trek--and it's not necessarily about rules, more like ethos, I think, but it's still...weird, because he's suddenly this big believer in Starfleet. No mentions of events in The Edge, no mentions of his previous doubts. It's as if he's always been a big believer ever since he enrolled, which I'm pretty sure is not the case.
Aside from the inconsistency, I would argue that his characterisation is pretty weak, in this one, and there's not much mental process exposition. He's my favourite character in the AOS timeline (still haven't watched TOS) and one thing I liked about Expanded Universe stuff is, well, they provide more info about him. The previous books has always been good with his character. But this one just...flopped. And I think that's the reason why the author would rather write pretty much everyone else, and why I feel like Uhura and Spock has more screentime (other than their budding romance thing).
At least everyone else's characterisation is decent, and the Uhura/Spock romance isn't obnoxious. It's actually pretty cute and believable. And I feel bad for the good doctor. I really love the budding friendship of Kirk and Chekov and Chekov and Sulu, though. And it's canon! Chekov really is everyone's little brother, including Kirk.
Overall, I love the humour, love the tone, the plot and the writing, and the characterisation is decent. And finally things are getting into space. My only problem is with Kirk's characterisation, but it's considerably minor. This is still an enjoyable read.
August 11, 2012
This series written for teens looks back on the Academy years of the crew of the USS Enterprise in the altered timeline set up by the 2009 film. Readers are introduced to a new menacing race called the Varkolak. They are a canine-like race that seems to have advanced cesor-technology. The Federation and the Varkolak have had a number of skirmishing along their shared borders, leading to tense relations, citizen deaths, and a constant risk of war.
As the Academy campus is rocked by a series of bombings that would seem to have been caused by Lartal, a visiting Vartolak that is part of a a group of doctors of that race visiting on a goodwill trip. Kirk, who has been assigned to guard him has noticed some mysterious behavior by Lartal, particularly in the area of some iffy sightseeing options, our favorite future captain has doubts about Lartal's guilt in the attacks. He, of course, turns to friend and roommate McCoy, who also becomes accused of being involved in the attacks, to help.
Kirk is not alone in trying to investigate the case. Spock has brought in Uhura, with whom he has a blossoming if awkward relationship, to investigate a secret underground fraternity organization of current and former Academy students who are willing to do anything to keep the Federation safe from outside enemies. Spock and Uhura will have to take care as they skirt Federation law to get the lowdown on the organization, which has the feel of being the beginnings of the future Section 31.
As all of this danger is swirling around campus, many of the students are involved in an annual tradition called the Assassination Game. The game requires the participants to seek out a one of the other students and "stab" him or her with a spork, "assassinating" the classmate. They then take on that person's target. This would continue until there is only one participant remaining. As you can imagine, this only adds to the challenge.
This book does a great job of weaving in elements from both previous books and the original series by weaving in characters and interesting things that true fans will really enjoy. This includes giving readers a chance to see Finnegan, the bane from Kirk's school years that was first introduced in the TOS episode "Shore Leave."
There is even a humorous (if seemingly forced) conversation for Kirk that is a resetting of a classic conversation between Scotty, Chekov and a group of Klingons on Space Station K-7 in the classic episode "The Trouble with Tribbles."
I do have to admit that the true cause of the bombings was clear pretty early in the reading, but that didn't diminish the enjoyment I got from the story, which allowed for further character development for the reset cast and some teasing "Easter eggs" for the fans.
While I don't think this is a series that really draws interest for its intended teen audience, I do think Trekkies and Trekkers will love this and the other books in the series.
As the Academy campus is rocked by a series of bombings that would seem to have been caused by Lartal, a visiting Vartolak that is part of a a group of doctors of that race visiting on a goodwill trip. Kirk, who has been assigned to guard him has noticed some mysterious behavior by Lartal, particularly in the area of some iffy sightseeing options, our favorite future captain has doubts about Lartal's guilt in the attacks. He, of course, turns to friend and roommate McCoy, who also becomes accused of being involved in the attacks, to help.
Kirk is not alone in trying to investigate the case. Spock has brought in Uhura, with whom he has a blossoming if awkward relationship, to investigate a secret underground fraternity organization of current and former Academy students who are willing to do anything to keep the Federation safe from outside enemies. Spock and Uhura will have to take care as they skirt Federation law to get the lowdown on the organization, which has the feel of being the beginnings of the future Section 31.
As all of this danger is swirling around campus, many of the students are involved in an annual tradition called the Assassination Game. The game requires the participants to seek out a one of the other students and "stab" him or her with a spork, "assassinating" the classmate. They then take on that person's target. This would continue until there is only one participant remaining. As you can imagine, this only adds to the challenge.
This book does a great job of weaving in elements from both previous books and the original series by weaving in characters and interesting things that true fans will really enjoy. This includes giving readers a chance to see Finnegan, the bane from Kirk's school years that was first introduced in the TOS episode "Shore Leave."
There is even a humorous (if seemingly forced) conversation for Kirk that is a resetting of a classic conversation between Scotty, Chekov and a group of Klingons on Space Station K-7 in the classic episode "The Trouble with Tribbles."
I do have to admit that the true cause of the bombings was clear pretty early in the reading, but that didn't diminish the enjoyment I got from the story, which allowed for further character development for the reset cast and some teasing "Easter eggs" for the fans.
While I don't think this is a series that really draws interest for its intended teen audience, I do think Trekkies and Trekkers will love this and the other books in the series.
November 17, 2014
I haven't read a Starfleet Academy book in quite some time and I've had The Assassination Game sitting on my shelf since it came out! The first thing I noticed about this book was that it is physically thicker than the other books in the series so I immediately thought that that meant more story! Fortunately, I found that there is more story; hurray!
The title of The Assassination Game comes from a game that is played in the book in which cadets run around "killing" each other with titanium sporks. However, someone appears to be playing their own real-life version of the Game by setting off dangerous explosions around the campus. I found that The Assassination Game is more exciting than the previous books in the series as the pace of the book moves with the amount of action, which was thankfully not left until the very end. Along with the action, there are also two 'romantic' subplots: one that I thought was clever, and another that makes me want to puke. The clever one involves Bones, the one that makes me want to puke involves Spock and Uhura.
The main reason why I don't like the whole relationship between Spock and Uhura in this series is because I have a tendency to base things on The Original Series, even though I know that this series is set in an alternate universe. Spock is pretty much the poster boy for celibacy, so seeing him be in a relationship with Uhura of all people just seems odd to me. However, as I'd said above, I did like the story of Bones' relationship with senior cadet Nadja Luther. Bones is probably the one character who has never really had a love interest (not even in TOS) so it was really good to read about him having one.
Hurray for going into outer space! Even though the Academy itself is located on Earth, it is nice to see the action go into space and even onto some of the starships during the more high-octane scenes rather than just being in a simulator of a starship. I also liked how some parts of the book went further into San Francisco and more parts of the campus. It may seem obvious, but I do like to see more of the setting.
I think that The Assassination Game is the best installation of the Starfleet Academy series so far. This book felt a lot more like Star Trek than the other episodes, but with the added campus mischief. However, the whole Spock and Uhura relationship still makes me feel uneasy. But, they've been written to have things for each other so I can't change that. Oh well.
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For more reviews, please visit my blog:
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The title of The Assassination Game comes from a game that is played in the book in which cadets run around "killing" each other with titanium sporks. However, someone appears to be playing their own real-life version of the Game by setting off dangerous explosions around the campus. I found that The Assassination Game is more exciting than the previous books in the series as the pace of the book moves with the amount of action, which was thankfully not left until the very end. Along with the action, there are also two 'romantic' subplots: one that I thought was clever, and another that makes me want to puke. The clever one involves Bones, the one that makes me want to puke involves Spock and Uhura.
The main reason why I don't like the whole relationship between Spock and Uhura in this series is because I have a tendency to base things on The Original Series, even though I know that this series is set in an alternate universe. Spock is pretty much the poster boy for celibacy, so seeing him be in a relationship with Uhura of all people just seems odd to me. However, as I'd said above, I did like the story of Bones' relationship with senior cadet Nadja Luther. Bones is probably the one character who has never really had a love interest (not even in TOS) so it was really good to read about him having one.
Hurray for going into outer space! Even though the Academy itself is located on Earth, it is nice to see the action go into space and even onto some of the starships during the more high-octane scenes rather than just being in a simulator of a starship. I also liked how some parts of the book went further into San Francisco and more parts of the campus. It may seem obvious, but I do like to see more of the setting.
I think that The Assassination Game is the best installation of the Starfleet Academy series so far. This book felt a lot more like Star Trek than the other episodes, but with the added campus mischief. However, the whole Spock and Uhura relationship still makes me feel uneasy. But, they've been written to have things for each other so I can't change that. Oh well.
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March 17, 2013
“The Assassination Game” by Alan Gratz is the fourth book in the Young Adult Starfleet Academy series set in the continuity of the JJ Abrams Star Trek movie. The novel’s title is a reference to a game played by some of the cadets in which they try and “assassinate” various other cadets via the use of Starfleet sporks. However, the game soon takes a backseat when someone attempts to assassinate various dignitaries for real during a medical conference. All evidence points to a hated alien species known as the Varkolak but Kirk who is acting as an escort to the leader of the Varkolak delegation doesn’t believe it and begins to investigate himself.
As with the other books in the series the story is rather predictable and I worked out who the “bad guy” was very quickly. This is made even worse due to the fact that out of the four books released so far in the series, some of the people involved in the various troubles that occur during the novels have been women that either Kirk or McCoy are interested in. Despite this I still found myself entertained as the story is fast paced, action packed and at times quite funny.
What I really do appreciate in this series is that they do try and provide some type of continuation between them. It is nice to see some of the various minor characters popping up here and there to show at least a little bit of linkage between the novels in the series. In addition, Gratz has continued the good work seen in the previous novels in regards to the characters. They are all well-written and I could once again easily envision these characters being the same ones as seen in the Abrams movie.
One aspect to the story that made me either smile or groan was in regards to the various homages to other aspects of the Trek universe. Some of them were used brilliantly but others just irritated me and there is even one part of the novel that seems to be a blatant word for word copy of events that happened in the TOS episode, “The Trouble with Tribbles”. Sometimes I think the elements of homage within a Star Trek novel can be too much and this was definitely a prime example of this.
Overall this is an enjoyable novel that has been written by a fan of Star Trek who really knows his stuff. It isn’t the most complex of plots but this seems to quite standard for Young Adult Star Trek novels and seems to have been competently written.
As with the other books in the series the story is rather predictable and I worked out who the “bad guy” was very quickly. This is made even worse due to the fact that out of the four books released so far in the series, some of the people involved in the various troubles that occur during the novels have been women that either Kirk or McCoy are interested in. Despite this I still found myself entertained as the story is fast paced, action packed and at times quite funny.
What I really do appreciate in this series is that they do try and provide some type of continuation between them. It is nice to see some of the various minor characters popping up here and there to show at least a little bit of linkage between the novels in the series. In addition, Gratz has continued the good work seen in the previous novels in regards to the characters. They are all well-written and I could once again easily envision these characters being the same ones as seen in the Abrams movie.
One aspect to the story that made me either smile or groan was in regards to the various homages to other aspects of the Trek universe. Some of them were used brilliantly but others just irritated me and there is even one part of the novel that seems to be a blatant word for word copy of events that happened in the TOS episode, “The Trouble with Tribbles”. Sometimes I think the elements of homage within a Star Trek novel can be too much and this was definitely a prime example of this.
Overall this is an enjoyable novel that has been written by a fan of Star Trek who really knows his stuff. It isn’t the most complex of plots but this seems to quite standard for Young Adult Star Trek novels and seems to have been competently written.
January 1, 2014
In this science fiction novel The Assassination Game, the author Alan Gratz describes the Star Trek original series cast in Starfleet Academy. This timeline is the alternate timeline shown in the Star Trek reboot movie from JJ Abrams. The setting is 2257 CE in the Sausalito, CA training ground. The book also has characters visit Starfleet HQ in the Presidio, and SF downtown (mostly Chinatown). The protagonists are Kirk (future captain - cadet), Uhura (female communications cadet), Spock (half-Vulcan teacher), McCoy (medical cadet), Sulu (pilot cadet), and Chekhov (science specialist cadet). The antagonists are the people responsible for the bombing of a shuttlecraft near the Andorian Federation president, and a bombing at a medical facility at the Academy. A wolf-like humanoid species called the Varkolak are introduced. They are near enemies with the Federation and are there in the story, along with a “Federation First” ultra-conservative group and also the “Graviton Society” as potential bombing suspects. The other more humorous antagonists are the other cadets playing the “Assassination Game” as part of a unsanctioned contest. This game requires cadets to obtain a target and “kill/tap” their target with a cafeteria spork when the two antagonists are alone. The winner obtains that targets’ target, and the game continues on until there is a single winner. My favorite part in the book occurs when McCoy (the medical cadet) is set off to defuse a bomb and he mutters, “I’m a doctor, not a … Never mind (to himself)”. If you like Star Trek novels, and liked the new Star Trek movies, then you will like this book. This is also a rare book where you get to read about life in Starfleet Academy.
April 21, 2013
Once again, I find myself drawn to the Abramsverse of Star Trek, and sadly, I am forced to answer this need with one of the series of books relating to their time at the academy.
This time out, Kirk, Bones, Uhura, Spock, Sulu, and Chekov must work together (loosely though- remember, got to keep things canon) to prevent a war between the Federation and a race of Canine advisories. Meanwhile, the sub plot line is one straight out of “Gotcha” (that mid 80’s blink-and-you-missed-it movie starring Anthony Edwards) & Skull and Bones; Kirk and McCoy join a game of assassination, where they are required to take down an enemy using a Starfleet Spork (and yes, I will be ordering one of these in the near future), while Sulu and Uhura and Spock are part of a secret organization who’s goal is the protection of the Federation at all costs. (Hello… Section 31 folks).
Overall, I enjoyed the book- took me back to the days of when I was in college and had outside activities going on. (Ok, I didn’t have outside activities- I was a “classroom, lab, study, work, home, repeat” kind of guy). But the one issue I had with the book is how the characters had some sort of connection- sort of a 7 degrees of separation thing. We know that they all finally will met up, as a group, on the Enterprise someday, but this one skirts the edges of breaking Canon.
This time out, Kirk, Bones, Uhura, Spock, Sulu, and Chekov must work together (loosely though- remember, got to keep things canon) to prevent a war between the Federation and a race of Canine advisories. Meanwhile, the sub plot line is one straight out of “Gotcha” (that mid 80’s blink-and-you-missed-it movie starring Anthony Edwards) & Skull and Bones; Kirk and McCoy join a game of assassination, where they are required to take down an enemy using a Starfleet Spork (and yes, I will be ordering one of these in the near future), while Sulu and Uhura and Spock are part of a secret organization who’s goal is the protection of the Federation at all costs. (Hello… Section 31 folks).
Overall, I enjoyed the book- took me back to the days of when I was in college and had outside activities going on. (Ok, I didn’t have outside activities- I was a “classroom, lab, study, work, home, repeat” kind of guy). But the one issue I had with the book is how the characters had some sort of connection- sort of a 7 degrees of separation thing. We know that they all finally will met up, as a group, on the Enterprise someday, but this one skirts the edges of breaking Canon.
August 2, 2013
This is the fourth book in the Starfleet Academy series based on the 2009 Star Trek movie. It's also my least favorite. In reviews for previous books, I wrote that they're too short. This one, while a bit longer than others, is still quite short. But it took me a longer time to read, because I just couldn't completely get into the story.
Spock and Kirk still haven't met. Of course I knew they wouldn't, but it's weird reading all those Star Trek books where both of them are very important characters but they don't have any scenes together.
The book has terrorist attacks, Varkolaks, the Assassination game and a secret society. Even with all that, I still couldn't make myself care very much about the plot. I was surprised, but also glad that Kirk doesn't have any love interests in this book. I enjoyed reading about him and the Varkolak a lot.
My favorite parts are usually Spock/Uhura scenes, but their relationship is a bit rocky here. Spock can be so frustrating. There's a big development (finally!) later on, but we don't get any details.
This is the last published Starfleet Academy book. I wonder if there'll be any more of them.
Spock and Kirk still haven't met. Of course I knew they wouldn't, but it's weird reading all those Star Trek books where both of them are very important characters but they don't have any scenes together.
The book has terrorist attacks, Varkolaks, the Assassination game and a secret society. Even with all that, I still couldn't make myself care very much about the plot. I was surprised, but also glad that Kirk doesn't have any love interests in this book. I enjoyed reading about him and the Varkolak a lot.
My favorite parts are usually Spock/Uhura scenes, but their relationship is a bit rocky here. Spock can be so frustrating. There's a big development (finally!) later on, but we don't get any details.
This is the last published Starfleet Academy book. I wonder if there'll be any more of them.
September 8, 2016
Ein neuer Roman vom Leben auf der Sternenflotten-Akademie in San Francisco des Star Trek Reboot-Universums. Dieses Mal geht es um eine Geheimgesellschaft innerhalb der Sternenflotte, die ziemlich Fremdenfeinlich zu sein scheint. Kirk, Pille und andere machen beim sog. Attentatsspiel mit, bei dem die Kadetten mit Hilfe eines Göffels (!!) einen anderen Kadetten, der nur dem Attentäter bekannt ist, berühren soll, das darf nur geschehen, wenn beide alleine sind, der Berührte scheidet danach aus. Natürlich ist Kirk und sein Freund McCoy sofort dabei, es stellt sich aber im Laufe der Zeit heraus, dass dieses (illegale) Spiel nur ein Ablenkungsmanöver ist, um ein eine galaktische Auseinandersetzung mit einem Feind der Förderation zu provozieren.
Insgesamt ist der Roman lesenswert, witzig und spannend, das genügt aber nicht, um mich zu einem Fan des Reboot-Universums zu machen...
Meiner Meinung nach richtet sich der Roman auch an ein jugendliches Publikum, denn Logik, wissenschaftliche Genauigkeit und die Befolgung des Star Trek Kanons kommen zu kurz...
Insgesamt ist der Roman lesenswert, witzig und spannend, das genügt aber nicht, um mich zu einem Fan des Reboot-Universums zu machen...
Meiner Meinung nach richtet sich der Roman auch an ein jugendliches Publikum, denn Logik, wissenschaftliche Genauigkeit und die Befolgung des Star Trek Kanons kommen zu kurz...
August 4, 2012
I really can't figure out why I like these Starfleet Academy adventures so much. Once again an excellent blend of campus hijinks and Trek-style adventure. There must be a really good "bible" for the various authors of these books to maintain characterizations, settings and continuity as well as they do. It was easy to "see" and "hear" all the central characters from the reboot. Bones & Uhura were featured while Kirk provided the action focus with Sulu and Chekov contributing their skills. The Spock/Uhura relationship proceeded in a dignified manner. The alien culture (a wolf-like race) was well fleshed out if a little silly. While I tumbled to the "bad guy" early on I still loved the ride. Each of these books -and this one was up there with #1 as far as my enjoyment- leaves me longing to get back to the Academy for yet another adventure. I do hope the market is good enough for this series to continue.
July 30, 2013
I was a little skeptical of YA Star Trek. But it was Assassin (which I never participated in, but was aware of in college) at Starfleet Academy, and it was at the library. This was amazing. It was YA, there was some romance, but this felt more like Star Trek than Into Darkness did in a way that's hard to articulate. My main quibble was I'm not entirely sure that Kirk knew Chekov in the first movie, and this clearly takes place before. I may have to pull out the DVD. (There were quite a few ways that the whole crew interacted or at least intersected. On the other hand, they each got a chance to shine. Except Scotty, who I suspect was all ready on that ice planet we found him on in the first movie.) Oh, and it's also a really good example of how to do Star Trek in-jokes right. They were natural, not shoehorned in, but nicely done. :)
February 11, 2017
3.5 stars. Overall decent, if predictable. The characters were fairly well-written, but a little different than other books
May 31, 2013
I haven't read very many Science Fiction books lately. This one inspired me to pick it up because of the title. The Assassination game being played at Starfleet Academy by cadets was just such a fun idea. I enjoyed this very much once I got over the cutesy references to all things Star Trek. It made the whole thing feel a little pushy or forced. I don't need someone to run at Warp speed across the quad. I get that it is a future time. Once I got past this, I settled into the book and really did enjoy it. The establishment of the characters backgrounds and the initial meetings at the academy was interesting. I can say I found the plot twists and turns fun if not a little predictable. All over a pretty good read.
June 11, 2012
This story was well done! I'm impressed with how this author really brought out the personalities of the characters we got to know from the 2009 movie. Although this series of books is taking place in chronological order, you do not need to have read the earlier stories to enjoy and follow along.
One thing that did stick out was a reference to the previous story as happening the semester before. If our fun crew of cadets has an amazing adventure every semester, filling the three years leading up to the first movie, it will be no wonder they saved Earth on their first official mission! Their experience points will be off the charts! (smirk)
One thing that did stick out was a reference to the previous story as happening the semester before. If our fun crew of cadets has an amazing adventure every semester, filling the three years leading up to the first movie, it will be no wonder they saved Earth on their first official mission! Their experience points will be off the charts! (smirk)
November 9, 2012
My absolute favorite out of the whole Reboot Starfleet Academy series. The author had a great sense of humor through out the book and made the plot twisted enough to keep the reader engaged and thinking about what the angle might be for the antagonist is this novel. In classic Star Trek fashion people die in the tens and our major characters remain relatively unharmed. His portrayl of the OTS characters is quite dymanic and developed given the length of the story itself, well enough that someone just getting into the Trek universe wouldn't be at a complete lose. I can't wait for another one from Mr. Gratz!
July 17, 2012
It's clear that Alan Gratz is a die-hard Star Trek fan who certainly knows his stuff. The Assassination Game is a fun tale, and while the story is fairly simple, it reads quite well for a young adult novel. Minor quibbles aside, The Assassination Game was an interesting read, and I would recommend it for anyone who is hungry for new Star Trek stories set in the new continuity to tide fans over until the new movie's release in 2013.
Full review: http://treklit.blogspot.com/2012/07/a...
Full review: http://treklit.blogspot.com/2012/07/a...
December 2, 2013
~3.5 stars. The 4th book in the Starfleet Academy (Trek AOS) series for YA readers. A simple plot, sure, but I had a lot of fun reading this one. Epic game of Assassins across the Academy, a belligerent, canine-like alien species visiting Earth (with which they all somehow or another get involved, including Chekov and Sulu), threat of interplanetary war, a secret society, Velocity... The one thing I found tedious was the antagonist and subsequent reveal. That said, I enjoyed Gratz's writing and found it to be the most natural of the 4.
July 14, 2012
This book is filled with nods towards the various Star Trek series and movies and some other modern day pop-culture, as well. So many that I probably missed a few. These nods make it a fun read for today's modern geek. My full study of the novel is at http://trek.popapostle.com/html/episo....
September 1, 2012
Might be my favourite Academy book so far! Love interest for McCoy, Kirk kicking butt and making stupid, endearing mistakes, the dawn of the Uhura-Spock romance. Fun new alien threat from the Dog-Men from Varkolak. Regular, amusing references to previous episodes and series for the discerning fan boy. Nothing for me not to love.
April 18, 2017
Great entertainment, just like all the previous books in this series.
If you will want more of similar stories, I recommend the previous books in the 2010 SA series and also Star Trek: Starfleet Academy.
If you will want more of similar stories, I recommend the previous books in the 2010 SA series and also Star Trek: Starfleet Academy.
December 5, 2012
This was probably the best Starfleet Academy book yet. The continuity was so much better and the mystery itself was very well constructed. Not to mention that this author made much better use of the established Star Trek mythology in order to provide a nerd worthy experience.
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