Another Review at MyShelf.Com

Publisher:Pocket Books (Simon & Schuster)  
Release Date: August 2003 
ISBN: 0743465016 
Awards:  
Format Reviewed: Hardback 
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Genre: SF/TV Tie-in 
Reviewed: 2003
Reviewer: Rachel A Hyde 
Reviewer Notes:  

Genesis Force
Star Trek The Next Generation
By John Vornholt 

     Although it doesn't say so anywhere in the book, this is book four of the Genesis Wave series (the other three books have all been reviewed on this site). If you are racking your brains to try and remember what happened 18 months after the last book's publication then think of the Genesis Wave from the film, sweeping across the galaxy, altering planets beyond all recognition. Before it was stopped, it swept towards the planet of Aluwna and did its usual thing, and this is the story of what happened. Aluwnans set great store by their genetics, and only certain individuals are fit to rule. They are a very traditional people, but their impending doom is going to shake things up irrevocably and see a child from the gutter raised up high and an imprisoned scientist holding everybody's lives in the balance.

     One of the great things about any TV tie-in books is that you can read about the sort of large-scale action that would not be possible on the small screen. The world of Aluwna is well realized and this tale is exciting enough, although it suffers from a lack of originality when compared to the other three books in the set. If you already know about the moss creatures, then they are no surprise when they appear here and you can be forgiven for wondering why you are being told the same tale twice. I did wonder that perhaps the fate of Aluwna could have been slightly different, or perhaps the planet could have been threatened by another menace and not been part of the Genesis series at all as maybe a trilogy was enough. But when I was reading it, I was caught up in the struggle and eagerly devoured the tale as setback after setback caused me to wonder if the race was truly doomed. As with the other books in this series, I have read Star Trek stories with more plot strands and complex character relationships, but if you want a straightforward and stirring adventure story this certainly fits the bill--moss creatures, illusions and all.