Rating: 
Summary: STNF #11 Excalibur Restoration - A true gem of a story!
Review: Overall, I'd say that Peter David set this trilogy up perfectly, with the first two books covering the crew and everything they went through after the destruction of Excalibur and this last, exceptionally outstanding novel "Restoration," covering mostly Shelby and her command of Exeter and what happened to Captain Calhoun.The one thing I never truly expected in the New Frontier series was a western which is exactly what you get in Captain Calhoun's story and it is written very well, reminding one of days gone by reading Louis L'Amour classics. Shelby's story is just as interesting as you see her going through some angst during her first command. As is usual with Peter David's writing, "Restoration" is another fine example of some the best writing in the Star Trek universe from one of Star Trek's finest authors. You'll find that this novel is a quick read given the high level of intrigue, humor and overall feel of the novel. The cover art is among the best in the New Frontier series. What's most interesting about this novel, both in the hardback and paperback versions is the Star Trek New Frontier Minipedia which covers all of the significant and not so significant people, places, and events from the very first New Frontier novel to "Restoration." The premise: During the first two books of this series we were lead to believe that Captain Calhoun sacrificed himself in an incredible attempt to get everybody off of Excalibur as it was in the middle of a warp core breach. What would the New Frontier series be without its brazen captain though and we soon find out what happened. Captain Mackenzie Calhoun finds himself stranded on a pre warp planet and no way to communicate with Starfleet and in the middle of great "western" style story. He soon finds himself living with Rheela who has a very special gift and her son Moke. Captain Elizabeth Shelby is now in command of Exeter and on a mission to invite a new planet into the United Federation of Planets but they soon find that this may not be as easy as it was originally thought it would be. Here's where Peter David's superior talents as an author strike you, when he ties in the first two novels and ties in this trilogy with another series of Star Trek novels and throughout this series he brings in some great "guest" characters. Not only do I highly recommend this New Frontier Excalibur trilogy but I highly recommend the entire Star Trek New Frontier series. You will be hard pressed to find such fresh, innovative, intriguing and humorous stories within the other series. {ssintrepid}
Rating:
Summary: Fitting end to an excellent trilogy
Review: Peter David has once again written an excellent addition to the New Frontier series. Restoration caught my attention very early, and never let it go, causing me to finish it the same day I bought it. While I do have some concerns over the possible direction that the NF universe is taking, I have no doubt that PAD will put those to rest in the next installment (due out next year). If you haven't read much New Frontier before this, then I may try to convince you to pick up at least some of the previous stories before jumping into this trilogy. If you do follow the New Frontier universe, then this is a must (as many of you probably already felt).
Rating:
Summary: Peter David does it again!
Review: Peter David has once more taken us on a roller coaster ride as much as any of the Star Trek series and films have. In the series of 11 books you actually care about the characters and the wonderful Star Trek momments they have. The interaction between Shelby and Calhoun is unique and familiar at the same time. Zak Kebron is as interesting as he is funny in his own way. Restoration brings a new Excalibur and brings the crew back together. All in all great Star Trek. Gene would be proud.
Rating: 
Summary: Finally, a conclusion.
Review: Peter David writes extraordinarily well, and the characters in this series are quite enjoyable. But his tendancy to have all books in the series end on cliffhangers has been annoying from the very beginning of this series; this book, while it actually has an ending for a change, outdoes even his usual style in that the cliffhanger ending from the previous book isn't even ADDRESSED until 284 pages into this one, and then the tale is told retrospectively. If you don't dislike the classic movie serial storylines that have neither beginning nor ending to call their own, you'll doubtless enjoy this book. If, like me, you believe that a novel may have carryover subplots, but that the main plot should begin and end in the same book, you will find that aspect of this book to be a major distraction from a very good storyline.
Rating: 
Summary: The mystery is almost solved
Review: Peter David's final installment with the former crew of the USS Excalibur as existing without one another. Finally we find out what happens to Mac. His path leads him to a desolate world that seems inescapable. Shelby is moving forward but keeps looking back. Not one of the better STNF novels. David has created a very dynamic starship captain that is reminiscent of Kirk in style and attitude. Something sorely missed in the next gen ST universe. However, he slows down Mac's character development by putting him on a backwater planet. Mr. David's dialogue among the characters is witty as usual which makes up for the lack of excitement in the novel. Still, it's worth reading if you're a NF fan.
Rating:
Summary: Change of pace for Calhoun
Review: Peter David's final installment with the former crew of the USS Excalibur as existing without one another. Finally we find out what happens to Mac. His path leads him to a desolate world that seems inescapable. Shelby is moving forward but keeps looking back. Not one of the better STNF novels. David has created a very dynamic starship captain that is reminiscent of Kirk in style and attitude. Something sorely missed in the next gen ST universe. However, he slows down Mac's character development by putting him on a backwater planet. Mr. David's dialogue among the characters is witty as usual which makes up for the lack of excitement in the novel. Still, it's worth reading if you're a NF fan.
Rating: 
Summary: Sad "Resolution " to a once fresh book series
Review: Peter David's latest New Frontier novel is sadly the worst of the series. Like DS9's only hardcover "Warped", this much- anticipated tome was very poor both in prose style and plot. It was actually painful to read for its many fannish and cutesy phrases. I was an avid follower of the New Frontier series and even created the web's most elaborate New Frontier website, but after this latest book I may remove the site. The characters of Shelby and Calhoun are supposed to be senior Starfleet officers, but they act like regular folks "just like you and me." If a book were written in which the captain of a modern Naval vessel talked and acted like Shelby does in this book, it would be high-camp. That example is exactly what Gene Roddenberry encouraged prospective Trek writers to do in 1966 - imagine the story and dialogue in modern times. Also, the words spoken by all of the characters in this latest New Frontier novel are so colloquial, that it is hard to believe that the adventures are supposedly happening in the future. If the distracting prose weren't enough, the book's two plots were far too thin and uninteresting to warrant a full novel, yet alone a hardcover. I am also tired of every other chapter flipping back and forth between the two sub-stories. This clever little device to force some suspense only irritates. The Calhoun "western" sub-plot, rather than being akin to "High Noon" is more in the vein of a bad episode of television's "The Rifleman." Finally, the "big" enemy that Calhoun must face is a petty bureaucrat and an out-of-town gunslinger whose desire to kill Calhoun is painted in such broad strokes that one recalls the days of watching Saturday morning western serials - the bad ones, I mean. I sure hope the next book is better. I suggest you save your money and I recommend instead any Star Trek book by Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens, William Shatner and also the excellent DS9 novel "A Stitch in Time" by Andrew (Garak) Robinson.
Rating:
Summary: Sad "Resolution " to a once fresh book series
Review: Peter David's latest New Frontier novel is sadly the worst of the series. Like DS9's only hardcover "Warped", this much- anticipated tome was very poor both in prose style and plot. It was actually painful to read for its many fannish and cutesy phrases. I was an avid follower of the New Frontier series and even created the web's most elaborate New Frontier website, but after this latest book I may remove the site. The characters of Shelby and Calhoun are supposed to be senior Starfleet officers, but they act like regular folks "just like you and me." If a book were written in which the captain of a modern Naval vessel talked and acted like Shelby does in this book, it would be high-camp. That example is exactly what Gene Roddenberry encouraged prospective Trek writers to do in 1966 - imagine the story and dialogue in modern times. Also, the words spoken by all of the characters in this latest New Frontier novel are so colloquial, that it is hard to believe that the adventures are supposedly happening in the future. If the distracting prose weren't enough, the book's two plots were far too thin and uninteresting to warrant a full novel, yet alone a hardcover. I am also tired of every other chapter flipping back and forth between the two sub-stories. This clever little device to force some suspense only irritates. The Calhoun "western" sub-plot, rather than being akin to "High Noon" is more in the vein of a bad episode of television's "The Rifleman." Finally, the "big" enemy that Calhoun must face is a petty bureaucrat and an out-of-town gunslinger whose desire to kill Calhoun is painted in such broad strokes that one recalls the days of watching Saturday morning western serials - the bad ones, I mean. I sure hope the next book is better. I suggest you save your money and I recommend instead any Star Trek book by Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens, William Shatner and also the excellent DS9 novel "A Stitch in Time" by Andrew (Garak) Robinson.
Rating: 
Summary: Boring
Review: Sorry, this story would be worth listening to if it was free. Poor storyline, nothing innovative, nothing gripping. I felt ripped off.
Rating:
Summary: Calhoun Lives! (Of course...)
Review: The only thing I didn't like about this book, is the seeming *four years* it took for the book come out in paperback. I read entirely too many books to read them in hardback and this one shouldn't have come out in hardback, anyway. It's a good book, an amusing book, I like Calhoun, but it's not a $25.00 book. As a graduate student, I only spend that much on textbooks under extreme duress. So my complaint is with Paramount and Simon Shuster. Now that the book is out in paperback, what are you waiting for -- buy it already!!!
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