🚀 go-pugleaf

Baerbel Haddrell
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Nun habe ich doch noch die fuer mich letzte aber in Wirklichkeit erste
Story der beiden neuen Star Trek Mirror Universe Buecher gelesen. 

Es handelt sich hierbei um die Fortsetzung der Spiegeluniversum-Story
aus der Serie Enterprise. Geschrieben wurde die Story von Mike Sussman,
der auch die TV Folgen schrieb. Genauer gesagt war es Mike Sussman mit
Dayton Ward und Kevin Dilmore.





S P O I L E R

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I left the first story of the two Mirror Universe books for last because
I didn`t expect to like it very much. I found the two Mirror Universe
stories of the Enterprise series interesting, in some ways even
fascinating, but I can`t say that I found them enjoyable to watch. When
I watch something or read a book, what is first of all important are the
characters. No, not everyone has to be likeable but at the very least I
want to find at least a few I can care about, who actually matter to me
in a story. What I have seen in Mirror Enterprise is a bunch of people
busy murdering and backstabbing each other, nearly all of them extremes
of the worst clich�s: Women using sex appeal and poison. Men being thugs
and using violence as well as falling easily for the traps women set for
them. I had the same thought when I read "Dark Passions" or more
accurately, I tried and had enough after the first third of the first
book: Why should I care? They deserve each other.

After I read "Sorrows of Empire", which is an extremely well written
book but also not a story I enjoyed reading, I waited even longer to
read this one. But because I am waiting for two books I really look
forward to and needed something not too long to bridge the time, I
thought, all right - get it over and done with. Then I can say, I
actually read both of the new Mirror Universe books and know what I am
talking about when I join discussions about them in future.

When I started reading I had at least some hope: I found the T`Pol in
the MU story very interesting and was hoping that she would at least put
some positive note into this book. 

Within limits, she was indeed the only highlight in a very annoying,
clich� filled story. What got my attention was that Mr. Sussman (I am
assuming that it was him because he is credited as the story author)
couldn`t decide if the T`Pol in this book is as savage as a Romulan (or
insane Vulcan) can be or a real follower of Surak like her mother. I
don`t buy it that T`Pol is at one time not so different from Soleta and
then betrays the rebellion and joins the Empress all in the name of
peace and saving lives. The violent showdown in the cave made me cringe.
It was terribly clich�d. The rebels also were killing and backstabbing
each other, including a VERY negative version of T`Pau. Turning Staal,
who started as a very intriguing character, into another killer added
another annoying clich� and wasted the opportunity to insert some much
needed positive characters in this story. 

I don`t think the portrayal of the T`Pol in this story is convincing and
consequent at all but nevertheless, putting that aside, her choice to
join forces with Empress Hoshi is very interesting and makes sense if
you look at it from the logical perspective a Surak follower could have:
"If you can`t beat them, join them". T`Pol could indeed have some good
influence on Hoshi and at least save some lives by being her equal
partner - well, how long that would last is a different question. But
the way T`Pol was written and the way the story was put together didn`t
allow me to feel any respect for this woman. It was not a moral
sacrifice, there was no soul searching and no condemnation. 

What also got on my nerves is that Mr. Sussman used another clich� in
excess: Facial disfigurement. Once, with Trip, that is ok by me. That
Delta radiation disfigured him reminded me of Pike. Keeping in mind
Pike`s fate, this was actually not a bad idea to incorporate that
element in Enterprise. But then there were Shran and Reed as well, and
that was over the top. In my book, it became ridiculous. Of course, you
don`t find the female beauties disfigured like that. 

The word loyalty was mentioned a lot. Empress Hoshi kept demanding that
but at the same time was continually wondering how long that person is
still useful and when is the best time to kill him. Her subjects working
for her (at least the ones we met in this story) were nevertheless
following her willingly (some more willing than others, but the trend
was obvious). I also noticed that in general, the population under her
rule was a bit shown like sheep: No matter the how and why, as long as
they are safe and their needs are met, they are behind the Empress.
First they turn against her when Earth is attacked by the rebels. When
that stops and she is in danger, suddenly she is popular again. 

All right, if I had to choose between two evils, namely Hoshi and Shran,
I would prefer Hoshi as well. I found the idea of marrying them and then
following how they betray and backstab each other all in the name of
power madness very tiresome and annoying. I sighed, was it necessary to
turn Shran into a villain as well? 

I can understand that Hoshi didn`t want to kill her son but after the
ruthlessness she kept showing, that she keeps Shran alive after what he
had done makes no sense to me. Bringing Archer back makes even less
sense. Not only do I see no reason why she would want to (T`Pol`s
arguments didn`t impress me at all), raising him from the dead or
telling us for some reason he wasn`t quite dead and they decided to put
him into stasis is really something that could have been written in bad
fan fiction. I only see one reason why Mr. Sussmann did this: The
Enterprise MU saga was supposed to be continued on TV and MU Enterprise
without Jonathan Archer would be less attractive. Captain Archer is,
after all, the main character of Enterprise. All right, with Shran
around as well, there is more room for further betrayals and back
stabbings in a sequel. 

I am hoping that there will indeed be more Mirror Universe books and I
liked the idea very much to include novel sized stories within two trade
paperbacks. But I already know that also next time, the Enterprise
instalment will be the last one I read. 

P.S.: When Archer cut off Shran`s antenna it grew back. I wonder why
this didn`t happen when MU Shran lost his. Maybe because it wasn`t a
clean cut? Hm, I wonder if Cray`s antenna (the one Calhoun ripped off in
"Once Burned") has grown back. If not, I can imagine that it will make
him hate Mac even more. 

Baerbel Haddrell