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Star Trek: Voyager
The Eternal Tide
As the Voyager fleet continues its exploration of the Delta Quadrant, investigating the current status of sectors formerly controlled by the Borg becomes a key priority. Two of the fleet’s special mission vessels, the U.S.S. Galen and U.S.S. Demeter, are left at New Talax to aid Neelix’s people, while the Voyager, Quirinal, Esquiline, Hawking, and Curie do a systematic search for any remnants of the Borg or Caeliar, even as the Achilles moves to a location central enough to offer aid to the exploring vessels as needed. As this critical mission begins, Fleet Commander Afsarah Eden, who has shared what little she knows of her mysterious past with Captain Chakotay, begins to experience several more “awakenings” as she encounters artifacts and places that make her feel connected to her long-lost home. She is reluctant to allow these visions to overshadow the mission, and this becomes increasingly difficult as time passes. But in the midst of this growing crisis, no one in the fleet could anticipate the unexpected return of one of Starfleet’s most revered leaders—a return that could hold the very fate of the galaxy in the balance.
404 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 1, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 142 reviews
August 15, 2020
A stunning Star Trek story and a must read for Voyager fans.
The Eternal Tide is an epic tale, casting Voyager's original seven year journey home from the delta quadrant in a whole new and unexpected light. Beyer writes with feeling, deftly portraying the Voyager characters and their relationships with authenticity and genuine emotional depth. There's a bit more of the romantic than is typical for a Trek novel, but it's far from overdone. The scope of events is truly impressive, and the inclusion of most every regular Voyager character we've come to know and love (with Tuvok being a glaring exception!) is gratifying.
This is my first Voyager novel, and as I expected there are some story threads carried over from the previous relaunch novels that I was not familiar with. Yet Beyer does a good job providing backstory where needed, so I never felt much disadvantaged having missed those. I did, however, find it valuable having read David Mack's incredible Destiny: The Complete Saga: Gods of Night, Mere Mortals, and Lost Souls series, which serves as important background leading up to the events portrayed here involving the Borg and Caeliar. However, the story takes on a vastly broader and more mysterious context than simply the Borg, touching on the fundamental nature of the universe/multiverse, as well as the origins of the Q continuum, and "Omega", an ominous force that threatens oblivion for both. The Q in fact play a pivotal role, and like the Destiny series gave us the who, what and why of the Borg, The Eternal Tide answers a lot of questions about the origins and nature of the mysterious race of omnipotent Q that everyone loves to hate.
The Eternal Tide is an epic tale, casting Voyager's original seven year journey home from the delta quadrant in a whole new and unexpected light. Beyer writes with feeling, deftly portraying the Voyager characters and their relationships with authenticity and genuine emotional depth. There's a bit more of the romantic than is typical for a Trek novel, but it's far from overdone. The scope of events is truly impressive, and the inclusion of most every regular Voyager character we've come to know and love (with Tuvok being a glaring exception!) is gratifying.
This is my first Voyager novel, and as I expected there are some story threads carried over from the previous relaunch novels that I was not familiar with. Yet Beyer does a good job providing backstory where needed, so I never felt much disadvantaged having missed those. I did, however, find it valuable having read David Mack's incredible Destiny: The Complete Saga: Gods of Night, Mere Mortals, and Lost Souls series, which serves as important background leading up to the events portrayed here involving the Borg and Caeliar. However, the story takes on a vastly broader and more mysterious context than simply the Borg, touching on the fundamental nature of the universe/multiverse, as well as the origins of the Q continuum, and "Omega", an ominous force that threatens oblivion for both. The Q in fact play a pivotal role, and like the Destiny series gave us the who, what and why of the Borg, The Eternal Tide answers a lot of questions about the origins and nature of the mysterious race of omnipotent Q that everyone loves to hate.
August 30, 2012
As with the other recent additions to the Voyager series, it can be incredibly difficult at times to keep straight all of the characters that are included in the fleet sent back into the Delta Quadrant (don’t worry though, it will get easier as the number of characters is significantly smaller by the end of the story). The Eternal Tide takes a long time to build up to the actual main storyline that becomes the focus of the book, which is a little frustrating. Considering that the return of Janeway (not spoiling anything here, it says it right on the back of the book) has been a long time coming, more focus on her friends’ reactions to her return would have been nice, although their very professional responses are appropriate considering the incredibly large threat to the universe they are trying to deal with.
Emotionally, the ending was well-worth some of the longer, drawn out portions of the story. It’s reassuring to know that Admiral Kathryn Janeway has been restored to the Star Trek universe, and that her “family” seems to be doing well over all, especially considering the pressure they are placed under in this novel. My biggest wish is that we don’t need to wait too long to find out what happens next.
Emotionally, the ending was well-worth some of the longer, drawn out portions of the story. It’s reassuring to know that Admiral Kathryn Janeway has been restored to the Star Trek universe, and that her “family” seems to be doing well over all, especially considering the pressure they are placed under in this novel. My biggest wish is that we don’t need to wait too long to find out what happens next.
July 4, 2014
I can't believe I'm reading this, but apparently I'm 16 again, and having Voyager-squee-induced-insomnia. Man, I haven't even had Voyager squee since 2001. Suffice to say, apparently I sill ship Janeway/Chakotay, even though it broke my heart and soul when I was young and innocent. And when Pocket Books saw fit to reverse their fridging of Janeway in 2009, they decided to do so with as much J/C action as a plot can hold. I can only assume that John Ordover loves me and wants me to be happy.
Anyway, the plot to kissing ratio is all wrong, and it has the natural quirks of a TV tie-in, but I'm quite enjoying it, and may go back to read Kirsten Beyer's previous books. Well, the ones with Janeway-related content, because what is the point otherwise? (Don't answer that.)
The problem with ebooks is that it's hard to dogear pages. So, as a note for my future self, kissing happens on pages 285 and 305; don't thank me, future!Liz, I'm too busy pretending this isn't happening.
Anyway, the plot to kissing ratio is all wrong, and it has the natural quirks of a TV tie-in, but I'm quite enjoying it, and may go back to read Kirsten Beyer's previous books. Well, the ones with Janeway-related content, because what is the point otherwise? (Don't answer that.)
The problem with ebooks is that it's hard to dogear pages. So, as a note for my future self, kissing happens on pages 285 and 305; don't thank me, future!Liz, I'm too busy pretending this isn't happening.
October 7, 2020
While the earlier voyager novels are episodic and don't really need to be read in order, these later ones really do as I discovered to my chagrin. In this installment, we have all of our favorite energy beings including various members of the Q continuum and post-transformation Kes working together, if sometimes reluctantly, to correct an age old in balance in the multi-verse.
September 11, 2012
Since the death of Admiral Janeway in 2007's "Before Dishonor", the novels that have been a part of the Voyager relaunch have been if anything very dark & at times unsettling. Kirsten Beyer's latest entry into the series "The Eternal Tide" changes everything again for this series & in a way that makes this particular book one of the best Voyager books perhaps ever. The book starts with Q's son "Junior" & Amanda Rogers trying to explain how the death of Kathryn Janeway became a fixed point in the history of the multiverse. It's that obsession of "Junior" & his inability to move forward in time that leads him to the idea of resurrecting Kathryn Janeway to save himself. In the Delta Quadrant, the fleet of ships sent there to see if the Borg/Caeliar are really gone continue their exploratory mission & Fleet Commander Eden gets closer to the answers that she's been seeking about her origins in a visit to an outpost visited by Voyager in the past.
Beyer's story is extremely well handled, thought out & moves with an ease that is remarkable. The use of Q & his son are done in a way that provides relevance to all of the events in the novels that have happened in the all the novels since TNG's "Resistance" & brings us back to 2 important episodes in "Unity" & "Endgame". The resurrection of Janeway is done in a believable & necessary way & it's nice to see Kes return after an absence from the series for a while. Also the backstory involving Eden is crafted in such a way that it ties not only the Q to the relevance of the universe it also gives us a better understanding of the Omega Particle first mentioned in "The Omega Directive".
Overall, this is the definitive Voyager novel for the fans of this series & is one I as a reader have been waiting for in this post-Destiny era. The door remains wide open for things to go just about anywhere with this series in 2013 & beyond. It's my hope that whether Beyer is tasked with writing her 5th book in a row in this series or otherwise that Voyager gains a much needed new life after this remarkable tale.
Beyer's story is extremely well handled, thought out & moves with an ease that is remarkable. The use of Q & his son are done in a way that provides relevance to all of the events in the novels that have happened in the all the novels since TNG's "Resistance" & brings us back to 2 important episodes in "Unity" & "Endgame". The resurrection of Janeway is done in a believable & necessary way & it's nice to see Kes return after an absence from the series for a while. Also the backstory involving Eden is crafted in such a way that it ties not only the Q to the relevance of the universe it also gives us a better understanding of the Omega Particle first mentioned in "The Omega Directive".
Overall, this is the definitive Voyager novel for the fans of this series & is one I as a reader have been waiting for in this post-Destiny era. The door remains wide open for things to go just about anywhere with this series in 2013 & beyond. It's my hope that whether Beyer is tasked with writing her 5th book in a row in this series or otherwise that Voyager gains a much needed new life after this remarkable tale.
May 28, 2021
It will be interesting to find out what happened to Janeway in the post-"Picard" continuity...but in the books, here death and resurrection were quite an event. This is a mind-shredding, pseduo-physics nightmare...and it's a fanwank continuity-fest beyond epic proportions...and it's quite a compelling, emotionally exhausting climax to the first phase of Voyager's Full Circle mission to the Delta Quadrant. By all rights, there is so much happening in this novel it should collapse like a house of cards. It all just about holds together...but be prepared to hold your consciousness together with both hands.
August 7, 2021
One breath, one moment, one day at a time.
I've now read 44 Star Trek: Voyager novels up to this date. The Eternal Tide is so far, without question, the one I love the most. The funny thing is that I guess I sort of knew this would be the case from the very beginning, about two years ago, when I started reading the Voyager novels beginning with Caretaker. I always had this feeling that Full Circle and The Eternal Tide would be among my favorites - and I wasn't disappointed in the least. Because I love the character of Kathryn Janeway and here I get her back again. Because I love Kathryn together with Chakotay. And this might seem a bit superficial, but the cover is one of the most beautiful ones I've seen.
But that isn't all there is to it. There's so much more involved in me feeling that this book will most likely end up being one of the most read on my bookshelf. One of the most worn due to having been read over and over again during years passed. If you bear with me I'll tell you why I feel this way.
The Eternal Tide has one of those stories that just grabs hold of me and doesn't let go until the end. It involves mysteries in space, extremely interesting alien races and those kind of things that just makes me tick. At one point in the story we're told about an ancient species from a distant galaxy having gone to the outermost edge of the universe. This is exactly the kind of stuff that makes my eye balls seem all that much bigger and makes me turn the pages a little bit faster. I just love that sort of thing. I've noticed it many times before in the episode Where No One Has Gone Before from the first season of Star Trek: The Next Generation and Voyager's Deadlock from season two. I've noticed it in the books Echos, Cloak and Dagger and the rest of the Dark Matters trilogy, Cohesion and the rest of that trilogy... To mention a few examples. This was, simply put, my kind of story in more ways than one.
I've written in previous reviews that I've found Captain Afsarah Eden's past to be intriguing, and here we finally get to discover where she came from and who she really is. And it's mind blowing. It's not like anything I would've ever guessed in my wildest dreams. It's so huge and so interesting to be a part of seeing the pieces of the puzzle being put together.
The Eternal Tide also includes just the right amount of humor and romance. Kirsten Beyer is really good at writing this in to the overall story so that it gets just right and never taking too much place from the science fiction. Just listen to this where Q's talking about Kathryn - it's hilarious...
So, yeah, we also have the Q as a part of this already great assemble. And Beyer writes all of these different characters in such a way that you can feel that she cares about them and loves them just as much as we do. She knows them so very well, and this is one of the most important things to me in a Star Trek writer.
But back to me getting Kathryn back. My heart was rejoicing. I was dancing on the inside. I didn't know wether to cry or to laugh or to do both at the same time. That really was the very best part of it all. And it was made in such a believable way at the same time as there are times when we can never really feel too sure if we'll get to keep her for later novels. To get her back with her old crew and with Chakotay, nothing else could compete with that no matter how good it was.
Towards the end of the book I felt a little bit like it was a lot to take in at once. I could hardly put the book down to fix myself some dinner. It was so much happening. It was so infuriatingly exiting. And the last chapter together with the epilogue was among one of the most beautiful things I've read in Star Trek. It was perfect.
I've now read 44 Star Trek: Voyager novels up to this date. The Eternal Tide is so far, without question, the one I love the most. The funny thing is that I guess I sort of knew this would be the case from the very beginning, about two years ago, when I started reading the Voyager novels beginning with Caretaker. I always had this feeling that Full Circle and The Eternal Tide would be among my favorites - and I wasn't disappointed in the least. Because I love the character of Kathryn Janeway and here I get her back again. Because I love Kathryn together with Chakotay. And this might seem a bit superficial, but the cover is one of the most beautiful ones I've seen.
But that isn't all there is to it. There's so much more involved in me feeling that this book will most likely end up being one of the most read on my bookshelf. One of the most worn due to having been read over and over again during years passed. If you bear with me I'll tell you why I feel this way.
The Eternal Tide has one of those stories that just grabs hold of me and doesn't let go until the end. It involves mysteries in space, extremely interesting alien races and those kind of things that just makes me tick. At one point in the story we're told about an ancient species from a distant galaxy having gone to the outermost edge of the universe. This is exactly the kind of stuff that makes my eye balls seem all that much bigger and makes me turn the pages a little bit faster. I just love that sort of thing. I've noticed it many times before in the episode Where No One Has Gone Before from the first season of Star Trek: The Next Generation and Voyager's Deadlock from season two. I've noticed it in the books Echos, Cloak and Dagger and the rest of the Dark Matters trilogy, Cohesion and the rest of that trilogy... To mention a few examples. This was, simply put, my kind of story in more ways than one.
I've written in previous reviews that I've found Captain Afsarah Eden's past to be intriguing, and here we finally get to discover where she came from and who she really is. And it's mind blowing. It's not like anything I would've ever guessed in my wildest dreams. It's so huge and so interesting to be a part of seeing the pieces of the puzzle being put together.
The Eternal Tide also includes just the right amount of humor and romance. Kirsten Beyer is really good at writing this in to the overall story so that it gets just right and never taking too much place from the science fiction. Just listen to this where Q's talking about Kathryn - it's hilarious...
I'd have opened the entire cosmos to her fragile consciousness while offering her intravenous coffee to sustain her.
So, yeah, we also have the Q as a part of this already great assemble. And Beyer writes all of these different characters in such a way that you can feel that she cares about them and loves them just as much as we do. She knows them so very well, and this is one of the most important things to me in a Star Trek writer.
But back to me getting Kathryn back. My heart was rejoicing. I was dancing on the inside. I didn't know wether to cry or to laugh or to do both at the same time. That really was the very best part of it all. And it was made in such a believable way at the same time as there are times when we can never really feel too sure if we'll get to keep her for later novels. To get her back with her old crew and with Chakotay, nothing else could compete with that no matter how good it was.
Chakotay's heart began to burn with a force he had forgotten, a tense energy binding him to her that had never wavered in intensity, no matter how far they drifted apart. Without consciously wanting to, Chakotay began to move cautiously toward her. Each step gave rise to the fear that if he got too close, she would disappear.
...
To see them in the presence of Kathryn Janeway was to understand exactly how, through some mysterious alchemy born of her particular command style, she focused her people's strengths, while taking the option of failure off the table.
Towards the end of the book I felt a little bit like it was a lot to take in at once. I could hardly put the book down to fix myself some dinner. It was so much happening. It was so infuriatingly exiting. And the last chapter together with the epilogue was among one of the most beautiful things I've read in Star Trek. It was perfect.
January 4, 2020
I FREAKING LOVED IT!
Made this J/C shipper VERY happy.
Made this J/C shipper VERY happy.
October 7, 2012
Star Trek: Voyager: The Eternal Tide by Kirsten Beyer is the latest Star Trek Voyager novel. I don't think I'm giving anything away to say that this novel deals with the return of Kathryn Janeway to the Star Trek universe (her picture is on the cover after all). Janeway was killed off quite some time ago, and it does feel like the last few novels have been building up to this return.
I've been mildly enjoying the Voyager relaunch series. As I mentioned in my review of Children of the Storm by effectively cutting Starfleet down to nine ships sent off into the Delta quadrant, Beyer has created some containment to a story universe that seemed to be expanding out of control.
Janeway is returned in really the only way possible, by the intervention of the Q Continuum. She was pretty definitively dead, so Beyer had to go even further than the device used to bring Spock back in the Star Trek movies. Given the constraints, it was understandable but I've been a little disappointed in how the books in the Star Trek universe have backtracked on getting rid of major characters (I'm thinking and Sisko and Janeway mainly here). It feels a bit like caving to fan pressure, rather than good story telling.
I've been hoping that the characters in the Voyager reboot get some decent character development. However, I'm not entirely convinced that they do. To a large extent it seems the purpose of the last few books has been essentially to restore everyone to their previous role, but bumping them all up a grade (everyone wins a prize).
(I've got to say, the "Tom and B'Ellana have the perfect child" subplot was really starting to grate by the end of this novel. Everyone thinks their child is perfect, but 99.99999999% of the time they are not. Again this feels like the author is a new parent still very much in awe of their own child, and it's about as welcome as a new parent talking about their "amazing child" at a dinner party. I hope future books can move past it, the characterisation is very irritating)
Having said all that, there was some very interesting plot in this book. I was intrigued by the back story of Fleet Commander Afsarah Eden and I did like the treatment of the Q Continuum. Beyer is not afraid to kill off characters and has winnowed away a lot of the excess, leaving a manageable cast of main characters for future books. I thought the main story thread here (once you remove the stuff primarily designed to justify Janeway's return) was good.
For fans of Voyager and Captain Janeway, this will be a must read and you should probably add a star. If you haven't been reading along on the reboot, this isn't the place to start.
I also reviewed this book on my website.
I've been mildly enjoying the Voyager relaunch series. As I mentioned in my review of Children of the Storm by effectively cutting Starfleet down to nine ships sent off into the Delta quadrant, Beyer has created some containment to a story universe that seemed to be expanding out of control.
Janeway is returned in really the only way possible, by the intervention of the Q Continuum. She was pretty definitively dead, so Beyer had to go even further than the device used to bring Spock back in the Star Trek movies. Given the constraints, it was understandable but I've been a little disappointed in how the books in the Star Trek universe have backtracked on getting rid of major characters (I'm thinking and Sisko and Janeway mainly here). It feels a bit like caving to fan pressure, rather than good story telling.
I've been hoping that the characters in the Voyager reboot get some decent character development. However, I'm not entirely convinced that they do. To a large extent it seems the purpose of the last few books has been essentially to restore everyone to their previous role, but bumping them all up a grade (everyone wins a prize).
(I've got to say, the "Tom and B'Ellana have the perfect child" subplot was really starting to grate by the end of this novel. Everyone thinks their child is perfect, but 99.99999999% of the time they are not. Again this feels like the author is a new parent still very much in awe of their own child, and it's about as welcome as a new parent talking about their "amazing child" at a dinner party. I hope future books can move past it, the characterisation is very irritating)
Having said all that, there was some very interesting plot in this book. I was intrigued by the back story of Fleet Commander Afsarah Eden and I did like the treatment of the Q Continuum. Beyer is not afraid to kill off characters and has winnowed away a lot of the excess, leaving a manageable cast of main characters for future books. I thought the main story thread here (once you remove the stuff primarily designed to justify Janeway's return) was good.
For fans of Voyager and Captain Janeway, this will be a must read and you should probably add a star. If you haven't been reading along on the reboot, this isn't the place to start.
I also reviewed this book on my website.
July 29, 2021
This book caught me by surprise in many ways. I never expected to see Kathryn Janeway in these pages again without it being a flashback, yet the author found a way to bring her back. Not only that, she made it interesting, plausible and kept me guessing until the very end whether or not she would be able to stay once brought back to life (I won't spoil it by telling which way it went).
I liked the continuation of what other Star Trek authors have done in following up with old characters not seen in a few years (Q Amanda Rogers for one) and not making it contrived. I also enjoyed the resolution of the mystery surrounding Captain Afsarah Eden's origins- also well done. For a Trekkie like me, even one who didn't follow Voyager all that closely, this was just what the Doctor ordered.
I liked the continuation of what other Star Trek authors have done in following up with old characters not seen in a few years (Q Amanda Rogers for one) and not making it contrived. I also enjoyed the resolution of the mystery surrounding Captain Afsarah Eden's origins- also well done. For a Trekkie like me, even one who didn't follow Voyager all that closely, this was just what the Doctor ordered.
September 28, 2012
After the atrocious mess that was the recent Titan book, this was like a light summer breeze in a beautiful mountain meadow. This is one of the best Trek books that I have read. Breyer has been planting the seeds of this in her previous books and then uses the vast Trek lore to craft a magnificent story. Everything works and clicks in this book. Having Janeway back is amazing. Beyer writes the return with such tact and grace I cannot over compliment her enough. This is story weaving at its best. Along with DRGIII latest DS9 books this has been the most fulfilling Trek read in ages.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 3, 2016
Excellent Voyager novel. Kept me fully engaged through out!
January 15, 2020
Sigh. I can’t do it. I can’t read the next book in the series (I will). Kirsten Beyer, stop letting me down. Knowing that this book was going to bring the return of my mom, Kathryn Janeway, I was extremely excited. Come to find out the book focuses almost entirely on the Q. The Star Trek trope I hate the most. And, to add insult to injury, it also focused on the Omega particle, which happens to be one of my least favorite Voyager episodes. I can’t give it one star, because Janeway being back made me happy, but I also have no constructive criticism to give. Other than the fact that Q Junior and Iceb should have been gay for each other. My favorite quote: “ ‘Do yourself a favor, Harry,’ Tom suggested, ‘and just sit there in your wrongness and be wrong.’ ”
September 28, 2025
Beyer had injected some new energy into the tired Voyager formula, but something went very wrong here. There's an epic story being told along with the return of a beloved character and it should be a joy to read, but it's not. The telling is dull, the pacing is slow and I'd go as far as saying it's at times completely incomprehensible.
September 26, 2012
I wanted to love this book. I wanted sooo badly to love this book, because Kathryn Janeway is quite possibly one of my favorite characters of all time. I was devastated when she was killed in Before Dishonor, and I couldn't bring myself to read any Star Trek books afterwards. When I found out they were bringing her back, I immediately bought the books I'd missed because I was so excited. And then I read it...
The premise of the book is amazing. It is quite obvious that Kirsten Beyer plots her books extensively, as nothing comes across as a straight-up deus ex machina (barring the appearance of the Q), and the ideas she puts forward are intriguing. The explanation for the Q is astounding, and while repetition usually results in eye-rolls, every time someone said "I hate temporal mechanics" I couldn't help but be understanding. The concepts of the Omega dimension, the rifts in space, the origin of Afsarah Eden, were all really interesting ideas and plot points that I quite enjoy.
Where she fell flat was the characterizations. Perhaps because the book was shorter than her previous, the large cast couldn't quite fit in comfortably. This led to a lot of scene jumping, and little expansion of the characters as we know them. Even with characters she herself had created, such as Counselor Cambridge and Lieutenant Conlon, the expansion of their stories were practically non-existent. Cambridge is little more than a joint foil with the Doctor for Eden's journey, and the growth of his relationship with Seven is so sparse it brings painful reminders of the lumped-together feel of Seven and Chakotay at the end of season 7 (and god bless Christie Golden for ending THAT catastrophe almost immediately). Conlon is only slightly better in her growth, with her crisis of faith and desire to run away from the hardships she faces feeling more real than almost any other problem faced in the book. Plus, her beginnings with Harry Kim feels much more natural than the other relationships.
I was sad to see the character of Afsarah Eden go, especially in the manner she did. Her story in and of itself was very interesting, and while I'm not sure it was intended the tribulations Eden faces in growing close to others in friendship mirrored my ability to feel fondly towards her. As Eden opened up to others, her character arc in general made me care more. In the end, her abrupt personality change and almost disconnect from everyone simply left me back where I was at the beginning - finding myself not caring what happened. The Eden I knew at the end of Children of the Storm had me far more invested than the Eden that joined with Q-Junior and vanished.
Which leaves my least-favorite characterization of all, that of Kathryn Janeway herself. At the beginning, it works - while she converses with the Qs, sees Kes, pulls herself together, her reaction to learning that she is, in a way, responsible for the death of 63 billion people, were all very much on par and humanizing. Then she rematerializes, and so much time is spent with her crying in Chakotay's arms that I found myself handling my book as if it were contaminated. Janeway is allowed to be human, allowed to be a woman, she is allowed to be weak and have doubts and be brash and all the other things that a person can be. But the focus she has on Chakotay feels less like the love of a mature woman who built a strong relationship with a man over seven-plus years that changed to a deep-seated love, and more like she turned into Bella Swan. I understand that she loves him, but the almost single-minded focus that is written into the book left me with a bad taste in my mouth.
Don't even get me started on the reunion scene between Seven and Janeway. The woman just returned from the dead, and there's not even a friendly grasp of the arm? Instead, we get a long paragraph on how awkward Seven feels and doesn't think they should touch, which seemed so unnecessary and awkward in its own right. Janeway was always touching Seven, and she was such a strong mentor for Seven, that the complete lack of any sort of emotional oomph was keenly felt.
In the end, the book has three new happy couples (which seemed to be a large part of the purpose of this book), a new baby on the way (could have used more of B'Elanna and Tom, but it was short and you can't win 'em all), and Janeway taking over the fleet (what's left of it). Which is indicative of Starfleet having lost their minds, because that's an enormous loss of life and resources (in five months, five of their nine ships are destroyed, I mean holy cow that's ridiculous), and that Janeway returned to life by pulling her molecules back together while in the Q Continuum doesn't seem to phase them enough to want her back? She doesn't want to go and see her sister? It's absolutely mind-boggling.
I wish I could have loved it. I think I'd rather read Before Dishonor again instead.
The premise of the book is amazing. It is quite obvious that Kirsten Beyer plots her books extensively, as nothing comes across as a straight-up deus ex machina (barring the appearance of the Q), and the ideas she puts forward are intriguing. The explanation for the Q is astounding, and while repetition usually results in eye-rolls, every time someone said "I hate temporal mechanics" I couldn't help but be understanding. The concepts of the Omega dimension, the rifts in space, the origin of Afsarah Eden, were all really interesting ideas and plot points that I quite enjoy.
Where she fell flat was the characterizations. Perhaps because the book was shorter than her previous, the large cast couldn't quite fit in comfortably. This led to a lot of scene jumping, and little expansion of the characters as we know them. Even with characters she herself had created, such as Counselor Cambridge and Lieutenant Conlon, the expansion of their stories were practically non-existent. Cambridge is little more than a joint foil with the Doctor for Eden's journey, and the growth of his relationship with Seven is so sparse it brings painful reminders of the lumped-together feel of Seven and Chakotay at the end of season 7 (and god bless Christie Golden for ending THAT catastrophe almost immediately). Conlon is only slightly better in her growth, with her crisis of faith and desire to run away from the hardships she faces feeling more real than almost any other problem faced in the book. Plus, her beginnings with Harry Kim feels much more natural than the other relationships.
I was sad to see the character of Afsarah Eden go, especially in the manner she did. Her story in and of itself was very interesting, and while I'm not sure it was intended the tribulations Eden faces in growing close to others in friendship mirrored my ability to feel fondly towards her. As Eden opened up to others, her character arc in general made me care more. In the end, her abrupt personality change and almost disconnect from everyone simply left me back where I was at the beginning - finding myself not caring what happened. The Eden I knew at the end of Children of the Storm had me far more invested than the Eden that joined with Q-Junior and vanished.
Which leaves my least-favorite characterization of all, that of Kathryn Janeway herself. At the beginning, it works - while she converses with the Qs, sees Kes, pulls herself together, her reaction to learning that she is, in a way, responsible for the death of 63 billion people, were all very much on par and humanizing. Then she rematerializes, and so much time is spent with her crying in Chakotay's arms that I found myself handling my book as if it were contaminated. Janeway is allowed to be human, allowed to be a woman, she is allowed to be weak and have doubts and be brash and all the other things that a person can be. But the focus she has on Chakotay feels less like the love of a mature woman who built a strong relationship with a man over seven-plus years that changed to a deep-seated love, and more like she turned into Bella Swan. I understand that she loves him, but the almost single-minded focus that is written into the book left me with a bad taste in my mouth.
Don't even get me started on the reunion scene between Seven and Janeway. The woman just returned from the dead, and there's not even a friendly grasp of the arm? Instead, we get a long paragraph on how awkward Seven feels and doesn't think they should touch, which seemed so unnecessary and awkward in its own right. Janeway was always touching Seven, and she was such a strong mentor for Seven, that the complete lack of any sort of emotional oomph was keenly felt.
In the end, the book has three new happy couples (which seemed to be a large part of the purpose of this book), a new baby on the way (could have used more of B'Elanna and Tom, but it was short and you can't win 'em all), and Janeway taking over the fleet (what's left of it). Which is indicative of Starfleet having lost their minds, because that's an enormous loss of life and resources (in five months, five of their nine ships are destroyed, I mean holy cow that's ridiculous), and that Janeway returned to life by pulling her molecules back together while in the Q Continuum doesn't seem to phase them enough to want her back? She doesn't want to go and see her sister? It's absolutely mind-boggling.
I wish I could have loved it. I think I'd rather read Before Dishonor again instead.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 23, 2021
Flirted dangerously on the side of complete bullshit. Skirted the barrier of 'creativity' and nonsense.
I was dubious about bringing Janeway back - finally, a death with meaning! Begrudgingly, 'because she had to' is about as satisfying as a commercial necessity could be.
Too much Q. Too much talk about how the Q work. That was better left as a mystery, something a 'human brain could never comprehend'. Naming each Q the same might make sense in terms of how they think. For the reader, it was confusing. I literally had to read a few lines to know who is talking.
The dilemma JUST holds up. The 'Omega continuum'... okay, fine. Assigning choice to the universe, or 'the multiverse' - 'the multiverse is determined that I die' - the 'multiverse'/universe does not make decisions! When Richard Dawkins used phrases like 'the gene wants', he states that he is doing this for brevity. But in 'The Eternal Tide', we come dangerously close to a deterministic universe. There isn't enough stuff about chance, or cause and effect, or something like that.
I'm dubious about the term 'the multiverse'. By definition, 'it' cannot be a singular object. 'It' is a constantly growing number of things.
The biggest problem with this book is...
[SPOILER]
the fact that the solution is Junior Q's sacrifice. This comes out of nowhere. It needed to be established earlier that Junior Q is more powerful than an average Q. Otherwise, it comes across as the author pulling a solution out of their ass.
Because these issues barely scrape the 'acceptable' test, the end justified, at least to the level of 'urgh, okay, fine' the pages and pages of crap that preceded it. This book is too long. It even features a sidebar mission that has nothing to do with anything.
Beyer's other Voyager books are much less full of themselves as this one. When an author apologises for the book's content at the beginning, that's a massive warning sign. If an artist does that, the rest of the time, the 'audience' is left thinking about the problems and not believing the artist themselves believes in what they're doing.
'Just go with it', she said.
'No,' I reply. If you aren't convinced yourself, then why would I be?
I was dubious about bringing Janeway back - finally, a death with meaning! Begrudgingly, 'because she had to' is about as satisfying as a commercial necessity could be.
Too much Q. Too much talk about how the Q work. That was better left as a mystery, something a 'human brain could never comprehend'. Naming each Q the same might make sense in terms of how they think. For the reader, it was confusing. I literally had to read a few lines to know who is talking.
The dilemma JUST holds up. The 'Omega continuum'... okay, fine. Assigning choice to the universe, or 'the multiverse' - 'the multiverse is determined that I die' - the 'multiverse'/universe does not make decisions! When Richard Dawkins used phrases like 'the gene wants', he states that he is doing this for brevity. But in 'The Eternal Tide', we come dangerously close to a deterministic universe. There isn't enough stuff about chance, or cause and effect, or something like that.
I'm dubious about the term 'the multiverse'. By definition, 'it' cannot be a singular object. 'It' is a constantly growing number of things.
The biggest problem with this book is...
[SPOILER]
the fact that the solution is Junior Q's sacrifice. This comes out of nowhere. It needed to be established earlier that Junior Q is more powerful than an average Q. Otherwise, it comes across as the author pulling a solution out of their ass.
Because these issues barely scrape the 'acceptable' test, the end justified, at least to the level of 'urgh, okay, fine' the pages and pages of crap that preceded it. This book is too long. It even features a sidebar mission that has nothing to do with anything.
Beyer's other Voyager books are much less full of themselves as this one. When an author apologises for the book's content at the beginning, that's a massive warning sign. If an artist does that, the rest of the time, the 'audience' is left thinking about the problems and not believing the artist themselves believes in what they're doing.
'Just go with it', she said.
'No,' I reply. If you aren't convinced yourself, then why would I be?
May 13, 2016
Janeway is back and it happens in a plausible way. I won't go into detail but will only say that Q is involved. The how and the why you have to find out for yourself. Oh yes, Q is back but not in his normal mischief making jocular way. We see him and his family in a completely different light.
The Full Circle Fleet is still exploring the Delta Quadrant. Their mission is to confirm that the Caeliar and the Borg (as per the Destiny Novels) are truly gone. Fleet Admiral Eden has a private mission. She wishes to discover the secrets of her own origins.
The original characters have grown from their TV counterparts in a most realistic way. Harry Kim, Chief of Security, is no longer the whipping boy, Tom is a 'fine first officer' and B'elanna is the Chief Engineer of the Fleet. They have resolved their personal past issues and have become responsible parents to little Miral. Chakotay has become Captain again and has dealt with his grief over losing Kathryn. Seven is starting a new chapter and a new relationship.
There are references to the earlier trilogy String Theory, we meet Kes again and we get a small glimpse of something the Voyager Crew experienced during their original 23-year journey home (I hope we find out more about that trip. I find it intriguing for some reason). We see hints concerning the fallout from the actions of the original Admiral Janeway. I personally like the new characters, especially Dr. Cambridge and Nancy Conlin.
It is helpful but not necessary to read the String Theory Trilogy before this. That is a great read that takes place between the fourth and fifth season of Voyager.
All in all a good exciting read. Kirsten Beyer has done an excellent job of melding an exciting story with realistic character growth.
The Full Circle Fleet is still exploring the Delta Quadrant. Their mission is to confirm that the Caeliar and the Borg (as per the Destiny Novels) are truly gone. Fleet Admiral Eden has a private mission. She wishes to discover the secrets of her own origins.
The original characters have grown from their TV counterparts in a most realistic way. Harry Kim, Chief of Security, is no longer the whipping boy, Tom is a 'fine first officer' and B'elanna is the Chief Engineer of the Fleet. They have resolved their personal past issues and have become responsible parents to little Miral. Chakotay has become Captain again and has dealt with his grief over losing Kathryn. Seven is starting a new chapter and a new relationship.
There are references to the earlier trilogy String Theory, we meet Kes again and we get a small glimpse of something the Voyager Crew experienced during their original 23-year journey home (I hope we find out more about that trip. I find it intriguing for some reason). We see hints concerning the fallout from the actions of the original Admiral Janeway. I personally like the new characters, especially Dr. Cambridge and Nancy Conlin.
It is helpful but not necessary to read the String Theory Trilogy before this. That is a great read that takes place between the fourth and fifth season of Voyager.
All in all a good exciting read. Kirsten Beyer has done an excellent job of melding an exciting story with realistic character growth.
September 13, 2019
At time of writing I'm currently only a few chapters in, but the Prologue was just SO entertaining & well written that I felt safe reviewing this book early! Plus Janeway's on the cover so it has to be good! Off to get a coffee before I keep at this book! Cheers!
November 18, 2013
My general opinion on this book is "Eh". I appreciate how well thought out this novel was - clearly the plot wasn't just a throw away foil to pop Janeway in, there was a PURPOSE to it but this whole novel just fell apart where the characters were concerned.
Someone mentioned in another review how most of the book is devoted to proving how heterosexual everyone was. I saw no need to push Seven into a relationship with Cambridge, or Conlon with Harry- especially with such little time to develop these relationships. Hell, there was barely enough time to develop these CHARACTERS.
Honestly I wish she could have reeled some unnecessary plot components to focus more on what we're all reading these stupid books for - the characters we know and love. What little we did get was definition provided by their romantic relationships. And its hard to care about those relationships when I don't care about the characters in them, and when the only point explored is how much they love each other (looks pointedly at Chakotay and Janeway).
And the whole "No longer in danger" magic boop Q did to Miral just... really? Back to the old last minute reset button?
I did honestly like Full Circle (what I remember of it), so I have hope that the next novel might be turned down a bit and return to a character driven story.
Someone mentioned in another review how most of the book is devoted to proving how heterosexual everyone was. I saw no need to push Seven into a relationship with Cambridge, or Conlon with Harry- especially with such little time to develop these relationships. Hell, there was barely enough time to develop these CHARACTERS.
Honestly I wish she could have reeled some unnecessary plot components to focus more on what we're all reading these stupid books for - the characters we know and love. What little we did get was definition provided by their romantic relationships. And its hard to care about those relationships when I don't care about the characters in them, and when the only point explored is how much they love each other (looks pointedly at Chakotay and Janeway).
And the whole "No longer in danger" magic boop Q did to Miral just... really? Back to the old last minute reset button?
I did honestly like Full Circle (what I remember of it), so I have hope that the next novel might be turned down a bit and return to a character driven story.
August 25, 2012
I Loved This Book!
First off.. to all the naysayers who will try and bash the novel for being about Kathryn Janeway.. it is NOT
The book does not center on her at all, but rather I felt it was focused on the character of Afsarah Eden. The plot answers the questions about Eden's past, where she came from..etc.
It is well written, face paced and an all in all great read!
For Janeway fans such as myself.. I promise you won't be a bit disappointed either!
The story deals with a great many smaller subplots, such as Tom and B'Elanna Paris' daughter Miral.. Seven of Nine, Chakotay..
No one is left out!
I never post too many details in my reviews as I'd rather let someone read it for themselves and make their own judgement on a novel. That said.. if you're a Voyager fan you don't want to miss this book!
And yes this is the same review I left for the book at Amazon.com. Easier for me this way.. *wink*
First off.. to all the naysayers who will try and bash the novel for being about Kathryn Janeway.. it is NOT
The book does not center on her at all, but rather I felt it was focused on the character of Afsarah Eden. The plot answers the questions about Eden's past, where she came from..etc.
It is well written, face paced and an all in all great read!
For Janeway fans such as myself.. I promise you won't be a bit disappointed either!
The story deals with a great many smaller subplots, such as Tom and B'Elanna Paris' daughter Miral.. Seven of Nine, Chakotay..
No one is left out!
I never post too many details in my reviews as I'd rather let someone read it for themselves and make their own judgement on a novel. That said.. if you're a Voyager fan you don't want to miss this book!
And yes this is the same review I left for the book at Amazon.com. Easier for me this way.. *wink*
December 3, 2012
Probably one of the better Star Trek books I've read in quite awhile! I was one of those fans who was upset when Janeway was killed, so I was very excited to see that she was involved in this book. The author does a masterful job of handling what has been an increasingly complicated universe. She gives character development to those that we know and love, while still staying true to who they are. Like any "distortion in the space-time continuum" story, it can be a little complicated to follow, but it remains logical. Big, emotional events are highlighted, but not so much that they distract from the main story - that's a fine line to walk! This book has a lot of important developments, too - so pay close attention, and enjoy!
October 26, 2016
For a Voyager fan, this was epic - Q family, Kes, Omega, a fleet commander and her mysterious past, a multiverse, the end of existence, and hey it's Janeway back from the dead. How many characters in books come back from the dead by popular demand? The only one I know of is Sherlock Holmes. I understand readers brought Janeway back to life and maybe you heard me screaming when I read that bit? Love her. But she's not the book's only strength. Kirsten Beyer breathes life into these characters in ways the show did not accommodate. Even supporting roles become strong, intriguing personalities in her creative hands. Beyond characters, Beyer's eye for detail and even minutiae spanning the Trekiverse (think trivia from Next Gen)... so much fun. I adore these novels and can't wait to read more.
June 25, 2013
With the knowledge of billions Seven of Nine would fall for a misogynist douche-bag! No, I don't think so; and the notion that a Starfleet
Counselor
could get away with the rant on the final page of the novel(excepting the epilogue) amazes me. WTH was the author thinking? The everyone paired up in happy couple-dom was lame enough but ending with "Women: Can't live with 'em - can't burn em at the stake" demeans this entire cast of characters, and Voyager fans of all sexes, genders, and persuasions.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 31, 2012
Great Voyager, great Star Trek.
A novel that tackled this subject was always going to be dicey, but the story was pulled off without a big red button, twisting and turning so you'd never be entirely sure what the final outcome would be - but it was an excellent pay-off to this sequence of Voyager novels.
Not a cheap get out, not a disrespectful 'the fans wanted it' - just a damn good story, that made sense!
A novel that tackled this subject was always going to be dicey, but the story was pulled off without a big red button, twisting and turning so you'd never be entirely sure what the final outcome would be - but it was an excellent pay-off to this sequence of Voyager novels.
Not a cheap get out, not a disrespectful 'the fans wanted it' - just a damn good story, that made sense!
February 7, 2017
This has a very complex and metaphysical plot. I like that Beyer brought back some characters we haven't seen for a long while. She tied up some storylines in satisfying ways. I also liked that this installment focused more on the original Voyager characters whom I can't help feeling closer to.
September 22, 2021
It took me months to get through this one. Too much nonsense Q-talking in voids and too many nonsense technobabble solutions to a multiverse-stakes problem that I never really connected with. I'm glad Janeway is back; hopefully that sets up more interesting stories.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 25, 2021
I didn't really buy the Janeway/Chakotay romance thread. A bit melodramatic in parts. I would've liked more exploration about the Omega Continuum. Having said that, I have no idea what the whole garden thing was all about.
July 28, 2021
this book is aggressively straight.. I mean really ?? even seven of nine isn’t free from the grip of heterosexuality?? sad. also I forgot that one of the few reasons why I liked voyager was bc of Tuvok but he wasn’t even in this book.
May 8, 2013
The book starts off as boring and slow as molasses, but picks up two thirds of the way through to have a great ending.
October 27, 2014
Huge Fan
I feel a five star rating is well deserved because of the excellent storytelling. Quite simply, it's awesome & I love it.
I feel a five star rating is well deserved because of the excellent storytelling. Quite simply, it's awesome & I love it.
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