The ninth numbered TNG novel, A Call to Darkness is one of Michael J. Friedman’s first works, and his first TNG foray.
The plot involves the crew in search of a McGuffin (in this case a missing research vessel) when they discover a shielded planet. Attempts to rescue the McGuffin which lies just past the shield results in the disappearance of key personnel. With this in place, the story is able to develop two main, and one tangential, storylines. The main plots involve (1) the activities of the missing persons, who have been captured and their memories erased for the purpose of serving in violent entertainment (called the Conflicts) for the local populace, (2) the activities of one of the local inhabitants who is learning how the Conflicts are being used to pacify the populace’s political urges. The third, and minor plot, is a minor outbreak of a disease on the Enterprise. Friedman attempts(!) to develop tension by having Pulaski, who is one of the missing crew members, hold key information required for treating the disease.
Comments:
This 1984 cum Fahrenheit 451 story, whilst admittedly far from subtle, is a fair layout for a science-fiction novel. Having said that, for large portions the novel doesn’t come across much as a Star Trek story, nor does it do much that is original with its dystopia set-up.
Characterization was well done in the first few pages of the novel (when it’s most relevant; before half the key players have lost their memories). There are however key scenes that reveal the author’s amateurship (e.g. in the attempts to create flow and in attempts to decorate dialogue with particular descriptions in the meeting of chapter thirteen).
It should be noted, that while the novel sees one of the characters ponder: “It was theoretically possible. Viruses communicated genetic material to other viruses. Why not bacteria to other bacteria?“, that this is something that has been known to be more than theoretically possible for a while now.
With regards the ending: was disappointed by dues ex-gruel, and also by the simplicity of the political fallout – while yes, it was of interest to find out what happened on A’klah post-script, the transpiring events are all too naively convenient, clean, and quick.
External links: As always (to date), Siskoid’s Blog of Geekery has a nice write-up of the novel. Here are the obligatory Star Trek wiki pages – one, two – which hopefully, before too long, will contain more than just a list of names.
