Reviews for Star Trek: The Next Generation: Genesis Force (Genesis Wave Series #4)

The average rating for Star Trek: The Next Generation: Genesis Force (Genesis Wave Series #4) based on 2 reviews is 2.5 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2019-06-23 00:00:00 Paul Puccio A largely standalone coda to the TNG "Genesis Wave" series written by John Vornholt, "Genesis Force" examines the impact of the deadly wave on a non-aligned planet with mixed results. A compelling first half quickly gives way to a rushed mish-mash of fantastical ideas condensed into a second half. Aluwna is a non-aligned planet with a hereditary monarchy style government which just happens to lie smack bang in the middle of the killzone of the deadly Genesis wave. The scientifically advanced population devise a plan to put a large part of their population in transporter stasis to ride the wave out, but encounter a series of problems along the way. The concept is intriguing - a large scale transporter stasis system maintained across a network of satellites. We've seen this technology before: a clear nod to the principle plot device which saw Scotty enter the 24th century in TNG's "Relics". Much of the first act of the novel is spent introducing us to Aluwna's cast of characters: an elderly Overseer and his selfish narcissistic wife, the Seeress Jenoset; the political exile Marla Karuw who is against the hereditary nature of Aluwna's government; and Farlo and Candra, two street-rats who find themselves playing a big role in their planet's future. I enjoyed the unexpected focus on a fresh, new cast of characters - Vornholt does a good job of fleshing them out with distinct, interesting voices. There's nothing groundbreaking here, but it is a divergence from the norm, and for that reason held my interest (certainly for the first half). There's a certain amount of helplessness and inevitability about the Aluwnan's fate: we know that most of the population is doomed, yet they are still determined to fight with every last resource they have to preserve their people. When the wave does eventually strike, a mini-fleet of Klingon ships have entered the story to render aid and assistance. Naturally they are led by our bastion of Klingon morality: newly anointed Ambassador Worf. Worf is accompanied by his son Alexander and long since forgotten orphan Jeremy Aster (TNG's "The Bonding"), taking part in an officer exchange program. The latter's inclusion is perfunctory at best and doesn't add to the story in the slightest - perhaps it's just Vornholt's way of saying "hey look, I know my TNG canon!". The inevitable conflict between the Klingons and the moss-creatures on the newly transformed Aluwna is a lot of fun to read and keeps the pace of the novel ticking along at an engaging enough speed for the middle section of the book. Sadly, Genesis Force lost interest for me in the final third. As the Enterprise is introduced to render aid, it's simply a case of "too many cooks". Focus is largely taken off the Aluwnans and the Klingons to throw in an over-the-top coda which lurches from one unbelievable crisis to the next. Enterprise in mortal danger because of implausible event? Check. At least one Enterprise crew member in mortal danger separated from the crew? Check. Inevitable hero/villain makes good plotline? Check. Random dinosaurs/space amoebas trying to kill Deanna Troi? Check. That last one just had my eyes on a constant roll for the last three chapters. I simply have no idea quite why Vornholt decided to throw so much at the reader when he still had the main plot to wrap up. Indeed, this is what compromised the whole book for me: a thoroughly unsatisfying conclusion to the story. The Aluwnans are rescued from stasis in a throwaway line coated in technobabble. Their entry to the Federation is recommended in another throwaway sentence. And then we're back on Earth saying hello to... Jeremy Aster? Ugh. Terrible, terrible ending. Three stars based on a solid first two-thirds. This isn't the first John Vornholt Star Trek book where the ending has soured my view, and I'm sure it won't be the last!

Review # 2 was written on 2013-12-26 00:00:00 Janet Harrison This is a sci-fi novel, but not a Star Trek one. Our heroes from the Enterprise are just guest stars in a story that is about an alien civilization on the brink of extinction because of the Genesis Wave. While the story is not bad in itself, it is simply something a Trekker is not expecting from a ST novel and, worst of all, it is a very bad way of closing the Genesis wave book series. Simply it is not a conclusion at all, just a collateral story that really doesn't add anything to the main Genesis storyline.