Star Trek: Starfleet Corps of Engineers #29: Aftermath

Rating:
Summary: Interesting and satisfying story
Review: "Aftermath" is an extremely apt title for this Starfleet Corps of Engineers tale. Newcomer Christopher L. Bennett offers up and interesting and highly enjoyable story that satisfies in several different ways. Regular readers of this series should be particularly happy with "Aftermath".

The main plot of "Aftermath" is enormously interesting in and of itself. A mysterious alien structure, seemingly uninhabited appears out of nowhere. How did it get there and why is it there? A nifty little science fiction puzzle to be solved. Add to the storyline the human drama of a crew still recovering from the loss of so many of their friends and colleagues working for the first time with the crewmembers who are replacing those same friends. All of this taking place on a planet still trying to recover from a devastating war. As fascinating as the dilemma is in "Aftermath", it is the human drama unfolding between the characters and how working together with their new crewmates to solve that puzzle helps those characters to take the first tentative steps toward moving beyond their persistent angst and self-doubt that makes "Aftermath" so rewarding to read.

Author Christopher Bennett is able to very quickly make you want to get to know these new crewmembers better, no mean feat considering the beloved characters they are replacing. But at the same time their introductions are an inherent part of the plot, never overshadowing the story itself. When you finally get to meet the mysterious aliens that inadvertently caused the whole dilemma in the first place, the Shaniel, you find yourself drawn to them, just as you find yourself ultimately vindicated by the inability to feeling anything but suspicion about the motives of the Nachri.

A new author needs to give you a reason to want to read his work again. Bennett amply illustrates that he really knows his Star Trek with several clever inclusions while at the same time demonstrating a writing style that is both droll and stimulating. Most importantly, with "Aftermath", Bennett exhibits the ability to push all the right buttons with his storytelling by creating great characters as he tells a story that you can feel was well worth reading.

Rating:
Summary: Interesting and satisfying story
Review: "Aftermath" is an extremely apt title for this Starfleet Corps of Engineers tale. Newcomer Christopher L. Bennett offers up and interesting and highly enjoyable story that satisfies in several different ways. Regular readers of this series should be particularly happy with "Aftermath".

The main plot of "Aftermath" is enormously interesting in and of itself. A mysterious alien structure, seemingly uninhabited appears out of nowhere. How did it get there and why is it there? A nifty little science fiction puzzle to be solved. Add to the storyline the human drama of a crew still recovering from the loss of so many of their friends and colleagues working for the first time with the crewmembers who are replacing those same friends. All of this taking place on a planet still trying to recover from a devastating war. As fascinating as the dilemma is in "Aftermath", it is the human drama unfolding between the characters and how working together with their new crewmates to solve that puzzle helps those characters to take the first tentative steps toward moving beyond their persistent angst and self-doubt that makes "Aftermath" so rewarding to read.

Author Christopher Bennett is able to very quickly make you want to get to know these new crewmembers better, no mean feat considering the beloved characters they are replacing. But at the same time their introductions are an inherent part of the plot, never overshadowing the story itself. When you finally get to meet the mysterious aliens that inadvertently caused the whole dilemma in the first place, the Shaniel, you find yourself drawn to them, just as you find yourself ultimately vindicated by the inability to feeling anything but suspicion about the motives of the Nachri.

A new author needs to give you a reason to want to read his work again. Bennett amply illustrates that he really knows his Star Trek with several clever inclusions while at the same time demonstrating a writing style that is both droll and stimulating. Most importantly, with "Aftermath", Bennett exhibits the ability to push all the right buttons with his storytelling by creating great characters as he tells a story that you can feel was well worth reading.