Rating: 
Summary: Mesmerizing
Review: "Immortal Coil" by Jeffrey Lang is an extraordinary book. I may run out of adjectives trying to describe this suspenseful mystery without spoiling it.At the heart of this story is one of trek's most beloved characters, Data. As the personnel of the Enterprise-E struggle to unravel the threads that hold the key to the mystery they uncover the hidden history of artificial intelligence. Data is poignantly forced to confront his past, his present and his future. As the story unfolds page by page the reader is drawn into a skillfully woven plot that exhibits an almost Machiavellian flair. Thanks to a fantastic story premise and the dexterous touch of author Jeffrey Lang, "Immortal Coil" is the type of book that leaves you quenched when you close the cover for the final time. As if you've just finished a large drink after being thirsty for a very long time. Lang manages to perceptively capture the characters, especially Data, whom he characterizes with an acuteness that makes him tangible. This is a character we know and love, but whom we've never seen or thought of in this way before. "Immortal Coil" is a book to relish. Charming, fascinating, complex, and masterful. A book that leaves you savoring the story long after you finish reading it.
Rating:
Summary: Couldn't put it down
Review: A mystery, a meditation on immortality, a character-driven novel about one of the most interesting Star Trek characters, a romance, and a bang-up SF action adventure--all rolled into one book. There were parts of this that were so good that they literally gave me shivers.
As with most ST novels, you have to have watched the show--it's not a primer for the ST newbie, although Lang makes a good faith effort to remind readers (or introduce them) to all the minor characters that appeared in single episodes...and this book has bunches of them; it ties together, in a convincing and compelling fashion, pretty much every android and artificial intelligence that has cropped up in the Star Trek universe.
This is one of the few novels I've read recently that as soon as I closed the book, I wanted a sequel. It's just that good.
Rating: 
Summary: GREAT, BUT YOU'LL NEED TO KNOW YOUR STAR TREK HISTORY!
Review: A WONDERFUL BOOK FROM JEFFREY LANG THAT ANSWERS MANY QUESTIONS CONCERNING AI'S IN THE STAR TREK UNIVERSE. BUT BEWARE - YOU ARE REALLY GOING TO HAVE TO KNOW YOUR STAR TREK HISTORY. IF YOU HAVEN'T WATCHED STAR TREK EPISODES LIKE 'WHAT ARE LITTLE GIRL'S MADE OF?', 'REQUIEM FOR METHUSELAH', 'THE SCHIZOID MAN', 'THE OFFSPRING', 'BROTHERS', AS WELL AS MANY MORE, YOU WILL NOT GET THE FULL BENEFITS OF THIS NOVEL. OR, IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE EPISODES ON HAND, AT LEAST BE SURE AND HAVE YOUR STAR TREK ENCYCLOPEDIA HANDY! IT'S A MUST!
Rating:
Summary: At last...a decent Data story!
Review: As a devoted Star Trek fan (one who watched classic Star Trek when it actually aired on T.V.!), I have watched and read an awful lot of Star Trek. Over the years as I've read the Star Trek: Next Generation literature, I've been consistently disappointed with the lack of good material and story lines for a character that continually proves to be one of the most popular. Is Data that difficult to write about? Jeffrey Lang has proven this is not the case. This is an excellent story, not only dealing superbly and in character with Data, but drawing together several scattered threads that have developed in the Star Trek and Star Trek: Next Generation mythology. Lang is an excellent writer and I sincerely hope that he will write more, centering again on the one character who has been most neglected...Data. I look forward to your next endeavor, Mr. Lang!
Rating:
Summary: One of the best Trek novels I've ever read!
Review: Before reading Immortal Coil, you need to do the following: get your copy of the Star Trek Encyclopedia out, give yourself a day to read in peace, and write your letter to the author begging for a sequel! Lang does an excellent job of portraying Data as a being struggling with new found emotions. His protrayals of the myriad cast of characters are also excellent, and each character gets just enough time in the book. The story is gripping from the beginning and it does a nice job of tying in many good STOS and STTNG episodes. A solid buy for fans of Data or Star Trek in general!
Rating:
Summary: Reminiscent of the Giant Novels
Review: Before there were hardcover Star Trek novels, there were the Star Trek Giant novels--books that were a bit thicker in length, a bit heftier in the price and a lot deeper than most of the standard, monthly Star Trek novels coming out on the market. Immortal Coil is one of the few Trek books I've read of late that acutally reminds me of the glory days when the huge, series-tying together, taking Trek to new depths novels often happened first in the paperback editions. A lot of praise has been heaped on this book and it's well deserved. If you're a Trek fan of all the shows, you're in for a real treat. This one has ties to at least three different TOS episodes, a half-dozen or more TNG stories and a smattering of DS9 and Voyager. In short--it's a Trek geek's dream to sit back and let the references come and try to place them. But if you're not a die-hard Trek fan, there's still an enjoyable story in this novel. At the heart of the book is a mystery that's as good as any I've read by the person I consider to be the greatest modern mystery writer, Elizabeth George. Like George's novels, the story is about more than just the mystery--it's about the lives of the characters involved. Lang makes his supporting cast come alive with depth, intelligence and sympathy. There aren't really any bad guys per se, so much as different sides being motivated to achieve their own ends. Each side percieves they are doing the right thing and that makes for an immensely enjoyable book. Why only four stars you say? Well, I'd give it four and a half if I could. There were some things in the book that struck me as odd. For one thing, one of the plot revelations was easily deduced after reading the first fifty pages. After January's superlative In the Name of Honor, Immortal Coil continues the (so-far) new year trend of bringing out enjoyable and entertaining Trek books. These two books have set a high standard for entertaining, intelligent Trek fiction to start the year 2002 off right. Let's just hope they keep getting it right.
Rating:
Summary: An unexpectedly *remarkable* Data story
Review: Before you open this book, I'd recommend you first brush up on your Trek history by watching your copy of the TOS episode, "Requiem for Methuselah." Or if you don't own the episode on tape, like I don't, go instead to your handy TOS Companion and the Trek Encyclopedia to read up on it. You might also want to do the same for the TNG episode, "Measure of a Man," just so you'll have a better list of who's who for this novel. (Of course, I only had to go as far as the ruthlessly-organized bookshelf upstairs for my tape of "Measure of a Man," but that's something else entirely.) It's *very* satisfying the way this novel ties these continuity threads together, while at the same time providuing character...growth and change, shall we say? As I glanced over the other reviews, I noticed Joshua Macy's first paragraph - with his comments about it being a mystery, a meditation on immortality, a romance (yup, *romance*), and a bang-up sci-fi adventure all rolled into one - pretty much sums it up, including that part about giving him the shivers. There was a hauntingly-delicious moment for me, very near the end, when Data comes to understand why Picard insisted he not deactiviate his emotion chip. If it were anyone else, you might yawn with the obviousness, but it's not anyone else - it's *Data.* He's not supposed to come to these kinds of understandings. Is he? I'd say this book is worth it just for that, but it's not. It's worth it for FAR more. Go with your gut: read this one.
Rating:
Summary: Finally, A Trek Book About Data!
Review: Ever since I've seen Star Trek Generations,Data has been one of my all time faverite characters.I've been looking forward to a book dealing mostly with this character and now i've found it. I shure wasn't dissapointed by the book's plot. I liked how Data was portrade.I agree with one of the reviewers,that this plot utilizes the emotion chip far more than Star Treck: Inserrection.I also like there being more parts told from Data's point of view, especially with his experiences of emotion. Another major reason I liked Immortal Coil is the suprise plot twists. I don't agree with one of the reviewers in saying that they were predictable.And finally, this would make an excellent Star Trek movie!
Rating:
Summary: Data discovers his true self, his family and love.
Review: From the first few pages and lasting until the very end, 'Immortal Coil' is one of the rare ST gems that goes beyond just telling an action packed, save the universe type story. This one deals with the search for ones true self, or soul and what makes it that much better is that the person on this very moving quest is not human, but an android, Data. As fans we have seen Data evolve over the years, even as so much as when he implemented his emotion chip and opened a new world unto himself. Through his adventures he came across his 'brother' Lore, and even tried to create his own 'daughter', Lal, in his creators image. The most recent adventure calls the Enterprise-E to a distant planet where Data and new Enterprise security chief Rhea McAdams have 3 days to uncover a plot that may not even exist, though Data's intuition suggests homicide. What makes this supposed murder more interesting is that it involves more artificial beings, perhaps distant cousins of Data. There are a few flashbacks containing some early adventures of Data's creator, Dr. Noonien Soong and colleagues Bruce Maddox and the mysterious professor Vaslovik. These flashbacks serve as small background vignettes that drive the current plot forward. While interesting, I felt these did not do the character of Dr. Soong justice and also seemed a bit jumbled at times. During what is the main gist of the book, Data realizes he has an attraction to McAdams, and the feelings are reciprocated. It is here that author Jeffrey Lang does a superb job of fleshing out Data, his innermost thoughts, feeling, beliefs and his quest for love. Does McAdams indeed complete Data? Well, it wouldn't be a ST novel if all the characters ended up being something that they first did not appear as, and there is no let down here. The main plot widens when a long forgotten sect of androids, somewhat corrupted by time and incomplete programming show up on the scene and cause havoc for the Enterprise-E and its crew, Prof. Vaslovik (some nice things are revealed about our 'innocent' professor), Mr. Maddox, McAdams, and a long forgotten artificial intelligence known as M-5 (see ST: The Original Series). Some may say that this novel went a little overboard on the amount of android characters, but I think it was handled really well and was justified in the telling of this story. Their backgrounds are explained and what the tie in is to the original reason the Enterprise was summoned. There is plenty of action, though more so revolving around Data than that of other characters, but this book was meant to revolve around Data anyway. There are some really moving and artful passages as Data reflect upon himself what his role in the universe is, and will be many years after his friends die. He wrestles with the idea of his own immortality, his uniqueness, his loneliness, his quest for being human, and more so the fulfillment of his creators designs and exploration of his emotions. Very well done.
Rating:
Summary: Umbelievable
Review: Here, we finally get to see Data as we've always wished we could and never thought possible! Other books such as I,Q, Rogue, and many of the new TNG releases have left Data's emotion chip sadly out of the limelight until you couldn't even tell if he had one!
The best TNG book I've read since Metamorphosis! (and that was a long time ago)
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