Rating: 
Summary: Thatcher's story about Data far in the future is fascinating
Review: After winning 2nd place in the first volume of Strange New Worlds, Thatcher is back with another story about an artificial intelligence. Different in every way from "Of Cabbages and Kings", Thatcher's volume 2 story, "I Am Become Death" is about Data, one of the popular artificial beings in all of science fiction. This is a very short story, and to say too much about the plot would give things away and lessen the impact of a very original, stunning story. The story contains prominent references to much of Data's family tree, including Data' creator Soong, his brother Lore, "daughter" Lal, his wife, and other "descendants." For the most part, these characters are referred to in the past tense, as most of them have long since died or been destroyed. Some of these relations will be unfamiliar to even the most ardent Star Trek fan, because they haven't happened yet: This story takes place thousands of year in the future. One of the highlights of this story, in fact, is glimpses it offers into what life may be like for this never-aging android who seeks to become human as he continues to live for many centuries. Thatcher masterfully conveys Data's soulfull moodiness, borne of his own exhaustive experience with the inevitable death of beloved mortal friends, and even of whole races. The galaxy we briefly see thousands of years in the future is in some ways dark, but believable, and very fascinating. But what is most memorable about "I Am Become Death" are the actions Data takes to change things and atone for the far-reaching legacy of himself and his "family." The publication of "I Am Become Death" disqualifies Thatcher from future competition in the "Strange New Worlds" contest, but Thatcher is said to be working now on a novel and I'm eager to read whatever he writes next.
Rating:
Summary: Thatcher's story about Data far in the future is fascinating
Review: After winning 2nd place in the first volume of Strange New Worlds, Thatcher is back with another story about an artificial intelligence. Different in every way from "Of Cabbages and Kings", Thatcher's volume 2 story, "I Am Become Death" is about Data, one of the popular artificial beings in all of science fiction. This is a very short story, and to say too much about the plot would give things away and lessen the impact of a very original, stunning story. The story contains prominent references to much of Data's family tree, including Data' creator Soong, his brother Lore, "daughter" Lal, his wife, and other "descendants." For the most part, these characters are referred to in the past tense, as most of them have long since died or been destroyed. Some of these relations will be unfamiliar to even the most ardent Star Trek fan, because they haven't happened yet: This story takes place thousands of year in the future. One of the highlights of this story, in fact, is glimpses it offers into what life may be like for this never-aging android who seeks to become human as he continues to live for many centuries. Thatcher masterfully conveys Data's soulfull moodiness, borne of his own exhaustive experience with the inevitable death of beloved mortal friends, and even of whole races. The galaxy we briefly see thousands of years in the future is in some ways dark, but believable, and very fascinating. But what is most memorable about "I Am Become Death" are the actions Data takes to change things and atone for the far-reaching legacy of himself and his "family." The publication of "I Am Become Death" disqualifies Thatcher from future competition in the "Strange New Worlds" contest, but Thatcher is said to be working now on a novel and I'm eager to read whatever he writes next.
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent! Stories consistently good
Review: Billed as "Stories by the fans, for the fans," I expected work far below that of "paid professionals." That said, the caliber of the stories in this collection is so high that it blew all of my preconceptions out the window. In fact, it makes some of the recent fiction put out under the Star Trek name pale by comparison. The two Seven of Nine stories in the "Voyager" section are excellent, as are "I, Klingon" and a number of the other stories. Unfortunately, Deep Space Nine has been treated like an ugly stepchild, with a mere 30-some pages and two stories (one of which is so amateurish it should have been thrown in the rubbish bin). Then, again, maybe the quality and quantity of the entries in this category was so small, these were the only two worthy of publication. At any rate, this is a great book. Buy it and you won't be disappointed.
Rating: 
Summary: "Seventh Heaven"
Review: Dear Readers: I hope you enjoy this wonderful collection of short stories by some of the best new writers on the planet (well, some of us aren't really *from* the planet, but let's just keep that between us, okay?). Oh, and don't forget to read all the way to the end. Otherwise, you'll miss my story, and that would really be a shame.<g> Enjoy the read! ~Moon~ Dustan Moon, Strange New Writer
Rating:
Summary: Verdict: thumbs up!
Review: Definitely worth purchasing. Comparison to SNW I: Well, I have to admit - the stories aren't quite as good. But SNW I had 35 years of Trek scribblings to draw from. And II still has excellent stories, they just aren't *quite* as excellent as I. Make any sense? Downside: Once again, DS9 gets shafted! The other series get 5 stories, DS9 gets a measly 2, and one was so short it hardly counted! The other was pretty imaginative, but (Vortaphiles, hang onto your hats), hinged on the plot point that Vortas would conspire to murder a Founder! Speaking for Vortaphiles everywhere, I am scandalized beyond belief! Augh! Upside: Unlike last year, this year's grand prize winner really was the best story in the book.
Rating:
Summary: Great Compilation of Fantastic Fanwork
Review: First of all, the idea to collect fan fiction and put it in an annual compilation is brilliant. The best work is always done by those struggling to get noticed or simply doing it because they love it. Thus, with the pressure to produce off their shoulders, these fans have produced some wonderful stories. My personal favorites are the original Star Trek stories, but all of them were page-turners. I just can't tell you how neat it is to read new Trek stories by amateur writers, but this is one book that you should certainly check out. Worth your time and money, and it even gives instructions for entering your own story into the contest.
Rating:
Summary: Enter and win
Review: I bought this book, I admit, because I'm a writer and was thinking of entering the contest. The stories were good enough to let me know winning would not be easy, but not quite good enough to keep me from thinking I had no chance. Of course, I'm a ST fan too (mainly the original series), and these were the stories I enjoyed the most. Good but not great. Kind of like Writers of the Future, although a writer's odds of getting published in Strange New Worlds are probably easier due to less entries. Recommended for Trek fans.
Rating: 
Summary: So What Went Wrong !
Review: I really enjoyed the first volume in this series of fan written stories, but am now asking myself what went wrong with volume II ! Gone is much of the excitement, gone are the engrossing characters, and almost gone are the "Strange New Worlds". Instead the bulk of stories in this volume are the kind of insipid, weak, soap opera drivel, that has turned many fans away from Star Trek over the years. I realise that a certain percentage of the market buy into that but I don't accept that it is the majority. If things continue down this road the stories are likely to begin with : "Like tribbles through a transporter beam ... so are the days of our lives ! "
Rating:
Summary: So What Went Wrong !
Review: I really enjoyed the first volume in this series of fan written stories, but am now asking myself what went wrong with volume II ! Gone is much of the excitement, gone are the engrossing characters, and almost gone are the "Strange New Worlds". Instead the bulk of stories in this volume are the kind of insipid, weak, soap opera drivel, that has turned many fans away from Star Trek over the years. I realise that a certain percentage of the market buy into that but I don't accept that it is the majority. If things continue down this road the stories are likely to begin with : "Like tribbles through a transporter beam ... so are the days of our lives ! "
Rating:
Summary: I don't usually read star trek books
Review: I've always been a fan of all the Star Trek TV series. But I've never gotten into the books. This collection of fan written stories may have changed my mind! I can't believe one of the other reviews said this one wasn't "quite" as good as the first one! This one was so awesome that now I can't wait to order the first one, the third and I can hardly wait for the fourth. I wish they were in hardcover so I could keep them for my future children to read...
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