What do you think?
Rate this book
The Borg are back -- and nastier than ever. No longer mindless, inhuman drones but cyborg soldiers on a mission to assimilate all intelligent life, their new goal is the complete destruction of the Federation. And in the midst of facing the Borg again, Captain Picard learns that he may be the cause of the change. Commander Data is changing as well. For the first time in his life, Data feels a genuine emotion -- and that emotion is deadly, destructive rage. When it is revealed that the Borg are commanded by an old enemy out of Data's past, Data must choose between his allegiance tot he Federation and the one thing he wants above all else...
ebook
First published October 1, 1993
14 people are currently reading
508 people want to read
About the author
Diane Carey
80 books122 followersDiane Carey also wrote the Distress Call 911 young adult series under the name D.L. Carey.
Diane Carey is primarily a science fiction author best known for her work in the Star Trek franchise. She has been the lead-off writer for two Star Trek spin-off book series: Star Trek The Next Generation with Star Trek: Ghost Ship, and the novelization of the Star Trek: Enterprise pilot, Broken Bow.
For more information, please see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diane_Carey
Diane Carey is primarily a science fiction author best known for her work in the Star Trek franchise. She has been the lead-off writer for two Star Trek spin-off book series: Star Trek The Next Generation with Star Trek: Ghost Ship, and the novelization of the Star Trek: Enterprise pilot, Broken Bow.
For more information, please see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diane_Carey
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
January 11, 2010
Despite the obvious inferences of technological inanity, Data is a very complex, powerful character. Onscreen, this episode was quite powerful because of the way in which emotion takes hold of the android, and despite the terrifying nature of the Borg, the repercussions of their actions were purely transient here. Other episodes, novels and characters deal with the Borg, at other times and places: this work was, or should have been, Data-centric.
But just As with the lack of emotional depth in the novelisation of Star Trek Insurrection I came away with a sense of missing something, a sense of "oh, well, that's that and everything's gone back to normal". data's experiments performed upon La Forge reminded me unerringly of the EMH's lack of ethical subroutines in Equinox (which I found equally distasteful).
It seems inexcusable that we're so far into the series yet the major character of the novel is treated as no more than a puppet on a string. Where's that vital spark that some other authors captured so well? That was portrayed onscreen to such brilliant perfection?"Nice to meet you - Pinocchio. You're going to be an interesting companion," Riker said. yet the depth of Data is left here to wilt away, disused and seemingly unmissed. Even the post-generations novels spun off into their own universe by the master of ego, William Shatner, had more Data about them than this offering. Of course I have not yet met a trek authhor with the sheer emotional bull's-eye of Jean Lorrah. For depth of character and an almost irreverent glimpse of trek perfection, I'd recommend turning to her TNG novels. I've been saving one of her TOS offerings for this year - perhaps, after wading through this shallow morass I'll give it a go, safe in the knowledge that I won't be disappointed.
But just As with the lack of emotional depth in the novelisation of Star Trek Insurrection I came away with a sense of missing something, a sense of "oh, well, that's that and everything's gone back to normal". data's experiments performed upon La Forge reminded me unerringly of the EMH's lack of ethical subroutines in Equinox (which I found equally distasteful).
It seems inexcusable that we're so far into the series yet the major character of the novel is treated as no more than a puppet on a string. Where's that vital spark that some other authors captured so well? That was portrayed onscreen to such brilliant perfection?"Nice to meet you - Pinocchio. You're going to be an interesting companion," Riker said. yet the depth of Data is left here to wilt away, disused and seemingly unmissed. Even the post-generations novels spun off into their own universe by the master of ego, William Shatner, had more Data about them than this offering. Of course I have not yet met a trek authhor with the sheer emotional bull's-eye of Jean Lorrah. For depth of character and an almost irreverent glimpse of trek perfection, I'd recommend turning to her TNG novels. I've been saving one of her TOS offerings for this year - perhaps, after wading through this shallow morass I'll give it a go, safe in the knowledge that I won't be disappointed.
March 11, 2017
This is how television episode novelizations should be done! Emotionally charged and gripping, I felt like I was actually watching the show!
June 5, 2022
4 STARS
November 23, 2017
I know a lot of people don't like this episode but I loved this episode when I was a kid and now as an adult I especially love the Crusher in command of the Enterprise parts. I was hoping this book would did deeper into that part and also what was going on within Data during these events and I was pretty disappointed. I am glad she elaborated on how it was determined that Crusher was put in command (which some fans were quite livid about) but was mad at how she cheapened Crusher's proficiency in commanding the ship and how she used Doctoral precision to do the work - instead in the author's mind here she was second-guessing her actions each time. As for Data I did not expect him to be having fun when he was ditching the ship. I think the author misunderstood the euphoria and manipulation of Data's emotions as something that he was enjoying and more as a drug as the episode actually treated it. In the end I felt this novelization weakened most strong moments of the episode and I am only giving it an "okay" rating due to some background moments which I assume were cut from the episode for time.
June 16, 2010
This is the novelization of the season 6 cliff hanger where Data meets up with Lore and some rogue Borg. It's decent.
May 21, 2017
Didn't really add much to the episode. Also described Picard's head as "nude" which I never needed to hear, ever, and will never be able to forget.
August 18, 2021
Diane Carey's novel 'Descent' is a pretty accurate interpretation of the two star trek episodes by the same name. For anyone who has not read this story, this will be an exciting and wonderful read! For us Star Trek junkies who are reading the books to fill our TNG needs, this book adds next to nothing. It is almost an exact interpretation of the episodes. This is good because the episodes were great! Bad, because its just like watching them again.. No, matter a good read overall and an easy 4 stars.
September 23, 2022
I've mixed feelings about this, for all the reasons that other reviews explain. But my biggest reaction is the Literary pretentiousness of this one. Oh well, at least I got a new vocabulary word. Oxer, which could be ": a hedge with a guardrail running along one side at a distance of two or three feet and often a ditch along the other side to prevent cattle from passing through it" or, I think Carey had in mind, "A type of horse jump with two rails that may be set even or uneven."
Onward!
Onward!
February 19, 2023
Descent part 1 and 2 are probably my favourite TNG episodes, I know, controversial lol. I’ve been hunting for a copy of this book for a while so I was happy to finally find it. This is about as good as a novelization can be, but with bonus points because I love these episodes so much. I love all of the added detail and dialogue obviously, that pretty much the only reason why I wanted to check it out. It’s a bit long honestly, but still enjoyable.
September 18, 2020
This one is pretty bad. I really don't like the additions. Out of character in most cases. And too many spelling and grammer mistakes. This feels rushed. But the original material was not good enough to make a good novel.
July 17, 2023
These are nice to collect but boring to read. Just watch it.
January 5, 2025
doo doo asscheeks. didn't even finish it. author gets Riker but does not understand Data at all. which wouldn't have been an issue if this wasn't completely Data centered.
May 31, 2025
Novelization of one of my favorite Trek episodes. I found the writing to be terrific, and the characters to be cerebral and well written. Love me some Hugh stories. Gonna go rewatch the episode now.
April 20, 2012
The Enterprise recieves a distress call from a starship indicating they are being attacked and boarded, so they go to investigate. They soon discover that everyone onboard has been gruesomely murdered. They cannot figure out the rationale behind it.. .and then a discover one of the dead attackers: a Borg!
This only confuses them more, because this is not the Borg M.O. The Borg want to make you apart of their whole: another cog in their machine with no identity except that of the whole. They soon find a few of the Borg are still on the station and things get even stranger.
These Borg are fighting to defend each other, they show emotions, and they actually call each other by name. However, it is when Data, (an android incapable of showing emotion) becomes angry and kills one the Borg with his bare hands they strange is pushed beyond its limits.
Soon, in order to feel more emotions, Data flees the Enterprise with a captured Borg and set out to find "The One," (the person who helped these Borg change) and who has a plot against the Federation.
Now Captain Picard faces the challenge of having to fight one of his own officers and friends in order to save the Federation from these new Borg.
This book is a novelization of The Next Generation season six cliff-hanger and conclusion, so it is a very good story. The only problem I had with this book is that it is a Data story and it is not told from Data's perspective. If it was told from his perspective I it would have been a five-star review for me.
This only confuses them more, because this is not the Borg M.O. The Borg want to make you apart of their whole: another cog in their machine with no identity except that of the whole. They soon find a few of the Borg are still on the station and things get even stranger.
These Borg are fighting to defend each other, they show emotions, and they actually call each other by name. However, it is when Data, (an android incapable of showing emotion) becomes angry and kills one the Borg with his bare hands they strange is pushed beyond its limits.
Soon, in order to feel more emotions, Data flees the Enterprise with a captured Borg and set out to find "The One," (the person who helped these Borg change) and who has a plot against the Federation.
Now Captain Picard faces the challenge of having to fight one of his own officers and friends in order to save the Federation from these new Borg.
This book is a novelization of The Next Generation season six cliff-hanger and conclusion, so it is a very good story. The only problem I had with this book is that it is a Data story and it is not told from Data's perspective. If it was told from his perspective I it would have been a five-star review for me.
October 5, 2013
If you want to read a book version of the Star Trek episodes "Descent" then you've come to the right place. Often times when I watch Star Trek I go through episode after episode like candy, often not thinking about the deeper meaning until after a couple of times of watching it. This two part episode is one of my favorites, because it not only deals with the Borg but what happens if Data malfunctions and becomes evil. Plus Lore has a special place in my heart (I'm not sure why), and he shows how cunning he really is. Overall you won't get anything extra then you get with the TV series, but you will get some hilarious descriptions of things. I could not stop laughing when I was reading the descriptions of how beautiful Deanna and Beverly are. The descriptions were so over the top! I took a really long time reading this, because I felt like I wasn't getting anything extra by getting the book version. So I wouldn't really recommend it, but I wouldn't dissuade someone from getting it either.
March 23, 2013
I love any Data-centric episode TNG, so of course as a Data-obsessed teen back in the 1990's I had to buy this book, and enjoyed it.
Reading it now, 20 years later, I have some different feelings. The plot is narrated pretty well but we don't get to see anything going on inside Data, unfortunately. All in all, as a straight narration of the episode, it isn't bad.
Reading it now, 20 years later, I have some different feelings. The plot is narrated pretty well but we don't get to see anything going on inside Data, unfortunately. All in all, as a straight narration of the episode, it isn't bad.
August 10, 2015
I found this book really annoying, because it seemed like the author was trying to meet a page quota by trying to give deep thoughts to the characters that in some cases did not match at all how I personally perceive the characters.
June 22, 2017
Gret episode to which the novelization holds up well.
October 5, 2025
It's a solid adaptation of the episode. I read it when I was a kid.
January 9, 2017
Pretty fair.
April 26, 2007
Probably one of the best books I've ever read! (possibly one of the only too!)
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews