Fallen Heroes

Fallen Heroes
By: Dafydd ab Hugh

Dafydd ab Hugh, in an interview with Jeff Ayers states that, "When my agent suggested I write a Trek novel, my first thought was how to subvert the universe. Since rule number one was that you could not kill off any of the main characters, I instantly began thinking of a book where I would kill all the main characters. In fact, I even suggested to then-Trek editor John Ordover that the back-cover copy should simply read 'Everybody dies.' Alas, Pocket wouldn't go for it!"

All of the numbered Star Trek novels I have read follow these rules. These books are nothing more than long episodes of the show where everything goes back to normal at the end of the episode. While Dafydd is compelled to follow these rules he also finds a way to subvert them. This story is dark, cryptic and rather intense but also refreshingly different from many of the numbered trek novels I have read.

I have read in Voyages of Imagination: The Star Trek Fiction Companion
by Jeff Ayers that John Ordover a former Star Trek editor at pocket books would often encourage authors to take full advantage of unlimited special effects budget that was available to them. They are only limited by what their imaginations can conceive. This is another area where Dayffdd excels in this novel. The battle scenes are intense and massive; the deaths are gruesome and Odo really uses his shape shifting ability to it's fullest potential.

I liked the fact that these alien invaders were unstoppable. Too often I read a novel or watch a Star Trek episode and no matter how formidable the enemy I know the intrepid crew will figure out how to beat them. This is not always a bad thing. It is fun sometimes to know that the heroes will prevail and to try and figure out how they will do it. While reading this novel I was waiting for the crew of Deep Space Nine to figure out a way to repel the invaders, when main characters started dropping like flies I began to understand that there was not going to be any happy ending for our heroes this time.

I liked the pairing of Quark and Odo and I especially liked all the cool things that Odo turned into, not to mention the abuse he took in the super heated station core.

This was definitely not a "feel good" novel, in fact there are some pretty heavy moments. I felt really bad for Jake and Molly. I took comfort in knowing that their tragic timeline would not last and that they would not remember the trauma the endured.

Overall though this is an enjoyable read, a great action adventure and a solid Science Fiction story I would recommend this book to any Star Trek fan with an open mind who enjoys a story that goes just a little bit against the grain