Capture the Flag

Star Trek: The Next Generation - Starfleet Academy #4

by John Vornholt

It's Geordi La Forge's first year at Starfleet Academy TM, and it isn't going well. He's been all over the galaxy with his Starfleet officer parents, and his blindness has not been a handicap, thanks to his VISOR. But somehow he's always picked last for competitive teams, and deep down he wants to be just like all the other confident students. When he defeats the top-ranked team in an elimination game, Geordi wins the respect of his classmates, and the hatred of the other team's captain, Jack Pettey. Pettey threatens revenge, and his opportunity arrives with training exercises on the planet Saffair. Geordi's team faces Pettey's, and without supervision on the uninhabited world Pettey will stop at nothing to win.

Genres: Star Trek, Science Fiction, Childrens, Fiction, Young Adult, Star Trek The Next Generation

114 pages, Library Binding

First published January 1, 1994

About the author

John Vornholt also writes as Caroline Goode.

Reviews

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

God, there is no word in the tongues of men, ent, or elvish for how much I loved these books as a child.

[Sam E · Rating 5 out of 5]

A favourite from childhood reread just because and it still makes a smile.

[Rebecca Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don’t read a great deal of science fiction*, preferring to watch it (though I watch plenty to make up for it). I do, however, have a real fondness of Star Trek fiction. Moreso than any other genre, these are my real comfort reads. The character are already oh-so-well known to me, the world already so real. It’s something I can read for pure, stress-free enjoyment.

So this week, in between lots of naps and rushed assignment completing (fun, fun week) I picked up one that I’d been saving.

This book is part of the Starfleet Academy series (“before they became officers aboard the U.S.S. Enterprise, you favourite characters struggled through the Academy…”) aimed at YA fans of the series. This was focuses on Geordi La Forge during his first year at the Academy. Having travelled the galaxy with his ’fleeter parents, Geordi’s blindness and reliance on his VISOR has never been a problem, but now at the Academy he finds that it separates him from the others, causing him to always be chosen last.

When he wins a game of elimination against the strong, athletic and very arrogant Cadet Jack Petty, La Forge is made a captain in the upcoming round of offworld war games. He picks himself an unusual team – an Andorian, a Tellarite, a Vulcan, and a Saurian – all those who are usually chosen last. They’re not exactly an imposing group, but they intend to do their best. After all, as Geordi sys, that’s the most anyone can ever ask of you.

I was very curious to read these books, interested to see how they would approach the characters for a younger audience – especially considering that, presumably, they are already fans of the show and, as such, would reject too heavy a modification.

In that regard I think Vornholt did a well. Characters, locations and procedures all stayed true to form. I was hoping for a little more of a back story (along the lines of Jeri Taylor’s wonderful treatise on Kathryn Janeway, Mosaics, or the rest of the Voyager senior staff, Pathways), but not being a writer involved in the creation of the show I can understand why this was not the case. I also would have liked to have seen more of Academy life than just Geordi’s gym class, but as this was only one part of a larger series (and not the first part at that), I imagine I can look forward to that in other instalments.

If you’re an avid fan of the show(s) who likes to taste all the different avenues this universe has explored then I’d recommend the series. I did enjoy it, and found it a nice change of pace from the action of the mainstream novels. If you’re a non-obsessive fan of show (as if that exists) then I’d maybe just stick with the regular novels. The book did not have a great deal of substance and didn’t reveal anything too exciting about the characters.

[Octavia Cade · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick, fun read about Geordi La Forge playing war games at Starfleet Academy. Geordi's a good choice of focus for that storyline, given that he's friendly and generally laid back, a science nerd who is really not that into war games but will still give them his best effort. I have vanishingly little interest in war games myself, so it's enjoyable to see a character who's doing his best for his team mates but isn't that invested in winning at all costs. There is, of course, one unpleasant cadet who takes the competition far too seriously and clearly wants to to smack the shit out of people, as well as a team full of the people who are always picked last in PE, and it all goes exactly how you'd expect. The total lack of surprise doesn't take away from the essential good nature of the piece, however, and by the end even the bullying cadet has become a bit more decent.

Finally, I love that Geordi ends the book more convinced than ever that science and engineering is far more interesting than being in charge and having to fight people. Because it is.

[Travis · Rating 3 out of 5]

These short stories about the next generation characters are interesting, entertaining, and quick to read, the best thing for a time of staying home. I'll be reading more of these in the next couple of weeks to be sure.

[Jerry (Rebel With a Massive Media Library) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good...but not quite Star Trek as I've come to expect it.

[W · Rating 2 out of 5]

Geordi is my least favourite TNG character. The book was just about ok,nothing special.

[Vorik · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gelungener Jugendroman.
Der kleine Roman schildert einige Erlebnisse Gerodi LaForges im ersten Jahr an der Sternenflottenakademie. Eine gute und teilweise spannende Geschichte mit Botschaft: Freundschaft, Toleranz, Temageist. Ideal für die jugendliche Zielgruppe. Das Buch ist mit einigen Illustrationen zur Handlung versehen. Schöne Idee. Ein kleiner Wermutstropfen: Manche Illustrationen befassen sich mit wichtigen Handlungspunkten, die im Text erst zwei bis drei Seiten nach dem Bild den Leser erreichen. Dadruch wird der Spannungsbogen leider schon vor der Textstelle aufgelöst. Kleiner Tipp: Vor dem Lesen die letzten vier Bilder im Roman von jemanden mit Post-it-Zettel zukleben lassen und erst danach das Buch beginnen zu lesen.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

Surprisingly solid entry, considering that it revolves around Geordi playing what we normally think of as a kid's game. And though it's on nowhere near the same level as THE HUNGER GAMES or HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE, it does manage to capture something of that same spirit. Personally, I'm a sucker for stories about teens participating in violent sporting events, so I enjoyed this one quite a bit. Not much here in terms of story and plotting, but author John Vornholt does a great job of making you feel heavily invested in Geordi and his team's success.

[Frank Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story was simple, positive and a whole lot of fun. I enjoyed the story and the fairly perfect representation of the Geordi we all love. Boothby's appearance was a treat!

[Dan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read this as a kid, doesn't hold up as an adult, but would still be good for kids.

[Scott Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is, perhaps, not especially sophisticated but it’s perfect for its target audience. It feels very much like a TNG story/message.

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading this as an adult. I would have really enjoyed this as a child. Solid storytelling. Well crafted middle grades LaForge story.

[Laurie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had a “reread a childhood favorite” prompt left, so went and grabbed this one from my bookshelf, lol. Omg I loved this book so much back then and it’s still a winner ❤️

[Mikael Kuoppala · Rating 3 out of 5]

A well paced and nicely written but highly inconsequential story about Geordi LaForge's first academy year. Many of these Starfleet Academy- this one included- novels have the problem of presenting the Federation and its inhabitants with a too contemporary feel. It might make them more easily relatable, but it's still a cheat.

"Capture the Flag" has universal themes about the discovery of self and the personal growth of a young adult. Those themes are handles nicely, but are thin filling for a somewhat entertaining but forgettable piece of Trek literature.

[Sean Randall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Somehow, I really got into this story. Geordi is a character I liked, and he's handled very well here by a respected Trek author. Also, who hasn't played capture the flag? So as well as memories of great Star Trek episodes, I got memories of my misbegotten childhood as well. This one really hit home, and I loved it.

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

Geordi is doing ok at the academy, he just does not like gym. He always gets picked last. Then he goes on a training exercise to capture the flag. This is a good childrens book, particularly for those who arent necessarily the most fit. I thought the growth of the characters was well done and the capture the flag games were quickly plotted. A good read.

[Brian Kirk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just as the rest of the Star Trek tng starfleet academy books this one was straight and to the point, obviously geared towards a younger audience I still found the book entertaining and well written. It was a good experience to read stories about the enterprise crew before they all got together.

[Nathaniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

what an amazing book. up there for my favorite book ever; I still cackle with glee, years later, when I think about Vernok.

[Jasmine]

I read this while someone else returned books to a library not mine, therefore ingesting it in about 15 minutes total, and my memories are — hazy. I seem to remember Gordie winning cause some idiots forgot that he could see heat. But honestly yeah, read this in 15 minutes at age 11. Could probably stand to re-read.

[Elijah Schroeder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quite possibly one of my favorites in the series, this book takes Geordi on the most interesting game of capture the flag on a foriegn world against his arch rivals with a team of misfits.