The Devil's Heart

Truly epic. You'll want to do better than I did, and take notes about the character's names and homeworlds, and a timeline if you can figure it out. Maybe if I had done so I would have rounded up my 3.5 star rating.

I like the suggestion for meditation of cupping the hands you create in your mind's eye in turn over your ears and over your eyes, to close out distractions.

And I love the schtick as Data and Worf discuss human frailties and whether it's actually a good idea to have a counselor (Troi) aboard a starship or not. (One guess who's in favor, and who disagrees!)

Good entry into the series. And now, onward!

I was surprised and pleased by how enjoyable I found this book, which has an enormous scope (taking place across many planets and hundreds of years). I particularly liked the depiction of Picard as an anthropologist and something of a romantic; it felt very well-characterized. The inclusion of the Guardian of Forever was not at all gratuitous IMO.

An enjoyable story, but if I had one nitpick it would be that Worf is a bit off in this.

The mythical "Devil's Heart", a huge gemstone of legendary power, is discovered and comes into Picard's possession. It becomes apparent that the stone really is a source of great power, and is also dangerously addictive to the one who controls it. Picard must choose between keeping the stone for himself and the possibility of the Federation's enemies seizing it. A decent, but unremarkable adventure.