Reading List 2009: # 45 - 48

[jedibuttercup]

Four books in the last two weeks: two Star Trek novels, one military space opera, and one epic fantasy. Two thumbs up, a meh, and a thumbs down in the lot.

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45. Where Sea Meets Sky by Jerry Oltion. Paperback, 265pp. 6th of the Captain's Table. I picked this Star Trek book up purely because it features Captain Pike. I found the actual embedded tale fairly interesting-- the writer definitely put some thought into the structure and science of it-- and liked the Number One characterization, but Pike himself was definitely the old actor, not Reboot, in my head; and the romantic subplots with Yeoman Colt and the Klingon in the bar made me roll my eyes a little. (Though Colt herself was fairly awesome). And I wasn't all that hot about the framing device of the bar, itself.

46. Kris Longknife: Deserter by Mike Shepherd. Paperback, 346pp. 2nd of the Kris Longknife series. Like the first, and sixth (which I inadvertently read out of order), this was a fun, well written space opera, with a likeable female central character, a lot of action, lots of interesting interaction with other characters, etc., etc. Kris reminds me of Miles Vorkosigan, just a bit (I've read about three books of that series), in that she's an extreme trouble magnet with governmental connections who keeps surfing disasters upward. Definitely going to have to pick up the rest of these.

47. My Enemy, My Ally by Diane Duane. TOS #18. Paperback, 309pp. Damn, she's a fine writer. I wish I had all her Star Trek books; I think I only have one more of them. Clearly, I have some purchases to make. Anyway-- where "The Wounded Sky" was all character and little action, this one was all action, while not sacrificing character one bit. A very multispecies cast, glimpses of Jim and Spock from the POV of a female outsider who could easily match them but avoids any hint of Mary Sue-ism, small scale battles and Empire scale drama, and best of all, excellent worldbuilding, expanding on but not forgetting TOS canon, including lots of Romulan culture.

48. In Shade and Shadow by Barb and J.C. Hendee. Hardback, 389pp. 7th of Noble Dead series. I really enjoyed the series up to this point... except for the parts focusing on the latest introduced of the main characters, the insecure little sage, Wynn, who spent half her time afraid or in denial or looking to the nearest strong being to save her and just so happened to be caught up in this Very Important Quest. So why the hell did the authors suddenly break her off from the rest of the group and focus an entire book on her? And not bother to even have her uncover any important Answers regarding the Quest, just a bunch of half-clues? I have no idea. She does acquire a little spine here, but don't even get me started on the stupid tragic vampire romance thing, and overall, the series plot barely moved a hair's-breadth; it took me forever to get through it. I'm not sure I'll buy any more of these until they bring back Magiere and Liesel.

Next up: Probably Vulcan's Glory, TOS #44. More Captain Pike pro fic! It's much more interesting rereading these books set pre-series, now that I actually care about the character. *grin*
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Comments

[neonhummingbird.livejournal.com]

My dad handed me the first Kris Longknife novel, and I've devoured all the rest of them. Kris is just such a great heroine, and Shepherd does a good job of remembering to write about people and not just technology.

And Diane Duane is a goddess. Literature-ly speaking. :)

[jedibuttercup]

I'm waiting impatiently for Wednesday, when I get paid again, to go back to Borders for the next of the Longknife series. *grin* I think I'll have to try online for the next of Diane Duane's, though; most bookstores only have a smattering of the latest few, except Powell's City of Books, and I can't afford to make the drive there too often.

[taraljc.livejournal.com]

Next up: Probably Vulcan's Glory

*makes high-pitched noises of PURE GLEE*

VG is the book that turned me into a Pike/Number One fan to begin with. Also, you might like Jerry Oltian's short story from _Enterprise Logs_ because it's cracky and entertaining and has fun with the Colt/Pike/Number One triangle. He's an avowed Pike/Colt 'shipper, but at he writes Number One well, so I give him a free pass.

[jedibuttercup]

*grin* I remembered it from your post to the Pike/Number One comm and pulled it down from the shelf so I could go back and tighten my Number One characterization in the big bang fic, even though her role's not all that big.

I'll have to remember that about Jerry Oltion. *makes note*

[midnightsjane.livejournal.com]

I love the Rihannsu novels by Diane Duane, of which My Enemy, My Ally is the first. She has such a grasp of the Romulan culture, and her characters have real depth. I recommend the rest of the series, for sure.

[jedibuttercup]

IIRC, the next one-- the only other one I have-- is more McCoy-centric; I've never picked up the rest. Do they follow a consistent plot thread or character(s), or do they just generally explore Romulan culture?

[pronker]

Duane always was a favorite; I liked Romulans better than Klingons, anyway.