The Eyes of the Beholders

I bought this novel recently at a library's sale of discarded books, and frankly I am impressed by this diamond in the rough. It isn't the *best* thing I've ever read, but it is impressive all the same. In fact, it's the best one out of the several Star Trek books I bought at that sale. I think part of the reason I love it so much is that the style is exactly like a Star Trek episode. Obviously, we get to see inside the character's minds and through their eyes in ways that the TV series couldn't do, but the "look-and-feel" of the book is like watching a new episode on a TV sitting inside your head. Just like in the TV show, they have three different plots: the main plot and two subplots. One of them, concerning Data, is kind of hard to read but doesn't differ in that respect from many of the other "Data trying to be human" subplots on the TV episodes. Just like on the TV episodes, it makes me cringe a little. Not so much from the awfulness of his writing, but from the poor way the characters deal with it. Data craves genuine criticism, and all they can do is try to spare feelings he doesn't have. If they're afraid of squashing his muse, they needn't be. I've already thought of all kinds of things I could say to him to help him improve. All told, aside from the cringe factor of that particular subplot, it is an excellent book. Very true to the series, and that's just how I love it. So many Star Trek novels are like movies in book form that it's about time I found one that was a TV episode in book form. I always liked the series better than the movies.

I found the premise and the setting of this novel to be in good keeping with A. C. Crispin's style of writing and well on par with a Star Trek The Next Generation novel of this timeframe. It's unfortunate that this novel was A. C. Crispin's first and last adventure in the STNG arena. Given this and her past Star Trek novels, it would be nice to see her make a return to Star Trek, in any of its variants, in the full novel format.The premise: The Enterprise is called into a recently opened trade route to investigate the disappearance of several Federation and Klingon vessels. Once there, they uncover a graveyard full of ships. They find an extremely large and powerful artifact constructed by an ancient species. Upon studying this ancient artifact, they trigger it and they then find themselves in the positions of having to disable or destroy it before it destroys them.I would definitely recommend this early STNG novel to any and all fans of Star Trek The Next Generation, casual or die hard alike. {ssintrepid}

The Eyes of the Beholders by A.C. Crispin is a first contact novel something the author is good at and you will not be disappointed here. She writes with a refreshing suspensful style that keeps the reader on the edge of the seat.As a new trade route opens, there are ships missing, both Federation and Klingon seem to disappear, now the Enterprise and crew are sent to investigate these disappearences and find something rather unique. It seems that a graveyard of ships, of all shapes and sizes, are here and some of them are quite old. This is a Geordi LaForge and Data book mainly as the Enterprise trys to figure out the mystery of this graveyard and an Artifact that seems to weld immensely awesome power.The Enterprise crew are affected by this power and are threatened by insanity. The author keeps you involved with the story and has good character development throughout the book and gives a lot of information about Data. This story is intriguingly captivating as your intrest is piqued with the first contact.This is a well told story written true to the TNG characters. Those wanting good action adventure with excellent science fiction should buy this book.

A good moral and some nice descriptions make up this wonderful book. I like this book better than the ones about Spock's son.

This is undoubtedly the best TNG book I have read. It combines a true adherence to the StarTrek word while providing its own original elements. Crispin has always been fascinated by first contacts, and she chooses here a vessel so alien it makes humans dizzy just looking at it. Data modifies his visual net to be able ot explore the artifact, and that lays the basis for an extraordinary insight into the unique. Data's quest and personality have never been better rendered or more beatifully honored. A first contact with a completely alien race brings the reader for the edge of his or her seat. Not only Trek fans but any science fiction reader should read this book