F/SF

I have really mixed feelings about this one. I love the focus on Sulu and especially like that it attempts to tackle questions of how Starfleet might be viewed as a colonizer. But I feel like the book is hamstrung because it must be relentlessly pro-Starfleet. We know that the people who oppose Angira's entry into the Federation will be either convinced or defeated. And there's an idea that Angiran society is "broken" and must be fixed. I'm not saying that I am a moral relativist, but there ought to be a better and more nuanced way to deal with the two sides of the issue. Still, I don't think that option was open to the author, so I won't blame him.

There are some really hostile reviews of this on GR.  Believe me, it's not that bad.  Sure, Yep has a slightly different take on Spock's inner life than some other authors, and sure, the story was quite a bit about the prince and the other characters, giving Kirk & McCoy just cameos, but it was a fun adventure with some interesting ideas.  Give it a shot. ( )

Spock and Sulu are trapped on a planet during a revolution. A fairly good book. ( )

A decent but unremarkable swashbuckling Star Trek adventure in which Spock and Sulu, alone on a planet remimiscent of 17th century England or France, must help a prince resist a rebellion. There is some interesting interplay between Spock and Sulu, and it is intriguing when Sulu finally gets to live his dream of being a swashbuckling swordsman. But that's about it. The cover is by Boris, a revered fantasy artist, but I'm darned if I can see why. ( )