okie@ihuxs.UUCP (11/30/83)
Okay, into the fray... I've also read the two books causing much discussion on this group these days. Let me state beforehand that I've followed Star Trek fiction for many years, keeping (what I consider to be) the good and winnowing out the bad. So I don't feel I'm a dilettante in this area. I was mightily disappointed in "Mutiny on the Enterprise." The character- izations were not well done at all (watching Kirk scream all the time got to me) -- the blowtorch technique as opposed to subtlety and careful thought. I, too, found the plot unbelievable, and the premise shaky -- although I did see some potential for what one other person called "good social commentary." I say potential because it was treated in a pretty shallow surface manner, and there was no real argument on either side of the issue. I am just now in the middle of Diane Duane's "The Wounded Sky," so I can't give a complete opinion. So far, though, I've found it to be fascinating and enjoyable. There's more than a basic Star Trek feel to this book, more than just SF adventure/drama. It also has one of the first (if not the only) well-thought out, decent space battles in the entire Star Trek fictional realm. I agree that, so far, this book ranks up there with the Phoenix books (which I also found to be better than the average ST fiction), and also with David Gerrold's "The Galactic Whirlpool." I'm not saying you have to agree with me; I, too, "calls them as I sees them." I just sees them differently. Thanks, B.K. Cobb AT&T Bell Laboratories, Naperville, IL