Rating: 
Summary: Good, but not the best
Review: A good book, worth the money, but not the best Star Trek
TNG book. Has a shakey start but the ending ties everything up very well. Gives very good insight into Wesley Crusher's feelings at the Academ
Rating:
Summary: Great read, you never really put it down.
Review: Ab Hugh is a great suspence writer, he is soooo good at keeping pace. If he didn't really limit himself to TV/Video Game tie-ins he would be a household name, up there with Koontz and Crichton. I am not joking. Read any of his books for yourself.This a good book where Wesley is the main character and he gets himself entangled in a Ferengi counterfiet scheme to buy some stuff at an intergalactic auction. Great book that you don't put it down. I give it four stars.
Rating:
Summary: STNG #33 Balance of Power - A very good STNG novel!
Review: After the serious nature of author Dafydd Ab Hugh's first Star Trek novel, Deep Space Nines #5 "Fallen Heroes," "Balance of Power" is a lighter hearted, much more whimsical novel, while still possessing a story of a serious nature that is well told. I definitely like Dafydd Ab Hugh's writing style as well, as it is fluidic, with good pacing that doesn't bog down too often. The characterizations for this novel were "dead on" accurate for the known characters in each situation. The cover art for this novel is pretty much the bland, standard fare for when it was published. The premise: In an unusual premise for a STNG novel, the author draws primarily from known characters between STNG and DS9, bringing them into a hilarious, well told tale. It was especially nice to see Grand Nagus Zek get some time in a novel! A famous Federation scientist dies and his son puts up many of his quirky inventions for auction to the highest bidder. Many Federation and non Federation races come to this auction, in hopes of acquiring the technology. Among those items being auctioned is a powerful photon pulse canon that is capable of punching right through a starships shields; an item that the Federation would definitely not like to see in the hands of the Klingons, Romulans or Cardassians. In a bold move for a novel, the author also brings Wesley Crusher at Starfleet Academy into the story. (I say bold move because for some reason, many "fans" totally rejected this character out of hand.) While attempting to aide his best friend, Wesley finds himself kidnapped by outlaw Ferengi that are bent on controlling the universe through commerce and they've set their sights on the photon pulse canon. Captain Picard now finds himself in a race to save not only the Enterprise but the entire Federation from this deadly weapon and those controlling it while having every antagonistic race in the Alpha Quadrant aligned against him. What follows from there is an extremely hilarious and enjoyable STNG novel that I highly recommend to any and all fans of the genre! {ssintrepid}
Rating:
Summary: STNG #33 Balance of Power - A very good STNG novel!
Review: After the serious nature of author Dafydd Ab Hugh's first Star Trek novel, Deep Space Nines #5 "Fallen Heroes," "Balance of Power" is a lighter hearted, much more whimsical novel, while still possessing a story of a serious nature that is well told. I definitely like Dafydd Ab Hugh's writing style as well, as it is fluidic, with good pacing that doesn't bog down too often. The characterizations for this novel were "dead on" accurate for the known characters in each situation. The cover art for this novel is pretty much the bland, standard fare for when it was published. The premise: In an unusual premise for a STNG novel, the author draws primarily from known characters between STNG and DS9, bringing them into a hilarious, well told tale. It was especially nice to see Grand Nagus Zek get some time in a novel! A famous Federation scientist dies and his son puts up many of his quirky inventions for auction to the highest bidder. Many Federation and non Federation races come to this auction, in hopes of acquiring the technology. Among those items being auctioned is a powerful photon pulse canon that is capable of punching right through a starships shields; an item that the Federation would definitely not like to see in the hands of the Klingons, Romulans or Cardassians. In a bold move for a novel, the author also brings Wesley Crusher at Starfleet Academy into the story. (I say bold move because for some reason, many "fans" totally rejected this character out of hand.) While attempting to aide his best friend, Wesley finds himself kidnapped by outlaw Ferengi that are bent on controlling the universe through commerce and they've set their sights on the photon pulse canon. Captain Picard now finds himself in a race to save not only the Enterprise but the entire Federation from this deadly weapon and those controlling it while having every antagonistic race in the Alpha Quadrant aligned against him. What follows from there is an extremely hilarious and enjoyable STNG novel that I highly recommend to any and all fans of the genre! {ssintrepid}
Rating: 
Summary: Not even Wesley can ruin this one
Review: Another serious case of mispackaging by Pocket. The legend across the top of the cover declares "Captain Picard must keep a deadly weapon out of enemy hands!!" The back of the book says Picard must stop all other races from acquiring superweapons. And there is Jean-Luc's face on the cover. All balderdash. Picard plays but a minimal role, and these "superweapons" are nothing more than red herrings, declared such by Geordi LaForge during the first ten pages. Instead, the hero of this one is none other than weenie extraordinaire Wesley Crusher. It was with a somewhat nauseated feeling that I realized that Wesley was to play a major role in Balance of Power. To my utter astonishment, not only did Wesley not bother me, I actually *enjoyed* him. Ab Hugh has done a wonderful job bringing us a Wesley that is interesting and believable while staying remarkably faithful to the original. Under his skillful pen (er, keyboard), we can actually appreciate Wesley's need to leave Starfleet and join the Traveler - and since the Wesley Joins the Traveler episode ranks among the worst, that is saying something. The plot is entertaining if somewhat strained. Other reviewers have complained about the implausibility of a high-stakes auction for what appears to be junk, but one can easily put that aside and enjoy a fun ride featuring two greedy Ferengi (sorry for the redundancy), the Grand Nagus, and, of course, Cadet Crusher. I disagree with others who complained that the characters did not ring "true." On the contrary, Balance of Power is the best Trek book I have read in a long, long time - the best at capturing the characters, the best at entertaining, and the best at keeping me interested until the very end. It makes me regret giving out so many three stars to other Trek books. If only they were all like this . . . .
Rating:
Summary: Not even Wesley can ruin this one
Review: Another serious case of mispackaging by Pocket. The legend across the top of the cover declares "Captain Picard must keep a deadly weapon out of enemy hands!!" The back of the book says Picard must stop all other races from acquiring superweapons. And there is Jean-Luc's face on the cover. All balderdash. Picard plays but a minimal role, and these "superweapons" are nothing more than red herrings, declared such by Geordi LaForge during the first ten pages. Instead, the hero of this one is none other than weenie extraordinaire Wesley Crusher. It was with a somewhat nauseated feeling that I realized that Wesley was to play a major role in Balance of Power. To my utter astonishment, not only did Wesley not bother me, I actually *enjoyed* him. Ab Hugh has done a wonderful job bringing us a Wesley that is interesting and believable while staying remarkably faithful to the original. Under his skillful pen (er, keyboard), we can actually appreciate Wesley's need to leave Starfleet and join the Traveler - and since the Wesley Joins the Traveler episode ranks among the worst, that is saying something. The plot is entertaining if somewhat strained. Other reviewers have complained about the implausibility of a high-stakes auction for what appears to be junk, but one can easily put that aside and enjoy a fun ride featuring two greedy Ferengi (sorry for the redundancy), the Grand Nagus, and, of course, Cadet Crusher. I disagree with others who complained that the characters did not ring "true." On the contrary, Balance of Power is the best Trek book I have read in a long, long time - the best at capturing the characters, the best at entertaining, and the best at keeping me interested until the very end. It makes me regret giving out so many three stars to other Trek books. If only they were all like this . . . .
Rating: 
Summary: Totally Unrealistic, but funny at times
Review: Balance of power is a totally unrealistic book when taken in context with the star trek universe. Firstly, there is the emphasis on money, gold-pressed latinum and refrences to starfleet cadets needing to pay for thier education, food, lodging and so forth. Yet, throughout the series it's made clear that they have eliminated the need for money, and have eliminated poverty on earth. So why the focus on money and the lack of it from the charachters? Yes, people in the federation do spend money, but on luxury items, not on basic nessicities or education. The Warp Five speed limit? Why is this book the only one I've read which mentions it? The author took one episode WAY out of context. The warp five speed limit was for *one* SINGLE sector, not the whole quadrant, so the whole rediculous plot around getting to an auction on time is totally wrong. There have been no refrences in any episodes of star trek TNG or DS9 about a warp five speed limit. Another thing is the charachters acting totally wrong. Geordie acting like a jerk and telling people off, Worf not acting right and more. The only charachter who was portraied anywhere near correctly was Wesley Crusher. Most of the book was just [bad]. However, some of the Ferengi and Wesly interactions were funny....so the book gets two, rather than one star.
Rating:
Summary: Totally Unrealistic, but funny at times
Review: Balance of power is a totally unrealistic book when taken in context with the star trek universe. Firstly, there is the emphasis on money, gold-pressed latinum and refrences to starfleet cadets needing to pay for thier education, food, lodging and so forth. Yet, throughout the series it's made clear that they have eliminated the need for money, and have eliminated poverty on earth. So why the focus on money and the lack of it from the charachters? Yes, people in the federation do spend money, but on luxury items, not on basic nessicities or education. The Warp Five speed limit? Why is this book the only one I've read which mentions it? The author took one episode WAY out of context. The warp five speed limit was for *one* SINGLE sector, not the whole quadrant, so the whole rediculous plot around getting to an auction on time is totally wrong. There have been no refrences in any episodes of star trek TNG or DS9 about a warp five speed limit. Another thing is the charachters acting totally wrong. Geordie acting like a jerk and telling people off, Worf not acting right and more. The only charachter who was portraied anywhere near correctly was Wesley Crusher. Most of the book was just [bad]. However, some of the Ferengi and Wesly interactions were funny....so the book gets two, rather than one star.
Rating:
Summary: Overall, really good
Review: I couldn't put it down! This has got to be one of the best Star Trek books I have ever read. It really keeps you on the edge of your seat.
Rating:
Summary: Jolly Good
Review: I love this book! Perhaps the main reason is the humor, especially by the greedy ferengis. I can't add more than what was said already by fellow reviewers, but for the fun of it, reas this book by all means. Data's attempt to create 'laughter' is kind of cute. And I'm glad to see Wesley Crusher's part is more meatier than before.
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