by Diane Duane
As I read more and more of the old Star Trek books, I have come to realize that anything written by Diane Duane is going to be a winner. This book is no exception. She is able to present the family aspect of the Enterprise crew much better than most. In this story, the command structure is much more apparent than in other stories, due largely in part by the plot device of leaving McCoy in command of the Enterprise. The Doctor handles it well and with good humor. As with Duane’s other Star Trek books, linguistics plays a significant role in the story line. I really should read some of her non-commissioned work.
Hello, Anna. I’ve been reading your blog sporadically for the past couple months or so, and this seemed like an opportune time to introduce myself, as the internet pseudonym I most often use is taken from one of Diane Duane’s “non-commissioned work”. I’m not sure if you’d exactly call it a “character” name; Khavrinen is the sword of one of the main characters in her “Middle Kingdoms” series; I chose it as a username both because I lke the way it sounds and because she defines it as “Harrow Heart”, which seemed appropriate to my love-life (or lack thereof).
Obviously, I’m a trifle biased, but given what I’ve read of your writings, I think it’s a fairly safe bet to recommend this series to you as a candidate for something else of hers to try. If you liked the “;At” from “Doctor’s Orders”, you’ll find that the dragons here bear a suspicious likeness to them. Originally published as “The Door into Fire”, “The Door into Shadow”, and “The Door into Sunset”, they have been re-packaged as “The Tale of the Five, Vol. 1” (“Fire” and “Shadow”) and (if she ever finally finishes it) “Vol. 2” (“Sunset” and the as-yet-unpublished “Starlight”).
You can also look up the rest of her books by clicking on “Bibliography & Filmography” on her blog: Out of Ambit .
Additionally, since you seem to read quite a few Star Trek novels, I have to put in a plug for what I consider one of the best, Janet Kagan’s “Uhura’s Song”. In search of a cure for a deadly disease, the Enterprise has to track down the lost home planet of a cat-like alien race, and the only clues they have are found in a collection of folk-songs Uhura learned from one of them. Poignant and funny.
Oh, I suppose since I said I was going to introduce myself, I should actually say something about me. Umm, SWM, 40, live in Vancouver, WA, read entirely too much, Indigo Girls fan, work nights at UPS. I stumbled upon your blog when one of my periodic Google searches for news about Rosemary Kirstein turned up your picture of “The Outskirter’s Secret” on Flickr, and I clicked through to here. I’m fond of librarians not just because I’m a book junkie, but because it’s in the blood; my Mom will be retiring from Longview Public Library next month after 30+ years. Ok, that’s probably enough about me; back to “lurker” mode.
James (Khavrinen)