The previous “relaunch” novel for “The Next Generation” was a disappointment. Not only was the plot difficult to reconcile, but it did very little to move the story forward past “Nemesis”. It also conflicted greatly with the material in the “Voyager relaunch”, which has itself sputtered to a complete halt.
As it turns out, this novel helps to place these new installments into perspective. If the previous book was meant as a kind of “final statement” on Picard and the Borg, then this could be seen as the grand conclusion to all the Q-related stories since the series premiere. In other words, the novels are poised to be either a “relaunch” or a novel-driven denouement, given the decision to reboot the film franchise. This is a mixture of both, which is better than it sounds.
The book is full of grand ideas, despite its relatively short length, and it will likely spark debate among fans. Was everything related to Q really so directed, so full of long-term purpose? The pleasant reality of any Q novel is that one cannot be sure. Q could be telling the truth, or he could be spinning yet another situation towards his own designs. It’s impossible to tell, but that’s just part of the fun.
The author manages to pack a lot into less than 300 pages, and the readers should be thankful. This is a much better effort than “Resistance”, and if it happens to be the final Q book, then at least it brings his part of the story to a relative close. This may not be the best Q book available in the extended Trek library, but it’s definitely worth the read.
Rating: 8/10
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