Rating: 
Summary: Excellent book
Review: Good book all round, the story of how Picard took command of the Stargazer when the Captain was killed, and the first officer was incapacitated. This is not the standard TNG book, the only character we know is Picard, everyone else is fiction. The crew of the Stargazer were protrayed well, as were the crew on the Valiant. The plot is good, but, like another reviewer, the enemy troubled me slightly. They were not gone into in any detail, they were simply the Nuyyad, we never even saw a member of the species, only a slight physical description from one of the characters. Another thing is the planet Magnia. It is located outside the Galactic Barrier, I thought that was impossible? Wasn't there a great void between galaxies containing absolutely nothing, how can there be a planet? But, there's very little else to complain about. The story was solid, as were the characters. A good read.
Rating: 
Summary: Starts out good but fizzles...
Review: I enjoyed the parts regarding the S.S. Valiant, but the later part of the book simply didn't work for me. Except for Picard, who we of course know quite well from the series, the other characters were flat and uninteresting. We never find out what is motivating the alien attackers and they are the cardboard cutout enemy-of-the-week, boring. The whole "adversarial" situation with the 1st Officer also just struck me as odd and wrong, and was just not developed correctly or fleshed out beyond being another cardboard enemy for Picard.
Rating: 
Summary: Putting together the pieces.
Review: I enjoyed this book very much. I liked finding out how the character of Picard became the person, and the captain, we see today.It was very enlightening to see the way that he looked for a balance between the command style of his captain and the first officer of the Stargazer in terms of developing his own style. He wasn't as reckless as his captain, but neither was he as "by the book" as the first officer. He saw what and what not to do, which is something many of us, including myself, have learned in our own lives. One reason I give this four stars is because of something that is true of all "Star Trek" books. The authors of these books count upon the fact that you've watched the show (in this case "Star Trek: The Next Generation") and thus eliminates the need for setting up the characters, since there is already a "history" behind them. We already know who they are and what they've done. A similar "biography" that I would recommend is "Mosaic," which looks at the history of the character of Janeway. While I was not a huge fan of "Voyager" (the stories were a bit weak), this book was also very enjoyable, giving insight as to how the character developed and why they act and think they way they do.
Rating:
Summary: Haven't Read it but will!
Review: I have not read this book but I know it will be a big seller! I intend to read it!
Rating:
Summary: enjoyed every page
Review: I just read this book for the second time. I truly enjoyed every page. The author did a masterful job in merging multiple eras of the Federation. I found the the development of Captain Picard to be fascinating. I personally was more attracted to his style of leadership that Kirk's. The action was also well written.
Rating:
Summary: Good story, although lacking somewhat
Review: I read this book in only four days. I got into it immediately when the story of the Valiant crew was told. After that, I thought it was a bit bizarre. I know science fiction is like that, but what was really disappointing was the fact that no one gets to see what the Nuyyad look like. Not even a description in the book tells us, and no one even opens a hailing frequency with them. We just blow them up. Having a Kelvan on board made it interesting though. At least Picard's mind was still there on the Stargazer when he made the recommendation that Starfleet not have contact with the Kelvans because of their inability to be trusted. Of course, having read "Reunion" ten years ago, it's hard to comprehend the fact that everyone is an ally on this ship, including the one person that ends up being a killer in that book. (Sorry, you'll have to read it to find out who it is). In all, this book opens the possibility of Michael Jan Friedman writing more books on the Stargazer crew. Let's keep our fingers crossed.
Rating:
Summary: The begining of a great captain
Review: I've just finished this book and all I can say is wow! Michael Jan Friedman has outdone himself, again! I love the ties from the Original Series into the Next Generation. I especially liked finally have heard the details of how and why Picard suddenly became captain.
Rating:
Summary: STNG - The Valiant - Another great Stargazer novel!
Review: If a Star Trek novel reader has ever picked up and read a Star Trek novel written by Michael Jan Friedman before and are about to pick up another, they're usually guaranteed one of the better Star Trek novels and STNG The Valiant is no exception to that rule. Given that he is the most prolific of the many Star Trek writers and has written within the many different series, he has a fair amount of knowledge and experience he brings to the page and it clearly shows throughout his stories. Of interest is that when this story was published, it was published under the series name of Star Trek The Next Generation, but since the release of the Stargazer novels, it is now listed as the second in the Stargazer series, right behind "Reunion." In "The Valiant," MJ Friedman draws from several on screen plots and his past novels to create an exceptional USS Stargazer story, depicting events aboard that small vessel in a timeframe when Captain Picard was Commander Picard and he was the second officer. Combining the crew he created in his previous Stargazer novel "Reunion" and a small amount of the plot line he used in the "My Brother's Keeper" trilogy, he deftly crafts an excellent tale surrounding the events that lead to Jean Luc Picard becoming one of the youngest to ever make Captain in Starfleet. Of note is the great crew he's created to surround Picard on board the Stargazer. Each and every character is well thought out and gets appropriate time within the story without detracting from the main plot events. The premise: The Valiant In the beginning of this exceptional story, we're taken some three hundred years in Starfleet history to when the SS Valiant is thrown beyond the galactic barrier and is trying to make her way back home through the galactic barrier. The SS Valiant is first mentioned in The Original Series episode "Where No Man Has Gone Before." Unfortunately for Captain Tarasco, who captain's the SS Valiant; their failed attempt to cross the barrier results in several casualties and in particular one crewman begins to exhibit "godlike" powers and loses all compassion for human life, thinking of his fellow humans more as bugs than his equals. This leaves Captain Tarasco with few options. USS Stargazer The Stargazer, captained by Captain Ruhalter with Commander Jean Luc Picard as second officer is summoned to Starbase 209. Upon arrival, they receive their mission briefing which encompasses two "descendants" of the SS Valiant who claim that they're ancestors, some three hundred years ago, were the crew of the Valiant and they "did" survive to form a colony on the other side of the barrier. These two descendants bring with them warnings of an invasion into Federation territory by a species that lives on the other side of the galactic barrier known and the Nuyyad. With plenty of skepticism to spare, the Captain and crew of the USS Stargazer head out for the galactic barrier with one of the descendants on board and a Kelvan advisor aboard to determine the truth in this warning and hopefully deal with it accordingly. What follows is an exceptional story detailing the events surrounding how Commander Jean Luc Picard became Captain Picard, in command of the USS Stargazer. Along with this, one of the better aspects of the novel is the authors setting up the events in "Reunion" with reference to his Chief Medical Officer Carter Greyhorse. The Audio Tape: Read by Anthony Stewart Head - While this is no replacement for reading the actual and full story it makes for a good three hour distraction when cruising down the highway. I highly recommend this Star Trek novel to any and all fans of the series for it is definitely one of the better Trek stories in print. {ssintrepid}
Rating:
Summary: "The Valiant"
Review: If you are a Picard fan this book is a MUST read. Billed as the story of Picard's first command, the book lives up to it's billing. The story begins with the telling of the tale of the Valiant, and it's trip through the galactic barrier. Then forward to the Stargazer which is sent to investigate the claims of two apparant humans who arrive in Federation space claiming to be descendants of the Valiant crew. Lot's of action in this story!
Rating:
Summary: MJ Scores Another One
Review: Like Jordan Michael Jan Friedman scores another 1000 points with his newest Star Trek blockbuster entry The Valiant. His characters come to life readily in your imagination without struggling, trying to discern one from another. Captain Carlos Tarasco, a new invention of Friedman's, can hold his own with any of the Kirk's or Picard's of his day. Tarasco is a very interesting, riviting character. I would like to have read more about him than the young Picard. Maybe Friedman will pen other adventures of Tarasco and company. (Hint, hint).
Michael Jan Friedman has been a favorite author of mine since I first picked up one of his other masterpieces, Crossover. All of his writing is clear, interesting and powerfully riviting from the first page to the last. I would love to see him write a totally original novel, staying away from the Star Trek, X-Men, Superman mold. Friedman's original characters take on a life of their own so proficiently that I'm sure he wouldn't have any trouble creating an entirely original creation. Read The Valiant. Read all of Michael Jan Friedman's books. You are guarranteed to experience a storytelling work of art.
| 
