🚀 go-pugleaf

Baerbel Haddrell
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Hier ist eine Besprechung einer weiteren Mirror Universe Story aus dem
Band "Obsidian Alliances". Diesmal ist es die Voyager Story "The Mirror-
Scaled Serpent" von Keith R.A. DeCandido.



S P O I L E R

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This is the fourth story of the new Mirror Universe books I have read. I
am grateful for the brief summary about Spock`s plan in this story,
something that is not only very useful for people who haven`t read the
first book but also to me because a few of the finer details slipped by
me when I read "The Sorrows of Empire". The Republic lasted nearly two
decades and instead of Genesis plan I should have said Memory Omega. 

None of this makes any difference to my opinion that what Spock did was
a crime on an unimaginable scale. I was reminded of the story pattern
you can find in SF but also elsewhere when a genius with delusions of
grandeur decided he has to destroy the world because it is beyond saving
so that he can build a much better one. 

This story underlines my arguments: "The Worst of Both Worlds" showed a
noble resistance but "The Mirror-Scaled Serpent" shows a resistance
consisting of very damaged and twisted people, some of them no better
than the bad guys in the story. That makes sense. Living under such
conditions tends to bring out the best but in many cases also the worst
in people. 

The principal law is about "Survival of the fittest". I don`t see any
way that people who are first of all looking out for themselves and try
to survive from day to day will suddenly develop the right mindset and
motivation to embrace the values of "our" Federation. I wouldn`t be
surprised if many people think: Look, we had these freedoms and see what
happened afterwards. 

Therefore what also makes sense is that there seems to be an inner
circle of rebels that consists - judging from this story - of more
stable individuals who are the real caretakers of Spock`s plan. What I
found interesting and also sometimes somewhat amusing is how KRAD
contrasted the mirror characters compared to the ones in "our" universe.
As much as I liked Tuvok in Voyager, he had a record of security
breaches on board that was embarrassing and much too often became
injured and helpless. The Tuvok in this book is the Tuvok I would have
liked to see much more often in Voyager and the one I enjoy so much in
the new series Titan. I like it, that his wife, T`Pel, is with him and
that Seska is actually a good guy (person) is a nice irony. That Kes is
amongst them now and learning how to control her powers of course does
not only benefit her but the resistance as well. I can imagine that she
can play a key role in Spock`s plan. 

Especially in this story that is showing this inner circle I would have
liked it to read at least some disagreement if not resentment of what
Spock set in motion. What happened happened. All the rebellion can do is
trying to shape a better future but I am not comfortable with it that
Spock seems to be portrayed as a visionary and hero. 

The other Voyager characters in this story are interesting, too. Captain
Janeway became less and less likeable the longer Voyager, the TV series,
continued and she was no different here. "Chuckles" Chakotay - I am not
familiar with it if that nickname was actually used in the series but
certainly during discussions in usenet. More than once I complained
about Chakotay`s lack of backbone and failing as a first officer when it
is about challenging his captain when necessary. I had trouble to
respect him in this story as well.

Kim is a completely different story. Both Kims couldn`t be more
different. The Mirror Universe Kim certainly hasn`t anything in common
with the one shown in "Nightingale". On the other hand, I can imagine
that it would have damaged "our" Kim severely to lose his parents in
such a brutal way because it was shown on a few occasions that they are
very close. Therefore the difference between the two makes some sense to
me. Liking him would go too far but I certainly think the MU Kim is a
very interesting character. I am glad that he is one of the few
characters who are still alive at the end of the story so that he might
be back if there will be more. 

The same applies to the MU B`Elanna, meaning that she is still alive and
could appear again. Her self hatred in Voyager was tempered by the
influence of her friends and especially Tom Paris but I can see that
under other circumstances she would be very much as shown in this story.
It is a shame that Tom Paris died but to put it in Klingon terms, he
certainly died well. 

I mainly enjoyed it how KRAD wrote Neelix and Kes. Again, it reminds me
of how much potential Voyager had, how much has never been used properly
and how much has been wasted. Too many authors fell into the trap of
writing Kes as a beautiful but fragile flower. KRAD wrote her the way
she should have been all the time, not just in the few memorable but so
rare exceptions. I also welcomed it that Neelix love was not tainted by
ridiculous jealousy and possessiveness I found ugly to watch. 

I think this is a good, entertaining story with some interesting
surprises. Now I am continuing with "Saturn`s Children". 

Baerbel Haddrell