Rating: 
Summary: Audio adaption is solid, but unremarkable
Review: Author Carey tosses in a lot of material (time travel, Captain Morgan Bateson, Kirk, Klingons, Scotty, Cardassians, etc.) here, and it doesn't quite gel as well as it could. Being an abridged audio, I knew going in that some elements from the book may be compromised, but the adaption is faithful to the novel (for better and worse). The tapes have their ups and downs as the story develops, but I generally found myself looking forward to the next plot advancement. Note that Kevin Conway does a GREAT job with the narration--his voice is powerful and he captures the listener's attention. Having the well known actors from the Star Trek universe perform the readings never fails to bring the story alive for me. Overall, I found the story lingered with me (in a positive way) longer than I expected. SHIP OF THE LINE is a solid, yet unremarkable entry into the Star Trek audio universe.
Rating: 
Summary: UGH!!! This book is not to be tossed lightly aside . . .
Review: but rather thrown with great force. The plot was far too boring with far too little happening in way too many pages. Carey spends way too much on minor characters not enough and not good enough time on the major characters and the plot just isn't that interesting. And let's be honest this novel simply isn't well written. The pace is completely off, character development is haphazard and bizarre, the dialogue leaves a lot to be considered and frankly the descriptions of people, places and situations are silly. None of the characters are likable - even Picard - my long time favorite - is distastefully trivial and absurd. This novel just isn't very good. Which is a shame because this book had great potential.
Rating: 
Summary: Ship of the Line - An exceptional Star Trek story!
Review: Capitalizing on the Star Trek The Next Generations fifth season episode "Cause and Effect" and the sixth season's episodes of "Chain of Command" parts I and II, Diane Carey deftly weaves another great STNG tale involving Captain Morgan Bateson and Gul Madred respectively in "Ship of the Line." Captain Morgan Bateson, seen only briefly in "Cause and Effect," is skillfully brought to life in this tale along with his crew. Gul Madred, the much hated Cardassian interrogator who tormented Captain Picard in "Chain of Command" parts I and II is revisited by Captain Picard. Along with these characters, the author also brings Captain Kirk and Spock into the mix as well. Several Star Trek readers I've talked to in the past have complained of Diane Carey's injecting so much "naval" speak into her Star Trek novels, this is an opinion I do not share as I believe it gives her novels a distinctiveness all her own. I always have and continue to look forward to reading her novels as she is one of the top Star Trek authors. The premise: This outstanding STNG novel begins with the crew of the USS Bozeman in the year 2278 telling the events where Captain Morgan Bateson and his ship were engaged against a Klingon ship just prior to and leading up to the events in the STNG episode "Cause and Effect," where the USS Bozeman came through a temporal anomaly coming forward ninety years and "nearly" colliding with the USS Enterprise NCC-1701-D. The novel is now set in the timeframe of approximately five months after the events depicted in "Star Trek Generations," where the USS Enterprise NCC-1701-D is lost. Captain Picard and the majority of his senior staff are at Starbase 12 awaiting their next assignment which is hopefully the USS Enterprise NCC-1701-E, the beautiful Sovereign Class starship first seen in "Star Trek First Contact." Of course Worf at this time is on Deep Space Nine. From this point the author takes the reader through a superb story where on one end, Captain Morgan Bateson is in charge of the shakedown cruise of the Enterprise-E and dealing with the same Klingon that forced him into the temporal anomaly and on the other end, Captain Picard is headed into Cardassian territory to deal with Gul Madred, his tormentor from "Chain of Command." I highly recommend this Star Trek The Next Generation novel; it certainly deserved the hardback that it came in as it outclasses many of the Star Trek stories in print. {ssintrepid}
Rating:
Summary: I Love Diane Carey's books, well most of then anyway.
Review: Diane Carey brings to life the Star Trek Universe not by expanding on the lives of the already, Oh so well known, crew of TNG, but by introducing us to new people. You dont get know these new people as well as the crew of the Enterprise but you will understand and feel for them and what motivates them in much the same way. Its refreshing to walk in the shoes of other Captains from the ST universe and Diane Carey walks you through it as if you were standing on deck next to them. Great book with a wonderful plot and easily explains why events happen as they unfold. Read it and enjoy the ride.
Rating:
Summary: The entertaining first voyage of the Enterprise-E
Review: Diane Carey continues her tremendous writing success in the Star Trek universe with this exciting and original novel. The story chronicles the maiden voyage of the newest Federation flagship, the U.S.S. Enterprise-E, as it proceeds under the command of not Jean-Luc Picard, but Morgan Bateson, the captain who traveled with his crew forward into the 24th century. Carey uses great detail in defining the characters of the novel, including Picard who is contemplating his future in Starfleet, and Bateson who is considering his role in an entirely different century. Plenty of action and epic space battles exist throughout the novel to complement the strong plot and characterization. With Ship of the Line, Diane Carey creates yet another worthy addition to the Star Trek universe.
Rating:
Summary: The First Epic Journey of the Enterprise-E!
Review: Diane Carey delivers again. This time she takes us on an epic journey through space and time, through the life of one man and his longtime enemy. Fans of STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION should remember a fifth season episode called "Cause and Effect" (By Brannon Braga). SHIP OF THE LINE takes us back to the 23rd Century to show the readers how the USS Bozeman, under the command of Captain Morgan Bateson, came to be stuck in time for nearly eighty years. In SHIP OF THE LINE, we journey with Captain Bateson, newly in command of the USS Enterprise-E (yes, he did take the job from Picard!). On the maiden voyage of the 1701-E, Bateson runs into his old nemesis, a Klingon from the 23rd Century who is out to reclaim his honor by destroying Bateson. Meanwhile, Picard faces his own inner demons on Cardassia Prime. We have action-adventure with Bateson and the limits of the human spirit with Picard. Definately a worthwhile book to read, no matter what you look for in a novel. Diane Carey, we
Rating: 
Summary: A disappointment for Trek fans
Review: Diane Carey misses the mark on this one. While the idea of following up on the events of the Next Generation episode "Cause and Effect" is a good one, her factual errors and characterizations drag down what could be compelling reading. Fans who pay attention to continuity will notice mistakes like placing Picard's Borg experience after his torture by Madred and the almost cavalier disregard for the Dominion situation as developed on Deep Space Nine. Her portrayals of the Next Generation characters, such as making Troi and Crusher sound like whining schoolgirls, having Picard sound annoyed at having to come on the Enterprise-E at all and then turning him into some sort of interstellar Rambo after talking to a holographic Kirk, and her blessedly brief but bizarre portrayal of Data after hearing bluegrass music just feel wrong. The inclusion of Scotty really felt like she just wanted to throw in an Original Series character. She tries to build up sympathy for Captain Bateson as a man out of time, but with the exception of the last few pages, Bateson comes off as an annoying character and one that merits little sympathy. In the end, while this book may be a good read for some, I can't recommend it for hardcore Trek fans because of its many flaws.
Rating:
Summary: The return of Morgan Bateson!
Review: Ever wanted to know in detail the events that led upto how Morgan Bateson and his crew got trapped in the time-loop and spit them out in the 24th century? Well this book opens with a superb job in filling in those blanks and building the background of the characters for their ill fated journey. It was especially nice to see how a displaced captain and crew, once believed to be lost, deal with their new surroundings including aged families, new technologies, and wars resolved. Also placing their (the crewmates that is) mindset into the timeline of Jean-Luc Picard and his crew. It also built up the role of what a real Star Fleet 'Hero' is, not the typical outlandish missions Kirk or Picard carved out in history, but an older man, trying to prove himself out of sheer loyalty to his crew and uniform. The interaction of the Klingon plotlines was done exceptionally well, and was very amusing at times. A great novel wishing this was made into a tv episode!
Rating:
Summary: Captain "Fraiser" returns!
Review: Excellent! I have always wanted to see Kelsey Grammer reprise his role in Star Trek as Captain Morgan Bateson. Diane Carey has given us the next best thing by bringing us back his character. He is the perfect captain, with his commanding voice. The book also brings back Scotty in the 24th century still going strong. Carey does a good job filling in the gaps between the films and series. And a good introduction to one of the greatest ships in Star Trek the USS Enterprise-E.
Rating: 
Summary: Good but could have been better
Review: For a Star Trek book by Diane Carey, I was let down. I have come to expect so much more from her. From what seemed to be a pretty great story from the book jacket turned out to be a dry dull story. And sadly a lot of the material was unneeded. All of the holographic orginal series scenes were rehased stories that we have seen. Too much space fillers. I am glad to have the filled in part of TNG history. That made this book worth it.
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