Rating: 
Summary: STNF #10 Excalibur Renaissance - The story continues...
Review: "Renaissance" is another outstanding book in the Star Trek New Frontier series and in Peter David's list of superior Star Trek novels. As furtherance to the Excalibur trilogy, this novel serves very well. Just as it is with all of his novels, his writing style and pacing is perfect to the subject, making for a very quick and highly enjoyable read.The cover art for "Renaissance" is beautiful and it, for the first time, gives us a decent drawing of Zak Kebron. The true oddity is whose images are on the cover of this book. The story behind "Requiem" involved Soleta, McHenry and Kebron, the main characters in "Renaissance" are Burgoyne, Selar, Morgan Primus and Robin Lefler. Either way, the cover art for this title is exceptional. The premise: Just as the first book in the series, "Requiem" tells the tale of Soleta, McHenry and Kebron and Si Cwan and Kalinda, after the loss of Excalibur, "Renaissance" now tells the tale of Burgoyne and Selar and Robin Lefler and Morgan Primus. The first plot of "Renaissance" entails the highly intriguing tale of Burgoyne and Selar and the strife they're going through concerning the parental rights of their son Xyon who was named after the "now dead" Captain Calhoun's son, Xyon. The second plot of "Renaissance" carries the story of Morgan Primus and her daughter Robin Lefler who take a vacation to Risa and their meeting some "intriguing" characters there. Overall, I've truly enjoyed how Peter David has broken down the first two books in the Excalibur series into extremely intriguing tales concerning all of the characters and what they're going through after the loss of Excalibur and the "loss" of their Captain. What makes these first two stories even more enjoyable are the "guest" characters that become deeply engrained in the story and the tie to another Star Trek series of novels that reveals itself. I highly recommend not only this title, but the entire Star Trek New Frontier series for you will find within the pages of these novels some of the most refreshing, hilarious, intriguing and poignant stories available in the Star Trek genre. {ssintrepid}
Rating:
Summary: STNF #10 Excalibur Renaissance - The story continues...
Review: "Renaissance" is another outstanding book in the Star Trek New Frontier series and in Peter David's list of superior Star Trek novels. As furtherance to the Excalibur trilogy, this novel serves very well. Just as it is with all of his novels, his writing style and pacing is perfect to the subject, making for a very quick and highly enjoyable read. The cover art for "Renaissance" is beautiful and it, for the first time, gives us a decent drawing of Zak Kebron. The true oddity is whose images are on the cover of this book. The story behind "Requiem" involved Soleta, McHenry and Kebron, the main characters in "Renaissance" are Burgoyne, Selar, Morgan Primus and Robin Lefler. Either way, the cover art for this title is exceptional. The premise: Just as the first book in the series, "Requiem" tells the tale of Soleta, McHenry and Kebron and Si Cwan and Kalinda, after the loss of Excalibur, "Renaissance" now tells the tale of Burgoyne and Selar and Robin Lefler and Morgan Primus. The first plot of "Renaissance" entails the highly intriguing tale of Burgoyne and Selar and the strife they're going through concerning the parental rights of their son Xyon who was named after the "now dead" Captain Calhoun's son, Xyon. The second plot of "Renaissance" carries the story of Morgan Primus and her daughter Robin Lefler who take a vacation to Risa and their meeting some "intriguing" characters there. Overall, I've truly enjoyed how Peter David has broken down the first two books in the Excalibur series into extremely intriguing tales concerning all of the characters and what they're going through after the loss of Excalibur and the "loss" of their Captain. What makes these first two stories even more enjoyable are the "guest" characters that become deeply engrained in the story and the tie to another Star Trek series of novels that reveals itself. I highly recommend not only this title, but the entire Star Trek New Frontier series for you will find within the pages of these novels some of the most refreshing, hilarious, intriguing and poignant stories available in the Star Trek genre. {ssintrepid}
Rating:
Summary: Custody battle over a Vulcan, Mr. Scott drinks, and more!
Review: Book #10, if you will, is a parallel novel to that of #9. That is to say the majority of events that take place here are in the same time frame as the previous novel, but with the other half of the New Frontier cast. What one will not find here is any mention of 2nd Officer Elizabeth Shelby, or major space faring battles. A bit of a let down if you are looking for strange new worlds..... Like it's sister novel, the original cast of New Frontier is split into smaller original stories, each one revolving around either one or two of these characters. The most dynamic of these stories is a really richly crafted tale of Dr. Selar and Hermat Lieutenant Commander Burgoyne and the fate of their new child. The reader is exposed to both sides of parenthood and how best to raise a child with two different cultures. The baby Xyon, though Vulcan in appearance carries some of the latent qualities of the Hedrmat species and these slowly manifest over time. How Selar deals with these changes is a journey through re-self-discovery. She believes Xyon should be brought up in the Vulcan tradition, but events will soon challenge her first impressions. On the other hand, Burgoyne hirself believes that Xyon should be able to express itself, and what better way than for Burgoyne and Selar to become a family. This struggle leads both back to Vulcan where T'Pau and the Vulcan justice system decides the ultimate fate. Or does it? A great surprise appearance from a well established Trek character makes Selar face her inner most fears. Also a `gay' Vulcan debuts here and it is interesting to see the authors take on sexuality in the Trek Universe, which generally hasn't been touched by other authors. Robin and her Mother Morgan travel to Risa, the pleasure planet, where they venture on a vacation that they both help will bring them closer together. But once there, both women meet new love interests who have their own Agenda. Is Robin over Si Cwan? This story furthers the development of Morgan. She is no longer the litlle girl that she was portrayed in the previous novels, but comes into her own here. Morgan also displays a new side which even adds more mystery to this character, wanting the reader to desire more about her in future installments. Also a deeper story opens up in which the miracle worker, Scott Montgomery lends his hand to. Scott's charm is still there and he has some humorous tales to tell. Finally, Si Cwan and Kalinda make a surprise appearance at the end that begins to tie up the cliffhanger that they were involved in book #9. I'm sure all this will come to a head in the hard cover, "Restoration". Overall this book was much better executed than #9 was, and made much more sense in the larger scope of things in the New Frontier universe.
Rating:
Summary: Custody battle over a Vulcan, Mr. Scott drinks, and more!
Review: Book #10, if you will, is a parallel novel to that of #9. That is to say the majority of events that take place here are in the same time frame as the previous novel, but with the other half of the New Frontier cast. What one will not find here is any mention of 2nd Officer Elizabeth Shelby, or major space faring battles. A bit of a let down if you are looking for strange new worlds..... Like it's sister novel, the original cast of New Frontier is split into smaller original stories, each one revolving around either one or two of these characters. The most dynamic of these stories is a really richly crafted tale of Dr. Selar and Hermat Lieutenant Commander Burgoyne and the fate of their new child. The reader is exposed to both sides of parenthood and how best to raise a child with two different cultures. The baby Xyon, though Vulcan in appearance carries some of the latent qualities of the Hedrmat species and these slowly manifest over time. How Selar deals with these changes is a journey through re-self-discovery. She believes Xyon should be brought up in the Vulcan tradition, but events will soon challenge her first impressions. On the other hand, Burgoyne hirself believes that Xyon should be able to express itself, and what better way than for Burgoyne and Selar to become a family. This struggle leads both back to Vulcan where T'Pau and the Vulcan justice system decides the ultimate fate. Or does it? A great surprise appearance from a well established Trek character makes Selar face her inner most fears. Also a 'gay' Vulcan debuts here and it is interesting to see the authors take on sexuality in the Trek Universe, which generally hasn't been touched by other authors. Robin and her Mother Morgan travel to Risa, the pleasure planet, where they venture on a vacation that they both help will bring them closer together. But once there, both women meet new love interests who have their own Agenda. Is Robin over Si Cwan? This story furthers the development of Morgan. She is no longer the litlle girl that she was portrayed in the previous novels, but comes into her own here. Morgan also displays a new side which even adds more mystery to this character, wanting the reader to desire more about her in future installments. Also a deeper story opens up in which the miracle worker, Scott Montgomery lends his hand to. Scott's charm is still there and he has some humorous tales to tell. Finally, Si Cwan and Kalinda make a surprise appearance at the end that begins to tie up the cliffhanger that they were involved in book #9. I'm sure all this will come to a head in the hard cover, "Restoration". Overall this book was much better executed than #9 was, and made much more sense in the larger scope of things in the New Frontier universe.
Rating: 
Summary: Great Continuation of the Series
Review: Book 10 picks up where 9 left off with the continuing saga of the Excalibur crew. This book focuses on Selar, Burgoyne, Robin, and her mother. In addition it continues the story of the Si Cwan story. Also you finaly learn why the Excalibur exploded. There are also a couple of guest appearances in this one as well. I can't wait for the upcoming hard cover as well as the upcoming comic book from Wildstorm press. In case you have not heard about it, it should be out on SEPT 27. Peter David continues the series that he created with some great books, he shows once again that he will always have a place in the Star Trek universe.
Rating:
Summary: The lives of the crew unfold!
Review: I couldn't stop reading renaissance! It goes much deeper into Selar's Vulcan friendship and how Robin and Morgan Lefler really fare. Their bonding trip to Risa seems to unfold the unsuspecting devious plot of Rafe and Nick. It's charecters will pull you in and the suspense of the Excalibur still hangs heavy in the air.Peter David could only grasp you like this and keep you on the edge of your seat.You will get a much better sense of Burgoyne and Selars' love feud. It's almost unbelievable what Selar will do to raise Xyon on her own and only one person has the power to knock some sense into Selar.I love how fast the books come out.While you may find it hard to attach to these charecters, you will no longer see them as backround charecters. Without Mackenzie there is the missing wit, humour, and sarcasm. Yet, you will love Robins charecter with positive wit and charm, she will lead you towards the fate of the Excalibur. This plot was well thought and as always an idealistic book by Peter David.So enjoy the book as much as I did!
Rating:
Summary: Superb doesn't even begin to describe it.
Review: I have a love/hate relationship with Peter David's book...I love them so much that I can read them in one sitting, but I hate that they have to come to end. Such is the case with the new addition to the New Frontier series--itself the second portion of a trilogy that won't be completed until November (thankfully it's not a year otherwise I'd have to be seriously upset with Pocket Books). The storyline continues to follow the crew after the destruction of the Excaliber. There are only two plotlines going this time around. The first finds Selar and Burgy battling (literally and figuratively) for the future of their son. The other features the mother-daughter team of Robin Lefler and her mother, Morgan. Of the two, the vacation that Robin and Morgan takes seem the more lightweight of the two until the final fifty pages when David pulls the rug out from under the reader (to say too much would, honestly, ruin the fun). David pays homage to the history of Trek by bringing in old characters from the past and actually making them useful to the story. The characters aren't just there for shock value but actually contribute to the plot. Especially nice is a chance to catch up with David's vision of how Scotty might turn out, trapped in the 24th century, many years after his time. This is an enjoyable and fun novel to read. The final 50 pages are staggering in that they take some disparaging threads together and serve as the jumping off point for the final leg of the trilogy in which we will hopefully find out the fate of Captain Calhoun (I don't think for an instance he's dead) and what really happened to the Excaliber (we're told how the ship was destroyed here and it's truly a wonderful moment of revelation). Staggering and superb, this series only gets better and better. And it only makes waiting until November that much harder.
Rating:
Summary: Finish it already!!!
Review: I like this newer version of Star Trek (the fifth series and the first starship captained by an alien). But, I still would like to know how the ship exploded and how Captain Calhoun died. Maybe Peter David will tell us in the next book. Besides, I thought that T'Pau died in Diane Duanne's book "Spock's World"? Didn't she pass her katra on to Amanda? I like the fact that Selar and Borgouyne are taking care of Xyon together. I can't believe that Robin Lefler's mother was Captain Pike's "Number One" and Captain Kirk's Nurse Chapel?! How old is she anyway?
Rating:
Summary: Storylines and themes the TV series shy away from
Review: I've praised Peter David's "Excalibur" series left and right (see also my review of the prequel to this book, "Requiem.") "Renaissance" carries on the same great tradition and in the best of all possible worlds, gives us action, personal growth stories, examinations of alien cultures, guest stars galore, and one heck of a cliffhanger. But it's in his handling of themes that are ignored by the TV series that Peter David excels, making these among the best Trek novels ever. Free of the restraints of television censors, David is able to examine a much-ignored theme of "Star Trek": sexual relations of the twenty-fourth century. His treatment of these subjects is always tasteful and tactful (although I'm aware that by even mentioning the subject in this review, I'm likely to turn off or even outrage a few potential readers). Much of the novel is taken up with a child-custody battle between Selar and Burgoyne--"Kramer vs. Kramer" in the 24th Century--but with the added twists of ancient Vulcan law and the examination of exactly how a hermaphrodite species treats and understands the concept of children. Add to all this a gay Vulcan, introduced as a very natural and ordinary character with the minimum of fuss. It's nuances and treatments like this that bring the Excalibur universe best into line with Roddenbury's original vision: a time in which those beliefs and lifestyles that caused societal strife today have simply ceased to be a matter for conflict four hundred years from now (which is not to say *all* problems have been solved, or it would be a short and uninteresting book!). It's a love story, it's a personal growth story, and there's even one humdinger of a very-Trekkish action sequence. Though it's not part of the "official" continuity, this Excalibur novel features not one, not two, but *three* classic Trek guest-stars. It's to David's credit that these guest appearances seem natural and welcome (too often a 'special guest appearance' reads like a ratings stunt or a fan fiction). As always, David's characterization in the Trek universe is second-to-none, and intriguing mysteries about established characters are introduced: *I* personally always thought that Morgan Primus must look like Naomi Judd (well, her daughter *is* played by Ashley Judd!), but Peter David has other ideas who she must look like...and personally, I can't wait to find out the rest. "Renaissance" ends with a classic Trek cliffhanger, but thankfully we won't have to wait a whole summer to find out the ending in "Excalibur: Restoration" out in October.
Rating:
Summary: What everyone else has said...
Review: Just wanted to add my hearty endorsement to the growing list of kudos. Characters are what make a story, and Peter David has done a superb job of making them as interesting and surprising as possible. And just wait until you find out who Morgan Lefler *really* is! Get it. Read it. You won't be disappointed!
| 
