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The Eugenics Wars Vol I:  The Rise and Fall of Khan Noonien Singh (Star Trek)

The Eugenics Wars Vol I: The Rise and Fall of Khan Noonien Singh (Star Trek)

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Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Good, but too many 70's references.
Review: I'd always thought that, being as caught up with time travel as the Star Trek series have been, that the character of Gary Seven would make another appearance. Since that doesn't appear likely (Robert Lansing, aka Gary Seven, died in '94), I was pleased to find this novel. However, as fun as the story is, the story is cluttered with too many "cute" and usually unneeded references to the late '60s and early '70s. Calling Isis, in bipedal form, "Julie Newmar" works. Refering to a situation as like being a passenger on Noah's Ark and having to explain that the narrator wasn't talking about Bill Cosby's stand-up comedy skit doesn't work. While it certainly didn't detract from the overall story, it did make for a forced "I can remember the '70s too!" feeling.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Gary Seven is back!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Review: I was thrilled to see a new book about Kahn, about time. But I was overjoyed to see that Gary Seven had also returned. The link between these two great Trek characters is exciting and well conceived. The two storylines take place on the Original Enterprise and in the 1970's (The last time we saw Gary Seven was on episode Assignment Earth). Mr. Seven's assignment is to make sure the earth of this time period does not destroy itself. Mr. Seven does this with the help of Ms. Lincoln and the alien cat Isis. Mr. Seven investigates the start of the Eugenics War and the beginnings of Khan Noonien Singh. Kirk and Spock are assigned to a human colony that has been developing genetic improvements. This is forbidden under Federation law. The colony, confronted with the unwanted advances of the Klingon Empire, now seeks acceptance in the Federation. I can't wait to learn more about the mysterious Mr. Seven and his shape changing cat. This is one of the best Star Trek stories I have read to date.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: A fun read !
Review: I must say I really enjoyed reading Greg Cox's book The Eugenics Wars. It follows the story from a classic Star Trek episode Assingment:Earth. If you can, try to watch that episode before reading this book, though it's not necessary. I thought Teri Garr as Roberta, playing Gary Sevens secretary/spy was hilarious. The book continues to build on these roles including Isis the sultry feline. Sure, parts of the book are a bit campy, but so was the original series. Thats part of what made the series great and this book a really good fun read.
I look forward to the next book in the trilogy.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Fun with Max Smart
Review: I could of done with less of the interweaving of major historical events that the author seems intent on. In exchange I would of really enjoyed a secret agent (Gary 7) that acted like a secret agent instead of Max Smart (he even has his own version of 99!). What was going on in the world that lead to Khan's rise to power? This book doesn't say. :(

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Wasted Effort
Review: As a big Trek fan, I was intrigued with the title and premise of this book.

Unfortunately, the author spends so much time trying to be cute by weaving other Trek characters and historical events into the book that he forgets to write a really good story.

A big disappointment.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Khan, Leader of the Downtrodden?
Review: I enjoyed this book, in fact I couldn't put it down. I wanted to keep reading it even when I need sleep! The interesting point I found was Khan as a child, I guess I never thought of him as a child always as a man. That part kind of was wierd, I thought Khan was "too" full of himself at four, was Napoleon so confident at four, of course he wasn't genetically engineered. I also thought it was interesting how Cox has taken Khan and changed him from a dictator to a person coming from poor background, seeing a captialist world keeping the little man down. Khan has been converted into a spokeman for the little man. Look forward to Volume Two, which should take us to 1996. The Eugenics Wars have never been really discussed, I look forward to seeing how Khan and his followers come to power.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: The Further Adventures Of Gary Seven...
Review: ...would probably have made a better title, though I doubt it would have sold as many copies. I think it's a bit dishonest to have Khan blazingly singular on the front cover even though (as far as the audio version) he is actually barely brushed upon. Furthermore, I am surprised to not have read that in more reviews here.

So why did I give it 4 stars? For a few reasons. Firstly, I never liked the episode Assignment Earth. I thought it was definately sub-par and it never was one of my favorites. But somehow this book has made me warm up to Gary 7 and Ms. Lincoln, so perhaps I will have to re-examine my feelings on the episode. That is something I NEVER thought would happen.

Second, the voice acting is superb. All the different accents are nailed very well by the reader and the digital recording is vivid and easy to follow using different panning effects. Using the left speaker for one character and the right for the other and what is being "thought" devoted to both works well.

Lastly, the packaging. Who could resist the decadent glare of our favorite villian we love to hate (however brief his stint)? Everything about the presentation is spit and polished and has the "look" of being efficient (not to mention beautiful!). My only real complaint is the length. Since the case obviously has room for 4 discs coupled with the fact that this is "abridged", why is it only 3 discs in length? Great set however for anyone with the slightest interest in Star Trek.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: A Temporal Travesty
Review: In January 1998 Greg Cox published "Assignment : Eternity" an interesting Star Trek novel which, despite its flaws, was reasonably exciting and fitted within the Star Trek chronology. In it he stated that "Assignment : Earth", the show it was inspired by, was one of his favourite shows yet ironically four of the many errors he made in that novel related to that very episode !!! As with many modern fans he doesn't know the material anywhere near as well as he thinks he does and clearly can't be bothered to do enough research to back up his work. This novel suffers even more from the same problem. He packs in every silly reference he can come up with both from Star Trek and other cult shows, but along the way makes absurd mistakes and distorts established Star Trek history to try and justify reality. Here's a message from William Shatner : "Get a life, Mr. Cox." Star Trek is fiction, it exists as a wonderful fantasy world with its own unique history and characters, and doesn't need to be warped and mutilated to try and make it conform to our world. Modern Star Trek writers, both in the novels and on television, continually try and do this and it just doesn't work. The new series "Enterprise" already seems to be heading down this road, however thankfully the "Star Trek" prefix seems to have been dropped which hopefully will distance this show from the others. One critic noted that Mr. Cox didn't give credit to the writers of "Space Seed", the original episode that introduced Khan, and I can see why. If you listen carefully that whirring noise you can hear is both of them spinning in their graves at this juvenile rubbish. It is an insult to the creative talents and imaginations of all those who have worked on the various incarnations of Star Trek when writers disregard established details just to make easy money from diehard fans who are all too eager to lap up this kind of material without critical analysis. I am beginning to wonder if perhaps Mr. Cox is really a Ferengi in disguise !!!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Eugenics wars
Review: I loved this book, It is cleverly written and has a lot of little inside jokes that you won't get unless you are a fan of star trek For example in the original Series Robert Lansing played Gary Seven in the episode "Assignment Earth", At one point his Associate Roberta Lincoln(played by Terri Garr in the episode) wonders of Gary Should call his friend Mcall and Equalize someone. This made me laugh because I recalled that Mr Lansing played a character named "Control" on the show The Equalizer. Things like that made me enjoy this book immensly Alot of what was on the based on actual events (tearing down of the Berlin wall etc,it was so cleverly blended that sometimes it was hard to see the fine line between the two. The only thing I hated: Having to wait till next year for part two ARghhh!!!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Gary Seven & Khan - How good can it get?
Review: Greg Cox is one of the best Star Trek authors out there. He takes continuity seriously and weaves little "cookies" in at ever turn. Just as in his last Star Trek novel to feature Gary Seven (Assignment:Eternity), his characterizations of familiar characters is right on the mark. We also get to see a more experienced Roberta Lincoln and cameos of many other notable people who appeared in the various Star Trek movies and television shows. Keep your mind sharp while reading this one and you'll be amazed at how many references to other television shows and movies that Mr. Cox can work into this magnificent story. I wont spoil the cameos for you, but you'll find yourself laughing out loud when you realize who is acting as President Reagan's translator/bodyguard.


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