The Return

[Mel]

I read The Return. It was pretty good. (Spoilers below)

Although I was enjoying it, I didn't like that Kirk was killing the NG crew. I also didn't believe it when Kirk battled Worf and won. Then I got to the place where Kirk hadn't killed them after all. When I was two-thirds of the way through (removing Kirk's implant; Spock and Picard accusing each other of colluding with the Borg) it really picked up and I couldn't put it down.

I dunno what to think of the ending with Sarek, but, I probably won't read the next book to find out. I can't recall the title of it.

[TrekBeatTK]

Jan 7, 2014 21:08:45 GMT -5 Mel said:

I read The Return. It was pretty good. (Spoilers below)

Although I was enjoying it, I didn't like that Kirk was killing the NG crew. I also didn't believe it when Kirk battled Worf and won. Then I got to the place where Kirk hadn't killed them after all. When I was two-thirds of the way through (removing Kirk's implant; Spock and Picard accusing each other of colluding with the Borg) it really picked up and I couldn't put it down.

I dunno what to think of the ending with Sarek, but, I probably won't read the next book to find out. I can't recall the title of it.

I can believe that a Borg-ed up Kirk could whoop Worf. After all, think of those times when someone beamed onto the Enterprise and beat Worf. He growls and jumps out, then three seconds later he's on the ground.

The next book is called "Avenger" and I thought the explanation about Sarek and all was pretty weak. I didn't like it as much as the other two. And Avenger is better if you read Ashes of Eden first anyway. Just know that Kirk survives and all is right with the world.

-TK

[Mel]

I can believe that a Borg-ed up Kirk could whoop Worf. After all, think of those times when someone beamed onto the Enterprise and beat Worf. He growls and jumps out, then three seconds later he's on the ground. - TK

I didn't get the impression that Kirk had been Borgified. A Borg implant was put into his brain; I suppose that could make him resistant to pain, but I don't see how it could make him physically stronger than he was. Maybe, maybe, the nanites made Kirk stronger. But my recollection is that they were not of Borg origin. I'm not sure where they came from.

The next book is called "Avenger" and I thought the explanation about Sarek and all was pretty weak. I didn't like it as much as the other two. And Avenger is better if you read Ashes of Eden first anyway.

Care to share what Sarek had to do with Kirk, and how he escaped death?

Just know that Kirk survives and all is right with the world.

That's what's important.

[CRAMBAM]

I think one of the key parts was that even in his Borg state, Kirk wouldn't kill.

Let's not forget that Kirk in ST3 took on Kruge and won. It's not like it's so far fetched, especially with some Borg nanites in his system.

Plus, let's face it--who didn't kick the crap out of Worf?



And then again, look how much the TNG crew thinks of Worf's opinion:



The next book is called Avenger, and not reading it would be like not watching the second part of a two part story.

In a way, that was my beef with The Return--it doesn't work as a standalone. The story wasn't finished.

Avenger, at the end, works as a place to break away if you are inclined. The next three books are a separate trilogy.

But The Return has too many unanswered issues to end on its own.

You sure you want Avenger spoilers?

[Mel]

I think one of the key parts was that even in his Borg state, Kirk wouldn't kill.

That's an excellent point.

Let's not forget that Kirk in ST3 took on Kruge and won. It's not like it's so far fetched, especially with some Borg nanites in his system.

They weren't Borg nanites. The implant was Borg, but not the nanites. I don't think the book ever said where the nanites came from, or did I miss that?? Is the origin of the nanites revealed in book 3? Maybe that's why you called them Borg.

Plus, let's face it--who didn't kick the crap out of Worf?

Hmm. We'll just have agree to disagree. I don't dislike the TNG crew the way some of you do.

Avenger, at the end, works as a place to break away if you are inclined ... The Return has too many unanswered issues to end on its own. You sure you want Avenger spoilers?

Well, I live in the boonies. My library doesn't have Avenger, and the few bookstores we have rarely have SF books. Also, money is really tight. Given that, it's unlikely I will buy it, so I don't mind being spoiled.

[CRAMBAM]

Kirk was revived using a combination of Borg and Romulan tech. I'm pretty sure the nanites were Borg.

I don't dislike the TNG crew, but Worf was a punching bag. I believe there actually is a saying, "getting Worfed" because kicking the crap out of Worf was a way to establish a villain was strong and a threat. It happened a LOT, as that video I posted showed.

So Kirk beating Worf down is not really a stretch.

Ok, so Avenger in a nutshell.

At the end of The Return, Kirk didn't die. He had one last chance--this beam of light that he saw as the Borg planet was exploding.

Being Kirk, he went for it.

Turns out that beam was a transporter that took him to some Borg facility. It's been awhile since I read the book, but I believe there were other Borg there, that were off the collective, and they had the technology to get the nanites out of his system and fix him up.

He eventually was able to get a ship, and two years later, returned to the Federation.

Meanwhile, there is a massive problem going on. An interplanetary plague is killing plant life, causing a massive food shortage in the Federation. Picard of course was involved in dealing with that. Any planet that has the virogen as it was called, was quarantined. The virus spread to humanoids.

Kirk ends up on one of those planets, which was introduced in Ashes, where he looked for and found his love interest from Ashes. He knew how to cure her and on a larger scale, the virus, based on his experiences on the Borg homeworld.

We're introduced to a new crew, which is not elite like the TNG crew, but members of the crew have traits similar to the TOS crew, including the captain (a female), and a grumpy doctor, a descendant of Dr. M'Benga from TOS.

So the captain (MacDonald) starts to figure out who Kirk is, even though Kirk was not really admitting it.

There are basically two parallel plots involving Kirk and Picard, each doing his own thing.

My favorite part of the book is when Kirk finally cops to being Kirk. Captain MacDonald's ship is being attacked by Orions, and they are attacking the planet too. She doesn't have Kirk's combat experience, so she has her crew find him, and beam him up. He refuses to take command until Teilani (his girl) is beamed up too. Once she is, he takes command and kicks the crap out of the Orions. Good action scene.

Kirk believes that there's no way the plague could be a natural thing.

Turns out there's a whole conspiracy out there, by a group called Symmetrists, who have been around since Sarek was young. Sarek in his youth, was part of them, but he got away from them after the Kodos incident, which I believe they had something to do with.

It is revealed that Sarek actually found the 13 year old Kirk, and mind melded with him, and something in that mind meld affected Kirk's memory and is the reason Kirk felt he would die alone. It turns out the Symmetrists actually caused Sarek's Bendaii Syndrome, delivering the disease in a way that made it look like that's what he had.

Then they did the same thing to Spock, who started showing signs of the disease.

In the end, Kirk and Spock reunite in a somewhat comical scene that begins with both of them fighting in the dark, not knowing who they were fighting. I also believe that an older McCoy was brought in to help out.

The book slowly brought Kirk and Picard together, united them in stopping the Symmetrists, Spock was cured of his issue, Sarek was avenged (hence the title), and everyone had a happy ending.

The book ended the way it should, with all the characters in a good spot.

[Mel]

Kirk was revived using a combination of Borg and Romulan tech. I'm pretty sure the nanites were Borg.

I'm old and my memory sucks. But I recall paying attention to the implant being readily identified as Borg, yet the nanite technology was unrecognized. According to an online search -- which may not be right -- the nanites were of Romulan origin.

I don't dislike the TNG crew, but Worf was a punching bag. I believe there actually is a saying, "getting Worfed" because kicking the crap out of Worf was a way to establish a villain was strong and a threat. It happened a LOT, as that video I posted showed. So Kirk beating Worf down is not really a stretch.

I don't recall Worf being readily and repeatedly defeated; obviously I've forgotten. Perhaps the strength I attribute to him was because of the Klingon pain ritual(s) he endured.

The book ended the way it should, with all the characters in a good spot.

Can't ask better than that. But a mind-meld with an Earthling who is 13 years old. Does that sound logical?

[CRAMBAM]

I don't remember the specifics. I think there was a machine involved that was Romulan. It was the Borg engaging in an experimental alliance, which was likely temporary as they likely would have turned on the Romulans.

Oh, and Worf was the TNG crew's bitch. There are some very funny videos on youtube with this subject. I posted a couple in this thread.

Under the circumstances, Sarek deemed mindmelding with Kirk necessary. It's been awhile but I think it saved Kirk's life.