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Rating: 
Summary: Obvious Story
Review: Howard Weinstein is very concerned about the environment. If you read the author's notes at the beginning of the book, you almost don't have to read the novel. Mr. Weinstein is quite correct in his concern for the environmental conditions on planet Earth, but I think there are better ways he could have expressed these concerns then in this by the numbers novel.The Enterprise D is called to the planet Thiopa to bring supplies for victims of famine. When they arrive at Thiopa the crew discovers that everything is not quite as the primary planetary government purported. Meanwhile Data decides to do a little looking into the planet's environmental concern, and discovers that their food shortages, drought conditions, etc. were caused by the people of Thiopa's own short-sighted rush to attain a technological society. The crew becomes concerned that even if they do provide assistance to the planet, they will just become extinct within 50 years if they don't change their pollutionary ways. Of course there is the sticky prime directive to deal with - how much can we tell them without interfering in the planet's natural progress. This story probably would have worked well as a short story. In Mr. Weinstein's drive to expand the story to a novel, he added a number of stories and characters to expand the story. These include a race called the Nuarans that basically are annoying, like gnats buzzing around the ear. He starts to give background stories on some of the people surrounding Lord Stross, the planet's government leader, but then doesn't proceed to do anything with the character or the information. The story is fast paced and a quick read. There are some enjoyable moments, such as Worf trying out for Riker's jazz combo. This is not a bad book, it's just not that interesting. If you're not a huge Next Generation fan, I'd probably give this story a pass.
Rating:
Summary: STNG #6 - Power Hungry - An interesting early STNG tale!
Review: Of the few Howard Weinstein Star Trek novels I've read so far, I've found them to be intriguing and well told stories, as is the case with this novel, Star Trek The Next Generation #6, Power Hungry. His writing style is fairly fluid and he sets the plot up fairly well. As other reviewers have noted, he wrote in an environmentalist point of view which is in good keeping with the overall "ethos" of Star Trek and, in my opinion, serves to help the plot along as opposed to detracting from it. The premise: Captain Picard and the Enterprise are sent to the planet Thiopa to deliver and provide emergency relief in the face of a planetary famine. Once there, they discover that there is more than meets the eye as the planetary government, thought to be a Federation ally, is a brutal dictatorship. Captain Picard finds that he's in the midst of a major dilemma, whether or not to deliver the famine relief which would only serve to help the dictatorship, knowing full well that they would not reach the people or attempting to change the attitude of the government, which would obviously be an uphill battle all the way. What follows is an interesting and somewhat intriguing early Star Trek The Next Generation story that is well worth the time to read, giving the reader insight into the authors perceptions of the crew during this early period of STNG's run on television. {ssintrepid}
Rating:
Summary: STNG #6 - Power Hungry - An interesting early STNG tale!
Review: Of the few Howard Weinstein Star Trek novels I've read so far, I've found them to be intriguing and well told stories, as is the case with this novel, Star Trek The Next Generation #6, Power Hungry. His writing style is fairly fluid and he sets the plot up fairly well. As other reviewers have noted, he wrote in an environmentalist point of view which is in good keeping with the overall "ethos" of Star Trek and, in my opinion, serves to help the plot along as opposed to detracting from it. The premise: Captain Picard and the Enterprise are sent to the planet Thiopa to deliver and provide emergency relief in the face of a planetary famine. Once there, they discover that there is more than meets the eye as the planetary government, thought to be a Federation ally, is a brutal dictatorship. Captain Picard finds that he's in the midst of a major dilemma, whether or not to deliver the famine relief which would only serve to help the dictatorship, knowing full well that they would not reach the people or attempting to change the attitude of the government, which would obviously be an uphill battle all the way. What follows is an interesting and somewhat intriguing early Star Trek The Next Generation story that is well worth the time to read, giving the reader insight into the authors perceptions of the crew during this early period of STNG's run on television. {ssintrepid}
Rating:
Summary: ST:TNG Power Hungry
Review: Star Trek-The Next Generation: Power Hungry written by Howard Weinstein is an action-adventure novel which the Enterprise and her crew find the truth about a world bent on destroying itself, where Captain Picard and Commander Riker must choose between the ruling government or the primary faction as to which is to be believed. The U.S.S. Enterprise and her crew are sent to the planet Thiopa with humanitarian aid for a starving and ravaged people. But of course, nothing is as it seems as Picard and Riker find out when they get to Thiopa. Thiopa is in a critical sector of space and the Federation needs allies within this sector. But, upon reaching Thiopa, Picard must choose between the planet's corrupt dictatorship or the peaceful Sojourners as to where the aid will do the most good. This book has an element of an environmentalist theme throughout the book giving it some relevence to today. Picard has to convince the ruling council to mend its ways, before things go from bad to worse, not only for the government but the planet as a whole. The story is well thought out and the dialog between the characters makes for very good development of the plot and tone of the story. I enjoyed the story as it was a very fast read and the theme played out very well. The story could have been embellished a little more to make the characters more robust and that is why I only gave this story a solid 3 stars.
Rating:
Summary: ST:TNG Power Hungry
Review: Star Trek-The Next Generation: Power Hungry written by Howard Weinstein is an action-adventure novel which the Enterprise and her crew find the truth about a world bent on destroying itself, where Captain Picard and Commander Riker must choose between the ruling government or the primary faction as to which is to be believed. The U.S.S. Enterprise and her crew are sent to the planet Thiopa with humanitarian aid for a starving and ravaged people. But of course, nothing is as it seems as Picard and Riker find out when they get to Thiopa. Thiopa is in a critical sector of space and the Federation needs allies within this sector. But, upon reaching Thiopa, Picard must choose between the planet's corrupt dictatorship or the peaceful Sojourners as to where the aid will do the most good. This book has an element of an environmentalist theme throughout the book giving it some relevence to today. Picard has to convince the ruling council to mend its ways, before things go from bad to worse, not only for the government but the planet as a whole. The story is well thought out and the dialog between the characters makes for very good development of the plot and tone of the story. I enjoyed the story as it was a very fast read and the theme played out very well. The story could have been embellished a little more to make the characters more robust and that is why I only gave this story a solid 3 stars.
Rating: 
Summary: Left hungry
Review: This ecological morality play is standard Star Trek fare taken... nowhere new at all. Strange NEW worlds, people. That's what this is all about. Power Hungry uses the old "split-em-up" stand-by to place Riker on the "rebel" side while the rest of the crew negociate with the government of a planet that ruined its own eco-system. The conflicy between the two factions is tired material by now, and the supporting character brought in to fix their problems is odd and difficult to take seriously. Pass.
Rating: 
Summary: Quite well done, if rather depressing.
Review: This was a fascinating character study of opposing sides in a political conflict; fascinating because it was very realistic. There were no simple "good guys vs. bad guys" conflicts here; the leader of the planetary government, while clearly not doing everything he could possibly have done to help his world at a crisis point, clearly believed that what he was doing was for the best, and his charisma (necessary in a leader of his type of government) was well-enough portrayed that the reader could feel it, and couldn't help but like him in spite of knowing better. Meanwhile, his opposition was also well-meaning and determined, convinced of the rightness of her cause, if somewhat less charismatic than he was. Both of them were plausible, at least somewhat likeable, wishing the best for their world...and absolutely incapable of working together or reaching compromise in order to save it, even with the Federation's best efforts at mediation. Sad, but all too plausible. On the downside, one character who DID grow during the course of the story (Ambassador Undrun) did so rather IMPLAUSIBLY. Still, a well-done book with an interesting plot and mostly excellent characterization.
Rating: 
Summary: Trek novels shouldn't be soapboxes
Review: Weinstein is a good writer, and a good Trek writer. Covenant of the Crown, his first, was a good book. But since then, he's just used Star Trek as a medium for environmentalism. I know the late 80s were filled with "Save the Earth" propaganda, but I don't like to read that in my Trek. I won't go on, but I can't recommend this except to Trek book completists (like me).
Rating:
Summary: Trek novels shouldn't be soapboxes
Review: Weinstein is a good writer, and a good Trek writer. Covenant of the Crown, his first, was a good book. But since then, he's just used Star Trek as a medium for environmentalism. I know the late 80s were filled with "Save the Earth" propaganda, but I don't like to read that in my Trek. I won't go on, but I can't recommend this except to Trek book completists (like me).
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