Overall not a bad Star Trek book. It was a nice tie in to a old episode. Some sense of wonder associated with it. Also a little predictable at the end but then again it is Star Trek and it is a story placed in a already established timeline. But it certainly was an enjoyable Star Trek story!
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A good follow up to Corbomite.

Lots of call-outs to not only the inspiration ("The Corbomite Maneuver") but many other TOS *and* TAS details. At times maybe a little too many things going on, but an enjoyable time with the Enterprise crew.

Good quotes from the book.

“Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations,” said Spock. “It is when different entities combine, when they complement each other’s limitations, that new and great things can be achieved.”

"Every society has shameful things in its past. It’s harder to be judgmental toward others once you recognize that within yourself.” ( )

Another 'miss' in the Star Trek series. My tl;dr summary: plot - promising, pacing - sludge, characterisation - off. If readers of Star Trek novels can be divided into two camps, then this is aimed at those who put world-building before the crew of the Enterprise, rather than those like myself who just want to revisit old 'friends'. Also, not liking Captain Kirk very much will probably help, because I don't think the author does either.

I was drawn in by the familiar alien face and ship from 'The Corbomite Manoeuvre' on the cover, I must admit - a fun episode, and the blurb promises to further explore Balok's background. The twist of having Balok's fearsome puppet represent another alien species called the Dassik is also clever, and the 'Web of Worlds' built by the First Federation is pure Trek.

But OH MY GOD, does Christopher Bennett make this a trial to get through. Star Trek is supposed to be fun, why are so many of these novels so damn serious? And is there a template for writing these spin-offs - Kirk separated from his crew, on trial for playing God, check. The rest of the crew to the rescue, check - and stop giving Sulu and Chekhov entire chapters to themselves, the characters can't take the focus. Also, yes Uhura should have had a greater role in the series, but the way to 'correct' this lapse is to just write her in, don't make pathetic little digs about 'not being frightened any more, Captain'. I hate writers who set out to rub the original series' face in the sexism of the 1960s. The 'no homo' approach to Kirk and Spock was equal parts funny and pathetic - Kirk gets off with an alien leader of the First Federation, just 'cause, and Spock - dear lord, Spock is apparently entering Pon Farr again in this mess, bonding with a telepathic woman ('he opened the door and escorted Nisu into his quarters') and then thinking about how well he and Uhura 'work together'. Is this the Spock we all know and love, humping one woman while twitching his mental eyebrows at a colleague? Mind you, Kirk is also badly written, telling Uhura to stay behind and leave the danger to the 'fighters' (men), so anything goes, obviously. The dialogue is equally off kilter, with Spock calling Kirk 'Jim' every verse end.

Ehh, if you don't mind your pop culture cliches, with dudebro!Jim, angry!Bones, girl power!Uhura and overcompensating!Sulu - with Spock the ladies man thrown in for good measure - then knock yourself out. I prefer more humour, recognisable characters from the original series, and less of a supporting cast. ( )