Corona (Star Trek)

Rating:
Summary: An enjoyable quick read.
Review: Bear does a reasonably good job of portraying the known characters, and develops a few new ones that are also interesting. His plot has some similarities to the episode "The Ultimate Computer", and also some similarities to various books and episodes, notably "Star Trek: The Motion Picture", that involve the Enterprise saving the universe (or at least all life as we know it therein) from an almost-all-powerful energy creature. But for all of that, the plot is handled well enough that it was only occasionally noticable that the basic plot was somewhat hackneyed. Also, interestingly, it was not actually a member of the Enterprise crew who really saves the day.

This book does not, really, break any new ground, but the plot moves well and the writing is competent.

Rating:
Summary: GREAT!!!SENTIENT PROTOSTAR PLANS TO UNLEASH NEW BIG BANG!!!
Review: I really loved this book.It was one of the best "star trek" novels that I have ever read(and I've read quite a few)THE VERY IDEA that at the beginning of time there existed a race of sentient protostars was "fasinating".Some may think this is the usual "Kirk kills the malevolent entity and saves the universe"book are dead wrong.FIRSTLY,it's really Spock who "saves the universe,and "Corona" isn't actually malevolent,just lonely.In all,get the the book even if you are just curious about Corona(AND its origins)

Rating:
Summary: Pretty poor attempt.
Review: In my reviews of Classic Star Trek novels, it must be understood that I adhere to the original canon
as invisioned by Gene Roddenberry, and not the "Star Trek" universe accepted by Rick Berman and company.

I generally rate a classic novel thus:

Adherence to Canon -- does this novel adhere to the vision of the original Star Trek?

Marginally.

Believability (within the confines of 23rd century Star Trek viability) -- is this novel well-plotted and well-written? Can I picture this novel or imagine myself in it?

No. Sorry, but no. A group of sentient PROTO-STARS with an affinity for young Vulcans?

Coherence and Consistency -- does this novel internally consistent? Is it consistent with other Star Trek novels by the same author? Is it consistent with what is known of the CLASSIC Star Trek universe?

Nope! Warp factors in excess of 10? A new (hostile) alien empire that isn't used by anyone else? A computer which can override command decisions? (Hasn't that theme been beaten to death already?)

Mitigating Factors -- pluses or minuses which dramatically affect the enjoyment of this book

Sorry -- this one is just plain bad.

Rating:
Summary: Greg Bear boldly ventures into Star Trek
Review: Long before he was tapped to write a novel set in the Star Wars universe, Greg Bear turned in this novel, a Star Trek novel.

While his characterization of the Star Trek characters (both new and the characters we know and love) is adequate, he really shines in world-building, in the nature of the "problem".

For once a Star Trek novel where the Klingons aren't going to conquer the quadrant, or the Romulans hatch yet another scheme, or any of the usually overworn tropes.

You'll wish,upon reading, that it was made into an episode, or even a movie.

Rating:
Summary: The 2nd Star Trek book I ever read
Review: This book is the one that got me started reading books in English. Only "Star Trek-The Motion Picture" was published in Norwegian, so when I came across "Corona", a whole new world of Star Trek books opened up to me. After that I've read all kinds of books in English, but this beeing kind of special to me. It's not the best ST book I've ever read, but I collect them all.

Rating:
Summary: Not Bad...
Review: This book was short, but full of action. A few chapters in the middle of the book were a little slow going due to the amount of technobabble, but the ending was unexpected. I like the way the reporter in the story is weary of Vulcans and all aliens at first, but is the one who ends up saving the day. It's a good moral at the end of the story type book.

Rating:
Summary: Not even in the right universe!
Review: Those of you who know me know that I like Star Trek because it's a visit with old friends. Authors who can give voice to the ST character, write so that I can hear their voices, are considered to me to be top of the line. Authors who have a grasp of the ST universe, who can write the situations well enough are also top dog. Greg Bear doesn't even come close!

Greg Bear is a marvelous sci fi author. Sadly, I'm afraid, he cannot recreate the Star Trek Universe. Now mind you, he was writing _Corona_ before TNG came out so I tried to give him some slack. But the technology they were installing into the Enterprise was far advanced of anything in TNG. Eventually that fact got on my nerves.

But the worst thing of all is that he had no grasp of the characters, how they speak, what they would do. Captain Kirk would never have ignored another crew member's warning the way Greg Bear has him doing.

I could not and finally did not finish this book. As I was not really visiting old friends or the ST universe, it was a waste of my time. If you want to read a good Greg Bear book.... any other book he's done is heads and shoulders above this one.

Rating:
Summary: Out of the ST universe, but still an average read...
Review: While this story doesn't really follow ST canon, it still an average story on its own. Like a computer that can overide the captain's orders, or the ship exceeding Warp 9. Hhhmmm! I didn't like some of the new characters. I didn't think they fitted into the story. But, after saying all that I liked the moving of the story from beginning to end.

Average read!

Russ