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Star Trek: Coda #3
Oblivion's Gate
The crews of Jean-Luc Picard, Benjamin Sisko, Ezri Dax, and William Riker unite to prevent a cosmic-level apocalypse&;only to find that some fates really are inevitable.
THEIR MOST DAUNTING MISSION WILL BE THEIR FINEST HOUR.
The epic Star Coda trilogy comes to a shattering conclusion as the Temporal Apocalypse forces Starfleet&;s greatest heroes to make the greatest sacrifices of their lives.
THEIR MOST DAUNTING MISSION WILL BE THEIR FINEST HOUR.
The epic Star Coda trilogy comes to a shattering conclusion as the Temporal Apocalypse forces Starfleet&;s greatest heroes to make the greatest sacrifices of their lives.
447 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 1, 2021
92 people are currently reading
429 people want to read
About the author
David Mack
112 books668 followersDavid Mack is the New York Times bestselling author of 39 novels of science-fiction, fantasy, and adventure, including the Star Trek Destiny and Cold Equations trilogies.
Beyond novels, Mack's writing credits span several media, including television (for produced episodes of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine), games, and comic books.
Follow him on Twitter @davidalanmack or like his Facebook page.
Beyond novels, Mack's writing credits span several media, including television (for produced episodes of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine), games, and comic books.
Follow him on Twitter @davidalanmack or like his Facebook page.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 114 reviews
February 22, 2023
This one goes to 11. Mack pulls out all the stops in this final book of the Coda trilogy, bringing back just about every TNG and DS9 regular and then some, coming full circle on many long standing plot and character developments and making some shocking connections to previous series and film canon. The combined crews face nothing less than a full scale cosmic holocaust at the hands of the universe's ultimate carrion feeders. As chilling and thrilling as all of this is it is also deeply poignant and reflective, and this is where Mack's writing really shines, showing why he is certainly just about the best Trek fiction writer out there today.
November 30, 2021
20 Years of Star Trek literature has led to this. Titan, DS9, Voyager, Aventine, Next Generation, Mirror Universe, Section 31, and more have contributed to what we have known as the "Lit-Verse" or "Post-Nemesis" line of Star Trek novels. We all knew it was coming to an end in this trilogy, and thus knew to gird our feelings...
...but did we know it would feel like this?
In this book, David Mack summons the thunder and brings down the curtain on the Coda trilogy and the Lit-Verse as a whole. This book has everything from small, intimate character moments to huge battles. David Mack asks the most important and pressing questions in this book, about Sacrifice and Love, about Duty and Honor, and about Time itself.
It was so good to get one final book with all of our favorite characters. As I read this book, I remembered just how much Julian Bashir and Worf have gone through in the books. Boy have they gone through the ringer. I felt bad for all the characters, but I most pitied them.
I don't think anyone is ready for quite exactly what happens in this book. Some of the action is predictable, and some of it was TOTALLY unexpected.
I will say, I am conflicted by the ending. I totally understand why Mack took this approach, and I think he succeeded in some ways and failed at others. I think some people will be satisfied, and others will not be. I simply feel that it is what it is. I cannot complain, but I won't praise it. I will simply say I would have handled this MUCH differently.
On a lighter note, I laughed out loud at many moments throughout the book. There was one "Shut up Wesley" that had me guffawing. There was also a very small reference to my favorite Stand alone Star Trek novel, Takedown, that made me absolutely giddy when I read it. There are many other moments sure to make Star Trek book nerds giggle with delight.
I have to say, this is the "David Mackiest" of David Mack books. "The death toll is catasrophic" utterly fails to describe the absolute carnage that Mack wreaks into this book. There was one scene where my jaw dropped open at how fast it occured and I was like "Well, I guess there goes ____".
I am still disappointed that they chose to exclude Voyager, but knowing that that decision was made at the behest of Kirsten Beyer makes me feel a little bit better, but the big three should be DS9, Next Gen, and Voyager(as they were the three 24th century shows). Unfortunately, with this book and with a retrospective on the Trek-Lit as a whole, it is obvious that Voyager is simply a footnote in Lit history, and that the big three are Next Gen, DS9, and Titan, with special mention of Aventine as well.
This book did remind me in a lot of ways to Rogue One: A Star Wars story, and there were some particular scenes at the end which gave me this impression. In an interview I read by David Mack, he explains that Rogue One was an inspiration, and that makes me happy as it truly was a great movie and those moments worked best in the book.
Overall, I still feel odd about how I feel about this book. I think that I personally LOVED "The Ashes of Tomorrow" and really enjoyed "Moments Asunder". I have to put this into the category of "really enjoyed", but didn't particularly love this book. That is partially because I prefer James Swallow's writing style to Mack's, but also because Mack made some tough decisions in this book, some of which I liked, and others I didn't. But regardless, this is THE finale of the Trek-Lit universe, and the fact that the authors of all three books put their heart and soul into making it this epic is worthy of recognition. Anyway, I give Oblivion's Gate a 7.5 out of 10! Good job David Mack.
To the Trek-Lit Universe, the last 20 years has been amazing. Here is to the next 20 years of Star Trek publishing. "You have been, and always shall be, my friend".
...but did we know it would feel like this?
In this book, David Mack summons the thunder and brings down the curtain on the Coda trilogy and the Lit-Verse as a whole. This book has everything from small, intimate character moments to huge battles. David Mack asks the most important and pressing questions in this book, about Sacrifice and Love, about Duty and Honor, and about Time itself.
It was so good to get one final book with all of our favorite characters. As I read this book, I remembered just how much Julian Bashir and Worf have gone through in the books. Boy have they gone through the ringer. I felt bad for all the characters, but I most pitied them.
I don't think anyone is ready for quite exactly what happens in this book. Some of the action is predictable, and some of it was TOTALLY unexpected.
I will say, I am conflicted by the ending. I totally understand why Mack took this approach, and I think he succeeded in some ways and failed at others. I think some people will be satisfied, and others will not be. I simply feel that it is what it is. I cannot complain, but I won't praise it. I will simply say I would have handled this MUCH differently.
On a lighter note, I laughed out loud at many moments throughout the book. There was one "Shut up Wesley" that had me guffawing. There was also a very small reference to my favorite Stand alone Star Trek novel, Takedown, that made me absolutely giddy when I read it. There are many other moments sure to make Star Trek book nerds giggle with delight.
I have to say, this is the "David Mackiest" of David Mack books. "The death toll is catasrophic" utterly fails to describe the absolute carnage that Mack wreaks into this book. There was one scene where my jaw dropped open at how fast it occured and I was like "Well, I guess there goes ____".
I am still disappointed that they chose to exclude Voyager, but knowing that that decision was made at the behest of Kirsten Beyer makes me feel a little bit better, but the big three should be DS9, Next Gen, and Voyager(as they were the three 24th century shows). Unfortunately, with this book and with a retrospective on the Trek-Lit as a whole, it is obvious that Voyager is simply a footnote in Lit history, and that the big three are Next Gen, DS9, and Titan, with special mention of Aventine as well.
This book did remind me in a lot of ways to Rogue One: A Star Wars story, and there were some particular scenes at the end which gave me this impression. In an interview I read by David Mack, he explains that Rogue One was an inspiration, and that makes me happy as it truly was a great movie and those moments worked best in the book.
Overall, I still feel odd about how I feel about this book. I think that I personally LOVED "The Ashes of Tomorrow" and really enjoyed "Moments Asunder". I have to put this into the category of "really enjoyed", but didn't particularly love this book. That is partially because I prefer James Swallow's writing style to Mack's, but also because Mack made some tough decisions in this book, some of which I liked, and others I didn't. But regardless, this is THE finale of the Trek-Lit universe, and the fact that the authors of all three books put their heart and soul into making it this epic is worthy of recognition. Anyway, I give Oblivion's Gate a 7.5 out of 10! Good job David Mack.
To the Trek-Lit Universe, the last 20 years has been amazing. Here is to the next 20 years of Star Trek publishing. "You have been, and always shall be, my friend".
January 27, 2023
David Macks "Star Trek: Coda-Tor des Vergessens", der dritte Roman dieser Trilogie, ist der letzte Roman, den ich jemals im mehr als 20-Jahre alten Star Trek Literatur-Kanon lesen werde...
Und angesichts der Tatsache, dass ich seit zwei Jahrzehnten ein Passagier auf dieser Reise bin, komplett mit erstaunlichen neuen Geschichten, faszinierenden Charakteren, Themen und Ideen, ist das keine Kleinigkeit. Um ehrlich zu sein, fällt es mir sehr schwer, ein einigermaßen aufrichtiges Review aufs Papier zu bringen, und wie ich diesen Moment verarbeiten kann.
Wenn Sie kein großer Fan der Bücher sind, fragen Sie sich vielleicht: Worum geht es in der ganzen Aufregung? Es ist nur ein Roman. Aber für diejenigen von uns, die die Bücher als wichtigen Mechanismus benutzten, um den Geist von Star Trek während einer Zeit am Leben zu erhalten, als wir dachten, das Franchise würde niemals wieder in das 24. Jahrhundert zurückkehren und viele der Charaktere, die wir liebten würden vergehen (Nach Star Trek: Nemesis wurde von Paramount den Autoren erlaubt, den Star Trek Kanon weiterzuentwickeln weil keine weiteren Filme und TV-Serien mehr geplant wurden); für uns alle ist das ein sehr trauriger Moment.
Es bedeutete uns etwas. Es bedeutete mir viel. Und jetzt ist es vorbei...
Mit "Coda" haben David Mack und seine Mitautoren - Dayton Ward und James Swallow - dem Roman-Kanon ein Ende gegeben. Es ist ein definitives, vollständiges und totales Ende , das als Teil einer völlig packenden Erzählung daherkommt, die die Aufmerksamkeit und Spannung von Seite eins an erregt und es bis zum Ende durchhält. (Was etwas sagt, weil dieser 615 Seiten starke Star Trek Roman einer der längsten in der Geschichte sein müsste).
Auf dem Weg webt David Mack eine Reihe von Themen und Ideen aus seinen eigenen Werken in dem Literatur-Kanon von Star Trek zusammen, darunter: die Auferstehung von Data (Kalte Berechnung), das Schicksal des Spiegeluniversums (Rise like Lions), die Geschichte von Julian Bashir (Sektion 31: Kontrolle), die Offenbarung, dass Kira die Hand der Propheten (Deep Space Nine: Kriegspfad) ist, und der absolute Höhepunkt von Macks Star Trek -Arbeit - die Destiny-Trilogie - und der Ursprung und Ende der Borg.
In "Tor des Vergessens" entdecken die Charaktere des Star Trek Literatur-Kanons, dass sie nicht in der Hauptzeitlinie leben-dem„Hauptuniversum“, das alle Star Trek-Inhalte des TV-Universums umfasst (ohne die drei von Chris Pine als Kirk gespielten Filme, die als Kelvin-Zeitlinie bezeichnet wird, die völlig außerhalb des offiziellen Star Trek Kanons liegt).
Ihre Zeitlinie wurde durch die Machenschaften der Borg erstellt; Aber nicht das Kollektiv, an das wir gewöhnt sind, aber die assimilierte Erde, die von der Enterprise-E-Crew kurz gesehen wurde, als sie die zeitreisende Borg-Sphäre im frühen 21. Jahrhundert verfolgten (siehe Star Trek Film: Erster Kontakt).
Die Erschaffung dieser instabilen Zeitlinie, die Heimat aller Romangeschichten des gemeinsamen Kanons in den letzten zwei Jahrzehnten, gibt den Devidianern (die Spezies, die diese Katastrophe losgetreten haben) die Idee, ganze Zeitlinien zusammenbrechen zu lassen und die neuronale Energie aller sterbenden Seelen in sich aufzunehmen (Seelenfresser).
Die einzige Lösung, die die Devidianer davon abhalten kann, stabilere Zeitlinien, einschließlich der Hauptzeitlinie, kollabieren zu lassen, besteht darin, die Erschaffung dieses Universums, der als „erster Splitter“ bezeichnet wird, vollständig rückgängig zu machen. Die gesamte Roman-Universums-Zeitlinie wird nicht nur zerstört, sondern wird vollständig gelöscht, bevor sie sich überhaupt bilden kann.
Mit dem Abschluss von CODA geben die Autoren nun definitiv an, dass aufgrund der Aktionen dieser Geschichte die erste Splitter -Zeitlinie nicht mehr erstellt wird - und dass jedes einzelne Ereignis, über das Sie in diesen Büchern gelesen haben, und jeden Charakter als Null und Nichtig erklärt wird.
Alle Buchstoffe und Originalfiguren, die mich interessierten und geliebt habe, alle Beziehungen, in die man investiert hat (Picard und Crusher, oder Ezri Dax und Worf, Bashir und Sarina und und), und alle Reisen, auf denen diese Charaktere waren sind nun nie geschehen. Die in den zwei Jahrzehnten andauernd publizierten Geschichten, haben nie stattgefunden - und hinterlassen keine unauslöschliche Marke im Star Trek -Multiversum außer durch ihr Opfer…. und als Seiten im Regal von Benny Russells Wohnung (vgl. die DS9-Folge, als die Charaktere von DS9 in einer SF-Werkstatt in Amerika der 50er Jahre ihre SF-Romane schrieben, diese Anmerkung schreibt David Mack als einen "Vorschlag" um die Geschehnisse von CODA zu verarbeiten, zum Abschluss seines Romans).
Die Autoren von Coda wollten in dieser Trilogie eindeutig alles einreißen, was sie in 2o Jahren geschaffen haben, es sollte keine Kontinuität mehr geben und ein eindeutiger Schlussstrich gezogen werden. Die ganzen 600 Seiten waren für mich schrecklich (schön), eine Destruktion wie ich sie noch nie gesehen oder gelesen habe, keiner der Charakteren, die man in 20 Jahren liebgewonnen hat, hat überlebt, die ganzen politischen Umwälzungen (Dominion, Sektion 31, Typhon-Pact der Umsturz nach der Ermordung der Präsidentin Bacco etc.pp.) sind im Kanon nicht vermerkt.
...und das alles nur wegen dieser schrecklichen und furchtbar schlechten TV-Serie (Star Trek Picard)!
>Man stelle sich nur mal vor, bei Perry Rhodan würde sowas versucht werden und in der Serie würde es Perry und Atlan nicht geben und sie hätten nie existiert...
So wird Jean-Luc Picard niemals einen Sohn namens Rene haben; Will und Deanna Troi-Rikers Tochter heißt Kestra, nicht Natasha. Diese Charaktere, die beide kleine Kinder sind, starben in diesem Roman auf ziemlich schreckliche Weise. Und es gibt fast keine Hoffnung, einen der beiden Charaktere in einer anderen Form im jetzigen, "offiziellen" Star Trek-Kanon in irgendeiner anderen Form zu sehen.
Die Entscheidung, diese Kinder zu töten, die außerhalb des neuen Kanons keine Zukunft haben, ist eine, deren Motivationen ich verstehen kann. Aber so möchte ich nicht, dass meine Star Trek -Bücher enden. Es gibt genug Horror und Elend auf dieser Welt.
Für mich endet Coda nicht mit einer hoffnungsvollen oder optimistischen Note, wie es in Gene Roddenberrys Star Trek-Kosmos vorgesehen war. Es endet mit einer Notiz der schrecklichen Leere, die jederzeit eine ständige Präsenz sein wird, wenn ich mich entscheide, eine der Geschichten des Deep Space Nine Relaunch, Voyager-Relaunch, den Relaunch der nächsten Generation, nochmals zu lesen. Sogar Geschichten, die fast völlig nicht von den Ereignissen von Coda verbunden sind - wie Kirstin Beyers Voyager -Relaunch -Romane, werden von dem Wissen heimgesucht, dass diese Charaktere auch aus der Existenz gelöscht wurden.
Was bleibt nach der Lektüre zurück: Es sind drei großartige Romane mit einer schwer zu verdauenden Botschaft, die ich (noch) nicht aktzeptieren kann. Der Star Trek Literatur-Kanon ist damit gestorben und es wird keine Wiederauferstehung geben. Das macht mich traurig und wütend, es könnte sogar sein, dass dies mein letzter Star Trek Roman war, den ich lesen werde; zu schwer finde ich den Verlust, dieser einzigartigen Zukunfsgeschichte...
Eigentlich hätte dieser Roman 5 Sterne verdient, aber wg der negativen Aussage des Star Trek-Kanons betreffend, ziehe ich einen Stern ab...
Und angesichts der Tatsache, dass ich seit zwei Jahrzehnten ein Passagier auf dieser Reise bin, komplett mit erstaunlichen neuen Geschichten, faszinierenden Charakteren, Themen und Ideen, ist das keine Kleinigkeit. Um ehrlich zu sein, fällt es mir sehr schwer, ein einigermaßen aufrichtiges Review aufs Papier zu bringen, und wie ich diesen Moment verarbeiten kann.
Wenn Sie kein großer Fan der Bücher sind, fragen Sie sich vielleicht: Worum geht es in der ganzen Aufregung? Es ist nur ein Roman. Aber für diejenigen von uns, die die Bücher als wichtigen Mechanismus benutzten, um den Geist von Star Trek während einer Zeit am Leben zu erhalten, als wir dachten, das Franchise würde niemals wieder in das 24. Jahrhundert zurückkehren und viele der Charaktere, die wir liebten würden vergehen (Nach Star Trek: Nemesis wurde von Paramount den Autoren erlaubt, den Star Trek Kanon weiterzuentwickeln weil keine weiteren Filme und TV-Serien mehr geplant wurden); für uns alle ist das ein sehr trauriger Moment.
Es bedeutete uns etwas. Es bedeutete mir viel. Und jetzt ist es vorbei...
Mit "Coda" haben David Mack und seine Mitautoren - Dayton Ward und James Swallow - dem Roman-Kanon ein Ende gegeben. Es ist ein definitives, vollständiges und totales Ende , das als Teil einer völlig packenden Erzählung daherkommt, die die Aufmerksamkeit und Spannung von Seite eins an erregt und es bis zum Ende durchhält. (Was etwas sagt, weil dieser 615 Seiten starke Star Trek Roman einer der längsten in der Geschichte sein müsste).
Auf dem Weg webt David Mack eine Reihe von Themen und Ideen aus seinen eigenen Werken in dem Literatur-Kanon von Star Trek zusammen, darunter: die Auferstehung von Data (Kalte Berechnung), das Schicksal des Spiegeluniversums (Rise like Lions), die Geschichte von Julian Bashir (Sektion 31: Kontrolle), die Offenbarung, dass Kira die Hand der Propheten (Deep Space Nine: Kriegspfad) ist, und der absolute Höhepunkt von Macks Star Trek -Arbeit - die Destiny-Trilogie - und der Ursprung und Ende der Borg.
In "Tor des Vergessens" entdecken die Charaktere des Star Trek Literatur-Kanons, dass sie nicht in der Hauptzeitlinie leben-dem„Hauptuniversum“, das alle Star Trek-Inhalte des TV-Universums umfasst (ohne die drei von Chris Pine als Kirk gespielten Filme, die als Kelvin-Zeitlinie bezeichnet wird, die völlig außerhalb des offiziellen Star Trek Kanons liegt).
Ihre Zeitlinie wurde durch die Machenschaften der Borg erstellt; Aber nicht das Kollektiv, an das wir gewöhnt sind, aber die assimilierte Erde, die von der Enterprise-E-Crew kurz gesehen wurde, als sie die zeitreisende Borg-Sphäre im frühen 21. Jahrhundert verfolgten (siehe Star Trek Film: Erster Kontakt).
Die Erschaffung dieser instabilen Zeitlinie, die Heimat aller Romangeschichten des gemeinsamen Kanons in den letzten zwei Jahrzehnten, gibt den Devidianern (die Spezies, die diese Katastrophe losgetreten haben) die Idee, ganze Zeitlinien zusammenbrechen zu lassen und die neuronale Energie aller sterbenden Seelen in sich aufzunehmen (Seelenfresser).
Die einzige Lösung, die die Devidianer davon abhalten kann, stabilere Zeitlinien, einschließlich der Hauptzeitlinie, kollabieren zu lassen, besteht darin, die Erschaffung dieses Universums, der als „erster Splitter“ bezeichnet wird, vollständig rückgängig zu machen. Die gesamte Roman-Universums-Zeitlinie wird nicht nur zerstört, sondern wird vollständig gelöscht, bevor sie sich überhaupt bilden kann.
Mit dem Abschluss von CODA geben die Autoren nun definitiv an, dass aufgrund der Aktionen dieser Geschichte die erste Splitter -Zeitlinie nicht mehr erstellt wird - und dass jedes einzelne Ereignis, über das Sie in diesen Büchern gelesen haben, und jeden Charakter als Null und Nichtig erklärt wird.
Alle Buchstoffe und Originalfiguren, die mich interessierten und geliebt habe, alle Beziehungen, in die man investiert hat (Picard und Crusher, oder Ezri Dax und Worf, Bashir und Sarina und und), und alle Reisen, auf denen diese Charaktere waren sind nun nie geschehen. Die in den zwei Jahrzehnten andauernd publizierten Geschichten, haben nie stattgefunden - und hinterlassen keine unauslöschliche Marke im Star Trek -Multiversum außer durch ihr Opfer…. und als Seiten im Regal von Benny Russells Wohnung (vgl. die DS9-Folge, als die Charaktere von DS9 in einer SF-Werkstatt in Amerika der 50er Jahre ihre SF-Romane schrieben, diese Anmerkung schreibt David Mack als einen "Vorschlag" um die Geschehnisse von CODA zu verarbeiten, zum Abschluss seines Romans).
Die Autoren von Coda wollten in dieser Trilogie eindeutig alles einreißen, was sie in 2o Jahren geschaffen haben, es sollte keine Kontinuität mehr geben und ein eindeutiger Schlussstrich gezogen werden. Die ganzen 600 Seiten waren für mich schrecklich (schön), eine Destruktion wie ich sie noch nie gesehen oder gelesen habe, keiner der Charakteren, die man in 20 Jahren liebgewonnen hat, hat überlebt, die ganzen politischen Umwälzungen (Dominion, Sektion 31, Typhon-Pact der Umsturz nach der Ermordung der Präsidentin Bacco etc.pp.) sind im Kanon nicht vermerkt.
...und das alles nur wegen dieser schrecklichen und furchtbar schlechten TV-Serie (Star Trek Picard)!
>Man stelle sich nur mal vor, bei Perry Rhodan würde sowas versucht werden und in der Serie würde es Perry und Atlan nicht geben und sie hätten nie existiert...
So wird Jean-Luc Picard niemals einen Sohn namens Rene haben; Will und Deanna Troi-Rikers Tochter heißt Kestra, nicht Natasha. Diese Charaktere, die beide kleine Kinder sind, starben in diesem Roman auf ziemlich schreckliche Weise. Und es gibt fast keine Hoffnung, einen der beiden Charaktere in einer anderen Form im jetzigen, "offiziellen" Star Trek-Kanon in irgendeiner anderen Form zu sehen.
Die Entscheidung, diese Kinder zu töten, die außerhalb des neuen Kanons keine Zukunft haben, ist eine, deren Motivationen ich verstehen kann. Aber so möchte ich nicht, dass meine Star Trek -Bücher enden. Es gibt genug Horror und Elend auf dieser Welt.
Für mich endet Coda nicht mit einer hoffnungsvollen oder optimistischen Note, wie es in Gene Roddenberrys Star Trek-Kosmos vorgesehen war. Es endet mit einer Notiz der schrecklichen Leere, die jederzeit eine ständige Präsenz sein wird, wenn ich mich entscheide, eine der Geschichten des Deep Space Nine Relaunch, Voyager-Relaunch, den Relaunch der nächsten Generation, nochmals zu lesen. Sogar Geschichten, die fast völlig nicht von den Ereignissen von Coda verbunden sind - wie Kirstin Beyers Voyager -Relaunch -Romane, werden von dem Wissen heimgesucht, dass diese Charaktere auch aus der Existenz gelöscht wurden.
Was bleibt nach der Lektüre zurück: Es sind drei großartige Romane mit einer schwer zu verdauenden Botschaft, die ich (noch) nicht aktzeptieren kann. Der Star Trek Literatur-Kanon ist damit gestorben und es wird keine Wiederauferstehung geben. Das macht mich traurig und wütend, es könnte sogar sein, dass dies mein letzter Star Trek Roman war, den ich lesen werde; zu schwer finde ich den Verlust, dieser einzigartigen Zukunfsgeschichte...
Eigentlich hätte dieser Roman 5 Sterne verdient, aber wg der negativen Aussage des Star Trek-Kanons betreffend, ziehe ich einen Stern ab...
February 13, 2022
Let's put aside the decision that was made to align the lit-verse with ST-Picard. Before reading the books, I knew that was happening and I get their "Let's not be Star Wars EU being relegated to Legends" argument, even if I disagree that this would be the outcome. Star Trek litverse readers were never promised that this was canon, nor that any canonical shows would draw from the litverse material. By reading the litverse, we, as readers agreed to read it, knowing it was merely licensed material, not canon, and that was fine with us.
While I understand that they meant this as a swan song, a final nod from a place of love, what this series comes off as if you know your car is getting repossessed, so you might as well take it for one last joyride and bag the heck out of it.
As for this book specifically, it has too much of a horror aspect to it; graphic, drawn out descriptions of the torture of more than one character, spousal abuse, death of children, supernatural possession, graphic description of character deaths, child abuse. I'm not reading a Star Trek book for gore elements, and the author seems to not realize what his audience is.
There is also a struggle with scope. The universe is infinite, and should also have infinite life forms. But it seems like the authors of this series think that only the Milky Way and possibly a couple other galaxies exist. The stakes are based on the villains only harvesting finite amounts from infinite timelines. It just makes no sense. Apparently, the Bajoran wormhole is the only one in the universe too. It's like they don't realize just how truly massive the universe is. It makes the main dilemma make little sense and feels like things happen just to get us to the conclusion they wanted all along. There are also plot elements which make no sense that fall apart on closer examination. The absence of certain immortal species is not touched upon at all.
Worst of all though, this series lacks hope. Everyone is on a suicide mission for The Greater Good, for a timeline in which they do not reside. There is a certain amount of hubris involved in making the decision the protagonists do on behalf of everyone in existence. Tack on an incoherent, pointless ending and you have the elements for one awful book. It's too bad, I've liked this author's previous novels, but I can't recommend this one.
While I understand that they meant this as a swan song, a final nod from a place of love, what this series comes off as if you know your car is getting repossessed, so you might as well take it for one last joyride and bag the heck out of it.
As for this book specifically, it has too much of a horror aspect to it; graphic, drawn out descriptions of the torture of more than one character, spousal abuse, death of children, supernatural possession, graphic description of character deaths, child abuse. I'm not reading a Star Trek book for gore elements, and the author seems to not realize what his audience is.
There is also a struggle with scope. The universe is infinite, and should also have infinite life forms. But it seems like the authors of this series think that only the Milky Way and possibly a couple other galaxies exist. The stakes are based on the villains only harvesting finite amounts from infinite timelines. It just makes no sense. Apparently, the Bajoran wormhole is the only one in the universe too. It's like they don't realize just how truly massive the universe is. It makes the main dilemma make little sense and feels like things happen just to get us to the conclusion they wanted all along. There are also plot elements which make no sense that fall apart on closer examination. The absence of certain immortal species is not touched upon at all.
Worst of all though, this series lacks hope. Everyone is on a suicide mission for The Greater Good, for a timeline in which they do not reside. There is a certain amount of hubris involved in making the decision the protagonists do on behalf of everyone in existence. Tack on an incoherent, pointless ending and you have the elements for one awful book. It's too bad, I've liked this author's previous novels, but I can't recommend this one.
January 25, 2022
This is the longest it’s taken me to read a Star Trek book. This is due to it being the final book in a 20-year odyssey and world building lit-verse. When this was first announced that there was a trilogy to end the lit verse so they can wrap everything up. I really was concerned that I wouldn’t take the storyline well. I was wrong. They went out with a bang and the authors came up with a genius way to “reset” the novelverse to tie into the new timeline established by the Picard and Discovery shows. I admit I am sad this era of the lit-verse comes to a close but I am looking forward to seeing what new adventures await in the Star Trek Universe.
October 9, 2025
Epic end to an epic trilogy and an epic Litverse.
November 25, 2021
Yes, I stayed up for hours beyond my bed time in order to finish this -- the wrap up to 20 years of novel continuity. It didn't disappoint, but I will say that this WILL shred your brain with all of its temporal and multiverse shenanigans. The reason behind the temporal apocalypse is an ingenious use of continuity...and the process of fixing it involves a bloodbath the likes of which Trek fiction has never witnessed. As for the conclusion, it is surprisingly open-ended...but it does pave the way for a smooth transition to the current Trek time line...and offers a wonderful gift all long term DS9 fans will appreciate. If any book is truly a ride...it's this one.
December 16, 2021
Bad mesh of timelines
Overall the book is well written. I gave it a 1 because the writers wrote this book to say that the last 20 years storyline was a joke just because of the new show Picard. Patrick Stwart is old and his ability to perform mat only be another 5 years but the writers could have put Picard as a different timeline and allowed the 20 yrs existing to continue. Their version is a let down.
Overall the book is well written. I gave it a 1 because the writers wrote this book to say that the last 20 years storyline was a joke just because of the new show Picard. Patrick Stwart is old and his ability to perform mat only be another 5 years but the writers could have put Picard as a different timeline and allowed the 20 yrs existing to continue. Their version is a let down.
January 27, 2022
A sad ending to 15 years of fun. It's a shame that they made all those novels just a wrong turn on the timeline. So many principal characters were being killed off it was obvious early on that this whole timeline was doomed. So now all the fun was just in a weak and expendable crack in the time. Not a very satisfying sendoff.
On another note - the books themselves are all well written, although the pace of the final installment is a bit frenetic.
On another note - the books themselves are all well written, although the pace of the final installment is a bit frenetic.
February 12, 2022
I recently finished this book and enjoyed it very much. In this novel, the villain’s overarching plan was discovered and our team of heroes race against time to defeat it. There were several emotional scenes between different Trek characters, especially during the 2nd half of the novel as the action accelerated to a climax and conclusion. All of these scenes tugged at the heart strings and left me teary-eyed a few times. Just like the first two books of the trilogy, this book was also a page turner and I completed it faster than I originally expected.
Once I completed the book, I had to take a short break to let the experience of completing the trilogy sink in. The thoughts and emotions from reading about the character developments, events and conclusion of the trilogy were still raw after closing the book. On a more lighthearted note, this was the first time I created a spreadsheet to keep track of the various events happening in a book and “who was where when”. While I am a bit sad to see this corner of the Star Trek literary universe end, I felt Coda #3 (and the Coda trilogy in general) concluded this particular era of Trek novels in a respectful way. I look forward to seeing how the Star Trek lit-verse proceeds after Coda.
Once I completed the book, I had to take a short break to let the experience of completing the trilogy sink in. The thoughts and emotions from reading about the character developments, events and conclusion of the trilogy were still raw after closing the book. On a more lighthearted note, this was the first time I created a spreadsheet to keep track of the various events happening in a book and “who was where when”. While I am a bit sad to see this corner of the Star Trek literary universe end, I felt Coda #3 (and the Coda trilogy in general) concluded this particular era of Trek novels in a respectful way. I look forward to seeing how the Star Trek lit-verse proceeds after Coda.
December 9, 2021
Sign of the times
Is it the norm these days? First they kill James Bond and now you kill most of the Star Trek Universe. Very unsatisfactory storyline! Killing the golden goose!
Is this the end of Star Trek?????
Is it the norm these days? First they kill James Bond and now you kill most of the Star Trek Universe. Very unsatisfactory storyline! Killing the golden goose!
Is this the end of Star Trek?????
January 27, 2023
Two and a half stars, rounding up to three. I think that sometimes you read a book, and you can appreciate the effort, the organisation, and the intent behind it, and still just not find it that interesting. I did not find this that interesting. It wasn't awful. It was better than the first book in the series. I just... I don't care about alternate universes, or alternate timelines, or convoluted plots that are more interested in moving parts than in characters. So many people died in this, in so many supposedly thrilling death scenes, but the overall emotional effect wasn't there for me. I was overdosed on drama, and by the end I did not care. My overwhelming feeling, on reading the final lines, was "This book is about 150 pages too long."
The trilogy's a giant reset button for the Star Trek universe. I get it, I do. But there are Trek books that I will read again, primarily for their character work. This book - this series - I won't be reading it again. Once is enough.
The trilogy's a giant reset button for the Star Trek universe. I get it, I do. But there are Trek books that I will read again, primarily for their character work. This book - this series - I won't be reading it again. Once is enough.
December 3, 2021
Heroes of the Federation and their counterparts in the Mirror Universe Commonwealth work together to undo the terrible damage to the time stream which has destroyed entire quantum realities. But the cost is high and the risk of death is all but inevitable.
Mack's stunning conclusion to the 'Coda' trilogy is a wonderful way to wrap up twenty years of shared universe story telling and, for all its darkness, concludes with hope.
Mack's stunning conclusion to the 'Coda' trilogy is a wonderful way to wrap up twenty years of shared universe story telling and, for all its darkness, concludes with hope.
January 15, 2022
This trilogy absolutely crushed me, but I’m also elated to see how Dayton Ward, James Swallow, and David Mack stuck the landing and closed a chapter of Star Trek stories that are just as vital and relevant as the live action stories.
May 5, 2022
Star Trek: Oblivion's Gate is pulse pounding from the start with events coming together in way that works brilliantly! The way that the timelines dovetails neatly into the current ones works brilliantly really making it that things actually happened as opposed to being flushed out the window~! Star Trek: Oblivion's Gate stroyline is on an epic level from the start as the stakes are epic! You will be up late with this as it never let up! The World building is epic and the casualty rate and scences are like Rogue One with the sheer level of everything takeing place! Brace yourself as Piccard, Sisko, Troi, Riker and the gang go all out! The book nealty is leaves things nicely open as well which is briliantly handled! Brace yourself for an epic ride that never lets up! Star Trek: Oblivion's Gate is full of daring do, gripping plots, cunning, heroics, humour, plot develeopments, epic vistas, adventure and action! Brilliant and highly recommended! Get it when you can!
March 12, 2022
Yeah, it's too long, and sometimes pretty dull, but there a moments when it all comes together. Sisko's final words with Bashir, Geordi and Data's goodbye, and the inclusion of the old "Actually, Benny Russell wrote all of Star Trek" joke were all pretty nice plot beats. In many ways, this final novel reflects the relaunch series as a whole: not exactly perfect, and frequently kind of janky, but it's really hard not to look on them fondly.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 15, 2022
I’ve been reading Star Trek novels for over half my life. They kept me going when things were oh so hard and gave me an escape from reality, as well as hope for a better tomorrow. Whilst I hoped the journey would never end I’m glad it was allowed to conclude rather than disappearing into the oblivion of rewritten continuity. As ever, this trilogy was excellent, but I will mourn the ending of something that has been at the core of my being since my early teens.
LLAP
LLAP
January 11, 2023
An amazing ending to 20 years of book content. The use of a misdirection trope at the beginning of the book threw me, the ending was quite the surprise because of this. This was a true farewell for the fandom, and to Jean-Luc Picard. I look forward to rereading this series in the future once I've read other titles in the star trek series.
December 13, 2023
This mostly spoiler-free review applies to each of the three books of the Star Trek Coda Trilogy.
First, let me say the Coda Trilogy is exciting, well written, and obviously a great deal of love by the authors went into each book. I can't say I didn't enjoy the books as fiction. Kudos to the authors for their writing skills.
However, I can't express enough my sorrow and frustration with, if not the authors, the franchise as a whole. I have read the majority of the post-2000 Star Trek fiction universe, known as the "Litverse", and, although I acknowledge there were some stinkers, overall I have truly enjoyed, even loved, the continuing adventures of our band of spacefaring heroes.
The Coda Trilogy is the death knell of the Trek Litverse. Over the course of the three novels, the reader watches as the secondary characters that were unique to the relaunch series' die, and then, slowly at first, and then with greater momentum, the rest of the cast of characters, from all the series (sans Voyager), each meet their mortal end, often times violently (indeed, many meet a very grisly end). For this reason, first and foremost, I cannot give the books of this trilogy more than two stars, and the final novel I can only give one.
But beyond my broader dissatisfaction with the decision to literally kill off all of our beloved heroes, indeed, to utterly destroy the entire universe (you'll have to read the novels to see how this is creatively pulled off by the authors), I wasn't happy with several other aspects of the story. The villains featured primarily in the first two books can radically age a character simply by touching them, the result of which kills many Red Shirts, but one of the characters introduced in the Litverse is aged only several years, and remains so until the end of the trilogy, only to die with the rest of the universe: Why? This plot development simply went nowhere.
Speaking of those same villains: They are faceless skeleton-like creatures clothed in tattered robes that use a staff with a crystal ball on the end to shoot "death rays", they "feed on souls" (which emanate from the bodies of our dying heroes like a ghostly vapor), and they command flying serpent-creatures that actually "eat" time. Seriously? They are even referred to as "wraiths"! In a Star Trek novel, really? Indeed, the descriptions of the villains is full of tropes and seemingly lifted from the monsters of Lord of the Rings and similar fantasy works, they broke my immersion in the story.
Why were some characters affected by the “temporal multiple-personality disorder”, and not others? Why does every single character accept their ultimate fate so blithefully? And did we really need to refer to Wesley Crusher as "the Alpha and Omega" (I'm not kidding)!?
All that aside, as I mentioned already, the novels were truly page-turners. I read the second half of the third book in one sitting. Did I enjoy the books of this trilogy? In the sense of an exciting sci-fi novel, yes. Did I enjoy them as Star Trek? Absolultey not. And can I forgive the authors, and the franchise, for killing the Trek Litverse? Probably not. What makes me even more frustrated is the new Trek shows are equally dark and unTreklike (in my opinion) and most likely won't see the same literally continuation that the relaunch novels enjoyed. I hope I'm wrong (update: two years later, and we've only had a handful of novels set in the new continuity).
RIP Prynn Tenmei, Elias Vaughn, T'Ryssa Chen, Ravel Dygan, Rebecca Sisko, and all the rest. Your stories were yet to be told, and I would have loved to get to know all of you better. I would have loved to know whatever happened with The Ascendants and the Bajoran moon, and why was it a false construct? Was it a prototype for the wormhole, and if so, why? What happened with Alter Dans, and what was the point of introducing his lengthy backstory? So much momentum was built up with the various relaunch story arcs, it pains me to know these stories will never be finished. We will never know what happens next, because the Litverse is at an end, and some of the plot lines were abandoned.
More importantly for me: What will Sisko and the Robinson discover in the Gamma Quadrant? What will Picard, Beverly, and Rene do on the next adventure of the Enterprise-E? What the heck happened to Janeway, Tom, and B'Elanna? We'll also never know those new adventures. And that, I think, is a sad, sad conclusion to 20 years of the Star Trek Litverse.
First, let me say the Coda Trilogy is exciting, well written, and obviously a great deal of love by the authors went into each book. I can't say I didn't enjoy the books as fiction. Kudos to the authors for their writing skills.
However, I can't express enough my sorrow and frustration with, if not the authors, the franchise as a whole. I have read the majority of the post-2000 Star Trek fiction universe, known as the "Litverse", and, although I acknowledge there were some stinkers, overall I have truly enjoyed, even loved, the continuing adventures of our band of spacefaring heroes.
The Coda Trilogy is the death knell of the Trek Litverse. Over the course of the three novels, the reader watches as the secondary characters that were unique to the relaunch series' die, and then, slowly at first, and then with greater momentum, the rest of the cast of characters, from all the series (sans Voyager), each meet their mortal end, often times violently (indeed, many meet a very grisly end). For this reason, first and foremost, I cannot give the books of this trilogy more than two stars, and the final novel I can only give one.
But beyond my broader dissatisfaction with the decision to literally kill off all of our beloved heroes, indeed, to utterly destroy the entire universe (you'll have to read the novels to see how this is creatively pulled off by the authors), I wasn't happy with several other aspects of the story. The villains featured primarily in the first two books can radically age a character simply by touching them, the result of which kills many Red Shirts, but one of the characters introduced in the Litverse is aged only several years, and remains so until the end of the trilogy, only to die with the rest of the universe: Why? This plot development simply went nowhere.
Speaking of those same villains: They are faceless skeleton-like creatures clothed in tattered robes that use a staff with a crystal ball on the end to shoot "death rays", they "feed on souls" (which emanate from the bodies of our dying heroes like a ghostly vapor), and they command flying serpent-creatures that actually "eat" time. Seriously? They are even referred to as "wraiths"! In a Star Trek novel, really? Indeed, the descriptions of the villains is full of tropes and seemingly lifted from the monsters of Lord of the Rings and similar fantasy works, they broke my immersion in the story.
Why were some characters affected by the “temporal multiple-personality disorder”, and not others? Why does every single character accept their ultimate fate so blithefully? And did we really need to refer to Wesley Crusher as "the Alpha and Omega" (I'm not kidding)!?
All that aside, as I mentioned already, the novels were truly page-turners. I read the second half of the third book in one sitting. Did I enjoy the books of this trilogy? In the sense of an exciting sci-fi novel, yes. Did I enjoy them as Star Trek? Absolultey not. And can I forgive the authors, and the franchise, for killing the Trek Litverse? Probably not. What makes me even more frustrated is the new Trek shows are equally dark and unTreklike (in my opinion) and most likely won't see the same literally continuation that the relaunch novels enjoyed. I hope I'm wrong (update: two years later, and we've only had a handful of novels set in the new continuity).
RIP Prynn Tenmei, Elias Vaughn, T'Ryssa Chen, Ravel Dygan, Rebecca Sisko, and all the rest. Your stories were yet to be told, and I would have loved to get to know all of you better. I would have loved to know whatever happened with The Ascendants and the Bajoran moon, and why was it a false construct? Was it a prototype for the wormhole, and if so, why? What happened with Alter Dans, and what was the point of introducing his lengthy backstory? So much momentum was built up with the various relaunch story arcs, it pains me to know these stories will never be finished. We will never know what happens next, because the Litverse is at an end, and some of the plot lines were abandoned.
More importantly for me: What will Sisko and the Robinson discover in the Gamma Quadrant? What will Picard, Beverly, and Rene do on the next adventure of the Enterprise-E? What the heck happened to Janeway, Tom, and B'Elanna? We'll also never know those new adventures. And that, I think, is a sad, sad conclusion to 20 years of the Star Trek Litverse.
December 24, 2021
Ok. I’m going to feel horrible about this but I’m gonna do it anyway.
Let’s start with the best bits. The last 20 or so pages of the novel itself especially the last page were quite poignant. The Grace Note at the end was shear brilliance. I definitely did not see that coming. Finally, the acknowledgment section was very interesting and heartfelt. Kudos to David Mack for explaining the back story to this trilogy.
So are there any Doctor Who fans here? If so, all I can say is this book is Star Trek’s answer to Doctor Who’s Flux. There is literally too much going on and too much jumping around. It is just trying to put too many Star Trek threads together in one book. Time Travel, multiple universes, the prophets, all the shows old and new. Too much. This book is so overreaching yet falling so short.
I love a time travel story and a paradox but this is really over the top. Honestly, it really doesn’t make any sense. It’s just a lot of typical Star Trek technobabble to allow the authors to reach the end they were looking for to retcon Star Trek Picard with the literary Star Trek universe.
I salute all the authors who have contributed to 20 years of a great literary tapestry including the 3 authors of this trilogy. It has been a fantastic ride. There probably would be no good way to wrap it up but even so, this was not even a near miss. Sorry David Mack. I wanted to love it as I share many of your passions including Neil Peart and Rush. But let’s be honest… you published 30+ novels. You have much to be proud of and this is just one guy’s opinion. I am still humbled by your efforts and look forward to your next Star Trek novel.
Let’s start with the best bits. The last 20 or so pages of the novel itself especially the last page were quite poignant. The Grace Note at the end was shear brilliance. I definitely did not see that coming. Finally, the acknowledgment section was very interesting and heartfelt. Kudos to David Mack for explaining the back story to this trilogy.
So are there any Doctor Who fans here? If so, all I can say is this book is Star Trek’s answer to Doctor Who’s Flux. There is literally too much going on and too much jumping around. It is just trying to put too many Star Trek threads together in one book. Time Travel, multiple universes, the prophets, all the shows old and new. Too much. This book is so overreaching yet falling so short.
I love a time travel story and a paradox but this is really over the top. Honestly, it really doesn’t make any sense. It’s just a lot of typical Star Trek technobabble to allow the authors to reach the end they were looking for to retcon Star Trek Picard with the literary Star Trek universe.
I salute all the authors who have contributed to 20 years of a great literary tapestry including the 3 authors of this trilogy. It has been a fantastic ride. There probably would be no good way to wrap it up but even so, this was not even a near miss. Sorry David Mack. I wanted to love it as I share many of your passions including Neil Peart and Rush. But let’s be honest… you published 30+ novels. You have much to be proud of and this is just one guy’s opinion. I am still humbled by your efforts and look forward to your next Star Trek novel.
February 18, 2022
Simply phenomenal. Let's start off with the fact that David Mack having written so many Trek novels effortlessly characterizes the cast we know and love, and their reactions to the impending....well end. Aside from that between Ward, Swallow and now Mack the three authors have tied up the Trek lit verse in a way that I think is just about as perfect as can get. A heartwrenching, explosive, blaze of glory that will be hard pressed to be topped. Seriously I'd like to see another big series end in this fashion as successfully as this. The epilogue was also a nice touch.
I'm gonna mark it for spoilers following this point .
So Troi and Tasha's deaths broke me. Troi and Riker communicating in the final seconds of her life tore me to shreds. Not to mention Riker not really getting to say goodbye to Jean-Luc at the end of it all.
I had been teetering on the edge of becoming a complete mess since Siskos death, but before I could even begin to recover more and more of the big names continued to fall, and some in such a painful way having had no blaze of glory of their own. LaForges end straight up shocked me too.
In the end it was a satisfying ending with (other reviewers disagree apparently) what I consider to be a very hopeful ending and one that is as Trek as can be. As Benny Russel sets out to explore new worlds and new stories of our heroes on the final frontier
I'm gonna mark it for spoilers following this point .
So Troi and Tasha's deaths broke me. Troi and Riker communicating in the final seconds of her life tore me to shreds. Not to mention Riker not really getting to say goodbye to Jean-Luc at the end of it all.
I had been teetering on the edge of becoming a complete mess since Siskos death, but before I could even begin to recover more and more of the big names continued to fall, and some in such a painful way having had no blaze of glory of their own. LaForges end straight up shocked me too.
In the end it was a satisfying ending with (other reviewers disagree apparently) what I consider to be a very hopeful ending and one that is as Trek as can be. As Benny Russel sets out to explore new worlds and new stories of our heroes on the final frontier
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 13, 2021
This novel was difficult to get through for a couple of reasons. It’s a long novel and it’s very dark. There’s not really any hope to be found. I’m also not sure I was looking for any but maybe I was looking for it in my heart. The second reason it was so difficult was because we KNOW it’s the end of a grand journey that in a way started 34 years ago and renewed 20 years ago to fill a void left by the absence of Trek on TV which was done marvelously for the most part. This is the end and being honest after seeing the return of Trek on TV it almost feels like the end of my fandom of new Trek material. This saddens me as TNG came out a year after I was born and it will always be my go to series.
I am glad the writers set the terms for their end rather than the current heads running Trek as this felt respectful of things that existed before and gave us a conclusion albeit not a happy one.
On a final note, I want to thank the authors for giving us this universe of Trek to enjoy and explore. LLAP
I am glad the writers set the terms for their end rather than the current heads running Trek as this felt respectful of things that existed before and gave us a conclusion albeit not a happy one.
On a final note, I want to thank the authors for giving us this universe of Trek to enjoy and explore. LLAP
March 22, 2022
Nope
Three books to end a short story.
Really disappointed.
I was so excited to see where this turned out.
I'd read the first two thinking there was a destination to the narrative and I really feel cheated.
It's not badly written but it just had so much meh to it.
Characters so well drawn throughout the series thrown together for an inconsequential climax and to many a vividly described ending for no win or even punishing lesson.
I feel like the authors had so much depth of reading and I'm grateful it encouraged me to rewatch some great trek, but this lacked insight and emotional sincerity.
Had I not bought at full price I may have felt different.
Three books to end a short story.
Really disappointed.
I was so excited to see where this turned out.
I'd read the first two thinking there was a destination to the narrative and I really feel cheated.
It's not badly written but it just had so much meh to it.
Characters so well drawn throughout the series thrown together for an inconsequential climax and to many a vividly described ending for no win or even punishing lesson.
I feel like the authors had so much depth of reading and I'm grateful it encouraged me to rewatch some great trek, but this lacked insight and emotional sincerity.
Had I not bought at full price I may have felt different.
July 2, 2022
«We are all about to die for nothing.» - Data resumiendo esta trilogía perfectamente.
Se cierra el círculo. Hace años entré en el universo expandido de Star Trek a partir de la trilogía Destiny de David Mack. Una de las mejores historias de toda la saga incluyendo los episodios y películas oficiales y que ha sido una pena que no hubiera la oportunidad de hacer una serie aunque fuera de animación con esa trama. Ahora, muchos años después, finalizo el universo expandido con Oblivion’s Gate también de David Mack y mis sensaciones son completamente opuestas.
El contexto de esta trilogía es simple. Tras volver Sir Patrick Steward al ruedo y contar nuevas historias de Picard, lo visto en la serie contradecía los años de tramas e historias que se han ido narrando en el universo expandido de las novelas. Por tanto, había varias opciones ante este suceso:
- Admitir que el universo expandido de las novelas es una línea temporal alternativa, algo que no es novedoso en la saga, y seguir publicando libros siguiendo las historias y desarrollos de personajes de tantos años.
- Hacer un gran crossover final, atando los cabos sueltos y dejando el futuro sin escribir. De forma análoga a como Némesis y Aquel país desconocido supusieron una despedida de sus respectivas tripulaciones.
- Intentar unificar el universo expandido con el de las nuevas series.
Pero la solución escogida para mi gusto ha sido la peor posible de todas. Una mezcla de esas opciones eligiendo lo peor de cada una y llevada a cabo con una falta de respeto máxima a los que hemos seguido estos personajes durante tanto tiempo.
Star Trek Coda es un crossover final para destruir, literalmente, el universo expandido y “salvar” la línea temporal principal (la establecida por la serie Picard). ¿Todos esos libros en los que hemos visto a personajes existentes y nuevos desarrollarse, evolucionar y crecer como individuos? Pues no han servido para nada porque están todos muertos y ya no tienen ningún futuro. ¿Y todo por qué? Por dos temporadas de Picard, veremos la tercera, que no aportan absolutamente nada a la saga y a los personajes. Hemos perdido el universo expandido por una historia mediocre de androides y otra totalmente prescindible de una realidad paralela.
Respecto a la historia en sí de la trilogía tampoco hay mucho que destacar ni disfrutar. Porque aunque el destino fuera horrible si al menos el camino fuera épico y disfrutable tendría un pase. Pero ni eso nos han regalado. El multiverso está en peligro y la única forma de salvarlo es sacrificar el universo expandido. Por tanto, desde el principio sabes que da igual lo que ocurra, da igual los peligros, da igual que un personaje sobreviva o no. ¿Qué importa que un personaje muera ahora si aunque no lo haga estará muerto de todas formas dentro de una hora pase lo que pase?
Los autores saben que da igual lo que ocurra en esta trilogía, que no tendrá repercusiones y lo demuestran matando personajes y destruyendo lugares emblemáticos cada dos capítulos. Sin miramientos, sin darle importancia. En ocasiones casi como de pasada, como una nota al margen. Personajes importantes en decenas de historias y los matamos con una mención en media frase, a veces sin ni siquiera decir su nombre. A otros privilegiados les dan media página de diálogo interior aunque sea para desdibujarles un poco. ¿De verdad Bashir piensa en Jadzia y no en O’Brian?
Esta sensación constante de que nada importa es el problema de la trilogía. ¿Dónde está la tensión, dónde está la emoción si sabes que el final es la destrucción de algo que te importa? ¿Cómo vas a ver como un logro que un personaje se salve de un peligro si sabes que va a morir de todas formas?
Además durante todo el libro hay una injusticia total entre los personajes. Da igual que mueras de cualquier forma, especialmente si eres de DS9, pero si eres Jean Luc Picard, no, hay que mantenerle vivo hasta el último minuto. Los antagonistas son despiadados y matan a cualquiera sin pensárselo dos veces. A la nave de Picard la dejan sobrevivir para que sienta la desesperación.
A cualquier personaje le dejan que se sacrifique por el bien mayor. A Picard hay que ir a rescatarlo a costa de la vida de otros personajes aunque, recordemos, todos saben que van a morir en una hora así que da igual rescatarle o no. Lo mismo con su hijo. Nos intentan transmitir una falsa angustia porque René ha muerto, dos personajes se sacrifican por él, y mientras lees solo piensas. ¿Qué más da? El chaval va a morir de todas formas. Esas dos personas serían más útiles en la batalla final que el crío.
Y así acaba el universo expandido de Star Trek. Borrando los últimos 20 años de libros como si nunca hubieran existido. Sigo sin entender qué les hubiera costado hacer una historia que cerrara las tramas abiertas y dejaran el futuro del universo vivo aunque no publicaran ningún libro más.
Por supuesto las novelas seguirán, pero ahora partiendo de lo establecido por Picard y Discovery. Y sinceramente, no tengo ningún interés en ello. Mi viaje termina aquí.
Se cierra el círculo. Hace años entré en el universo expandido de Star Trek a partir de la trilogía Destiny de David Mack. Una de las mejores historias de toda la saga incluyendo los episodios y películas oficiales y que ha sido una pena que no hubiera la oportunidad de hacer una serie aunque fuera de animación con esa trama. Ahora, muchos años después, finalizo el universo expandido con Oblivion’s Gate también de David Mack y mis sensaciones son completamente opuestas.
El contexto de esta trilogía es simple. Tras volver Sir Patrick Steward al ruedo y contar nuevas historias de Picard, lo visto en la serie contradecía los años de tramas e historias que se han ido narrando en el universo expandido de las novelas. Por tanto, había varias opciones ante este suceso:
- Admitir que el universo expandido de las novelas es una línea temporal alternativa, algo que no es novedoso en la saga, y seguir publicando libros siguiendo las historias y desarrollos de personajes de tantos años.
- Hacer un gran crossover final, atando los cabos sueltos y dejando el futuro sin escribir. De forma análoga a como Némesis y Aquel país desconocido supusieron una despedida de sus respectivas tripulaciones.
- Intentar unificar el universo expandido con el de las nuevas series.
Pero la solución escogida para mi gusto ha sido la peor posible de todas. Una mezcla de esas opciones eligiendo lo peor de cada una y llevada a cabo con una falta de respeto máxima a los que hemos seguido estos personajes durante tanto tiempo.
Star Trek Coda es un crossover final para destruir, literalmente, el universo expandido y “salvar” la línea temporal principal (la establecida por la serie Picard). ¿Todos esos libros en los que hemos visto a personajes existentes y nuevos desarrollarse, evolucionar y crecer como individuos? Pues no han servido para nada porque están todos muertos y ya no tienen ningún futuro. ¿Y todo por qué? Por dos temporadas de Picard, veremos la tercera, que no aportan absolutamente nada a la saga y a los personajes. Hemos perdido el universo expandido por una historia mediocre de androides y otra totalmente prescindible de una realidad paralela.
Respecto a la historia en sí de la trilogía tampoco hay mucho que destacar ni disfrutar. Porque aunque el destino fuera horrible si al menos el camino fuera épico y disfrutable tendría un pase. Pero ni eso nos han regalado. El multiverso está en peligro y la única forma de salvarlo es sacrificar el universo expandido. Por tanto, desde el principio sabes que da igual lo que ocurra, da igual los peligros, da igual que un personaje sobreviva o no. ¿Qué importa que un personaje muera ahora si aunque no lo haga estará muerto de todas formas dentro de una hora pase lo que pase?
Los autores saben que da igual lo que ocurra en esta trilogía, que no tendrá repercusiones y lo demuestran matando personajes y destruyendo lugares emblemáticos cada dos capítulos. Sin miramientos, sin darle importancia. En ocasiones casi como de pasada, como una nota al margen. Personajes importantes en decenas de historias y los matamos con una mención en media frase, a veces sin ni siquiera decir su nombre. A otros privilegiados les dan media página de diálogo interior aunque sea para desdibujarles un poco. ¿De verdad Bashir piensa en Jadzia y no en O’Brian?
Esta sensación constante de que nada importa es el problema de la trilogía. ¿Dónde está la tensión, dónde está la emoción si sabes que el final es la destrucción de algo que te importa? ¿Cómo vas a ver como un logro que un personaje se salve de un peligro si sabes que va a morir de todas formas?
Además durante todo el libro hay una injusticia total entre los personajes. Da igual que mueras de cualquier forma, especialmente si eres de DS9, pero si eres Jean Luc Picard, no, hay que mantenerle vivo hasta el último minuto. Los antagonistas son despiadados y matan a cualquiera sin pensárselo dos veces. A la nave de Picard la dejan sobrevivir para que sienta la desesperación.
A cualquier personaje le dejan que se sacrifique por el bien mayor. A Picard hay que ir a rescatarlo a costa de la vida de otros personajes aunque, recordemos, todos saben que van a morir en una hora así que da igual rescatarle o no. Lo mismo con su hijo. Nos intentan transmitir una falsa angustia porque René ha muerto, dos personajes se sacrifican por él, y mientras lees solo piensas. ¿Qué más da? El chaval va a morir de todas formas. Esas dos personas serían más útiles en la batalla final que el crío.
Y así acaba el universo expandido de Star Trek. Borrando los últimos 20 años de libros como si nunca hubieran existido. Sigo sin entender qué les hubiera costado hacer una historia que cerrara las tramas abiertas y dejaran el futuro del universo vivo aunque no publicaran ningún libro más.
Por supuesto las novelas seguirán, pero ahora partiendo de lo establecido por Picard y Discovery. Y sinceramente, no tengo ningún interés en ello. Mi viaje termina aquí.
March 15, 2023
The end of an era… finally concludes!
This book is the second one in the “Coda” trilogy. Each book is written by a different author.
LITERARY CLOSURE
In this Coda trilogy, three different authors, Dayton Ward, James Swallow and David Mack wrote each a book, and without a question they are part of the best authors of expanded universe in Star Trek, however in my personal taste, it was a bummer that Peter David didn’t write any of those three entries, since he is my favorite Star Trek author, where easily five of my personal top ten favorite Star Trek novels were written by him, curiously the odd numbers if I define them in order or preference, but also I understand that Peter David has been too focused on his own Star Trek spin-off New Frontier, so it’s quite logic to select authors more involved in the big picture of the expanded universe of Star Trek that it’s given a closure in this Coda trilogy.
As I already commented in previous reviews of the first two books, I am truly glad that the Star Trek expanded universe didn’t lose totally its canon status but technically deviate to a reality happened in an alternate timeline, that honestly is a better option than turned them into “legends” as happened with the expanded universe novels of Star Wars, since “legends” sound like something that didn’t occured per se.
ULTIMATE SACRIFICE
Many heroes have fallen (no, I won’t spoil which ones) and many others are falling here in this final entry, and nobody is safe since the crews of The Next Generation and Deep Space Nine (there are very few characters of Voyager due the way that that spin-off ended in its own expanded universe saga) come to the grimm conclusion that their reality isn’t meant to continue that there is a “prime reality” with bette chance to survive, therefore, they will do anything in their power to save that “prime reality” even if that means that they won’t continue to expand anymore (certainly a powerful and creative way to give sense why the new TV series have different events than the ones evolved in the expanded universe novels).
They will die to give a chance to survive to the TV & Film timeline.
However, the Devidians are insidious enemies and it won’t be easy to find a way to defeat them, since now they aren’t the only foes to be worry about but also…
…THE BORG!!!
Since, they find out that their “literary” timeline “expanded” due the events on Star Trek: First Contact, where the events after that in Insurrections and Nemesis plus the active TV series back then happened relatively the same, but obviously right after Nemesis, the ��prime” TV & Film reality and the literary expanded reality started to deviate in huge proportions and now only the TV & Film reality is the one with a fair chance to survive.
Obviously, in the book they don’t refer those realities as “TV & Film” of “literary”, I am choosing to refer to them in that way, since it’s a lot easier to understand.
I am truly glad that William Riker is “cured” and getting back as a hero instead of an antagonist, since he is one of my favorite characters and I wouldn’t enjoy to have him as foe in the final book of the expanded universe.
What I find sad is that the USS Enterprise-E didn’t play a role in this third book since, again, it’s the final entry of the expanded universe, so having Captain Jean-Luc Picard using another starships is kinda bummer.
However, in general, it’s an exciting book that gives (along with the other two novels in the trilogy) a respecful closure to the awesome expanded universe that many outstanding authors wrote giving to the universe of Star Trek an amazing bunch of adventures meanwhile there wasn’t any project on air during those many years.
This book is the second one in the “Coda” trilogy. Each book is written by a different author.
LITERARY CLOSURE
In this Coda trilogy, three different authors, Dayton Ward, James Swallow and David Mack wrote each a book, and without a question they are part of the best authors of expanded universe in Star Trek, however in my personal taste, it was a bummer that Peter David didn’t write any of those three entries, since he is my favorite Star Trek author, where easily five of my personal top ten favorite Star Trek novels were written by him, curiously the odd numbers if I define them in order or preference, but also I understand that Peter David has been too focused on his own Star Trek spin-off New Frontier, so it’s quite logic to select authors more involved in the big picture of the expanded universe of Star Trek that it’s given a closure in this Coda trilogy.
As I already commented in previous reviews of the first two books, I am truly glad that the Star Trek expanded universe didn’t lose totally its canon status but technically deviate to a reality happened in an alternate timeline, that honestly is a better option than turned them into “legends” as happened with the expanded universe novels of Star Wars, since “legends” sound like something that didn’t occured per se.
ULTIMATE SACRIFICE
Many heroes have fallen (no, I won’t spoil which ones) and many others are falling here in this final entry, and nobody is safe since the crews of The Next Generation and Deep Space Nine (there are very few characters of Voyager due the way that that spin-off ended in its own expanded universe saga) come to the grimm conclusion that their reality isn’t meant to continue that there is a “prime reality” with bette chance to survive, therefore, they will do anything in their power to save that “prime reality” even if that means that they won’t continue to expand anymore (certainly a powerful and creative way to give sense why the new TV series have different events than the ones evolved in the expanded universe novels).
They will die to give a chance to survive to the TV & Film timeline.
However, the Devidians are insidious enemies and it won’t be easy to find a way to defeat them, since now they aren’t the only foes to be worry about but also…
…THE BORG!!!
Since, they find out that their “literary” timeline “expanded” due the events on Star Trek: First Contact, where the events after that in Insurrections and Nemesis plus the active TV series back then happened relatively the same, but obviously right after Nemesis, the ��prime” TV & Film reality and the literary expanded reality started to deviate in huge proportions and now only the TV & Film reality is the one with a fair chance to survive.
Obviously, in the book they don’t refer those realities as “TV & Film” of “literary”, I am choosing to refer to them in that way, since it’s a lot easier to understand.
I am truly glad that William Riker is “cured” and getting back as a hero instead of an antagonist, since he is one of my favorite characters and I wouldn’t enjoy to have him as foe in the final book of the expanded universe.
What I find sad is that the USS Enterprise-E didn’t play a role in this third book since, again, it’s the final entry of the expanded universe, so having Captain Jean-Luc Picard using another starships is kinda bummer.
However, in general, it’s an exciting book that gives (along with the other two novels in the trilogy) a respecful closure to the awesome expanded universe that many outstanding authors wrote giving to the universe of Star Trek an amazing bunch of adventures meanwhile there wasn’t any project on air during those many years.
December 6, 2021
In 20 years of Star Trek novel history there have been very few books or even trilogies that have been as important as "Coda" is especially considering what it was tasked with doing. David Mack seemed the perfect choice to pen the finale "Oblivion's Gate" and does so in a stunning fashion that had this reader engrossed from page one until the heartbreaking & yet poignant ending.
In this installment we have our heroes now in the mirror universe trying to determine a way to stop the Devidians & protect the timeline along with Admiral Riker still obsessed with figuring out where the Defiant went. With the mirror universe part of the story, a revelation that seems not all that implausible tying the events of this apocalypse to a fluke in "Star Trek: First Contact" setting the stage for the only solution - this timeline must end to protect the rest. Mack in this piece of the story makes good use of wrapping up a few other mirror universe questions that were left unanswered and also brings Worf face to face with K'Ehleyr which is a nice twist. As for the Titan & main universe part of the story, Riker's obsession causes decisions to be made on Titan that are sadly true & with Earth's destruction it almost seems like a footnote in that piece of things.
As we the reader get closer & closer to the inevitable end each character is put through emotional decisions that are both heartbreaking & at times showing the true strength of character both in the prime and mirror universes. Sisko & Kira along w/ even Data & Lal question the logic in how this has to be done. The expansion of Wesley's character is a beyond nice touch along w/ Rene's insistence that his step-brother is as important as everyone else shows a growth in that character as well. Additionally, the use of the da Vinci is a way to also let fans of the SCE books that even that series hasn't been forgotten in everything.
The final chapters of this book will have you reaching for the tissues as Mack throws everything and the kitchen sink into the ending to make sure we the reader never forget & gives everyone the ending the deserve. I also appreciated the final moment before the end of making Picard go through something that we don't know if the other characters experienced or not. There's also a surprise 2 page ending that reminds of all of how important these stories have been to a fan base whether on air or in print since 1966. What the future of the Star Trek novels holds right now is still a bit up in the air; however, this trilogy is absolutely the perfect way to conclude things. Beyond well done.
In this installment we have our heroes now in the mirror universe trying to determine a way to stop the Devidians & protect the timeline along with Admiral Riker still obsessed with figuring out where the Defiant went. With the mirror universe part of the story, a revelation that seems not all that implausible tying the events of this apocalypse to a fluke in "Star Trek: First Contact" setting the stage for the only solution - this timeline must end to protect the rest. Mack in this piece of the story makes good use of wrapping up a few other mirror universe questions that were left unanswered and also brings Worf face to face with K'Ehleyr which is a nice twist. As for the Titan & main universe part of the story, Riker's obsession causes decisions to be made on Titan that are sadly true & with Earth's destruction it almost seems like a footnote in that piece of things.
As we the reader get closer & closer to the inevitable end each character is put through emotional decisions that are both heartbreaking & at times showing the true strength of character both in the prime and mirror universes. Sisko & Kira along w/ even Data & Lal question the logic in how this has to be done. The expansion of Wesley's character is a beyond nice touch along w/ Rene's insistence that his step-brother is as important as everyone else shows a growth in that character as well. Additionally, the use of the da Vinci is a way to also let fans of the SCE books that even that series hasn't been forgotten in everything.
The final chapters of this book will have you reaching for the tissues as Mack throws everything and the kitchen sink into the ending to make sure we the reader never forget & gives everyone the ending the deserve. I also appreciated the final moment before the end of making Picard go through something that we don't know if the other characters experienced or not. There's also a surprise 2 page ending that reminds of all of how important these stories have been to a fan base whether on air or in print since 1966. What the future of the Star Trek novels holds right now is still a bit up in the air; however, this trilogy is absolutely the perfect way to conclude things. Beyond well done.
March 26, 2023
STAR TREK FANS AND GENERAL READERS ALERT: THERE ARE SPOILERS HERE.
As indicated above, Oblivion's Gate is the third book in a trilogy entitled Star Trek: Coda. Readers could be forgiven if they thought that he idea behind the trilogy is to wipe the slate clean, because by the end of this third book, the entire casts of The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, and Voyager have been wiped out. The culprit: The Devidians, a species made popular in the TNG episode "Time's Arrow."
SO why the three stars? Well...a confession on my part: I don't ordinarily care for science fiction. I don't care for it because most of the time, I feel like the writers are trying to show off how much they know about science. As a layman, I have no way of knowing whether or not what they write conforms to scientific theory. The bottom line here is that it doesn't really matter to me if the science is accurate. I will settle for a smidgen of verisimilitude, which the television and film versions of Trek provide in spades.
To continue in the vein: Up until now, David Mack has been my favorite Star Trek author. I have read his Trek books eagerly. It has been my impression that he writes stories about characters, in which science is confined to the backdrop. In this one instance, he has been outshone by his predecessors in the trilogy, Dayton Ward and James Swallow. Oblivion's Gate answers a question or two raised in the first two books, but there's too much focus on pseudoscience, which even a Trekker such as myself can spot. Many passages in this book are a slog. The story goes on for about one hundred pages too long, and the last line of the second-to-last chapter is flat out stolen from Shakespeare. Further, since the advent of Star Trek: Picard, Mack apparently felt compelled to tack on an epilogue chapter that provided him and his fellow Trek authors with an out, for the sake of not killing off a cash cow.
Trek readers may react with indignance at the demise of their favorite characters, but as the presence of Data in Star Trek: Picard proves, no character is ever gone for good so long as the actors who play the roles are still alive.
As indicated above, Oblivion's Gate is the third book in a trilogy entitled Star Trek: Coda. Readers could be forgiven if they thought that he idea behind the trilogy is to wipe the slate clean, because by the end of this third book, the entire casts of The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, and Voyager have been wiped out. The culprit: The Devidians, a species made popular in the TNG episode "Time's Arrow."
SO why the three stars? Well...a confession on my part: I don't ordinarily care for science fiction. I don't care for it because most of the time, I feel like the writers are trying to show off how much they know about science. As a layman, I have no way of knowing whether or not what they write conforms to scientific theory. The bottom line here is that it doesn't really matter to me if the science is accurate. I will settle for a smidgen of verisimilitude, which the television and film versions of Trek provide in spades.
To continue in the vein: Up until now, David Mack has been my favorite Star Trek author. I have read his Trek books eagerly. It has been my impression that he writes stories about characters, in which science is confined to the backdrop. In this one instance, he has been outshone by his predecessors in the trilogy, Dayton Ward and James Swallow. Oblivion's Gate answers a question or two raised in the first two books, but there's too much focus on pseudoscience, which even a Trekker such as myself can spot. Many passages in this book are a slog. The story goes on for about one hundred pages too long, and the last line of the second-to-last chapter is flat out stolen from Shakespeare. Further, since the advent of Star Trek: Picard, Mack apparently felt compelled to tack on an epilogue chapter that provided him and his fellow Trek authors with an out, for the sake of not killing off a cash cow.
Trek readers may react with indignance at the demise of their favorite characters, but as the presence of Data in Star Trek: Picard proves, no character is ever gone for good so long as the actors who play the roles are still alive.
October 31, 2022
I’m not going to review this specific book as much as comment on the entire trilogy. It was wonderful to see so many loved, and disliked, characters from TOS, TNG, DS9 and others. It brought back many memories of events and characters that I had forgotten. The ending was bittersweet and even though I knew it was coming, it was difficult. There are lots of unexpected twists, some humor, and intense interactions between characters. As expected, there is a lot of new science, intense action scenes, and a high body count. I appreciated the chronology that started each book as the novels move through time, alternate timelines, dimensions, and the multiverse.
Star Trek is a franchise of wildly successful of tv shows and movies that are generated over many decades. Books are also written that detail and continue to expand on characters, events, and open new areas of adventure. The books being written must continue to support the concept of the original shows and movies and all book plots are approved so that they continue the Star Trek storylines. At a certain point, it appears that the films and tv shows have reached the end of production. While book plots are still reviewed before publication, more freedom is given to authors as they expand beyond the original concepts. Then, the parent company decides to renter the Star Trek universe with a new tv series ‘Picard’ along with several others series proposed or in production. However, it is discovered that the literary novels have moved beyond and no longer support where ‘Picard’ picks up. How do you resolve the discrepancies between the literary universe and the new series? That is where the Coda trilogy begins and ends. Each book is written by a different author and involved intense collaboration. Some readers / fans are going to love this book and other will hate it but if we are honest, this was probably the best way to resolve this dilemma.
It is going to be fun to see where the new literary efforts are going to take us as it moves forward
Star Trek is a franchise of wildly successful of tv shows and movies that are generated over many decades. Books are also written that detail and continue to expand on characters, events, and open new areas of adventure. The books being written must continue to support the concept of the original shows and movies and all book plots are approved so that they continue the Star Trek storylines. At a certain point, it appears that the films and tv shows have reached the end of production. While book plots are still reviewed before publication, more freedom is given to authors as they expand beyond the original concepts. Then, the parent company decides to renter the Star Trek universe with a new tv series ‘Picard’ along with several others series proposed or in production. However, it is discovered that the literary novels have moved beyond and no longer support where ‘Picard’ picks up. How do you resolve the discrepancies between the literary universe and the new series? That is where the Coda trilogy begins and ends. Each book is written by a different author and involved intense collaboration. Some readers / fans are going to love this book and other will hate it but if we are honest, this was probably the best way to resolve this dilemma.
It is going to be fun to see where the new literary efforts are going to take us as it moves forward
December 26, 2025
There's a part of me that wonders if I should rate this lower, given how things end. However, this was still a page-turner that kept me up really late. And there were certain final words between characters that I thought were tastefully done in those moments.
That being said, this does feel like the weakest of the trilogy. For a wrap-up of this alternate timeline, it's surprising that there's not really much Voyager involvement. We got Tom and B'Elanna in the previous book, and only Tuvok is here serving aboard the Titan. Did they feel that enough had been done with the final Voyager book the previous year?
Even though I kind of knew the explanation was coming, I got chills when the First Splinter Timeline was explained. Tying it back to the events of First Contact was a nice touch. There's this constant sense of foreboding about how this timeline has to end in order to save the Prime Timeline. And while resets are a staple of Star Trek, so is the act of trying to find a way to make things work out in the end when they seem impossible. So I'm a bit upset that the authors didn't figure out a way to make this universe remain as is and go its merry way.
Like I've said before: while this trilogy seems to have been made in response to the backlash over Star Wars Legends not getting a proper wrap-up, I don't think Star Trek fans would've lashed out all that much if the authors simply stopped writing books set in this Pocket Universe. So it feels really unnecessary to bend over backwards and say, essentially, "this timeline is a mistake, and we need to correct things so the onscreen stuff can prevail." The idea is comical on paper. It kind of makes me grateful Star Wars Legends didn't get a wrap-up.
So, in the end...mixed feelings. For me, it was a 3-4-year journey reading all the novels set after TNG, DS9, and VOY, and I don't regret taking that journey. I just wish the end of it had been a more worthwhile destination instead of a DS9 reference and a reminder to watch Star Trek: Picard (as much as I like that show).
That being said, this does feel like the weakest of the trilogy. For a wrap-up of this alternate timeline, it's surprising that there's not really much Voyager involvement. We got Tom and B'Elanna in the previous book, and only Tuvok is here serving aboard the Titan. Did they feel that enough had been done with the final Voyager book the previous year?
Even though I kind of knew the explanation was coming, I got chills when the First Splinter Timeline was explained. Tying it back to the events of First Contact was a nice touch. There's this constant sense of foreboding about how this timeline has to end in order to save the Prime Timeline. And while resets are a staple of Star Trek, so is the act of trying to find a way to make things work out in the end when they seem impossible. So I'm a bit upset that the authors didn't figure out a way to make this universe remain as is and go its merry way.
Like I've said before: while this trilogy seems to have been made in response to the backlash over Star Wars Legends not getting a proper wrap-up, I don't think Star Trek fans would've lashed out all that much if the authors simply stopped writing books set in this Pocket Universe. So it feels really unnecessary to bend over backwards and say, essentially, "this timeline is a mistake, and we need to correct things so the onscreen stuff can prevail." The idea is comical on paper. It kind of makes me grateful Star Wars Legends didn't get a wrap-up.
So, in the end...mixed feelings. For me, it was a 3-4-year journey reading all the novels set after TNG, DS9, and VOY, and I don't regret taking that journey. I just wish the end of it had been a more worthwhile destination instead of a DS9 reference and a reminder to watch Star Trek: Picard (as much as I like that show).
August 14, 2023
I'm still no fan of this whole storyline; an adult Wesley as a powerful Traveler as a primary protagonist focus didn't really grab me, and the idea of the story being told in an obviously alternate timeline was a definite turnoff, no matter how well it was handled. But while I'm still no fan of the character of Wesley, even less, if that's possible, as a high-powered Traveler than as an annoying, geeky teenager, I now (having read the acknowledgments) understand the alternate-universe concept: all of the Star Trek novels sharing a continuity that were written between 2003 and 2020 were written to be continuations of the universe as we last saw it at the end of the movie "Nemesis" and the end of the Voyager series. But now, with the introduction of the "Picard" series, all of that continuity has been relegated to an "alternate universe", while the events in "Picard" are now the canon. So in order to bring that whole 17 years of stories to a conclusion, this series was conceived and the "alternate universe" is actually the one we've been following this whole time. Personally, I would rather have seen the alternate universes continue to coexist and diverge from one another, but apparently, the powers that be were not willing to accept that so the "parallel timeline" had to be heroically ended. Given that as a required parameter, this series has done about as well as could be hoped for.
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