Old Wounds (Spoiler)

S P O I L E R

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In general, I like the book and am curious how the story will end. Now
that I have read three of the Voyager Relaunch books, a distinctive
style becomes more visible. In some ways they remind me of Stargazer
because I also finished "Old Wounds" in two days (more accurately,
evenings). Both series are an easy, light read but by now I definitely
prefer the Voyager books. Although some of what Christie Golden
introduced needs some getting used to, I find the characters more
interesting and after the last few Stargazer books, I also find the
Voyager characters more likeable. After reading "Old Wounds" I even see
more potential in this Voyager book series than I expected when the
first books came out. It certainly has overtaken Stargazer in that
regard.

I had another discussion about how PAD is writing Robin Lefler when I
was reading this book and I suddenly realized that to me, Libby is very
much the way Lefler should have been in NF. Libby is a typical people
person, happy, outgoing and girlish but contrary to Robin, she is much
more mature. I can understand why so many people have trouble to see
Libby as an agent. I also had that problem at first, but the best agents
are people who don`t seem to fit the bill so that they tend to be
overlooked and underestimated. I like the way Christie Golden is writing
her a lot.

What is more difficult for me to accept is the decision to choose Kim as
the security chief on Chakotay`s ship. Kim got so much on my nerves in
Voyager. Especially in "Nightingale" but also on other occasions he was
not only painfully, sometimes even dangerously, naïve but also
incompetent. I had to remind myself that also Kim was written very
inconsistently in Voyager at times but nevertheless, promoting him to
Lieutenant is one thing, giving him the position of security chief is
another. Of course it provides some intriguing opportunities keeping in
mind that Libby and Kim are a couple. But Christie Golden should better
convince me and others that Kim is actually the right person for the
job. For example, he should find out better sooner than later about
Libby`s secret.

That Chakotay is a Starfleet captain now is nothing I have any problem
with. I can understand that this was not an easy choice for some
Admirals but on the other hand, after the Dominion War, there are not
many people they can pick and choose from and he HAS a lot of
experience. That they chose a "by the book" first officer for him makes
sense, too and also this reminded me of NF, when "by the book" Shelby
was becoming "loose cannon" Calhoun`s first officer. "Priggy" and "Eppy"
- hm, I wonder if history will kind of repeat itself on Voyager, meaning
that both sides learn from each other and grow. Ellis certainly has
potential. So far, his "by the book" quirks are more amusing to me than
annoying. I like him and am hoping it will stay that way.

The only person I have problems with is the counsellor on Voyager. I
like Christie Golden`s emotional writing style. OK, sometimes she is
pushing it a bit with all the embracing and near-tearful moments but on
the other hands, these books have a nice, warm atmosphere. That these
people are very close is something I can understand very well. But with
Astall, she is pushing it too far, even for me. This is more than
empathy, something that is certainly an important ability counsellors
should have. Some people are hyper active - she is hyper emotional. If I
would serve on Voyager, Astall would be about the last person I would
visit if I have a problem.

What I especially liked about this book is the way Golden wrote about a
conflict between the original Voyager crew and survivors of the Dominion
War. The parallels between this situation and the start of the Voyager
TV series are obvious. It is nothing I would have expected but I think,
I should have and that makes this aspect so interesting to me. One of
the many weaknesses Voyager on TV had was that the conflict between
Starfleet and Maquis personnel was forgotten so quickly, already after
the second or third episode if I remember correctly. It was unrealistic
then and it would be unrealistic now to move past this without actually
dealing with it. Both sides, Campbell and Chittenden, said things I
can`t disagree with when I look at the point of view in question. My
guess is, both sides will eventually respect each other, as it happened
with the original Voyager crew. But it shouldn`t be the quick and
unrealistic change as shown on TV.

It is good to see that Janeway actually likes her job as Admiral. I had
my problems with her as Captain at times but it seems I am right, that
her idealism and stubbornness is what is needed at the highest level of
Starfleet. Janeway is still very new there. I am hoping, in time she
will be the key person who will finally clean up so that Admirals with
dangerous ideas will be the exception of the rule and not the other way
round as it seems to be at the moment.

"Tattoo" is certainly not an episode I would have chosen as a topic,
also because I am not a fan of what was introduced then. But again,
Christie Golden handled the material well and turned it into something I
even find intriguing. I haven`t got the second part yet and I think it
is better to wait until I read it before I write more comments.

I am definitely looking forward to part two but at the moment I am first
of all waiting for "After the Fall" .

Baerbel Haddrell