Rating:  Summary: Great Expectations Review: William Shatner continues to amaze his audience once again with his unfolding drama of mirror-universe counterparts. On the negative, the story contains to many sub-plots and characters. Do we really need to have everyone from the Trek universe involved? Weaving elements from Classic Trek, Next Generation, DS9, and Voyager is a real sign of artistic talent. On the other hand, I believe it pulls down this reader while keeping up with the story and bizarre moments. For example, would Kirk really settle down and marry in a Klingon ceremony? Please! Sometimes, the story can be stretched a but thin. Dark Victory is a compelling read with just a twist of plot from the Disney's "Black Hole" movie. I'm almost left waiting for Maximillion and Kirk to stare each other down! An interesting and compelling story told by Shatner himself!
Rating:  Summary: Good, but not one of his best in this series Review: I must admit at the outset that I am not a regular reader of the huge array of "Star Trek" books. I'm a "Trek" fan, but not to that extent. However, I did get hooked on William Shatner's "Trek" novels; they are a fun diversion from some heavier reading I usually do.Having said that, I was looking forward to this book, and picked it up right after it hit paperback. As with all of the previous novels, Shatner moves things right along, so the book is a quick read. But, it seems that as Capt. Kirk's journeys continue, the quality of the books has sunk a bit. "Dark Victory" is good in some ways, but overall weaker than his others. Some of the plot threads and scenes within "Dark Victory" are great (i.e. the confrontation between Kirk and Picard as the Enterprise reaches the Badlands). It makes for good reading. The major drawback of this book, though, is that I had the feeling at the conclusion that this was nothing but "filler" or a "temporary bridge" between "Spectre" and the upcoming book. "Spectre" had its flaws, to be sure, but it tied up enough loose ends in the plot before the cliffhanger to make it satisfying. I didn't get that out of "Dark Victory". Shatner seemed to leave everything hanging for the next book, and that is unsatisfying to this reader. That is why I say this one seemed to be more "filler" than anything. At least Capt. Kirk's journeys will continue. But, I hope that he returns to the better form that was displayed in my favorite of the series - "The Return" and "Avenger". I can't wholeheartedly recommend "Dark Victory", but you will want to read it to follow the story into the next novel in the series.
Rating:  Summary: Shattner's Star Trek Dark Victory Review: The reader has enough information about the plot of the book from the Editor's review, but I would like to concentrate here on why I think that Shattner, through his books, has become (or expressed the characteristics of) a Creative Genius (as opposed to an Ingenious Follower, as many may have thought of him in the shadow of Gene Roddenberry who created Star Trek). Shattner has absorbed the excitement, the obsession, the desire to obtain knowledge and learn which was the original theme of Star Trek: to explore new frontiers, to go where no one has gone before, etc. The Creative Genius is deep down a learner, a student of the universe. Whether he or she is a sculptor, a musician, a writer, or an inventor/discoverer, these actions inspire the acquisition and experiencing of new knowledge. You will find this in Socrates, in the Old Testament Prophets, in Saint Thomas Acquinas, in Plato and Aristotle, and now in Shattner. I hope that the young people especially who read Shattner will be similarly inspired to learn and create instead of following their peers and their "easy way out". I hope that parents will read Shattner and be inspired to literally "sit on their kids" to study and learn and create, even if they have to hypnotize them or send them to learning therapists. I also like the emphasis on psychology in Shattner's books and indeed in the whole Star Trek phenomenon. I think that Creative Geniuses somewhere, deep down, are psychologists, though for some of them making contact with themselves may be a long voyage indeed.
Rating:  Summary: #3 can't be published soon enough! Review: Spectre was a little shallow compared to the previous Shatner/Reeves-Stevens books, but Dark Victory more than makes up for it. The book sets a breakneck pace right from the start, and then you run SMACK into a brick wall cliffhanger at the end of the book. It's rare these days to read a book I cannot put down, but I didn't want to stop reading this book. I found the scenes with the 2 Spocks "fascinating" to say the least, and it's seems quite ironic when they nail down the actual event that caused history to diverge in the 2 different universes. You'll have to read the book to find it out. I refuse to spoil your fun! Buy it, and enjoy.
Rating:  Summary: An excellent adaptation Review: I gave the book 3 stars earlier on this site, but I must admit the audio is a superb adaptation. Music from both Dark Mirror and Spectre is recognizable in this tape. I've given both the other stories 5 stars, though I still consider the best "mirror" story to be the 1967 episode. Hope Teilani makes it.
Rating:  Summary: Next in a long line of great books Review: Ths was an intriging book that kept me thinking and in suspense. For any Star Trek lover this book is a must have
Rating:  Summary: Fascinating--a secret group w/in StarFleet Review: I found Dark Victory startling for several reasons: 1. It continues the use of the savage characters from the original series episode "Mirror,Mirror", and Dark Victory's prequel, which introduces its readers with Kirk's double in the mirror universe named Emperor Tiberius. 2. It provides continuity with Kirk's rebirth in "Generations" and books such as "Vengence". 3. It uses characters from Star Trek-The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, and Voyager in its plot line--Kirk's mirror universe counterpart seeks revenge from losing his bid to to conquer the Federation's universe by attempting to kill Kirk; failing that, he proceeds to attempt killing Kirk's new wife (A wife for ladies's man Kirk--incredible!). 4. We learn of ships staffed by holograms and a secret cabal w/in StarFleet called Project Sign. Clearly, a great novel to read on a rainy day!
Rating:  Summary: Great Read Review: A fast read, non-stop thriller that leaves you on the edge from beginning to the end.. It's a must read for sci-fi readers.. I only wonder if shatner writes these stuff by himself or hires a ghost writer.. And one more thing.. when is the sequel coming out? I need to know~
Rating:  Summary: Masterwork Review: "Dark Victory" represents the peak of Shatner's "symbolist" phase: this was the direct result of his immersion in Valery and mid-period Yeats, especially "The Green Helmet". Sources also point to Shatner's stay in Mongolia during the winter solstice of 1997, a period of much opium usage, as being a primal inspiration for this story. Here note that "Star Trek" refers not to the trite TV program that made Shatner a millionaire, but rather a strange, abstract sentiment indicating the narrator's desire to become a sentient gaseous cloud.
Rating:  Summary: I can't get enough! Review: Continuing where DARK VICTORY left off, this book furthur continues the self-discovery of James T. Kirk, and the discovery of a mysterious "Project Sign." Our hero marries Teilani, but is soon back on the trail of the Mirror Universe duplicates. Returning to the Mirror Universe after 80 years, Kirk discovers the life he never had, and starts to make a deal with the Devil: Emperor Tiberius. While you don't get a good look at the Mirror Universe, it's a tale worth reading, so DO IT!
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