Rating: 
Summary: Great stand alone in this story arc of the New Frontier.
Review: 'Cold Wars', though touted as book 6 of 7 in the Gateway story arc, is a stand alone story in its own right. While events revolving around the sudden appearance of Iconian Gateways through the Trek universe is the catalyst for these 7 books, only a very brief setup description in the first few chapters brings the reader up to speed on what's going on.In this New Frontier tale taking place in old Thallonian space, we learn that two warring races have been separated from their home planet and dispatched to two separate planets in order to refrain themselves from mutual extinction. These two races that share centuries old hatred for each other are introduced to Gateway technology, allowing them to invade each others planets for the first time since their separation. These scenarios are very action packed and will have the reader turning pages like mad. These skirmishes and their outcomes begin a frenzy and renewed interest in these warring races into wiping each other out. Thus, the UFP sends the Trident and Excalibur to each planet involved to stop a major war from brewing and to also find out who's behind the sudden appearance of the Gateways. It seems that the Gateway's in and of themselves are a threat to the known universe, for their misuse could end up causing irreparable damage to all systems. Think of the Aerons and Markanians (the two opposing races) as a social commentary of or own history. Substitute either the Hatfield's and McCoy's, Black vs. White, religious belief against religious belief, or whatever, and you have Peter David's message in a nutshell. Mr. David once again does a brilliant job of barely disguising our own problems that have plagued mankind's thinking for years in the guise of a great science fiction story. In addition to a great stand alone story, the author continues to develop other subplots that continue from previous novels (see: Moke, Dr. Selar, & Kalinda), introduce new ones (see: Burgoyne, Shelby, Mueller) and new characters: M'Ress & Arex (displaced in time from Captain Kirk's era), Ensign Phyetus and others. The author makes each of these characters unique with fascinating stories of their own that make the New Frontier series so entertaining. Mr. David does this in a way that always propels the larger story forward without the feeling of crowding these in for filler material or quick levity. These aren't your regular 'red shirts' or menial characters usually downplayed in the television series or other books. Finally, the climax is full of excitement, and just when you think it is over, Peter David throws in his classic twist and cliffhanger. Great read.
Rating:
Summary: Cold Wars
Review: A centuries-old feud between two alien races is re-ignited...with Captain Calhoun & Captain Shelby caught in the middle of horrific, escalating violence.
Rating:
Summary: Cold Wars
Review: A centuries-old feud between two alien races is re-ignited...with Captain Calhoun & Captain Shelby caught in the middle of horrific, escalating violence.
Rating:
Summary: Satisfying and Surprising
Review: A thoroughly satisfying read. Peter David's unique little corner of the Star Trek universe takes another giant leap forward with this story. As always Mr. David continues to weave an ever expanding colorful tapestry of story lines involving unique multidimensional characters. With "Cold Wars" he manages to do so while telling a dramatic, wild and woolly story that is filled with the usual homage's to trek and touches of offbeat humor that help to distinguish New Frontier. Set after the events of "Restoration", which left diehard New Frontier fans with numerous questions to debate, I am happy to tell you that "Cold Wars" does indeed answer many of those questions. With the promotion of Shelby to Captain, and the return of Calhoun, there are now two Federation starships assigned to patrol Sector 221-G. Otherwise known as the former Thallonian Empire. The newly launched Galaxy class USS Excalibur, and the USS Trident. Both ships are assigned to investigate any Gateway activity in their sector. The Aeron and Markanians used to live on the same planet. Bitter enemies, they had brought their world to the brink of destruction with their attempts to annihilate each other. Their home world, Sinqay, was located in Thallonian space. Fed up with their attempts to destroy each other, the Thallonian Empire relocated the two cultures to different planets light years from each other 100 years ago. Neither race having space flight capabilities had enabled both cultures to grow and prosper on their separate worlds. But the reawakening of the Gateways has allowed the age old conflict to erupt anew. Shelby sets out to tackle the Markanians while the Excalibur tries to reason with the Aeron. Their mission is two fold. To attempt to mediate a peace between the two ancient enemies and gain possession of the Gateway's they have at their disposal. But the Aeron and Markanians are just pawns in a much larger, extremely dangerous game. Things do not go smoothly and both Calhoun and Shelby resort to some rather high handed and unorthodox methods in their attempts to bring the two peoples
to a peaceful resolution of their differences. While the basic plot formula is an overused one; 'two warring nations must be brought to their senses'. In the hands of Peter David the story is definitely not the usual. I enjoyed "Cold Wars" immensely on many different levels. As with most New Frontier novels you can expect the unexpected and that is one of the charms of this book. The story is absorbing with well crafted characters. It moves quickly with numerous changes of scene as the action smoothly shifts from planet to planet and
ship to ship. The usual tangled web of tension filled relationships among the crew is toned down somewhat in "Cold Wars". Many of the characters such as McHenry and Lefler are used more as background players as the new characters and new relationships are established. Now his wife and his equal as a Captain their is of course a major change in the relationship between Shelby and Mackenzie Calhoun. The verbal sparing that characterized their relationship in the past is for the time being at least subdued. There is something particularly enjoyable about reading a novel that not only compels you to keep turning the pages, but manages to tickle your funny bone as well. Shortly after the half way point in the book I found myself putting it down deliberately so that I could make it last as long as possible. "Cold Wars" was indeed a very satisfactory story.
Rating: 
Summary: Embarrassingly Bad
Review: I am appalled to see how many people liked this book. I've been a big fan of NF, but the last few books have disappointed, this most of all. I almost threw the book across the room just reading the cliched (...)first chapter, which would've been laughed out of a plotting session for a BEASTMASTER movie. The plot's heavy-handedness was insulting, and Captain Calhoun isn't so much a hero as he is a bully. I'm just not interested in reading about people who barge their way through situations that the writer contrives in such a way as to allow them to be right. It's lazy writing. And the whole "Ensign Pheytus" thing was puerile, childish, not particularly funny, and mean-spirited. Peter David used to be my favorite writer, too.
Rating: 
Summary: Not the Greatest... Not the Worst
Review: I must admit this was my first foray into Peter David's New Frontier, and while Peter David seems a great writer, I'm not a fan. The story here was good and riveting as well the character development for M'Ress especially was great. As for the Gateways series I recommend TNG's book instead of this one, as this one doesn't have much to do with the real problem. The only relation to the Gateways problem in fact, is the fact that it is a gateway that has restarted a war between two races. This book simply serves as a "Hey, here's another reason gateways are bad." My major issue with NF is that I don't like the fact that Calhoun and crew are "silly" and very much NOT what you have come to expect of a Starfleet crew and captain. Shelby is about the only believable recurring character here. Calhoun is not professional and boldly goes against what the Federation is and the admirals know it. The fact that he is still a captain after all of his shenanigans is a miracle. I think the New Frontier series was created simply to have the Star Trek name on it. Peter David is a good enough writer that he could have written his sci-fi books with out Star Trek and they'd have been better.
Rating:
Summary: Read it. Just read it.
Review: I'm gonna need another bang in the eye for dismissing Peter David's New Frontier world before I read this book. Admittedly, there are holes because I didn't read a few NF installments, but those holes didn't diminish my understanding or enjoyment of this book. A few details missed? Yeah. But in the Big Picture, I was still able to put it all together. The holes just make me want to go back and read the NF books I missed, so how could that be a bad thing? In this, novel, Peter expertly guides his "irreverently-professional" bunch through a rousing adventure involving both ancient technology and ancient enemies. Take two vicious enemies and put them on separate planets to keep them away from one another. Introduce technology (those dratted gateways) that enables them to get to each other in the blink of an eye and boom Big Trouble in Thallonian space. Enter Mac Calhoun on the *Excalibur* and his wife, Elizabeth Shelby, on the *Trident,* charged by Starfleet with keeping the peace. What follows is "peacekeeping" quite unlike what you might expect from, say, Jean-Luc Picard. Take, for example, this excerpt, written here to give you an idea of the reigning attitude throughout: "Calhoun was standing in the open area within the desk, and Si Cwan was next to him. The Counselars had made it clear that they would not convene nor speak with him at all unless he stayed in the 'Place of Address,' which was where he was standing at that moment. Calhoun did not particularly want to be in the Place of Address. Just then, he'd have far preferred to be in the Place of Beating the Crap out of the Counselars, had such a location actually existed." I ask you, can you beat this? While this novel stands alone just fine, it *ends* with a gateway cliffhanger, same as all the rest of them do, to be taken up in the final novel in this series, "What Lay Beyond." But for real? Read this puppy. And read all the other Gateway novels while you're at it.
Rating:
Summary: Read it. Just read it.
Review: I'm gonna need another bang in the eye for dismissing Peter David's New Frontier world before I read this book. Admittedly, there are holes because I didn't read a few NF installments, but those holes didn't diminish my understanding or enjoyment of this book. A few details missed? Yeah. But in the Big Picture, I was still able to put it all together. The holes just make me want to go back and read the NF books I missed, so how could that be a bad thing? In this, novel, Peter expertly guides his "irreverently-professional" bunch through a rousing adventure involving both ancient technology and ancient enemies. Take two vicious enemies and put them on separate planets to keep them away from one another. Introduce technology (those dratted gateways) that enables them to get to each other in the blink of an eye and boom Big Trouble in Thallonian space. Enter Mac Calhoun on the *Excalibur* and his wife, Elizabeth Shelby, on the *Trident,* charged by Starfleet with keeping the peace. What follows is "peacekeeping" quite unlike what you might expect from, say, Jean-Luc Picard. Take, for example, this excerpt, written here to give you an idea of the reigning attitude throughout: "Calhoun was standing in the open area within the desk, and Si Cwan was next to him. The Counselars had made it clear that they would not convene nor speak with him at all unless he stayed in the 'Place of Address,' which was where he was standing at that moment. Calhoun did not particularly want to be in the Place of Address. Just then, he'd have far preferred to be in the Place of Beating the Crap out of the Counselars, had such a location actually existed." I ask you, can you beat this? While this novel stands alone just fine, it *ends* with a gateway cliffhanger, same as all the rest of them do, to be taken up in the final novel in this series, "What Lay Beyond." But for real? Read this puppy. And read all the other Gateway novels while you're at it.
Rating:
Summary: Welcome back friends!
Review: In New Frontier, Peter David brings together much-loved, briefly seen, characters from Star Trek: The Next Generation (such as Dr Selar, Shelby and Lefler), quirky aliens from the original series, and from David's own young adult novels, to create a book series that closely resembles a wacky TV soap opera. At the same time, New Frontier carries the hallmark social commentary of excellent aired Star Trek. Now two new (old) crewmembers sign up! Peter David was first able to "play" with Arex and M'Ress, funky alien crewmembers of the Enterprise (as depicted in Filmation's Star Trek Animated television series - and Alan Dean Foster's "Star Trek Log" adaptations), when they were re-introduced into DC Comics' Star Trek comics by Len Wein after Star Trek IV. Just as things got really interesting (such as M'Ress falling in love with Sulu!), DC's license was rejigged and poor Arex and M'Ress were forced to disappear again. It's been a long wait, but they are back! Three-armed, three-legged Lt Arex, and his beautiful felinoid companion, Lt M'Ress, have both fallen through time - to end up on Captain Shelby's starship in the New Frontier books. They even get first names! Since we last met purple-eyed Captain Calhoun, his crew have been split across two Galaxy class starships (hence the need for more crewmembers). It barely matters that "Cold Wars" is part of a gripping seven-book saga that crosses all other Star Trek series. Often hilarious, often shocking, and always impossible to put down, "Cold Wars" almost makes for a good stand alone story (there is a cliffhanger that isn't resolved until the forthcoming hardcover, "What Lay Beyond"). There are also enough intriguing snippets and characters to make first-time readers scramble to find the New Frontier books that have come before, and to make long-time fans anticipate the next New Frontier adventures. Now I can't wait for the next NF novel (#12) - and hopefully also the return of Ensign Janos, the only sentient Mugato in the galaxy.
Rating:
Summary: Great Trek story
Review: Like many reviewers have mentioned here before it is a story of two races that hate each other and were separated long ago by the Thallonians. They sent them to two different worlds with no spaceflight technology. Since this is a Gateway series you know they get their hands on it and attack each other. The Excaliber and Trident commanded by Calhouhn and Shelby are sent to solve the Gateway problem and the war between these races.
The story is very typical New Frontier style with interesting twists and attitude. I did noticed the NF gang is mellowing and growing up more except for the engineering crew with that Fetus joke. Thatcould have been cut down a little. Overall I thought the story was great and to me the best of the series tied with the TNG story. The series started so-so, dropped to pretty bad in the 2nd but from that point on was good to excellent.
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