Rating: 
Summary: A perfect tie in between Star Trek and American Culture
Review: At first, it seems like a book about the TV episode, but it is more than that. It shows the life of Benny Russell, not just what happens to him on the episode. Steve Barnes not only takes you to the events of Benny's life, the emotions are so vivid, I cried. The issues of racism, prejudice, and hate are brought up in a very clever way, not just from the oppressed point of view, but also from the oppressor's point of view. If you like Star Trek, you'll like this book. It shows how Star Trek fits into our culture, how racism is still very much alive.
Rating:
Summary: A memorable novelization!
Review: Clearly "Far Beyond the Stars" was one of the best Deep Space Nine episodes in it's seven year run. Steven Barnes took that episode and, in a very short amount of time, turned the novelization into an amazing accoutrement to that episode. Even more so than the episode, you can feel for the characters in the book. It is at times gut wrenching and at other times totally enlightening. The author captured all of the character's with perfection. He also captured the 50's era with ease. A truly delightful book. If you've not read this, you need to whether or not you're a fan of trek fiction. It would be nice if the author would make another foray into the trek universe.
Rating:
Summary: A memorable novelization!
Review: Clearly "Far Beyond the Stars" was one of the best Deep Space Nine episodes in it's seven year run. Steven Barnes took that episode and, in a very short amount of time, turned the novelization into an amazing accoutrement to that episode. Even more so than the episode, you can feel for the characters in the book. It is at times gut wrenching and at other times totally enlightening. The author captured all of the character's with perfection. He also captured the 50's era with ease. A truly delightful book. If you've not read this, you need to whether or not you're a fan of trek fiction. It would be nice if the author would make another foray into the trek universe.
Rating:
Summary: This is one of the best books i've ever read.
Review: GOOD GOOD GOOD READ I
Rating:
Summary: More literary than most Star Trek but excellent.
Review: I hate most Star Trek novelizations, but this is an excellent piece of work. Dealing with racism and other issues sometimes left behind in the whiz-bang of the utopian Star Trek universe, this novel is what other Trek novelists should be shooting for. Old SF buffs will love it for the inside jokes and satire of science fiction's early days. Even the cover is a work of pure genius (a wonderful take-off on SF magazines like Amazing). All in all, a tip of the hat to Steve Barnes for a wonderful piece of work.
Rating:
Summary: "Wonder-full" and wonderful book!!
Review: I liked the episode, but the book was so much better there's almost no comparison. Steven Barnes' story of Benny Russell's struggle to preserve his dream of "Deep Space Nine" against racism blends a Christ-figure with the same restrained, tolling tone as Langston Hughes' poetry to show a man whose passion is such that it elevates his "fiction" to the level of prophecy (inside the Trek universe, anyway). Read this story and then consider its basic premise in general terms. Your life just might change in unexpected ways.
Rating:
Summary: "Wonder-full" and wonderful book!!
Review: I liked the episode, but the book was so much better there's almost no comparison. Steven Barnes' story of Benny Russell's struggle to preserve his dream of "Deep Space Nine" against racism blends a Christ-figure with the same restrained, tolling tone as Langston Hughes' poetry to show a man whose passion is such that it elevates his "fiction" to the level of prophecy (inside the Trek universe, anyway). Read this story and then consider its basic premise in general terms. Your life just might change in unexpected ways.
Rating:
Summary: "Wonder-full" and wonderful book!!
Review: I liked the episode, but the book was so much better there's almost no comparison. Steven Barnes' story of Benny Russell's struggle to preserve his dream of "Deep Space Nine" against racism blends a Christ-figure with the same restrained, tolling tone as Langston Hughes' poetry to show a man whose passion is such that it elevates his "fiction" to the level of prophecy (inside the Trek universe, anyway). Read this story and then consider its basic premise in general terms. Your life just might change in unexpected ways.
Rating: 
Summary: a very good novelization
Review: I throughly enjoyed reading this novel which is a novelization of an episode of Star Trek Deep Space Nine. The setting for most of this novel takes place in the 1950s in Harlem. Sisko (commander of Deep Space Nine) unexpectedly falls sick and is transported to Harlem, New York in the 1950s. He keeps his body but is a different person who is struggling to become a Science Fiction writer. By reading the novel we feel the main character's (Benny's) pain and wish him well, but everyone who has seen the episode knows what the outcome will be. Seeing how Benny overcame so much adversity and kept his dream alive in spite of all of the obstacles that confronted him was an emboldening story.One of the things that I really liked about this book was how it went back to Benny's childhood and into the bodies of men from several generations back. We see Benny as a child growing up in Harlem and also as a slave in america tending the fields.
I think this story would be enjoyable for any reader, but I think those familiar with the characters on Star Trek Deep Space Nine will appreciate it much more. The story transposes the main characters from Deep Space Nine and puts them in a different setting along with Sisko giving them different names but having mostly the same personalities. I was surprised to discover that the original episode on television was written by a white man, because it really brings out the feelings and frustrations of a black man living in a time when any black man other than a custodian, busboy or shoe shiner was seen as a threat to the majority community. The author's note at the end of the book discusses the role of blacks in film and TV. The author makes some interesting and insightful observations on how far we've come and how Star Trek has been at the forefront in placing blacks in good parts.
Rating:
Summary: a very good novelization
Review: I throughly enjoyed reading this novel which is a novelization of an episode of Star Trek Deep Space Nine. The setting for most of this novel takes place in the 1950s in Harlem. Sisko (commander of Deep Space Nine) unexpectedly falls sick and is transported to Harlem, New York in the 1950s. He keeps his body but is a different person who is struggling to become a Science Fiction writer. By reading the novel we feel the main character's (Benny's) pain and wish him well, but everyone who has seen the episode knows what the outcome will be. Seeing how Benny overcame so much adversity and kept his dream alive in spite of all of the obstacles that confronted him was an emboldening story. One of the things that I really liked about this book was how it went back to Benny's childhood and into the bodies of men from several generations back. We see Benny as a child growing up in Harlem and also as a slave in america tending the fields.
I think this story would be enjoyable for any reader, but I think those familiar with the characters on Star Trek Deep Space Nine will appreciate it much more. The story transposes the main characters from Deep Space Nine and puts them in a different setting along with Sisko giving them different names but having mostly the same personalities. I was surprised to discover that the original episode on television was written by a white man, because it really brings out the feelings and frustrations of a black man living in a time when any black man other than a custodian, busboy or shoe shiner was seen as a threat to the majority community. The author's note at the end of the book discusses the role of blacks in film and TV. The author makes some interesting and insightful observations on how far we've come and how Star Trek has been at the forefront in placing blacks in good parts.
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