Rating:  Summary: A Great Start to the Series Review: I absolutely loved this book!!! So much so that I dare say it is one of my favorite Trek novels. It incorporates so much and even includes consequences of past Trek "time-travelling back to Earth's past" episodes and movies. While Kirk and McCoy deal with our favorite Klingon baddie (Koloth from "The Trouble with Tribbles"), Gary Seven and Roberta Lincoln attempt to limit the damage which everyone's favorite villain will cause. Along the way, the reader is treated to delightful flashbacks of 70s and 80s culture (both popular and historical). A plethora of 70s culture including Jaws, Bill Cosby, The Way We Were, and so many more are referenced. Roberta runs into a certain future Marine biologist while working undercover. Mr. Seven also has fun scenes including his line : "My name is Kirk, James Kirk." However, this time the bad guy is holding the Walther PPK. Roberta's final mission of the book has her acting as translator for Gorbachev while a certain ex-female tennis pro turned government agent with the last name Sommers acts as President Reagan's interpretor at a peace summit. With all of the other 70s era references, I found it somewhat funny that "Star Wars" was not even alluded to. All-in-all this was one fun ride and I eagerly await the continuation in Volume Two. As was prefaced in the Afterward, I can't wait to see what is done to the 90s. Maybe one day someone will pick up the ball started by Gene Roddenberry and turn the Gary Seven character into a television series as the TOS episode Assignment: Earth was meant to be.
Rating:  Summary: Khan fails in attemps to "fit in" Review: I could name a number of literary devices that the author absolutely fails at, or the sometimes awful attempts at science writing (Roberta would have been shot dead immediately following her attempts to pass as a molecular geneticist), but I'd rather warn the reader of the failed premise of this story. Kahn and his followers are supposed to take over the planet and yet the author tries to weave "cleverly" Khan's rise into current events. I kept waiting for him to burst on the scene and dominate as he must have for the episode "Space Seed" and the Movie "Wrath of Khan" to work. It looks as if Cox has no intention of changing "current history" to accommodate Khan's past. I suspect the rest of the Eugenics war will be woven into current events. How dreadful! Here is an enigmatic, charismatic character who was supposed to be a "prince, with power over millions" and we are subjected to painful attempts to implicate him in every mishap of the late twentieth century. What next? He helped Art Modell move the Browns? He was working with Monica Lewinsky to defeat Clinton? I advise you get off this train before you are destroyed in the wreckage.
Rating:  Summary: Fun with Max Smart Review: I could of done with less of the interweaving of major historical events that the author seems intent on. In exchange I would of really enjoyed a secret agent (Gary 7) that acted like a secret agent instead of Max Smart (he even has his own version of 99!). What was going on in the world that lead to Khan's rise to power? This book doesn't say. :(
Rating:  Summary: Khan, Leader of the Downtrodden? Review: I enjoyed this book, in fact I couldn't put it down. I wanted to keep reading it even when I need sleep! The interesting point I found was Khan as a child, I guess I never thought of him as a child always as a man. That part kind of was wierd, I thought Khan was "too" full of himself at four, was Napoleon so confident at four, of course he wasn't genetically engineered. I also thought it was interesting how Cox has taken Khan and changed him from a dictator to a person coming from poor background, seeing a captialist world keeping the little man down. Khan has been converted into a spokeman for the little man. Look forward to Volume Two, which should take us to 1996. The Eugenics Wars have never been really discussed, I look forward to seeing how Khan and his followers come to power.
Rating:  Summary: A Different Kind of Star Trek Novel Review: I have read quite a few Star Trek books and this is probably one of the best I have read in quite some time. I say that because it had an interesting story but I also say that because it was somewhat unique: it was not about Captain Kirk or Captain Picard teaming up to save the Federation from certain doom; it was not a story of a vile Romulan conspiracy; it was a story that explored an area of time that is not often considered in the Star Trek writings that I have read.
One good thing about the book, in some ways, is that it can serve largely as an entertaining stand-alone novel, even separate from the Star Trek mythos. That said, this is not entirely the case as the guiding framework is certainly a Star Trek story that looks to the past. Specifically, we have a framework story of Captain Kirk and his crew that takes place some time before the events of "Star Trek: The Motion Picture" (going by the stardate, anyway). That story provides a framework (albeit a somewhat weak one, in my opinion) for looking at a series of events in Earth's past - specifically from 1974 to 1989.
The events of these years do two things: showcase the actions of Gary Seven (first seen in the Star Trek Original Series episode "Assignment: Earth") and the formation of Khan Noonien Singh (first seen in the Star Trek Original Series episode "Space Seed" and the movie "Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan"). How these two elements tie together is the brunt of this novel. What follows from that is a fast-paced novel with many amusing moments and, in my opinion, a genuinely interesting story.
Fans of the various Star Trek series will recognize many references to characters and situations. Not knowing every nuance of the various episodes and characters, however, does not detract from the novel at all. (Some of the clever in-jokes or "for the fans" material passed right by me until only after I had read the book.)
For me, the book does have an interesting subtext, whether intended or not. If we have the ability to save others from themselves, do we have the responsibility to do so? Do we let people (or societies) make their own mistakes? Is it dangerous to modify our own evolutionary path or do we recognize that we evolved with that capability and thus must be allowed to exploit it? What is the more appropriate way to approach societal and cultural problems: head-on, with as much control as possible or indirectly, only intervening when absolutely necessary?
I give this book five stars because I was very entertained while reading it and because it presented a new face to Star Trek to me and that was something I really needed to keep interested in the Star Trek mythos. Beyond that, going to the subtext I mentioned above, the book made me consider various ideas even after I put the book down and I found myself thinking about the differences between Gary Seven and Khan and how their mindsets and actions mirror those of various societies on Earth today. In short, the novel entertained and made me think. For me, I can think of no better reason to give it five stars.
Rating:  Summary: Eugenics wars Review: I loved this book, It is cleverly written and has a lot of little inside jokes that you won't get unless you are a fan of star trek For example in the original Series Robert Lansing played Gary Seven in the episode "Assignment Earth", At one point his Associate Roberta Lincoln(played by Terri Garr in the episode) wonders of Gary Should call his friend Mcall and Equalize someone. This made me laugh because I recalled that Mr Lansing played a character named "Control" on the show The Equalizer. Things like that made me enjoy this book immensly Alot of what was on the based on actual events (tearing down of the Berlin wall etc,it was so cleverly blended that sometimes it was hard to see the fine line between the two. The only thing I hated: Having to wait till next year for part two ARghhh!!!
Rating:  Summary: "The Man From T.R.E.K."? Review: I mean, is this a prequel Trek novel or a copycat "Man From U.N.C.L.E." adventure? I can almost hear Robert Lansing's clipped Sergeant Friday wannabe tones in Gary Seven's dialogue. The period cliches seem forced: Patty Hearst, "Crocodile Rock", the "primitive" 747. The depiction of Roberta Lincoln further along in her training as a recruit "agent" (even though Gary should have also trained her to use that bimbo soprano voice to make people underestimate her). The massive underground high-tech lab with labyrinthyine hallways tailor-made for Solo and Illya to chase the bad guys down (or be chased down by the bad guys)--why don't they appear here? Okay okay--I realize there had to be a 20th century environment in which to set Khan's childhood, but did Cox have to drag in heroes from one of Trek Mark One's clunkier "aw-come-on" episodes?
Rating:  Summary: A fun read ! Review: I must say I really enjoyed reading Greg Cox's book The Eugenics Wars. It follows the story from a classic Star Trek episode Assingment:Earth. If you can, try to watch that episode before reading this book, though it's not necessary. I thought Teri Garr as Roberta, playing Gary Sevens secretary/spy was hilarious. The book continues to build on these roles including Isis the sultry feline. Sure, parts of the book are a bit campy, but so was the original series. Thats part of what made the series great and this book a really good fun read. I look forward to the next book in the trilogy.
Rating:  Summary: Pandering and pretentious, but somewhat enjoyable Review: I picked up Vol 1 and 2 of this book for cheap, and I'm happy I did. This would be a rage rather than a review otherwise.With the lack of "classic" Trek books these days I decided to give this a try. While the structure of the writing is good, and the writer clearly has good Trek knowledge and a great imagination, he panders too much to trekkies for my taste. Why is it sci-fi writers are compelled to draw connections between every little aspect of backstories... it's just painful. For example, the author felt compelled to bring into Khan's story every aspect of 20th century Trek lore. From the Deep Space Nine "Area 51" episode to Gillian Taylor (from Star Trek IV) to the immortal Methusalah. Perhaps he thinks he's paying homage to Trek but to this reader it's pure pandering without purpose (these characters bring nothing to the story that a new character couldn't). It's just a nod to trekkies and nothing more. But if you can look past this prtentiousness then it's a good read.
Rating:  Summary: Pandering and pretentious, but somewhat enjoyable Review: I picked up Vol 1 and 2 of this book for cheap, and I'm happy I did. This would be a rage rather than a review otherwise. With the lack of "classic" Trek books these days I decided to give this a try. While the structure of the writing is good, and the writer clearly has good Trek knowledge and a great imagination, he panders too much to trekkies for my taste. Why is it sci-fi writers are compelled to draw connections between every little aspect of backstories... it's just painful. For example, the author felt compelled to bring into Khan's story every aspect of 20th century Trek lore. From the Deep Space Nine "Area 51" episode to Gillian Taylor (from Star Trek IV) to the immortal Methusalah. Perhaps he thinks he's paying homage to Trek but to this reader it's pure pandering without purpose (these characters bring nothing to the story that a new character couldn't). It's just a nod to trekkies and nothing more. But if you can look past this prtentiousness then it's a good read.
|