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Star Trek: The Next Generation #44
The Death of Princes
Dangerous assignments come in pairs when Captain Picard and his crew are confronted with two desperate missions on two different worlds.
On the planet Buran, newly linked to the Fedration, a mysterious disease devastates the population-and turns them against the visitors from the U.S.S. Enterprise. Meanwhile, on nearby lomides, a renegade Federation observer has disappeared, intent on violating the Prime Directive by preventing a tragic political assassination.
While Dr. Crusher struggles to find a cure for the plague ravaging Buran, Commander Will RIker leads an Away Team to lomides. Their forces divided, Picard and his crew find themselves the only hope of two worlds.
On the planet Buran, newly linked to the Fedration, a mysterious disease devastates the population-and turns them against the visitors from the U.S.S. Enterprise. Meanwhile, on nearby lomides, a renegade Federation observer has disappeared, intent on violating the Prime Directive by preventing a tragic political assassination.
While Dr. Crusher struggles to find a cure for the plague ravaging Buran, Commander Will RIker leads an Away Team to lomides. Their forces divided, Picard and his crew find themselves the only hope of two worlds.
308 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1997
7 people are currently reading
429 people want to read
About the author
John Peel
441 books167 followersJohn Peel is the author of Doctor Who books and comic strips. Notably, he wrote the first original Doctor Who novel, Timewyrm: Genesys, to launch the Virgin New Adventures line. In the early 1990s he was commissioned by Target Books to write novelisations of several key Terry Nation Dalek stories of the 1960s after the rights were finally worked out. He later wrote several more original Daleks novels.
He has the distinction of being one of only three authors credited on a Target novelisation who had not either written a story for the TV series or been a part of the production team (the others were Nigel Robinson and Alison Bingeman).
Outside of Doctor Who, Peel has also written novels for the Star Trek franchise. Under the pseudonym "John Vincent", he wrote novelisations based upon episodes of the 1990s TV series James Bond Jr..
He has the distinction of being one of only three authors credited on a Target novelisation who had not either written a story for the TV series or been a part of the production team (the others were Nigel Robinson and Alison Bingeman).
Outside of Doctor Who, Peel has also written novels for the Star Trek franchise. Under the pseudonym "John Vincent", he wrote novelisations based upon episodes of the 1990s TV series James Bond Jr..
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
February 7, 2020
I've had a number of false starts with this book. When a Star Trek book starts with characters that are new and just for this story I find myself just putting the book down. The mystery for the A-plot was much more interesting than the B-plot. Though the whole thing was pretty predictable. I wish we'd have spent more time learning about the Burans and interacting with them.
May 13, 2019
For a book about a medical emergency Dr. Crusher is barely in it. Sort of predictable, but will written
October 26, 2025
This book was great to read I like that you had two different missions and the author devoted equal time to both missions so you saw what Picard and Beverley were doing on Buran and then you saw what Riker and his team were doing on the planet iomides. I also liked that the burani people at the start were your typical we don’t want your help but then as you read the book in the end they are glad of the federation’s help I also like when Beverley does tests on the Andorians that were murdered so whoever did it made it look they had this plague when they didn’t overall very good book I also liked when Picard and Beverley try to explain to the chief medical officer of the burani when they need medical records they are not there to conquer them as they have the prime directive which forbids them to interfere with the natural development of a planet. Love Star Trek novels that have the prime directive involved reading this book a second time I enjoyed reading it a lot I loved the reference to the a-team TV series when the character of Barclay says I love it when a plan comes together as the character of Barclay is played by the actor Dwight Schultz who played Murdock on that very series
September 29, 2018
I was wondering how I would like another John Peel Star Trek book that didn't have a dragon that Picard fought in it and I was happy to find out that I enjoyed this one. I found it rather unique that this one dealt with two separate planets with two different problems and how the events unfolded. Peel's version of Barclay is so awesome (it's almost like he uses Barclay who is his confident-in-the-holodeck version) so it may not be the most accurate version but I like him. Also, who wouldn't get a laugh when he utters the phrase "I love it when a plan comes together"? Overall, I enjoyed the book and it went in directions I did not expect so I appreciated that. Good book with a good TNG Season 6 feel.
May 2, 2020
A fast-paced read where you don't have to scratch too deep to find the allegorical overtones present in both competing storylines.
The Enterprise is forced to deal with two emergencies near the Romulan Neutral Zone: a plague outbreak on one world and a Prime Directive dilemma as a planetary observer goes rogue to stop an assassination on another world.
Death of Princes is an enjoyable enough read, however my biggest issue stems from the fact that the two primary storylines spend most of the novel competing each other for your attention. As a result, both suffer from periodic pacing problems. These plots don't follow the tried and tested Star Trek A-B formula; Instead we have two A plots, each used as allegories for the dangers of nationalism and xenophobia.
Burani: The Plague Plot - The Burani are an insular society of avians who have recently joined the Federation. A plague is killing their population after an Andorian trader visited their world, leading them to embrace conspiracy theories about Federation ill-intent. Picard and Crusher's frustration at the Burani's closed nature is a lot of fun to read, and rings true for both of their characters (I saw shades of Next Gen's "Symbiosis" here).
J'Kara is the ill-fated prince trying to rally his people around the Federation while his father T'Fara is against the idea. A lot of the isolationist rhetoric from T'Fara is politically relevant today, even though John Peel wrote this novel over 20 years ago. The alien characters here are rather transparent in their motives and ideals... indeed, character writing suffers in this book on account of the equal weighting to both plots.
For a plague-centered story, the lack of writing for Crusher is annoying (she's even featured on the cover). The good doctor is given a back seat to come up with a cure while much of the writing focuses on Picard's dealings with the Burani.
The resolution was satisfactory, if unsurprising.
Iomides: The Prime Directive Plot - The Iomidians are a species on the threshold of discovering warp drive. The Federation is observing them in a Who Watches The Watchers-type duckblind arrangement. Inevitably this goes wrong, as one of the observers goes rogue to warn the people about an upcoming assassination.
Riker, Barclay and Troi take center stage here as they try to put the genie back in the bottle after a series of disastrous consequences to the breach of the prime directive. This plot takes the lion's share of the novel's action quota, and it was funny to see Troi's mission go so smoothly while Riker ends up staring down the barrel of a gun for half the novel.
---
Random observations:
* I wish the author wouldn't insist on calling turbolifts "elevators". No. Just no.
* Why spoil both plotlines with the TITLE of the damned book!?
The Enterprise is forced to deal with two emergencies near the Romulan Neutral Zone: a plague outbreak on one world and a Prime Directive dilemma as a planetary observer goes rogue to stop an assassination on another world.
Death of Princes is an enjoyable enough read, however my biggest issue stems from the fact that the two primary storylines spend most of the novel competing each other for your attention. As a result, both suffer from periodic pacing problems. These plots don't follow the tried and tested Star Trek A-B formula; Instead we have two A plots, each used as allegories for the dangers of nationalism and xenophobia.
Burani: The Plague Plot - The Burani are an insular society of avians who have recently joined the Federation. A plague is killing their population after an Andorian trader visited their world, leading them to embrace conspiracy theories about Federation ill-intent. Picard and Crusher's frustration at the Burani's closed nature is a lot of fun to read, and rings true for both of their characters (I saw shades of Next Gen's "Symbiosis" here).
J'Kara is the ill-fated prince trying to rally his people around the Federation while his father T'Fara is against the idea. A lot of the isolationist rhetoric from T'Fara is politically relevant today, even though John Peel wrote this novel over 20 years ago. The alien characters here are rather transparent in their motives and ideals... indeed, character writing suffers in this book on account of the equal weighting to both plots.
For a plague-centered story, the lack of writing for Crusher is annoying (she's even featured on the cover). The good doctor is given a back seat to come up with a cure while much of the writing focuses on Picard's dealings with the Burani.
The resolution was satisfactory, if unsurprising.
Iomides: The Prime Directive Plot - The Iomidians are a species on the threshold of discovering warp drive. The Federation is observing them in a Who Watches The Watchers-type duckblind arrangement. Inevitably this goes wrong, as one of the observers goes rogue to warn the people about an upcoming assassination.
Riker, Barclay and Troi take center stage here as they try to put the genie back in the bottle after a series of disastrous consequences to the breach of the prime directive. This plot takes the lion's share of the novel's action quota, and it was funny to see Troi's mission go so smoothly while Riker ends up staring down the barrel of a gun for half the novel.
---
Random observations:
* I wish the author wouldn't insist on calling turbolifts "elevators". No. Just no.
* Why spoil both plotlines with the TITLE of the damned book!?
March 23, 2021
A highly enjoyable Next Gen adventure set during the seventh season, since Ro is a crewmember
Two simultaneous missions are the plot of this novel. Aboard the Enterprise, Picard, Crusher, Worf, and Data are the focal characters trying to assist with stopping a mysterious plague that's killing the avian people of Buran, who have recently joined the Federation eighteen months ago and are a welcome addition given their proximity to the Romulan border. In addition to the disease running wild, the inhabitants value their privacy to a flaw, with a good number of the Burani refusing to assist the Federation crew, including Doctor Crusher.
Meanwhile, a Federation watching outpost has been discovered by the inhabitants of Iomides, due to one of its members violating the Prime Directive. Deaths have occurred and a prisoner taken. Riker, Troi, Barclay, and a small security team travel via shuttle to see if they can stop the contamination of the Federation's reveal.
I was really impressed with this novel. I loved the Burani and how they felt toward the Federation during their worst of times--they had their beliefs and they were going to stick to them. The avian aspects only come into play for their visage. The plague becomes a neat mystery with some excellent revelations. I loved everything about this story.
The Iomides tale was equally impressive with some excellent surprises in that story as well. I was most impressed with Barclay because I've never really cared for his character. That's right I said it. But this tale by Peel had me really enjoying the character. Yes, he's still the awkward individual from the series, but here he's in action and he's terrific. Plus he has an absolutely killer line that ends a chapter. The ending of this tale has Riker at his best. I could picture Jonathan Frakes killing it this story.
This was an incredibly satisfying Trek novel with every element working.
Two simultaneous missions are the plot of this novel. Aboard the Enterprise, Picard, Crusher, Worf, and Data are the focal characters trying to assist with stopping a mysterious plague that's killing the avian people of Buran, who have recently joined the Federation eighteen months ago and are a welcome addition given their proximity to the Romulan border. In addition to the disease running wild, the inhabitants value their privacy to a flaw, with a good number of the Burani refusing to assist the Federation crew, including Doctor Crusher.
Meanwhile, a Federation watching outpost has been discovered by the inhabitants of Iomides, due to one of its members violating the Prime Directive. Deaths have occurred and a prisoner taken. Riker, Troi, Barclay, and a small security team travel via shuttle to see if they can stop the contamination of the Federation's reveal.
I was really impressed with this novel. I loved the Burani and how they felt toward the Federation during their worst of times--they had their beliefs and they were going to stick to them. The avian aspects only come into play for their visage. The plague becomes a neat mystery with some excellent revelations. I loved everything about this story.
The Iomides tale was equally impressive with some excellent surprises in that story as well. I was most impressed with Barclay because I've never really cared for his character. That's right I said it. But this tale by Peel had me really enjoying the character. Yes, he's still the awkward individual from the series, but here he's in action and he's terrific. Plus he has an absolutely killer line that ends a chapter. The ending of this tale has Riker at his best. I could picture Jonathan Frakes killing it this story.
This was an incredibly satisfying Trek novel with every element working.
July 23, 2023
I love that the women are featured, and deservedly so. I love the intertwined themes, made clear at the end in case you were just reading for adventure. I like that the characters are themselves at their best, not just roles and def. not doing anything 'out of character.' (Data needs 12 hours for a task, and then gets no results. Barclay gets to be a brilliant engineer.)
This one would be really fun to discuss in a book club. Excellent examinations of the 'why' of the Prime Directive, and of the advantages of joining the Federation, and the possible disadvantages of joining certain other kinds of empires or leagues.
This is a hard spoiler: if you're thinking of reading this, do not click through until done. I'd particularly love to discuss
Was Maria Wallace possibly right?
This one would be really fun to discuss in a book club. Excellent examinations of the 'why' of the Prime Directive, and of the advantages of joining the Federation, and the possible disadvantages of joining certain other kinds of empires or leagues.
This is a hard spoiler: if you're thinking of reading this, do not click through until done. I'd particularly love to discuss
Was Maria Wallace possibly right?
February 24, 2023
Oh no, not another Star Trek Novel!
Oh yeah, cause I am planning to read as many as I can in this lifetime :))))
Written in the precise style of a TNG TV episode, with plot A and plot B happening simultaneously, I was not very hooked on this split because while plot A was really promising, plot B seemed to me to be just a filler using the Prime Directive as a pretext for some common action in the background of plot A from which it's stealing way too much time because plot A is way better and interesting.
But this is my just own opinion and the book is still sufficiently satisfying in order to provide a couple of hours of entertaining reading.
Oh yeah, cause I am planning to read as many as I can in this lifetime :))))
Written in the precise style of a TNG TV episode, with plot A and plot B happening simultaneously, I was not very hooked on this split because while plot A was really promising, plot B seemed to me to be just a filler using the Prime Directive as a pretext for some common action in the background of plot A from which it's stealing way too much time because plot A is way better and interesting.
But this is my just own opinion and the book is still sufficiently satisfying in order to provide a couple of hours of entertaining reading.
September 21, 2018
A Star Trek SYFY novel about two different problems which the Enterprise will attempt before departing Goethe next unknown. Inevitably is struck by a ravaging disease that could wipe out the entire population. The good Doctor is busy trying to find a cure. The second planet is having political problems and Will Timer is in the middle. This is an excellent read for the genre.....DEHS
October 11, 2018
I really enjoyed the whole Burani plot line.
March 18, 2019
A fun story, I especially enjoyed the Riker story line.
July 4, 2020
Two stories in one book!
February 13, 2022
Two average storylines, which are not connected to another, they even take place on different planets, seems to me bound just to fill a book, disappointing
December 26, 2022
Talk about spoiler alert in the title hey?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 14, 2013
Picking up a "Star Trek" novel with the title "Death of Princes", and a cover featuring two giant portraits of the TNG girl contingent at their most softly-framed -- and NOTHING else -- I was worried I was picking up an edition of "Star Trek: The Next Generation of Chick-Lit". Luckily, the novel didn't turn out to the be equivalent of "Fifty Shades of Enterprise". Instead, it's another John Peel TNG book that demonstrates his excellent command of the main characters, a believably developed supporting cast, and a collection of plots that fit perfectly into the Next Generation template. Out of all the TV tie-in genres he has written for, I'm now convinced that John Peel's most consistent success lies with his TNG storytelling.
March 22, 2012
A quick, simple novel that reads like an episode. The writing is fine, and all the characters were handled well. If you're bored and want another adventure with the Enterprise crew, you can't really go wrong with this.
April 20, 2012
A good story worthy of a tv episode. The Enterprise has to cure a plague, at the same time Riker, Deanna and Barclay have to do some spy work on a primitive world. All characters act how you think they should. It was a good read.
March 22, 2020
During social isolation spring 2020 re-read. Enterprise vs plague on planet of the budgies. Despite the cover, it’s not much of a Dr. Crusher tale.
September 27, 2013
A little frustration with the consent speculating but overall a good read.
September 14, 2015
Funnily enough, I had just read #21, which also happens to feature a race of sentient alien chickens, before I picked this one up. This one was actually readable though.
Want to read
June 3, 20101997
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews