The Light Fantastic

Star Trek: The Next Generation

by Jeffrey Lang

Returning to the story begun in the novel Immortal Coil and continuing in the bestselling Cold Equations trilogy, this is the next fascinating chapter in the artificial life of one of Star Trek’s most enduring characters.He was perhaps the ultimate human a sentient artificial life-form—self-aware, self-determining, possessing a mind and body far surpassing that of his makers, and imbued with the potential to evolve beyond the scope of his programming. And then Data was destroyed. Four years later, Data’s creator, Noonien Soong, sacrificed his life and resurrected his android son, who in turn revived the positronic brain of his own artificial daughter, Lal. Having resigned his commission, the former Starfleet officer now works to make his way on an alien world, while also coming to grips with the very human notion of wanting versus having a child. But complicating Data’s new life is an unexpected nemesis from years ago on the U.S.S. Enterprise—the holographic master criminal Professor James Moriarty. Long believed to be imprisoned in a memory solid, Moriarty has created a siphon into the "real" world as a being of light and thought. Moriarity wants the solid form that he was once told he could never have, and seeks to manipulate Data into finding another android body for him to permanently inhabit...even if it means evicting the current owner, and even if that is Data himself. ™, ®, & © 2013 CBS Studios, Inc. STAR TREK and related marks are trademarks of CBS Studios, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Genres: Star Trek, Science Fiction, Star Trek The Next Generation, Fiction, Space, Ebooks, Media Tie In

385 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 1, 2014

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

Reviews

[Alejandro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extraordinary novel!!!


This is a novel of "Star Trek: The Next Generation" set in the expanded universe (Relaunch) time period.


LIKE FATHER, NOT LIKE DAUGHTER

Blood is thicker than every other form of lubricant I know.

I waited several months (back then, in 2014) until the publication of this novel from Star Trek: The Next Generation and the waiting paid off since it was all that I expected and even way more!

Jeffrey Lang, the author, is a remarkable storyteller and he has a gift to merge elements and characters from The Original Series and The Next Generation. Readers who enjoyed novels by Peter David like Imzadi, Vendetta and/or Q-Squared will find this book with a similar taste and level of enjoyment to be read.

Also, along with strong position of elements and characters of the series that I already mentioned in the paragraph above, you will find too priceless cameos from characters of Deep Space Nine and Voyager, so if you are of those Trekkers (like me) that enjoy to read crossover stories, this is a wonderful option.


NOT YOUR TYPICAL TREK

Life is so much more interesting when you leave room for the unaccountable.

While you can read this story as a stand-alone book, and you will find explanatory comments of what you need to know that happened previously, I can't deny that I strongly recommend that you at least would read before Immortal Coil by the same author, Jeffrey Lang, which it's a separate story but which sets the whole scenario for the future development of the character of Data and his "relatives".

And it could be kinda good to read the trilogy of Cold Equations written by David Mack that if you check my reviews on the three novels, you will know about my struggles to really enjoy that too long narration where it presents too much "filler" adventures where the really important point there was to explain the "resurrection" of Data and his daughter Lal. Also, depending how well you manage the TV series of The Next Generation specially on episodes centered on Data, it could be good if you can watch first and/or read some summary, on certain TV episodes such as "Elementary, Dear Data", "The Measure of Man", "The Offspring", "The Most Toys" and "Ship in a Bottle", along with motion pictures: "Generations" and "Nemesis".

But it's not essential, just advisable to fully enjoy the references and certain points of this story.

However, if you are not Trekker and even so, you want to try some atypical Star Trek story, this can be a wonderful option too since you won't find a Starfleet crew commanded by a captain, all aboard of a big starship on a official mission.

This a tale about parents willing to do anything on their power to get back their daughters, even so if they are androids and holograms, the feelings are truly human and many people can relate to that. While atypical on the format, this a truly Star Trek novel written with cleverness, class and heart.


LIKE FATHER, (NOT) LIKE DAUGHTER

Parenthood is a wound that never heals.
(Old Klingon Proverb)

The really wonderful angle of this tale is that while the main stoyline is about the return of the holographic villain of Professor James Moriarty kidnapping Lal and forcing Data to complain to his demands, the novel is really about parenthood and the struggles of communication between parents and offspring. Some people may argue that now Lal is different, sure, it could real dumb to expect that she would be just the same, last time she barely was alive one day, and now she is growing, and any parent can tell you that children grows too fast and I am not speaking about on the physical angle. I love Lal! And I can tell you that if you really appreciate Lal, you will find her as amazing as before and even more.

Every society needs accountants of one kind or another.

I enjoyed to the fullest the entire reading experience and while it didn't end as I suspected, I am not complaining since this certainly is opening a whole new world to Data inside of the universe of Star Trek without limits that if he was already one of the best and most popular characters of the entire franchise, this only will make him even better and greater.

...even the best things can get old after a while.

And indeed the future of Data and Lal seems truly interesting since it seems that they won't be static in a comfortable status quo, but always changing, always looking for new challenges and new experiencies...

... boldly going where no android has gone before!

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this immensely, though the plot felt a little fast and loose, and there are perhaps a few too many gratuitous cameos. Still, it was a joy to read of Data and Geordi embarking together on a good ol' caper, and I loved the extensive tie-ins with the myriad of android and hologram related Trek canon, encompassing TOS and TNG primarily, but with some Voyager and DS9 as well. In particular the story ties in tightly with the Professor Moriarty hologram from TNG and Harry Mudd and his lovely androids from TOS. All of the characterizations and relationships depicted are spot on, though Data has gone through quite a few changes in his new role as a father. Not only is he more in touch with his emotions, but also more governed by them, and has lost some of his innocence, possessed with a new found willingness to engage in duplicity and ethically questionable actions when he believes it necessary.

[Stephen Robert Collins · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Return of the most popular evil genius Professor James Hologahic Moriarty!
Data has recovered Lal his daughter but he has left Enterprise & is working as a Omelette cook in ghastly Cardassian greasy spoon .What come down!
But the Prof has final escaped & he has kidnapped his daughter this a peach. but then goes slow & slower almost to standstill
The biggest problem is this a part sequel to book I read but forgot.
There is no one else no Enterprise just Data & Geordie but by page 100 has not done much
Harry Mud ! why on earth did bring in Mud if had got rid of all the jumping around from past & present it could been some much better even The Doctor makes appearance from Voyager but still does not help the plot in fact it gets in a utter blood muddle for me this wins an award I rarely give The Headache Award 2018 - because that's what this gave Bloody HEADACHE.

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lately I've found myself wishing the Pocket Books Star Trek tie-in novels could get a reboot.

I remember the days when you could pick up a Star Trek novel and enjoy a couple of hundred pages with familiar faces and friends from the franchise. There might be a continuity reference to an obscure-to-you episode thrown in or a wink to a previous novel, but it didn't hinder you from enjoying the story or feeling like you were being left out.

But somewhere along the way, the Star Trek novels have become more insular and dependent on an internal continuity that seems to be growing more complex with each passing novel. With three of the four modern Treks sharing the same publishing universe, it's becoming more and more difficult for me to pick up and fully enjoy a novel set in them. And it's a shame because I really enjoy a good Star Trek novel.

The Light Fantastic had the chance to be a really good Star Trek novel. Following up on the success of Mortal Coil, Jeffrey Lang focuses once again on Data and his family. Apparently, Data is back from the dead (because no Trek character killed on-screen can stay dead for long on the printed page) and living on Orion with his daughter Lal and her mysterious "babysitter" Alice. When Lal is kidnapped by Moriarty (seen in two TNG episodes), Data is forced to come out of hiding to try and find his daughter. Seems that Moriarty has figured out that he and his wife are trapped inside a computer bank and not really out among the stars as he thought and he wants to be free with a real body outside the holodeck or computer core.

Lang ties-in a ton of Trek continuity from various television shows, movies and (I assume) books in his story. How Moriarty determines he's in a computer core and how delicate that life can be is a nice tie-in to events in Star Trek: Generations. And the tie-in of building an android body to a couple of classic Trek installments is also nicely done.

But where the novel falls down is its over-reliance on previous novels in the franchise that I haven't had the time or inclination to read. I'm going to assume that Data's return to life is a central plot point of the last trilogy that I didn't read. And while I could read and enjoy (most of) The Light Fantastic without knowing every single little detail, I still felt like I was missing something by not having spent 900 or so pages with the past trilogy (which was built on the last trilogy which built on a couple of other novels....well, you get the point). It all adds up to a frustrating experience from a book that I was, quite frankly, looking forward to.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. I remember enough of the preceding Cold Equations trilogy to place the scene that this book opens with, but I found it partially conflicted with my memory of what occurred in the Next Generation episodes regarding the villain of the piece. I found the way the author managed to tie in The Original Series, Deep Space Nine (*and* the relaunch) as well as Voyager and its relaunch to be utterly fantastic. I hope this storyline continues, since it is a delight to read.

[Crystal Bensley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great adventure with Data and Moriarty. Great to see Lal back too.

[Cherie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, I totally enjoyed the story presented by Mr. Lang. I have not read the trilogy preceding this one, but I do intend to now.

Old Harry Mudd was a hoot. I really liked Alice and Lal. It was fun meeting Albert Lee and Shakti. And - I always did wonder whatever happened to Professor Moriarty and Countess Regina Bartholomew.

[Vladimir Ghinculov · Rating 3 out of 5]

This sequel can be read independently. It's fun to meet old villains here, Harry Mudd, Fajo and Moriarty chief among them, but the structure is all wrong. The action is slow paced for 85%, so slow that Data doesn't even encounter his nemesis of the day. And then, in about 50 pages we have most everything important in the book, action, finale and epilogue.

[Sud666 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite a few things have changed in the STNG world. Data died and then was resurrected by Dr. Soong. Now Data has a "daughter" another android named "Lal". Data has resigned his Starfleet commission to take care of his daughter. This is the background for this story.

Those of you who watched the show, may recall an episode where Picard and Data used the holosuite to create Dr. Moriarty. Well it seems the good doctor never went away. Hiding within the computer core of the Enterprise, Moriarty tried to take over the Enterprise. Stopped, the deal struck with Picard was that Moriarty could have a section of the computer's memory to call his own. So he created a life and a family. Then the Enterprise was damaged and the computer core suffered. Moriarty's family begins to disappear. In order to stave off impending doom- Moriarty kidnaps Lal and forces Data and Geordi to help him. That's all I am saying about the plot.

It was a fun story. Moriarty was a good character. In fact, for the most part, all the charcters were good except for Lal-who is supremely annoying. Same could be said for her "nurse" the android Alice. But, other than those two everyone else was a good character.

While nothing amazing this was a good STNG story. Mostly centered around Geordi and Data, it is well told and does shed light on what the crew has been doing for all these years. If you are a STNG fan you will enjoy this book. Everyone else? I don't think you will dislike the book, but if may not be your thing.

[Claire · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really enjoyed the first half, was let down by the second. It was nice seeing Data back and I thought the return of Moriarty was done well. I'm also enjoying Lal and seeing Data learn how to be a parent.

The novel is well written but becomes too convoluted at about the halfway point. There are too many cameos crammed in. The relaunch novels are really doing Geordi dirty; he's not about much and when he is, he's not particularly pleasant and usually complaining. I don't understand why it was acceptable for him and Data to essentially trick Alice back into Mudd's hold at the end? It seemed to happen for no reason, as well as being totally unethical. They basically turned her over to have no willpower for their own convenience? Didn't understand that at all.

[Daniel Kukwa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have only one complaint: what have they done to Lal? Petulant, moody super-compressed emo teenager? I don't like it...not one bit. Her newly developing personality makes me want to slap her in the face.

It's the only irritant I have with an otherwise epic dash about the quadrant, using "Star Trek" history and fanwank in a far more effective way than Greg Cox's "No Time Like the Present". I especially like the fact that Data's resurrection have left some hurt, complicated feelings in its wake, especially with his former Enterprise crew mates. I'm also intrigued by the hints of what Moriarty has discovered on Mudd's android planet...and where it will lead. The game's afoot indeed.

[Scarlett Sims · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this in a reddit exchange. Trek books are all over the map in terms of quality; I liked this one quite a bit. It had Geordi, Moriarty, a little bit of Barclay, the hologram doctor from Voyager... characters kept popping up. But what I really liked about it were the themes of parenthood. The main storyline involves Data and his daughter, but several other characters also make observations about it that I found very apt.

[Dorthea Kemp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally, Star Trek gets back to exploring, action, friendship and fun. Fast, funny, character based and uplifting. I really can't say much more without giving away too much.

Wonderful to revisit Data, Lal and get Geordi out front. Some surprising guests and above all, back to the roots of Next Generation.

Highly recommend.

[John Yelverton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jeffrey Lang brings out every beloved, android related character in the "Star Trek" universe for this one. What I did not like was the moral ambiguity of Data and the petulant, adolescent attitude by Lal. I realize that the author was trying to figure out how both characters would react with emotions, but it seemed too far away from their core character, and was thus untrue to their character.

[Patrick Hayes · Rating 3 out of 5]

One's enjoyment of the this book hinges upon how much Star Trek one knows. It has threads that go from the original series, through The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager, and Star Trek: Nemesis. I read this book when it first came out in 2014 and as I am trying to reread all of my Star Trek novels in order, this one came up. I know that I really was looking forward to buying this book since one of my favorite Next Gen characters, Lal, was on the cover.

Data is alive, based on some event that transpired in a previous book I have not read--or reread. Lal is also alive again. Wanting to keep his daughter safe from the world, Data leaves Starfleet and takes up running his father's casino on Orion...No, you read that correctly. In fact, Data is wealthy. Lal, is not happy. She is going through teenage pains and wants to get out of her gilded cage. Data is able to recruit an android named Alice, who is working in the casino, to be his daughter's "nanny".

All seems to be going well until Professor James Moriarty has both women kidnapped, using them as leverage to get Data to help him. When the Enterprise-D crash landed in Star Trek: Generations his and his wife's holodeck program/prison collapsed, killing/destroying all that they know, including their two daughters. Knowing a father would do anything for his children, Moriarty enlists Data's help. Unfortunately the villain is unaware that Lal is still suffering memory overloads and needs to get "treatments" from Data to retain her individuality. The clock is ticking for Data and his best friend Geordi to rescue the women before Lal dies.

This started out as a fairly slow read, because of the constant shifts in time. The date and setting of the story shifts up to three times per chapter. This done so that author Lang can provide backstory for Data, as to what he's been up to since coming back to live, and to give the same for Moriarty. I found myself not caring for Moriarty's backstory. The story is strong enough to make him sympathetic, without having to devote pages to increase this emotion in the reader.

This is also a Who's Who of the Android World of Star Trek, in that every series' mention of androids or artificial life comes into play in this book. Granted, some are longer than others, but some could have cut to pick up the pace. I enjoyed some more than others.

The final chapter is a little too neat and tidy tying up all the problems, but that's what the episodes did sometimes, so it wasn't too jarring, just noticeable.

I think if one is very familiar with Star Trek this will be a fun read. If one is unaware of any artificial lives of the Trek Universe, this could come off as slightly confusing.

[Nicky2910 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very entertaining and thought-provoking novel.

This review contains spoilers! Please proceed with caution!

Although the plot sometimes felt a bit thin (especially the way it was resolved "off-screen"), the main themes of family, loss/grief, letting-go, growing (up) and continuing on etc and their various variations depending on the character's point of view resonated quite a lot with me. And it's really good to see Data again - as he is my favourite TNG-character. While I haven't condemned TPTB for their decision to kill him off in Nemesis, I haven't had any interest in TNG-books sans Data, Riker and Troi, either, as the remaining characters except for Picard don't interest (Geordi, Beverly) or even annoy (Worf!!) me. And the new ones... Might not be a popular opinion around here, but I read tie-in lit (i.e. series based on the TV-series, not necessarily also the book-only series that are just set in this universe) because of the TV-characters, not because of original ones, so the latter ones really have to offer something beyond average, like Vaughn did for example. But I digress. Suffice it to say that I haven't read any TNG-book other than the 2 Mack-trilogies after Nemesis.

Data's whole focus is on Lal, in that way I guess he's not really that much different than other new fathers. Except, of course, for the fact that he has to deal with Rhea's death, with his father's, his own in a way and coming to terms with his new life. Much of what he has now is based on sacrifice, after all, and in a way Data has as much growing up and growing beyond the recent circumstances to do as Lal does. Only that Lal is way less weighed down by what has happened that made her resurrection possible, so she's just acting like a "normal" adolescent and child needing nap times, all in one.

And if Lal's suffering from Stockholm's syndrome, I was as well since Moriarty (and the countess) were essentially emprisoned with the key more or less thrown away, not caring too much if all systems remained operational. I realize back in "Ship in a Bottle" the solution was ingenious, but I guess, after watching the plight of the EMH, having Vic as another self-aware hologramm, it is also quite ruthless. And instead of criticizing everything Geordi should also have recognized his hand in the whole mess - after all, had it not been for him, Moriarty would never have existed in this way.

But then again, Geordi's presence wasn't really necessary, except that every Data/Sherlock needs his Watson when confronting Moriarty - and the most poignant moment was perhaps Geordi's realizing that while a Data might be back, that doesn't mean his is. As much as Data needs to figure out what to make out of his life, Geordi (and by extension the rest of the old TNG-crew) must come to terms with the knowledge that Data 2.0 can't replace the one they lost and that they need to form a new relationship.

The old Data thought small, his goal was to become more human, being a good officer but I can't really remember whether the fact that he's going to survive his mortal friends by centuries and more, ever seriously came up within the series. At the end of this novel Data is very much aware of that fact and because of that, even if he joins the Enterprise at one point (which will undoubtedly happen since I doubt a Data-only series of books is in the plans beyond the next 2 or 3 at most), he'll do so with a very much different outlook on things. And I really hope he'll also finds joy in the future because my overall impression of him was that of a driven man, a dedicated father but also of a sad and lonely person. Which fits with the thought that he's not really let himself grieve yet.

What I especially enjoyed:

* the countess' conversation with Lal and her regaining color - very poignant and moving scene
* grandpa Soong sending Lal off for a nap and the countess holding her hand
* Data's reaction to Kivas Fajo - fear, revulsion... what other traumas stemming from his earlier experiences will there be for Data? For me easily the best of the cameos.
* Shakti - brilliant scenes, bribing any- and everyone, creating shortcuts and workarounds etc - Data and her are a real dream-team
* the cameos

What I didn't like so much:

* as I said at the beginning, the plot felt rushed at the end.
* and that may seem strange, as I also cite them under the positive aspects: the cameos... there were so many at every twist and turn of the story that I gained the impression the story was built around the cameos instead of them helping flesh out the story. Doesn't help that I really hate Mudd.
* Alice's fate: returning her to a life of servitude was harsh and perhaps the one point in Data's actions that's really questionable.

Overall: More please! 8/10

[Jay · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've fallen way behind on my Star Trek prose novel reading. My to-be-read pile is more like a leaning tower these days, that's how far I am behind. So I decided to start whittling down that pile and the first book on the pile was Jeffrey Lang's Star Trek The Next Generation novel The Light Fantastic.

For those not following along with events that have been set after the end of the various TV series, Data is now back among the living and after the 'Cold Equations' trilogy of books, he's no longer a member of Starfleet. And his daughter Lal has been brought back to life as well.

Of course, in this book she's been kidnapped by a familiar and formidable opponent for Data (if you remember the TV series, you'll know remember who the character is). The kidnapper makes certain demands for the return of Lal and that sends Data off on a galaxy spanning adventure.

Accompanied by Geordi La Forge and his enigmatic/sarcastic AI Shakti, Data uses every means at his disposal to accomodate the wishes of the kidnapper. This brings him in contact with enemies from his past as well as the return of a Classic series villain.

Through a winding and twisting series of events, a battle of wits and nerve is waged between Data, the story's villain and anyone else that happens to get in the way of Data's objectives.

The story shows Data in a new light. Given the continued presence of the emotion chip that is part of his makeup now, he's no longer the go along to get along android you might remember. He has his faults and this new version of Data isn't above doing things that could get him into a lot of trouble if caught. His relationship with best friend Geordi is also threatened.

The story, which plays out like a cosmic scavenger hunt, is pretty entertaining but the format of the story took a bit getting used to. The settings bounced all over the place, from the present to flashbacks to the past and while technically in the present, chapters where the villain's motives are at the forefront made for a pinball machine-like read.

Still, the overall entertainment value of the story conquered all and I enjoyed delving back into the Star Trek book universe, which has been one of the most consistently entertaining series in my reading "career".

[Jimyanni · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the "Next Generation" episode "Ship in a Bottle", holodeck foil Professor James Moriarity becomes sufficiently self-aware to realize that he is merely a hologram, a part of a program, and manages to gain sufficient control over the Enterprise's computers to be able to blackmail Picard & co into finding a way to make him tangible, to give him life outside of the holodeck (along with his wife/lover). Picard & co manage to outfox him, giving him a program in a data solid that sufficiently mimics real life to fool him into believing that he has what he wants.

If you've read the "Cold Equations" trilogy which are the predecessors to this book (worth doing, even if they aren't nearly as good as this one is, if for no other reason than to avoid finding yourself saying "What, wait?" every few pages in this one -- the background from those stories isn't strictly necessary to enjoy this one, but it does make it easier to follow) you know that Data has returned from the presumed dead, and has likewise managed, at a high cost, to return his daughter Lal to android life. This book is based on the following proposition:

Proposition: When the Enterprise D crashed in the movie "Generations", power was temporarily interrupted to that cube, damaging the illusion of reality and also forcing the machine to cannibalize some of the aspects of that "universe" permanently in order to maintain enough power to keep Moriarity and the Countess "alive" within it. Moriarity sets out to once again attempt to gain what was promised to him, and what he had thought delivered, so many years before.

Proposition: Data is a very doting helicopter parent, having lost Lal once he is determined to protect her from any and all threats. Lal, not surprisingly, reacts the way any young person does to overly protective parents. She acts out and behaves as a somewhat unruly teenager, trying to find her own identity separate from her father.

Proposition: Way back in the original series episode "I, Mudd", Kirk left Harry Mudd in the custody of the androids, "until he stops being an irritant". Mudd actually managed to corrupt one of the androids into leaving the planet with him and becoming something of an "irritant" herself.

Combine these aspects into a plot for this story, and you have one of the best "Next Generation" novels I've read.

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story.

[Joanna Taylor Stone · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's Star Trek, so on one hand yay! always yay! but really? Harry Mudd and Moriarty again? In the same story with resurrected Lal and Data? Really?

[Michael Gleason · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are precious few Star Trek books that leave me conflicted, but this is one of them. While I enjoyed David Mack's "Cold Equations" trilogy that resurrected Data and established that while he retained the same memories, much like Spock, he was not quite the same person he was before he died, which is fine, he has an emotion chip and has faced tragedies, and thus has had to grapple with emotions. But the book felt a tad uneven, for example, I enjoyed all the diversions into the history and classic characters, and tying in Harry Mudd (especially years before his return on Discovery) was inspired, not to mention bringing back Data's singular antagonist, since Moriarty was created to vex Data, however, I wasn't entirely in love with how Data and Lal have changed since their last appearances. Sure, I don't expect Lal to be exactly the same as she was before her death, but she doesn't, at least to me, feel like Lal, maybe if there had been more to show how she got from point A to B, it would be more believable. In addition, I felt the ending left something to be desired, whether it was authorial intent or not, I really liked Alice, and the idea of one of those androids breaking their programming and escaping was an interesting concept that was entirely wasted, with Alice being sent back to Planet Mudd for seemingly no reason, other than to clean the slate.

That being said, if it wasn't for those two issues, I'd have adored the book completely.

[Aricia Gavriel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Possibly inspired by The Persistence of Memory, the original author of Immortal Coil, Jeffrey Lang, came back many years later to continue the story along his own lines, with The Light Fantastic. Hmm. Well, it was interesting; well written; the plot is airtight; but …

The truth is, bratty teenagers are not my favorite reading, and this story could have been (one cringes to fall back on the threadbare cliché but here we go) "so much more" if it hadn't focused on the bratty teen aspect of Lal. The book is … okay; but it's like Part Two of a trilogy, and there's no next bit that I know of. Like most books, you'll either like it or you won't.

It would be true to say, perhaps because I liked Immortal Coil so much, The Light Fantastic didn't go in the directions I'd wanted it to go -- like buying a ticket for Melbourne and being taken to Canberra instead. Both interesting places, but if you wanted to go to Melbourne you'd be made keenly aware of the gentle art of compromise.

I'll give The Light... four stars because it's very well crafted novel, and my own dislike for the aforementioned bratty teens is pure subjectivity. Other readers might feel a resonance with this book specifically because of the bratty kid!

[Flor Ortega · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yo no puedo ser imparcial con este libro, por lo feliz que hizo leerlo y lo en casa que me sentí en toda la narración. Han sido unos días difíciles y querer terminarlo ha sido una de las cosas que me ha permitido tener un poco de gozo estos días.

Volviendo al libro, si eres fan de Star Trek y has visto La nueva generación, ya es suficiente para entenderlo, con DS9 entiendes la gran mayoría de las indirectas y para captar absolutamente todo, bueno, no te se decir porque hay hoyos en la historia que no estoy segura si es en libros fuera del cannon o películas que no he visto. Pero en fin, aquí tenemos al androide con emociones, Data, su hija Lal y al profesor James Moriarty. Un conjunto de personajes inteligentes y racionales que aún así se sienten tan jumamos que es imposible no sentirles cariño. La experiencia leyéndolo fue maravillosa ♥️

[Elliot Weeks · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was so happy to get a Data story! It’s been so long since we’ve had him featured in the books outside of Cold Equations. The actual story itself didn’t really grab me... I appreciated how the author tried to tie some of the lingering questions with Geordi love triangle but I feel like he missed some better DS9 crossover opportunities when they went to the station (or even having Beverly show up? She was there...) Overall, I was glad to have a Data story, but felt this particular one fell short a bit.

[Laurie Jodice · Rating 5 out of 5]

I super enjoyed this. A great sequel to the Moriarity problem. I loved getting to know Lal and the inclusion of other characters from the past. The lightness and humor approach to this story made it fun and relaxing to read, and is was a nice and welcome break from the we have to save humanity plots that are overly prevalent in the Next Generation books. Bravo to the author. It was worth reading the Next Gen novels leading up to this, especially the cold equations series, to get to the point of reading The Light Fantastic. I wonder if there is a sequel to this particular story line.

[Alydia Kardel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy a good Trek novel now and then and this doesn't disappoint. I did feel like I was coming into the middle of a story with Data returning from the dead along with Lal, but the book was able to stand on its own. If I want to know more about that particular story, it looks like I need to go find the Cold Equations trilogy.

[Bookreader1972 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful book. Was on my "to read" list since it was released, but i had a long backlog of star trek books ahead of it. Didn't think the cold equations trilogy was all that great, other then the return of Data, so that made me slightly worried about this book, but i loved it from cover to cover. 4.5 stars.

[Tourma · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting continuation of the adventures of "I got better" Data. Some of the twists and intentional misleads were a bit "really" but I can't say it doesn't fit the genre.

An enjoyable read. After my friend got me to read this and the Cold Equations trilogy, I think I am a Star Trek fan now.

[Scott Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very enjoyable read. Lang does a good job of exploring the person that Data has become. Geordi provides a useful mirror in which Data can see himself. Lang seems to have fun visiting places and people who are very familiar to Trekkies. I certainly had fun reading about them. I’m very excited for where this book leaves us positioned to go next.

[Frank Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just fantastic. Yeah cheesy pun, but also true. The story is very good and brings in a host of unexpected familiars. I was obviously not the only one to consider Moriarty's fate when the Enterprise D was destroyed.

I'm sure that the disjointed timeline approach is a useful storytelling tool but I generally hate it and the use of it in this was my only qualm with The Light Fantastic.