Post by Astroruss on Nov 28, 2009 23:59:17 GMT -5
Review of Star Trek: Ex Machina by Christopher L. Bennett
ISBN 9780743492850
This novel is a follow up story to the Original Series episode “For the World is Hollow and I Have Touched the Sky”, and take place a few weeks after Star Trek: The Motion Picture.
The asteroid ship Yonada has reached its destination of Daran IV, that the Fabrini call Lorina, ending its ten thousand year long journey from the doomed home world of Fabrina. Those that survive the journey, the descendants of the Fabrini, strive to make their new home a blessed one as their Creators foreseen. The Fabrini believed the Creators carved out Yonada from blessed rock for the long journey to the new world, and fashioned the Oracle from this blessed rock. The Oracle is a kind of guiding deity for Yonada; it is what we would call an advanced astro/navigating computer, one designed to guide the chosen people to their destination planet of Lorina.
Natira, newly secularized after she learns of the truth of the Oracle from Captain Kirk, learns that fanatics of the old religion still exist and exercise great influence and terror over the still largely devout People of Lorina. The majority of these are religious moderates, afraid to oppose the fanatics but support their efforts to bring down the secular govt. Natira feels she has no choice but to call McCoy of the Enterprise to help them.
The Enterprise travels to Lorina, and quick assists the Lorini in their efforts. Kirk actively seeks negotiations with the new priestess Rishala, leader of the moderate religious majority. Rishala does not fear Kirk like the rest of the People do; they see him as the Godkiller of Hell. However, they are heartened by his apparent failure to halt the ascension of the new god V’Ger. Vger ascends to a new plane of being, and the fanatics see this as proof of their divine jihad against the devil bitch Natira. To complicate matters, McCoy’s and Natira’s reunion is tainted with suspicion and scorn; they no longer trust each other. And the new crew of the Enterprise begin to lose faith and confidence in their own captain now as well. Spock struggles to reconcile his failure to purge his emotions and his human half’s conflictions. Needless to say, the Enterprise crew are not at their best.
As the fanatics gain strength against the secular govt and the moderates, Kirk leads Natira in a desperate quest to recover the lost knowledge of Yonada’s history. The startling truth is buried in the past, and it takes to relearn it. The leader of the fanatics, Dovraku, gains the upper hand and seizes control of Yonada in orbit of Lorina, and plan to use it to unleash Holy Fire of the Creators.
The Enterprise crew fight for their lives and the faith and existence of a new planet’s people and their future.
ISBN 9780743492850
This novel is a follow up story to the Original Series episode “For the World is Hollow and I Have Touched the Sky”, and take place a few weeks after Star Trek: The Motion Picture.
The asteroid ship Yonada has reached its destination of Daran IV, that the Fabrini call Lorina, ending its ten thousand year long journey from the doomed home world of Fabrina. Those that survive the journey, the descendants of the Fabrini, strive to make their new home a blessed one as their Creators foreseen. The Fabrini believed the Creators carved out Yonada from blessed rock for the long journey to the new world, and fashioned the Oracle from this blessed rock. The Oracle is a kind of guiding deity for Yonada; it is what we would call an advanced astro/navigating computer, one designed to guide the chosen people to their destination planet of Lorina.
Natira, newly secularized after she learns of the truth of the Oracle from Captain Kirk, learns that fanatics of the old religion still exist and exercise great influence and terror over the still largely devout People of Lorina. The majority of these are religious moderates, afraid to oppose the fanatics but support their efforts to bring down the secular govt. Natira feels she has no choice but to call McCoy of the Enterprise to help them.
The Enterprise travels to Lorina, and quick assists the Lorini in their efforts. Kirk actively seeks negotiations with the new priestess Rishala, leader of the moderate religious majority. Rishala does not fear Kirk like the rest of the People do; they see him as the Godkiller of Hell. However, they are heartened by his apparent failure to halt the ascension of the new god V’Ger. Vger ascends to a new plane of being, and the fanatics see this as proof of their divine jihad against the devil bitch Natira. To complicate matters, McCoy’s and Natira’s reunion is tainted with suspicion and scorn; they no longer trust each other. And the new crew of the Enterprise begin to lose faith and confidence in their own captain now as well. Spock struggles to reconcile his failure to purge his emotions and his human half’s conflictions. Needless to say, the Enterprise crew are not at their best.
As the fanatics gain strength against the secular govt and the moderates, Kirk leads Natira in a desperate quest to recover the lost knowledge of Yonada’s history. The startling truth is buried in the past, and it takes to relearn it. The leader of the fanatics, Dovraku, gains the upper hand and seizes control of Yonada in orbit of Lorina, and plan to use it to unleash Holy Fire of the Creators.
The Enterprise crew fight for their lives and the faith and existence of a new planet’s people and their future.
