Reviewer: Nerys Ghemor Signed [Report This]
Date: 08 Aug 2009 23:21 Title: EPILOGUE

Wow.  I just got done reading the entire story--and it's truly amazing not just in its own right, but in getting to see all of the different layers of symbolism you wove into Beth and Dukat's vision in the Multiverse RR.  I knew there had to be a lot going on there--but now...wow.

I also see now just how much it required from her to allow her full telepathic potential to come to light in the RR.  Something tells me she must have only just begun coming to peace with that part of herself at the point when she was taken.  I really hope that unlike with Cassidy, for her to receive a diagnosis and develop a better understanding of why her telepathic capabilities act the way they do will help her to accept her Betazoid heritage: it's not a curse--it just doesn't follow the usual ground rules.

And with Cassidy--dang, I can't tell if she reminds me more of Khan or canon Dukat!  It almost seems like a combination of the two to me--hellbent on revenge on one end, and on a one-woman crusade, convinced that all the evil things she's doing are "right."  It seems like Dukat's brand of self-delusion.  That is an EXTREMELY dangerous combination, that's for sure.

Now I definitely enjoyed the plot and seeing where Beth's relationship with Q comes from...and I'm sure you've had a lot of comments on those.

So instead, here are a few "small" things I really enjoyed seeing, that may or may not have been pointed out.

I really loved how you showed the world leaders--as well as the Enterprise crew--as ordinary beings underneath their titles and offices.  To imagine the Reman ambassador in a cook's apron and the Romulan Praetor cracking a genitalia joke...wow!

I also REALLY loved that you had Tristan survive instead of going the "obvious" dark route and killing him as is so common in a lot of popular works these days.  Mind you, I enjoyed nuBsG, but not every work has to be like that.

I also enjoyed seeing how easily Beth adapted herself to the different cultures she dealt with--it made perfect sense, and what was also nice was that it didn't come off as some kind of PC whack over the head, which is so common these days.

The other thing I definitely liked was seeing Cardassia evidently in a capable position and able to offer meaningful assistance against the Shentarians without having to worry about leaving their worlds vulnerable.  One of my favorite descriptions in the book was the way you described the Cardassian President.  He cut quite the handsome, regal figure!

Which raised an interesting question for me--I wonder, do your Cardassians still practice mental reflection?  And what would the telepaths in your stories think of a species that does so deliberately?

Also, I really thought that was interesting how you laid out the ethics of the use of telepathy.  I presume the rules differ when dealing with those non-telepathic species that lack the abiilty to reflect intrusions?

Author's Response: Nerys! I'm just so glad you enjoyed it! I will address a couple of things. I was seriously going to kill Tristan off and save Brian. I planned that from the moment I began writing. But something (Tristan himself likely) kicked me in the shin right when the scene was being written and I realized I didn't want to write about another Starfleet Captain who had lost his/her love. Kirk was married and she died. Picard was unlucky in love - always having women taken from him due to duty. Sisko's wife was killed and Kassidy Yates defected. Janeway lost her love when Voyager was lost and Archer...while he loved another Captain - they simply didn't have time together to make the relationship seem permanent. So I switched it on myself. Cassidy - not known for being anything but a troublemaker would have been all too happy to steal more Federation technology, and a whole ship would have been a feather in her cap. But, in being a snake, she accidentally saves her sister's fiancee. The second thing to address is your questions about Cardassians. It was VERY important for me to make Cardassians an ally. I see Cardassia akin to Germany in WWII allegorical tales so it was natural for me to make them an ally 33 years later. The President appears in Book Two just so you know. ;) Also about telepathy. Beth is very sensitive about the issue because she's actually had telepathy used against her - by her own brother. It wasn't like rape, it was just a horrific violation of her privacy. (Again, it's addressed in Book Two.) I still see Cardassians using mental reflection. I also see most Betazoids deferring to it as a matter of politeness in that they would never pry. I think that Betazoids would respect any species that reflects. Remans? In the world I've created here - MOST Remans would respect that reflection, but a lot would not and wouldn't care much for those who practiced it. As you will see in Book Two. :)