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After finishing the new Titan book I wondered what to read next. Mainly
thanks to the praise I have read before I got this book I decided to
start reading the String Theory trilogy.
With each Voyager book I have to keep in mind that characterizations and
character development was often erratic in Voyager the TV series and
also because of plot holes and contradictions, a certain amount of
damage control as well as room for interpretation must be expected. I
wasn`t feeling that way when the TV series was still running but
nowadays I am very tolerant about these issues. It also helps a bit that
I usually only watched each Voyager episode once so that I won`t notice
minor discrepancies anyway.
That also means I don`t remember how the relationship between B`Elanna
and Seven was shown at the point of time this book takes place. What was
important to me is that their relationship as shown in "Cohesion" makes
sense. I think this book brought back the B`Elanna of the early Voyager,
which has always been my favourite period of the series. A certain
toning down over the years makes sense but even between the fourth and
fifth season, B`Elanna`s Klingon side should be visible at certain
times. I think she had been tamed too much in later Voyager and it was
refreshing for me to see her passionate side again, struggling to
balance her instincts with her rational intelligence.
That there would be a clash of personalities between her and Seven,
especially at this time when Seven was still quite new on board, is very
understandable and I think Jeffrey Lang showed these differences very
well. The way he was exploring these differences and paving the way for
an understanding is definitely my favourite part of this book. I found
it very interesting and enjoyable to read. It made me smile when I
learned at the end that a small part of this link seemed to have
survived after the separation.
Having said that, there is one aspect that felt wrong to me. It even put
me off because I most definitely don`t remember that Janeway was a super
captain. I don`t want to go into details here because writing about that
topic would result in an essay. Also, I don`t buy it that it was in
character how B`Elanna was hero worshipping her captain as shown on page
347. Janeway`s handling of the Prime Directive was as erratic as her
character was written in the TV series. That the passionate B`Elanna was
always happy with everything her captain decided is simply not true.
Some of what Janeway did during her journey was inexcusable.
But that is the only criticism of the characterizations I have.
Everything else felt accurate to me and I enjoyed many of the character
moments in this book.
Voyager encountering strange space phenomena is nothing new. Fortunately
the story has little technobabble and the phenomena itself are
nevertheless explained in ways that give me at least a rough idea. It is
even more phantastic than what I just read in "The Red King" but it is
not too bad.
Maybe I am wrong but it seems one goal in recent Trek was to introduce
more SF elements and aliens that are more alien than the usual humanoid.
As long as it doesn`t become too ridiculous as in "Threshold" and "Realm
of Fear", that is fine with me. The Monorhans were definitely
interesting and different.
I am curious what will happen next.
Baerbel Haddrell
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