Product Description: During James T. Kirk's five-year mission as captain of the Starship Enterprise,™ a mysterious alien threat called "The Totality" commenced its invasion, intending to conquer the Milky Way galaxy as it had conquered the Andromeda. A war unlike any other is about to begin -- one that threatens to destroy the Federation.
Captain Kirk has encountered the Totality before. It took the beguiling form of Norinda, an irresistible alien who becomes the woman each person most desperately desires. In his first encounter, Kirk almost lost the Enterprise. In his second encounter, he almost lost his child, and watched in horror as the Totality absorbed Spock in its monstrous dimensional tendrils. But now, Kirk faces an even more devastating personal challenge. The battle lines have been drawn, and he and his friend Captain Jean-Luc Picard are on opposite sides.
With Captain William Riker of the Starship Titan caught in the cross fire of the conflict between Kirk and Picard, and with Kirk's own child poised on the brink of a startling destiny millions of years in the making, Kirk must prepare for his final encounter with the Totality. But how can Kirk fight an enemy whose greatest weapon is love? And how can he triumph, when the price of victory is the life of his only child?
Shatner is showing real growth as a writer. This book is much better than Shatner's previous books in many ways. I still was a little disappointed with how it ended; a little too much deus ex machina for my taste. Still, it's a very good book; for one thing, Shatner seems to have finally outgrown the tendancy to make Kirk into a demigod; in some of his previous books, it seemed that there was absolutely nothing that Kirk couldn't do, and even when that wasn't the case, he was always showing up Picard, Janeway, and any other Trek character about as thoroughly as a major league ballplayer would show up a minor leaguer. In this book, Picard battles him to a draw in a strategic contest, and given the circumstances, Picard could actually have been said to "win" the draw. Riker was the most level-headed captain of the three of them, and ultimately, Picard pulls Kirk's buns out of the fire. Given all that, I'm willing to accept Janeway being written as a largely irrelevant admiral.
There were a few places in which I felt that Kirk acted out of character, and that combined with the previously mentioned quibbles are why I only rate the book at 4 stars. Still, Shatner has always had good story ideas, and he tells this one better than he's ever done before. His pacing has improved, for one thing. Definitely worth the read.
The Totallity Having recently just lost Spock, Kirk will struggle to find out just exactly what happened to him and where he went. The Totallity has begun it's invasion of our space and is apparently worse than the Dominion. Atleast you could hurt the Dominion, nothing appears to be able to stop these guys... it seems like Shatners version of the Dominion war except worse and it'll only be up to Kirk to figure out how to save the day, as it always is. Great book and story... I just don't like how Kirk has to be the #1 Hero of all time all the time.
How much of this did Will really write. The collaberation between Will Shatner and the duo of Reeves-Stevens has been phenominal. They are by far the best novels in the Star Trek library. I really thought they painted themselves into a corner with the totality but in the end they pulled it out again. Its by the seat of your pants, roller coaster sci fi at its best. I absolutely love how they pull in happenings from old shows in all their novels. If I am not mistaken it was Reeves Stevens who wrote the best Enterprise (starring Scott Bakula)episodes that went into why the klingons once had no ridges as well as into a Vulcan conspiracy, both of which were 2-3 show story arcs that were out f'n standing. I want more. Of course I am curious how much Will contributes given his Tek War novels were solid B level work at best and this is A+ stuff.
Shatner does it again I really enjoy when William Shatner puts his name on a book. They are usually very good
My first Star Trek book This was the first Star Trek book I've ever read. I saw it in the store and was curious to see how Kirk interacted with Janeway and Picard. I bought it, read about 10 pages and set it aside. I'm not much of a reader and I don't have that many books.
I was talking with my mother on the phone, about how bored I was, and she reminded me about reading books. I looked at this book on the floor of my room and jumped at the opportunity to read it.
Instantly I was sucked into this book and I couldn't put it down. I finished it in less than 24 hours, only taking a break to get some sleep. I'm now a fan of the books and am looking into more of William Shatner's writings. I recommend this book to everyone who is a Star Trek fan.
Anything Goes Trivia
Megaton Man
Tailipoe
Trevor
