Trek: Immortal Coil

[Gnom]

Anyone read Immortal Coil by Jeffrey Lang?
If you've any interest at all in reading Trek novels, it's a must! And those of you who usually don't bother or have lost you hope in them... Try this one. You won't be disappointed.

There's a good plot with twists and turns and surprises. There's character development that won't be nullified in the end. There's admirable amount of attention to detail and continuity.
The character interaction is enjoyable and from the main character [Data] to the supporting ones, old and new, everyone's flesh and blood [or, say, tripolymeter composite and biochemical lubricant  ].  

There's some nits and picks in some of the plot twists, but not enough to disturb the enjoyable whole, at least not for me.
Note: If you're not fluent in the role artificial intelligence had in TOS, refresh your knowledge before reading the book if you have a chance. It will pay off.
My knowledge is that of rough outlines and I was flummoxed at parts with the many references to the past of Trek A.I.
The related stuff will be explained sooner or later at least in some degree in the book, but being familiar with the things referred you'll get more out of it. With me, the Trek Encyclopedia came to good use.
 
Sorry, I'm trying hard to reign my enthusiasm here : I hate it myself when someone keeps gushing about something, that usually puts me off for sure, but once I started IC, I couldn't put it down before the last page turned.

I've largely limited myself in Next Gen novels, but of what I've read so far, IC is arguably the best one.
In short: Highly recommended! Go get it! 8)
 

[Elric3960]

If by referring to TOS AI characters, you mean the characters and plots of "What Are Little Girls Made Of?" and "I Mudd" then I'll look forward to reading this book.  I've often wondered when someone was going to come up with the idea of resolving those two classic stories.  Judith A. Lawrence, James Blish's widow, tried to do that in Mudd's Angels, a collection of Harry Mudd stories that adapted "Mudd's Women" and "I, Mudd."  It didn't adapt the TAS Mudd story, which is just as well IMO.  Instead, it concluded with an original Mudd story that sequelled the first two stories, more or less.  The body of the story left a great deal to be desired but it ended well.  I won't give it away, of course, but let's just say that anyone who read Dr. Asimov's "Bicentennial Man" novella, or saw the excellent film adaptation of it starring Robin Williams, will finish the book with a smile on her/his face.

As for reading the book in a pizza parlor, that's one of three places where I do my best reading.  My bed is one and I'll let you figure out where the other one is. ;D

[Gnom]

Elric3960 said:

If by referring to TOS AI characters, you mean the characters and plots of "What Are Little Girls Made Of?" and "I Mudd" then I'll look forward to reading this book.  I've often wondered when someone was going to come up with the idea of resolving those two classic stories.  

That's actually what I was about to ask, about the TOS A.I. [android and else] eps...
I've had unfortunately limited exposure to TOS [it hasn't been on TV in ages here and the eps are really hard to come by], and I have not seen the eps you mentioned, only read about them, but...
[Word of warning: Just talking about these things works as a minor spoiler for the book, and that's a book I'd hate to have spoiled... I won't go into details, but still: be warned. Highlight between the asterisks for the mildly spoilerous material.]

*
The events in What Are Little Girls Made Of?", Requiem for Methuselah and The Ultimate Computer, will have importance. Not sure about the others...
The question addressed: When Kirk used to ran into androids all the time, why are there only the Soong androids around in the 24th century?


*
I've read Asimov's the Bicentennial [Positronic] Man and seen the film. The novella was excellent, the film a bit too schmaltzy for my taste... Especially the ending.  

As for reading the book in a pizza parlor, that's one of three places where I do my best reading.  My bed is one and I'll let you figure out where the other one is. ;D

Based on my observations in manly behavioural quirks, there's only one possible place, err seat, left...  

[Elric3960]

Gnomm said:

...I've read Asimov's the Bicentennial [Positronic] Man and seen the film. The novella was excellent, the film a bit too schmaltzy for my taste... Especially the ending.  

I can accept your conclusion regarding the film, even though I don't completely agree with it.  Keep in mind that this probably adapted for a technophobic audience so it had to be a little maudlin to bring in the "incurable romantics" among us who are put off by technology.  I was particularly impressed by the subtlety of the scene where the main character found the "remains" of his "people" strewn all over that scrapyard.  Some of them "suspended" by wires!  What image does that convey, do you think?

Based on my observations in manly behavioural quirks, there's only one possible place, err seat, left...  

With apologies to Shakespeare, "A hit, My Lady, a palpable hit!"

We men find that more intimate than "gossiping with friends" as you ladies do in similar "situations."

I'll have to IM the responses to you on the concealed questions since I'm currently reading this from a B/W monitor.

Overall, I've got a lot of reading ahead of me!