Rating: 
Summary: Boarderline believeable
Review: A blend of historic fact, Star Trek history, and imagination create an engrossing and fairly believable storyline. Popular mysteries and noteworthy events of the 70's carry the timeline progression throughout the book as Khan develops through the innocence of youth to the crusader of young adulthood. The door is left wide open for the second installment of this saga.
Rating: 
Summary: Gary Seven's Welcome Return
Review: As a big fan of Gary Seven (Robert Lansing died too young) and Roberta Lincoln (the delightful Teri Garr), I was very happy to see them back and in true character, just as they were in Assignment: Earth, an Original Series episode. I found the character of Dr. Sarina Kaur quite chilling. The story managed to blend events of the recent past with the youth of Khan Noonian Singh very well.However. . . I was very disappointed that this is the first of two or more and that the next book won't be out till spring. Nothing on the jacket led one to believe that this wasn't the complete story. Kirk, Spock, McCoy, etc, play very small roles in this story. I assume they will do more in the following. Finally, as a die-hard romantic, there was one more disappointment for me, but I refuse to spoil anything by saying more.
Rating:
Summary: Interesting tale with lines from many Star Trek stories
Review: As movie reviewers Siskel and Ebert once said, the success of a good versus evil story is generally not due to the level of goodness of the hero but to the strength of the villain. Khan Noonien Singh was clearly one of the best characters ever developed in the Star Trek genre and "The Wrath of Khan" is still my favorite Star Trek movie. In this book, you learn the origins and early life of this fascinating character.
However, while Khan is the emerging character, the main ones are Gary Seven and Roberta, introduced in another original Star Trek episode. Engaged in a mission to save the world from itself, these two perform many acts that are intertwined with the events that took place in the years following the time frame of the episode where they were introduced. The assassination of Indian Prime Minister Indira Ghandi, the mass gassing of people in Bhopal, India, the rise of Gorbachev and the fall of the Soviet Union are all woven into the fabric of the story. This makes the book one of historical fiction as well and really makes it interesting.
An additional intriguing aspect of the story is the appearance of several other characters and consequences from the different Start Trek story lines. While these appearances will be well understood by those familiar with all of the stories, it will confuse those who are not. For example, if you have not seen the episode of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine where Quark and Odo are transported back in time to Earth and land at Roswell, the references to the Ferengi will mean nothing to you.
There is also a separate story line where the Enterprise with Kirk at the helm is renewing contact with a colony of genetically enhanced humans. The Klingons of captain Koloth of tribble fame are also there and stirring up trouble.
I enjoyed the book immensely and was left with a feeling of loss when it ended with crises in two of the story lines. I am now searching for the sequel and can't wait to get my hands on it.
Rating:
Summary: Good start to the series.
Review: Greg Cox has never been my favorite Trek author. I found his Q Continuum trilogy to be entertaining at first, only to fizzle out at the end and Assigment: Eternity to be just a pretty decent read, but nothing to write home about. So, I must admit that while I looked forward to the Eugenics War, I was a bit hesistant going into it. All I've got to say is--so far, so good. The Eugenics War, Book 1 is an enjoyable read. Cox takes the subject of giving us Khan's backstory set against the background of recent history and does a nice job of weaving them together. There's just enough real world, actual events in the story and reference through the actions of Khan, Gary Seven, Robert and Isis to give the book a "alternate history" feel without feeling like it's stretching the truth too much to fit the fiction Cox is trying to tell. Cox's novel gives us the first few years of Khan's life--from his creation as a genetically enhanced child to his early teens. The story is told as a flashback of sorts--Kirk is sorting out a colony that wants to use genetic manipulation and looks to Khan's story to find out the strengths and weaknesses inherent in such research. The framing story of Kirk and company is well told, though it's not too intrustive in this book. It's enough to keep interesting and neither plotline feels like it's taking away from the other in any way. And Cox has a good grasp of the orignal series crew in the limited time that we encounter them. But the real success of this books rests on Cox's recreation of Khan, Gary Seven and Robert Lincoln. Cox's Seven is intriguingly developed and we really get to see the payoff on some of the promise of Assignment: Earth. (Admittedly it's not one of my favorite Trek episodes, but Cox takes the characters and really runs with them.) Of course, there are references to the entire continuity of the first four Trek shows. I caught many of them, but I am sure that others just flew over my head. That's another strength of this book--if you get the references, it adds to your enjoyement. If you don't get them, you don't feel like you've missed anything. The book is a real page-turner, though I will admit it took about 50 pages for me to get into it. Once I managed past those, the other 250 pages flew by and left me anxious for more when part 2 arrives in April. All in all, the Eugenics War, Book 1 is a nice start and shows strong promise to this series.
Rating:
Summary: A Great Start to the Series
Review: I absolutely loved this book!!! So much so that I dare say it is one of my favorite Trek novels. It incorporates so much and even includes consequences of past Trek "time-travelling back to Earth's past" episodes and movies. While Kirk and McCoy deal with our favorite Klingon baddie (Koloth from "The Trouble with Tribbles"), Gary Seven and Roberta Lincoln attempt to limit the damage which everyone's favorite villain will cause. Along the way, the reader is treated to delightful flashbacks of 70s and 80s culture (both popular and historical). A plethora of 70s culture including Jaws, Bill Cosby, The Way We Were, and so many more are referenced. Roberta runs into a certain future Marine biologist while working undercover. Mr. Seven also has fun scenes including his line : "My name is Kirk, James Kirk." However, this time the bad guy is holding the Walther PPK. Roberta's final mission of the book has her acting as translator for Gorbachev while a certain ex-female tennis pro turned government agent with the last name Sommers acts as President Reagan's interpretor at a peace summit. With all of the other 70s era references, I found it somewhat funny that "Star Wars" was not even alluded to. All-in-all this was one fun ride and I eagerly await the continuation in Volume Two. As was prefaced in the Afterward, I can't wait to see what is done to the 90s. Maybe one day someone will pick up the ball started by Gene Roddenberry and turn the Gary Seven character into a television series as the TOS episode Assignment: Earth was meant to be.
Rating: 
Summary: Khan fails in attemps to "fit in"
Review: I could name a number of literary devices that the author absolutely fails at, or the sometimes awful attempts at science writing (Roberta would have been shot dead immediately following her attempts to pass as a molecular geneticist), but I'd rather warn the reader of the failed premise of this story. Kahn and his followers are supposed to take over the planet and yet the author tries to weave "cleverly" Khan's rise into current events. I kept waiting for him to burst on the scene and dominate as he must have for the episode "Space Seed" and the Movie "Wrath of Khan" to work. It looks as if Cox has no intention of changing "current history" to accommodate Khan's past. I suspect the rest of the Eugenics war will be woven into current events. How dreadful! Here is an enigmatic, charismatic character who was supposed to be a "prince, with power over millions" and we are subjected to painful attempts to implicate him in every mishap of the late twentieth century. What next? He helped Art Modell move the Browns? He was working with Monica Lewinsky to defeat Clinton? I advise you get off this train before you are destroyed in the wreckage.
Rating:
Summary: A Different Kind of Star Trek Novel
Review: I have read quite a few Star Trek books and this is probably one of the best I have read in quite some time. I say that because it had an interesting story but I also say that because it was somewhat unique: it was not about Captain Kirk or Captain Picard teaming up to save the Federation from certain doom; it was not a story of a vile Romulan conspiracy; it was a story that explored an area of time that is not often considered in the Star Trek writings that I have read.
One good thing about the book, in some ways, is that it can serve largely as an entertaining stand-alone novel, even separate from the Star Trek mythos. That said, this is not entirely the case as the guiding framework is certainly a Star Trek story that looks to the past. Specifically, we have a framework story of Captain Kirk and his crew that takes place some time before the events of "Star Trek: The Motion Picture" (going by the stardate, anyway). That story provides a framework (albeit a somewhat weak one, in my opinion) for looking at a series of events in Earth's past - specifically from 1974 to 1989.
The events of these years do two things: showcase the actions of Gary Seven (first seen in the Star Trek Original Series episode "Assignment: Earth") and the formation of Khan Noonien Singh (first seen in the Star Trek Original Series episode "Space Seed" and the movie "Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan"). How these two elements tie together is the brunt of this novel. What follows from that is a fast-paced novel with many amusing moments and, in my opinion, a genuinely interesting story.
Fans of the various Star Trek series will recognize many references to characters and situations. Not knowing every nuance of the various episodes and characters, however, does not detract from the novel at all. (Some of the clever in-jokes or "for the fans" material passed right by me until only after I had read the book.)
For me, the book does have an interesting subtext, whether intended or not. If we have the ability to save others from themselves, do we have the responsibility to do so? Do we let people (or societies) make their own mistakes? Is it dangerous to modify our own evolutionary path or do we recognize that we evolved with that capability and thus must be allowed to exploit it? What is the more appropriate way to approach societal and cultural problems: head-on, with as much control as possible or indirectly, only intervening when absolutely necessary?
I give this book five stars because I was very entertained while reading it and because it presented a new face to Star Trek to me and that was something I really needed to keep interested in the Star Trek mythos. Beyond that, going to the subtext I mentioned above, the book made me consider various ideas even after I put the book down and I found myself thinking about the differences between Gary Seven and Khan and how their mindsets and actions mirror those of various societies on Earth today. In short, the novel entertained and made me think. For me, I can think of no better reason to give it five stars.
Rating: 
Summary: "The Man From T.R.E.K."?
Review: I mean, is this a prequel Trek novel or a copycat "Man From U.N.C.L.E." adventure? I can almost hear Robert Lansing's clipped Sergeant Friday wannabe tones in Gary Seven's dialogue. The period cliches seem forced: Patty Hearst, "Crocodile Rock", the "primitive" 747. The depiction of Roberta Lincoln further along in her training as a recruit "agent" (even though Gary should have also trained her to use that bimbo soprano voice to make people underestimate her). The massive underground high-tech lab with labyrinthyine hallways tailor-made for Solo and Illya to chase the bad guys down (or be chased down by the bad guys)--why don't they appear here? Okay okay--I realize there had to be a 20th century environment in which to set Khan's childhood, but did Cox have to drag in heroes from one of Trek Mark One's clunkier "aw-come-on" episodes?
Rating:
Summary: Pandering and pretentious, but somewhat enjoyable
Review: I picked up Vol 1 and 2 of this book for cheap, and I'm happy I did. This would be a rage rather than a review otherwise. With the lack of "classic" Trek books these days I decided to give this a try. While the structure of the writing is good, and the writer clearly has good Trek knowledge and a great imagination, he panders too much to trekkies for my taste. Why is it sci-fi writers are compelled to draw connections between every little aspect of backstories... it's just painful. For example, the author felt compelled to bring into Khan's story every aspect of 20th century Trek lore. From the Deep Space Nine "Area 51" episode to Gillian Taylor (from Star Trek IV) to the immortal Methusalah. Perhaps he thinks he's paying homage to Trek but to this reader it's pure pandering without purpose (these characters bring nothing to the story that a new character couldn't). It's just a nod to trekkies and nothing more.
But if you can look past this prtentiousness then it's a good read.
Rating:
Summary: Pandering and pretentious, but somewhat enjoyable
Review: I picked up Vol 1 and 2 of this book for cheap, and I'm happy I did. This would be a rage rather than a review otherwise. With the lack of "classic" Trek books these days I decided to give this a try. While the structure of the writing is good, and the writer clearly has good Trek knowledge and a great imagination, he panders too much to trekkies for my taste. Why is it sci-fi writers are compelled to draw connections between every little aspect of backstories... it's just painful. For example, the author felt compelled to bring into Khan's story every aspect of 20th century Trek lore. From the Deep Space Nine "Area 51" episode to Gillian Taylor (from Star Trek IV) to the immortal Methusalah. Perhaps he thinks he's paying homage to Trek but to this reader it's pure pandering without purpose (these characters bring nothing to the story that a new character couldn't). It's just a nod to trekkies and nothing more.
But if you can look past this prtentiousness then it's a good read.
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