Rating: Summary: Not common Review: "The Romulan Way" is the second book in Diane Duane's Rihannsu series, following "My Enemy, My Ally". The book is original bacause it's located completely in the Rihannsu homeworld and has two clear main characters: McCoy and Arrhae; an ORIGINAL character, who's written as well as an apparent Mry-Sue character can be written. Believe me, I abhore Mary-Sue characterization, but you don't even notice it in this particular novel. I must warn all Spock and Kirk fans though, because one of the book's strenghts is that the two usual main characters of the series are not includet. It is a rare opportunity to see those extremely overused characters give room to more interesting, new characters. The book left me a little frustrated though, because I felt it might have had more to offer than it dit. If that potential had been used, I might have given this book all five stars. Not perfect, but a close must-read nontheless.
Rating: Summary: What the Show Should Have Been Like! Review: A great pity this is out of print, as it's one of the best examples of real world-building in a Star Trek novel. It holds up as a work of pure speculative fiction, as very few other works set in this universe do. Instead of reading a juvenile history of some Terrestrial civilisation and crudely imitating it, as appears to be the practice of many Star Trek writers, Duane creates a complete and believable culture. If the people who write scripts for the shows and films had any sense, they would regard novels like this as canon and dump most of the absurd tripe that the creators of the Old Show (largely from outside real, that is to say literary, science fiction) developed.
Rating: Summary: A great Star Trek book! Review: Ael t'Rlailiiu is a noble-and dangerous- Romulan Commander. But when the Romulans kidnap Vulcans to genetically harness their mind power, Ael decides on treason. Captain Kirk, her old enemy, joins her in a secret pact to destroy the research laboratory and free the captive Vulcans. When the Romulans discover their plan, the Neutral Zone seethes with schemes and counter-schemes, sabotage and war! This book is so interesting. You should buy it NOW!
Rating: Summary: Diane Duane is one of the best Star Trek writers out there Review: Anyone whose a fan of Star Trek who say's they don't like the books has never read any of Diane Duane's stories. These are imaginative tales with action and philosphy. She is one writer who truly understands the characters we love, especially from the original series. She also has some of the most wonderful aliens. The Romulan way is a sequal to My Enemy my Ally. This tale has McCoy being captured by the Romulans to stand trial for his crimes against the Empire. However he is there for a reason. To contact a Federation operative that has stopped writing reports and learn if that person wants to come back to the Federation. Interesting detail on Romulan politics and history.
Rating: Summary: Another must-read from everyone's favorite ST novelist Review: As others here have said, this novel does for the Romulans what SPOCK'S WORLD did for the Vulcans. It follows S.W.'s structure of alternate chapters telling the story of the Rihannsu (as they call themselves) with a plot taking place one year after MY ENEMY, MY ALLY (another of Duane's ST novels). A couple of caveats. This is one of a handful of ST novels in which Kirk and Spock barely appear, so if they're your favorite characters you may be disappointed. Rumor has it that this novel brought on the Wrath of Roddenberry since it based its picture of the Romulans on D.C. Fontana's work in the original series rather than the vastly different Romulans of ST:TNG. With these qualifications I recommend this novel highly, esp. if you're looking for something diffferent and challenging in the ST canon.
Rating: Summary: if you are a Rihannsu fan like myself, buy it! Review: Buy this one! As the Rihannsu are my favourite Star Trek people anyway, I was particularly interested in this book - and it's a great one, though it's rather obvious that it was written by the author of "Final Frontier": Both are about Rihannsu commanders turning into traitors and leaving their homeworlds, and even the names are similar (Ael and T'cAEL). But Ael is definitely one of the best characters I have ever met in a Star Trek book, and the idea of Kirk having to let her kidnap his beloved ship is just great. So buy this one and it will give you a lot of insights into the Federation's favourite enemy people! :-)
Rating: Summary: Good basic story, but meanders Review: Diane Duane has crafted a good basic story about a Romulan commander joining forces with the Enterprise crew to foil a despicable new weapon that she feels will be a permanent blight on the honor of the Romulan people. It has some nice suspenseful moments and builds to a satisfying climax. However, it is also terribly padded. There are pages and pages of exposition that do little to advance the story and belabor the character points that are being made. Characters converse for pages about matters that turn out to have little to do with later events. Worst of all, Duane goes to great lengths to show us how the Enterprise crew is one big happy family. They are always giving each other amused looks, gazing at each other with appreciation, and trading gentle, affectionate comments about each other. Such a constant barrage of warm fuzzies grows tiresome rather quickly. Fortunately, this aspect of the book grew less egregious toward the end of the novel.
Rating: Summary: Fine military SF Review: Diane Duane is not just the only writer to combine Nivenesque "hard" science and the Star Trek universe, but she has brought Heinleinian military realism to the subgenre via this absorbing caper novel, which would have made an excellent Original Cast adventure...but so would all of her fine ST novels, which are ludicrously head-and-shoulders over her peers in this generally turgid enclave of fiction.
Rating: Summary: Unity and Honor Review: Diane Duane puts the Romulans in a new light as she skillfully describes how the Rihannsu are slowly being replaced by the conniving, honorless, dogs that the name "Romulan" implies in its human conotation. The sadness that Duane powerfully prescribes clearly and compassionately throws the reader into an adventurous roller coaster of emotions as portrayed by the lead Romulan commander Ael, an "old school" Rihannsu who, in a near Klingon style, values honor and "human" life above all else. An absolute must read for those who truly wish to understand the development of the TREK universe.
Rating: Summary: An amazing speculation on Romulan society Review: Duane wrote this book before ST:TNG re-established the Romulans and took them in a different direction (although one of the episodes does somewhat mirror this book). It focuses around the Romulan Commander Ael t'Rllaillieu, who decides that in the name of honor (or, in Rihannsu (their name for Romulan), _mhnei'sahe_), she must betray her government. Ael is such a compelling and honorable character that I ended up naming my daughter for her.
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