Q-Squared

Peter David discusses in the introduction to this novel that he tends to write two different types of Star Trek books: straightforward adventure stories and stories that trade on past Trek continuity. Generally, I enjoy the former much more than the latter from David. I think the latter tend to drift toward fan service or humor, whilst I believe the first allows David more freedom to tell a good story, unencumbered by fan expectations. However, this novel is one of the latter types, and I think it's one of his best. He manages to pull in so many different threads of the Trek universe while creating his won threads, and yet none of it felt like fan service to me. He manages to give every character some great scenes which is always a plus show more for me, and there's real emotion here as well. Its an incredibly satisfying read. show less

Picard has never been delighted when Q makes an appearance. When Q arrives with Trelane, another member of the Q Continuum, in tow and asks for Picard's help, Picard is even less enthused. But when Trelane taps into the chaotic heart of the multiverse and attempts to collapse three alternate timelines into one, Picard may be the only one who can intervene.

I'm pleased to say that this novel that I loved greatly in my tweens holds up well for this adult reader. Of course, it includes one of my favourite timey-wimey plots with alternate timelines. Plenty of what ifs for all of the main characters in the TNG universe are offered up, which makes for great fun. Plus lots of Q being Q. If you're a Star Trek: TNG fan and you like Q, this one is show more worth a look. show less

By the time Q-Squared debuted at the height of NextGen fandom back in the mid-1990s, Peter David had cemented himself as one of the premier Star Trek novelists. Possibly THE premier Star Trek novelist. I wish I got on board early with the show's expansive book series. I loved ST:TNG and would have equally loved passing the time reading Star Trek while waiting for new shows to air. Incidentally, this book was one of the first Trek novels I ever read.

Similar to Imzadi, but still two distinctly different stories, Q-Squared is a fusion of all the great elements of Star Trek. That's understating it. As the author relates in the forward, there are the episodic novels, the ones that feel like one of the TV episodes, and then there are the more show more ambitious novels, the ones where a writer can push the boundaries of the Star Trek universe and weave a complicated story that could never exist on TV. Q-Squared is such a novel and one of the best. show less

David ties up the loose ends remaining from the original Star Trek's petulant Trelane character by creating a fugual masterpiece with Star Trek: The Next Generation's pedantic Q. Trelane is merely a child of the continuum, and Q's godchild. However, a child with omnipotent powers can be very dangerous if he throws a temper tantrum. Trelane's tantrum leads him to decide to merge the multiverse and start it over again. The four voice fugue allows the reader to see what might have been the Star Trek universe. What if Captain Jack Crusher had never died, but Wesley had? What if Ricker and Deanna were married and parents? What if Starfleet was forced to fight a war against both the Klingons and the Romulans simultaneously? Science fiction show more has a long tradition of asking "What if?" or "What might have been?," and seeing favorite series characters in new, break-out roles makes this book stimulating and fun. The track changes are clearly labeled to help the reader keep up with the masterpiece Trelane is conducting. The only remaining question is how can Trelane be stopped?

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It says this is unabridged, but I swear, at 3 hours, it feels like it's been edited down to fit a specific time frame. This compression made the book feel rushed, took away character personality. Even Q felt ... bland. If that is ever possible.

The primary baddie in this book is definitely annoying. More annoying than Q. And that's saying something. But he seemed more like a spoiled brat playing with a new toy rather than an omnipotent being with the power to destroy the universe...

Interesting way to end it, not sure I like it. This is a book where... I can honestly say it needs to be read, not listened to. Unfortunately, because John de Lancie is such a good reader for most of the Q based books.

...at least his best that I've read thus far. This book is not for the person who likes a nice, evenly paced Trek story. This book is running at top speed right out of the gate! As long as you can keep up, you'll love it.

This book might be of particular interest to those Trekkies that are also fans of TOS (The Original Series), as a fan-favorite villain - Trelane - is really the primary nemesis. David does a fantastic job of intertwining the back-stories of both Trelane and Q to come up with a very feasible and fun tale of "things that might have been..."

Realities merge, dead characters walk the halls of the Enterprise, unborn children save their parents' lives, cats and dogs sleeping together...it's everything that you would expect, or show more wouldn't expect, when Q is involved. So hold onto your seat when you start into this book, because it doesn't let up at all! show less

It was okay. I remember why I stopped reading Star Trek books 20 years ago... and why I gave up on STTNG even longer. Got tired of all the extra-dimensional, time travel where no one remembered what happened, thus it doesn't impact the characters or the series. It had plenty of fun, adventurous parts, but... somehow it left me hollow.