Book Description
In this follow-up to the bestselling Captain's Table series of books, nine new Star Trek® captains belly up to the bar to tell their tales of adventure and romance, of triumph and tragedy, of duty and honor, of debts paid and prices exacted, including:
Jonathan Archer of the Starship Enterprise™, as told by Louisa Swann
Chakotay of the U.S.S. Voyager™, as told by Christie Golden
David Gold of the U.S.S. da Vinci, as told by John J. Ordover
Kira Nerys of Deep Space 9™, as told by Heather Jarman
Klag, son of M'Raq, of the I.K.S. Gorkon, as told by Keith R.A. DeCandido
Jean-Luc Picard of the U.S.S. Stargazer, as told by Michael Jan Friedman
William T. Riker of the U.S.S. Titan, as told by Michael A. Martin & Andy Mangels
Elizabeth Shelby of the U.S.S. Trident, as told by Peter David
Demora Sulu of the U.S.S. Enterprise™-B, as told by David R. George III
From the weekly episodes of Star Trek: Enterprise to the monthly adventures of S.C., from the bestselling novel Serpents Among the Ruins to the bestselling series New Frontier, from the past tales of Stargazer to the new stories of Titan, from the glorious exploits of I.K.S. Gorkon to the post-finale chronicles of Deep Space Nine and Voyager, come nine new stories from the nine newest members of Star Trek's finest and bravest shipmasters.
Customer Reviews:
A Pretty Cool Book.......2007-03-16
This is a compilation of all the "Captain's Table" books into one volume. It thought that all the stories to be pretty well written - and they are not all the same of even similar, although they all start out the same in which Kirk or Sulu or Janeway set off on a planet and end up in the same bar "The Captain's Table". Part of the mystery is piecing together through the various stories what the "Table" is and the mystery behind this very strange and exclusive bar which is essentially a club for Captains only. Wonderful read for all your Star Trek nuts out there.
A Good Read.......2006-03-02
What I like about this anthology is you don't have to be a Star Trek fan to enjoy the stories. For some fans, like me actually, it was disappointing not to lay heavy on Trek history and have tie-ins with continuity. But on the flip side, I liked seeing these characters in fresh, stand-alone stories. As an Enterprise fan, I was a bit disappointed the Archer story was so goofy and didn't build his character at all...except to show he's quite the shoot-from-the-hip storyteller, and I could easily visualize Shran containing his laughter from the tallest of tales he's probably ever heard. My favorite story was Demora Sulu's, which as said before is really three stories in one, which can be tricky to pull off, but was done nicely. I hope we see more stories from her. I would like to see how the transition of captain played out between her and Harriman some day.
Being a TOS and Enterprise fans, those are the two I bought the anthology for. The other stories were all entertaining as well, and like I said, can be enjoyed by even non Trek fans. Enjoy!
Okay read.......2006-02-04
I'm guilty of only reading the Captain's Table story of William T Riker. I read it and though it was and exciting read it seemed to bounce around a lot. Some times I didn't know if I was on their honeymoon or back discussing it Captain Picard. Honeslty Will really shouldn't have discussed his honeymoon with Picard its supposed to be private. Other then that it was a good read.
Another good Star Trek anthology.......2006-01-19
I was duly impressed by Tales of the Dominion War, and again was impressed with Tales from the Captain's Tale. I am still astounded by how much leeway the writers have been given in the last 6 or 7 years to expand the Star Trek universe so greatly.
I get the impression that a couple of the previous reviewers expected all of these stories to be life-changing dramas for the characters, and were disappointed when that turned out not to be the case. Though Shelby's story, and certainly that of Kira had some heart-wrenching drama at the end, several of the stories were clearly intended to be action-packed yarns and humorous tales. The tale of "dubious credibility" told by Riker and the silly Porthos yarn are good stories--if you take them at face value as entertainment for an audience (and payment for a drink).
In any case, my favorite Captain represented here is Demora Sulu of the Enterprise-B. Too bad her career is unlikely to be considered canonical in the tv-world, but I would love there to be another full novel with her at the fore.
So, if you enjoy Star Trek anthologies and reveling in the amazingly diverse novel-universe cast, the Captain's Table is a must-buy. Just remember that a story in the bar doesn't have to be true--it just has to be good.
tales from the captain's table.......2005-10-04
i enjoyed it very much reading stories of captain's you never get to here about
Amazon.com
This substantial volume brings together six novels, all set in The Captain's Table, a bar where ships' captains from many worlds throughout history can gather to drink, talk, and brawl. The price of the first round of drinks is always a story, and each captain settles back to spin a yarn.
Captains Kirk and Sulu meet some unusual reptilian aliens in an intriguing adventure, while Picard goes undercover in search of a missing Starfleet officer and a legendary Cardassian treasure in a fast-moving tale. Sisko's brush with a mysterious race of invisible phased matter aliens, on the other hand, is slow and talky. The pace picks up again as Janeway describes her experiences as a deck hand aboard the ship of a comparatively low-tech culture where, marooned, she has to work her way up from the bottom. Peter David's creation, Mackenzie Calhoun, relates his experiences as First Officer of the Grissom under the vengeful Captain Kenyon, and Christopher Pike searches for the origins of a species of spacefaring whales.
Most of these adventures are well-written--and feature some excellent aliens--and their first-person narration gives a more intimate feel than most Star Trek novels. --Elizabeth Sourbut, Amazon.co.uk
Book Description
There's a bar called "The Captain's Table," where those who have commanded mighty vessels of every shape and era can meet, relax, and share a friendly drink with others of their calling. But the first drink is always paid for with a story...even For Starfleet's finest officers!
Star Trek®
War Dragons by L.A. Graf
James T. Kirk must join forces with Captain Hikaru Sulu of the U.S.S. Excelsior to end a bloody conflict in a distant star system -- before it erupts into a full-scale interstellar war!
Star Trek: The Next Generation®
Dujonian's Hoard by Michael Jan Friedman
For more than two hundred years, treasure hunters have sought a fabled trove of priceless artifacts and forgotten technology. Now Joan-Luc Picard must go undercover too find the hoard before it falls info the hands of the Federation's greatest enemies!
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine®
The Mist by Dean Wesley Smith and Kristine Kathryn Rusch
Is the Mist the ultimate cloaking device -- or a gateway to another dimension? Benjamin Sisko contends with the Cordassions, the Fereagi, and even the Klingon Empire to uncover a secret that could change The balance of power throughout the entire Alpha Quadrant!
Star Trek: Voyager®
Fire Ship be Diane Carol
A sudden attack separates Captain Kathryn Janeway from her ship and crew, stranding her aboard an alien vessel and in the middle of a war she doesn't understand. Now she must rise from the ranks once more -- to fake command of a wholly new ship!
Star Trek: New Frontier
Once Burned by Peter David
Six years ago, before he took command of the Starship Excalibur, Mackenzie Calhoun served aboard the U.S.S. Grissom -- until disaster struck. Now at long last, Captain Calhoun reveals the true story Ind the greatest tragedy of his life!
Star Trek
Where Sea Meets Sky by Jerry Oltion
Long before Kirk began his own voyages, Captain Christopher Pike led the Starship Enterprise™ into uncharted realms of space, encountering strange and unearthly dangers -- including vast, spacefaring life-forms capable of devastating entire star systems!
Download Description
Bestselling masters of sci-fi have combined their incredible talents to recreate the greatest triumphs, adventures, and alien struggles of Star Trek's most popular commanders. Here are Captains Kirk, Sulu, Picard, Sisko, Janeway, Calhoun, and Pike, and their incredible tales of life, death, treachery, and hair-raising exploits in the New Frontier -- as recounted at the intergalactic watering hole, The Captain's Table. This special, all-in-one-volume includes War Dragons, Dujonian's Hoard, The Mist, Fire Ship, Once Burned, and Where Sea Meets Sky.
Customer Reviews:
The Best of the Super Sagas in Six Parts by Editor Ordover.......2006-07-10
This saga has to be one of the most highly rated books. The captains table has no meaning in time and space. In one minute Captain Kirk of the movie era is at the table and the next we see Captain Picard in the second story. It's takes place in a spot where there is no constant in the timeline.
If you don't read any other book read this one. It's one of the best series around. You won't be disappointed in this one. It features all the eras. The movies,TV shows and New Frontier. I would like to see an update someday with a Captain Archer volume. That's only if Pocket wants to re market this classic combination of talents. You can't go wrong here. This one has it all. There are several series that follow that don't measure up on one level or another. This one consistantly delivers in each entry. I have very few qualms with this book because of all the classic story elements being in place.
If you purchase the next Captain's Table anthology,(this time in one slim volume) you get to see Captain's Archer,Gold and Demora Sulu and Captain Chakotay!
Star Trek: The Captain's Table - Absolutely wonderful!.......2002-07-22
Star Trek: The Captain's Table Omnibus is a wonderful compilation of some of the best Star Trek written to date! I originally read all six of the paperbacks and purchased this more as a collector's thing than anything else. All in all, the whole series is great and in good keeping with the principles and ethos of what "The Great Bird of the Galaxy" intended Star Trek to be. I do have to admit that it would be nice if one of the better trek authors was given the opportunity to write a seventh book with Captain Archer from "Enterprise."
Star Trek: Captain's Table - just great !.......2002-01-17
The stories were great! I especially enjoyed this as my first e-book. The location of the Captain's Table and the description of the varied environments each captain perceived added an extra dimension to the atmosphere of each story.
Great series.......2001-12-06
Everything about these books is great the plot and storyline of new and old characters is a wonderful blend. I personally liked the New Frontier novel, because I am a big fan of the New Frontier and all of Peter David's excellent writings. Even though some might not agree I gave them all 5 stars because they are all generally great books.
Balderdash straight from the bosses' mouths.......2001-08-07
Existing outside of conventional space-time, the Captain's Table is a bar open only to anyone who has ever held the rank or title of captain, regardless of race, creed, color, age, era, species, service branch, or vessel; it gets hinted at in "Double Helix #5: Double or Nothing." Among its patrons are Jean Lafitte, John Paul Jones, and Captain Nemo (calling himself "Nowan"). TITANIC Captain Edward Smith has taken up residence here (permanently cursing the iceberg), and Alexander the Great tried to take over the place and got exiled.
What makes this series interesting is not only how they let you inside the heads of each captain, but that the bar changes appearance for every visitor: Calhoun sees it as a Xenexian tavern, while Picard sees it as a French inn. In terms of characterization, the best story would have to be Calhoun's, because he completely drops his borderline-savage/space-cowboy facade and shows some real sentiment. The multi-franchise miniseries also ties in with the "Invasion!" tetralogy by having Sisko meet Klingon Captain Sotugh from "The Soldiers of Fear" and Janeway run into an alien similar to the vaguely Satanic Zennor from "First Strike." Hardcore Trek fans should enjoy the Christopher Pike entry, which gives a hint as to what his XO's name was.
Book Description
Cocktails in Tahiti is a visually stunning, full color showpiece combining a playful yet sophisticated look at Tahiti's magnificent luxury resorts and their most delicious, flirtatious, and slightly decadent cocktails. Filled with unusual insights, folklore, and facts about Tahiti and her islands,
Cocktails in Tahiti has something to tempt and delight all tastes.
Over 50 sumptuous cocktail recipes blend exotic fruits, juices, and liquors providing a flavorful and vibrant palette from which to capture the fun and often elegant mood of these captivating islands. You'll learn the history of the legendary Mai Tai, Tahiti's most famous cocktail, and discover the secrets of the intriguing rums, vodkas, and distinctive liqueurs used in creating Tahiti's most celebrated libations.
A special section features the signature cocktail recipes from Tahiti's most outstanding luxury resorts along with spectacular photographs and overviews of these renowned hotels.
Whether served from a coconut or elegantly chilled in a martini glass of fine crystal, the flowering and colorful cocktails of Tahiti have an undeniable presence all their own. If you are dreaming of a future trip or reliving special memories from a past visit to these beautiful islands, this wonderful collection of delightful drink recipes, dazzling hotel photographs, and distinctive insights will put you in a tropical, tranquil mood as you sip your way to our magical paradise.
Al Keahi, Managing Director, Tahiti Tourism Bureau N.A:
A must have book of fun and facts for anyone who has visited or dreams of visiting Tahiti.
New Book Resources, October 2006:
We can't wait to try out the recipes and imagine that we are at one of the featured, dreamlike hotels.
Vincent Guerin, Director of Sales, Starwood Hotels & Resorts French Polynesia:
The finest collection of resort photographs and cocktail recipes from across Tahiti.
Customer Reviews:
What a fun and entertaining book!.......2007-08-05
Not only does this book have a wealth of information on a destination we long to travel to, but it offers a wide variety of fun and DELICIOUS drinks.
We love to entertain and it has been great having 'Cocktails in Tahiti' out at our parties...quite a conversation piece! Everyone loves the stunning photos of Tahiti, the scrumptious drinks, and the intriguing facts of the islands. Thank you!
Experience a whole new world of Cocktails!.......2007-04-28
Always looking for new and exciting cocktails to try, I purchased this book. Each page became more interesting, not only for the drinks presented but for the knowledge that Mr. Bondurant shares about Tahiti, it's culture, local accomodations, etc.
The photos are exceptional and each drink I have mixed has been better than the last. I have bought several as gifts for coworkers and friends. You won't be disappointed!
Cocktails from paradise at your fingertips.......2007-02-06
"Cocktails in Tahiti" is a must have for any lover of spirits with a tropical flair. The author has artfully put together a wonderful collection of cocktails, both old and new, from the scenic paradise of Tahiti. Colorful photographs and descriptions of each drink will have your mouth watering to imbibe several of these treats from the South Pacific. If you are looking for something new to bring some tropical flavor to your cocktail library, then you need this book!
This book will make you fall in love with Tahiti.......2006-12-18
I have always wanted to go to the Tahitian islands but have never had the opportunity. Now, after reading "Cocktails in Tahiti", I am planning a trip to Tahiti for next Summer. I originally thought "Cocktails in Tahiti" would give me some good ideas for entertaining, but soon found out it contained many intersting nuggets about the islands and their history. To sum it up, I am packed and ready to go to these beautiful islands.
If you've ever dreamed of a tropical vacation or just need to brighten up your winter, you should read this book.
Beautiful Book.......2006-12-09
I have never been to Tahiti, but after reading the fun, informative facts about Tahiti, seeing the beautiful pictures, and sampling some of the excellent cocktail recipes, I am ready to go!
Mr. Bondurant's love and knowledge of Tahiti come through clearly in the book, which is very well laid out. It provides enough information and explains things in such a way that an amateur can make delicious Tahitian cocktails as well as the most experienced bartender. The fun facts about Tahiti, along with summaries of the total hotels and the gorgeous pictures, makes this book a must have.
Until I can take my first trip to Tahiti, this book will help bring a little Tahiti to my home.
Book Description
What cruise ship guests never see and never hear about, they can read about in "If I Were Not Upon the Sea". One very 'male' Captain and one very 'female' Cruise Director of different backgrounds and very differing points of view, give a tour no brochure will ever offer. Life at sea is uncharted territory until this book.
Customer Reviews:
Not a book to read and I was disappointed.......2007-05-28
This book was reviewed on Cruise Critic and I thought it would make good reading while awaiting my next cruise. Unfortunately, I could not get through the first three chapters. Maybe it is because of the explicit details of the authors love life or what she perceived as her love life and not enough about the actually inner workings of a cruise ship. The book I got was actually signed by the author, but I plan on taking it with me and leaving it in the give away section of the cruise ship library. Maybe someone else can get into this book. It was not for me.
An Enjoyable Book.......2006-09-30
What an open honest book, that allows us inside the World of Cruising. A great read that will leave You wanting to hear more. Like having a conversation with a Good Friend, hearing of all the good stuff going on in Her life. As I said very open and honest. It will make You smile. I look forward to Her next book. A great insight in the people who work on these cruise Ships.
Raises many unanswered questions........2005-08-08
I have just finished this fascinating little book and although I enjoyed it immensely, it still left me with many of my original questions unanswered. I know, I know-it is extremely unthinking of me to fault a writer and their book for not writing the book that the reader would have written but still after a number of cruises there are many areas of the onboard cruising experience that are still pools of unknown knowledge that I cannot provide material to fill. Joyce has covered many interesting topics, some of which had never even occurred to me and I am richer for the wonderful anecdotes that pepper her book.
I would, however, have preferred her to supply some of the "nuts an' bolts" of the cruising experience from an employees point of view such as: who rooms with who and who decides this important question, what do crew members do when not working and where do they do it, how are crew quarters laid out, is food supplied, what sort of amenities are onboard for the crew, etc. etc.?
Joyce's book is a wonderful insight into that hidden world of the criuse employee and I would encourage her to write a folow up and tell her readers of the "hidden" world of contemporary international cruising. Considering how popular this fom of holiday has become, I am sure the book would sell well.
Very Interesting and Unique.......2005-01-05
This book is an excellent resource for anyone interested on what goes on beyond the signs that say, "Crew Only." Ideal for veteran cruisers like myself who have met many crew members and have wondered what it would be like to work on a ship. A fascinating travelogue of the author's years working as a cruise director aboard various lines, the destinations visited (with color pictures) and people on board (celebrities and run-of-the-mill folk). Also how she met her husband, a Captain for Celebrity Cruises, and several pages written by him about his experiences. The book is full of anecdotes, some of which are rated "R"! All very interesting and unique...I don't know of any other "tell-all" book like it on this subject.
Book Description
There's a bar called "The Captain's Table," where those who have commanded mighty vessels of every shape and era can meet, relax, and share a friendly drink or two with others of their calling. Sometimes a brawl may break out but it's all in the family, more or less. Just remember, the first round of drinks is always paid for with a story...fishy or not.
Years before Kirk took command, Captain Christopher Pike guided the Starship Enterprise™ on a five-year mission. Pike's journey took him to many new and unexplored realms, none more strange or perilous than a devastated star system where huge, space-faring lifeforms, vital to the survival of one inhabited star system, wreak havoc on the humanoid inhabitants of the other. Captain Pike must thrust the Enterprise into deadly danger as he fights to save one innocent civilization without dooming the other.
Customer Reviews:
A conundrum:.......2007-07-27
The overall value of this book is much less than the sum of its parts.
It is a frame story, in which we get a story told by Captain Pike in the first person, at a tavern called "The Captain's Table".
The story told by Pike is marvellous; fast-paced, complex, with excellent characterizations and insightful looks into the first pilot characters. That internal story, I would rate five stars without hesitation.
The story in which that frame is put is also entertaining: Pike telling his story to, and interacting with, Captain Nemo of "20,000 Leagues Beneath The Sea" fame (although he doesn't realize it until very nearly the end of the book) and a female Klingon from far enough up the timeline to know how he meets his end, was enjoyable, and worth four stars in its own right.
The concept of The Captain's Table, a semi-mystical, alternate-dimensional tavern where all captains of all races and times are welcome, and only captains are welcome, and can enjoy the society of their peers without problems of communication or enmity, is an interesting enough concept; "Callahan's Crosstime Saloon" meets the galactic federation. If the idea were standing alone, I would rate it four stars.
But the idea does not stand alone; it chooses to be wedded to the "Star Trek" universe, to make it more marketable. And unfortunately, it simply doesn't work in the Star Trek universe. As even my then eight-year-old could see, when told about the idea, and that captains from the long past sailing ship days are there along with starship captains, "Doesn't that violate the prime directive?"
I would love to see the "Captain's Table" concept continued, but with NEW characters and a NEW background universe. Leave Star Trek out of it; some concepts just don't mix. (You might have some really fine, five-star orange juice, and some excellent four-star chocolate milk, but would you really want to mix them?)
If you aren't enough of a Star Trek fan to insist on continuity with the background world, but enjoy the stories simply as stories, you'll find much to like in this book. But if you're even a little bit of a Star Trek purist, you'll have trouble swallowing the basic premise here.
When Sea Meets Sky or Whales in Space...........2006-06-21
The author must have been inspired by Star Trek IV. In this one Pike meets Whales...in space! Without giving away the premise, it's a good novel to end the series with. We get more insight on the character of Captain Pike. His style of command was closer to Picard's than Kirk. Pike was the first one to use the phrase "engage". Only it didn't catch on because actor, Jeffrey Hunter was only in the first pilot.
I hope to see more of Captain Pike with the new novel coming out next month from Pocket Books. I believe it's entitled "Burning Dreams" by Margaret Wander Bonnano.
The chronicles of Pike's 10 year mission have a lot of unanswered questions. A good example would be what happened to his original crew with "number one" and all the others. We never saw them again.
Where Reader Meets Satisfaction.......2003-08-23
Whales in Space sounds like the premise for another, hokey, syruppy Greenpeace diatribe ala Howard Weinstein. Fortunately, Weinstein is nowhere to be found here. Instead, Jerry Oltien presents us with a tale that is interesting and at times even gripping. The space whales turn out to be vicious predators, eating machines that would make the aliens of Aliens proud. When, early on, one literally takes a bite out of the Enterprise, you know you're in for a good time. The Captain Pike here is not entirely consistent with that seen in The Menagerie, and Peter David did a better job with Pike's crew in The Rift than Oltion manages here. Nevertheless, Oltion does a creditable job, giving us a book more than worth any Trek reader's time.
There are two serious flaws here. First, the ending is abrupt, pat, and weak. Typical Star Trek happy ending. The other is that Oltion is forced to work within the god-awful Captain's Table concept. Fortunately, he makes our job easy by alternating chapters between the bar and Pike's story, making skipping blessfully easy.
The Captain's Table as a whole produced one exceptional book, (Janeway's Fireship), three very good books (Kirk/Sulu, Pike, and Peter David's Calhoun) and two down-right stinkers (Picard and Sisko, sadly). With the possible exception of the Kirk/Sulu tale, the books that succeed do so in spite of the Captain's Table concept, not because of it. The concept was a stupid one and the Trek universe is worse off because of it. Discerning Trek readers should still read the four good books, however; simply skip everything about the bar and enjoy the rare first-person perspectives.
A great conclusion to "The Captain's Table" series!.......2002-07-22
I must admit that I personally was not particularly enthralled with the character of Captain Christopher Pike in the TOS episode. This was also the first trek book I'd be reading written by Jerry Oltion. It was with these reservations that I opened this book up to page one. Upon reflection, these trepidations were completely baseless. The author, turned for me, what was an uninteresting character, into an absolute page turner. The idea of the "Titans", space creature's controlled by humanoids, I thought would be less than captivating to say the least. Wrong again. The character interaction's in "The Captain's Table" were extremely well done. I especially liked the reference to the captain of the Titanic being there. Without giving too much of the story away and spoiling it for those who've not read it yet, I'll just read this one. You will not regret it. I hope the author is given the opportunity in the future to bring this character back to life again. Thank you to Jerry Oltion for a great read.
Christopher Pike and a story about "space whales".......2000-12-28
"Where Sea Meets Sky" presents Christopher Pike's first person narrative in the Captain's Table series. If the Jean-Luc Picard story was a pirate tale set in space then this final book in the series is clearly a whaling tale set in space as Pike and his crew deal with the ecological mystery of the titans, a species of creatures nearly the size of the Enterprise that are used by the Aronnians as interstellar dirigibles. Unfortunately for them the creatures have not returned from their annual migration, and Pike is ordered to find out what is going on out there. As Jerry Oltion reveals in his acknowledgments, the idea for the titans came from a Treasurecon III convention panel once upon a time in Billings, Montana, where the group created plausible creatures that might live in space. Oltion had just been waiting for the right opportunity to bring those crazy space whales to light. If you are interested in the creative use of biotechnology, along the lines of what Harry Harrison came up with in his "West of Eden" trilogy, you will find the "science" in this book to be quite interesting. The idea that ecological problems can be solved ecologically is always nice to hear. However, if you are expecting any hint of the nature of the relationship between Pike and his science officer Mr. Spock that compelled the Vulcan to violate General Order 7 and take his former captain back to Talos IV, you are going to be disappointed.
Oltion does the best job of shifting back and forth between Pike's narrative and his conversations with his listeners at the Captain's Table. This is the one book in the series that deals explicitly with the storyteller being aware that he is talking to an audience from other times and places. It is that part of the book more than Pike's actual story that plays off the tragic fate that awaits the former captain of the Enterprise down the road. "Where Sea Meets Sky" scores out as an average book in this series, with the Voyager entry featuring Kathryn Janeway clearly the best book in the series and one of the better Star Trek novels you will ever read. It will not surprise anyone who has been following the series that since the bar called the Captain's Table transcends mere notions of time and space that ultimately we end up with a story cycle, although the truth about the gecko is rather unsatisfying.
Book Description
There's a bar called "The Captain's Table," where those who have commanded mighty vessels of every shape and era can meet, relax, and share a friendly drink or two with others of their calling. Sometimes a brawl may break out but it's all in the family, more or less. Just remember, the first round of drinks is always paid for with a story...even in the Delta Quadrant.
A sudden attack separates Captain Kathryn Janeway from her ship and crew. Soon she is rescued -- but not by Voyager. Alone aboard an alien vessel, Janeway finds herself in the middle of a war she cannot yet understand. She must quickly learn the ways of this new culture and work her way back to captain if she is to protect her new allies from the war that only she knows is coming. Without her ship, all her quick wits and Starfleet experience may not be quite enough to save the Delta Quadrant from war.
Customer Reviews:
Janeway Commands Alien Starship.......2006-05-30
The above line is how it would read if this were a real Voyager episode on TV. It's too bad the producers of the show never made this book into a TV episode! Janeway was found drifting in an escape pod only to be captured by an alien starship. She has work her way up the chain of command to captain the ship.
Of all the Voyager novels I've read this one is a keeper. It's as one reviewer put it, one of those novels you can read more than once. Janeway has to create a command structure from the ground up without the help of the Federation or any of her officers from Voyager.
Very Memorable.......2003-10-31
For those of you who are mad that this ook doesn't feature Voyager or anyone besides Janeway: If you skim through the book, you can easily tell that this book is Janeway and nothing but Janeway.
That being said: Yes, Janeway is out of character. But guess what? It's a story that Janeway's telling. Maybe it happened, and maybe it didn't. That's what we're left to guess at. Here's another way to think about it: Chakotay making up Indian stories to prove a point to someone. Jesus coming up with a parable. Did it happen? Probably not. Or maybe not that exact way. It's a story and you just 'go with it' and enjoy the ride.
Anyway, back to the book... Basically, Janeway is exploring and comes upon this little bar where all these captains sit around telling 'war stories'. She's asked to tell a story and begins. The whole novel is her story, basically.
What did I think of the book? I loved it. It was an interesting story and I really couldn't put it down when I first read it. And get this: I've read it several times after. Now that's a good book!
So do yourself a favour and read 'outside the box...er, ship' this time. Well, unless you hate Janeway - then don't read the novel.
GREAT BOOK! Must Read!.......2003-06-12
I was expecting this book to be good, but it was more than good, it was excellent. An excelent plot that keeps the book up non stop until you are done.
Wow........2003-02-17
I am very loathe to give any Star Trek book more than three stars. Star Trek books are almost by definition entertainment light, and mere entertainment should not, generally, receive more than three stars. But then along came Diane Carey and Fire Ship, and try as I might I cannot bring myself to give it only three stars.
Like Sulu, Picard, and Sisko before her (Kirk had been there before), Janeway stumbles into the incredibly dopey "Captain's Table", a bar exclusively for captains of ships from all times and places. Like her predecessors, Janeway must tell a story. But there the comparisons with previous Captain's Table debacles ends. Carey boldly ignores the Captain's Table conventions and lets Janeway tell her story without the constant interruptions that plagued the previous books.
And what a story it is. Janeway finds herself alone with an alien crew, forced to adapt to no longer being in charge and literally swabbing decks. Carey has found her stride as an author (see the atrocious TNG novel Ghost Ship for an earlier effort), weaving a narrative that is compelling, interesting, and evocative. There are, inevitably, some bits that do not entirely "work," but this was the first Trek novel in a long, long time that I a) didn't want to put down and b) looked forward to picking up again. It is also the first Trek book in recent memory that I actually *want* to read again.
An observation about the negative reviews. I have never been a big Voyager fan. I am familiar with the characters, of course, but, except for the Doctor, am not attached to any of them. So, the lack of other Voyager crew did not bother me in the slightest. Similarly, I am by no means a Janeway afficionado. Is "Fire Ship"'s Janeway a realistic portrayal of the original? I have no idea; it was to my inexpert eye. However, "Fire Ship" is so enjoyable that the Star Trek aspects of it are really beside the point. Read "Fire Ship" and enjoy it for the wonderful tale it is.
A shove to the wall!.......2002-11-08
This was indeed a very thrilling book because you dont know the characters and its makes it very unpredictable! However I did miss the crew, but this I have to admit is the best stand alone Janeway book next to "Mosaic" of course. I recommed this book if your a Janeway fan! :)
Average customer rating:
- Not as good as Volume 2 but very true to the DS9 series....
- Good frame story.
- A great continuation on the series!
- It's Official, The Premise Stinks
- A Fairly Enjoyable Read
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The Mist: The Captain's Table Book 3 (Star Trek Deep Space Nine)
Dean Wesley Smith , and
Kristine Kathryn Rusch
Manufacturer: Star Trek
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
 Rusch, Kristine Kathryn
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Smith, Dean Wesley
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General
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General
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Deep Space Nine
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Similar Items:
-
Fire Ship (Star Trek Voyager: The Captains Table, Book 4)
-
Where Sea Meets Sky (Star Trek: The Captain's Table, Book 6)
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Dujonian's Hoard (Star Trek The Next Generation: The Captain's Table, Book 2)
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War Dragons (Star Trek: The Captain's Table, Book 1)
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Once Burned (Star Trek New Frontier: The Captain's Table, Book 5)
ASIN: 0671014714 |
Book Description
There's a bar called "The Captain's Table," where those who have commanded mighty vessels of every shape and era can meet, relax, and share a friendly drink or two with others of their calling. Sometimes a brawl may break out but it's all in the family, more or less. Just remember, the first round of drinks is always paid for with a story...even on the planet Bajor.
Do the people of the Mist have the ultimate cloaking device -- or a gateway to another dimension? Captain Benjamin Sisko doesn't know for sure, but the Klingons™, the Cardassians, and the Ferengi Alliance will stop at nothing to obtain the device. Now Sisko finds himself in the middle of a deadly struggle that could change the balance of power throughout the entire Alpha Quadrant!
Customer Reviews:
Not as good as Volume 2 but very true to the DS9 series...........2006-05-19
This one has Sisko dealing with the Mist and its mysterious culture. I think that it was a little slap dash but the characters still sounded like they have in the series. I went through half the book in one evening. It's a good addition to the six part series. I do have to agree with many of the reviewers that there are too many interruptions in the story. The back and forth from the bar to the tale is too intense.
Good frame story........2004-10-08
As with the first two books of this miniseries, half of the book centers in "The Captain's Table", a mysterious place that seems to exist interdimensionally, can be entered only by captains, but captains of any stripe and from any place or time period; sort of a "Callahan's Crosstime Saloon", restricted to captains instead of people who Spider Robinson finds interesting. The other half of the book consists of a story told by our main character, in this case, Ben Sisko, about an adventure that he or she has had as a captain, told to the other captains at the bar.
As in the previous two books, both stories are very well told, and are quite enjoyable. The problem, and the reason I only rate this book three stars, is that, while I find the basic concept amusing and interesting, I continue to have a problem with the fact that the Starfleet officers DON'T have a problem with the nature of the place; they cheerfully tell stories to rooms full of people whose cultures do not seem to have warp drive capability, or worse, seem to be from earth prior to the invention of warp drive, stories which center around spaceflight and alien cultures, without being the least concerned about the prime directive. Now, perhaps they don't always understand the nature of the place, or don't fully believe it; or perhaps they conclude that the fact that the people are here in the room interacting with other spaceflight cultures and aliens already means that any damage is already done, so nothing they might say can make it any worse. But it would be helpful if this mental process, whatever it may be, was made more clear. As it stands, I can't consider any of these stories canonical, which is a shame given how interesting and well-told they are.
A great continuation on the series!.......2002-07-21
Of the six Captain's Table books I'd have to say this one comes in a close second to Peter David's "Once Burned." I say this because I feel that the character of Captain Sisko is one of the best character's in the Trek universe.
Although there are a few minor inconsistencies in the story, they are not too distracting. As it happens, a lot of the Trek books released have had them and I do my best to ignore them. Afterall, the books are not canon.
"The Mist" is an extremely well told story about a race that lives close to DS9 and are for all intents and purposes, cloaked or in another dimension that is only one step removed from the Federations. What a wonderful concept! In my opinion, the author's captured Captain Sisko's personality really well. The character interactions in the bar were particularly good. Sotugh is a well done Klingon. The Quilli besting a Klingon was really funny as well. Overall a great story and thank you very much to the author's for this one.
It's Official, The Premise Stinks.......2002-06-03
It took three books for an author to finally capture the true atmosphere of a bar story. That Rusch and Smith accomplished it redounds to their credit. Too bad for them that the feat is about as exciting as watching grass grow.
The interaction at the bar is the best so far in the series. The story told by Sisko is the weakest. And the constant (sometimes two or three times on a single page) interruptions become infuriating at times. Sisko's story, by itself, would fill perhaps 75 pages; thanks to the bar dialogue, it gets dragged out over 240 pages.
There are only two things preventing me from giving this book one star. First, I don't believe it would be gentlemanly to punish Rusch and Smith for fleshing out a bad idea as well as it could be. Second, there is one great moment at the end of the book. As Sisko leaves the bar, he sees in the darkness a woman that looks like . . . . but, no, he concludes. It can't be. She was killed in the Badlands, lost with her starship, years ago . . . .
A Fairly Enjoyable Read.......2001-09-22
Nothing spectacular to be found here, but it is an enjoyable read. A few glaring inconsistencies: The Bajoran Wormhole to the Delta Quadrant, Gul Dukat's appearance as a Cardassian military adversary (this book happens during his fight with the Klingons), and the inaccurate back cover (the only Ferengi in the book is Cadet Nog). But overall, it is an enjoyable read. The parts in the Captain's Table are enjoyable and funny, especially the frequent interruptions. The flashback is all right, and gets better as the book progresses. Overall, a good read if you have the time.
Average customer rating:
- Excellent story-within-a-story.
- Insight on the Capt. Calhoun character
- Once Read Twice Meaning
- A truly delightful read!
- One of the best "New Frontier" books to date.
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Once Burned (Star Trek New Frontier: The Captain's Table, Book 5)
Peter David
Manufacturer: Star Trek
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
David, Peter
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Peter, David
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Adventure
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General
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General
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Similar Items:
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Dark Allies (Star Trek New Frontier, No 8)
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The Quiet Place (Star Trek New Frontier, No 7)
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Renaissance (Star Trek New Frontier: Excalibur, Book 10)
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Requiem (Star Trek New Frontier: Excalibur, Book 9)
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Being Human (Star Trek New Frontier, No 12)
ASIN: 0671020781 |
Book Description
There's a bar called "The Captain's Table," where those who have commanded mighty vessels of every shape and era can meet, relax, and share a friendly drink or two with others of their calling. Sometimes a brawl may break out but it's all in the family, more or less. Just remember, the first round of drinks is always paid for with a story...even in Thallonian space.
Six years ago, long before he took command of the Starship Excalibur, a young Starfleet officer named Mackenzie Calhoun served as first officer aboard the U.S.S. Grissom. Then disaster struck, and Calhoun took the blame. A court-martial led to his own angry resignation from Starfleet...or so it appeared. At long last Captain Calhoun reveals the true story behind the greatest tragedy of his life.
Download Description
There's a bar called "The Captain's Table," where those who have commanded mighty vessels of every shape and era can meet, relax, and share a friendly drink or two with others of their calling. Sometimes a brawl may break out but it's all in the family, more or less. Just remember, the first round of drinks is always paid for with a story...even in Thallonian space. Six years ago, long before he took command of the Starship Excalibur, a young Starfleet officer named Mackenzie Calhoun served as first officer aboard the U.S.S. Grissom. Then disaster struck, and Calhoun took the blame. A court-martial led to his own angry resignation from Starfleet...or so it appeared. At long last Captain Calhoun reveals the true story behind the greatest tragedy of his life.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent story-within-a-story........2007-06-12
I still dislike the basic concept for the "Captain's Table" series; actually, the concept isn't TOTALLY bad, but it is TOTALLY incompatible with the Star Trek universe. Which is unfortunate, because the internal stories in these books have been consistently excellent. This one is not only not an exception to that rule, but it may just be the best Star Trek story I've read. Unfortunately, since it's implanted within a "Captain's Table" frame, I can't rate it five stars, but the internal story itself is easily worth that.
This book did, for what it's worth, attempt to answer some of my earlier objections to the "Captain's Table" concept; they seem to have their own version of the prime directive and it keeps people from creating temporal anomolies. Of course, if the system REALLY worked, Calhoun would never have seen Captain Kenyon in the bar, and been tempted to break that rule. It simply wouldn't have come up. But if it hadn't, we the readers wouldn't have had it explained why the very existence of the Captain's Table didn't wreak havoc with the time-frame. But there ought to have been a better way. NO ONE should have that kind of temptation placed in front of them, only to have it snatched back away from them. A lesser character than Calhoun would have been irreparably traumatized by the experience, and that's not what the Captain's Table is about, right?
Insight on the Capt. Calhoun character.......2006-06-13
I haven't touched this book since I've purchased it way back in 98'. However being tired of the new Trek fiction out there I decided to start and finish the Captain's Table Series. It is one of the best series I have read so far. We get to see a lot of what makes up the his history and abandonment from starfleet. In this one Calhoun is not the solid character who makes no mistakes or errors in judgement. After reading this novel it really made the character human and believable.
Once Read Twice Meaning.......2004-09-11
There is much to learn from this story from the Capitain's Table:
Mackenzie Calhoun steps inside and tells a tale of his own merits.
The storytelling tells much of his perceptions of being
in the civilizated federation, dwelving through regulations
in a oblique way not long after graduating in the academy,
not long after being the rebellious leader
that set free a planet from oppression.
"Once Burned" comes from the expression once burned twice shy,
that points that failures turns active persons into passive
safety net seekers that shy away from the perils of exploring
new forms of life, for the story Calhoun chooses to chest out,
is of his first experience as first officer of the Grissom.
He investigates the incident, that is many times mentioned
in other stories over and over, coming to terms with himself.
For the reader is a journey through the thin line that sometimes blurrs between being a gallant knight full of chivalry and being a sauvage warrior.
Calhoun ends with a mature sense of blending that those
qualities within himself must balance... or not.
A truly delightful read!.......2002-07-21
Another excellent addition to both "The New Frontier" and "The Captain's Table" series. I particularly like the cover art with the author drawn in the background. In "Once Burned" we finally get Captain Calhoun's back story about what happened to him on the USS Grissom. This back story had been eluded to several times in the previous "New Frontier" stories. As with most, if not all of Peter David's stories, this one is a completely captivating page turner. In this trek masterpiece, we find out where the tension between Captain Calhoun and Admiral Jellico originated. A truly exceptional story. If you've not picked this one up, I recommend you do so before it goes out of publication. Thank you to Peter David for another great read.
One of the best "New Frontier" books to date........2001-07-26
"Once Burned," takes us inside the mind of Captain Mackenzie Calhoun, the cowboy-esque Xenexian officer of the "New Frontier" series by Peter David. I actually considered Captain Calhoun one of my least favorite of the "New Frontier" characters - but that was before reading this book.
Stepping inside the head of Calhoun is an interesting adventure. Explaining Calhoun's past - the past that led him to quit Starfleet in the years prior to the events of the beginning of the "New Frontier" series - it puts Calhoun back in his days as the 1st Officer of the USS Grissom.
Calhoun's character is not as self-confident in these pages, and it suits him. Further, you get to see a lot of his maturation as a command officer - and some explanation of his decisions as seen in the "New Frontier" series. Further, there's some good information in the story that makes the character of Kat Mueller make sense once she shows up in the later books.
Calhoun is a strong character in this book, in that he still has some confidence issues, he's still second-guessing himself, and he's got a good deal of psychological growth left in him. I found this book much more enjoyable for that representation of the normally ice-and-solidity Calhoun from the rest of the series. Peter David has given us a plausible series of events that lead to the Calhoun we come to know later.
Give this a read if you're a "New Frontier" fan, it's nearly required reading for making Calhoun a plausible character.
'Nathan
Book Description
There's a bar called "The Captain's Table," where those who have commanded mighty vessels of every shape and era can meet, relax, and share a friendly drink or two with others of their calling. Sometimes a brawl may break out but it's all in the family, more or less. Just remember, the first round of drinks is always paid for with a story...even if you're Jean-Luc Picard.
For more than two hundred years archaeologists and treasure hunters have dreamed of Dujonian's Hoard, a fabled trove of priceless historical artifacts that may contain technology that will shift the galactic balance of power. A dream was all the hoard seemed -- until a former Starfleet officer goes in search of the treasure and turns up missing. Now everyone from Romulans to Cardassians to an enigmatic female starship captain is looking for Richard Brant, including Worf and Captain Picard, who have gone deep undercover on a secret Starfleet mission to rescue Brant, if he's even still alive....
Customer Reviews:
MJF has a good grasp of the Picard Character.......2006-05-13
Of all my favorite authors, Michael Jan Friedman is best in writing Captain Picard. This book reads almost like the TV episodes Gambit parts I and II. Only instead of Riker going with him on a mission, it's Worf. Worf is the better choice. Especially with his Klingon heritage and fighting skills. Of all of them this one has a special place in my heart because I know how well MJF makes the characters come together.
He also wrote one of my favorites with Spock and McCoy called "Crossover". You can believe that this book is a sure thing for Star Trek adventure. MJF went on to write the Stargazer series.
Good story, interesting but dubious concept........2003-10-01
As with the first book of the "Captain's Table" series, this is a frame story. The story within the frame is a story about Jean-Luc Picard, told "in his own words", and is an excellent story. The outer framework of the story involves his arriving at the mysterious bar, "The Captain's Table", meeting some fellow captains, and being persuaded to tell his story. "The Captain's Table" is sort of a cross between "Callahan's Crosstime Saloon" and the cantina in the original "Star Wars" movie. It's an interesting concept, but I honestly don't think that it works for the Star Trek universe. A shame, really, and it admittedly isn't as obviously unworkable in this book as it was in the first, but the concept still misfires slightly.
A great second book to the series!.......2002-07-21
The Captain's Table is a place that transcends time and space. Only Captain's may enter. A wonderful concept that is carried to fruition quite exceptionally by Michael Jan Friedman in "Dujonian's Hoard." I approached this one with a little trepidation after trudging through "War Dragons." Of course, knowing the author, I knew this one would be a lot better. I was not disappointed.
"Dujonian's Hoard" is a wonderful tale with Captain Picard and Lieutenant Worf going undercover. They intend to find a missing Starfleet officer, Richard Brant who was searching for the hoard and return him to the Federation.
This is a really well done tale. While others might have thought the interruptions from the other bar patrons distracting, I rather enjoyed the character interactions.
Overall an excellent story by one of the best authors in the Trek series. Thank you to the author for this one!
Too Much in Love with the Framing Story.......2002-04-07
The tale told by Captain Picard in this second "Captain's Table" novel is, in and of itself, amusing but not engrossing. Almost all of the pleasure one could get from it is sapped by the ever-increasing interruptions that return us to the far-too hokey Captain's Table bar. The interruptions do not, as one reviewer suggested, lend a sense of realism. Rather, they continually remind us how contrived the whole set up is. As with War Dragons, the tale itself is *not* written in the way one would expect a story to be told at a bar, and Picard's voice is not always captured. My advice to those who are about to read this one: read only the chapters captioned "Tale." Skip all of the others.
Michael Jan Friedman is ordinarily among the best of the Trek writers; it is unfortunate that he allowed himself to get roped into the Captain's Table idea. A fine talent, an interesting challenge (a first-person Picard tale), but a wasted effort.
Treasure Island, Star Trek style.......2001-06-09
The concept of a bar full of starship captains spinning yarns to each other is an appealing one and Picard's tale for the quest of a stash of treasure stolen from the Cardassian homeworld, eons before that race had evolved, had me rivetted to the seat. The only problem was, though Jean-Luc Picard was telling the story, I couldn't help picturing that more flamboyant adventurer, James T. Kirk, acting out through the story. But it was a gripping yarn, nonetheless!
Customer Reviews:
A Definite Classic.......2004-04-05
The first time I ever read about controlled shooting was in this book in 1993 when it first came out. Now, everyone in craps talks about how to control the dice. Scoblete did it first and has done it best. This great book is for serious players who want to really look at the game of craps with the intention of actually winning at the game and not just pretending to win. Get this if you are a dedicated player. The other books I recommend are The Craps Underground, Beat the Craps Out of the casinos and Forever Craps, two masterpieces by the master himself.
A Serious Look at Craps.......2004-01-08
I can't recommend this book to the casual craps player as it doesn't explain how the gameis played. It assumes you know already. But if you are a serious craps player I say, go and buy this book right now. It will probably change your view of craps forever!
I Just Got the Best Present!.......2003-12-25
My wife just gave me what I really wanted, a complete set of Frank Scoblete's books and tapes on craps. While I have read and reread all of them several times, my copies have gotten beaten up. Now I have a pristine collection: Beat the Craps Out of the Casinos, Frank's first book, introduces the Captain and his marvelous methods of play such as the 5-Count, The Captain's Craps Revolution look more indepth at the 5-Count and variations in betting systems, then Forever Craps creates the ultimate method of play by utilizing 5 basic concepts to actually get the edge at the game.
In addition to these, my wife gave me Sharpshooter Craps, Scoblete's audiotape, and Guerrilla Gambling, the best overall book on the casino games.
My wife also ordered me The Craps Underground, Scoblete's new hardcover book, but that has not yet been released.
I love the man's writing and I recommend him to anyone with the least interest in craps or casino gambling. His books run the gamut from craps to blackjack to even slots and they are all just so well written and instructive and fun to read.
Another Scoblete Hit!.......2003-12-25
This book came out in 1993 and has been considered by me to be a superior book even to Beat the Craps Out of the Casinos, Scoblete's first book. The reason is that this book is written for people who already know the game of craps. While it is best that you read Beat the Craps first, that is not mandatory. There are excellent strategies in this book that have helped me immensely at the tables.
Worth the Price.......2003-03-30
Scoblete has written a masterful followup to his first book and a must read for anyone who wants to dig deeper into the Captain's methods of play. The book is ... worth every penny.
Books:
- Teaching in the Knowledge Society: Education in the Age of Insecurity (Professional Learning)
- The 9/11 Report: A Graphic Adaptation
- The Big Book of Colleges 2007
- The Book of Air and Shadows
- The Cointelpro Papers: Documents from the Fbi's Secret Wars Against Dissent in the United States (South End Press Classics Series, Volume, 8)
- The Complete Anne of Green Gables Boxed Set (Anne of Green Gables, Anne of Avonlea, Anne of the Island, Anne of Windy Poplars, Anne's House of Dreams, ... Rainbow Valley, Rilla of Ingleside)
- The Fred Factor: How passion in your work and life can turn the ordinary into the extraordinary
- The gem collector's handbook
- The Hope Chest (Brides of Lancaster County #4)
- The Improvement Guide: A Practical Approach to Enhancing Organizational Performance (Jossey-Bass Business and Management Series)
Books Index
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Titan, Book One: Taking Wing (Star Trek, the Next Generation)
