Rating: 
Summary: Is this a good book? Yes and no.
Review: There is a great deal positive to be said about this book; unfortunately, there is also a great deal to be said that is negative, as well.Shatner is a fine writer, technically, and his plot moves well, has plenty of action and drama, switches scenes well and keeps multiple plotlines in balance. Of course, he has a fine grasp of the characters (is this a shock?) particularly the original series characters, and he does a fine job of portraying those characters. And the scope of his plot is certainly impressive enough. But as to the negative: I realize that this is intended as one book of a continuing series, that the plotline continues from one book to the next. But I object to buying a book that has no ending, to getting merely one installment of "The Perils Of Kirk", which ends at a cliffhanger with "continued next book" implied, if not actually printed, at the end. I thought this book's predecessor, "Spectre", was bad in that regard, but this book's ending is even less satisfying than "Spectre"'s was. At least "Spectre" ended on a cliffhanger, which while I disapprove, is at least a traditional "ending" for a continued action story. This book didn't even have that; it felt as though somebody just took a knife and chopped off an ending about three chapters early. When writing a series, it really is preferable that each book has a main plot of its own that is resolved at the end, even if the major plot-arc of the series continues. The end of this book resolved nothing. Further, I have a major problem with the entire concept of the major sub-plot to this book. In the original "Star Trek" series episode that this series works off of, the Enterprise crew accidentally cross over to a "mirror" universe which is eerily similar to their own, except that each individual there, as well as the equivalent of Star Fleet itself, is nasty, vicious, and brutal. One of the key themes to that episode, stated at the end by Mr. Spock, when explaining why it was not difficult for him, in command in Kirk's absence, to recognise the mirror Kirk, Scotty, McCoy, and Uhura as duplicates when the party from our side of the mirror had been able to "pass" on the other side, was that "it was far easier for you, as civilized people, to act like barbarians, than it was for them, as barbarians, to act like civilized people." Or words to that effect. Yet in this series, duplicates from the mirror universe have been successfully infiltrating Starfleet; not only are these people raised as barbarians, but people raised as a subjugated race, slaves who are elevated to a position of minor power if it is seen that they have a "useful" duplicate in our universe, who are bullied and bribed into working for their oppressors by passing in this universe, and (presumably) given training in how to behave like their duplicates. But does anybody really believe that not just one or two, but MANY people in that situation, would have the acting ability to successfully pull off that switch? AND not immediately turn double-agent the moment they had a chance over here? And that anybody with the acting ability to pull off the switch wouldn't be clever enough to MAKE that chance at some point? The whole concept is preposterous. People who've had such radically different life experiences, no matter HOW similar their DNA, can NOT simply step into each other's lives, and have nobody notice. All in all, a fun read, but seriously flawed.
Rating: 
Summary: Great stuff; Shatner really entertains as a writer
Review: Like his previous Star Trek novels, William Shatner continues his plain, good storytelling in "Dark Victory" -- part of the "Mirror Universe" trilogy. The story is interesting and keeps moving fairly rapidly. There is even a mystery "murder" of sorts. Of course, the centerpiece of the whole thing is Kirk confronting his own dark side in confronting his mirror universe counterpart, and the ending definitely leaves you wanting more! The only negative thing I would say about this book and Shatner's writing in general is that he tends to go for the absolute, most melodramatic storyline possible. He also (no surprise here) tends to focus on the Kirk character to the detriment of other character developement. I should expect this, of course, in a book with Kirk as the central character and written by the man who played him for years, but it still would have been nice to develop other characters (e.g. Picard, Geordi, etc.) and their mirror counterparts as well. Nevertheless, I like the way he blends characters for all the series and makes it coherent and I will definitely be looking for part 3!
Rating:
Summary: Great Expectations
Review: William Shatner continues to amaze his audience once again with his unfolding drama of mirror-universe counterparts. On the negative, the story contains to many sub-plots and characters. Do we really need to have everyone from the Trek universe involved? Weaving elements from Classic Trek, Next Generation, DS9, and Voyager is a real sign of artistic talent. On the other hand, I believe it pulls down this reader while keeping up with the story and bizarre moments. For example, would Kirk really settle down and marry in a Klingon ceremony? Please! Sometimes, the story can be stretched a but thin. Dark Victory is a compelling read with just a twist of plot from the Disney's "Black Hole" movie. I'm almost left waiting for Maximillion and Kirk to stare each other down! An interesting and compelling story told by Shatner himself!
Rating:
Summary: Good, but not one of his best in this series
Review: I must admit at the outset that I am not a regular reader of the huge array of "Star Trek" books. I'm a "Trek" fan, but not to that extent. However, I did get hooked on William Shatner's "Trek" novels; they are a fun diversion from some heavier reading I usually do. Having said that, I was looking forward to this book, and picked it up right after it hit paperback. As with all of the previous novels, Shatner moves things right along, so the book is a quick read. But, it seems that as Capt. Kirk's journeys continue, the quality of the books has sunk a bit. "Dark Victory" is good in some ways, but overall weaker than his others. Some of the plot threads and scenes within "Dark Victory" are great (i.e. the confrontation between Kirk and Picard as the Enterprise reaches the Badlands). It makes for good reading. The major drawback of this book, though, is that I had the feeling at the conclusion that this was nothing but "filler" or a "temporary bridge" between "Spectre" and the upcoming book. "Spectre" had its flaws, to be sure, but it tied up enough loose ends in the plot before the cliffhanger to make it satisfying. I didn't get that out of "Dark Victory". Shatner seemed to leave everything hanging for the next book, and that is unsatisfying to this reader. That is why I say this one seemed to be more "filler" than anything. At least Capt. Kirk's journeys will continue. But, I hope that he returns to the better form that was displayed in my favorite of the series - "The Return" and "Avenger". I can't wholeheartedly recommend "Dark Victory", but you will want to read it to follow the story into the next novel in the series.
Rating: 
Summary: Shattner's Star Trek Dark Victory
Review: The reader has enough information about the plot of the book from the Editor's review, but I would like to concentrate here on why I think that Shattner, through his books, has become (or expressed the characteristics of) a Creative Genius (as opposed to an Ingenious Follower, as many may have thought of him in the shadow of Gene Roddenberry who created Star Trek). Shattner has absorbed the excitement, the obsession, the desire to obtain knowledge and learn which was the original theme of Star Trek: to explore new frontiers, to go where no one has gone before, etc. The Creative Genius is deep down a learner, a student of the universe. Whether he or she is a sculptor, a musician, a writer, or an inventor/discoverer, these actions inspire the acquisition and experiencing of new knowledge. You will find this in Socrates, in the Old Testament Prophets, in Saint Thomas Acquinas, in Plato and Aristotle, and now in Shattner. I hope that the young people especially who read Shattner will be similarly inspired to learn and create instead of following their peers and their "easy way out". I hope that parents will read Shattner and be inspired to literally "sit on their kids" to study and learn and create, even if they have to hypnotize them or send them to learning therapists. I also like the emphasis on psychology in Shattner's books and indeed in the whole Star Trek phenomenon. I think that Creative Geniuses somewhere, deep down, are psychologists, though for some of them making contact with themselves may be a long voyage indeed.
Rating:
Summary: #3 can't be published soon enough!
Review: Spectre was a little shallow compared to the previous Shatner/Reeves-Stevens books, but Dark Victory more than makes up for it. The book sets a breakneck pace right from the start, and then you run SMACK into a brick wall cliffhanger at the end of the book. It's rare these days to read a book I cannot put down, but I didn't want to stop reading this book. I found the scenes with the 2 Spocks "fascinating" to say the least, and it's seems quite ironic when they nail down the actual event that caused history to diverge in the 2 different universes. You'll have to read the book to find it out. I refuse to spoil your fun! Buy it, and enjoy.
Rating:
Summary: An excellent adaptation
Review: I gave the book 3 stars earlier on this site, but I must admit the audio is a superb adaptation. Music from both Dark Mirror and Spectre is recognizable in this tape. I've given both the other stories 5 stars, though I still consider the best "mirror" story to be the 1967 episode. Hope Teilani makes it.
Rating:
Summary: Next in a long line of great books
Review: Ths was an intriging book that kept me thinking and in suspense. For any Star Trek lover this book is a must have
Rating:
Summary: Fascinating--a secret group w/in StarFleet
Review: I found Dark Victory startling for several reasons: 1. It continues the use of the savage characters from the original series episode "Mirror,Mirror", and Dark Victory's prequel, which introduces its readers with Kirk's double in the mirror universe named Emperor Tiberius. 2. It provides continuity with Kirk's rebirth in "Generations" and books such as "Vengence". 3. It uses characters from Star Trek-The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, and Voyager in its plot line--Kirk's mirror universe counterpart seeks revenge from losing his bid to to conquer the Federation's universe by attempting to kill Kirk; failing that, he proceeds to attempt killing Kirk's new wife (A wife for ladies's man Kirk--incredible!). 4. We learn of ships staffed by holograms and a secret cabal w/in StarFleet called Project Sign. Clearly, a great novel to read on a rainy day!
Rating:
Summary: Great Read
Review: A fast read, non-stop thriller that leaves you on the edge from beginning to the end.. It's a must read for sci-fi readers.. I only wonder if shatner writes these stuff by himself or hires a ghost writer.. And one more thing.. when is the sequel coming out? I need to know~
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