| Book Reviews Star Trek, The Ashes of Eden Write A Review on This Book Back to Books For Sale Main Site Reviewer: Christian S. (senf06@futureone.com) from Pheonix, USA I have read enough Star Trek novels to know the typical pattern ... Shatner has broken it. His book would have just been another installment of sci-fi action pulp, if not for some of the observations he made and details he observed. Yes, there is the obligatory bad guy and the conflict between good guys. But this time, Shatner added several elements that made the book irresistible. First of all, the whole "growing old" bit that Kirk went through, his melancholy and observations regarding his continuing usefulness (or lack thereof) -- Shatner wrote about old age without sounding whiny, which is no small task. I am twenty-one years old, yet I could feel what he was going through. I've never been famous either (yet), but I felt like I understood what Kirk/Shatner was trying to say. He made it real, somehow. Also, Shatner expanded on Kirk's "change the rules" behavior, and his near-obsessive need to live in the moment and beat the odds, elements vital to Kirk's status as hero. I had not been a Kirk fan until this book, because I'd never been inside his head; all I ever saw was the over-acting testosterone-charged character who spoke in small bursts. Shatner made me like and respect Kirk for his maturity and courage, which no one has ever done before. Finally, the book came together on two fronts: action and philosophy (as all good Trek does). It blended perfectly - Kirk's quest for youth unravels even as he realizes all things must change, must die and become something new. Teilani grows up by learning to face up to the unknown, even as Kirk realizes that he can't move forward until he accepts where he is. One last note regarding how Shatner treated Kirk's love interest: Shatner excelled as a novelist in his treatment of a character's perspective on love and romance. No other author I have read seems so capable of grasping what love means to a man, how it changes him and draws him together in new and fascinating ways. If for nothing else, I would have loved this book for his portrayal of the concept of love and relationships - not as an interesting diversion, but as an underpinning to one's entire philosophy of life. This is Shatner's best book to date, eclipsed (in parts) only by his sequels. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kirk by Kirk, October 24, 2002 Reviewer: Erik Callaway (see more about me) from Warren, MI United States This is a great story. I am absolutely amazed that Bill Shatner did this. I had never read any of his books before this. I know about the "Tek" series, I know he has written his memoirs, but no one else can be Captain Kirk like Bill Shatner. He writes this book from a place he must be feeling in his own life; a man who is feeling his age, and questioning where and what he is in this, the twilight of his life. This story is great in that he resurrects his life, his purpose. Like in "Generations," he has to "make a difference." It is rare to read a trek novel that doesn't feel serialized, this novel breaks the mold that has been set forth by countless authors in the genre. Kirk's devotion to a cause, and his willingness to break rules as he sees fit, are both great features of this book. I think that Shatner has truly captured the character he has played for all of these years. "Kirk" is truly represented in the book. He goes on a crusade of some better good, and puts at risk, his career, his friendships, and even his own life. So typical, but so profound at the same time. The idea of chivalry, that is so long gone, breaths new life in this book. Overall, this is a great book. It brings the cast together, even if they are divided. It is nice to see how Shatner puts his own spin on his character, and how, I think, he brings his own life into these pages. -- ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Reviewer: Joey Conaway from Adamsville TN William Shatner is one of my favorite actors and is a good author espicaly at writing star trek books.He made this story sound like a movie action packed with a little romace in between just like star trek.This Fills up the big gap of years between Star Trek VI and Star Trek:Genrations.I always read this after I watch Star Trek VI - |