Rating: Summary: Mac and Jean Luc! What more does a woman need? Review: Haven't read the rest of the Double Helix, but picked this up for 'ol lavender eyes. It was a quick, light read. Peter David can be an erratic writer - or perhaps it is a severe lack of editorial guidance - because this one is much tighter, smoother and far more enjoyable to read than most of the New Frontier stuff.This book is more like his Captain's Table entry which is also tighter and smoother(and gives more detail on Mackenzie Calhoun's strange career). I've been intrigued with the very odd Excalibur crew and have followed them regardless of the sometimes disappointing writing. This book makes the effort worth it. More rational interactions between Excalibur crew for a change, a dash of the Next Gen crew thrown in to leaven it out and an interesting (if Star-Trek predictable) galaxy-wide threat. It's fun to see Picard in his "double-agent" role again. Why does Starfleet use high-profile Starship Captains as spies anyway? Pick it up - it's a better read than most out there and truer to the TV personas of the Next Gen crew than the usual Star Trek book. And if you don't know the extremely odd Excalibur crew, this is a good way to meet them!
Rating: Summary: By far the BEST of the six part series. Review: I always wondered if Peter David would revisit the interaction between Riker and Shelby in the New Frontier books. It was well worth the wait. This book also serves as an introduction to the New Frontier series describing all curent storylines in progress. Well worth the read
Rating: Summary: The 2nd Best of the Double Helix batch Review: I consider this the second-best of the Double Helix novels, although you'll be quickly confused if you haven't kept up with the New Frontier novels. Peter David is a very capable storyteller and manages to keep things exciting to the end.
Rating: Summary: Riker the clown arriving at circus Excalibur! Review: I find this book poor and does not seem to belong to the series. Riker seems to be out of character, meets the crew of USS Excalibur, Capt Calhoun's ship and gets into humorous situations and he says 'I just got to get off this ship!' upon meeting Exalibur's command staff. Riker is there only for comic relief. There seems to be a lot of discussion of this sex-bomb. Too much seems to dwell on issues that does not concern plague. It took a long time before I realise the architect of the plague was being referred to and this story is where the villain gets defeated. A real let-down for an ending after the build-up in the earlier stories. Note that Riker is my favourite character in STTNG series and I like Capt Calhoun too. Peter David is also one of my favourite Star Trek author. This story is such a let down.
Rating: Summary: A Deadly Virus That Could Destroy All! Review: I have read all of the Star Trek: New Frontier books, and I think this one is one of the best! The plot was the best, the characters were commendable, and Jellico finally gets a close look at McKenzie Calhouns fist! Captain Calhoun's James Bond spy act was stupendous, as he tried to stop the evil from realeasing a deadly virus that could destroy all, called the Double Helix. McKenzie Calhoun meets up with Captain Picard to create a dramatically suspenseful book that will capture every science fiction fan alive!
Rating: Summary: Peter David does it again Review: I'd much rather Peter David write a nice long thick novel like Imzadi or Q-Squared, but was suprised at how fantastic his New Frontier series was. After reading that, I became hooked. Now comes Double Helix:Double or Nothing, which involves the crew of the USS Excalibur, along with some familiar faces from the USS Enterprise. Captain Calhoun leaves the Excalibur to track down the creator of a deadly virus with Jean Luc Picard, and in his place Commander Riker takes over the the Excalibur in his absence. It all builds up until the very end, which I won't reveal of course, you'll just have to read it, but the ending is something special. Buy this book and all Peter David books. Can't wait for the next insallment of New Frontier books. Live Long and Prosper
Rating: Summary: not that great Review: i'm a fan of peter david, but this had to be one of the most convoluted trek books ever, i like the characters but the story felt idiotic and there never seemed to be a reason why they were all in this story...the characterisation of shelby and her interaction with riker was off the mark, she was not the same character
Rating: Summary: Another Wild Ride by Peter David Review: More happens in this segment of Double Helix than in any of the others. It has Picard and Riker and all the Excalabur crew, although it centers on Picard and Calhoun. Not a bad formula. While Picard and Calhoun were heros as usual, I did have a problem with why Riker would be appointed temporary Captain of the Excalabur. Poor Shelby. Best of the series.
Rating: Summary: Star Trek meets James Bond! Review: O dear, what a stupid book this was!! First the good news - it's very readable - just right for a plane journey or reading on the beach (which I did!). Now the bad news. The plot line is totally unbelievable. 1- Starfleet sends 2 people undercover who can be recognised by the bad guys they are tracking. 2- given the time scale of the whole series - the ending is very rushed - makes the story have some tension - but doesn't help the credibility factor. 3- Picard's character is a bit 'mushy' - at the start of the all action finnale he fails to take appropriate action and is therefore revealed as a spy. This helps the storyline but it isn't consistant with the Picard we know from the screen - He is quite capable of making the 'tough decisions', even if it means that a comrade will die - and particularly if the whole of the Federation is going to be wiped out if he fails. Overall, read it if you like a good adventure story - don't bother if what you require is a book that follows the Star Trek ethos. Reasonable book - but not Trek!
Rating: Summary: Best of the series Review: OK, first of all, I've got to admit that I'm a huge fan of Peter David's work and have been since he published the first really great TNG novel, Strike Zone many, many years ago. That said, I've got to admit that this was the one novel of the Double Helix series I was really, really looking foward to. I read it in three days. It's just that good. First of all, it features David's wonderful cast from his New Frontier series. Secondly, it's got several of the members of TNG interacting with them with some great results. (There's a huge shouting match between Riker and Shelby that rings so absolutely true that it's painful.) Finally, it's got David's compulsively readable style of writing that makes the pages just fly by with ease. I'd love to discuss the details of just why this book is so good, but it would ruin the series for those of you might not have read it yet. Suffice it to say, this book makes the entire Double Helix worthwhile and worthy of being a six book saga. A must read for any Trek fan...
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