Date: 19 Jun 2013 21:38 Title: Interlude II
I like how Worf at least initially took it on as something of a practical joke versus Riker, that it was something that amused him. But of course he had to have seen just how serious Beth was.
The parallel here is clear, that this bit of the interlude is rather close to the prior year's interlude with Picard before his retirement. Another sweet nod to canon with the naming of the skiff after Shran.
Date: 15 Oct 2011 14:19 Title: Interlude II
That's a great idea with those interludes! Without interrupting the flow of the story and without confusing, loooong retrospections, we get to see some events from that past. Those things were already mentioned, so we understand with importance they carry, but we have a chance to see them told is a natural narration, and not as thoughts of a character in the middle of some conversation. That also makes the event more "believable," because memory can fail and slightly (or not-so-slightly) deform the facts and how we remember them, but in this case we see everything from the neutral point of view of the narrator.
Author's Response: Thanks GR: All of the Heritage books will be told in this style: current time interspersed with flashback interludes. I feel it's extremely important for the reader to understand where and how these children were influenced and molded by those around them as they grew. To be honest - it's the real meat of the story.
Date: 16 Nov 2009 20:36 Title: Interlude II
Hmm. A long time indeed. A lifetime's ambition on the first step of the journey towards achieving it. A wonderful picture here of Beth's journey and also the imagery of the planet and the ships caught in the sunlight above it. All very evocative and painting pictures in my mind. Very well done. And again, I see the legacy Will and Deanna had in the Romulan Empire strike through here clearly. Quite inspiring really.
Author's Response: In a future interlude of Book Two Bill reflects on his sisters and the line goes: "For a long time, he had a hard time understanding where his strengths lay. His sisters always seemed to have an easier time. Beth had an intensity of focus and determination that he thought were on the edge of being insane. His mother had once joked that Beth had obsessive-compulsive tendencies." So as you can see - Beth is an over-acheiver, workaholic, and driven...almost to the point of being unhealthy but not quite. I don't think Beth would have had such a difficult time in her career if her sister hadn't defected. It just gave Beth a higher hurdle to jump and after growing up with a legion of steeplechasers, she just saw it as another challenge. As far as Will & Deanna are concerned - they never pushed Beth but never stood in her way either. Beth used Riker as a milestone and she wasn't about to rest until she passed it. Nothing much different about Beth from a few real-life people I know and love. :)
Date: 17 Sep 2009 16:03 Title: Interlude II
Love this little glimpse into the Riker household and flashback to Beth's little manipulation to get into the Academy