Strike Zone by Peter David the fifth novel in the TNG series.
The plot involves the Kreel (who apparently are the most hated enemy of the Klingon due to their [thickly laid on] dishonourable nature) discovering an ancient stash of weapons, attacking the Klingon, etc., the Enterprise is called in to host talks which involve a journey with both parties aboard. A final resolution involves a failed assassination attempt on the Klingon ambassador by one of his own and an attempt at hijacking the Enterprise by the Kreel. The very end reveals that the entire setup was a cosmic test by a voice in the sky.
Comments: While most others seem to love this instalment, I felt it to be an extremely poor piece of writing. Its attempts at humour only go to show how painful Pratchett would be if he weren’t funny. The character motivations might as well be huge cardboard cut out thought-bubbles floating above their heads for all their subtlety. The “Wes-story” (i.e. his coming to terms with his brilliance) attempts to off-set its blandness with self-awareness; but this just makes it worse – the author having no excuse for employing B-grade props (his best friend is dying, is using him, finally betrays the ship, but it’s OK cause he dies as a result, and anyway Wes rediscovers himself [and grows a little bit as a person too, we’re sure] and saves the day [to the distress of the captain – cue laughter]). Oh, by the way, the whole Wes thing, the motivation was… his father.
Other times the author attempts to scribble the word TRAGEDY in big letters all over the page just in case we weren’t aware as to the extent of the heart-wrenching pathos, the cause of which is threatening to overwhelm our beloved protagonists. (E.g. Worf’s planet had been attacked by Kreel between the time the Romulans left and the Federation arrives. “Oh his pain is so great…” we hear the author insisting, “Keep reading, it’ll get more painful.”)
There are plethora other small things, including Picard’s swooning every time he even thinks of something that is in someway tangentially or otherwise related to Pulaski, (he just barely manages to avoid humping her leg when she steps into the room). Some of the above may be done in humour, (especially the voice, e.g. the presentation of Picard’s disconnectedness at discovering his obsession with Pulaski is surely intended[!] to be witty), but whatever the intention it comes off as poor slapstick; a weak plot connecting a bedlam of bipolar characters.
External link:
There’s a review at The Tancave, which makes some associations with Peter’s later works, and Siskoid seemed to enjoy it, pointing out the strength of the Ferengi-Synthehol link which Peter introduces. And a review which appears to read almost diametrically opposed to my own feelings is by Heather Tiemen at Amazon; her opinions are fairly representative of what others have written. Of course: MemoryAlpha/MemoryBeta.
