Wounded Sky

This is probably the best of the Star Trek novels I have read so far! Character and story depth is excellent, and the introduction of a glass spider alien is very intriguing.

It's quite strange, to say the least, to see The Wounded Sky described as a "mass consumption paperback". Even if some other Star Trek novels are, this is certainly not the sort of watered-down, commercialized novel that name would indicate. This is a novel of many, many levels, that draws the reader back over and over--there is always something new to be found lurking underneath what you saw the first time around. I honestly believe that had it not been put out as a specifically "Star Trek" novel, it would be gaining *far* more widespread public acclaim.What I most love about this work is its ability to weave together plot, physics, music, philosophy, humour, and more into a single cohesive story that truly has a lifelike sweep to it. Although some may object to this metaphor, I found a similar experience with the movie The Matrix...in that movie, there are subtle clues, references that you might not catch on the first viewing, but one by one become obvious as you watch it again. So too does The Wounded Sky. I'm certain that each time I reread the book, I will arrive at some new understanding.Diane Duane is more than an author, in my opinion. She is very much a modern philosopher, and in this work it shows more clearly than any other. There is an entire worldview contained within this book that perhaps speaks to the recent efforts to reconcile the warring factions of science and religion, and more.However, don't let the description of this book's philosophical angle scare you off. The book has excellent character development, and nowhere else but in Diane Duane's works does the crew of the Enterprise seems so *alive*, so *diverse*, and such a family. It is a beautiful sort of patchwork rather than the streamlined unit that other books--even the Series--portray. Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations, you could say.This is easily the best Star Trek novel ever written. Even those who Scorn the series in favour of less commercial science fiction should try this book. Since it will forever be stuck with this "mass consumption" label, be sure to tell your friends the *real* story about The Wounded Sky. That will be the only way to get the word out.Well done, Ms. Duane!

This book was two "firsts" for me: the first Star Trek novel I ever read, and my first introduction to Diane Duane's writing. Let me tell you, it set the standard very high. Ms. Duane has a feel for the original Trek characters I have rarely seen matched (especially Dr. McCoy!). She gets inside them like they were her own characters but still maintains the integrity of what we have seen onscreen. Her new characters are vivid and well-drawn, the mindsets of the aliens truly unique. (Including one young cat-being that has no understanding of time besides "now.") Ms. Duane's main "guest star," the alien scientist K'tl'k, is as memorable a character as she's ever written.But even better is her completely original plot. The *Enterprise* and her crew have been selected to test the first-ever star drive that has the capacity to travel to new galaxies, through an inversion process that takes them (briefly) into a completely different dimension. But what at first seems like a simple process instead begins to break down all the barriers between the mental and the physical, between this world and the next.The story becomes almost metaphysical from this point on, where the characters have nothing to rely on but what is at the core of their being. Yet there is still a srong current of scientific plausability, if not probability, that keeps the story solid and more-than-readable. The physics and ethics theories presented are fascinating even for the "science-challenged" and the plot is a true page-turner.I highly recommend this book; even if you are not a Star Trek fan, there is plenty here to fully satisfy any fan of Ms. Duane. One of her very best!

I have a full shelf of Star Trek original series novels. If you look at the spines you can see which are well read. My copy of The Wounded Sky is easily the most battered. The story line continues to grip me each time I re-read it. It actually starts out as a 'let's go explore' storyline, and doesn't turn into a 'here we are saving the universe again' until sudden sad realisation near the end of the book. The classic interactions between the regular characters are masterfully written, and we seem to find more depth to each of them. The new people spring off the page, straight into your imagination, in full 3D. If you read it and love the glass spider, she's in Spock's World too. Read and enjoy - I'm sure you will

Diane Duane has always been one of my favourite Trek authors. Her stories are very well written, with the emphasis always being on characters and plotlines, with a firm grasp of scientific concepts. This was Diane's first novel, and even after reading her others (My Enemy, My Ally and Doctor's Orders) this still remains one of my favourite Trek novels.K'tlk, a scientist from a race of sentient arachnids (called the Hamalki), has discovered an `inversion drive'. Essentially, it allows any vessel to instaneously transport itself from one point in space to another. The theory is explained by K'tlk in a debriefing she gives to the crew. This passage is a perfect example of how Diane can seamlessly combine `real' science with Trek...something that's been sorely lacking in the official series over the past few years.So what makes `The Wounded Sky' so special? Because the novel focuses on Star Trek's original premise - "To Boldly Go Where No One has gone Before". The emphasis in this novel is on exploration, and the danger comes from the Enterprise's encounters with the unknown. There is however, a spectacular space battle with the Klingons near the beginning of the novel. The description are extremely vivid, and assumes that a starship will be subject to real physics, which adds real tension to this scene.The second strength of this novel also lies with the characterisation. Unlike the original series, Kirk treats his crew with respect, and they're all given extra dimensions never seen in the series or the films. Uhura is given a chance to demonstrate her talent at translating alien languages, Sulu is given the spotlight during a battle with the Klingons (and seriously kicks butt!), and Chekov acts the hero in a sequence near the end of the book. They're not portrayed or treated as expendable crew members. In Diane's Trek universe, everybody has something useful to contribute, and we care about what happens to them. Kudos to the author for making such a courageous move.One character in particular should be given special mention, and that is K'tlk. The Hamalki are hands-down, in my opinion, the most intriguing alien species created for Star Trek. Their entire culture is genuinely alien, and I think some people are going to get a kick out of finding out about how they reproduce. I was thrilled to see K'tlk return in Diane's other novel (`Spock's World'), this is one character I wouldn't mind seeing more of.So, in conclusion, Wounded Sky is an extremely well-written debut novel. It's unfortunate that Star Trek novels aren't accepted by Paramount as being canon. There are certain aspects of this novel that I wouldn't have minded being put into the TV series. Having a sun go supernova when a starship goes into warp near it's corona makes perfect sense.Again, if anyone wants to read a good example of Star Trek, I strongly reccommend this novel.