Star Trek: Discovery: The Way To The Stars by Una McCormack - A Character Study Of Tilly

Star Trek: Discovery: The Way To The Stars by Una McCormack

While I have enjoyed all of the four Discovery tie-in novels released to date, I think this one is my favorite. Una McCormack's novel, The Way To The Stars is Tilly's story. For those of you who may not be familiar with Discovery, Tilly is a talkative young woman who is also quite brilliant in her own right. She is also the first character to ever drop an f-bomb on a Star Trek show. There are no f-bombs in the novel though, just a great story about a young woman who is trying to find her own way in life.

In her quarters on board the Discovery, Tilly tosses, turns, and sighs repeatedly until her cabin mate, Michael Burnham asks her what her problem is. Tilly is at first reluctant to burden Burnham with her worries, but after a little goading, Tilly tells Burnham that she is very worried about beginning the command training program the next day. Burnham is a little confused as to why this is a problem for Tilly, and with a little more encouragement, Tilly tells the story of her past.

16-year-old Sylvia Tilly lives in Paris with her grandmother, Adele, and step-grandfather Quinn. For the most part, Sylvia is a happy young woman who does pretty well in school showing an aptitude for math and science. Her grades are adequate, but unfortunately not up to the standards imposed on her by her mother, Siobhan. Sylvia's mother is an up and coming star in the Federation's Diplomatic Corps and envisions Sylvia following in her footsteps. Sylvia has attended numerous diplomatic functions with her mother and has little to no interest in pursuing a career in that area. Despite this, Siobhan enrolls Tilly in a school that specializes in training diplomats.

Being an intelligent young woman, Sylvia does pretty well in school while continuing to pursue her own interests in science. When Siobhan learns of this, she forbids Sylvia to do anything but study the school's diplomatic curriculum. She will not listen to any arguments and, as a result, Sylvia experiences a number of failures. At the end of the term, Sylvia 'escapes' from school to strike out on her own to find out who she is and what she wants to do with her life.

The rest of the story is the several adventures that Tilly finds herself involved in leading to an appointment to Starfleet Academy.

Oh, the things we do to our children, even when our intentions are good.

Unfortunately for Tilly, she has been instilled with a ton of self-doubt by a mother that is overbearing. Siobhan will not even listen to her daughter and consider what her talents and interests are. Tilly's father is a very gentle man and is always full of encouragement, but he isn't around enough to counter the bullying that Tilly is subjected to from her mother. What this does, in effect is undermined everything Tilly is about and fills her with insecurity and a fear of failure. Every new situation that this girl faces is about pleasing someone else, mostly her mother in this story. I feel so bad for this young woman that it hurts. Left to her own, and given the proper encouragement, Tilly would probably become an incredible scientist, making great strides in whatever field she chose. On Discovery, we see some of what she is capable of. McCormack did a brilliant job channeling Tillly's character as we see her on the show, and placing her in the book.

McCormack's story is a fun read providing deeper insight to Tilly's character. The author is also sensitive to what parents can do to their children when the parent's agenda is to control instead of nurture. In the story, once Tilly is outside the influence of an overbearing mother, she shows a lot of personal growth that could take her in numerous directions. In the case of Tilly, getting out on her own was probably the best thing that could happen for this young woman. All is not easy for Tilly when she gets away from her mother's influence and away from the diplomatic school, she is forced to prove herself and does a great job of rising to the occasion numerous times.

When her father finally comes on the scene, Tilly gets a great deal of encouragement and advice to standing up to her mother. Alas, it is too late and the damage has already been done though. Tilly will spend the rest of her life having to prove to herself that she has what it takes to do whatever she sets her mind to. It is also important her dad explains something that Tilly has blamed herself for a number of years, only adding to her self-doubt.

Outside of a good character study, the story is immensely engaging and well-paced. It is an easy read despite the complicated relationships between characters. The story focuses on Tilly, but develops several characters to the point that a reader can relate to them all, even Siobhan.

Una McCormack has penned a number of books set in the Star Trek universe. In the past, she has shown a vast knowledge of the stories and characters within that world. With this novel, set in the Discovery timeline, she further demonstrates that she is adept at understanding characters that are not as well developed in canon. Were I a writer for the show, I would definitely keep The Way to the Stars in mind as I wrote Tilly-centric episodes.

Most of the stories so far from the Discovery timeline have been character studies giving we readers some backstory and a deeper understanding. This is an excellent look at what might have gone into the makeup of Tilly, one of my favorite characters on the series. I recommend this book to fans of Discovery as a way to better understand one of the most energetic characters on the series.

Well, there it is...

Qapla!

Invasion by Sean Platt & Johnny B. Truant - Exciting Prelude To An Alien Invasion Saga

Invasion by Sean Platt and Johnny B. Truant

One morning while having coffee and scrolling through my Facebook feed, I found an advertisement from a website called Sci-Fi Bridge. The ad promised that if I sign-up with them, I would have a chance at receiving some outrageous number of free sci-fi/fantasy books at no charge. Further, I would get four novels at no charge just for signing up. What the heck, why not? If I were lucky enough to be selected, I would have enough reading material to keep me busy for quite some time. If nothing else, I would get four stories for nothing. Since I had just finished another story for a podcast, I selected a novel and dove in.

I chose Invasion by Sean Platt and Johnny B. Truant which promised to be an engaging story about an alien invasion from outer space. Well, it turns out that Invasion is the first in a series of books that are about an alien invasion. At least that is what I am hoping, because this first book in the series is not about an invasion at all.

The story opens in the not too distant future, with news reports explaining there are numerous objects headed for Earth from the vicinity of the planet Jupiter. The story has been confirmed by numerous sources including NASA. That's the what, but there is no idea about the why. As one might suspect, panic ensues and is soon followed by much mayhem.

The Main character, Meyer Dempsey, is preoccupied with three things according to the book; those being drugs, sex, and business. His business is most on his mind as he plans a trip to Los Angeles. Meyer is in the movie business and makes regular trips to L.A. for business, and to have an illicit rendezvous with his ex-wife, Heather. When the news reports the approach of the alien objects, Meyer is setting up a meeting with Heather and a shaman who will administer them something called Ayahuasca, a powerful drug that Meyer uses to be focused for important meetings. In the middle of his phone call with Heather, Meyer learns of the objects on an approach vector with Earth and that they happen to be decelerating as they approach. Meyer believes, as often happens in film, when there is an alien invasion, the first places that are in danger are the world's big cities, and there aren't many bigger than New York.

Meyer has also believed that one day there would be some kind of disaster threatening the population of the planet and he was determined to be prepared. He believes he is well prepared because he has had a mansion under construction in Colorado. It is complete with an underground bunker that would allow him and his family to survive for a long period of time. While the above ground structure is not quite complete, the underground facility is ready to be used at a moments notice. It is well stocked with food, water purification equipment, entertainment and communications facilities, and enough weaponry to sustain a small war if necessary.

All Meyer has to do is gather his family and fly to Colorado in his private jet to ensure his survival. Oh, he also advises Heather to begin making her way to the mansion. His family consists of his second wife, Piper, his daughter Delilah, and his son, Trevor. Unknown to everyone, Delilah is pregnant with her boyfriend's, offspring. The boyfriend, Raj, also becomes part of the family by choice, and under the orders of Delilah. With his family gathered, they start their trip to the airport, but there will be no flight to the Colorado bunker, the FAA has grounded all air traffic so it looks like a cross country trip in an advanced minivan.

As the family cross the country, they run into numerous obstacles that change their situation, oftentimes looking quite hopeless of ever reaching their destination.

What we get in Invasion is more of an adventure story with a few elements of Sci-Fi, but we never really get an invasion. This is not the story of aliens invading the Earth and laying waste to the landscape. Rather it is the story of what Meyer and his family encounter along their way to their secure facility in Colorado, as well as a little of what Heather goes through in her attempt to reach Meyer's bunker. But that is not to say that it isn't a good solid story, it just seems to me that it might have been mis-titled.

In fact Invasion, in itself is a great story, fun to read, and immensely engaging. I didn't want to stop reading at any point because once the action gets started, it proceeds at a blinding pace right up to the end. We get the final payoff as the objects finally reach the planet. The book ends on a real cliffhanger that made me want to go right to the next installment, a book titled Contact.

Invasion is not a story that stands on its own. Readers will find it necessary to move on to the next book to find out what happens.

The characters in Invasion are an interesting lot. Meyer, Piper, and his children (Meyer's children with Heather) are a somewhat dysfunctional family until they are forced together by the crisis. Meyer himself is all business and mostly all about himself for the most part. He starts out in the story as not being very likable. He will always default to what is best for himself when things get tough. But one thing I can say about Meyer is that he understands survival and it is his selfishness that pulls him and his family through some very tough situations. I kind of warmed up to Meyer as time went on because he began to widen his focus and show a genuine concern for his immediate family, and especially caring deeply for Heather and her safety while she was out of touch. But he never dropped his tough-guy persona except to Piper.

Piper is Meyer's sort of trophy wife. She is young and very attractive and seems to have a great relationship with Meyer's children. She has apparently lived a sheltered life and is quite naive when it comes to the more brutal side of life. She has a tough time adapting when people start behaving outside of her experience. Piper is not dumb, by any means. As time goes on, she quickly learns that she has to do things that are well outside her comfort zone to survive. She experiences a lot of growth as the story unfolds. Piper is completely devoted to Meyer and does her best to be a good companion.

Trevor, Meyer's son, is completely obsessed with his step-mother and often fantasizes about her. He is often embarrassed by this and comes across as a little shy. He does have a lot of his father in him and will arise to the occasion when needed.

Delilah and Raj have a secret, and they want to keep it a secret. The only problem is, Delilah is not getting the prenatal care that she needs to have, and the trip across the country, along with keeping her secret is causing her a lot of stress. She even gets involved in a few conflicts that are not healthy for her. Raj just seems to be there, somewhat oblivious to the demands of fatherhood. He tends to take risks and it seems unusual that he has little or no concern for the fate of his family back in New York.

My favorite major character in this story is Heather. She is an actress and comedienne and is famous in her own right. She is always ready with some off-handed remark and is hilarious, even in grim situations. The best thing about Heather is she is not afraid of Meyer and all of his power and has no problem putting him in his place when needed, which is probably why her and Meyer are not still married. She adds a interesting and funny dynamic to the story even though her role in the story thus far, is rather limited.

Truant and Platt

Invasion is the first book in a series that is seven books so far. I can see myself investing time in this series if the rest of the books have the same energy that this one does. If that is the case, then you can expect more positive reviews on this blog. I will say that I recommend this story as a well-constructed one with interesting characters thrown into fascinating situations.

I will say that when I finished the Kindle edition of Invasion, there was an offer to get the next book, Contact at no charge. So, I urge you to watch for my review of the second book in the Alien Invasion series.

Well, there it is...

Qapla'!

The Cavern by Alister Hodge - Great Story Not For The Faint At Heart

The Cavern by Alister Hodge 

Not long ago, I received an email from Alister Hodge asking if I would be willing to review his new book, The Cavern. His email included the Kindle file, so how could I say no?

Set in the Australian Outback near the small town of Pintalba, The Cavern opens with the discovery of a cave system revealed by a sinkhole on a nearly defunct sheep ranch. A young couple arrives on the scene and pays the owner of the ranch to be the first to explore the discovery. As they move about underground, they discover a beautiful cave setting complete with an underground lake. The couple also discovers more than they bargained for when they are attacked by a strange creature.

When another team hears about the new cave system, they lay their plans to also explore and map the discovery. The team is joined by Sam, a vacationing paramedic who will go along as medical support for the team that consists of his girlfriend, Ellie and Ellie's brother, Max. It is originally planned that Sam will remain at the base camp ready to go into action if there is a medical need for him.

When the crew stops for refreshments at a Pintalba pub, they are warned by the proprietor A veteran named Jack, to stay away and leave it alone. When asked, Jack wouldn't tell the explorers why they shouldn't venture forth. The team of explorers thinks he might be hiding some secret, or maybe he's just a crazy old man who is imagining something. Never the less, Sam, Ellie and Max are determined to be the first to explore and map the new cave system. Of course, they are unaware of the previous couple that also wanted to be the first.

While Sam's team sees all the beauty that they expect to see, they also learn that the cave system connects to a string of opal mines that harbors a horrible secret. There are monsters there that are vicious, relentless, and also have a peculiar intelligence. It isn't long before everyone is in a fight for their lives and it would seem to be a losing battle.

There is no shortage of excitement in The Cavern. It is a fast paced horror story that will keep a reader on the edge of their seat as one is taken on a rollercoaster ride of terror by Hodge. If the descriptions of the monsters aren't enough, their attacks are given in detail to the point that a reader will be thankful to stay on the surface of the planet and never venture below. Much of what is described must come from the author's experience as a professional medical practitioner. That is to say that the detail is stunning and horrifying.

Hodge also captures the flavor of what it might be like to be underground in a cave. Both the peaceful and serene feelings one might have, as well as what it might be like if one is trapped and unable to move when moving through narrow passages. There were several scenes that had me holding my breath as I read to the resolution of several situations.

The story concludes with an open ending that might be begging a sequel. While I would call this more of an adventure-thriller, there are hints at science fiction in several places in the book and am looking forward to and hoping for a continuation that will carry forth from the ending to show what the monsters are and where they came from.

The characters in the story are well developed to the point that I felt that I would like to know most of them. Each has their own dynamic and are believable as real people. Sam, the (more or less) main character is a bit of an adventurer, but he doesn't care for the idea of exploring caves, and he is really repulsed at the idea of scuba diving underground. Yet, he faces and defeats his fears in favor of helping others that might be injured. He is a likable character, and as most of the others in the story, has a sense of courage.

The most surprising character is the bartender, Jack. In the story, he is kind of a curmudgeonly old man, but not in such a way that he will put people off. He is a veteran and seems to know a great many things, especially about the monsters that he has encountered in the past. When the monsters are discovered, the cavers decide that they have to be taken out of the picture, but none of them have the right weapons to do the job. Jack is the one who comes up with the firepower to take care of business, but also displays a load of grit as he takes on the creatures. Jacks scenes were my favorite in the story and I think that many will also find him an inspiration.

I recommend this book for anyone who enjoys medical drama and monster driven thriller stories. As a fan of Sci-Fi, I enjoyed The Cavern immensely and didn't take long to read it; it only took me three sittings to get through it. I was very eager to get back to it when I was forced to put it down. I could have read it in one sitting actually thanks to the relentless action in the book, it never really lets up.

I will add this, owing to the graphic descriptions of the monster attacks, and how the author goes into great detail on how the attacks take place and the results of those attacks, one might consider whether they can handle this story. There is very little left to the imagination.

The following is from the author's Amazon page:

Alister Hodge is an Emergency Nurse Practitioner, who lives in Sydney with his wife and two daughters. He is also a Clinical Lecturer at the University of Sydney, the author of numerous journal and textbook publications, and the co-creator of an app to support triage nurse development in Australia.

As a mental break from providing healthcare in a busy Emergency Department, Alister leaves behind the everyday traumas and horror of the real world, by creating new ones for a post-apocalyptic landscape.

Well, there it is...

Qapla'!