Rating: 
Summary: Callhoun; the center of the universe.
Review: If you are a big fan of this series your not going to like my review. It is not to say that I hated the book, it is just that I'm looking at this objectively and critically. With that warning I shall begin.
This book is set up as both a murder mystery and as a flash back. A flash back idea that gives you a good hard look at Calhoun's character. Calhoun is a brute.
I can see why he has such a universal apeal for the star trek comunity. He is powerful, arogant, and doesn't listen to orders. He is a throw back to Capt. Kirk from the origonal series. However Calhoun is much deadlier. A man who doesn't mind murdering entire planets all for the good of the federation and his crew. His personality matrix should have got him kicked out of star fleet. It certainly would have removed him from any real military organization. But once again Peter David hits his square peg into a round hole and makes star fleet accept his star character.
Calhoun's develpoment is only in the back ground. The real crux of the novel deals with an ensign who may or may not have killed a crew member called a Sveltain. The usuall mix of morality and obligation plays out. After all the Sveltian's want this ensin dead, Calhoun wants to save him . etc. . As such the foundations of the Federation are shaken to the core and famous people from Star Trek (original series) and Star Trek (Next Generation) are pulled in to help out. All over the life of this alien.
After reading several books in the Star Trek series you realize what a screwed up world the federation lives in. Every day the Federation tetters on the brink of destruction. It is an absurd world. But it does make a nice read.
Safe travels:
David
Rating: 
Summary: cd contains bad ebooks
Review: I bought this book due to the cd containing ebook versions of other NF stories. I have never read and NF and that this would be a great deal. Unfortunately not all the ebooks display correctly and they have formatting problems and pages missing. After I bought this, the publisher said this is a known problem due to a new version of adobe. The fix is to find an old adobe program and use that. The only problem is we're not going to be able to do that for long as that older program won't work on newer operating systems. If ebooks aren't made to be permanent, so I can reread a book in the future, they ought to be a lot cheaper.
Rating: 
Summary: Solid entertainment from a great author
Review: I have greatly enjoyed Peter David's New Frontier series, and this latest entry certainly does not disappoint. It is a mystery story in some regards, so I won't say much about the plot. I will say that hindsight is 20/20; the book makes perfect sense once you're done reading it, but you won't predict everything that is going on.If you've finished Being Human and Gods Above, you should definitely give this a read. It's got action, suspense, romance, humor, and just about everything else you'd want in a nice 300 page package. Speaking of packages, this book is actually a great deal. You get the entire series (minus Gods Above and No Limits) for the price of a hardcover book. 17 stories for the price of one? Yup. Can you imagine if other Trek series were put onto CD-ROM? With the proper cooperation from the authors, you could put "Season 8" of DS9 onto a CD-ROM and package it with the first book of "Season 9." The only downside of Stone and Anvil is that there is no hint as to where the series will go after this. However, knowing Peter David, the next book will be both inventive and shockingly silly.
Rating:
Summary: I agree with the reader from new albany
Review: I have not read this book yet. It is only available in hardcover. I am a stay at home mom with children. Hard cover book are out of my price range. When will publishers learn?
Rating:
Summary: Why isn't New Frontier a Movie Series?
Review: I have really enjoyed all these books, but this book may be the best yet. The story alternates between Mackenzie and Shelby during their academy days and the investigation of Lt. Gleau's death on the USS Trident. The academy days were outstanding, not only do we find out how Mackenzie met Shelby, but we also find out why Jellico dislikes him, and how Calhoun handles the Kobayashi Maru test. I was hesitant about this novel because I dislike Star Trek "detective" stories. Fortunately, this isn't the case (at least not mainly). Instead the story flows naturally and ends with an ending...not a cliffhanger. In fact, the only small item that irritated me was a couple of lines said by Ambassador Spock that included a bit too much colloquialism. This is a excellent novel, and it should be a movie. Better yet, Peter David could revitalize Star Trek series from the Voyager and Enterprise disasters.
Rating:
Summary: Why isn't New Frontier a Movie Series?
Review: I have really enjoyed all these books, but this book may be the best yet. The story alternates between Mackenzie and Shelby during their academy days and the investigation of Lt. Gleau's death on the USS Trident. The academy days were outstanding, not only do we find out how Mackenzie met Shelby, but we also find out why Jellico dislikes him, and how Calhoun handles the Kobayashi Maru test. I was hesitant about this novel because I dislike Star Trek "detective" stories. Fortunately, this isn't the case (at least not mainly). Instead the story flows naturally and ends with an ending...not a cliffhanger. In fact, the only small item that irritated me was a couple of lines said by Ambassador Spock that included a bit too much colloquialism. This is a excellent novel, and it should be a movie. Better yet, Peter David could revitalize Star Trek series from the Voyager and Enterprise disasters.
Rating: 
Summary: Fleshing out of Calhoun
Review: I love Peter David, and especially his spin on the Star Trek universe. All of his plots are fresh, and never the same recycled space opera ideas we've read so many time before. But where Mr. David really shines is in his character development. After reading only a few of his novels, you feel as if you really know the characters on a personal basis in his corner of the ST universe, and 'Stone & Anvil' is no exception. The overall theme of the book, which may not be apparent at first is the deeper origin of Capt. Mackenzie Calhoun. Think of this novel as Calhoun: Year One. We get to see Mac's first days in the academy, more on his home planet, how he first met 'Eppie', and how he became the new James T. Kirk of his era. However, all this back-story feeds into the more crucial, upfront story: the murder of shipmate Gleau as was the cliffhanger in the previous novel. Is Ensign Janos involved? As the murder mystery unravels, as is so with any Peter David novel, all is not what it seems, and there are some very original plot twists that will have ST fans ecstatic at past references. The only issue I had with this novel, and I can understand the method in which it was used, was that every other chapter bounced between 'Now' & 'Then'. Meaning, chapter one takes place in the present Next Generation timeline, while chapter 2 find a young Calhoun entering Starfleet Academy. And thus for the remaining of the book the reader must shift gears between past and present. Why this was a hardcover, and not a soft, I don't understand. While a good book, there was no 'earth-shattering' events that are usually reserved for hard covers. And I seemed to have missed any cliffhanger. I guess the next novel will start a new storyline altogether, something that seems out of place for a Peter David ST novel.
Rating:
Summary: As always, excellent.
Review: Let me admit up front that I'm guilty of owning every New Frontier book except Double Time, so I may be a tad biased. Stone and Anvil was as entertaining and ironic as it's prequels, but had a different feeling to it. I sort of want to say it was calmer, but that's only true to the extent that there were no giant birds erupting from planets, etc. The book's focus on the past didn't make it unusual--clearly, Once Burned shares that distinction--but it had a reflective tone, which showed a depth to Calhoun and Shelby we haven't seen before. Their previous relationship is brought to the forefront for the first time. The book also explored the new Kebron. I find the adult Zak just as entertaining as the adolescent one, and enjoyed being in his head as he struggled to clear Janos.
Rating:
Summary: Stone and Anvil (Star Trek New Frontier)
Review: Ok so we have new frontier a good take on the Star Trek universe. Funny characters good plot lines and fairly easy to read. Peter David does a good job of keeping the book moveing and keeping the charaters fun. Some of the things that the characters say are really funny and I found myself laughing. The story in this book is done in both events of the now and events of the past. The past deals with Captain Calhoun's acadamy days, and they tie so nicely into the main plot line. Also with cameos from Picard and Spock you can't go wrong.
Rating:
Summary: History, murder, and revelations
Review: Peter David has done it once again. We waited two years for the conclusion of the Beings saga, and we were all very relieved not to have to wait so long to see the resolution of Gleau's murder. I'll get the prose praise out of the way; David writes with a flourish, an edge-of-your seat pace that is somewhat rare in this selective genre. His character development is second-to-none, and it is easy to believe that he cares for each one of them. There are a few tongue-in-cheek references peppered throughout the book; I had to laugh when Picard comments that he would never be able to run a school for gifted youngsters.
The focus here is on Calhoun, Shelby, Janos, and Kebron; at least, in the present. It is fascinating to see the new (and, in my opinion, improved) Kebron handle the investigation; he draws upon hard-boiled detectives of "old" and adamantly refused to believe that Janos was responsible for the murder of the manipulative, unlamented Gleau. His search takes him in new directions, and it is here where Calhoun ponders his past at Starfleet academy.
Calhoun recalls his savage days, his first meeting with Shelby, his roommate experience. We also see a rather laid-back Jellico (sort of) and finally have a lot of innuendo exposed. This reflection leads to a point when Calhoun finally comes to head with his savage side...and the ultimate reconciliation of savage and civilized soldier. We see a Calhoun who was so certain of himself, yet at the same time vulnerable. The progression of feelings he has for Shelby drives this point across quite well. As does his recollection of meeting Janos for the first time; one has certain expectations of meeting a white-furred creature after coming out of a fight for survival. The first encounter is both humorous and bittersweet; Calhoun and Shelby are still cadets, and they both realize that they have encoutered new life and it is their duty to ensure his survival.
Those hoping for a resolution or a glimpse of the Tholian/Danteri negotiations will be disappointed; the only time we glimpse Spock is when he melds with Janos. Si Cwan and Kalinda are likewise out of the picture, and for the last section of the novel, so is the "Trident." But that is understood and even appreciated; this is meant to be a focus on Calhoun and Janos. Yes, the murder happened on the "Trident," but when Calhoun absconds with Janos, it quickly becomes a Starfleet matter. The Selevians have petitioned the Federation to have Janos extradited in order to execute him.
This conflict leads to the action; "Enterprise" arrives on-scene to force Calhoun's hand, but he is convinced the Selevians are manipulating the Federation, and both ships face-off with a Selevian warship waiting in the wings, all vying for one thing: Ensign Janos.
Thankfully, "Stone and Anvil" does not end with a cliffhanger, but it will still leave you wanting more. Yes, there are unanswered questions, but not the big one.
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