"Vendetta" is epic. It's about an ancient quest for revenge against one of the most feared and relentless races in the cosmos. It's about the human quest for knowledge and adventure, and the folly of going too far in pursuit of an unattainable goal. It is a tale of love and obsession and spectacular battle scenes, with a good dose of humor thrown in. Delcara, the sole survivor of a race obliterated by the Borg centuries ago has acquired an incredible weapon, of which the infamous doomsday machine from the original series was but a prototype. It is a ship that consumes planets for fuel, and it is possessed by the vengeful souls of yet another culture wiped out by the Borg. And if they have to annihilate half the galaxy to destroy their destroyers, so be it. All that matters is the vendetta, but Captain Picard still believes Delcara is worth saving. All in all, Peter David does a spectacular job in crafting a tale that you don't have to be a Trekkie to enjoy.

I would actually classify "Vendetta" more as science fantasy than the traditional "hard science fiction" rubric Star Trek usually falls under ("Vendetta" is rather like Star Wars in that respect). A lot of the story involves what one character disparagingly calls "metaphysical claptrap": haunted ships driven by will alone and love at first sight linking two strangers across light-years. Not surprisingly, Peter David is a highly original author whose works easily transcend the label of mere "Star Trek books." And "Vendetta" is no exception. ( )

I'm blushing to admit I read this.

I'm blushing to admit I read this.

The very tragic story of a Borg who is reclaimed from the collective, and of a friend of Guinan
s who attempts to take her revenge on the Borg. Nevertheless, David manages to work in plenty of lighter moments, as well as a certain dark humor (early on he describes the supreme military head of a world about to be attacked by the Borg as blowing "his supreme military head off"). This defines Peter David's Star Trek work.

This one is SO much better than Strike Zone. ( )