Here There Be Dragons is book number 28 in the TNG series novel count. The story starts as the Enterprise is on a mission to survey an interstellar cluster. The cluster, emitting vast amounts of deadly Beta Tachyon radiation, is the nurse bed for new stars. The routine mission takes a turn when out of the cloud emerges a ship, undamaged. As if to add to the mystery, the cruise-yacht starts attacking the Enterprise, and then self-destructs. The sole survivor tells Picard that inside the cloud is hidden a world with mythical creatures, dragons. Not only that, but sharing the world with them are humans, living in villages taken out of Middle Age Germany. Humans this far away from Earth and the danger of illegal activity violating the Prime Directive, prompt the crew of the Enterprise into action. From this point on the story turns into a mystery-suspense thriller, and as you think you know what's coming up next, you're usually surprised. The author conducts his cast well, and while there are away teams on the ground, the ship itself gets its share of the action. Here too, we find Geordi at the command seat while almost everyone else is away, perhaps as a reminder of "The Arsenal of Freedom". Reg Barclay also appears in this novel, a character that is always enjoyable around. To be honest, the first time I tried to read it was about two years ago, and I gave up after about twenty or so pages, and nearly threw the book away. I am very happy I didn't do that, as this time around I read it through, and I really enjoyed myself. The location, inside an interstellar cloud, and the contradicting technologies, Preserver vs. Middle Ages' Germany, were very interesting and most uncommon, at least by me. I had enjoyed the book, and recommend that you give it a try. I rank it 4 pips.
Title: Here There be Dragons |
10/2/04
