'Star Trek: The Next Generation: Resistance' by J.M. Dillard

So, last night I'm laying in bed, where I get most of my productive reading hours in, and my boyfriend turns to me and we have a conversation that starts out something like this, "So are you going to review that one?"

I set the Kindle down just enough to get a peek of him over the bevel, "Of course."

"Well, are you going to mention me?"

"Why would I do that?"

"I don't want you blaming this one on me, that's all." Maybe it was the fact that it was almost midnight and sleep was creeping in, but I just didn't follow and it must have showed because he immediately plowed on, "You know, for getting you to watch Star Trek again and that somehow translating into you getting into the books."

Ah-ha.

At the time I'd said I wouldn't mention him, but it seems like a good way to answer the question I'm sure was burning through your brain when you saw the title of today's review: Why in all hell would I read 'Resistance' by J.M. Dillard?

B-4 and beloved Spot

Here's the deal. About a year ago he said he'd never watched Star Trek: The Next Generation. I'd already watched through it in it's entirety twice before, but I will never turn down that kind of opportunity. A year, and a full seven sessions of Star Trek: TNG and four movies later, he's all but given up (he hates Voyager and I can't really blame him on that score) but I was still clinging onto a bit of nostalgia and found that this title picks up where the movies left off. I couldn't help myself.

It's been about a week since that sad day, and I've gotta say that while the book had most of the right pieces, the feeling just wasn't in it for me. In a sense it's laid out in a way that makes it feel like one, super long, episode - which is good. But I didn't fall in love with any of the new characters introduced to fill in some of the big casting holes (left by the Councillor especially), which made most of the "big emotional scenes" fall more than a little flat. As if that weren't bad enough, I kinda just got peeved that the book opens with shipping B-4 off for a good ol' fashioned tear down (for Science!) and ends with not a whisper of him again. That kinda crap just wouldn't happen in the series. Who knows... he's might be brought back in a later book? But I'm not going to read any further to find out. And this isn't even touching on the fact that it's yet another Picard/Locutus and the Borgs drama that only kinda-sorta touches on him and Beverly's now official romance. 

If I were a die-hard trekie I'd keep reading, if only to find out what happens to B-4, but the synopsis and teaser chapter for the next book leads me to believe it focuses on Janeway (gag) and MORE BORGS!!!!!* (grrrr. So. Sick. Of. Borgs.)

Locutus of Borg (stupid Borg)

Bottom line? I won't be reading any further. I usually have a policy that I don't read anything that is based on a show or movie and this experience only helps to reinforce prior findings. It doesn't ruin the show, but it didn't really bring much to the table either. Unless you are a really, truly in need of a Next Generation fix, steer clear.

*Although Q and Lady Q are in it - and there's just something about Q that makes me happy.