Rating: 
Summary: Another winner from David R George III
Review: I always look forward to Mr. George's books coming out. I hope he is going to write more. The depth of his characters is fasinating. Even with characters that I haven't been introduced to before. I read some Star Trek novels but not all :)
Rating: 
Summary: A pitiful excuse for a novel.
Review: I appear to be the only Star Trek fan who hates David R. George III, but I really truly do. I cannot understand how anyone could find his style appealing at all.The plot in this book consists of a total of two actual events, and a bunch of irrelevant retarted "surprises" that both make no sense and show a profound lack of awareness of how the Star Trek universe works. The whole concept of the plot was weak, besides. There's no sentimental value in being able to watch the TNG episode again and say "hey, that's what that's referring to" if the idea is stupid. Also, Harriman is NOTHING like Harriman in Generations. Granted, people grow and change, but it wasn't even acknowledged that he'd been shaky back then. His character was annoyingly bad in Generations, but that's no excuse for creating a totally different person and just telling me they're the same guy. No one else in the book had any character whatsoever. The dialogue was pitiful and unrealistic and the character conflicts failed to impress upon me the reality of anyone. There were attempts made at real emotional impact - the destruction of the Universe, the one character going through some bizarre kind of puberty - but both were snubbed because of too little time spent on them. That said, EVERYTHING in this book took FOREVER to happen - after the introduction, nothing whatsoever happens for 100 pages, then there's one thing, then nothing happens again until 150 pages after that. At 366 pages, that doesn't leave much room for anything. Note to Mr. George - merely using big words does not make you a good writer. Good writers can be concise, clear, interesting, and populate their tales with real people. You fail at all four, spectacularly. In doing so, here is crafted what is likely the worst book I have read all year. I cannot reccomend strongly enough that everyone avoid this like the plague.
Rating: 
Summary: A real surprize
Review: I find that most Star Trek books as run of the mill plotted by the numbers stories, it was refreashing to read a indepth story that did not include Kirk, Spock, or Piccard. The characters were very well done. For example, I didn't think much of Capt. Harriman and com. Sulu until I read this book. I don't want to give away the book but I was kind of sad to what happen to Harriman, not schocked but sad. This is one of the few books that I did not guess the ending 50 pages before it happen. If your a Star Trek fan, this is a good read.
Rating:
Summary: Harriman: the evil Enterprise Captain.
Review: I knew that a book about the "Tomed Incident" had to be dark. I never expected the Captain of the Enterprise to be the villain. The overall level of writing is in general good, although the author spends too much time with characters alone thinking about things. Most of the action is a type I can really enjoy: the Federation has to defend itself against false charges during negotiations, while the other factions have to deal with their own treacherous political machinations. But in the last third of this book, Harriman becomes a terrorist. He frames the Romulans for the mass murder of Starfleet personnel. He's smug, arrogant, self-righteous, hypocritical - and he even enjoys the violence a little. Even worse, this atrocity is committed with the full knowledge and approval of Starfleet Command. That elevates it beyond terror to State Terror: the deliberate murder of citizens by their own government to allow rule by fear and in this case to get their backing for a war of aggression. This book is in direct contravention to Gene Roddenberry's vision of a bright future for humanity. It is a betrayal and a repudiation of everything that Star Trek stands for. It should never have been published.
Rating:
Summary: This books is a real nail-biter!
Review: I love the introduction of the UNIVERSE, a new and experimental starship, as tensions mount between the Klingons, Romulans, and the Federation. Tons of action and, more importantly, believable political intrigue. I rank this book up there with: "Stranger in a Strange Land", "Puppet Masters", "2001", "2010", "Rendezvous with Rama", "Ringworld", all the "Star Trek" and "Star Wars" books, as well as books as new to the genre as "Advent of the Corps" and others.
Rating: 
Summary: A well-written book with an utterly despicable plot.
Review: If you're not overly inclined to question the validity of the plots or your Star Trek novels, but are happy to simply read a good action-based story, root for the lead character to succeed and be happy when he does, you'll probably like this book, unless you have a dislike for overly convoluted, cloak-and-dagger type stories. If, on the other hand, you expect your Starfleet officers to not simply accomplish great ends, but to do so honorably and, what's perhaps more important, PLAUSIBLY, then you will find this book, as I did, very disturbing. Because the plot to this book depends so heavily upon secret twists that the reader is not fully aware of until they are revealed, it is impossible to detail much of the problem without unacceptably spoiling the book for those who actually choose to read it in spite of my negative review; suffice it to say that while this book COULD have been a very interesting look at whether a noble goal can and should be achieved by dishonorable means. Instead, those aspects of the story were only given the most skimpy of attention; there is no real question raised as to the morality of the actions of our "hero". There is no indication that he suffers any second thoughts, no indication that any of his friends would think less of him if they knew what he had done. There IS an indication that he and his friends both are concerned with the riskiness of the plan, which quite honestly was an incredible long-shot and which would have made things much WORSE than they would otherwise have been had it failed (which is another reason for refusing to accept the scheme.) But no one seems to question the idea, debatably acceptable but not nearly as much of a given as the story would make it, that lying, cheating, slandering, and committing sabotage are acceptable if they're done in the interest of preventing an interstellar war. This would have been an interesting question, but was NOT interesting as an idea presented for unquestioning acceptance.
Rating:
Summary: Slick "Serpents"
Review: In John Harriman, David R. George III has given us a character light years beyond the green captain we met in "Star Trek Generations," a man who has grown as a starship commander, and as a man, into a fully realized character deserving of the honor of being captain of a starship Enterprise. But it's the events unfolding around Harriman and his crew that really makes this story a worthwhile experience. Steeped in Trek history, we're witness to the complex and deadly political machinations pulling the Federation, the Romulans and the Klingons in a direction that can only lead to war. The uncertainty of this prospect, as well as the events leading up to the infamous Tomed Incident, keeps the reader on the edge of their seats and immersed in George's storytelling ability right to the last page.
Rating:
Summary: A moral vacuum as vast as space itself
Review: No doubt this is a well-crafted Star Trek novel, involving and suprising, which brings together characters old and new to provide the "untold" story of an episode referred to in the Next Generation series. All this work was spoiled for me by a resolution that both strains credulity and turns the stomach. I'm a big fan of "dark" Star Trek -- but this story portrays Starfleet characters commiting horrible, immoral, blatantly criminal actions after meticulous planning involving the manipulation of literally thousands of sentient lives. I like a story that forces characters to question the morality of their own actions; there was none of that here. When the "twist" was finally revealed, I found myself cringing in shame that I was previously rooting for these people. I think the putative bad guys deserve more admiration -- at least their actions reflect their stated principles.
Rating:
Summary: Absolutely phenomenal read!
Review: Novels don't get much better than this, any type of novel. "Serpents Among the Ruins" by David R. George III has every element that makes for an exceptional reading experience. An original and imaginative plot, phenomenal characters, and a distinctive style that the author is able to sustain from the beginning to the end. The year is 2311 and the event is the mysterious and infamous Tomed Incident. The Federation and the Romulan Star Empire are on a countdown to war. Neither side has any doubt that war will come. Step by step, inch-by-inch, through a series of events large and small the two powers move ever closer to the seemingly inevitable conflict. The only questions there seem to be are what will be the spark that ignites the hostilities, and who will the Klingons side with. After eighteen years in command of Starfleet's flagship, the Enterprise-B, Captain John Harriman is a seasoned and experienced leader, a man with more than his share of experience with the Romulans. Many things have transpired through the years to bring Harriman to this point in his career and this point in history. And it will take every resource at his disposal and a bit of luck too; to make sure that the Federation survives. Dramatic and suspenseful are the first words that spring to mind as I try to describe my thoughts about this spectacular novel. At the same time "Serpents Among the Ruins" manages to be a contemplative and poignant story as well. A story driven by the characters that are in turn driven by the events they find themselves caught up in. This novel builds slowly, allowing the reader to get to know the principal characters: their motivations, their nature, their flaws and strengths, and their hopes and dreams. It allows you to see the events from the perspective of Romulans and Klingons as well as citizens of the Federation. The first one hundred pages or so sets the stage with narrative so richly detailed that the events seem entirely real. You feel as if you are watching these momentous, albeit fictitious, events unfold before your eyes. The author, David R. George III, exhibits extraordinary craftsmanship as he carefully takes the reader through the brilliantly plotted events. He draws for the reader the portrait of a man, John Harriman, who has been born and breed to serve the Federation. An open and deceptively casual man who projects a confidence he does not always feel but who is totally secure with himself and his convictions. A man with the weight of the Quadrant on his shoulders, who before the story is done you can't help but both like and admire. The other characters who populate "Serpents Among the Ruins" are just as striking, each in their own way. No matter what each readers preconceived notions are of the who, what, where and how of the Tomed Incident that "Serpents Among the Ruins" so powerfully and impressively illuminates, nothing in your imagination could compare to this gripping and shocking tale.
Rating:
Summary: EXCITING PAGE-TURNER!
Review: Once again, David R. George III delivers a terrific book that I could not put it down! Mr. George has a great talent for making you feel like you are right there in the room. The characters seem to come alive as the story progresses, and the plot twists and turns surprise and amaze. He has fast become my favorite ST writer and I can't wait for his next one!
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