Rating: Summary: Ominpotent Hit and Miss Review: When I first picked up this book, I was expecting a good story about Q, as only John De Lancie can tell it. Unfortunatly, I was greatly disappointed in the final product. On the cover of inside jacket, it basically says that Q will be fighting against the end of the Universe with the help of the Next Generation crew. However, the entire book ends up as nothing more than a tour of the stages of death. Q does nothing except whine and attempt to make himself look brave, and Picard and Data, the only members of the enterprise to actually show up, are used even less, often disappearing for no apparent reason. Finally, Q's amazing powers, which could have saved the book and made it somewhat interesting, are immeditaly 'nullified' as soon as he enters the land of death. As a result, he simply bumbles through to the end of the book, which is a simple, contrite ending, written simply to end the book and satisfy the reader. All in all, this book is a serious blemish on an otherwise amazing character.
Rating: Summary: Down the Multiversal Camode Review: As a long time fan of Q, I was ecstatic to see a Q based story to listen too in the car for a few days. Unfortunately, this one missed the high marks set by the previous story lines.Q seems too human in this story; he doesn't show the wisdom that you would expect from an entity who has spent eternity omniscient and omnipotent. The end of the multiverse is first compared to a toilet, and then to the stages of coping with loss. These images are rather base. While I admit that some of the concepts were interesting, the execution was off. Picard and Data are neat, but there are certainly plenty of other - more advanced - beings in the multiverse that Q would have wanted to have tagging along. That being said, this book on tape was a decent abridgement - in a blip of post modernism, Q himself acknowledges that you are listening to the story, and should read the book for the whole picture. Perhaps I should interpret this story as a fabrication by Q to amuse himself by pulling the wool over the eyes of the reader. As an omniscient being, he certainly knows how gullible I am.
Rating: Summary: Q transcends a bad story. Review: God becomes bored and decides that she will end the multiverse. Q sets out to rescue everything, and finds himself repeatedly bumping into Picard and Data. The storyline is confused and confusing, and the characters are pitiable caricatures of themselves. After this outpouring of scorn let me say that somehow the authors succeeded in keeping me turning the pages. There is one thing (and only one) that makes this book worth reading and that is Q himself. Peter David and John De Lancie succeed in producing a Q at his quirky best. Therefore, if you want a good story don't stop here, but if you love Q then this book is one you should check out. [Q-Squared is much better.]
Rating: Summary: A great book Review: I'm glad John De Lancie has finally done a book on Q. This book was really good. Especially how the character in the book was so much like the one on the tv show. I recommend this book to any Q fan.
Rating: Summary: A very fun book Review: Although definitely a different style, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was fast paced and offbeat. The first person story works in this case because it gives the reader a window into Q's soul(?). I laughed out loud during some of the little stories Q was retelling (especially the parachutist, God, and the haystack.) As I said, the writing style is very different, but the collaboration between Peter David and John DeLancie works for me.
Rating: Summary: I,Quit Review: John De Lancie should quit writing and stay with his acting. Even with the help of long-time Star Trek author Peter David, this book left a great deal to be desired. Most books in the series either fill in background on one or more of the characters (this one didn't) or provide us with a captivating story (again, this one didn't). The story line was written as if whatever came to the author's mind became a part of the story with no concept of flow or story development. It was, at best, a jumble of concepts, vulgarities and colloquialisms which was nearly impossible to follow. Even given the somewhat unexpected ending (the only thing interesting in the entire book), the time required to read the book would have been better spent watching paint dry or grass grow.
Rating: Summary: A wonderful book for lovers of witty science fiction. Review: I have enjoyed every page. It is the kind science fiction I have come to expect from Peter David, the best. The insights into Q are thought provoking and with a kind a self humor that must be the influence of John De Lancie. I had the pleasure of talking with Mr. De Lancie at the Macworld Expo in San Francisco. He expressed that one of the goals he and Peter had for the novel was to expand the readership to more than the just Star Trek fans, but to provide a novel that would appeal to the greater Science Fiction audience. I believe that they have achieved this goal with a wonderful style and wit. The book is filled with witty banter between Picard and Q, accompanied by a view into Q's mind which shows self-doubt, fear, strong family bonds and some delightful humorous insights into Q's existence. Data, the constant innocent, still wants to be human. When Data is given a look into that the true nature of the Q Continuum, promptly does the human thing and faints robot style. I have often thought that Peter should write a movie script for Star Trek featuring Q. Like in his books, "Q In Law" when Lwaxana teaches Q a thing or two and in "Q Squared" when Peter brought back delightful characters like Tasha and Jack Crusher. . .but I digress. The book is a wonderful read and I am looking forward the next collaboration between Peter David and John De Lancie.
Rating: Summary: Cute book but wait for paperback Review: This was a cute enough book but not David's best. One part with the Grand Nagus is great. But Picard and Data often seemed out of character. Q's self-love and ego overwhelmed even me (a big fan of the character) at times. There were excessive and misplaced cliches, colloquialisms, and profanity, inconsistent with most good Trek. Too many speeches, too, even for a Q story. So, don't buy the hardcover; get it in paperback or from the library. In the mean time, read 'The Q Continuum' trilogy; it's a lot better.
Rating: Summary: oh. wow. that was the most incredible book i've ever read. Review: That was simply amazing. I read a lot, and few things truly impress me, but that was simply outstanding. The fact that this book is set in the Star Trek universe becomes inconsequential because the fact is, its really one great, mind bending cosmic odyssey. Here's briefly what the story is like: it's Dante's Inferno, thrown in with What Dreams May Come, added to a dash of Contact, all in a rather Star Trek-esque setting. Sound odd? It is, in a way. However, this book can literally change the way one thinks about things in general. It's quite an experience. Now, this isn't a book for those who think everything is a certain way, and don't like to have to question their thoughts and beliefs, but if you're up for it, this is the most amazingly, thrilling book I have ever had the pleasure of reading.
Rating: Summary: something to stretch your mind around Review: Did you ever notice the bad reviews never seem to have names? Anyway. The makings of a good story: Tight concise plot, focused narration, great conclusion. Introduce characters, building action, climax and denoument. If this is an unbreakable law to you, do not pick up this book. If you can, however, stretch your mind around something different, to new places, challange yourself to allow something OTHER than the ordinary, pick it up. Consequently, if you suffer from accute attention deficit disorder, you love it, too. What you have here is a narrative put forth by that omnipotent, omniscent, trickster, Q, chronicling his attempts to save the universe and his family, with Jean Luc Picard and Data by his side. The narrative jumps from one place to another, and often completely OFF story as Q digresses into some farflung largle irrelevant, but always entertaining, story from his past. And in the end, well...lets just say in the end you may or may not be sure what to make of it. And that is the books greatest strenght, for which most will damn it. It leaves you not knowing what to expect from one minute to the next, not entirely sure how to grasp what you're reading. It's always challenging, always involving, and, as told by Peter David (writer of stuff) and John De Lancie (Q, himself) always entertaining...well worth the trip it takes to get there. The one minor flaw is that much of the book seems too familiar, too humanizing, though, that too is explained in the pages. So, give it a chance. Or, if you've already purchased it, give it another one. Allow your mind into new possibilities and see where they take you...after all, isn't that what Trek's been about all along?
|