Rating: 
Summary: Out of this World
Review: "Star Trek Probe" is a compelling novel that explains the truth behind the mysterious probe that almost destroyed Earth in Star Trek IV. As the Enterprise-A and her crew are en route to the Neutral Zone to host a peace conference, they receive a message from Starfleet informing them that the probe has entered Romulan space and is out of range of their sensors. The Enterprise is instructed to relay this message to the Romulan govenment, advising them not to interfere with it, for it is extremely powerful. The Romulans insist that the probe is simply a hoax, and pay no attention to the warning at all. Only after an archeological team discovers something that seems quite fam- iliar, do the Romulans begin to listen, sending the Enterprise on a wild goose chase with the probe itself, to find some answers. For a Trekkie like myself, this is a great book. Unfortunately, it doesn't have as much adventure and thrills as the movies have, and well, the characters are missing some traits that make them who they are in the movies. However, I was so anxious to find out where that probe came from, it didn't matter to me. All in all, most anybody would like this book. Trekkie or not, I recommend it to you.
Rating:
Summary: A good story
Review: I have heard that this novel was actually supposed to be the basis for Star Trek 5, but a "certain actor" wanted to have his hand at directing and the story was changed. How unfortunate for us, because this would have made the perfect sequel to Star Trek 4. As a matter of fact, it picks up just after the end of the movie and really is good. The character development is good, and the plot moves along well. It's sad to think we'll never get to see this one on the screen, but at least we're treated to a good conclusion to the origins of the mysterious probe from Star Trek 4. A great idea that's translated to a graet book.
Rating:
Summary: A good story
Review: I have heard that this novel was actually supposed to be the basis for Star Trek 5, but a "certain actor" wanted to have his hand at directing and the story was changed. How unfortunate for us, because this would have made the perfect sequel to Star Trek 4. As a matter of fact, it picks up just after the end of the movie and really is good. The character development is good, and the plot moves along well. It's sad to think we'll never get to see this one on the screen, but at least we're treated to a good conclusion to the origins of the mysterious probe from Star Trek 4. A great idea that's translated to a graet book.
Rating:
Summary: A good story
Review: I have heard that this novel was actually supposed to be the basis for Star Trek 5, but a "certain actor" wanted to have his hand at directing and the story was changed. How unfortunate for us, because this would have made the perfect sequel to Star Trek 4. As a matter of fact, it picks up just after the end of the movie and really is good. The character development is good, and the plot moves along well. It's sad to think we'll never get to see this one on the screen, but at least we're treated to a good conclusion to the origins of the mysterious probe from Star Trek 4. A great idea that's translated to a graet book.
Rating: 
Summary: My favourite Trek book of all.
Review: I have read all but a half dozen Star Trek books, and this is my all-time favourite. It encompasses all the core elements of Star Trek. There are three main groups of characters in this book: the Enterprise crew, the peaceful Romulan faction of Commander Hiren, the paranoid Romulans out to sabotage the peace conference, the Romulan civilians that just want to live their own lives, and finally the Probe. Instead of being a distant threat, or at least plot device, the Probe is the centre of its own story, presented complete with its own views, motivations and choices. it brings an incredible sense of wonder to the book, both in reading from its point of view and from the people trying to interact with it. The core of the book is on communication, and the theme that any beings that talk with open minds and the determination to deal honestly can settle their differences, no matter the issues between them and their differences in viewpoint - even beings so different as the Probe and the Enterprise crew. There is no other Trek book that presents this so vividly and so bluntly and so convincingly.
Rating:
Summary: So long, and thanks for all the krill!!
Review: In the fourth Star Trek film, the earth was menaced by a powerful, apparently benevolent yet unwittingly destructive probe. We never find out that much about the probe, except for its interest in whales as the dominant life forms of earth. In this sequel, the probe makes another appearance, this time upsetting relations between the peace loving federation and the Romulan empire. The crew of the Enterprise is sent to investigate, roughly cooperating with the never trustworthy Romulans. In the course of the story, the crew learns much about the probe and its interest in sentient and aquatic life forms.From a weak premise (built on another story), Margaret Wander Bonanno (I love that name) spins a fun story. The charahcters are good (including the Romulans who could just as easily be dismissed as sly villains) and the prose are crisp. But most of all is the probe which the author cleverly conceals in mystery even as she reveals it. A good read for non-Trekkers as well.
Rating:
Summary: So long, and thanks for all the krill!!
Review: In the fourth Star Trek film, the earth was menaced by a powerful, apparently benevolent yet unwittingly destructive probe. We never find out that much about the probe, except for its interest in whales as the dominant life forms of earth. In this sequel, the probe makes another appearance, this time upsetting relations between the peace loving federation and the Romulan empire. The crew of the Enterprise is sent to investigate, roughly cooperating with the never trustworthy Romulans. In the course of the story, the crew learns much about the probe and its interest in sentient and aquatic life forms. From a weak premise (built on another story), Margaret Wander Bonanno (I love that name) spins a fun story. The charahcters are good (including the Romulans who could just as easily be dismissed as sly villains) and the prose are crisp. But most of all is the probe which the author cleverly conceals in mystery even as she reveals it. A good read for non-Trekkers as well.
Rating:
Summary: A worthy sequel to Star Trek IV
Review: Margaret Wander Bonanno delivers an exciting science fiction adventure as she continues the story begun in the vastly entertaining Star Trek IV. The novel takes place in the aftermath of the mysterious Probe's visit to Earth, and follows the incredibly powerful alien device as it proceeds on its own continuing mission. The storyline also concerns a proposed peace summit between the Federation and the Romulan Empire that may or may not be legitimate. Besides the intricate plot, great detail is given to defining the characters, while the appropriate amount of suspense provides the novel with an edge. While trying to follow the immensely successful Star Trek IV with an comparably exciting novel is an extremely difficult task, Probe does not disappoint.
Rating:
Summary: I've read better
Review: Overall this was a pretty good book. It starts off slow but it does pick up towards the end. My favorite part was when the story was told from the Probe's point of view. At the start you wonder "what is going on here, what does this have to do with ST4¿" If you happen to see it on the shelves at the store pick it up, don't go out of your way for it. Read a Shatner book instead.
Rating: 
Summary: The book that wasn't what she wrote.
Review: Probe was the centerpiece of a controversy several years ago between Ms. Bonanno and pocket Books. It seems that the book that made it to the shelves had been changed significantly from the novel that Margaret had written.
Regardless of who wrote what, the novel itself does explore a gaping hole in the Star Trek universe left open at the end of the fourth movie. Probe takes the reader into a post movie scenario and brings the storyline to a better conclusion.
Only Ms. Bonanno can tell you where the text deviates from her original. Maybe someday they will issue an "Author's Cut" of the novel as she wrote it.
If you felt like you were left hanging at the end of the fourth Star Trek movie, then pick this novel (written by whomever).
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