Rating: 
Summary: One of the best "New Frontier" books to date.
Review: "Once Burned," takes us inside the mind of Captain Mackenzie Calhoun, the cowboy-esque Xenexian officer of the "New Frontier" series by Peter David. I actually considered Captain Calhoun one of my least favorite of the "New Frontier" characters - but that was before reading this book.Stepping inside the head of Calhoun is an interesting adventure. Explaining Calhoun's past - the past that led him to quit Starfleet in the years prior to the events of the beginning of the "New Frontier" series - it puts Calhoun back in his days as the 1st Officer of the USS Grissom. Calhoun's character is not as self-confident in these pages, and it suits him. Further, you get to see a lot of his maturation as a command officer - and some explanation of his decisions as seen in the "New Frontier" series. Further, there's some good information in the story that makes the character of Kat Mueller make sense once she shows up in the later books. Calhoun is a strong character in this book, in that he still has some confidence issues, he's still second-guessing himself, and he's got a good deal of psychological growth left in him. I found this book much more enjoyable for that representation of the normally ice-and-solidity Calhoun from the rest of the series. Peter David has given us a plausible series of events that lead to the Calhoun we come to know later. Give this a read if you're a "New Frontier" fan, it's nearly required reading for making Calhoun a plausible character. 'Nathan
Rating:
Summary: One of the best "New Frontier" books to date.
Review: "Once Burned," takes us inside the mind of Captain Mackenzie Calhoun, the cowboy-esque Xenexian officer of the "New Frontier" series by Peter David. I actually considered Captain Calhoun one of my least favorite of the "New Frontier" characters - but that was before reading this book. Stepping inside the head of Calhoun is an interesting adventure. Explaining Calhoun's past - the past that led him to quit Starfleet in the years prior to the events of the beginning of the "New Frontier" series - it puts Calhoun back in his days as the 1st Officer of the USS Grissom. Calhoun's character is not as self-confident in these pages, and it suits him. Further, you get to see a lot of his maturation as a command officer - and some explanation of his decisions as seen in the "New Frontier" series. Further, there's some good information in the story that makes the character of Kat Mueller make sense once she shows up in the later books. Calhoun is a strong character in this book, in that he still has some confidence issues, he's still second-guessing himself, and he's got a good deal of psychological growth left in him. I found this book much more enjoyable for that representation of the normally ice-and-solidity Calhoun from the rest of the series. Peter David has given us a plausible series of events that lead to the Calhoun we come to know later. Give this a read if you're a "New Frontier" fan, it's nearly required reading for making Calhoun a plausible character. 'Nathan
Rating:
Summary: One of the best "New Frontier" books to date.
Review: "Once Burned," takes us inside the mind of Captain Mackenzie Calhoun, the cowboy-esque Xenexian officer of the "New Frontier" series by Peter David. I actually considered Captain Calhoun one of my least favorite of the "New Frontier" characters - but that was before reading this book. Stepping inside the head of Calhoun is an interesting adventure. Explaining Calhoun's past - the past that led him to quit Starfleet in the years prior to the events of the beginning of the "New Frontier" series - it puts Calhoun back in his days as the 1st Officer of the USS Grissom. Calhoun's character is not as self-confident in these pages, and it suits him. Further, you get to see a lot of his maturation as a command officer - and some explanation of his decisions as seen in the "New Frontier" series. Further, there's some good information in the story that makes the character of Kat Mueller make sense once she shows up in the later books. Calhoun is a strong character in this book, in that he still has some confidence issues, he's still second-guessing himself, and he's got a good deal of psychological growth left in him. I found this book much more enjoyable for that representation of the normally ice-and-solidity Calhoun from the rest of the series. Peter David has given us a plausible series of events that lead to the Calhoun we come to know later. Give this a read if you're a "New Frontier" fan, it's nearly required reading for making Calhoun a plausible character. 'Nathan
Rating: 
Summary: We have a WINNER!!!
Review: 'Once Burned' could possibly top the charts as the BEST book of the year so far! Talk about a page turner! I couldn't put the thing down! Peter David takes the rare opportunity to tell it in first-person and runs with it. It brings a whole new level to the character of McKenzie Calhoun, and the character stays true and consistent all throughout. And it reveals to us the many mysteries about why Calhoun acts as he does, and what happened to make him this way. Tragic and exctiting, the action is wonderful, and the pure horror of what they all go through stand out in this wonderful work of fiction. I read TONS of star trek books, and this one stands out as possbily one the best books I have ever read, up there even with classics such as "Imzadi", "Prime Directive" and "Federation". Most certainly a book worth reading!
Rating: 
Summary: Hmmn Not bad. . .
Review: Another better than average Peter David novel following hot on the heels of 'Imzadi II''Once Burned' . But the tragic diplomatic mission that was crucial to temporarily stalling Mackenzie Calhoun's career was hideously contrived. Why wasn't the two person diplomatic mission better monitored? If a security detail could be considered overt and construed as provocative, a concealed audio-visual pickup device worn by both envoys would have saved their lives not some subcutaneous touch activated transponder alarm. Surely Peter David could've thought up a better scenario for killing the diplomats and providing the catalyst which sends Captain Norman Kenyon over the edge. Having lost his wife in tragic circumstances and weathered the loss with dignity and forbearing; he loses his only daughter and brother in a senseless, brutal attack. Captain Norman Kenyon slowly deteriorates mentally and in a vengeful haze compromises the Prime Directive nearly causes a diplomatic incident. This is averted by Commander Mackenzie Calhoun and some confederates among the crew; narrowly avoiding a mutiny charge in the process. Although exonerated from any blame in the incident a disillusioned Comdr. Calhoun initially resigns his commission in Starfleet and the rest is history. I liked the USS Grissom bridge crew, especially the Andorian Security Chief, a rather amoral individual. But it would seem to me that a Starfleet psychological profile would have weeded out such a character. I also would have preferred that Calhoun tell his story to a more appreciative audience. But that's my opinion. I would have liked to have given this five star rating but the poor scenario concerning the diplomats deaths and the Andorian's psychotic behavior would preclude this. They're just too contrived to be taken at face value. It's a pity about the USS Grissom senior crew I prefer them to the USS Excalibur's motley senior staff . Hopefully since most of them are on board the USS Excalibur 'night-shift' they may well turn up. Not bad Peter! Now how about killing off the Security Chief and the Engineering Chief on board the USS Excalibur and earning my full appreciation.
Rating:
Summary: A truly delightful read!
Review: Another excellent addition to both "The New Frontier" and "The Captain's Table" series. I particularly like the cover art with the author drawn in the background. In "Once Burned" we finally get Captain Calhoun's back story about what happened to him on the USS Grissom. This back story had been eluded to several times in the previous "New Frontier" stories. As with most, if not all of Peter David's stories, this one is a completely captivating page turner. In this trek masterpiece, we find out where the tension between Captain Calhoun and Admiral Jellico originated. A truly exceptional story. If you've not picked this one up, I recommend you do so before it goes out of publication. Thank you to Peter David for another great read.
Rating:
Summary: A truly delightful read!
Review: Another excellent addition to both "The New Frontier" and "The Captain's Table" series. I particularly like the cover art with the author drawn in the background. In "Once Burned" we finally get Captain Calhoun's back story about what happened to him on the USS Grissom. This back story had been eluded to several times in the previous "New Frontier" stories. As with most, if not all of Peter David's stories, this one is a completely captivating page turner. In this trek masterpiece, we find out where the tension between Captain Calhoun and Admiral Jellico originated. A truly exceptional story. If you've not picked this one up, I recommend you do so before it goes out of publication. Thank you to Peter David for another great read.
Rating:
Summary: A truly delightful read!
Review: Another excellent addition to both "The New Frontier" and "The Captain's Table" series. I particularly like the cover art with the author drawn in the background. In "Once Burned" we finally get Captain Calhoun's back story about what happened to him on the USS Grissom. This back story had been eluded to several times in the previous "New Frontier" stories. As with most, if not all of Peter David's stories, this one is a completely captivating page turner. In this trek masterpiece, we find out where the tension between Captain Calhoun and Admiral Jellico originated. A truly exceptional story. If you've not picked this one up, I recommend you do so before it goes out of publication. Thank you to Peter David for another great read.
Rating: 
Summary: Before You Buy - Read & Consider This First...
Review: Another great tale about Mackenzie Calhoun by Peter David. This book tells of the distatrous voyage of the U.S.S. Grissom, which Calhoun was second-in-command. The best part is being in Calhoun's mind, and it shows just how much pain he has gone through.
Rating:
Summary: All is revealed about the U.S.S. Grissom
Review: Another great tale about Mackenzie Calhoun by Peter David. This book tells of the distatrous voyage of the U.S.S. Grissom, which Calhoun was second-in-command. The best part is being in Calhoun's mind, and it shows just how much pain he has gone through.
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