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Star Trek: The Next Generation #2
The Peace Keepers
Exploring a deserted alien spaceship, Lt. Commander Data and Lt. Geordi La Forge suddenly find themselves transported light years away – into the middle of a deadly conflict!
While Captain Picard and the crew of the USS Enterprise™ search feverishly for the missing crewmen, Data and La Forge discover they are in a station almost identical to the one they were exploring, high in orbit around an Earth-type world. Years before, the occupants of that planet accidentally stumbled onto the ship and its advanced technology – and since then have used its weapons to keep the nations on the planet below disarmed, and at peace.
Now their own arrival has precipitated a crisis on the station. Somehow Data and La Forge must find a way to restore trust between the planet below and the station's guardians up above – before a final, destructive war breaks out!
While Captain Picard and the crew of the USS Enterprise™ search feverishly for the missing crewmen, Data and La Forge discover they are in a station almost identical to the one they were exploring, high in orbit around an Earth-type world. Years before, the occupants of that planet accidentally stumbled onto the ship and its advanced technology – and since then have used its weapons to keep the nations on the planet below disarmed, and at peace.
Now their own arrival has precipitated a crisis on the station. Somehow Data and La Forge must find a way to restore trust between the planet below and the station's guardians up above – before a final, destructive war breaks out!
320 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 1988
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 118 reviews
November 10, 2022
Because it was one of the earliest novels, ST: TNG #2 The Peacekeepers written by Gene Deweese, the characterization of the crew was not completely dead-on accurate, but still, it is well-worth a read by any fan. Hardcore fans may have a bit of a problem with certain elements of consistency, but again, enjoyable. Both the science and story aspects are plausible and engaging. While exploring a seemingly deserted ship, Geordi and Data are transported away into the middle of a conflict that appears to have placed them somewhere else. Meanwhile, the crew avidly searches for the missing crewmen with no clue where they might have gone. I know fans tend to over-correct what are deemed as flaws, so I’m staying down the middle of the road with this one, because it is overtly long-winded, and many of the characters don’t behave the way we are accustomed. It’s OK although the narrative dumps run long, and I think if you can suppress the argumentative tendencies of the super-fan then you might want to check this one out.
January 21, 2024
More space opera fun.
August 3, 2018
A vast improvement from the first TNG novel. The first couple of tie in books in a series never fully has the characteristics perfect, but I could hear the actors voices more clearly in this one.
The story’s main focus sees Data and Geordi stranded from the rest of the crew, there’s some nice dialogue between the pair.
As this is set during the first season, I felt that the story fitted in seamlessly. A little slow in places but nevertheless and enjoyable read.
The story’s main focus sees Data and Geordi stranded from the rest of the crew, there’s some nice dialogue between the pair.
As this is set during the first season, I felt that the story fitted in seamlessly. A little slow in places but nevertheless and enjoyable read.
August 9, 2024
The second book in the Star Trek The Next Generation book series, Gene DeWeese's "The Peacekeepers" was a decent if rather uninspired (and uninspiring) adventure for the crew of the Enterprise.
An ancient derelict spacecraft is discovered in deep space. An away team comprised of Chief Engineer Geordi LaForge and the android Data are suddenty transported off the ship to an unknown location. Captain Picard et al frantically work to find them. Meanwhile, Geordi and Data find themselves on a planet populated by a civilization that has not yet perfected space travel but have developed an out-of-control global nuclear arms race. Any resemblance to actual nations or events are purely coincidental.
While DeWeese tries to give most of the main characters plenty of "airtime", the brunt of the action involves Geordi and Data. I didn't mind this, as they were two of my favorite characters. Thankfully, Wesley Crusher is nowhere to be seen in this.
An ancient derelict spacecraft is discovered in deep space. An away team comprised of Chief Engineer Geordi LaForge and the android Data are suddenty transported off the ship to an unknown location. Captain Picard et al frantically work to find them. Meanwhile, Geordi and Data find themselves on a planet populated by a civilization that has not yet perfected space travel but have developed an out-of-control global nuclear arms race. Any resemblance to actual nations or events are purely coincidental.
While DeWeese tries to give most of the main characters plenty of "airtime", the brunt of the action involves Geordi and Data. I didn't mind this, as they were two of my favorite characters. Thankfully, Wesley Crusher is nowhere to be seen in this.
September 21, 2020
Bit of a mixed bag here. The writing's thoughtful and it's a book about ideas rather than action, although there is some of the latter, no question. But the first half is also very slow and just a wee bit dull. I was planning on two stars until the halfway point, where things began to improve quite a bit and even some of the rather heavy-handed allegories weren't impacting on my enjoyment. I was beginning to think this was a solid three star read, until we hit the ridiculous ending. Worf finally gets something to do and it's tonally jarring and just painful, all the more so because the story had been setting up a discussion about the prices of power, and what happens when one group decides to abuse it. Well, nothing, that's what happens. Tasha Yar has an interesting point when she predicts what's going to happen to the exploitative bunch aboard the satellite, and honestly... there's an argument to be made that both justice and the Prime Directive say to let that prediction play out. Instead the PD is used to justify the opposite, and - I can't say I wouldn't mind so much, because the end really is dreadful - but I'd mind it a tiny little bit less if there'd been some considered discussion about the fact that when it comes to oppressing your fellow citizens, on your own head be the consequences when they finally rise up.
Finally, I don't have the faintest idea why Worf and Troi are on the cover of this book. They both have very minor roles - the main characters here are clearly Geordi and Data, and by a significant margin. Cover decisions really make no sense at all sometimes.
Finally, I don't have the faintest idea why Worf and Troi are on the cover of this book. They both have very minor roles - the main characters here are clearly Geordi and Data, and by a significant margin. Cover decisions really make no sense at all sometimes.
December 21, 2016
OMG this was such a slog to get through! This story was so talky, which isn't necessarily bad, but in this case nothing gets done or even really said. It was also boring and, in many ways, poorly written thanks to Gene DeWeese not knowing how TNG crew interacts with one another. (As I said in my update, Counselor Troi would never call the captain 'Jean-Luc' while on the bridge; I don't believe she even called him 'Jean-Luc' in private. That would've been Beverly's privilege. Troi would use either 'Captain' or 'Sir'. Yet DeWeese has Troi calling him 'Jean-Luc' not once, but twice! Other crew interactions were just as bad.) It makes me wonder just how familiar with TNG story history DeWeese truly was.
I'd recommend skipping this one, and I'm speaking as someone who comes close to being physically incapable of skipping books (or films) in a series.
I'd recommend skipping this one, and I'm speaking as someone who comes close to being physically incapable of skipping books (or films) in a series.
January 6, 2025
This would be the 2nd time I've read this - and I'm unsure why I forgot to write a review the first time, although, if pressed, I'd probably say because this story is relatively unremarkable.
As with most Star Trek novels, I tend to judge the cover based on the content of the book - and this one is woefully inadequate. Contrary to the cover, this is not a Worf-Picard-Troi story, for it is pretty much solely a Geordi-Data story. However, this ship depicted on the cover matches a ship that appears later on in the story rather accurately. Although, spoilers, this ship isn't real, being a holographic projection, only lasting for a few pages, and mostly used as a stinger between two chapters - much like heading into/coming back from a commercial break.
As I stated, the story is rather bland, featuring a somewhat tepid danger/mystery that is rather easily solved, stakes which really aren't that high for the crew or the people they are "saving," and the dangers faced by the crew are either non-existent, easily overcome, or completely incapable of posing a true danger based on the tools and technology possessed by the crew. And, there is no B-story, as I would define it. Data and Geordi are the A-story and everyone else trying to find out what happened to them/where they are is the "B-story."
Having said that...it's a perfectly serviceable Season One episode.
As with most Star Trek novels, I tend to judge the cover based on the content of the book - and this one is woefully inadequate. Contrary to the cover, this is not a Worf-Picard-Troi story, for it is pretty much solely a Geordi-Data story. However, this ship depicted on the cover matches a ship that appears later on in the story rather accurately. Although, spoilers, this ship isn't real, being a holographic projection, only lasting for a few pages, and mostly used as a stinger between two chapters - much like heading into/coming back from a commercial break.
As I stated, the story is rather bland, featuring a somewhat tepid danger/mystery that is rather easily solved, stakes which really aren't that high for the crew or the people they are "saving," and the dangers faced by the crew are either non-existent, easily overcome, or completely incapable of posing a true danger based on the tools and technology possessed by the crew. And, there is no B-story, as I would define it. Data and Geordi are the A-story and everyone else trying to find out what happened to them/where they are is the "B-story."
Having said that...it's a perfectly serviceable Season One episode.
December 5, 2018
In many ways, I felt that The Peacekeepers works well as a TNG adventure. While some of the characterizations are still not quite what we see on screen, you can tell that the book series is starting to better align with the show as we go forward. The guest characters have an interesting role to play, and while the plot isn't the most exciting, this novel still managed to keep my interest throughout. Overall, a satisfactory early adventure for the TNG crew.
Full review: http://www.treklit.com/2018/12/tng02....
Full review: http://www.treklit.com/2018/12/tng02....
March 24, 2014
Not a worthwhile TNG novel. Some interesting insights into how Geordi sees the world, but otherwise it takes place mostly off of Enterprise and is not very interesting. Also, Troi kept calling the captain "Jean Luc". Very strange...
September 25, 2020
This was a fun little romp. An ancient derelict spaceship and disappearing crewmen? I'm down.
July 8, 2011
After reading the first book I was really hoping the second would turn things around for the characters. It sort of succeeded on this front, because I didn’t feel as outraged by the characters as the first book. So whatever attempt the author made to simulate the characters they did a semi decent job. Data still feels a bit off, but I went back and watched the first season and I feel like his character changed a bit between the first and second seasons. Since these novels are based around the first season, I see where the authors would get their ideas about Data. The unfortunate part is that the story actually isn’t as good as the first book. The first book at least had an interesting plot to keep me reading, but this one became rather dry and dull over the course of the book.
This story is mainly focused on the adventures of Data and Geordi. The Enterprise has been given information about an ancient derelict from the Ferengi and they have chosen to investigate it. Anyway, while Geordi and Data are on the derelict something goes wrong, as is expected, and they get transported off to some other craft many light years away. As usual with the show this leaves the cast with two problems to solve at once.
Unfortunately this is where the story got boring for me. Geordi and Data got transported to some place orbiting another planet and they were treated as if they were the great creators of the craft. It was sort of like having God like status, which I found rather cliché at this point in my reading career. The planet’s history was no different than your basic Cold War scenario where nations were at a standstill on the brink of mutually assured destruction. So basically the place was just like Earth, only called something else. Anyway, one of the people there saved his planet by using the ancient technology and then basically set himself up as a leader. So now Geordi and Data are stuck in a situation with all kinds of political intrigue and the problem of getting back to the Enterprise.
As a novel it was ho hum, very average. The plot was entirely contrived and done to death. Maybe I have just run into this story format too many times already, but this particular incarnation of it didn’t bring me anything new, in my opinion. This is probably a novel to be missed and I am still holding out for when the novels get better. I see the ratings by other readers improve on the later novels… so I will keep reading!
This story is mainly focused on the adventures of Data and Geordi. The Enterprise has been given information about an ancient derelict from the Ferengi and they have chosen to investigate it. Anyway, while Geordi and Data are on the derelict something goes wrong, as is expected, and they get transported off to some other craft many light years away. As usual with the show this leaves the cast with two problems to solve at once.
Unfortunately this is where the story got boring for me. Geordi and Data got transported to some place orbiting another planet and they were treated as if they were the great creators of the craft. It was sort of like having God like status, which I found rather cliché at this point in my reading career. The planet’s history was no different than your basic Cold War scenario where nations were at a standstill on the brink of mutually assured destruction. So basically the place was just like Earth, only called something else. Anyway, one of the people there saved his planet by using the ancient technology and then basically set himself up as a leader. So now Geordi and Data are stuck in a situation with all kinds of political intrigue and the problem of getting back to the Enterprise.
As a novel it was ho hum, very average. The plot was entirely contrived and done to death. Maybe I have just run into this story format too many times already, but this particular incarnation of it didn’t bring me anything new, in my opinion. This is probably a novel to be missed and I am still holding out for when the novels get better. I see the ratings by other readers improve on the later novels… so I will keep reading!
December 7, 2015
Even twenty years or more after reading it, I remember that this was a particularly interesting and engrossing Star Dreck novel. Gene DeWeese's Star Dreck novels usually are. It's about someone using abandoned alien weapons to prevent war through fear on his planet.
March 21, 2014
Even for a big fan like me this book is hard. The story is lame, the characters are just stupid and nothing really happens. It's just a long and than this happens and than this happens....
October 22, 2015
Just dull. I kept waiting for something interesting but nothing.
April 27, 2021
Maybe it's just because the last Trek book I read was such dog shit, but I really enjoyed this one. The plot, and especially the ending, were super contrived (when the characters in the novel talk about how unbelievable the book's resolution is, you know there is a problem), but if you are going to enjoy any Star Trek media at all then you have to cut it some slack because that's just how Star Trek is.
March 5, 2023
I wondering if I'm reading the same book some reviewers did. For the most part I really enjoyed the story. It felt like a satisfying Star Trek episode. This being said I am still working my way through TNG episodes for the first time (currently on season 2) so maybe I'm not completely influenced by the series vs. book.
There was much action throughout the book and I liked reading about the familiar characters. This is the first ST book I've read and already have the second one ready. Looking forward to continuing on with this series.
There was much action throughout the book and I liked reading about the familiar characters. This is the first ST book I've read and already have the second one ready. Looking forward to continuing on with this series.
February 12, 2026
This was awesome. It felt like a Star Trek episode, this author really understood the characters and how they act/their motivations
Hopefully more like this in the series
Hopefully more like this in the series
Read
May 12, 2022First off, I would echo the sentiments of others here that it’s probably fans of the franchise and this cast that are the most likely to enjoy this and even then, only in a completionist kind of mindset. The story isn’t great and feels like, if it had been made into an episode it would have felt right at home among the early first season. These were the times when the actors were still finding their way with the characters and the writers of these novels had less of a structure and tone to work within. As a result, some aspects of this are going to feel a bit off if you are really conversant with the show.
The story does present an interesting focus on Geordi and Data, probably the high point of the book as we see them early on in their friendship. It does raise the question though as to why it’s Worf and Troi featured on the cover. And the use of the technology, transporters in particular, present an interesting puzzle for the crew to try and solve.
The story has an interesting potential to it and some cool moments. I was intrigued by the concept of an individual using the technology of an advanced species in order to stop war and essentially becoming a dictator himself. But the issue is handled so heavily in dry exposition and with a bunch of new characters making the ending really confusing, I just didn’t care that much. The geography of the book is also kind of muddy and at times it’s hard to tell where the characters are. And the end of the book just feels a little too neat to me with a convenient plan that is hatched to solve the problem without completely trashing the Prime Directive.
It’s mildly entertaining, with some interesting character notes here and there but I don’t know if this is a book I would recommend too strongly.
The story does present an interesting focus on Geordi and Data, probably the high point of the book as we see them early on in their friendship. It does raise the question though as to why it’s Worf and Troi featured on the cover. And the use of the technology, transporters in particular, present an interesting puzzle for the crew to try and solve.
The story has an interesting potential to it and some cool moments. I was intrigued by the concept of an individual using the technology of an advanced species in order to stop war and essentially becoming a dictator himself. But the issue is handled so heavily in dry exposition and with a bunch of new characters making the ending really confusing, I just didn’t care that much. The geography of the book is also kind of muddy and at times it’s hard to tell where the characters are. And the end of the book just feels a little too neat to me with a convenient plan that is hatched to solve the problem without completely trashing the Prime Directive.
It’s mildly entertaining, with some interesting character notes here and there but I don’t know if this is a book I would recommend too strongly.
August 14, 2013
Aside from providing mindless diversion on a train ride, there isn't much positive to be said for this. It makes a poor sci fi story, has awkward characterization even for a plot set in TNG's inferior first season, and stretches believability within the broad confines of the Star Trek universe. The story unfolds in an agonizingly slow manner where half the time is spent with futile searching by the Enterprise's early engineer and the constant berating of the crew by a demanding Picard. For awhile I read this while substituting character names from the Original series and it actually made a bit more 'sense' as a story, it was at least more recognizable. Coming in the earliest days of TNG and written by fans of primarily the original series, this may be why an early novel such as this feels so off and crude.
January 15, 2020
Stopped reading it, never finished. This books suffers greatly from having been written way too soon, by someone not fully familiar with the characters.
The story revolves primarily around Data and Geordi. Geordi's overreaction to everything is partly forgiveable, but oh shit, Data is just annoying. Every single thing has to be in-depth analyzed. Data has never been portrayed as, well, stupid as he is in this book. And it happens a lot.
Not worth having to go through that in every single Data "scene" just to get through the story.
I realize the author was working with the little info they had, but it's simply not good enough. TNG books should have not been released until after the first season, so authors would be able to actually see and base their stories on the show's characters rather than basic descriptions.
The story revolves primarily around Data and Geordi. Geordi's overreaction to everything is partly forgiveable, but oh shit, Data is just annoying. Every single thing has to be in-depth analyzed. Data has never been portrayed as, well, stupid as he is in this book. And it happens a lot.
Not worth having to go through that in every single Data "scene" just to get through the story.
I realize the author was working with the little info they had, but it's simply not good enough. TNG books should have not been released until after the first season, so authors would be able to actually see and base their stories on the show's characters rather than basic descriptions.
June 30, 2017
Early novel for Star Trek: The Next Generation, and it shows. As I start to read all of the novels 30 years after the show debuted, I now realize that the authors that they picked to write the first handful of novels had no clue about any of the characters, the backgrounds or personalities. The story was not compelling as the dangers that Data and Geordi faced were week and didn't have any tension. I kept wanting to care about the characters, but I just couldn't. There was no action at all, it just was a lot of talking and unexplained events.
May 5, 2017
The worst Star Trek TNG I have ever read. These expanded cannon books can be hit or miss, but this one is like Bizzaro World TNG. Nobody acts like they would in the series. Picard is mean and cranky and yelling at everyone. Gerodi walks all over the Prime directive (after repeatedly thinking to himself, “Is this what Picard would do?”) Data just plays along with the whole thing. They put a whole world (and their lives) at risk because of it.
January 10, 2014
Being very early in the TNG timeline, both show and novel, this was "nothing more" than a parable of our world and future potentially going astray if we don't get our act together. Low-tech and unknowingly inaccurate (it claims Geordi has no physical eyes vs. just being blind), but the episodic beats were predictably hit. The ending was an incredible farce of eye-widening "really?!"
June 20, 2022
I’ll give the author credit that apart from Troi who continued to call the Captain “Jean-Luc” on the bridge they got the voices right for a first season book. The story on the other hand was weak, confusing and seemed to incorporate Prime Directive only after it had been purposely broken by Geordi earlier in the story
September 20, 2021
The Peacekeepers
The second installment in the TNG book universe far exceeds Diane Carey's Ghost Ship, the book that preceded it. That said, The Peacekeepers is not without fault, so let's get into it. The books main premise is a good and solid idea. Stumbling on an artificial, and apparently abandoned, satellite, the Enterprise seeks to explore the derelict and the technological hardware it possesses. Once aboard, members of the away team are beamed across vast expanses of space and come in contact with a less developed species under the control of a man potentially possessed by the alien technology. It's up to the members of the away team to find a way back to the Enterprise, and for the Enterprise to find a way to recover their missing crewman...before it's too late.
With a solid plot, the book starts out in spectacular ways. Wrapped in mystery and suspense, the author spins a well told tale that grips the reader from page one. This, the first third of the book, is the stories high point. I devoured the intrigue and mystery that the setting and character interaction offered. The focus the author had, made for an ability to whip through the pages as the story pushed faster and faster at incredible pace. Thankfully there was little in the way of filler or overloaded character development that mired the tale. I thoroughly enjoyed this part of the book...however.
Once reaching the second third of the book the enjoyable plot made way for the introduction to the alien race, a race that by all measure lacked any real attraction. And even though this introduction to a watered down “enemy” wasn't as enjoyable as I had hoped, the issue I had with it isn't in the story but in the structure. Very little of the book explores this new alien race in a way that connects with the reader, or at least this one. This could have been fixed with a simple structure correction. Instead of jumping directly into the Enterprise plot, the book should have had a prelude that told the tale we later read in the book. If this tale had been moved up, the reader would have had a better understanding of the race's backstory. Given that this did not happen, I felt like the author made for uncompelling characters that had no true enjoyable depth.
And this is where the book's biggest issue is. Almost all the Enterprise and her crew's tale is great. Except for a little bit of Picard's explosiveness from Ghost Ship creeping into this tale, the rest of the crews story and description was spot on...although the whole Troi/Riker mini-story could have been cut. I loved almost every page that Data and La Forge where put on, only the thin characters they where put on the page with made for an unbalanced story.
There was enough action through the second third of the book to be entertained by, and then the last third of the book was written. Although the action in the last third was enjoyable, it felt as if the tale lost a lot of it's creative steam. Characters finally received some backstory, but the newly introduced backstory seemed to open up lazy and convenient solutions to plot problems. And even though all the plot points are wrapped up in the end, the last third of the book felt like work to get through.
In the end the story was a good one, one that needed to carry on the great mystery a bit longer, more backstory of the alien race that not only found the derelict but created it as well, and a bit of a structure reshuffling. Recommended for the first third especially, but as a whole overall.
Soft 4 out of 5 stars.
The second installment in the TNG book universe far exceeds Diane Carey's Ghost Ship, the book that preceded it. That said, The Peacekeepers is not without fault, so let's get into it. The books main premise is a good and solid idea. Stumbling on an artificial, and apparently abandoned, satellite, the Enterprise seeks to explore the derelict and the technological hardware it possesses. Once aboard, members of the away team are beamed across vast expanses of space and come in contact with a less developed species under the control of a man potentially possessed by the alien technology. It's up to the members of the away team to find a way back to the Enterprise, and for the Enterprise to find a way to recover their missing crewman...before it's too late.
With a solid plot, the book starts out in spectacular ways. Wrapped in mystery and suspense, the author spins a well told tale that grips the reader from page one. This, the first third of the book, is the stories high point. I devoured the intrigue and mystery that the setting and character interaction offered. The focus the author had, made for an ability to whip through the pages as the story pushed faster and faster at incredible pace. Thankfully there was little in the way of filler or overloaded character development that mired the tale. I thoroughly enjoyed this part of the book...however.
Once reaching the second third of the book the enjoyable plot made way for the introduction to the alien race, a race that by all measure lacked any real attraction. And even though this introduction to a watered down “enemy” wasn't as enjoyable as I had hoped, the issue I had with it isn't in the story but in the structure. Very little of the book explores this new alien race in a way that connects with the reader, or at least this one. This could have been fixed with a simple structure correction. Instead of jumping directly into the Enterprise plot, the book should have had a prelude that told the tale we later read in the book. If this tale had been moved up, the reader would have had a better understanding of the race's backstory. Given that this did not happen, I felt like the author made for uncompelling characters that had no true enjoyable depth.
And this is where the book's biggest issue is. Almost all the Enterprise and her crew's tale is great. Except for a little bit of Picard's explosiveness from Ghost Ship creeping into this tale, the rest of the crews story and description was spot on...although the whole Troi/Riker mini-story could have been cut. I loved almost every page that Data and La Forge where put on, only the thin characters they where put on the page with made for an unbalanced story.
There was enough action through the second third of the book to be entertained by, and then the last third of the book was written. Although the action in the last third was enjoyable, it felt as if the tale lost a lot of it's creative steam. Characters finally received some backstory, but the newly introduced backstory seemed to open up lazy and convenient solutions to plot problems. And even though all the plot points are wrapped up in the end, the last third of the book felt like work to get through.
In the end the story was a good one, one that needed to carry on the great mystery a bit longer, more backstory of the alien race that not only found the derelict but created it as well, and a bit of a structure reshuffling. Recommended for the first third especially, but as a whole overall.
Soft 4 out of 5 stars.
November 10, 2021
― A fost o pistă falsă, ofiţer I, dar trebuie să recunosc că nu mă deranjează deloc.
De fapt, căpitanul Jean-Luc Picard nu era chiar deloc nemulţumit. Un zâmbet uşor dădea o impresie de relaxare trăsăturilor lui severe. Se aşeză în fotoliul confortabil. Pe monitorul principal, stelele răzleţe ale acelei zone îndepărtate din Orion Arm treceau pe lângă Enterprise, care se îndrepta cu viteză superluminică spre cea mai apropiată bază stelară, aflată la sute de parseci distanţă.
Aşezat la dreapta lui Picard, comandantul William Riker zâmbea.
― Ferengii nu sunt cel mai plăcut popor cu care să ai de-a face, chiar şi în cele mai bune situaţii.
Picard dădu aprobator din cap. Umbra unei amintiri îi înăspri brusc trăsăturile.
― Începi să ai darul de a înţelege, ofiţer I. În ceea ce mă priveşte, nu m-ar deranja să nu mai am de-a face cu ei până la sfârşitul carierei mele. N-aş vrea nici măcar să le mai aud numele.
― Să privim lucrurile în altă lumină, spuse Riker. N-am găsit nicio dovadă că ferengii ar fi fost activi în acest sector, dar am descoperit două planete de clasă M. Peste câteva generaţii amândouă vor fi pregătite să intre în contact cu Federaţia.
― Da, căpitane, îi sări în ajutor locotenentul comandant Data care se afla la pupitrul lui, orice misiune în care descoperi peste trei miliarde de fiinţe conştiente, nu poate fi considerată „o pistă falsă”.
Riker zâmbi în timp ce se uită spre android.
― Mă uimeşte că această frază îţi e cunoscută, Data!
― Dimpotrivă, comandante, n-o cunosc. Am fost chiar uimit atunci când căpitanul a folosit-o pentru prima dată. Conform indicaţiilor mele, ferengii ― chiar dacă valorile lor nu coincid cu cele ale Federaţiei ― nu pot fi consideraţi „sălbatici” în sensul că ar fi necivilizaţi, barbari sau primitivi. Nici nu au ca strămoşi, păsările. De aceea, am tras concluzia că, această frază este o figură de stil a oamenilor şi care nu este inclusă în programul meu. Dar, schimbul de păreri dintre tine şi căpitan m-a făcut, cred, să deduc adevăratul înţeles.
Riker râse.
― Şi care ar fi acest înţeles?
Data trase aer în piept şi se aşeză mai bine pe scaun, asemeni unui student căruia i se ceruse să recite.
― Un proiect a ratat din cauză că informaţia care l-a generat era falsă sau eronată, spuse el, apoi aruncă o privire întrebătoare către Picard.
― Foarte bine, Data, spuse căpitanul cu o umbră de zâmbet. N-am mai auzit o definiţie mai precisă ― mai ales de la cineva care a auzit expresia asta abia acum o clipă.
― Mulţumesc, domnule, dar eu am fost creat ca să…
Brusc, Data tăcu, ochii aurii se stinseră imperceptibil, în momentul în care pe monitorul din faţa lui apăru un mesaj. Degetele lui dansară o clipă pe suprafaţa pupitrului, confirmând şi întărind informaţia.
De fapt, căpitanul Jean-Luc Picard nu era chiar deloc nemulţumit. Un zâmbet uşor dădea o impresie de relaxare trăsăturilor lui severe. Se aşeză în fotoliul confortabil. Pe monitorul principal, stelele răzleţe ale acelei zone îndepărtate din Orion Arm treceau pe lângă Enterprise, care se îndrepta cu viteză superluminică spre cea mai apropiată bază stelară, aflată la sute de parseci distanţă.
Aşezat la dreapta lui Picard, comandantul William Riker zâmbea.
― Ferengii nu sunt cel mai plăcut popor cu care să ai de-a face, chiar şi în cele mai bune situaţii.
Picard dădu aprobator din cap. Umbra unei amintiri îi înăspri brusc trăsăturile.
― Începi să ai darul de a înţelege, ofiţer I. În ceea ce mă priveşte, nu m-ar deranja să nu mai am de-a face cu ei până la sfârşitul carierei mele. N-aş vrea nici măcar să le mai aud numele.
― Să privim lucrurile în altă lumină, spuse Riker. N-am găsit nicio dovadă că ferengii ar fi fost activi în acest sector, dar am descoperit două planete de clasă M. Peste câteva generaţii amândouă vor fi pregătite să intre în contact cu Federaţia.
― Da, căpitane, îi sări în ajutor locotenentul comandant Data care se afla la pupitrul lui, orice misiune în care descoperi peste trei miliarde de fiinţe conştiente, nu poate fi considerată „o pistă falsă”.
Riker zâmbi în timp ce se uită spre android.
― Mă uimeşte că această frază îţi e cunoscută, Data!
― Dimpotrivă, comandante, n-o cunosc. Am fost chiar uimit atunci când căpitanul a folosit-o pentru prima dată. Conform indicaţiilor mele, ferengii ― chiar dacă valorile lor nu coincid cu cele ale Federaţiei ― nu pot fi consideraţi „sălbatici” în sensul că ar fi necivilizaţi, barbari sau primitivi. Nici nu au ca strămoşi, păsările. De aceea, am tras concluzia că, această frază este o figură de stil a oamenilor şi care nu este inclusă în programul meu. Dar, schimbul de păreri dintre tine şi căpitan m-a făcut, cred, să deduc adevăratul înţeles.
Riker râse.
― Şi care ar fi acest înţeles?
Data trase aer în piept şi se aşeză mai bine pe scaun, asemeni unui student căruia i se ceruse să recite.
― Un proiect a ratat din cauză că informaţia care l-a generat era falsă sau eronată, spuse el, apoi aruncă o privire întrebătoare către Picard.
― Foarte bine, Data, spuse căpitanul cu o umbră de zâmbet. N-am mai auzit o definiţie mai precisă ― mai ales de la cineva care a auzit expresia asta abia acum o clipă.
― Mulţumesc, domnule, dar eu am fost creat ca să…
Brusc, Data tăcu, ochii aurii se stinseră imperceptibil, în momentul în care pe monitorul din faţa lui apăru un mesaj. Degetele lui dansară o clipă pe suprafaţa pupitrului, confirmând şi întărind informaţia.
October 17, 2021
Part of BookTrek2021 (September is ST:TNG)
It wasn’t all that bad. Seriously, I’m surprised.
The story starts out well, the Enterprise is exploring new territory and encounters a derelict spacecraft, at least 10,000 years old, that seems to be functioning on very minimal power. An away team is beamed over to investigate but unfortunately it’s a pretty boring investigation. I would have liked to have been given little bits of information of the aliens who built this spacecraft, or some crumbs as to what it was for … but nothing, nada - it’s just empty corridors with empty rooms.
Reading the book I see that DeWeese waited to the end to give us some details, but honestly, I would have liked a couple crumbs up front.
Anyway, spoiler free, LaForge and Data are transported off the derelict to somewhere else, leaving Picard and the crew shaking their fists at the apparently not-so-dead derelict. While Picard is making Worf run scans of every inch of space, ordering Riker and Argyle to search all the compartments of the ship, and wearing down the bridge carpets with his pacing, LaForge and Data wake up inside a smaller version of the derelict wondering how they got there and seeing a cryo-chamber (which is never explained) and a helmet ... yes, the helmet that is is important to the plot.
Fiddling around a bit must have triggered an alarm because LaForge and Data are approached by an alien away team (no, not the aliens who built the derelict) and are brought to the Peacekeepers station. These folks keep the peace on the planet below, sort of. It’s not a spoiler to tell you that there’s only one guy (Shar-Lon) that actually keeps the peace - LaForge and Data meet him and he goes on about finding the derelict and using it to keep the peace on the planet below. Why is it not a spoiler? Because the Peacekeepers as a organization do not play a role in the plot.
Again, no details on the aliens who built the derelict. Shar-Lon doesn’t know them either.
Meanwhile, back on the Enterprise, Riker comes up with a plan to get the missing crewmen back, a plan that is, quite frankly, crazy - but hey, it’s Star Trek so I’ll let it slide. Picard allows Riker to proceed and ends up losing another two crew members - Riker and Yar. Really Tasha, really?
What’s unbelievable is that Riker and Yar actually end up beaming to the same derelict as Data and LaForge were beamed to. That tells me that they are incredibly lucky; or, that the main derelict was programmed to beam occupants to only that destination - again DeWeese gives us nothing. Nothing in the story implies LaForge and Data were still alive - their atoms could have been dispersed throughout space or transported into a Sun. We only have Riker’s “hunch” which, turns out, was right.
Long story short, Riker and Yar find Data and LaForge and they are reunited with the Enterprise. Oh, of course there are the peacekeepers orbiting the planet and one guy trying to kill another guy, that same guy vying for power, another guy lying to the guy whose life is in danger, then most of those guys ganging up and beating Worf in a team building exercise. Worf, by the way is acting (they’d never stand a chance against Worf).
I agree with Captain Picard about how it all ended - embarrassing. :p
It wasn’t all that bad. Seriously, I’m surprised.
The story starts out well, the Enterprise is exploring new territory and encounters a derelict spacecraft, at least 10,000 years old, that seems to be functioning on very minimal power. An away team is beamed over to investigate but unfortunately it’s a pretty boring investigation. I would have liked to have been given little bits of information of the aliens who built this spacecraft, or some crumbs as to what it was for … but nothing, nada - it’s just empty corridors with empty rooms.
Reading the book I see that DeWeese waited to the end to give us some details, but honestly, I would have liked a couple crumbs up front.
Anyway, spoiler free, LaForge and Data are transported off the derelict to somewhere else, leaving Picard and the crew shaking their fists at the apparently not-so-dead derelict. While Picard is making Worf run scans of every inch of space, ordering Riker and Argyle to search all the compartments of the ship, and wearing down the bridge carpets with his pacing, LaForge and Data wake up inside a smaller version of the derelict wondering how they got there and seeing a cryo-chamber (which is never explained) and a helmet ... yes, the helmet that is is important to the plot.
Fiddling around a bit must have triggered an alarm because LaForge and Data are approached by an alien away team (no, not the aliens who built the derelict) and are brought to the Peacekeepers station. These folks keep the peace on the planet below, sort of. It’s not a spoiler to tell you that there’s only one guy (Shar-Lon) that actually keeps the peace - LaForge and Data meet him and he goes on about finding the derelict and using it to keep the peace on the planet below. Why is it not a spoiler? Because the Peacekeepers as a organization do not play a role in the plot.
Again, no details on the aliens who built the derelict. Shar-Lon doesn’t know them either.
Meanwhile, back on the Enterprise, Riker comes up with a plan to get the missing crewmen back, a plan that is, quite frankly, crazy - but hey, it’s Star Trek so I’ll let it slide. Picard allows Riker to proceed and ends up losing another two crew members - Riker and Yar. Really Tasha, really?
What’s unbelievable is that Riker and Yar actually end up beaming to the same derelict as Data and LaForge were beamed to. That tells me that they are incredibly lucky; or, that the main derelict was programmed to beam occupants to only that destination - again DeWeese gives us nothing. Nothing in the story implies LaForge and Data were still alive - their atoms could have been dispersed throughout space or transported into a Sun. We only have Riker’s “hunch” which, turns out, was right.
Long story short, Riker and Yar find Data and LaForge and they are reunited with the Enterprise. Oh, of course there are the peacekeepers orbiting the planet and one guy trying to kill another guy, that same guy vying for power, another guy lying to the guy whose life is in danger, then most of those guys ganging up and beating Worf in a team building exercise. Worf, by the way is acting (they’d never stand a chance against Worf).
I agree with Captain Picard about how it all ended - embarrassing. :p
November 15, 2020
Where to start? I think that this book was truly saved by its last chapter. The first 275 pages were very difficult for me to get into. Several main characters shared extremely similar names, and the plot devices (the "Repository" and others) made it hard at times for me to actually follow where the action was taking place for a few moments quite frequently.
I'm not going to bother with a recap, but I will say that for all the challenges the first 90 percent of the book had, the final 10 was hilarious.
In a rouse to stop a large population of people from being attacked and destroyed, Worf (via a holodeck projection) acted out the role of the god of the civilization that was responsible for their predicament the last 50 years. He ended up portraying an INCREDIBLY campy and ridiculous villain, but it totally worked. It was hilarious to imagine.
Overall: 3.5/10 - I just really didn't particularly enjoy this book. It felt a lot longer than it was, simply because I felt like I was having to force myself to slog through it. My score would have been a 2.5, but Worf in the final chapter earns an entire point by itself.
I'm not going to bother with a recap, but I will say that for all the challenges the first 90 percent of the book had, the final 10 was hilarious.
In a rouse to stop a large population of people from being attacked and destroyed, Worf (via a holodeck projection) acted out the role of the god of the civilization that was responsible for their predicament the last 50 years. He ended up portraying an INCREDIBLY campy and ridiculous villain, but it totally worked. It was hilarious to imagine.
Overall: 3.5/10 - I just really didn't particularly enjoy this book. It felt a lot longer than it was, simply because I felt like I was having to force myself to slog through it. My score would have been a 2.5, but Worf in the final chapter earns an entire point by itself.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 20, 2023
The Peacekeepers by Gene DeWeese. This is book #2 in the Star Trek: The Next Generation series.
While exploring a derelict ship in space Lt. Geordi LaForge and Lt. Commander Data are transported to another ship in somewhere and sometime unknown. Aboard the U.S.S. Enterprise Commander Riker and Lt. Yar decide on a plan to transport themselves in the same way in order to find Geordi and Data and bring them back to the Enterprise. They all find themselves in the middle of a long ongoing conflict between two waring peoples; some on a planet and some on a ship in orbit around the planet. In order to get back to the Enterprise they must discover how to solve the conflict without overstepping Starfleet's non interference Prime Directive.
This story being #2 in the book series is early in ST-TNG life. The characters are still finding their voices. This is evident in the continual yelling tone of Lt. Yar and Counselor Troi's repeated addressing Captain Picard as Jean-Luc.
Although the pacing was good the story was overall lacking; actually somewhat forgetable. I gave it 3 stars, but would still recommend it for ST-TNG fans. #SeriesSeptember2023.
While exploring a derelict ship in space Lt. Geordi LaForge and Lt. Commander Data are transported to another ship in somewhere and sometime unknown. Aboard the U.S.S. Enterprise Commander Riker and Lt. Yar decide on a plan to transport themselves in the same way in order to find Geordi and Data and bring them back to the Enterprise. They all find themselves in the middle of a long ongoing conflict between two waring peoples; some on a planet and some on a ship in orbit around the planet. In order to get back to the Enterprise they must discover how to solve the conflict without overstepping Starfleet's non interference Prime Directive.
This story being #2 in the book series is early in ST-TNG life. The characters are still finding their voices. This is evident in the continual yelling tone of Lt. Yar and Counselor Troi's repeated addressing Captain Picard as Jean-Luc.
Although the pacing was good the story was overall lacking; actually somewhat forgetable. I gave it 3 stars, but would still recommend it for ST-TNG fans. #SeriesSeptember2023.
January 26, 2025
While it is certainly more accurate to the TNG show and characters than #1: Ghost Ship, the book doesn’t add on to its fantastic opening sequences (a massive, confusing, labyrinthine space structure, with seemingly endless corridors and empty life support hibernation pods, is discovered by the Enterprise and explored until Data and Geordi suddenly vanish). While some mystery is maintained and there is sufficient tension in Data and Geordi being constantly lost without much hope of escape, this extra long novel (for TNG) kind of spins its wheels, going between Data and Geordi constantly running into dead ends and the momentum killing repetition of Picard asking Worf to scan stuff.
For the second book in a row, Troi is used quite well! But in turn, Yar is also once again forgotten. The author nails Data perfectly. But yeah… it all just kind of goes in circles until it eventually ends with some hand waving to explain the “mystery”, which is fairly lame.
Unlike #1 Ghost Ship, this book’s big moral dilemma is The Prime Directive which is probably the most confusing and often ignored aspect of Trek philosophy and ethics in all mediums.
For the second book in a row, Troi is used quite well! But in turn, Yar is also once again forgotten. The author nails Data perfectly. But yeah… it all just kind of goes in circles until it eventually ends with some hand waving to explain the “mystery”, which is fairly lame.
Unlike #1 Ghost Ship, this book’s big moral dilemma is The Prime Directive which is probably the most confusing and often ignored aspect of Trek philosophy and ethics in all mediums.
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