🚀 go-pugleaf

Baerbel Haddrell
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Nachdem ich das zweite Mirror Universe Buch bekam ("Obsidian Alliances")
habe ich natuerlich sofort die New Frontier (die Neue Grenze) Story
gelesen :).

Dies ist also meine Besprechung von "Cutting Ties" von Peter David:




S P O I L E R

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New Frontier is my favourite Star Trek series and therefore this is the
Mirror Universe story I mainly waited for. On the other hand, I was also
dreading it a bit. As soon as NF started, I was a big fan. I was hoping
that I will experience the same when I read this story but I also
worried a bit about what directions the characters will take in the
mirror universe.

I was delighted that the first (and I am hoping that there will be
more!) mirror universe NF story had indeed the same strong impact on me
as the original one and I could see at the end that there was no need to
worry. I have no problem with any of the decisions PAD made in this
story. 

What is interesting to me is that, in essence, both Calhouns are very
much alike. I think that was the right decision. The parallels are
obvious but within these parallels are differences I found fascinating
to read and to compare. I had a lot of respect for the Calhoun in "our"
universe whose struggle to survive, to free his people and to grow as a
person captivated me immediately. Like "our" Calhoun, the MU version
also has this interesting combination of the "barbarian", violent side
that makes him a killer with a sensitive and caring side that gives him
the contrasts I find so interesting to explore and that makes Calhoun
such an intriguing, strong and likeable character to me. But the MU
Calhoun had an even more brutal childhood and struggle that forged him
into what he became at the end of the story. 

When reading NF I sometimes wonder where Calhoun`s breaking point might
be. Whatever happened after "Once Burned" must have been close (I am
still waiting to find out) but I doubt it that it would even come close
to what the MU Calhoun experienced. The MU Calhoun was definitely more
damaged than "our" Calhoun was, wich is not surprising at all, but he
was far from broken until the climax much later in the story. I found
the scenes very powerful when his inner fire, if I may call it that,
went out of control and he was faced with making a decision of who he
wants to be. I think this story shows very well how powerful this man
can be in both universes, meaning for good and for evil. Fortunately,
both Calhouns decided to be a force for good. 

I loved the links with "our" universe. It gives me more hope now that we
will see McHenry again. I smiled when he showed "Muck" his other self
and the potential he has. That McHenry has been visiting other realities
for quite some time opens some very intriguing possibilities. It was
also nice to meet "our" NF crew for a moment which also gives newcomers
to the NF universe a bit of an opportunity to make comparisons. That
"our" Calhoun sensed his other self for a moment was a nice touch. I
found it very touching to read how "Muck" did not only recovered from
this crisis but free his people and finally shed the name "Muck" that
was forced on him. 

When I read the name Muck at the beginning of the story I looked twice,
making sure that is wasn`t Moke. That both names sound so similar is
probably a coincidence. 

Part of what I enjoy about NF is that this is a series in which a
strong, interesting male character is working together with a female who
is on the same level as him. I already had the feeling from early on
that PAD won`t just copy NF and bring Calhoun and Shelby together again.
The Soleta of the MU is a very intriguing character and I like the idea
very much to bring them together in this story. 

I think the MU Soleta and McHenry are the most interesting variations
compared with the original. I like it that we meet the other NF
characters as well but although the comparisons are sometimes
interesting, too, none of them left a lasting impact on me. That most of
them didn`t survive for long is probably not surprising either. 

"Cutting Ties" is one of the more serious NF stories but nevertheless,
there are times when PAD`s sense of humour is shining through and made
me smile. I am still disappointed that there is no new NF in "our"
universe this year that could be seen as celebrating the 10th
anniversary. Nevertheless, I am very happy with this story and hope that
PAD will provide something next year that can be seen as a belated
celebration. 

Baerbel Haddrell