Spectre (Star Trek)

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Summary: Star Trek again confronts the Mirror Universe
Review: Star Trek Spectre

Set in the “Next Generation”, “Spectre” reunites James T. Kirk with the crew of the Enterprise-E. (spoiler).

Unfortunately, an ambitious plot is brought down for many reasons. First, this is Shatner’s book, made obvious by a conspicuous lack of heroism and foresight on the part of Captain Picard. (Picard uses the Enterprise main computer to lock out the invaders, yet is easily tricked into unlocking it for them. The NextGen characters spend much of the time as helpless prisoners). Also, it takes a while for the heroes to get anywhere (Kirk and company spend an inordinately long time just trying to get out of a holodeck). The Mirror villains plan itself doesn’t really have any menace – the 5th column seems scary, but the plot doesn’t really do anything with them (we only know that they exist because of the typical NexGen techno-bable, in this case, quantum-signature anomalies), while the plan to steal our universe’s technology is also pretty lame. The mirror enemy doesn’t seem very centralized either, with the wicked Tiberius not casting much of a shadow over the story. (It would have been nifty to take the same approach that Robert Harriss did with Hitler in “Fatherland”, keeping the Fuhrer just out of sight where the menace was greater.) The very need to look for enemies in another reality is also a cop-out – what’s wrong with our own Cardassians, Klingons and Romulans? The point of the Mirror Universe is that we got to see wicked versions of our own favorite characters, but the story doesn’t do much with the evil Picard, and the Mirror Spock isn’t really good or evil, just tired of the fighting. But what really kills this book is the ending…it doesn’t have one. Instead, it ends on a cliffhanger, the authors thought that they had enough for two books, not knowing there wasn’t enough for this one to really stand on its own.

Fun for Trek fans, but I doubt anybody else would have the patience.

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Summary: Gene Roddenberry-Wesley Crusher; William Shatner-James Kirk
Review: After writing a highly succesfull, high quality Star Trek trilogy, William Shatner and his co-writers Judith & Garfield Reeves-Stevens start a new one that unfortunately doesn't measure up to the first one.

"Spectre" is the worst book of this writing team so far, and I hope it stayes that way. "Spectre" is all about action, mirror counterparts, and no plot.

"Avenger", the last book in the first trilogy, had some problems with useless action that doesn't advance the plot, but it still stood it's ground.

"Spectre" doesn't.

The book is desperately tried to make feel exiting by adding countless sudden, independant, action-packed seguences that, in the end, don't help the almost nonexhistant plot to advance one bit. Not to mention that almost every chapter ends with a ridiculously artificial and forced cliffhanger, to wich every reader knows the end result by using a little bit of his or her brain. "Spectre" doesn't hold it's credibility because it's just so irritatingly superficial and immature.

In essence: the book is based on predictabilities and artificiality and it underestimates it's readers. I was constantly several pages ahead of myself while reading, simply because every solution to every problem though portrayed as a big surprise, was predictable and easily deduced. Not to mention the simply unproffecionally handled ending.

Then there's Kirk...

It is implied on the back cover that we can expect some real character development of Kirk. Similar as to the development shown on "The Ashes of Eden", the first and so far the best of the Shatner & Reeves-Stevens' books. But the character development goes along these lines: Kirks shoots a Klingon and thinks: 'I think... I feel... Just a little bit... Guilty... For taking... A life... Poor me!!"

Furthermore... The Kirk of this book is portrayed like Wesley Crusher was at those terrible times when he was still in the picture.

Time after time Kirk has amazing insights nobody else simply couldn't have thought of. He fights as bravely as humanly possible, always ready to sacrafice himself, saving the day when all the other characters seem to be just shadows compared to the shining light of their savior: James Tiberius Kirk.

Does the term 'Mary Sue' ring any bells?

"Spectre" doesn't fail nearly completely, though. It's still an entertaining and (overly) action-paced adventure, that just doesn't offer anything in terms of intellectuality.

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Summary: Spectre Review
Review: After his "death" on board the Enterprise-B and after ST: Generations, James T. Kirk comes back to life! Commanding the Starship Enterprise NCC-1701-E, Jean-Luc Picard finds the unbeliveable: the U.S.S. Voyager NCC-74656 has arrived in the Alpha Quadrant! Waiving all security procedures, Picard tranports a few crewmen from the Voyager over to the Enterprise. But Commander Tom Paris says that Captain Kathryn Janeway is dead. Then who is the woman pleading with Kirk to come with her to help the Federation avoid destruction?

Read this book to find out!!

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Summary: SPECTACULAR SPECTRE
Review: This is the book that started me on my Star Trek quest. It's intriguing, mysterious, filled with heroics, and pumped up with action. It's a non-stop thriller with an excellent plot. It combines the two captains of the Enterprises in a universal stuggle. This is a book you don't put down.

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Summary: Kirk wants to build life, and not destroy it!
Review: The fourth book in Shatner's "Star Trek" series is just as good as "The Ashes of Eden," and "The Return!" A story that is a sequel to the classic episode "Mirror, Mirror" (as well as the mirror-universe episodes on "Deep Space Nine") Even after Kirk has admitted that the federation doesn't need his help anymore, and that he may spend the rest of his life with his true love Teilani(a beautiful woman who's made him a better man in my opinion), deep down am inner part of him wants to be a hero once more! Although he's denied it to Teilani, she encourages him to back out into the universe again! Eventually, this leads to another encounter with the Mirror Universe Spock & Katherynn Janeway (the captain of "Star Trek: Voyager") who needs Kirk's help to straighten things out due to his first encounter! Soon, things go from bad to worse when Teilani is kidnapped, and Kirk must reunite Ambassador Spock, Admiral McCoy, and Scotty to get her back! Look for Captain Picard, and the "Next Generation" crew along for this adventure! Keep the adventures coming Bill Shatner!

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Summary: Excellent Reading
Review: I am not a serious trekkie, although I enjoy watching the show from time to time. I was given this book as a gift and read it in a day. It is an excellent book, one that even non-trekkies will like. It has a good story and is actually pretty funny. It doesn't just try to satisfy the hardcore trekkie, but it has something for everyone, and works well.

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Summary: This is not your father's Kirk
Review: I always wondered how much credit Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens should be given for Shatner's novels. For me, it is obvious that they are primarily responsible for this latest product. Mr. Shatner has always said that he does not pay much attention to the subsequent Star Trek series. It is beyond my understanding how he can accurately depict characters for which he has declared no interest. I believe it is Judith and Garfield that hold this story together. On the other hand, it is probably Mr. Shatner's input that has Kirk handling dire situations in ways that the younger Captain would never consider. Kirk's willingness to make sacrifices for the good of Starfleet and humanity seems to decrease as he gets older. That's probably autobiographical.

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Summary: Wonderfully Expands the Star Trek Universe
Review: I must agree with Marc DelMonico when saying that Williams Shatner has done an incredible job writing this book and keeping it contiuous with the Star Trek universe.

While it is not continuous with "Dark Mirror" by Duane Ward, I am ready to dismiss that book for this. After all it was written by "Kirk" himself, how could it be wrong?

This book has great plot development, and character development. An intriguing story is written by Shatner. I started reading this book in late afternoon and stayed up until one in the morning because I literally could not put this book down. I eagerly await reading "Dark Victory", Shatner's next offering.

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Summary: Good, but...
Review: I am primarily a Trek Next Generation fan, although I do like the original series as well. I found this book to be a good read, although I must concur with many of the reasons that other people have found it somewhat displeasing.

It often focuses too much on Kirk and his reflections about love and growing older, and although I know people change as they age, I don't really think it stays too true to the Kirk character that we all knew before these books.

All the female characters play secondary, even weak roles, including (for the most part) Teilani, which is especially dumb since she is a half Klingon half Romulan who can certainly take care of herself. There are only a couple scenes where you see her in action, and it is still secondary.

Also, there were many times when the book got too...I don't know, perhaps technical is the word for it. I found myself wanting to skip ahead but afraid if I did I would miss something.

Did anyone else notice that Shatner dedicated the book to Nimoy (who played Spock), DeForrest (who played Bones) and DeForrest's wife, but not Doohan, who played Scottie? It seemed kind of like a snub to me, especially since I recently read about some animosity between the two.

At any rate, I would recommend the book if you are a TOS fan or a TNG fan. It's not a great work of literature, but it is an enjoyable read and for the most part will not let you down. I am looking forward to reading Dark Victory and Preserver.

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Summary: Looking into the Mirror Uinverse
Review: Building upon themes and stories from the Original Star Trek Series can be risky or very interesting. In this case, Shatner has broken all expectations and done it again! I always thought the "Mirror-Mirror" story was complete and nearly impossible to follow-up, much less into a major novel. But, again, the wisdom of Shatner prevails. Perhaps not as gripping as The Return, Spectre dives deep into the charcters of Kirk and Telani and, again, boldly manages to tell a fantastic and original Star Trek story!