Siren Song

Stargate SG-1 #6

by Holly Scott, Jaimie Duncan

The enemy within…

Bounty-hunter Aris Boch once more has his sights on SG-1. But this time Boch isn’t interested in trading them for cash. He needs the unique talents of Dr. Daniel Jackson – and he’ll do anything to get them.

Colonel Jack O’Neill and his team are taken to Boch’s ravaged home-world and handed over to the insane Goa’uld, Sebek. Obsessed with opening a mysterious subterranean vault, Sebek demands that Jackson translate the arcane writing on the doors. When Jackson refuses, the Goa’uld resorts to devastating measures to ensure his cooperation.

With the vault exerting an increasingly malign influence, Sebek compels Jackson and O’Neill toward a horror that threatens both their sanity and their lives. Meanwhile, Carter and Teal’c struggle to persuade the starving people of Aris Boch’s world to risk everything they have to save SG-1 – and free their desolate world of the Goa’uld forever.

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction, Media Tie In, Ebooks, Space, Adventure, Science Fiction Fantasy

321 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published February 25, 2006

Reviews

[Elliot Zath · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book SO MUCH. Let me start off by saying that there is some truly exquisite Daniel whump in this book, so if that's what you're looking for, this has your fix. If you squint, there are also some great Jack/Daniel moments as well. It really doesn't even take all THAT much squinting, tbh.

For a good chunk of this book, the team is split up in different locations -- Sam with Teal'c and Jack with Daniel, and those dynamics are great. They're all doing brave, admirable, inspirational SG-1 things, despite the most harrowing of circumstances. So you know, the characterization is spot on. Some of the scenes are very trippy. The descriptive imagery is so in-depth. The attention to characters' internal experiences is so detailed and immersive.

I could not put this book down. My every spare moment was spent reading this. I'm 36 years old, I haven't felt this kind of passion for a novel since high school. The kind of novel where part of your mind is always in the story, as you go about your day.


In any case, it was sort of the main thing I looked forward to for a while so, since finishing it I've felt A BIT like my life has lost all it's meaning... So be warned of that potential side-effect.

But! I found that the same pair co-authored another Stargate novel: "Hydra"! The premise sounds great, and based on my experience with this one, I know it will deliver, so I'm greatly looking forward to that!!

[BlueRose99 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Can't complain.

[Metalfist · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ik heb altijd een zwak gehad voor Stargate SG-1 omdat het de reeks was die me tot het science-fiction genre introduceerde. indertijd had je in de plaatselijke videotheek VHS tapes van bepaalde afleveringen uit de serie en ik merkte dat ik die altijd ging huren. Jaren later kocht ik de volledige reeks op DVD en de liefde was blijkbaar niet bekoeld. Meer zelfs, ik kocht Stargate Atlantis en Stargate Universe en ook daar werd ik verliefd op. Stargate blijft dan ook één van mijn favoriete series aller tijden en ik sprong dan ook een gat in de lucht toen bleek dat er ook boeken waren gemaakt.

Een beetje hetzelfde principe als de Buffy, the Vampire Slayer boeken waar nieuwe verhaallijnen worden gemaakt die zich dan ergens in de serie afspelen. Siren Song situeert zich halverwege seizoen 7 en het is dan ook belangrijk dat je met bepaalde terminologie (Tok'ra en Tretonin bijvoorbeeld) en bepaalde personages (Aris Boch, wordt geïntroduceerd in seizoen 3) bekend bent. Holly Scott en Jaimie Duncan doen dan ook weinig moeite om zaken uit te leggen en - het doelpubliek in achting houdende - dat is op zich geen probleem. Dat neemt echter niet weg dat dit in de verste verte niet te vergelijken is met de kwaliteit van de serie. Siren Song oogt als een dubbelaflevering, maar sleept zich maar voort. Het grootste probleem is dan ook dat onze groep helden compleet van elkaar worden gescheiden. Daniel is het merendeel van de tijd bezeten door Sebek, Jack zit vast in een ondergronds labyrint met Sebek en Aris en Sam & Teal'c moeten zich redden in de stad. Het was juist de dynamiek tussen deze vier dat de reeks zo leuk maakte en die is hier ver te zoeken. Sowieso wordt Carter gereduceerd tot een karikatuur van zichzelf, bijzonder jammer aangezien het één van mijn favoriete personages is.

En de climax is bovendien nogal van de pot gerukt. Zowat 90% van het boek wordt gebruikt voor de opbouw en in de laatste 10% wordt eventjes heel de ontknoping uit de doeken gedaan. Een slecht evenwicht dus omdat Holly Scott en Jaimie Duncan zich teveel verliezen in het beschrijven van verschillende gangetjes en kamertjes en zich er dan maar snel snel van af maken. Wil nog wel eens zo'n Stargate boek proberen, maar ik hoop dat dit gewoon een ongelukkige keuze was.

[K · Rating 5 out of 5]

ダニエルがゴアウルドに寄生されてしまうという本当に辛い話。
エンシェントから人間にで戻ってほどない頃で、まだSG1のメンバーもダニエルを失った経験の傷を引きずっているところでの、この悲劇。ダニエルの知識をゴアウルドに渡すわけにはいかないので、オニールはダニエルを殺すしかないという辛い決意をするのですが…。

このお話は寄生されたダニエル側からの視線も描かれていて、目の前で…というか、自分の手でオニールを傷つけるハメになるのが辛くてたまらないわけです。ダニエルはなんとか身体のコントロールを取り戻そうと努力するのですが。加えて、寄生したゴアウルドはダニエルでさえ思い出すことのできないエンシェントの記憶まで自分のものにしようとダニエルの思考に浸食してこようとするのですが、もうこの攻防がこれまたハードで辛い。

時折ダニエルは身体のコントロールを取り戻せたりするのですが、オニールが信じてくれなかったり、またオニールが「これはダニエルなのか？」と思い始めたらゴアルドの芝居だったり、なかなかうまくかみ合わない二人のタイミングにもう胸ガ痛いのなんのって。

いや～面白かったです。
ダニエルファンにはたまらないノベルでした。読み出したら止まらないんですが、あまりにも泣けすぎて、なんども同じヵ所を読み返したりと行きつ戻りつしてたら、こんなに時間がかかってしまいました。
でも完読できて本当に嬉しかったです。
ラストはもちろんにっこりほっこり。
オニールの優しさにようやく元気を取り戻すダニエルのくだりはもうたまりません！SG1万歳！

[Ronnit · Rating 1 out of 5]

So disappointed… this was supposed to be a quick in between read. It took me forever to finish. The story dragged on and it annoyed me how they portrayed Sam.

I love the stargate franchise, it is the series that sparked my interest and love for sci-fi when I was just a kid. I’ve seen the show multiple times, I keep going back to this. The story line, the characters, it’s the best. That’s why I am tracking down these books, to get my regular SG-1 fix. I’ve read a few good ones already, unfortunately this was not one of them.

[Ida Leter · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was pretty boring. Inoffensive, but boring. Based on an one-off episode that I always tend to skip during the rewatches because I find Aris Boch to be a bit to hammy. Was not in for a good time at the start of the book, things picked up a bit midway trough, then became a bit too cringeworthy near the end. There was a bit too much going on, few plot lines were trying to outdo each other with little interconnecting tissue, and as a result it felt flat.

[Daniel Gaul · Rating 4 out of 5]

There were some grammatical errors (missing words, prepositions for the most part) and some unanswered questions (such as how Sebek survived the betrayal of Kali and Bastet), but overall it was an interesting story. It had its thrills and intrigue, and it was good to see Aris Bok return, even if it was only once more. Not the best SG-1 novel, but a worthy read.

[dane clark · Rating 3 out of 5]

story ok

Another fine sg1 tale but as a decades long sg1 fan this was the worst book of the stargate series that I had to force myself to finish. It was good to see the completion of this character but it is easy to understand why this particular story was never made for tv.

[Kasey Minnis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Predictable, but entertaining

There were no surprises or twists here, but it was an enjoyable read anyway. Formulaic in the way of the show, so that's not a bad thing.

[Marisa Young · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought it was slow at parts - too wordy, not enough action.

[jules✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,5*

[S · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty slow for some parts in the middle, but I really enjoyed the writing and descriptions in many of those scenes and there were some interesting character dynamics too.

[Emily G · Rating 4 out of 5]

So KatiKat very kindly let me read this book before I sent it on to her and I know that she is going to enjoy it as much as me, because the book portrays the SG-1 team, as we both love them, as a team, loyal and with great affection for each other. Each one of them fiercely independent and strong but stronger with the backup of the others.

KatiKat? Don't read any further till you've read the book, petal!

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I have to admit though that Sebek taking Daniel as a host was a complete shock! But thinking about it now, I don't know why because it works well, as a plot device. Focusing on Jack and him possessing the Ancient gene was a nice touch too, as it isn't explored that much in the show. Aris Boch is very well portrayed as a character you want to hate but somehow can't and he definitely redeems in the end. His people, although having been oppressed for so long, have not had their spirit broken despite their seemly hopeless situation.

The reason that I didn't give it five stars was that I find any books that involve people being in physical and emotional pain all the time very draining myself to read. Plus I thought that Sebek leaving Daniel alive with no trace of his possession of him, all a bit too convenient. That aside, this is a brilliant book and I wouldn't be surprised if the authors have a soft spot for Jack/Daniel ^_~!

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

Aris Boch, bounty hunter and SG-1 antagonist, returns in Siren Song with a new use for SG-1. On his home world, Atropos, the Ancients left a device that the Goa’uld Sebek, in service to Yu, has become obsessed with possessing. Unable to translate the instructions around the device’s sealed door, he enlists Aris to find someone who can. Enter Daniel Jackson.

The story Aris told SG-1 about his enslaved son – said to have been a lie to get more roshna – turns out was, in fact, the truth. While Daniel and Jack are used by Sebek and Aris to open the sealed door and find the device, Sam and Teal’c are imprisoned with Aadi Boch. With Aadi’s help, Sam and Teal’c escape the Goa’uld prison and find themselves inciting a revolution among the enslaved population.

Siren Song is not my favorite Stargate book. Aris Boch's actions and dialogue don’t quite ring true to Sam J. Jones’s inspired performance. I also wasn’t too keen on the idea that the Ancients had something to do with protecting Aris’s people from the Goa’uld. Although, the mess they left behind for others to clean up is pretty typical.

I can imagine Siren Song being a real episode in Season 7. It might have felt a little bland at points and a little slow at others, but ultimately, it was a very SG-1 story.

[Miss Clark · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very neat idea. Liked the team dynamic overall. It just got a little crazy toward the end and that was off-putting.


Reread March 2011

Aris Boch (who should have been revisited in the series - missed opportunity), who felt out of character, Ancients, Daniel taken over by teh goa'uld Sobek. Daniel really struggles against aloowing Sobek control (the story taking place after his ascension/deascension deal). It is a team story, everybody gets a good role and plenty of action. But I was utterly disinterested in the plight of Boch's people when I felt as if I should have cared. Very weak conclusion and a rather bewildering climax with Lorelei. By far not the worst of the series tie-ins, but not the first I'd choose.

[Kati · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Stargate SG-1 book. Interesting plot and very "in character," I would say. The interaction between Jack, Sam, Daniel and Teal'c rang true, it really did feel like an episode of the TV series. There were three story lines: Jack, Daniel and Aris', Sam and Teal'c's and then later on Gen. Hammond and Jacob's. Jack and Daniel's part was the most interesting, though. Overall, a good book. But!

The writing. This would've been a great book if the authors slashed it down and threw away at least 50 pages. The style was way too descriptive in places, I even felt like skipping pages, and overall it seemed very... tedious. For a good portion of the book they just walked and talked and ruminated. I'm all for character building but too much is simply too much.

[Gene · Rating 3 out of 5]

The best I could give this one is three stars. It was painfully slow, and that made it difficult to want to read. I think it had some good ideas, but it just wasn't executed well. It isn't by far the worst SG book so far, but it was just below average. It got the three stars from me for a good idea, and for capturing the characters well.

[Pat Hauldren · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting but slow

Good premise but slows down in the middle toward end. All those hallways and alleys made it seem unnecessarily long in narration even though I usually enjoy narration, good pov narration. I skipped and skimmed a lot of Carter and Teal'c's adventures thru the alleyways. But a good emotional windup at the end that made my own throat ache lol.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can't say I was overly engaged by the story - I am not a huge fan of the Aris Boch character in the show so I anticipated that I wouldn't perhaps enjoy this novel. It's not a great story but not terrible, and little too descriptive in places - I struggled through to the end which was a little flat to be honest.

[Kaitlyn Wooley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Daniel getting Goa'ulded! You can't get much better than that, darnit. A lot more random weird stuff than I needed....bu still a good story for Danny-whumpers! ;)

[Oceana2602 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful Stargate fiction by one of the best Stargate authors out there. A thrilling, true SG story with lots of team action and wonderful slashy subtones. God, I miss my show.

[Erina · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[C · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting story. Characters were true the TV show and this book could fit right into the seventh season. Like reading the description of Aris Boch home world.

[Craterdweller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good team story. Set in early season 7 so Daniel is still struggling a bit with missing memories. Everyone had plenty to do and some interesting backstory on the bounty hunter Aris Boch.

[Beezus · Rating 2 out of 5]

There is nothing wrong with this book, I just felt Aris Boch deserved so much more of a story.