Book Review: Star Trek

by Alan Dean Foster

The novelization of the new Star Trek movie was very well done. Considering how excellent the movie was, I wasn't surprised to hear the book sold out. It closely followed the events in the movie, with some added scenes and explanations of things that occurred but were not shown in the movie (for instance, apparently Jim Kirk had an older brother, who was the boy seen walking along the dirt road in Iowa during the Corvette scene).

I found it interesting that the book opens with Spock's birth, indicating that he's the hero of the story rather than Captain Kirk. The movie version did make me think Spock played more of a central role and was more pivotal to the plot, but despite the fact that Spock opens the book, Kirk was the undisputed hero, appearing in more scenes, his actions and the consequences of his decisions central to the plot. Though I can't decide which version I like better in their treatment of the two characters, I enjoyed both.

I also loved the space-speak, all the language about weaponry and starships. The author was pretty good at making everything sound believable, and bringing us into that world.

Book Review: The Thirteenth Tale

Author: Diane Setterfield

Well, wow. You know those books where, after you finish it, you close the back cover, flip it over, and stare into space for a minute or two, trying to absorb what you've just experienced, trying to let it all percolate in your head? Letting the lyrical cadences of the wonderful writing echo back through your mind? This book was just like that. It was also an honest-to-goodness, can't-put-down story.

The Thirteenth Tale, a perfectly delicious gothic mystery, had shades of Wuthering Heights (a strange, sordid family, the Yorkshire moors; as well, the character of Isabelle Angelfield reminded me strongly of Cathy Linton); The Turning of the Screw (a governess caring for two strange children, ghosts), Rebecca, The Secret Garden (again, the wild Yorkshire moors and the theme of gardens for hurting and/or healing), and last but not least, Jane Eyre (madwoman, attic, fire). In fact Bronte's Jane Eyre was such a central theme to the story that it was almost another character, a device used to give the reader clues to the mystery.

It was also fascinating trying to figure out the modern equivalent of the various psychological disorders exhibited by the central characters - the Angelfield family - and how they were dealt with. Equally compelling were the consequences and havoc those disorders wrought.

This was also a book about book lovers, and books. You can hardly go wrong with such a story. And that was exactly what it was - a wonderful, mysterious, dark, eerie, compelling story, written as if you were in the same room as the narrator. Listening to her as she recounted the mysterious occurrences through flashback.

This book had such rich atmosphere, such compelling characters that came alive in the pages, a great plot, and best, a drawn-out mystery that left you hungering to find out exactly what happened.

This one gets an A+.