Star Trek The Next Generation #15: Fortune's Light

by Michael Jan Friedman

Paperback, 1991

Collection

Your library

Series

Star Trek (1991.01)

Star Trek (novels) (1991.01)

Star Trek: The Next Generation (15)

Rating

(52 ratings; 3)

Genres

Science Fiction

Fiction

Publication

Star Trek (1991), Mass Market Paperback, 278 pages

Description

Dante Maxima Seven -- a world known to its inhabitants as Imprima. A world where Madragi -- huge social/economic entities wealthy beyond compare -- control the fate of millions.. Years ago, William Riker was part of the Starfleet delegation that opened Imprima to the Federation. Now the disappearance of an old friend -- Teller Conlon, who also served on that team -- draws Riker and the Enterprise(TM) across the galaxy, back to Imprima. Because the jewel known as Fortune's Light -- one of Madraga Criathis's most priceless possessions -- has been stolen. And Teller Conlon stands accused of its theft. Now Riker must discover the truth behind the disappearance of both his friend and Fortune's Light, no easy task on a world where treachery and intrigue are commonplace...and where even an old friend's embrace may conceal the deadly bite of a dagger's blade.… (more)

Language

English

Original language

English

User reviews

LibraryThing member Karlstar

This novel features Cmd. Riker, and less of the rest of the crew. I thought it was enjoyable.

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LibraryThing member DanieXJ

This was a fairly typical Star Trek Novel. There were two main stories. Riker gets called to a planet because years ago he and his friend and colleague Teller helped make an agreement between the planet and the Federation (who the planet picked to trade with over the Ferengi). But then Teller

stayed as the liaison and now Riker has been called back because Teller has disappeared with a rare item called Fortune's Light. Riker and a retainer from the planet set about trying to retrieve Teller and the item.

There was also the story of Data playing a part in a Baseball game that Riker created on the holodeck but didn't get to participate in. Data is trying to change the outcome. It was sorta interesting, but I always wonder why Baseball is constantly used in Star Trek. Soccer has more people playing, Football is more popular and the sports that Star Trek has invented are more interesting to hear about. If I want to hear about Baseball I can turn on many channels on the TV. But, seeing Baseball through Data's eyes was definitely different. Still, tell me more about Velocity and Parisses Squares Star Trek, I already know about Baseball.

It was a typical Star Trek Novel. Well written because it was by Michael Jan Friedman, but nothing surprising happened in it.

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LibraryThing member JBarringer

Poor Riker gets caught up in quite an adventure while trying to help his old buddy out of a jam. Meanwhile Data somehow cannot just download all the rules and play by play history of baseball and instead has to feel his way through learning the game, and Troi discovers she has a particular fondness

for Riker, when he is nearly killed. The romantic bits in this one were a bit too sappy for my tastes, even assuming I was in favor of the romance Riker and Troi were stuffed into in the course of the series (along with the further drama when Warf gets involved with Troi too... bleh). But that thread didn't overtake the plot in this book, and the planet-side adventure was pretty good. I found it a bit hard to suspend disbelief about Data's lack of information on baseball- he's a computer and ought to be able to download at least encyclopedia articles, player stats, and all the various books written on baseball, yet he spent many pages stumbling through just the basic rules of play.
I liked that Crusher got the be the only additional away-team member on the planet, though I wish she had not been sidelined so quickly once she was on the planet. We all know she can handle a phaser, after all.