Buchbesprechung von Bärbel Haddrell
Buchbesprechung von Bärbel Haddrell |
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Star Trek: The Next Generation
The Valiant Author: Michael Jan Friedman 2000, Pocket Books ISBN 0-671-77522-7 279 pages |
Shortly before my Birthday I got the novel "Valiant" from Amazon UK, which was a very pleasant surprise. I am a big fan of "Reunion" and had been looking forward to this Stargazer story very much. I even put the Millennium books aside because of it. And I wasn`t disappointed: The book definitely delivered what I expected. I am sure, if you like "Reunion", you will like this one as well! I finished it in one go the same day I started reading it.
Micheal Jan Friedman`s strength are definitely characterizations. In this regard he has a lot in common with Peter David. Only, MJF has a much lighter writing style. I enjoy both and although PAD`s is more my taste, I welcome MJF`s style as well. I find it interesting that whenever he introduces new characters, I immediately find an emotional connection with them. They quickly become three dimensional, people with strengths and weaknesses, with opinions and actions you can think about. What I also liked about "Valiant" is, although it also has to offer lots of action, we don`t get long tedious desciptions of the battle and technobabble, no, the emphasis stays with the characters. This is how I like my favourite Star Trek stories.
What I found fascinating is how this book paved the basics for what happened in "Reunion" and the Battle of Maxia. It was interesting to meet Vigo in this book. What I read in "Reunion" made me very curious about this character and it was nice to get to know him here a bit. I was also interesting how the relationships and ranks changed in this early Stargazer story, including the beginning of the tragic development of Greyhorse and the beginning of his obsession with Gerda Asmund which led to his doom. I am hoping that MJF will write another novel which fills the gap that is still left now between "Valiant" and "Reunion".
What I found especially interesting are the different approaches and discussions within this story about leadership and what makes an officer a good captain.
I think Leach had been treated very badly by everybody, including Starfleet. I felt very sorry for him. From what I have read, I certainly disagree that he was a bad first officer. His problem was that his captain made a bad choice. He chose a man incompatible with his personal style, which was not Leach`s fault but Ruhalter`s. It should never have come this far. I would have been annoyed as well if I were in Leach`s position. To me, Ruhalter showed that he certainly wasn`t a brilliant leader. I found it incredible that he talked to Picard about Leach instead of talking to his first officer about the problems he has with him. This was very bad leadership. I agree to what Picard was thinking at the end. I find it tragic that both, Leach and Ruhalter could have complemented each other. Ruhalter was more of a people`s person, Leach followed less his instincts but facts. He was right, after all to mistrust Daniels and Santana.
You as a captain don`t tell your second officer that your first officer "is plainly incapable of leading others". Ruhalter was already arranging his replacement behind Leach`s back without giving the man any chance to say something in the matter. I was very annoyed at him in that scene. This was completely inappropriate.
What is even worse is what Admiral Mehdi said at the end, that he thinks Leach is not qualified to be a first officer and that they will find another job for him. In my opinion Leach didn`t do anything that would justify to demote him. He just needs to find a captain he can relate to and we learned that there are people he can work with.
I think Jellico would have deserved if much more to be taken out of the command chain. But obviously there are people who think that he is qualified in spite of his personality flaws. And Calhoun is certainly not loved by everybody either. But as long as they don`t do something that justifies a demotion, it won`t or better shouldn`t happen.