Nigel Gillson, Mon January 23rd 2012 10:29am
Book Review: New Frontier #1 - House of Cards by Peter David
Star Trek New Frontier #1: House of Cards by Peter David
Sector 221-G: For the whole of Federation history, this large area of space has been controlled by the Thallonians, a cruel, militaristic race of which little is known except that they rule the other races in their sector with a vicious iron hand.
Now the Thallonian Empire has collapsed and the systems it once ruled are in chaos. Old hatred are surfacing. Petty tyrants control deadly weapons. World after world is descending into disorder and self-destruction. The Federation must send a starship to help where it can and report what it finds.
That ship is the USS Excalibur, a newly refit Ambassador Class starship commanded by Captain Mackenzie Calhoun and manned by Starfleet’s best and brightest, including some old friends from Star Trek: The Next Generation and some of the most dynamic new characters ever to crew a Federation starship.
Join Captain Colhoun and the crew of the U.S.S. Excalibur as they explore strange new worlds, seek out new life and new civilisations, and boldly go where no one has gone before!
==Review==
I think this new concept, first published in 1997, brings with it a fresh new look at the Trek universe. Set in 2373, the happenings follow a brand new crew, with some familiar faces from TNG, as they attempt to maintain order in the fallen Thallonian Empire.
This first book is rather slow to begin with, with the main character showing insurmountable super hero syndrome characteristics; capable of sensing his surroundings without super 'human' powers, over powering an entire army by himself and surviving the driest of deserts. Despite this however, the author has intertwinned with great success, elements of the past with those of the 'present' day, bringing about a potentially unbelievable plot and making it believable.
This first book serves to give us an insight into the character and nature of the newest commanding officer, Captain Calhoun. How is childhood help develop him and what really makes him tick. He ends up following his destiny that is not a million miles from his homeworld, where he first started out on his SHS lifestyle.
Despite the over use of SHS in the main character and the rather slow beginning, I think this book has merit. Being short, it will only take you a few hours to read and you will manage to grasp the fundamental ideas behind the concept which is important if you are to read the rest of the series.
Rating: 2.5 Photon Torpedoes
Sector 221-G: For the whole of Federation history, this large area of space has been controlled by the Thallonians, a cruel, militaristic race of which little is known except that they rule the other races in their sector with a vicious iron hand.
Now the Thallonian Empire has collapsed and the systems it once ruled are in chaos. Old hatred are surfacing. Petty tyrants control deadly weapons. World after world is descending into disorder and self-destruction. The Federation must send a starship to help where it can and report what it finds.
That ship is the USS Excalibur, a newly refit Ambassador Class starship commanded by Captain Mackenzie Calhoun and manned by Starfleet’s best and brightest, including some old friends from Star Trek: The Next Generation and some of the most dynamic new characters ever to crew a Federation starship.
Join Captain Colhoun and the crew of the U.S.S. Excalibur as they explore strange new worlds, seek out new life and new civilisations, and boldly go where no one has gone before!
==Review==
I think this new concept, first published in 1997, brings with it a fresh new look at the Trek universe. Set in 2373, the happenings follow a brand new crew, with some familiar faces from TNG, as they attempt to maintain order in the fallen Thallonian Empire.
This first book is rather slow to begin with, with the main character showing insurmountable super hero syndrome characteristics; capable of sensing his surroundings without super 'human' powers, over powering an entire army by himself and surviving the driest of deserts. Despite this however, the author has intertwinned with great success, elements of the past with those of the 'present' day, bringing about a potentially unbelievable plot and making it believable.
This first book serves to give us an insight into the character and nature of the newest commanding officer, Captain Calhoun. How is childhood help develop him and what really makes him tick. He ends up following his destiny that is not a million miles from his homeworld, where he first started out on his SHS lifestyle.
Despite the over use of SHS in the main character and the rather slow beginning, I think this book has merit. Being short, it will only take you a few hours to read and you will manage to grasp the fundamental ideas behind the concept which is important if you are to read the rest of the series.
Rating: 2.5 Photon Torpedoes
