Strike Zone Star Trek the Next Generation #5

Very action packed and, at the same time, humorous.

I first read this when I was young and stupid, and my reaction was something along the lines of 'Yeah, yeah. Next,' and little else. And, for a long while, that was how I left it, even when I began to reread the novels on a whim -- I mean, for crying out loud, let's face it. The 'description' of the plot on the back cover leaves a lot to be desired. So does the cover, for that matter. Thus it was only recently, when persuaded by my sister to give it another chance, that I at last discovered just how good this novel is. Nearly everything in here is perfect. The alien 'menace,' the Kreel, are not seen on the TV series, but David brings them to life with a gleeful enthusiasm, painting them in a humorous light at first that makes them a little difficult to take seriously. As the book goes on, however, we see that these aliens aren't just your typical ignorant phaser-toting race, and things begin to take on a darker tone as one particular Kreel begins to lay his plans. I'm sure we're all aware here of the general populace's famously publicized despisal of Wesley Crusher, something to which I never personally subscribed. David doesn't seem to, either, and he uses this book to show us a very different side of Wesley. When he learns that a close friend is dying of a brutally painful, irreversible disease, Wesley begins his own 'search for the cure,' refusing to believe that it's hopeless. I know that many of us out there who have lost loved ones to cancer or other incurable diseases know just how it feels. But Wesley's search degenerates into an obsessive compulsion, robbing him of much more than sleep as he pours more and more of himself into what others see as a hopeless cause. All of you out there who sneer at this character because he's so perfect, so smart, all of you need to read this book. Wesley literally begins to come apart at the seams. It was in this characterization that I felt Peter David touched the threshold of brilliance. The final scene, where Picard gently confronts Wesley about his role in the affairs that have unfolded, is nothing short of incredible. You can see the thread of Wesley's sanity unravelling almost before your eyes, and his exchange with Picard leads to a breakdown the likes of which you have never seen. Overwhelmingly emotional, and very tenderly handled by David, who finishes off this marvelous effort with one last wink in the reader's direction. Absolutely outstanding.

The Enterprise is sent to ferry parties from two races who hate each other's guts (the Klingons and the Kreel) to the source of their dispute, a mysterious planet. This planet (temporarily named DQN1196) is chock-full of extremely powerful weapons, which the less technologically advanced Kreel have used to attack the Klingons. Sent to negotiate a treaty that would be satisfactory to both races is the Honourable Kobry, a legendary Klingon ambassador. He arrives with his aide, the beautiful Gava, who takes an interest in Lieutenant Worf.But the real story, the heart and soul of this book, revolves around Wesley and his Selelvian best friend, Jaan. Jaan has developed an extremely rare genetic disease unique to his race, for which no cure has been found, so Wesley becomes determined to find one. However, his determination soon turns to obsession. He shuts himself in his cabin, working around the clock, forgetting to eat and refusing to rest. By the end of the book, Wesley is a physical and emotional wreck, leading to a positively explosive climax. I could go on and on about this, but to tell more would spoil the ending.This is one of The Best TNG's ever written, and of all the dramatic Star Trek novels, this is my favourite. Peter David has a talent for writing characters, the likes of which I have not seen in any other author of TNG books.I am unashamed to say that Wesley is my favourite Star Trek character ever, and David's sympathetic portrayal of him impressed me very much. Wesley is an extremely fascinating character, but most of the time, he is underused and unexplored (not to mention decidedly unapppreciated, by too many people) In this book, he is given the story he deserves. Probably the best scene in the entire book is the one at the very end. I LOVE this scene, and would give an arm to see it on screen! If they had filmed this as an episode, even the most ardent of Wesley-haters would find it hard not to like him. I won't spoil it for anyone, but suffice it to say that reading it was the most memorable experience a Star Trek novel has ever given me(and that is saying quite a lot). This is a must-read for all who call themselves fans of Star Trek, and even if you don't like Wesley, after reading this book, you may find that you have changed your mind. If five were not the maximum number of stars allowed, I would give it many, many more.

Peter David has written an very funny story. He has an incredible knack of adding humor to his Trek novels, which is why he is one of my favorite Trek authors. And he does not disappoint in his first TNG book. The Kreel are so inept and the dialoge among the crew is classic.