What do you think?
Rate this book
Star Trek : The Next Generation
Shadows Have Offended
An original novel based on the acclaimed Star Trek TV series!
The USS Enterprise has been granted the simple but unavoidable honor of ferrying key guests to Betazed for a cultural ceremony. En route, sudden tragedy strikes a Federation science station on the isolated planet Kota, and Captain Jean-Luc Picard has no qualms sending William Riker, Data, and Chief Medical Officer Beverly Crusher to investigate. But what begins as routine assignments for the two parties soon descends into chaos: Picard, Worf, and Deanna Troi must grapple with a dangerous diplomatic crisis as historic artifacts are stolen in the middle of a high-profile ceremony…while nothing is as it seems on Kota. A mounting medical emergency coupled with the science station’s failing technology—and no hope of rescue—has Doctor Crusher racing against time to solve a disturbing mystery threatening the lives of all her colleagues….
The USS Enterprise has been granted the simple but unavoidable honor of ferrying key guests to Betazed for a cultural ceremony. En route, sudden tragedy strikes a Federation science station on the isolated planet Kota, and Captain Jean-Luc Picard has no qualms sending William Riker, Data, and Chief Medical Officer Beverly Crusher to investigate. But what begins as routine assignments for the two parties soon descends into chaos: Picard, Worf, and Deanna Troi must grapple with a dangerous diplomatic crisis as historic artifacts are stolen in the middle of a high-profile ceremony…while nothing is as it seems on Kota. A mounting medical emergency coupled with the science station’s failing technology—and no hope of rescue—has Doctor Crusher racing against time to solve a disturbing mystery threatening the lives of all her colleagues….
1 pages, Audio CD
First published July 13, 2021
54 people are currently reading
322 people want to read
About the author
Cassandra Rose Clarke
63 books1,438 followersCassandra Rose Clarke is a speculative fiction writer living amongst the beige stucco and overgrown pecan trees of Houston, Texas. She graduated in 2006 from The University of St. Thomas with a bachelor’s degree in English, and in 2008 she completed her master’s degree in creative writing at The University of Texas at Austin. Both of these degrees have served her surprisingly well.
During the summer of 2010, she attended the Clarion West Writers Workshop in Seattle, where she enjoyed sixty-degree summer days. Having been born and raised in Texas, this was something of a big deal. She was also a recipient of the 2010 Susan C. Petrey Clarion Scholarship Fund.
During the summer of 2010, she attended the Clarion West Writers Workshop in Seattle, where she enjoyed sixty-degree summer days. Having been born and raised in Texas, this was something of a big deal. She was also a recipient of the 2010 Susan C. Petrey Clarion Scholarship Fund.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews
July 16, 2021
This is Cassandra Rose Clarke’s first Star Trek novel, and she effectively achieves the right pacing and characterizations for a TNG story. The entire crew is here with some extra focus on Crusher, Troi, and Worf.
July 8, 2021
I’ll preface this review with saying that I haven’t read many TNG novels, and thus I’m not aware of exactly how many TNG novels feature the two leads of Cassandra Rose Clarke’s new TNG adventure. However, I do know that Deanna Troi and Beverly Crusher were given the short shrift in the TNG series and movies, so I was eager to read a series-era (specifically, late Season 7) story featuring the two leading female characters from the iconic show. While the Troi-led portion was a fun romp across Betazed and the sectors nearby, I found Crusher’s story on the seemingly uninhabited world of Kota the more compelling. I hope Clarke gets another opportunity to contribute to the TrekLit canon!
July 15, 2021
While Commander Riker and his Away Team respond to a disaster in a Scientific Survey Team on Kota, Captain Picard takes part in a cultural ceremony on Betazed organised by Lwaxana Troi. When cultural artefacts are stolen on Betazed, Picard assigns Deanna Troi and Worf to investigate before it becomes a major diplomatic incident. Meanwhile, nothing on Kota is as it appears, endangering the lives not only of the Survey Team but everyone on Riker's team as well.
Clarke's novel is extremely enjoyable and there is a sense of the spirit behind 'Star Trek: The Next Generation'. Although there is little interaction between the A and B plots, they are both entertaining and thought provoking.
Clarke's novel is extremely enjoyable and there is a sense of the spirit behind 'Star Trek: The Next Generation'. Although there is little interaction between the A and B plots, they are both entertaining and thought provoking.
August 18, 2021
First and foremost, let me start by saying I've read nearly all the TOS and TNG books that have been written. I won't claim to have read them ALL, but I'm pretty close. When a new book comes out, I read it generally within a few days of it coming out.
Second, I like the fact that this book had an entire plot where Beverly Crusher is the main character. That was one of the reasons I was so excited to read the book. If you saw my 3 star review, which I REALLY wish was a 2.5 star review, though, you know this doesn't go the way I wanted it to go.
There are two entirely unconnected stories in this book, that bounce back and forth. One is Will Riker, Beverly Crusher, Data and a pile of extras on an unexplored planet doing the basic "Star Trek" thing. I figured out about 10 minutes into this story what was going on, and besides for Data, you could have used literally any human or human like beings who have ever lived for the story. This is NOT a Beverly Crusher story. This is a "Someone who knows Data" story. It was basically a 20 minute story that lasts four and a half hours. If you're like me, you spend most of the time yelling at the book about how OBVIOUS the end is going to be. It was practically torture and I am quite envious of those who had the print book and could skip this. My audio book was one file, and yes, I could have attempted to fast forward through those bits and hope to God my player didn't just skip to the next book.
*THAT BEING SAID* the OTHER story was a really, really good and engrossing tale where Picard is basically forced to spend time with Lwoxanna Troi while making a fool of himself in public, and then Worf and Diana Troi get to go solve a crime, and they find out a really neat secret at the end that I hope gets into a future book. Pun not intended.
So, I listened to the whole thing because HALF of the book was a five star story and was certainly a crowd pleaser if you're into Worf and Troi as an almost-couple.
The other half of the book was a zero star piece of garbage with no redeemable content whatsoever. The idea was also in at least two other books I've read. You'll see. I'm not going to spoil the plot. For all I know, you'll absolutely love it.
The Worf / Troi stuff is heavy into Betazoid stuff, and I'm a fan. I hope this author writes again soon, and does Beverly Crusher more justice. And I want to hear more about the person Troi meets near the end of the book. Again, I'm not going to spoil anything.
Even a bad TNG book is welcome over a book set in the reboot universe or the Discovery era, so, I'm grateful for half a wonderful book. It gives me an excuse to go back to the Joe Ledger series again, though.
Second, I like the fact that this book had an entire plot where Beverly Crusher is the main character. That was one of the reasons I was so excited to read the book. If you saw my 3 star review, which I REALLY wish was a 2.5 star review, though, you know this doesn't go the way I wanted it to go.
There are two entirely unconnected stories in this book, that bounce back and forth. One is Will Riker, Beverly Crusher, Data and a pile of extras on an unexplored planet doing the basic "Star Trek" thing. I figured out about 10 minutes into this story what was going on, and besides for Data, you could have used literally any human or human like beings who have ever lived for the story. This is NOT a Beverly Crusher story. This is a "Someone who knows Data" story. It was basically a 20 minute story that lasts four and a half hours. If you're like me, you spend most of the time yelling at the book about how OBVIOUS the end is going to be. It was practically torture and I am quite envious of those who had the print book and could skip this. My audio book was one file, and yes, I could have attempted to fast forward through those bits and hope to God my player didn't just skip to the next book.
*THAT BEING SAID* the OTHER story was a really, really good and engrossing tale where Picard is basically forced to spend time with Lwoxanna Troi while making a fool of himself in public, and then Worf and Diana Troi get to go solve a crime, and they find out a really neat secret at the end that I hope gets into a future book. Pun not intended.
So, I listened to the whole thing because HALF of the book was a five star story and was certainly a crowd pleaser if you're into Worf and Troi as an almost-couple.
The other half of the book was a zero star piece of garbage with no redeemable content whatsoever. The idea was also in at least two other books I've read. You'll see. I'm not going to spoil the plot. For all I know, you'll absolutely love it.
The Worf / Troi stuff is heavy into Betazoid stuff, and I'm a fan. I hope this author writes again soon, and does Beverly Crusher more justice. And I want to hear more about the person Troi meets near the end of the book. Again, I'm not going to spoil anything.
Even a bad TNG book is welcome over a book set in the reboot universe or the Discovery era, so, I'm grateful for half a wonderful book. It gives me an excuse to go back to the Joe Ledger series again, though.
July 14, 2021
It was nice to finally read a new TNG novel after years. It was a good one. I especially like how it focused on Troi and Crusher, since most episodes and books didn't.
July 18, 2021
Originally published at Reading Reality
This caught my eye for a number of reasons. I was more than a bit surprised to see it pop up on Edelweiss, because the Star Trek media tie-in books in general don’t make many appearances on either Edelweiss or NetGalley. After all, the audience for them is built in, to the point where reviews probably don’t make much difference.
But it kept calling my name because it filled a bunch of niches in my reading brain. I was looking for something SFnal after the excellence of A Psalm for the Wild-Built and Project Hail Mary last week. I’m still in the mood for competence porn, and Trek fiction at its best has always scratched that particular itch. The crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise, whether or not there’s a “bloody A, B, C or D” or even E in the name, have always been the best of the best.
This is a world I could sink into from the very first page. I’ve known this place and these people for a long, long time, after all. And the title was intriguing because there’s a long history of Trek borrowing from Shakespeare, going all the way back to the 9th episode of the 1st season of the Original Series, whose title, “Dagger of the Mind” comes straight out of Macbeth.
So the copy of The Globe Illustrated Shakespeare: The Complete Works that Jean-Luc Picard keeps in his quarters, or the still ironic reference to not having “experienced Shakespeare until you have read him in the original Klingon” are far from the first times that the Bard has been referenced in Trek.
The 1960s assumption that if Shakespeare was still being performed and read 350 years after his death that he would still be considered a classic another 350 years in the future – when the Original Series was set – still seems like a good bet.
All of the above is a long way of saying that I got trapped into this story for the title, which is, as you might have already guessed or remembered, a quote from Shakespeare, specifically from A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
“If we shadows have offended, Think but this, and all is mended…” I found myself wondering what the quote, or the context of the original play, might have to do with this particular story. So here we are. And that, I think, relates to another Shakespeare quote, this one from The Tempest. “We are such stuff as dreams are made on and our little life is rounded with a sleep.”
And doesn’t that require a bit more explanation?
Very much like one of the episodes of any and all of the Trek series, there’s an A plot and a B plot in Shadows Have Offended. Sometimes they did plot and subplot, but I’m not sure that either plot here is subordinate to the other.
The A plot follows Picard at a diplomatic function on Betazed. Picard may be an excellent diplomat, but the pomp and ceremony that is a huge part of the Betazed culture leaves him totally cold – although the Betazed Ambassador Lwaxana Troi does her best to warm him up by embarrassment as she’s been completely unsuccessful at every other method she’s tries – and she’s tried them ALL.
Lwaxana ropes Picard into participating in the ceremony, while she gets to watch her daughter, the Enterprise’ ship’s counselor Deanna Troi, while she attempts to figure out if Deanna and Worf are in a relationship or not.
But the ceremony goes haywire when the cultural artifacts that are scheduled to be displayed are stolen, leaving Picard on Betazed attempting to calm the agitated diplomatic horde while the Enterprise goes off to catch the rather surprising thief.
The B plot is where the title quote comes into play. On the way to Betazed, the Enterprise dropped Commander Riker, Doctor Crusher, Data and a couple of scientifically inclined junior officers on a planet that is being evaluated for a new colony. Glitches have arisen at the last stage of the evaluation so the scientists on station have requested more hands on their rather sandy deck to see if they can resolve the remaining issues and sign off on the colonization effort.
Picard’s part of the story feels lighthearted throughout. Not that the stolen cultural artifacts are not important, not that the diplomatic mission he’s been roped into isn’t necessary, but no one – except possibly the thief – is going to die on this unexpected mission. There will be a lot of hot tempers, there’s a lot of potential political fallout but the stakes always feel a bit small – at least relative to Riker and Crusher’s mission.
Because the colony that needs to be signed off on is for a large group of refugees whose planet has been wiped out. They have no home and need one rather desperately. But the glitches aren’t just minor glitches, and the more the newly expanded group looks into them, the more desperate things get.
Either the planet is trying to communicate with them, or the planet is trying to kill them. And it might succeed at the latter if someone doesn’t figure out the former before their shelter is destroyed, and their equipment, including the food replicators and communications, have ceased to function. There are no ships currently available to rescue them, so they are on their own with a dwindling supply of food and a group of people who keep passing out and screaming. Including the android Data.
It’s up to Crusher to figure out what is making both the people and the equipment “sick” before it makes them all dead. And that’s where the Shakespearean references become all too relevant.
Escape Rating B: It’s difficult to review this, not because I didn’t enjoy it but because I’m part of its built-in audience. It doesn’t reach beyond those of us who love Trek and want to dip back into it again. In that, it succeeds admirably as it feels like reading an episode. The entire thing painted itself in my brain without a single hitch. If that’s what you’re looking for, and I kind of was, it does its job very well. If you’re looking for more general SF, I highly recommend Project Hail Mary, which is sort of how I got here in the first place!
This caught my eye for a number of reasons. I was more than a bit surprised to see it pop up on Edelweiss, because the Star Trek media tie-in books in general don’t make many appearances on either Edelweiss or NetGalley. After all, the audience for them is built in, to the point where reviews probably don’t make much difference.
But it kept calling my name because it filled a bunch of niches in my reading brain. I was looking for something SFnal after the excellence of A Psalm for the Wild-Built and Project Hail Mary last week. I’m still in the mood for competence porn, and Trek fiction at its best has always scratched that particular itch. The crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise, whether or not there’s a “bloody A, B, C or D” or even E in the name, have always been the best of the best.
This is a world I could sink into from the very first page. I’ve known this place and these people for a long, long time, after all. And the title was intriguing because there’s a long history of Trek borrowing from Shakespeare, going all the way back to the 9th episode of the 1st season of the Original Series, whose title, “Dagger of the Mind” comes straight out of Macbeth.
So the copy of The Globe Illustrated Shakespeare: The Complete Works that Jean-Luc Picard keeps in his quarters, or the still ironic reference to not having “experienced Shakespeare until you have read him in the original Klingon” are far from the first times that the Bard has been referenced in Trek.
The 1960s assumption that if Shakespeare was still being performed and read 350 years after his death that he would still be considered a classic another 350 years in the future – when the Original Series was set – still seems like a good bet.
All of the above is a long way of saying that I got trapped into this story for the title, which is, as you might have already guessed or remembered, a quote from Shakespeare, specifically from A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
“If we shadows have offended, Think but this, and all is mended…” I found myself wondering what the quote, or the context of the original play, might have to do with this particular story. So here we are. And that, I think, relates to another Shakespeare quote, this one from The Tempest. “We are such stuff as dreams are made on and our little life is rounded with a sleep.”
And doesn’t that require a bit more explanation?
Very much like one of the episodes of any and all of the Trek series, there’s an A plot and a B plot in Shadows Have Offended. Sometimes they did plot and subplot, but I’m not sure that either plot here is subordinate to the other.
The A plot follows Picard at a diplomatic function on Betazed. Picard may be an excellent diplomat, but the pomp and ceremony that is a huge part of the Betazed culture leaves him totally cold – although the Betazed Ambassador Lwaxana Troi does her best to warm him up by embarrassment as she’s been completely unsuccessful at every other method she’s tries – and she’s tried them ALL.
Lwaxana ropes Picard into participating in the ceremony, while she gets to watch her daughter, the Enterprise’ ship’s counselor Deanna Troi, while she attempts to figure out if Deanna and Worf are in a relationship or not.
But the ceremony goes haywire when the cultural artifacts that are scheduled to be displayed are stolen, leaving Picard on Betazed attempting to calm the agitated diplomatic horde while the Enterprise goes off to catch the rather surprising thief.
The B plot is where the title quote comes into play. On the way to Betazed, the Enterprise dropped Commander Riker, Doctor Crusher, Data and a couple of scientifically inclined junior officers on a planet that is being evaluated for a new colony. Glitches have arisen at the last stage of the evaluation so the scientists on station have requested more hands on their rather sandy deck to see if they can resolve the remaining issues and sign off on the colonization effort.
Picard’s part of the story feels lighthearted throughout. Not that the stolen cultural artifacts are not important, not that the diplomatic mission he’s been roped into isn’t necessary, but no one – except possibly the thief – is going to die on this unexpected mission. There will be a lot of hot tempers, there’s a lot of potential political fallout but the stakes always feel a bit small – at least relative to Riker and Crusher’s mission.
Because the colony that needs to be signed off on is for a large group of refugees whose planet has been wiped out. They have no home and need one rather desperately. But the glitches aren’t just minor glitches, and the more the newly expanded group looks into them, the more desperate things get.
Either the planet is trying to communicate with them, or the planet is trying to kill them. And it might succeed at the latter if someone doesn’t figure out the former before their shelter is destroyed, and their equipment, including the food replicators and communications, have ceased to function. There are no ships currently available to rescue them, so they are on their own with a dwindling supply of food and a group of people who keep passing out and screaming. Including the android Data.
It’s up to Crusher to figure out what is making both the people and the equipment “sick” before it makes them all dead. And that’s where the Shakespearean references become all too relevant.
Escape Rating B: It’s difficult to review this, not because I didn’t enjoy it but because I’m part of its built-in audience. It doesn’t reach beyond those of us who love Trek and want to dip back into it again. In that, it succeeds admirably as it feels like reading an episode. The entire thing painted itself in my brain without a single hitch. If that’s what you’re looking for, and I kind of was, it does its job very well. If you’re looking for more general SF, I highly recommend Project Hail Mary, which is sort of how I got here in the first place!
September 9, 2021
Are we really giving up on the shared Trek-lit-verse for efforts like this? Two wholly unrelated and unsatisfactory storylines set towards the end of season 7, with only vague connections to the series at that point (fleeting references to the D, flashes of attraction between Troi and Worf). The Kota storyline is slightly confused from the off, and then descends into pure incomprehensibility. The Betazed storyline is predictable in its entirety, and neither story has anything close to an actual ending.
This would have been a bang-average and forgettable numbered novel back in the 90s, but as a one shot after years of series like Destiny, The Fall and Typhon Pact, it's just not up to scratch.
This would have been a bang-average and forgettable numbered novel back in the 90s, but as a one shot after years of series like Destiny, The Fall and Typhon Pact, it's just not up to scratch.
April 18, 2022
Der aktuelle STNG-Roman aus dem Hause CrossCult, ist kein Post-Nemesis-Roman, wie die meisten der von CrossCult publizierten Star Trek Romane, sondern beschreibt eine Geschichte, die in der 7. TV-Staffel von Star Trek: The Next Generation stammt.
Die Autorin beschreibt die Nöte von Captain Picard, der zu einem Festival auf Betazed gerufen wird um als einer der Ehrengäte einer Zeremonie beizuwohnen, eine Tatsache, bei dem er nicht das gewünschte Vergnügen empfindet, umso mehr, als das er ausdrücklich von der betazedischen Botschafterin Troi (der Mutter von Deana) dazu aufgerufen wird...
Ein unspektakulärer Roman, der nichts Neues dem Star Trek-Universum beiträgt, allerdings sind die Charaktere der Enterprise gut geschildert, mit einer spannenden Handlung, die den Lese- Fluß und die -Freude befördert. Aber nichts, was lange im Gedächtnis bleiben wird.
Die Autorin beschreibt die Nöte von Captain Picard, der zu einem Festival auf Betazed gerufen wird um als einer der Ehrengäte einer Zeremonie beizuwohnen, eine Tatsache, bei dem er nicht das gewünschte Vergnügen empfindet, umso mehr, als das er ausdrücklich von der betazedischen Botschafterin Troi (der Mutter von Deana) dazu aufgerufen wird...
Ein unspektakulärer Roman, der nichts Neues dem Star Trek-Universum beiträgt, allerdings sind die Charaktere der Enterprise gut geschildert, mit einer spannenden Handlung, die den Lese- Fluß und die -Freude befördert. Aber nichts, was lange im Gedächtnis bleiben wird.
September 4, 2021
This novel reminded me of TNG episode from season 6 or 7. Why is Worf on the cover?
December 13, 2024
This did drag a bit in places—certain ideas or concepts were belabored or drawn out a little too long—but overall I enjoyed it.
June 14, 2022
The author, Cassandra Rose Clarke, has with this book, successfully captured the essence of the show (Star Trek: The Next Generation), as well as that of the characters. Reading this book, I was transported back into the world of the Enterprise.
The story itself feels like a very standard Star Trek episode. Alien ceremonies, a theft, a chase and a mysterious virus affecting both people and electronics, all snugly packed into two concurring storylines.
Although the plot itself wasn't exactly what I would call "exciting", where I think the story shines is in the characterisation present, as well as the further exploration of Betazoid culture (an otherwise under-explored part of Trek).
I was happy that the story focused mostly on two of the more underappreciated members of the Next Generation crew, namely Counsilor Deanna Troi and Doctor Beverly Crusher. The new insight into them was much appreciated. The ever underrated Lwaxana Troi also get a few moments in the spotlights, which makes her character shine. Her and Captain Picard has great chemistry. A fact that the Captain would likely begrudge.
However, the newly introduced characters felt a smidge underutilised. Namely Ensign Rikkilä and the rest of the away team, as there was little exploration to their characters.
The pace was mostly fine and steady, but certain parts felt like a bit of a slog, and the prose was perhaps a tad simpler than I prefer, but functional.
Overall, Shadows Have Offended is a fine Trek book, fitting snugly within Next Gen's seventh season. It is short enough that I'd recommend it to any Star Trek fan, but don't expect a thrilling adventure.
The story itself feels like a very standard Star Trek episode. Alien ceremonies, a theft, a chase and a mysterious virus affecting both people and electronics, all snugly packed into two concurring storylines.
Although the plot itself wasn't exactly what I would call "exciting", where I think the story shines is in the characterisation present, as well as the further exploration of Betazoid culture (an otherwise under-explored part of Trek).
I was happy that the story focused mostly on two of the more underappreciated members of the Next Generation crew, namely Counsilor Deanna Troi and Doctor Beverly Crusher. The new insight into them was much appreciated. The ever underrated Lwaxana Troi also get a few moments in the spotlights, which makes her character shine. Her and Captain Picard has great chemistry. A fact that the Captain would likely begrudge.
However, the newly introduced characters felt a smidge underutilised. Namely Ensign Rikkilä and the rest of the away team, as there was little exploration to their characters.
The pace was mostly fine and steady, but certain parts felt like a bit of a slog, and the prose was perhaps a tad simpler than I prefer, but functional.
Overall, Shadows Have Offended is a fine Trek book, fitting snugly within Next Gen's seventh season. It is short enough that I'd recommend it to any Star Trek fan, but don't expect a thrilling adventure.
November 4, 2021
Tie-in fiction was a staple of my reading life for much of my teens and early twenties. I eagerly picked up each new installment as it hit the shelves and would quickly consume them over the course of a few afternoons and evenings.
But then, in the late '90's, Star Trek fiction began to become a bit more insular. It started with the annual (generally summer-released) cross-over events, then it continued with advancing the story and characters beyond the finales of DS9 and Voyager. Slowly, Trek fiction demanded (at least it seemed to this reader) that you have read a half-dozen or so novels leading up to the current one and be aware of the various new directions the characters were going. Alas, I started to get behind on my Trek reading because it felt too much I was missing details and was so far behind that I'd never catch up.
Which is why Cassandra Rose Clarke's Shadows Have Offended is such a welcome, breath of fresh air to the Star Trek fiction universe - a standalone story set during the seventh season of TNG and focused on Deanna Troi and Beverly Crusher. Like many of the most memorable Trek novels of my earlier days, this one felt like an episode of the series, only without the constraints of a television budget.
The Enterprise is "volunteered" by Luxwana Troi to ferry guests for an upcoming Betaziod ceremony across the quadrant, much to the chagrin of Captain Picard. While doing this, a research station in a nearby sector suffers a tragedy. Picard sends an away team of Riker, Data, Crusher, and several other original characters to investigate while the ship continues its duties on Betazed.
The biggest compliment I can give this novel is that Clarke really knows the ins and outs of these characters. It's easy to hear the actors saying the lines she gives these iconic characters. But she also takes a page from J.M. Dillard and other Trek writers and introduces her own creations into the canon. The members of the away team with Riker and Crusher are all well-drawn and interesting enough to warrant returning in a future offering should Clarke decide to visit the Trek universe again.
Shadows Have Offended won't be mistaken for a great piece of literature. But, it's a quietly, comforting novel that reminded me of the days when I was immersed in Trek fiction. I hope Clarke has another novel or two set in the TNG universe in her. This one is a lot of fun and every bit as entertaining as I'd hoped it would be.
But then, in the late '90's, Star Trek fiction began to become a bit more insular. It started with the annual (generally summer-released) cross-over events, then it continued with advancing the story and characters beyond the finales of DS9 and Voyager. Slowly, Trek fiction demanded (at least it seemed to this reader) that you have read a half-dozen or so novels leading up to the current one and be aware of the various new directions the characters were going. Alas, I started to get behind on my Trek reading because it felt too much I was missing details and was so far behind that I'd never catch up.
Which is why Cassandra Rose Clarke's Shadows Have Offended is such a welcome, breath of fresh air to the Star Trek fiction universe - a standalone story set during the seventh season of TNG and focused on Deanna Troi and Beverly Crusher. Like many of the most memorable Trek novels of my earlier days, this one felt like an episode of the series, only without the constraints of a television budget.
The Enterprise is "volunteered" by Luxwana Troi to ferry guests for an upcoming Betaziod ceremony across the quadrant, much to the chagrin of Captain Picard. While doing this, a research station in a nearby sector suffers a tragedy. Picard sends an away team of Riker, Data, Crusher, and several other original characters to investigate while the ship continues its duties on Betazed.
The biggest compliment I can give this novel is that Clarke really knows the ins and outs of these characters. It's easy to hear the actors saying the lines she gives these iconic characters. But she also takes a page from J.M. Dillard and other Trek writers and introduces her own creations into the canon. The members of the away team with Riker and Crusher are all well-drawn and interesting enough to warrant returning in a future offering should Clarke decide to visit the Trek universe again.
Shadows Have Offended won't be mistaken for a great piece of literature. But, it's a quietly, comforting novel that reminded me of the days when I was immersed in Trek fiction. I hope Clarke has another novel or two set in the TNG universe in her. This one is a lot of fun and every bit as entertaining as I'd hoped it would be.
September 6, 2024
I want to read more stories with Worf and Deanna falling in love. They're very sweet on each other. This book seems to fall into the traps of most Star Trek novels--it takes many pages to get going, then it gets good, then it ends abruptly.
So in the beginning we're reminded again and again that Picard doesn't like Lwuxana, he's uncomfortable in his clothes and come to think of it, he's uncomfortable with affection and attention. I was kind of bored, but once it picked up with Troi and Worf were solving a mystery together, I was interested.
I have to say though, the slow pace made the audiobook very functional. I could be doing other things, miss a few minutes and not miss anything. I really liked the narrator, although I felt his Picard and Worf sounded similar, but I liked all his choices with the other voices.
I enjoyed this!
So in the beginning we're reminded again and again that Picard doesn't like Lwuxana, he's uncomfortable in his clothes and come to think of it, he's uncomfortable with affection and attention. I was kind of bored, but once it picked up with Troi and Worf were solving a mystery together, I was interested.
I have to say though, the slow pace made the audiobook very functional. I could be doing other things, miss a few minutes and not miss anything. I really liked the narrator, although I felt his Picard and Worf sounded similar, but I liked all his choices with the other voices.
I enjoyed this!
September 29, 2021
Finally! A Star Trek story that is a single story all in one book! No relaunch book, no multi-novel story arc, no crossover. Just one story on one novel like the old numbered mass market paperbacks used to be. I miss this and really wish the publishers would go back to that format.
This one wasn't perfect. I had several quibbles, in fact. But my delight on getting a one-novel story outweighs those quibbles at the moment.
This one wasn't perfect. I had several quibbles, in fact. But my delight on getting a one-novel story outweighs those quibbles at the moment.
August 16, 2022
Picard has fought The Borgi and battled with Q but now he has his worst nightmare LWAXANA TORI! I she is back to haunting is every move.
This a crime book and an away mission that ends with Data going nuts.
A book of two stories with Worf in the big chair and Doctor Crusher in other. This funny and sees Picard in knickbockers
This a crime book and an away mission that ends with Data going nuts.
A book of two stories with Worf in the big chair and Doctor Crusher in other. This funny and sees Picard in knickbockers
January 16, 2022
I'm ashamed to say this is my first full Star Trek read (I think?). Reading some of these comments makes me think a lot of the earlier novels are different (somehow better?)..However I will say I really enjoyed this especially with Troi / Crusher's perspective. Also the storyline reminded me of the crew aboard the Enterprise and all of nuances that come with that. Overall great read.
July 18, 2021
As a novel, this is a near-perfect re-creation of a TNG episode -- the A/B/C plot structure might as well have been taken from an unproduced TV script. The characters, the setting, the atmosphere...all is at it was during TNG's seventh and final season. A few of the supporting characters didn't do much for me...and the denizens of Betazed were all too real in their annoyance...but this remains an exemplary dip into a past era.
January 31, 2022
I recently finished watching all of Star Trek: The Next Generation, and this is my first time reading a Star Trek book. Overall, I liked the two alternating stories, with a preference for the plot following the theft of three important Betazoid artifacts. I always felt that the show didn't capitalize on the opportunity to explore Betazoids and their culture and history in the same way that Klingons were developed, so I was ecstatic this book did so.
My only complaint: Where was Geordi?! I understand the need to focus on a couple of characters in such a large cast, but he was only in one chapter!
My only complaint: Where was Geordi?! I understand the need to focus on a couple of characters in such a large cast, but he was only in one chapter!
April 19, 2025
The story was ok. Spent a lot of time getting very descriptive about betazed. You’ll like if you are into the world building aspects.
March 27, 2022
A Review of the Audiobook
Published in 2021 by Simon and Schuster Audio.
Read by Robert Petkoff.
Duration: 8 hours, 45 minutes.
Unabridged.
Synopsis:
This story is set in season 7 of Star Trek: The Next Generation .
The command team of the Enterprise is split. Data, Riker and the doctor are helping scout out a planet for a group of refugees. They are planning to resettle there, but there has been a glitch in the last round of data.
The Enterprise is in orbit around Betazed. The ship delivered several ambassadors to the planet to participate in a planet-wide ceremony. Counselor Troi and Captain Picard are participating as well.
But, things go awry on Betazed when three iconic relics are stolen and taken off world in the middle of the ceremony.
Meanwhile, the away team scouting the new planet is having its own issues...
My Review:
I liked the idea of a story where the command team is split into two parts when there are multiple crises and having them work in areas that they were not necessarily comfortable. But, both of these stories were slow-moving and the Betazed story line just never didn't have enough going for it to make it a stand-alone story for me.
There is another problem as well. The Enterprise is part of a space-based navy and rank means something in navies. Lieutenant Commander Data kept on being referred to as Lieutenant Data. Titles mean something and a Lt. Commander is a lot different than a Lieutenant.
At one point in his story, Lt. Worf takes command of the Enterprise. No big deal in and of itself because Worf could use some command experience and there is no better time than while the ship is orbiting a friendly planet doing nothing but waiting for a boring ceremony to end.
But, it is a big deal when it involves taking command during the equivalent of an international incident. Both Geordi La Forge and Counselor Troi have previous command experience, outrank Worf and should have been in charge since Picard was stuck planetside at the request of Ambassador Troi. If you are a La Forge fan, sorry, I don't even think he makes an appearance in the book. It would have made some sense to put a Betazoid in charge considering the politics of the incident.
I rate this book 2 stars out of 5.
https://dwdsreviews.blogspot.com/2022...
Published in 2021 by Simon and Schuster Audio.
Read by Robert Petkoff.
Duration: 8 hours, 45 minutes.
Unabridged.
Synopsis:
This story is set in season 7 of Star Trek: The Next Generation .
The command team of the Enterprise is split. Data, Riker and the doctor are helping scout out a planet for a group of refugees. They are planning to resettle there, but there has been a glitch in the last round of data.
The Enterprise is in orbit around Betazed. The ship delivered several ambassadors to the planet to participate in a planet-wide ceremony. Counselor Troi and Captain Picard are participating as well.
But, things go awry on Betazed when three iconic relics are stolen and taken off world in the middle of the ceremony.
Meanwhile, the away team scouting the new planet is having its own issues...
My Review:
I liked the idea of a story where the command team is split into two parts when there are multiple crises and having them work in areas that they were not necessarily comfortable. But, both of these stories were slow-moving and the Betazed story line just never didn't have enough going for it to make it a stand-alone story for me.
There is another problem as well. The Enterprise is part of a space-based navy and rank means something in navies. Lieutenant Commander Data kept on being referred to as Lieutenant Data. Titles mean something and a Lt. Commander is a lot different than a Lieutenant.
At one point in his story, Lt. Worf takes command of the Enterprise. No big deal in and of itself because Worf could use some command experience and there is no better time than while the ship is orbiting a friendly planet doing nothing but waiting for a boring ceremony to end.
But, it is a big deal when it involves taking command during the equivalent of an international incident. Both Geordi La Forge and Counselor Troi have previous command experience, outrank Worf and should have been in charge since Picard was stuck planetside at the request of Ambassador Troi. If you are a La Forge fan, sorry, I don't even think he makes an appearance in the book. It would have made some sense to put a Betazoid in charge considering the politics of the incident.
I rate this book 2 stars out of 5.
https://dwdsreviews.blogspot.com/2022...
August 10, 2021
2.5⭐
I grew up on TNG and have read a lot of these novels - this is not a particularly good one. It has a lot of overly familiar plot elements: Captain Picard is uncomfortable with and does not want to attend a diplomatic function, Captain Picard evades Luxwannna Troi, a potential life form on an uninhabited beach where Starfleet wants to place a new colony. It's all feels very perfunctory and some of the characterization feels slightly off. Captain Picard is very one note in his reactions and he fails to progress from his discomfort into Captain mode when a crisis arises. Dr Crusher does not fully adhere to isolation procedures even though she wants to. Riker cajoles her into breaking protocol and is not overly concerned with the potential infection. Worf is unsure in his command and nervous about things in a way that feels inaccurate for the place in time that this book holds (the end of season 7). Worf is in command of the Enterprise yet he's going to lead the way team and no one really objects. Yes, Riker makes jokes but he would not make a joke about Data asking to be deactivated because he's concerned about not having control of his actions. Riker fails to take command and his reactions to the situation and characters are not accurate to his strong leadership style. The characterization reads as very surface level and one note for all characters.
We know that the romance between Worf and Deanna goes nowhere, so, it doesn't feel particularly rewarding to have it highlighted here. It's also retreading very familiar aspects of their flirtation - it doesn't really get into anything that we haven't already seen on the show. This book doesn't illuminate anything new about the characters, the romance or the world of Star Trek.
I grew up on TNG and have read a lot of these novels - this is not a particularly good one. It has a lot of overly familiar plot elements: Captain Picard is uncomfortable with and does not want to attend a diplomatic function, Captain Picard evades Luxwannna Troi, a potential life form on an uninhabited beach where Starfleet wants to place a new colony. It's all feels very perfunctory and some of the characterization feels slightly off. Captain Picard is very one note in his reactions and he fails to progress from his discomfort into Captain mode when a crisis arises. Dr Crusher does not fully adhere to isolation procedures even though she wants to. Riker cajoles her into breaking protocol and is not overly concerned with the potential infection. Worf is unsure in his command and nervous about things in a way that feels inaccurate for the place in time that this book holds (the end of season 7). Worf is in command of the Enterprise yet he's going to lead the way team and no one really objects. Yes, Riker makes jokes but he would not make a joke about Data asking to be deactivated because he's concerned about not having control of his actions. Riker fails to take command and his reactions to the situation and characters are not accurate to his strong leadership style. The characterization reads as very surface level and one note for all characters.
We know that the romance between Worf and Deanna goes nowhere, so, it doesn't feel particularly rewarding to have it highlighted here. It's also retreading very familiar aspects of their flirtation - it doesn't really get into anything that we haven't already seen on the show. This book doesn't illuminate anything new about the characters, the romance or the world of Star Trek.
October 26, 2021
With "Shadows Have Offended", Cassandra Rose Clarke attempts to write a decent novel set in TNG's 7th season an effort though that with the ending falls very very flat. The book itself is one driven on 2 very separate plots both of which legitimately could've been fleshed out into their own stories. The first one deals with an away team visiting the planet Kota to figure out why exactly a research station there is having issues. The other plot takes us to Betazed where the revealing of artifacts not seen in 500 years goes badly awry. Clarke's plots weave their way around each other as we the reader get invested in trying to figure out both mysteries as well as learning a good chunk more about each of these worlds & Betazed's past. What ultimately hurts this book is the fact that while both are wrapped up there's never a true unification of them & honestly I as a reader would've liked this book to go another chapter or 2 at least especially to figure out what happens with Kota itself. Overall not the best of debuts for an author but thankfully not the worst.
August 10, 2021
I was more or less a "Trekkie" kid during my childhood, way before I even knew there was a term for a Star Trek fan. Thanks to my dad, I had already watched Star Trek 1-4 multiple times long before Star Trek: The Next Generation hit airwaves in 1987 (aka the year I started kindergarten). Of course, I fell in love with the TNG characters. I became a fan of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine during my teenage years and phased out of the franchise after the campy Star Trek: Voyager debuted. As an adult, I slowly found my reinterest in all things Trek, which explains why there are way too many Star Trek eBooks on my Kindle.
I categorize Star Trek books in three different categories -. novelizations, juniors, and old-school science fiction. "Novelizations" are book adaptations of episodes and movies. "Juniors" are short original Trek tales that are lacking character development and Trek terminology. "Old-School Science Fictions" are longer stories with in-depth characters and detailed descriptions.
Star Trek: The Next Generation: Shadows Have Offended falls into the "juniors" category. Its two novelizations combined to make one short novel. There are 291 pages total, with a blank page at the end of every chapter. There are 37 chapters! So, storywise, the page total is 254 pages. There are two separate stories, and they're barely intertwined together. Divide that in half, and we get 127 pages per story. I don't know about you, but I would call this a novelization, not a novel. Two novelizations, to be precise. What does this have to do with the quality of the book? Nothing. It's just me nitpicking.
Plot A is a lighthearted story, where Captain Picard involuntarily becomes a guest at a Beatzed cultural ceremony for Lwaxana Troi. An artifact goes missing, and, blah, blah, blah, Worf has to save the day. At its core, the story is silly, but it does feel like a late seventh-season TNG episode.
Plot B is a boring scientific away team mission that's adds nothing to the Plot A story. Now, I'm not saying that it's a complete time waster. It's a passible TNG story, but for me, there wasn't enough going on to sustain my interest.
What's with the 22nd century Romulan Bird-of-Prey on the cover? Yes, there's a Romulan appearance, but none of the descriptions stated it was an Enterprise-era ship.
Overall, Star Trek: The Next Generation: Shadows Have Offended is lighthearted (Yep, I'm using this word twice in one review!) TNG tale that's never thrilling or disappointing. Even though I didn't care much for the away mission plot, it wasn't entirely bad either. If you're a diehard TNG fan, you might get some enjoyment from reading Shadows Have Offended.
I categorize Star Trek books in three different categories -. novelizations, juniors, and old-school science fiction. "Novelizations" are book adaptations of episodes and movies. "Juniors" are short original Trek tales that are lacking character development and Trek terminology. "Old-School Science Fictions" are longer stories with in-depth characters and detailed descriptions.
Star Trek: The Next Generation: Shadows Have Offended falls into the "juniors" category. Its two novelizations combined to make one short novel. There are 291 pages total, with a blank page at the end of every chapter. There are 37 chapters! So, storywise, the page total is 254 pages. There are two separate stories, and they're barely intertwined together. Divide that in half, and we get 127 pages per story. I don't know about you, but I would call this a novelization, not a novel. Two novelizations, to be precise. What does this have to do with the quality of the book? Nothing. It's just me nitpicking.
Plot A is a lighthearted story, where Captain Picard involuntarily becomes a guest at a Beatzed cultural ceremony for Lwaxana Troi. An artifact goes missing, and, blah, blah, blah, Worf has to save the day. At its core, the story is silly, but it does feel like a late seventh-season TNG episode.
Plot B is a boring scientific away team mission that's adds nothing to the Plot A story. Now, I'm not saying that it's a complete time waster. It's a passible TNG story, but for me, there wasn't enough going on to sustain my interest.
What's with the 22nd century Romulan Bird-of-Prey on the cover? Yes, there's a Romulan appearance, but none of the descriptions stated it was an Enterprise-era ship.
Overall, Star Trek: The Next Generation: Shadows Have Offended is lighthearted (Yep, I'm using this word twice in one review!) TNG tale that's never thrilling or disappointing. Even though I didn't care much for the away mission plot, it wasn't entirely bad either. If you're a diehard TNG fan, you might get some enjoyment from reading Shadows Have Offended.
April 4, 2023
In the vast landscape of Star Trek literature, Cassandra Rose Clarke's "Shadows Have Offended" is a delightful throwback to the golden days of The Next Generation. A breath of fresh air, this standalone novel set during TNG's seventh season brings us back to the beloved characters and invites us on an adventure that feels like a lost episode.
The narrative unfolds in a classic TNG format, with engaging A and B plotlines centered around Dr. Beverly Crusher and Counselor Deanna Troi. Clarke's understanding of these iconic characters shines through, her words effortlessly bringing their voices to life. The story ventures beyond the confines of the television series, adding depth to our understanding of their personal lives and quirks (such as Beverly's love for ham and cheese sandwiches and Deanna's teenage holonovel obsession).
In one plotline, we are treated to a vivid exploration of Betazoid culture and history as Troi returns to her home planet for a long-awaited ceremony. Clarke weaves a tapestry of tantalizing descriptions, transporting us into the midst of Betazed's festivities, complete with ornate costumes, music, and delectable treats. The world-building is immersive, and as we delve into the history of the five houses of Betazed, layers of intrigue and secrecy are peeled back.
Lwaxana Troi, the ever-entertaining Madame Ambassador, graces the pages with her larger-than-life presence. We witness her relationship with Captain Picard evolve, showcasing her often-overlooked ambassadorial skills. Meanwhile, the early stages of Troi and Worf's relationship provide a perfect blend of fluff and professionalism, as they work together on a mission involving ancient Romulan vendettas and a mysterious Betazoid.
The second storyline follows Dr. Crusher as she joins an away team on a seemingly peaceful planet. However, true to Star Trek form, things go awry, and the team is thrust into a bizarre series of events. Clarke's introduction of original characters, like the endearing Lt. Rikkilä, adds depth and intrigue to the tale.
The novel's charm lies in its nostalgic feel and attention to detail, reminiscent of the TNG novels many of us grew up with. While not a heavy-hitter in terms of themes or morality issues, "Shadows Have Offended" is a warm, comforting read that will transport you back to the Enterprise-D and leave you hoping for more adventures from Clarke in the TNG universe.
I rate this novel 4 out of 5 stars.
#StarTrekTNG #ShadowsHaveOffended #DeannaTroi #BeverlyCrusher #BetazoidCulture #CassandraRoseClarke #EnterpriseD #TNGNovel #TroiAndWorf #StarTrekLiterature
The narrative unfolds in a classic TNG format, with engaging A and B plotlines centered around Dr. Beverly Crusher and Counselor Deanna Troi. Clarke's understanding of these iconic characters shines through, her words effortlessly bringing their voices to life. The story ventures beyond the confines of the television series, adding depth to our understanding of their personal lives and quirks (such as Beverly's love for ham and cheese sandwiches and Deanna's teenage holonovel obsession).
In one plotline, we are treated to a vivid exploration of Betazoid culture and history as Troi returns to her home planet for a long-awaited ceremony. Clarke weaves a tapestry of tantalizing descriptions, transporting us into the midst of Betazed's festivities, complete with ornate costumes, music, and delectable treats. The world-building is immersive, and as we delve into the history of the five houses of Betazed, layers of intrigue and secrecy are peeled back.
Lwaxana Troi, the ever-entertaining Madame Ambassador, graces the pages with her larger-than-life presence. We witness her relationship with Captain Picard evolve, showcasing her often-overlooked ambassadorial skills. Meanwhile, the early stages of Troi and Worf's relationship provide a perfect blend of fluff and professionalism, as they work together on a mission involving ancient Romulan vendettas and a mysterious Betazoid.
The second storyline follows Dr. Crusher as she joins an away team on a seemingly peaceful planet. However, true to Star Trek form, things go awry, and the team is thrust into a bizarre series of events. Clarke's introduction of original characters, like the endearing Lt. Rikkilä, adds depth and intrigue to the tale.
The novel's charm lies in its nostalgic feel and attention to detail, reminiscent of the TNG novels many of us grew up with. While not a heavy-hitter in terms of themes or morality issues, "Shadows Have Offended" is a warm, comforting read that will transport you back to the Enterprise-D and leave you hoping for more adventures from Clarke in the TNG universe.
I rate this novel 4 out of 5 stars.
#StarTrekTNG #ShadowsHaveOffended #DeannaTroi #BeverlyCrusher #BetazoidCulture #CassandraRoseClarke #EnterpriseD #TNGNovel #TroiAndWorf #StarTrekLiterature
October 2, 2023
2023 Review 69. Star Trek The Next Generation Shadows Have Offended by Cassandra Rose Clarke, narrated by Robert Petkoff
Audio book length : 8 hours 45 minutes
According to the historian's note at the beginning of the book, this story is set before the final episode of Star Trek The Next Generation, All Good Things.
It has been a long time since I've read a new book set during the 7th season of The Next Generation as most of the new Star Trek books with The Next Generation crew have been relaunch books or linked to Star Trek Picard, so I was quite excited to listen to this one as an audiobook.
Narrated by the amazing Robert Petkoff, this book has two main plot lines :
1) A cultural ceremony on Betazed which Captain Picard and the crew of the Enterprise D are asked to transport guests to before becoming involved in it.
2) A small away team consisting of Riker, Crusher, Data and a couple of new characters created for the book are asked to help at a research station on the planet Kota which is behind in their mission.
I wasn't particularly a fan of the plot involving Betazed as it was very much focused on pomp and circumstance, but I did enjoy the 2nd plot involving the research mission on the planet Kota.
I think the 2nd plot could have been a much bigger part of the book with the Betazed plot being a side plot.
I did enjoy this book, but found that the characters suddendly worked out in both scenarios what or how had caused them meant that the end of the book was very sudden which surprised me.
I particularly enjoyed the fact Lt Worf and Deanna Troi were the main feature of the Betazed story, while Beverley Crusher became the main focus of the Kota story.
4*
****
Audio book length : 8 hours 45 minutes
According to the historian's note at the beginning of the book, this story is set before the final episode of Star Trek The Next Generation, All Good Things.
It has been a long time since I've read a new book set during the 7th season of The Next Generation as most of the new Star Trek books with The Next Generation crew have been relaunch books or linked to Star Trek Picard, so I was quite excited to listen to this one as an audiobook.
Narrated by the amazing Robert Petkoff, this book has two main plot lines :
1) A cultural ceremony on Betazed which Captain Picard and the crew of the Enterprise D are asked to transport guests to before becoming involved in it.
2) A small away team consisting of Riker, Crusher, Data and a couple of new characters created for the book are asked to help at a research station on the planet Kota which is behind in their mission.
I wasn't particularly a fan of the plot involving Betazed as it was very much focused on pomp and circumstance, but I did enjoy the 2nd plot involving the research mission on the planet Kota.
I think the 2nd plot could have been a much bigger part of the book with the Betazed plot being a side plot.
I did enjoy this book, but found that the characters suddendly worked out in both scenarios what or how had caused them meant that the end of the book was very sudden which surprised me.
I particularly enjoyed the fact Lt Worf and Deanna Troi were the main feature of the Betazed story, while Beverley Crusher became the main focus of the Kota story.
4*
****
November 21, 2022
Review -
I had a tough time getting through this book. I am a passionate fan about Star Trek and will give any book or media related to the IP a chance, but I felt like the pacing of the book was too slow and the payoff too small. I also had issues with the characters likeness compared to the on-screen counterparts we are used to.
Writing -
The authors writing style was clean and readable from the start which I enjoyed. Her ability to weave an A and B story in the book was done well, however the two stories never much interacted with one another which was a missed opportunity. There were also some issues with Picard and Riker's character and dialog that I felt didn't match the show that well.
Plot -
The plot was probably the weakest part of the book for me. If this were an episode of Star Trek TNG it would have been a forgettable episode. The Picard storyline was interesting at first, but it really started to drag towards the end as they hunted a lazy thief to a planet hideout. The Crusher storyline was also interesting at first, but again quickly began to drag as the author would take multiple chapters to have anything of significance happen. The payoffs on both were very low energy and mild.
Summary -
It's worth a read if you like Beverly Crusher and want more from her character. I think she was very well done here. If you aren't really a Crusher fan and want a more energetic story then you should look toward another book. Overall, I'm giving this a 3/5 rating which is fair, however I won't re-read this one in the future.
I had a tough time getting through this book. I am a passionate fan about Star Trek and will give any book or media related to the IP a chance, but I felt like the pacing of the book was too slow and the payoff too small. I also had issues with the characters likeness compared to the on-screen counterparts we are used to.
Writing -
The authors writing style was clean and readable from the start which I enjoyed. Her ability to weave an A and B story in the book was done well, however the two stories never much interacted with one another which was a missed opportunity. There were also some issues with Picard and Riker's character and dialog that I felt didn't match the show that well.
Plot -
The plot was probably the weakest part of the book for me. If this were an episode of Star Trek TNG it would have been a forgettable episode. The Picard storyline was interesting at first, but it really started to drag towards the end as they hunted a lazy thief to a planet hideout. The Crusher storyline was also interesting at first, but again quickly began to drag as the author would take multiple chapters to have anything of significance happen. The payoffs on both were very low energy and mild.
Summary -
It's worth a read if you like Beverly Crusher and want more from her character. I think she was very well done here. If you aren't really a Crusher fan and want a more energetic story then you should look toward another book. Overall, I'm giving this a 3/5 rating which is fair, however I won't re-read this one in the future.
August 31, 2023
As is common in Star Trek books, this "story" is really two stories told concurrently that have nothing whatsoever to do with one another. This always suggests to me that the author doesn't have enough material in either story to meet the necessary word count for a novel, so they tell two stories under the same cover to fill out the pages. Although I've never been a fan of this strategy for novel crafting, it's common enough that I wouldn't complain if that was the only flaw. But neither story is terribly original; the one involving Picard, Troi, and Worf on Betazed is a pretty bland mystery-detective story which failed to take advantage of several possible plot points that could have made it more unusual, which depended much too heavily on the trope of Picard trying to avoid Troi's mother's attentions, and which was solved much too simplistically. The other story, involving Crusher, Riker, and Data on an away mission assisting a scientific research team, was a pretty standard, "alien entities so alien that our sensors don't recognize them as a life form and our translators don't recognize what they're using as a language want to communicate with us" story. It's been done before, and this version has nothing to make it singularly more interesting than any of the others.
I give credit where credit is due: I found none of the sloppy typos and poor self-editing that I frequently find in modern fiction, especially Star Trek books. But simply being competently written does not make the story particularly memorable.
I give credit where credit is due: I found none of the sloppy typos and poor self-editing that I frequently find in modern fiction, especially Star Trek books. But simply being competently written does not make the story particularly memorable.
October 15, 2024
I enjoyed this, but for the life of me I can't figure out why Worf is on the cover. He has a decent supporting role in this, but this seems like a much better book for Troi to be on the cover of! After all, it's based around the theft of Betazoid artefacts from a major ceremony on Betazed, and she's primarily involved in getting them back. It's an interesting story - I like seeing some more exploration of an alien Star Trek culture that isn't Vulcan or Klingon, for a change - although I figured out the Ferengi twist before she did... which might actually underline Xiomara's legend, come to think of it, given my own lack of telepathic ability!
There's a secondary plot, too, about Crusher discovering a very different sort of life on a planet slated for terraforming. I remember reading, way back, a Trek novel of the original series, where Uhura and company were feeding new languages into the universal translator - I can't remember the title - but I really enjoyed that, and I liked the slow realisation of communication here too.
The one thing that didn't quite gel for me, though, was Picard's characterisation. His discomfort with Lwaxana Troi is both canon and legitimate - the woman is a lot - but his sulking his way through another culture's ceremonies isn't what I'd expect from a seasoned diplomat like Picard. It might not be his favourite part of the job, but before things went to custard he was unusually ungracious.
There's a secondary plot, too, about Crusher discovering a very different sort of life on a planet slated for terraforming. I remember reading, way back, a Trek novel of the original series, where Uhura and company were feeding new languages into the universal translator - I can't remember the title - but I really enjoyed that, and I liked the slow realisation of communication here too.
The one thing that didn't quite gel for me, though, was Picard's characterisation. His discomfort with Lwaxana Troi is both canon and legitimate - the woman is a lot - but his sulking his way through another culture's ceremonies isn't what I'd expect from a seasoned diplomat like Picard. It might not be his favourite part of the job, but before things went to custard he was unusually ungracious.
November 23, 2021
Wow. This one was just...bad.
I can honestly think of almost nothing redeeming about this book: People/characters were either flat, or behaved way outside the norm. Story progression was excruciatingly slow -- to the point that it was almost nonexistent -- for both the Troi and (especially) Crusher plot-lines: I literally could have skipped the middle 50% of the book, and missed nothing. Pretty much the only thing I liked were the basic story concept(s), and even that was utterly borked in the implementation.
I'm all for Trek's female characters (and fictional female characters in general) getting their due -- I mean, why shouldn't they? -- and that absolutely/especially includes Crusher and Troi. (Life-long TNG fan here.) Sadly, however, this book does not do either of them justice -- much less the rest of the characters, or even the Trek universe as a whole.
Shadows Have Offended is probably the worst novel -- and easily the worst Star Trek novel -- I've read in the last ten years. I'm sorry I purchased it; I'm even sorrier I took the time to read it all the way through.
I can honestly think of almost nothing redeeming about this book: People/characters were either flat, or behaved way outside the norm. Story progression was excruciatingly slow -- to the point that it was almost nonexistent -- for both the Troi and (especially) Crusher plot-lines: I literally could have skipped the middle 50% of the book, and missed nothing. Pretty much the only thing I liked were the basic story concept(s), and even that was utterly borked in the implementation.
I'm all for Trek's female characters (and fictional female characters in general) getting their due -- I mean, why shouldn't they? -- and that absolutely/especially includes Crusher and Troi. (Life-long TNG fan here.) Sadly, however, this book does not do either of them justice -- much less the rest of the characters, or even the Trek universe as a whole.
Shadows Have Offended is probably the worst novel -- and easily the worst Star Trek novel -- I've read in the last ten years. I'm sorry I purchased it; I'm even sorrier I took the time to read it all the way through.
May 30, 2024
I've been missing my Next Generation friends, so I chose this novel pretty much at random. I liked the cover and the copy hints at a mystery. There are two unconnected stories in Shadows Have Offended, and while one is better than the other (and they give larger than usual rules to Troi and Crusher), they are completely generic science fiction adventures. They don't highlight any moral dilemma or character insight in the way the best Star Trek stories do. Worst of all, Lawaxana Troi is completely misused. Clarke tries to highlight her competence, but Lawaxana's competence was never really in doubt. Clarke mistakes competence for dour professionalism, draining all the fun out of the character. I will read more of these Next Gen novels, but I hope for better quality. And I wish they would record unabridged versions of the classic Next Gen books on audio.
*Robert Petkoff reads the audiobook, and he does a great job with the male voices, but his versions of Troi and Crusher are weird. Every time his Crusher said a line of dialogue I rephrased it in my mind to suit Gates McFadden's delivery. (She's great at voices, I wish they'd bring her back for some of these.)
*Robert Petkoff reads the audiobook, and he does a great job with the male voices, but his versions of Troi and Crusher are weird. Every time his Crusher said a line of dialogue I rephrased it in my mind to suit Gates McFadden's delivery. (She's great at voices, I wish they'd bring her back for some of these.)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews