Ghost Ship (Star Trek The Next Generation, No 1)
Diane Carey
A lot of this book was frustrating to me. Riker is way too wimpy, and Data too emotional, although I can see how both of these points were important to make the story work. Picard tends towards angry outbursts, and Geordi swears too much. None of these seem congruous to the characters in the actual series, but even in the television show it took a while for the characters to develop a real depth and personality to them. There are some very pretty metaphors (I love Lt. Yar's hair being described as a "lemon cuff") although some passages seemed to sound good but not make any sense. There is a fascinating section describing an isolation chamber experience, as well as a few very memorable quotes:
Dr. Crusher: "When we cured pneumonia and TB, we altered evolution forever. Countless millions who were weak and meant to die simply didn't anymore. When glasses were invented, all the millions of nearsighted people who would've been functionally blind in an earlier century suddenly were completely normal. They not only lived, but prospered, mated, had more nearsighted children. Mankind's been circumventing natural selection for so long that it's become immoral not to."
Worf: "This thing is a coward and a bully. There is no honor in fighting it."
Riker: "You wouldn't feel obliged to fight it if you could find a way to escape it?"
Worf: "No more than I would feel obliged to fight a thunderstorm, sir."
Captain Picard to Wesley Crusher: "Your ability exceeds your wisdom, young man. You'll eventually learn the unforgiving lesson that the people around you are worth more in their experience than you are in your gifts, and you shall, like everyone else, have to wait your turn. Now mind your place, close your mouth, and follow me to engineering, where you will put your gift to use and let others do the same."
I'd have to give this book three stars. Despite the characters being a little bit out of kilter, the writing style is very creative and easy to read, and the story quite interesting.
