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Star Trek: The Next Generation
Unification
Based on the epic two-part television episode, here now is the story STAR TREK fans have awaited for five long years, the story that bring together Spock -- the enigmatic Vulcan who personified the original, classic STAR TREK -- with the crew of the Next Generation. Screenwriter Teri Taylor brings all the excitement and wonder that have captivated fans of the smash television series STAR THE NEXT GENERATION to this story of Spock's forbidden journey into the heart of the Romulan Empire -- and the U.S.S. Enterprise's desperate attempts to discover the reasons for his mission there. Join now with Captain Picard, Lieutenant Commander Data, and the rest of the Next Generation crew on a voyage of unsurpassed adventure, a voyage that brings them to the edge of history -- and forces them to confront a shattering betrayal!
256 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published November 1, 1991
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About the author
Jeri Taylor
13 books33 followersJeri Cecile Suer, known professionally as Jeri Taylor, was an American television scriptwriter and producer who wrote many episodes of the Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Voyager series.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
October 7, 2021
If you watched the two-parter episode of "Unification" then you pretty much have an idea of what's going on here. However, it being a novelization there's a bit more to expand upon. Highlights include:
The Klingon Captain, K'Vada, who transported Picard and Data to Romulus fantasizing about banging his wife again over and over and over, whilst simultaneously complaining about/enjoying the dislocated shoulder he received the last time they did.
The Admiral who gave Picard the briefing having a giddy school-girl crush on him (which methinks was the voice of the author herself).
The fact that not only is Romulan society oppressive in the extreme with the poor being kept deliberately poor, it seems, but Romulan soldiers routinely enter the poor districts and senselessly murder people, including children. I never really got that from the show - an oppressive society, sure, but not a murderously savage one. It makes one wonder why Picard was always interested in establishing a peaceful dialogue with people such as that.
Amarie (the four-armed piano player) being quite a bit of horndog. She refers to her ability to be quite "bouncy" in a sexual context more than a few times, especially when comparing her full-figured self to the waifish women who accompany the Ferengi arms dealer...although, apparently she and he end up together. Also, her perception of her physical appearance versus Riker's perception is an interesting juxtaposition. Riker's kind of a judgmental asshole.
Additionally, Riker wants to bang an Ensign in Security who accompanies him just about everywhere in this novel - I don't remember that from this episode. But also keeps reminding himself that he's a professional and shouldn't be banging subordinates, although I'm pretty sure there were more than a few times in the show when we see him dating and/or entering/leaving the room of a female subordinate. Of course, this one doesn't return his affection, although he constantly thinks she does, until he doesn't...but then he suggests that she gets a hobby, and Troi talks her through some trauma in her past or something and also suggests that she gets a hobby...and then her and Riker are planning on having dinner together later after the show, uh, I mean novel, so yah - he's gonna bang her.
Overall, this is a pretty sexually-charged up novel. Although, the more Star Trek novels I read, the more sexual tension I seem to find...almost like a young teenaged boy wrote them. Perrin, Sarek's second wife, even starts making eyes at Picard when he sympathizes and empathizes with her. I'm sure, if Sarek had already passed by the time they encountered each other, she'd be climbing up on top of him, too.
If you liked the episode, I'd recommend the book. It does fill in some nice holes here and there (pun intended). However, Qualor Two's place in the Federation seems incongruent. It's the site of a Federation surplus ship yard, and apparently, Riker has the authority to revoke the Ferengi's "passport," and the Zakdorn are members of the Federation...who apparently live on Qualor Two...I guess, why bother using their own planet name...seemingly indicating that they've been conquered/colonized...but that's neither here nor there. My point is, there seems to be the need for money on Qualor Two, as Amarie lives paycheck to paycheck and worries about losing her job, etc., etc...but the Federation doesn't use money, so...um...hmm...
The Klingon Captain, K'Vada, who transported Picard and Data to Romulus fantasizing about banging his wife again over and over and over, whilst simultaneously complaining about/enjoying the dislocated shoulder he received the last time they did.
The Admiral who gave Picard the briefing having a giddy school-girl crush on him (which methinks was the voice of the author herself).
The fact that not only is Romulan society oppressive in the extreme with the poor being kept deliberately poor, it seems, but Romulan soldiers routinely enter the poor districts and senselessly murder people, including children. I never really got that from the show - an oppressive society, sure, but not a murderously savage one. It makes one wonder why Picard was always interested in establishing a peaceful dialogue with people such as that.
Amarie (the four-armed piano player) being quite a bit of horndog. She refers to her ability to be quite "bouncy" in a sexual context more than a few times, especially when comparing her full-figured self to the waifish women who accompany the Ferengi arms dealer...although, apparently she and he end up together. Also, her perception of her physical appearance versus Riker's perception is an interesting juxtaposition. Riker's kind of a judgmental asshole.
Additionally, Riker wants to bang an Ensign in Security who accompanies him just about everywhere in this novel - I don't remember that from this episode. But also keeps reminding himself that he's a professional and shouldn't be banging subordinates, although I'm pretty sure there were more than a few times in the show when we see him dating and/or entering/leaving the room of a female subordinate. Of course, this one doesn't return his affection, although he constantly thinks she does, until he doesn't...but then he suggests that she gets a hobby, and Troi talks her through some trauma in her past or something and also suggests that she gets a hobby...and then her and Riker are planning on having dinner together later after the show, uh, I mean novel, so yah - he's gonna bang her.
Overall, this is a pretty sexually-charged up novel. Although, the more Star Trek novels I read, the more sexual tension I seem to find...almost like a young teenaged boy wrote them. Perrin, Sarek's second wife, even starts making eyes at Picard when he sympathizes and empathizes with her. I'm sure, if Sarek had already passed by the time they encountered each other, she'd be climbing up on top of him, too.
If you liked the episode, I'd recommend the book. It does fill in some nice holes here and there (pun intended). However, Qualor Two's place in the Federation seems incongruent. It's the site of a Federation surplus ship yard, and apparently, Riker has the authority to revoke the Ferengi's "passport," and the Zakdorn are members of the Federation...who apparently live on Qualor Two...I guess, why bother using their own planet name...seemingly indicating that they've been conquered/colonized...but that's neither here nor there. My point is, there seems to be the need for money on Qualor Two, as Amarie lives paycheck to paycheck and worries about losing her job, etc., etc...but the Federation doesn't use money, so...um...hmm...
February 21, 2012
This was competently adapted, but I'm finding since I started writing myself that I want something more from a book than that it should just be competently written. I've seen some Star Trek Adaptations that really sang. This was not one of them. :P
November 24, 2020
This was one of my favorite episodes of TNG, but I was fairly disappointed by the novelization... Personally, out of the Star Trek novels I've read, I've noticed an issue with pacing across many of them, with the authors choosing to add more detail to scenes and characters that ultimately add little to the main plot or themes. The Unification novel unfortunately fits into this pattern.
The main plot about reunification goals between the Vulcans and Romulans is, to me, a really compelling premise revolving around peace, justice, movements, and the potential of revolution. The Romulans are essentially a sci-fi representation of fascism, and I think there is a lot of potential to explore this in Star Trek as it relates to modern human relations. I was really hoping that this novelization would flesh out more about the political situations among Romulans and Vulcans and especially the underground movement building on Romulus. This is definitely the most compelling part of the story, but it was barely developed further than it had been in the episode itself, which was disappointing.
Instead, we get some extended scenes involving Riker and his uncomfortable flirtation with a junior officer and also of the piano player on Zakdorn. Kind of fun I guess, but ultimately just feels pointless because the important and more fascinating plot and themes are on Romulus with Picard and Spock. This novelization could have drawn out the themes of justice, hope, and revolution, yet it falls pretty flat. That's not to say it was all bad! But where I think a novelization should expand even more upon what we've already seen on the show, this left me feeling like watching the episodes and leaving the rest for viewers to mull over is enough.
The main plot about reunification goals between the Vulcans and Romulans is, to me, a really compelling premise revolving around peace, justice, movements, and the potential of revolution. The Romulans are essentially a sci-fi representation of fascism, and I think there is a lot of potential to explore this in Star Trek as it relates to modern human relations. I was really hoping that this novelization would flesh out more about the political situations among Romulans and Vulcans and especially the underground movement building on Romulus. This is definitely the most compelling part of the story, but it was barely developed further than it had been in the episode itself, which was disappointing.
Instead, we get some extended scenes involving Riker and his uncomfortable flirtation with a junior officer and also of the piano player on Zakdorn. Kind of fun I guess, but ultimately just feels pointless because the important and more fascinating plot and themes are on Romulus with Picard and Spock. This novelization could have drawn out the themes of justice, hope, and revolution, yet it falls pretty flat. That's not to say it was all bad! But where I think a novelization should expand even more upon what we've already seen on the show, this left me feeling like watching the episodes and leaving the rest for viewers to mull over is enough.
August 19, 2013
Plot: B
Writing: D
Vocabulary: D
Level: Easy
Rating: R (sexual fantasies, detailed violence, murder, political reprisals)
Worldview: ?
Admiral Lynn sends Captain Jean-Luc Picard to fetch apparently-rogue Ambassador Spock from Romulus, where a faction of the Romulan people are organizing underground for reunification with Vulcan.
This is the last Jeri Taylor novel I will ever read! Her plots are always so promising, but her books are like those of a dirty old man with the writing skills of a nine year old! Every character is a juvenile nymphomaniac attracted to every other character, and thinks of nothing but sex; makes me wonder how in the universe any of these characters ever got admitted to Starfleet Academy, never mind how they function in the adult world! Plot gaps abound, along with species irregularities, confusion over orthodox Star Trek history, incredulous motivations for actions, and even name spelling errors!
Writing: D
Vocabulary: D
Level: Easy
Rating: R (sexual fantasies, detailed violence, murder, political reprisals)
Worldview: ?
Admiral Lynn sends Captain Jean-Luc Picard to fetch apparently-rogue Ambassador Spock from Romulus, where a faction of the Romulan people are organizing underground for reunification with Vulcan.
This is the last Jeri Taylor novel I will ever read! Her plots are always so promising, but her books are like those of a dirty old man with the writing skills of a nine year old! Every character is a juvenile nymphomaniac attracted to every other character, and thinks of nothing but sex; makes me wonder how in the universe any of these characters ever got admitted to Starfleet Academy, never mind how they function in the adult world! Plot gaps abound, along with species irregularities, confusion over orthodox Star Trek history, incredulous motivations for actions, and even name spelling errors!
January 16, 2017
Interesting concept...poor execution.
August 18, 2021
My only problem is how women are portrayed in this book. Every woman is described as a thing of beauty by whatever male characters head we happen to be in. This is just 1) plain annoying but also 2) unbelievable. I cant believe that the best of the best of male characters on the Enterprise are googly eyes over every woman they see and for powerful women like Dr. Beverly Crusher who is so much more than just beauty and shape, it's just dumb.
October 26, 2022
Jeri Taylor's Trek novels always come with a great writing style -- she is an easy, enjoyable read. And she certainly goes to the town trying to expand this 2-part TNG mega-story from the fifth season...and she nearly succeeds. However, much of her expanded material is a very odd fixation on sex via numerous characters...making for some uncomfortable scenes, especially when I read back some of these sections today. I would qualify this as a triumph of skill over content.
May 1, 2025
Spock finally appears with the TNG cast! It was great to see Spock and Picard interact--Picard is so different than Kirk--and Sela was great again, as always. I especially liked the death of Sarek and the reconciliation between Spock and Sarek via the mind meld with Picard at the end.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 4, 2023
the episode is better. still not a bad read. quick. not sure i will read this again but decent to be sure. the added stuff isnt very compelling. e.g. riker falling for an ensign
July 31, 2018
Jeri Taylor offers exactly what a novelization of a TNG episode should; plenty of extra tidbits that add layers to what's realized onscreen, new material so as not to bore repeat tv viewers and a few fixes to flaws in the aired product.
Taylor enhances the story with the occasional theme of estranged fathers and sons, showcasing it through Riker, Picard, and Spock, linking them all in the narrative in a way that the televised episode doesn't. The final mind-meld, somewhat anticlimactic on television screens breathes a new life on paper, with a Taylor bringing home the emotional meaning of the story's title, Sarek, and Spock, at last, finding some unification through Picard.
The novelization substantially helps the side plot of Riker's investigation into the Vulcan hardware and helps it make a little more sense. Taylor adds some parts to broaden the investigation, for example, Riker helps interrogates the person responsible for helping to hide the what is going on at the shipyard (the captain of the mystery ship that exploded was romancing one of the low-level clerks who registered the junk ships at the yard).
There is also a secondary character introduced in the novel Ensign Naylor who adds something extra for those might be bored by just reading a straight adaption of the onscreen adventure. She starts off as a romantic possibility for Riker but is given something of a sad quality near the novel's end and more depth than just another fling for the First Officer.
Taylor livens things up at the end, something the aired product could have used, with some action involving Spock, Picard, and Data escaping the Romulans (they don't just casually walk out of the office like onscreen) and the Enterprise actually purses the Vulcan ships to the neutral zone.
Fans of the episode won't be disappointed.
Taylor enhances the story with the occasional theme of estranged fathers and sons, showcasing it through Riker, Picard, and Spock, linking them all in the narrative in a way that the televised episode doesn't. The final mind-meld, somewhat anticlimactic on television screens breathes a new life on paper, with a Taylor bringing home the emotional meaning of the story's title, Sarek, and Spock, at last, finding some unification through Picard.
The novelization substantially helps the side plot of Riker's investigation into the Vulcan hardware and helps it make a little more sense. Taylor adds some parts to broaden the investigation, for example, Riker helps interrogates the person responsible for helping to hide the what is going on at the shipyard (the captain of the mystery ship that exploded was romancing one of the low-level clerks who registered the junk ships at the yard).
There is also a secondary character introduced in the novel Ensign Naylor who adds something extra for those might be bored by just reading a straight adaption of the onscreen adventure. She starts off as a romantic possibility for Riker but is given something of a sad quality near the novel's end and more depth than just another fling for the First Officer.
Taylor livens things up at the end, something the aired product could have used, with some action involving Spock, Picard, and Data escaping the Romulans (they don't just casually walk out of the office like onscreen) and the Enterprise actually purses the Vulcan ships to the neutral zone.
Fans of the episode won't be disappointed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 14, 2021
The Next Generation's Unification two-parter has become one of the most significant, far-reaching stories in Star Trek lore. After all, it not only saw cast members from two eras of Trek coming together but also set the stage for events still playing out on screen in series and films decades later. It's no surprise then, as such an event story even in 1991, that it would receive a novelization as part of Pocket Books range of Trek novels, penned by its co-scriptwriter Jeri Taylor.
If you've seen and enjoyed Unification on-screen, you'll find plenty to like here as Taylor transfers it pretty well to the page, offering a variety of perspectives. Unfortunately, to bring even a two-parter to novel-sized page count required expansions to it. It's here that Taylor's prose falters, from more insight into Klingon's sex-lives than I ever cared to read about and especially in an ill-advised subplot involving security officer Lieutenant Gretchen Naylor and a flirtation between her and Riker. Other expansions, including one involving the Romulan boy D'Tan who appeared briefly on-screen, are more successful.
On the whole, a decent read but far from a great one. Given the speed at which it was apparently written, in a month according to the The Next Generation Companion, it reads far better than it has any right to be. And for Trek fans, it's a neat diversion with insights (warranted or not) into one of the lore's defining tales.
If you've seen and enjoyed Unification on-screen, you'll find plenty to like here as Taylor transfers it pretty well to the page, offering a variety of perspectives. Unfortunately, to bring even a two-parter to novel-sized page count required expansions to it. It's here that Taylor's prose falters, from more insight into Klingon's sex-lives than I ever cared to read about and especially in an ill-advised subplot involving security officer Lieutenant Gretchen Naylor and a flirtation between her and Riker. Other expansions, including one involving the Romulan boy D'Tan who appeared briefly on-screen, are more successful.
On the whole, a decent read but far from a great one. Given the speed at which it was apparently written, in a month according to the The Next Generation Companion, it reads far better than it has any right to be. And for Trek fans, it's a neat diversion with insights (warranted or not) into one of the lore's defining tales.
July 1, 2024
Novelizations can be tricky when it comes to the added details. They can enhance the experience of watching what’s onscreen by offering “fixes” or extra layers, or they can mess up the pacing of what’s already a great onscreen story. I love the “Unification” episodes and was surprised how much of a struggle it was to get through the novelization. The ending reveals pretty much what Spock saw when mind melding with Picard, but I really think it’s more effective to see Spock’s facial expression and just imagine what it might be that he’s experiencing.
September 30, 2017
Unification was always an episode I wish they did more with and in. Now I have read a book that added more to the episode but it's pretty much padding with a not-really-going-anywhere romance with Riker and some added perspectives with characters which were... okay. I always wish more was said/discussed in the scene between Data and Spock and was hoping there was more here but there wasn't. Oh well. Still enjoyed it though.
October 11, 2022
Auf den ersten vierzig Seiten trifft die Autorin Riker und Troi zwar nicht ganz so gut, danach steigert sie sich aber deutlich. Es gibt einige lustige Szenen, spannende wie auch dramatische und kuriose Kapitel sowie die eine oder andere Handlungserweiterung, die so nicht in der TV-Doppelfolge vorkommt. In der Summe betrachtet liegt hier eine gelungene Romanfassung mit gutem Finale vor. Für Fans der Serie empfehlenswerte Lektüre.
April 4, 2024
This was a faithful adaptation of the two episodes of the show. There was some added scenes and depths to peoples' motivations. Reading Sela's inner thoughts really explained her hatred for Picard, which I don't think had ever been explained. That her hatred was more than just a Romulans' hatred for the Federation gave her character a bit more complexity.
August 27, 2025
really good oughh.... the way jeri writes interactions between picard and spock makes me insane. the comparisons.... i'm a huge fan of her characterization in general. she wrote riker really nicely. despite this amarie is genuinely one of my fav characters, she's so endearing. i got sad once i got past her point in the book haha
June 16, 2022
Almost worth rounding up. I actually liked it better than the episodes that it was based on. Taylor crafts prose well. But still, it just doesn't add anything new, and therefore *imo* is a waste of dead trees. Well, on the next... since I own them, I am continuing to read through them.
September 6, 2025
I really didn't love this book. There was nothing objectively wrong with it. I simply didn't find it terribly interesting. It was too easy to put it down (and avoid picking it back up). It wasn't terrible, but I've definitely read better!
July 19, 2017
Great novelisation of the televised episodes
February 16, 2018
Decent novelization of a fine episode.
July 25, 2022
Awesome
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 20, 2023
3.5 stars-why is this so...horny
August 24, 2023
Way to go Jeri Taylor, way to go.
Her writing style puts together a book that reads quickly. Solid story, not quite 5 star but overall this is a very good book.
Her writing style puts together a book that reads quickly. Solid story, not quite 5 star but overall this is a very good book.
July 9, 2024
Nicely done.
A very interesting novelization of an excellent episode. I enjoy the detail added to the TV script. I could hear the characters reading the story to me.
A very interesting novelization of an excellent episode. I enjoy the detail added to the TV script. I could hear the characters reading the story to me.
October 26, 2024
Beautifully done. Exactly what a novelization of an episode is supposed to be - an exploration of what was on the screen, with thoughtful depth, richness, and context added. Recommended.
December 4, 2024
The final page oh my god my emotions 😭🖖
August 3, 2025
Spionistico. Semplice. Avventuroso.
July 21, 2010
Ok, I merely picked up this book because i couldn't decided what to read and my finger landed on the sci-fi shelf.Being a typical episode to movie adaptation you can tell this story was originally written to be seen. I've actually seen the two episodes this book was based on and can attest to that sentiment. The one thing the book has that the episode didn't have was a horny Klingon named K'Vada. I throughly enjoyed every scene he was in. He was so funny. K'Vada had his elbow dislocated by his mate K'kam and spent a lot of time thinking of ways to get her back. Most of them referred to angry violent sex. It's such the opposite of how a Klingon is portrayed in the series. I was actually surprised to see it in the book. Nevertheless, it was a great addition. ^^
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 22, 2014
Totally uninspired. The book follows the show's scenes so much that I questioned why I was wasting my time reading a book adaptation. What I was hoping for was creativity between essential plot points, but I found none, with the exception of something uncalled for that added nothing to the plot of the episode.
For such a small book, it's sad that I was waiting and waiting for it to end. This is a total turnoff for all of the adaptations for the show.
For such a small book, it's sad that I was waiting and waiting for it to end. This is a total turnoff for all of the adaptations for the show.
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December 29, 2008Just adding a few more Star Trek novels I found while working in the shed, so they're in my list here; that way, I can easily see which ones we don't have and bookmooch only titles we're missing. But to be honest, I don't remember any of these stories particularly well, and will have to post an actual review when and if I get around to re-reading them in the future.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews