Rating: 
Summary: Don't bother!
Review: It's not often I have to force myself to finish a book. But that was the case with "Tooth and Claw". I found it to be a weak story, the characters uninteresting and/or annoying, and plain and simply totally boring. This is the first time I have tried this author, and I won't be in a hurry to try her again if this book is anything to go by. If you want to read a new trek adventure try something else. No adventure to be found here.
Rating: 
Summary: An Entertaining adventure with a diplomatic twist
Review: The Enterprise embarks on a mission to negotiate use of star charts of an area of space riddled with gravitational anomalies, which are held by some rather 'prickly' types who wish for the Enterprise and her senior officers to have the "honor" of taking the son of the planet's ruler on a coming-of-age cerimonial hunt to harvest a trophy in a protected wild land.These star charts are essential to speed up evacuation of a planet who's sun is going nova, and every minute which passes means more lives lost. The mission on the planet Fandre soon becomes a desperate fight to survive when the shuttle crashes due to technical failure. The fact that the Legacy preserve is protected by technology dampning fields, as well as force fields which can only have openings at short intervals means that getting any outside help is nearly impossible. Meanwhile, diplomatic negotiations for access to the star charts are continued, and discontinued amid social face-saving practices of these people. Finally, Picard sees no choice but to change his diplomatic tactics to speed the process of getting the star charts. There were some minor technical problems I had with the book but which didn't impeed enjoyment of the story too much. It's an enjoyable book about coming of age, and seeing the world around you for what it is, as well as a survavialist adventure.
Rating: 
Summary: STNG #60 Tooth and Claw - A very good numbered novel!
Review: This is author Doranna Durgin's, an author who has established herself outside of Star Trek, one and only foray into the Star Trek universe so far and I would definitely have to say that it would be nice if she revisited Star Trek fiction again. Based on the premise stated on the back of the novel, my first impression of this novel, and prior to reading it was that it would be another bland numbered novel that would find difficulty in holding my interest. Upon reading it though, that first impression couldn't have been further off. While I wouldn't class this novel as being among the tops in the numbered novel arena I would say that it was a very good novel with a very good story. The only reason I haven't given this novel five stars is that I truly would like to have given it four and a half stars as it is very good story that is just a cut above the rest of the numbered novels but not quite in the realm of exceptional numbered novels. I found Doranna Durgin's writing to be very good. This story has very good pacing that doesn't drift off in unnecessary directions, the plot set up and execution is carried out very well and the characterizations are dead on perfect to include some humorous moments which are difficult to do in print but she does it well here. The cover art for this novel is a cut above the older ones as at about this time it seems that the powers that be at Pocket Books decided to start giving a little more attention to this somewhat important aspect to the Star Trek line of novels. The Premise: Although it's not specifically stated, this story is placed on the Enterprise NCC-1701-D prior to the events of "Star Trek Generations." Captain Picard and crew finds themselves in another one of those precarious dilemma's as they find that in order to help the people of the planet Ntignano whose sun is going nova thanks to the intervention of extremists they must first deal with the Tsorans who control an extremely tricky space corridor that is vital to the evacuation of the Ntignano's planet. The story breaks down into three subplots as Captain Picard must deal with the ruler of Tsoran in negotiations for important maps of the space corridor while Commander Riker finds that he must escort the Tsoran leaders son on a ritual hunt within the bounds of an extremely dangerous wildlife preserve that is surrounded by heavy shielding and at the same time Geordi is in the position of attempting to establish communications outside of that shielding... All of which combines to make an extremely intriguing tale that is at times extraordinarily exhilarating especially along the lines of Commander Riker's sub plot. I highly recommend this novel to any and all fans of Star Trek fiction as it is a very good novel that fits well into the genre! {ssintrepid}
Rating: 
Summary: One of the Best
Review: This is one of the best Star Trek books I've read in a long time. It was one of those "can't put down, read in one sitting" novels for me. I found the Federation characters to be right on the mark (Riker was as damned arrogant and annoying as I found him to be on the television show - but that's a good thing...he was written true to character!) and the alien characters were interesting, especially the parts about their culture and their daleura and kaphoora. One of the things I loved about this book was the kaphoora. It reminded me of things I've read about ancient cultures such as the native Americans and the way warriors in those cultures achieved manhood. It's nice to read a Star Trek novel that takes the characters out of their normal element (off saving the galaxy) and puts them in something foreign to them. Hopefully, this won't be the last Star Trek novel that Ms. Durgin writes!
Rating:
Summary: One of the Best
Review: This is one of the best Star Trek books I've read in a long time. It was one of those "can't put down, read in one sitting" novels for me. I found the Federation characters to be right on the mark (Riker was as damned arrogant and annoying as I found him to be on the television show - but that's a good thing...he was written true to character!) and the alien characters were interesting, especially the parts about their culture and their daleura and kaphoora. One of the things I loved about this book was the kaphoora. It reminded me of things I've read about ancient cultures such as the native Americans and the way warriors in those cultures achieved manhood. It's nice to read a Star Trek novel that takes the characters out of their normal element (off saving the galaxy) and puts them in something foreign to them. Hopefully, this won't be the last Star Trek novel that Ms. Durgin writes!
Rating:
Summary: One of the Best
Review: This is one of the best Star Trek books I've read in a long time. It was one of those "can't put down, read in one sitting" novels for me. I found the Federation characters to be right on the mark (Riker was as damned arrogant and annoying as I found him to be on the television show - but that's a good thing...he was written true to character!) and the alien characters were interesting, especially the parts about their culture and their daleura and kaphoora. One of the things I loved about this book was the kaphoora. It reminded me of things I've read about ancient cultures such as the native Americans and the way warriors in those cultures achieved manhood. It's nice to read a Star Trek novel that takes the characters out of their normal element (off saving the galaxy) and puts them in something foreign to them. Hopefully, this won't be the last Star Trek novel that Ms. Durgin writes!
Rating:
Summary: Very Good /Solid Trek
Review: This is the kind of book that fans will enjoy. The characters are perfect! The situation is exciting. It is everything a Trek adventure should be. Ms. Durgin has captured the Trek formula with stellar results. This book would make and excellent TV episode. It is lots of fun, and I truly hope Ms. Durgin will write more Next Generation novels.
Rating:
Summary: Very Good /Solid Trek
Review: This is the kind of book that fans will enjoy. The characters are perfect! The situation is exciting. It is everything a Trek adventure should be. Ms. Durgin has captured the Trek formula with stellar results. This book would make and excellent TV episode. It is lots of fun, and I truly hope Ms. Durgin will write more Next Generation novels.
Rating:
Summary: Entertaining and Good
Review: This is well written and very entertaining. The descriptions are very clear and vivid. There is a lot of action. The dialogue is great and the personal interaction is wonderful, especially the private commentaries and evaluations the characters make of each other. Those characters are very well depicted. Also, the alien cultures are unusually well depicted. There is a definite feeling that the Fandrean culture has great depth and we and the characters are only seeing a little of it. The Tsorans on the other hand seem shallow, not for lack of author talent, but because they are so obsessed with prestige and appearance that their culture has lost some of its original depth and content. All in all, this is a great and very entertaining book.
Rating:
Summary: STNG - Tooth and Claw
Review: Tooth and Claw by Doranna Durgin is a book about the right of passage... boy to being a man set in the STNG genre. The author has an engaging writing style. She captures the cast and crew of the Enterprise and keeps them true to form. William Riker has the "pleasure" of taking a rather arogant young prince on his first hunt in a game preserve called the
Legacy. The Legacy is protected by a technology of force fields and a technology dampening field so you are on your own to prove your worth. Riker pilots the shuttle Rahjah into the preserve and meets disaster as the dampening fields take their toll on the shuttle and it crash lands adding to the intrigue. Can the spoiled brat prince and his party work together with Riker to survive? Here lies the story... and the author takes us through the trials and tribulations of the adventure. This is one of the better written STNG books and has good character follow through without the loss of true STNG character profile. Ms. Durgin has a gift for writing and has a book here about survival against the odds. Action adventure are found and the consequences for actions also abound. The development of the plot and the characters is well thought and played. This is a good read and I found the story to be irrevocably tied to the natural world and its creatures. I recommend reading and enjoying.
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