Rating: 
Summary: A steaming great pile of dog¿s poo!
Review: I still can't quite get the stench of this novel out of my nostrils. Man, does it stink. Martyr is steeped in religion and sex, an uneasy combination at best. Please oh, please kill off Burgoyne. S/he is an awful creation. And as also per walterst@hlbjoan.agw.bt.co.uk's interesting observation on reviewing STAR TREK: NEW FRONTIER the omnibus hardback edition, I wish Zak Kebron - (Granite Boy) would take a time trip and join DC COMICS The Legion of Super-Heroes in the 30th century. I must point out that I also think STAR TREK: NEW FRONTIER is a marvelous idea but some ill-fitting characters and concepts ruin a solid premise. I mean a mugato security officer. What next a gorilla bridge officer, A mugato is supposed to be an alien primate for god's sake. The story content is way off beam even for Star Trek. Stay away from this book it's garbage!
Rating:
Summary: A travesty of a Star Trek novel
Review: I too think that it is about time that someone expanded upon the Star Trek lore without pulling major characters in as essential figures but Peter David has over-stepped the line with his Star Trek - 'Dallas' style scripts for Star Trek - New Frontier. Although calling 'Martyr' 'dog's poo' is mite strong, it is indeed a very poor excuse for a Star Trek novel. I too agree about the mugato security officer ?! and the 'awful' Lt Commander Burgoyne character. This book is certainly not funny or good, it's a travesty of a star trek novel and should be avoided like the plague.
Rating: 
Summary: He did it again...
Review: It seems to me Peter David, in this fifth book, has settled into the characters now... There was a great scene between Shelby, Calhoun and Admiral Jellico in the beginning... If you like that feel of Trek... Where you find the laughs... They are in this book. If you want to see what is happening with Selar and Burgy... Read... read... Anyway I enjoyed this book...
Rating: 
Summary: Good, but not as good as the first four...
Review: It the first four books (realy one book in four issues), all the shocking things the characters did were realy fun to read abouts. Officers telling each other to "Shut up and get out of my office." and tons of flertation was different than what TNG readers are used to getting. In Martyr, the shocks seemed forced and were not as enjoyable. Still a good book, but I hope that number six has a strong plot to back up the characters shocking actions. The first four books were so awesome that I will read NF for a long time, even if they stay average. Average is not bad at all!
Rating:
Summary: Trek Adventure turns into Trek Smut!
Review: Martyr is the first "disappointing" trek book I have read by author Peter David. The characters come across as unlikeable and totally preocupied with sex. This is not a typical trek novel. The storyline is monotonous (perhaps this is the reason for the promiscuity?--to "liven" up the book!) and definitely a new low in trek literature. If this is a new trend in Star Trek books I will be abandoning the Star Trek novels!
Rating:
Summary: Star Trek New Frontier Book Five Martyr
Review: Martyr is the first full length novel in the New Frontier series. Peter David, as with all of his Star Trek work, does an absolutely great job with this one. One of the things I like most about the New Frontier books is how Peter David will, as in this one; start off with chapters titled "Five Hundred Years Earlier." He does a great job establishing the basis for the plot. The premise: "Five Hundred Years Earlier" on the planet Zondar, a war torn planet. A prophet named Ontear prophesizes that a Messiah will come from the stars. A bird of flames will herald his coming. He will bear a scar and he will be a great leader. He will come from the air and return to the air. He will be slain by the appointed one. The appointed one will be an unknowing acolyte and he will slay the Messiah. The Messiah's death will unite Zondar. Upon pronouncing this prophecy, the prophet is taken by way of a mystical storm. Doe's this Messiah sound like anyone we know! "Nineteen Years Earlier" on Xenex. The young warlord M'k'n'zy of Calhoun faces a challenge that he would prefer not to face. A widowed woman of his tribe has called on tribal law and preference. She wants M'k'n'zy to sire her child. An extremely interesting chapter to say the least! "Now" Selar, she herself widowed is going through the agony of Pon Farr. Since she is a widow, this makes for a very interesting story as to who she shall seek out to assist her with relieving the Pon Farr. We are introduced to the Redeemers, who are from Tulane IV. They are a race of conquerors, which conquer in the name of their god Xant. Those who do not follow the word of Xant are basically not worth their time. Once they conquer a planet they leave behind one High Priest. This is where Peter David's talent as a writer shows up big time! The Redeemers have an extremely interesting way to deal with their High Priest being killed. I do not wish to spoil any more for those who've not read this wonderful addition to the New Frontier series. Suffice it to say that I highly recommend this and the other books in this great series, by one of Star Trek's premier authors.
Rating:
Summary: Star Trek New Frontier Book Five Martyr
Review: Martyr is the first full length novel in the New Frontier series. Peter David, as with all of his Star Trek work, does an absolutely great job with this one. One of the things I like most about the New Frontier books is how Peter David will, as in this one; start off with chapters titled "Five Hundred Years Earlier." He does a great job establishing the basis for the plot. The premise: "Five Hundred Years Earlier" on the planet Zondar, a war torn planet. A prophet named Ontear prophesizes that a Messiah will come from the stars. A bird of flames will herald his coming. He will bear a scar and he will be a great leader. He will come from the air and return to the air. He will be slain by the appointed one. The appointed one will be an unknowing acolyte and he will slay the Messiah. The Messiah's death will unite Zondar. Upon pronouncing this prophecy, the prophet is taken by way of a mystical storm. Doe's this Messiah sound like anyone we know! "Nineteen Years Earlier" on Xenex. The young warlord M'k'n'zy of Calhoun faces a challenge that he would prefer not to face. A widowed woman of his tribe has called on tribal law and preference. She wants M'k'n'zy to sire her child. An extremely interesting chapter to say the least! "Now" Selar, she herself widowed is going through the agony of Pon Farr. Since she is a widow, this makes for a very interesting story as to who she shall seek out to assist her with relieving the Pon Farr. We are introduced to the Redeemers, who are from Tulane IV. They are a race of conquerors, which conquer in the name of their god Xant. Those who do not follow the word of Xant are basically not worth their time. Once they conquer a planet they leave behind one High Priest. This is where Peter David's talent as a writer shows up big time! The Redeemers have an extremely interesting way to deal with their High Priest being killed. I do not wish to spoil any more for those who've not read this wonderful addition to the New Frontier series. Suffice it to say that I highly recommend this and the other books in this great series, by one of Star Trek's premier authors.
Rating:
Summary: Absolute garbage
Review: Martyr is yet another "disappointing" trek book I have read by author Peter David. The characters; some of which are distasteful read as disagreeable, intractable, and mostly preoccupied with sex. This is not my idea of a 'trek 'novel. The story is monotonous and as for the promiscuity, it does nothing to liven up the book, it cheapens it. and I hope doesn't herald a new 'low' trend in 'trek' literature. Don't bother with this book , it's awful. However I'm hoping 'Once Burned' in the Captain's Table series is going to be big improvement. Get with the program Peter David , you've yet to write a Star Trek novel I like. I'll tell you one thing they can't get any worse than ' Martyr'.
Rating: 
Summary: Quirky, but great.
Review: May I first say that I partially agree with the above reviews. The s/he character is the weak link in the series, but is not an entire loss. I was also astounded by the amount of sex in the book (especially considering David's usual asexual style), but it does show the everyday tension not shown in the shows (except DS9 occasionally) or movies. I think that it is about time that someone expanded upon the Star Trek lore without pulling major characters in as essential figures. Besides, I thought it was funny.
Rating:
Summary: Not up to Peter David's usual standards.
Review: Peter David is one of the few authors, and just about the only Star Trek author, who can consistently manage the tricky business of writing a fast-paced, dramatic action story while still maintaining a sense of humor. This book is no exception to that. Still, the story is a bit weaker than he usually manages, and also a bit more sloppily written. The character development continued the sub-plots established in the first four books of the series, and did the job reasonably well. But there were careless errors in word usage and grammer that I don't generally see in David's work, and the story as a whole wasn't exceptional enough to make me overlook the sloppiness. Not a bad book, certainly; better than most in the genre. But not up to David's usual standards.
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