Titan, Book One : Taking Wing (Star Trek: The Next (Star Trek)

Titan, Book One : Taking Wing (Star Trek: The Next Generation)

0743496272

Star Trek

29 March, 2005

I was expecting a good book, but this just blew me away. Star Trek books has been cracking down, it seems, on the quality of it's books, and Star Trek Titan shows it. The book introduces a varitable fountain of new characters, as well as fluidly integrated some well knowns from 'The Next Generation', 'Deep Space Nine', 'Voyager', and even one from the 'Original Series' 
 The only problem with this book, is that the author failed to avoid keeping current politics out of the book by introducing homosexual characters. This is not a problem for me, but could potentially be a subject for debate. I reccomend this book to everyone interested in Star Trek or science-fiction. The plot setting is appropriate. The writing style gets the story off too slowly. The author handles the elements between the Admiral and the new Captain Ryker well. The Reman story elements seem too passive for what they have gone through. Most other avid Star Trek fans will want the future stories to more more quickly for the series to become popular. I have started reading Articles of the Federation. It is not clear if this novel is meant to precede Star Trek Titan. I will read Star Trek TItan:The Red King when it comes out to see if I will follow this series. 
 
 LCDR Holoboski, USN RET. I absolutely agree that there were too many characters in this book. The 6 factions fighting over Romulus were waaay too many, considering that we spend the majority of our time from the perspective of the Titan crew, we really learn very very little about the Romulans, which ultimately makes the intrigue a little boring.
 
 One reason there are so many characters is because Titan is supposed to be the "most diverse" crew yet. One of the things I like about Star Trek is that this is usually taken for granted. Here it it's not. In this book, we see Deanna harping Will about being more tolerant, and the crew reacting badly to one particularly different member. It's always in the context of the crew quickly getting over it, but I just found it painful.
 
 The characters weren't developed enough or real enough to pull off this kind of interspecies conflict on the ship.

The Star Trek Cookbook (Star Trek: All)

0671000225

Star Trek

01 January, 1999

This book is amazing for people who like to cook and are trekkies. I would also recomend this for people who just want to try something new. It's a shame that this book has been labeled and endorsed by the Star Trek franchise as their official cookbook, because it's been obviously written by people who don't understand and didn't bother to check the background information given on most foods and beverages presented in any of the Star Trek movies and the first four TV series (Original series, Next Generation, Deep Space Nine and Voyager).
 This book's very confusing format is divided into six main sections that list the recipes according to the character's likes and dislikes based, by the way, on very doubtful assertions, which include many inaccurate quotes and anecdotes that conveniently make many Star Trek unrelated dishes seem related to the series. This means that in order to find a Strawberries and Cream recipe, you must look for it among the recipes listed as Capt. Janeway's favorites in the Voyager section.
 The book also includes some dish variations that go way beyond just making a few adjustments to the recipes. For example, there is a recipe for a Klingon Blood Pie, traditionally a baked roast and veal kidneys pie, which transforms it into a sweet cranberry pie. 
 Most of the recipes are poorly written and badly edited, and lack specific information, giving only general instructions and details. Also, the authors have avoided including any recipe containing alcohol, altogether ignoring the liquors and spirits often showcased in the Star Trek universe.
 The book's visual style is also a minus, as it doesn't include a single color photograph of a finished dish, only containing black & white pictures (mostly of crew members) taken directly from the shows. But the book's worst feature is the author's patronizing and annoying writing style.
 I gave the book two stars because of the information and techniques on making prop foods and the very well written and very delicious recipes contributed by many Star Trek actors. If these two things aren't enough to satisfy you, don't even bother with this book.
 --Reviewed by Maritza Volmar In my best criticism, this book is just like the Iron Chef: The Official Book, beacuase they both advocate "new original cuisines which could be called true artistic creations". This is the book you must read, whether you are fan of Iron Chef and/or Star Trek. I hope you enjoy both book that I mention above. Allez Cuisine!