Status
Available
Call number
Publication
Pocket Books
Pages
293
Description
A thrilling Star Trek novel starring Kirk, Spock, and the crew of the Enterprise. While exploring the unmapped frontier, the U.S.S. Enterprise responds to a distress call from an unknown ship. Captain James T. Kirk turns first contact into a threat of interstellar war--by saving the life of a man his own people abandoned. Berlis, colony leader of a telepathic race calling themselves the Isitri, claims not to know why those from his homeworld want him dead. Now Kirk must either find a way to wrench billions from the grip of one man, or be responsible for the destruction of two planets.
Collection
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2009
Physical description
293 p.; 6.75 inches
ISBN
9781439101551
User reviews
LibraryThing member TheMadTurtle
This is a fun Star Trek novel. I really enjoyed the way that Galanter wrote Kirk, Bones and Spock. He really hit the nail on the head with each character. You could almost hear each one speak the dialog. If I have one piece of constructive criticism, it would be that Galanter can improve on his
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physical descriptions. I had a hard time visualizing the Isitri and the Odib people. Again, the characters of these people were written very well. I just found myself stopping on occasion and really struggling to visualize what I was reading. In spite of that minor problem, though, I thoroughly enjoyed the book. Show Less
LibraryThing member Stevil2001
I really enjoyed Galanter's previous classic Trek outing, Shadows of the Indignant in Mere Anarchy, so I was really looking forward to his full-length novel, Troublesome Minds. And it did not disappoint. The Enterprise rescues a crashing ship and as a result involves itself in a dilemma that
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affects not only a couple planets, but possibly the entire Federation, and definitely Spock's own mental solidity. Though Spock is on the cover and is the crux of the novel in most ways, it's Kirk's book; like the television show, almost everything is filtered through his perspective. It's fortunate, then, that Galanter gets both Kirk and Spock; there's not a problem at all with their depictions here. These are the characters we watched every week on tv in the 1960s. The guest characters are well-written, too, and the plot is nicely complicated, with no easily discernible resolution-- and no easy answers once it has resolved. A cracking, enjoyable Star Trek novel. Show Less
LibraryThing member little_hyuts
A most wonderful Star Trek novel.
The author does a great job of accurately portraying the characters as well as presenting them with a great new challenge to overcome.
This story is engaging and quite a fun ride!
The author does a great job of accurately portraying the characters as well as presenting them with a great new challenge to overcome.
This story is engaging and quite a fun ride!
LibraryThing member AdonisGuilfoyle
I've read a few Star Trek novels now, so if nothing else, I know what I like - and Dave Galanter's novel ticks every last box. Gripping story - finished in an afternoon, because I couldn't find a natural place to stop reading - intriguing aliens, and skilful characterisation of the Enterprise crew.
Captain Kirk intervenes to save a life, and finds himself and his crew - especially Spock - caught in the middle of two warring factions, the Isitri and the Odib. The Isitri are telepathic, but fear the presence among their kind of a 'troublesome mind', one with stronger mental powers who enslaves the will of others. Berlis, an outcast saved from death by Kirk, is one such 'troublesome mind' - and the Isitri want him dead, to prevent war with the Odib. When Spock mind-melds with Berlis, Kirk is forced to choose between the following the Prime Directive and saving his friend's life (which is no choice at all with Kirk).
First, the concept of sign language is deftly portrayed by the Isitri, who are mute and mostly deaf. Spock is able to speak telepathically with them, but also quickly picks up their signalling. Second, I love how most of the 'action' takes place aboard the Enterprise, keeping the story character-based. But mainly, I am in raptures over how perfectly Kirk, Spock, Bones and the others - yes, Uhura even gets to sit in the big chair - are instantly recognisable from the show. I could 'hear' their voices, and there is no authorial intervention to balance the roles, like in some novels I have read. In fact, the nods and winks to the original show earn Galanter bonus points, in my view - references to The Galileo Seven and The Tholian Web, plus Kirk getting his hands dirty in engineering and Bones pestering Kirk on the bridge. Perfection.
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This could almost be a 'lost' episode of the original series. Captain Kirk intervenes to save a life, and finds himself and his crew - especially Spock - caught in the middle of two warring factions, the Isitri and the Odib. The Isitri are telepathic, but fear the presence among their kind of a 'troublesome mind', one with stronger mental powers who enslaves the will of others. Berlis, an outcast saved from death by Kirk, is one such 'troublesome mind' - and the Isitri want him dead, to prevent war with the Odib. When Spock mind-melds with Berlis, Kirk is forced to choose between the following the Prime Directive and saving his friend's life (which is no choice at all with Kirk).
First, the concept of sign language is deftly portrayed by the Isitri, who are mute and mostly deaf. Spock is able to speak telepathically with them, but also quickly picks up their signalling. Second, I love how most of the 'action' takes place aboard the Enterprise, keeping the story character-based. But mainly, I am in raptures over how perfectly Kirk, Spock, Bones and the others - yes, Uhura even gets to sit in the big chair - are instantly recognisable from the show. I could 'hear' their voices, and there is no authorial intervention to balance the roles, like in some novels I have read. In fact, the nods and winks to the original show earn Galanter bonus points, in my view - references to The Galileo Seven and The Tholian Web, plus Kirk getting his hands dirty in engineering and Bones pestering Kirk on the bridge. Perfection.
Show Less
Call number
FIC H Star