Progenitor

Star Trek: Stargazer #2

by Michael Jan Friedman

Thirty years before the days of Star Trek: The Next Generation®, Captain Jean-Luc Picard was thrust unexpectedly into command of another proud vessel: the U.S.S. Stargazer. Surrounded by a crew he doesn't entirely know or trust, the young Picard must answer the challenges of leadership....

While Picard and his senior staff accompany Chief Engineer Simenon to his homeworld of Gnala to undergo a ritual, his second officer, Victoria Wu, is left in command of the Stargazer. Responding to a distress call from a nearby star system, Wu finds herself in the middle of a mystery involving a damaged ship and a peculiar interstellar phenomenon -- one that threatens to destroy the Stargazer if she can't learn its secret.

Meanwhile, on Gnala, Picard must help his friend undergo the ritual -- and find out who is trying to sabotage their chances of completing it before they're all killed!

Genres: Star Trek, Science Fiction, Fiction, Ebooks, Star Trek The Next Generation, Space Opera, Adventure

263 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published May 1, 2002

About the author

Michael Jan Friedman is an author of more than seventy books of fiction and nonfiction, half of which are in the Star Trek universe. Eleven of his titles have appeared on the New York Times Best Seller list. Friedman has also written for network and cable television and radio, and scripted nearly 200 comic books, including his original DC superhero series, the Darkstars.

Reviews

[Tammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Picard and his senior staff aid Simenon with a personal ritual on his homeworld while Commander Wu embarks on a rescue mission on the Stargazer.

I enjoyed this book quite a bit. It was fast-paced and hard to put down, and I finished it in a day. The circumstances of the senior staff's departure seemed dubious, but it was great fun to read. (They can all just disappear together on a personal matter without shore leave?) I was also distracted by the numerous typographical errors (Victoria is sometimes interchanged with Elizabeth, and there are some missing breaks when the viewpoint changes.) I am looking forward to the next book in the series.

[Daniel Kukwa · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second episode in the Stargazer saga...and it does feel like a television episode...a well-written television episode. With all the primary set up out of way in book one, book two just proceeds with an enjoyable, compelling, and humorous story. By the end of the book, you'll be cheering your favourite members of the crew...and hissing at the evil Admiral and his wicked plans. Solid, enjoyable adventure.

[Graff Fuller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Star Trek: Stargazer 02 Progenitor by Michael Jan Friedman

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense

Medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25 Stars

I really loved this story.

This second story in the Stargazer histories is living up to my expectations for this tale.

The complications of bad admirals is still in the mix (sadly), but with less success (happily). Ha!

The struggles of the individual characters in this story was at an all-time high. The crew of the Stargazer having to deal with life and death situations...at the hands of the Number Two (Wu), and how she was able to inspire the people at her disposal to live up to her and their expectations, even when they doubted. So good.

The people on the planet, having to fulfill an ancient game...for the continuance of the family...and how his NEW family came to the rescue and stepped in...even when he was reluctant to ask for their help. A true family, indeed.

All in all, this was a lot of fun to read...and it ticked all the boxes for my enjoyment. Thank you.

Now, on to Star Trek: Stargazer: The Valiant (an origin story...that I should've read BEFORE starting this series) Sorry

[Brayden Raymond · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very respectable 3 stars. I am beginning to thoroughly enjoy the adventures of the Stargazer and it's crew and saddened only know that it only has 6 novels to the series. That said this book was quite good. I did find myself constantly wanting to jump back to Gnala and what I'm going to call "boys day out" but that wasn't because Wu's mission wasn't interesting. I was just more invested in the away mission. Despite knowing it was his cousin behind the treachery almost immediately.

[Bookfairy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed some aspects of this book, but it didn't give me the same feel of Star Trek. I anticipated the themes to be familiar, but I was a little disappointed. The story was interesting with some twists, so I liked that part.

[D. H. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I want to complain about the writing. I do. But there's no doubt that this is readable and compelling, and as far as writing goes, that's enough.

On a less serious note:

1) Could Vigo and Pug really be so ignorant of the Gnalish that until they arrived on the home world they had no idea that Simenon was on the short side?

2) Could a species who still requires a contest of strength to procreate have produced the minds needed to help them develop warp engines?



But there are also some disappointments on the serious side:



1) Again we have to deal with an Admiral who is out to get Picard just because he's young.

2) Ulelo. Every single Stargazer novel so far has had a defector. I'm starting to think the author has serious trust issues. The message though is that the future is going to as problematic as the present, and that's not the Star Trek I love.



But there are also the morals and messages, which is what keeps me coming back.

1) Learn to trust your friends.

2) Trust yourself.

3) Find a way to help others.

These novels so far have a formula. It goes like this:

A wants B but needs C. D occurs and A realizes C.

Just one example:
Wu wants to be first officer on the Crazy Horse, but needs to mentor the staff on the Stargazer. The incident with the Belladonna occurs, and she realizes she should stay onboard to help Jiterica and Paris realize their potential.

[C.T. Phipps · Rating 5 out of 5]

STAR TREK: STARGAZER is a series that takes place twenty years before STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION's first season. Captain Picard is a pretty young man eager to prove himself (and probably played by Tom Hardy) while his crew of oddballs and misfits struggle to exceed the low expectations Starfleet has for them. I really enjoyed the previous volume, GAUNTLET, even if I had some issues with the ending.

This book remains somewhat low-stakes by Star Trek LIT standards as Captain Picard is going to help one of the crew members with one of those oddball alien rituals that popped up so often in TOS and get regularly homaged in LOWER DECKS. I thought it worked well, though I can't help but think that it was strange neither of the two Klingon raised women weren't invited to the party that they obviously would have kicked butt in.

Meanwhile, Admiral McInteer continues to plot against Captain Picard in something that I am back and forth about because he's so comically petty that it's hard to take him seriously. He's basically declared himself Picard's archenemy just because. The thing is that I've known middle managers who are this utterly scummy and I figure that at least one or two must slip through the Starfleet psychological screenings.

What I really enjoyed about this book was seeing Second Officer Wu step up for a rescue mission without Picard and working through the issues of crew members lacking confidence or belief in their future. I really enjoyed this part of the book and liked seeing her deal with Tom Paris' Uncle (who I assume in proper Trek fashion was also played by Robert Duncan MacNeil just like Worf's granddad was a lawyer).

If I have one complaint, it is probably that Carter Greyhorse's obsession with Gerda Asmund is something that was established with by REUNION but isn't great to read about because, even in universe, he's dangerously obsessed with her and we know where it's going. Stalking isn't fun to read about for me.

Either way, solid sequel.

[Patrick Hayes · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid read that focuses on the the supporting cast while split on two different missions. You don't need to have read the first book to read this as Friedman does an excellent job in quickly and easily recapping the initial novel in this series.

The first half of the book reintroduces the crew to reader and deals with the shifting of two members off and two members joining. There is a LOT of character development, some fun to read and others just okay. I found myself (again) not really that involved with Wu, though she is a major character in this book. She's okay, but not someone I find particularly interesting. Much better are Jiterica (who reminds me of Wildfire from The Legion of Super-Heroes comics) and Paris. They were great to focus on.

The second half of the book deals with the title, as Chief Engineer Simenon has to return to his homeworld to participate in something he'd like to have kept quiet. A group from the Stargazer accompany him, including Captain Picard, and they have an interesting adventure. As this is occuring, Wu, in charge of the Stargazer is ordered to investigate the disappearance of a ship. This places them on their own adventure.

I enjoyed the back and forth between both stories and Friedman knows exactly when to cut at a high point of tension to the other story. This made for a very engaging read which I couldn't put down.

The only thing that kept this book from earning five stars with me was too much Wu.

[Craig · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked both of the mainbstories in this one with the contest on the planet and the rescue of the ship. I think both were pretty unique for their situations and solutions. I appreciate some of the nods to moments only referenced like Picard's athleticism in regards to marathons and how his crew perceive him. Hopefully Ulelo's story gets moving as he is obviously not who he appears to be and looking forward to the Admiral's comeuppance whenever that will come along. I am getting to like these characters more as I read about them so that's a plus.

I didn't care for Rachel Garrett being in the story for the sole purpose of her not joining the story.

Minor gripe - in the printing of this there are page breaks when the story shifts and there's quite a few near the end that are missing and one has to re-read it as all of a sudden a character appears in a scene that shouldn't be there. I guess the editor forgot to finish the book.

[Joe Pranaitis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author Michael Jan Friedman brings us the second book in the Stargazer series. Captain Picard and his crew are split up due to his chief engineer needing to get home to preform a ceremony that will make sure that his bloodline continues. While Commander Wu, the Stargazer's second officer is ordered to take the ship and help them rescue a science vessel that go stuck in a cosmic sink hole. There are two gust appearances by characters like Rachel Garret who will later on command the Enterprise-C and Magus Hanson who will be Seven of Nine's father. This is a great book in a great series about Captain Picard's first command and I look forward to reading the rest of this short lived series. 

[Mrklingon · Rating 4 out of 5]

More Picard! More adventure!

It's a race! Picard and a team endure a daunting race to assist his chief engineer. There's romance (of a sort), there's rescue... and meanwhile a nasty admiral keeps plotting against poor Picard....

[omiczech · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fine continuation of the series with an expected development of the character.

[Jon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun read, not brilliant, but worth reading and enjoyable.

[Burns Book Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

What does the crew do while the Captain is away?
The term “filler episode” is thrown around a lot today, and typically that implies that a story is more focused on character development than plot. By this definition, I would call Progenitor a filler episode in the Stargazer series. The main characters are all on a weird side quest that I didn’t really care about, and the side characters are the ones that have to manage the Stargazer while Picard helps a friend. This works in the series due to the strength of the Stargazer characters, but it did not really meet my expectations after the first book. I’m still looking forward to reading the rest of this series and seeing where all of these fun characters go.

[Read1000books · Rating 4 out of 5]

This will be high praise. The original 6-book LOST FLEET series by Jack Campbell is terrific [see my reviews], and this STARGAZER series is just as good so far! This particular novel is book 2 of 6 (not counting the prequel THE VALIANT - see my review) and has two page-turning storylines that flesh out various members of the crew very well. I have already purchased the next book in the series! (Note for nit-pickers: inexplicably, the picture on the cover has nothing to do with the story).

[Doris · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book gives us information on the beginnings of the Captaincy of Jean-Luc Picard, who rose to captain the Starship Enterprise in Star Trek : The Next Generation. In this book the ship is on a routine mission when the captain decides to divert to Gnala, the homeworld of the chief engineer.

Once there the senior staff take shore leave (all at once, and in a danger zone?) to help aid the engineer with a ritual that is never explained, although enough is brought out that it is understood. Amok Time with a slight twist.

I enjoyed the variety of species that Friedman brings to us, particularly Jiterica, a low density being. We get the gist of her - she doesn't have a physical body as such, but exists inside a containment suit.

There is intrigue off the ship on the part of the Admiralty, personnel changing roles and ships, and personnel who feel overwhelmed and unable to do their jobs. That actually was believable as so many people are often thrust into a role before they are ready.

However, all worked out well in this fast paced but highly predictable book ala Captain Kirk and the Enterprise.

The main distraction, which kept this from being a 4, was the plethora of typographical errors and lack of bridging between segues.

[rivka · Rating 2 out of 5]

Where do I start?

The Gnala ritual that involves fathering children -- and yet seems to involve no actual female. Even in passing.

The bizarre markings/genetic code nonsense, clearly there solely to make Greyhorse not be a useless addition to the party.

The very obvious hints about Ulelo are tiresome and heavy-handed.

And the ending, where it's not even clear what happened to the two men who have the misfortune to desire the Asmunds. Bah!

Book 4 in the series features Guinan, though. That one looks like it could be good.

[Scott Vout · Rating 3 out of 5]

A much better book the book one. The characters are now familiar and Friedman picked two characters to develop a little deeper, which was nice.

The "evil" I mentioned after reading book one has developed a bit more though not yet fully evident.

Looks like book three will be in the future read pile.

[Benjamin Plume · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pretty solid second entry in this miniseries. I can't quite give it that fourth star, because it doesn't do anything to me to set it apart from an average Next Generation episode. However, an average Next Generation episode is good, so this isn't a sharp criticism. I was entertained by the read and the "new" cast of characters is fun.

[Dustin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a solid second entry of the series. I know the characters and I can just sit back and enjoy the ride. And what a fun ride. It reads like a good Star Trek episode. Plenty of principle back story and by the end I started to really get to care about some charcters and relationships. Fun read over all. I can't wait to see what happens next.

[Chuck]

Stinkaroo, even for a Star Trek novel.

[Jason Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad. Felt like reading an episode of Next Generation, only with WAAAAY more characters to track.

[Douglas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Felt like a filler episode of TNG.