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Star Trek: The Next Generation #22
Imbalance
The Jarada are a mysterious race of insectoid beings with an extreme devotion to protocol. When this usually reclusive race offer to open diplomatic relations with the Federation, Captain Picard and the U.S.S. Enterprise are quickly ordered to Jarada to negotiate the exchange of Ambassadors.
When the ship arrives, the Jarada seem uncharacteristically friendly. They invite Picard to send down members of his crew and negotiations proceed both quickly and smoothly. Suddenly, however, the Jarada change. They cut off Commander Riker and his away team from the U.S.S. Enterprise and initiate an unprovoked attack on the ship. Now Picard must unravel the aliens' mystery before it's too late for the away team - and the U.S.S. Enterprise.
When the ship arrives, the Jarada seem uncharacteristically friendly. They invite Picard to send down members of his crew and negotiations proceed both quickly and smoothly. Suddenly, however, the Jarada change. They cut off Commander Riker and his away team from the U.S.S. Enterprise and initiate an unprovoked attack on the ship. Now Picard must unravel the aliens' mystery before it's too late for the away team - and the U.S.S. Enterprise.
280 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published June 1, 1992
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218 people want to read
About the author
V.E. Mitchell
13books10followersVictoria "Vicki" Estelle Mitchell Gustafson is a science fiction author specializing in Star Trek novels.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
October 22, 2024
This one was just okay.
April 15, 2022
The Jarada (from one of those cringe-inducing Picard's on a Dixon Hill adventure episodes) are one of those races that I really wish were followed up on - I loved having to watch Picard practice the language with Troi. Oh wait, look at that - here they are in this novel - and, I'm disappointed, kind of.
So, I really like the idea of an insectoid society, especially one with a hive-mind, being very small "c" conservative (meaning reluctant to change, not Far Reich asshats, like in the USA). It does make sense to a certain degree. And, I really wish they had pursued certain aspects more, like Picard noticing off-hand how it looked like their buildings were grown rather than constructed. Maybe show something more in that process, like little worker Jarada tending a field of baby buildings or something...I just wish there was a little more in the way of exposition about the Jarada. This book is the kind that screams for background details - and I'm the kind of Star Trek person who wants to know everything about everything. I think it also would have been a unique opportunity for there to be a crewmember from another insectoid race who is already in the Federation that could provide some different perspective.
Now, in reading so many of the other reviews of this book, there seems to be mass criticism about the crew acting "out of character." And, aside from two of them, I'm forced to disagree. Worf seemed Worfesque. Riker was Rikery. Crusher was crushing it. Picard was Picardish. Geordi was there on a page or two, I think. Data data'd stuff. But...there were two that were WAY off. Keiko and Miles. Keiko and Miles (O'Brien to his friends) are apparently time travelers from the 18th Century who somehow or another got transplanted into the 24th...is the only logical way I can explain their characteristics in this novel.
It seems that Ireland and Japan have remained in the feudal era well into the 24th Century, as Miles demands that a woman know that her place is to be obedient to her husband in all ways - and gets rip-roaring jealous at any one who even thinks about his wife...whereas Keiko believes that honor, tradition, and a place for every thing and a thing for every place is the only way to be, and doesn't understand why Miles isn't just falling on his sword all over the place all the time. I really don't get it. Also, Keiko's gotta be the densest person on the planet. The foreshadowing for her pregnancy was broadcast from the highest mountains with the loudest speaker and she still disbelieved it right up until the end, nearly...hell, she didn't even suspect it until it hit her in the face...and she's a scientist?!? Also, 6-month wedding anniversaries are apparently a really, really big deal...and Miles seemingly thinks that as long as he can treat Keiko to a really nice meal over some soft, romantic music, it will forgive all his past transgressions. Dude sounds like a spousal abuser to me...
And, there are racist crewmembers on the Enterprise who hate insects and think that insectoid races are subhumans unworthy of respect...and Picard lets them maintain these thoughts and musings as long as they are spoken quietly enough on the bridge. I mean, that sounds like the perfect time for a Picard-style speech/lecture, but what do I know?
Anyway...it's not a horrible story...and it's a prime example of why you never split the party. And, I think the conclusion was a little too convenient. For a race that has an obvious problem with a solution that they've pretty much been screaming "la, la, la" at the top of their lungs with their claws in their ears to ignore and then have strange, alien outsiders give them a solution after thinking about it for 10 seconds...something tells me it shouldn't have gone over so smoothly. Oh, and there was a weird body-horror scene where Riker got walked through a mating chamber (on accident) where we see a female Jarada murder a male Jarada after mating (like Mantises) and a female apparently having a difficult egg-laying, as there are attendants helping her and Riker senses something is wrong...and then we just flash past that - no need to look back or ever talk about it again - it's like the Wonka boat ride...
So, I really like the idea of an insectoid society, especially one with a hive-mind, being very small "c" conservative (meaning reluctant to change, not Far Reich asshats, like in the USA). It does make sense to a certain degree. And, I really wish they had pursued certain aspects more, like Picard noticing off-hand how it looked like their buildings were grown rather than constructed. Maybe show something more in that process, like little worker Jarada tending a field of baby buildings or something...I just wish there was a little more in the way of exposition about the Jarada. This book is the kind that screams for background details - and I'm the kind of Star Trek person who wants to know everything about everything. I think it also would have been a unique opportunity for there to be a crewmember from another insectoid race who is already in the Federation that could provide some different perspective.
Now, in reading so many of the other reviews of this book, there seems to be mass criticism about the crew acting "out of character." And, aside from two of them, I'm forced to disagree. Worf seemed Worfesque. Riker was Rikery. Crusher was crushing it. Picard was Picardish. Geordi was there on a page or two, I think. Data data'd stuff. But...there were two that were WAY off. Keiko and Miles. Keiko and Miles (O'Brien to his friends) are apparently time travelers from the 18th Century who somehow or another got transplanted into the 24th...is the only logical way I can explain their characteristics in this novel.
It seems that Ireland and Japan have remained in the feudal era well into the 24th Century, as Miles demands that a woman know that her place is to be obedient to her husband in all ways - and gets rip-roaring jealous at any one who even thinks about his wife...whereas Keiko believes that honor, tradition, and a place for every thing and a thing for every place is the only way to be, and doesn't understand why Miles isn't just falling on his sword all over the place all the time. I really don't get it. Also, Keiko's gotta be the densest person on the planet. The foreshadowing for her pregnancy was broadcast from the highest mountains with the loudest speaker and she still disbelieved it right up until the end, nearly...hell, she didn't even suspect it until it hit her in the face...and she's a scientist?!? Also, 6-month wedding anniversaries are apparently a really, really big deal...and Miles seemingly thinks that as long as he can treat Keiko to a really nice meal over some soft, romantic music, it will forgive all his past transgressions. Dude sounds like a spousal abuser to me...
And, there are racist crewmembers on the Enterprise who hate insects and think that insectoid races are subhumans unworthy of respect...and Picard lets them maintain these thoughts and musings as long as they are spoken quietly enough on the bridge. I mean, that sounds like the perfect time for a Picard-style speech/lecture, but what do I know?
Anyway...it's not a horrible story...and it's a prime example of why you never split the party. And, I think the conclusion was a little too convenient. For a race that has an obvious problem with a solution that they've pretty much been screaming "la, la, la" at the top of their lungs with their claws in their ears to ignore and then have strange, alien outsiders give them a solution after thinking about it for 10 seconds...something tells me it shouldn't have gone over so smoothly. Oh, and there was a weird body-horror scene where Riker got walked through a mating chamber (on accident) where we see a female Jarada murder a male Jarada after mating (like Mantises) and a female apparently having a difficult egg-laying, as there are attendants helping her and Riker senses something is wrong...and then we just flash past that - no need to look back or ever talk about it again - it's like the Wonka boat ride...
February 3, 2022
Negative Stars... Sooo many Negative Stars
Over the years countless numbers of readers have shared the shameful joys of the novel, whether it be X-Files, Luther, Indiana Jones, or even Twin Peaks. Together we've followed our favorite characters/creatures/worlds into comics, video games, novels and beyond...
But there are some books, in just about every franchise, from Halo to Star Wars [K.J.A. I'm looking at you] where the reader can't help but realize - 'it must've been written on a bet.' The bet in the case of Imbalance seems to have been: Can an almost totally incoherent and ridiculous piece of self-indulgent claptrap, not only get printed but become a best-seller, just by slapping the name "Star Trek" on it?!
Of course the bet was won! Yet while Paramount Pictures, Titan Press and V.E. Mitchell laughed all the way to the bank, we... we, the readers were left to foot the bill (in more ways than one).
For me, the completion of this bound up collection of words on paper (I hesitate to call it a novel) coincides with the tapering off of my interest in reading Next Gen and, in fact, most franchise related books [with few exceptions - I'm looking at you T.Z.] and that is no coincidence. For in reading this I came to realized that, while some of these franchise stories may be nice little nostalgic rides, there are many-many-many more like this: A most underwhelming tale .
Prior to Imbalance I was as lucky, as much as I was cautious, which coupled with youth and time allowed me to digest some very entertaining yarns in these expanded universes. That was until this dog of a book made it's way from the library into my hands *shutter* and I learned (not for the last time) how the dregs of storytelling can masquerade themselves within the sentiment of childhood glee [I'm looking at you Mr. Bay & you Mr. Orci].
While dropping a few Tribble references into this shameful excuse for a story might make it appear to be set in the Trek universe, the awful characterization and lazy plotting doesn't add any value to that universe. In point of fact it diminishes, not only good Trek but the joyful experiences of the world in which it expands from.
And starting with the re-introduction of the Jarada, a race first heard of in the TNG episode "" that is exactly what this book did. So whereas the insect-like Jarada, well known for idiosyncratic attitude toward protocol as for their especially peculiar language, were isolationist in the television series here, conveniently, the Jarada want to have a chat with Federation representatives in English.
Despite the television series making a point to inform viewers that even Capt. Picard had to study for days in order to communicate just a scant few lines in the Jaradan's language, because the slightest mispronunciation is regarded as an insult. An interesting thread to pick up, which was instead just snipped right off: begging the question - Why was this race use at all? and further Why not just invent a race or use some other established race?
However, that would of course just be the first in a slue of questions a reader would have here. Some others might be:
* Had V.E. Mitchell actually watched a single episode of TNG?
* Why is Chief O'Brien a selfish jerk throughout?
* Did he and Keiko ever have a single conversation before they got married?
* Was making the Admiral a Vulcan who acts like a human, only to appear a scant amount of times, a constructive use of time rather then just any other species which wouldn't need a pointless blurb?
* How does an incompetent and selfish officer serve on the Flagship of the Federation... even if he does know people... Dammit, this is the Trek-verse, command wouldn't let that pass (maybe I'm a bit nitpicky here but once you see 5, 6 or 35 faults they get hard to ignore)?
* Why, in a future society built on tolerance, peace and acceptance do most of the members of the Federation have stereotypical views and/or are intolerant?
* That then leads to the question - Is V.E. Mitchell racist, sexiest or both?
* And for the love of the , how is it that EVERY CHARACTER in this book ACT like a PETULANT CHILD at some point?
On top of all of that is made out to be THE WORST, because... women (seriously, that is the reason: Women).
Sadly, what is so frustrating about this book is that there are some good ideas buried in there, they're just so far beneath all the garbage Mitchell is shoveling over the reader, it can only glimpsed in bits and pieces.
The real "imbalance" in this book is in the text itself, as Keiko and Miles O'Brien 1950s-esk marriage problems and the stereotypical dilemmas of Dr. Crusher, Troi, Worf and Riker take lion's share of the book, while the resolution to the 'problem' is tacked on in a few paragraphs near the end... But what might bother readers more than meandering subplots coming seemingly from different stories altogether, is very obvious question: why did the Jarada really contacted the Federation to begin with (because your guess seems to be as good as the author's, since they made the bold choice not to actually include a reason).
In the end the fault here might've just been that the story was published during season 5 -of the 7 season series- and the s just didn't given any $#!%s... it was fine to them that none of the action actually had any relation to the problem at hand or moved the story forward at all.
Whatever the reasons, this book was a huge waste of time (even for the guilty pleasure of franchise tales). I recommend this book be AVOIDED AT ALL COSTS!
Over the years countless numbers of readers have shared the shameful joys of the novel, whether it be X-Files, Luther, Indiana Jones, or even Twin Peaks. Together we've followed our favorite characters/creatures/worlds into comics, video games, novels and beyond...
But there are some books, in just about every franchise, from Halo to Star Wars [K.J.A. I'm looking at you] where the reader can't help but realize - 'it must've been written on a bet.' The bet in the case of Imbalance seems to have been: Can an almost totally incoherent and ridiculous piece of self-indulgent claptrap, not only get printed but become a best-seller, just by slapping the name "Star Trek" on it?!
Of course the bet was won! Yet while Paramount Pictures, Titan Press and V.E. Mitchell laughed all the way to the bank, we... we, the readers were left to foot the bill (in more ways than one).
For me, the completion of this bound up collection of words on paper (I hesitate to call it a novel) coincides with the tapering off of my interest in reading Next Gen and, in fact, most franchise related books [with few exceptions - I'm looking at you T.Z.] and that is no coincidence. For in reading this I came to realized that, while some of these franchise stories may be nice little nostalgic rides, there are many-many-many more like this: A most underwhelming tale .
Prior to Imbalance I was as lucky, as much as I was cautious, which coupled with youth and time allowed me to digest some very entertaining yarns in these expanded universes. That was until this dog of a book made it's way from the library into my hands *shutter* and I learned (not for the last time) how the dregs of storytelling can masquerade themselves within the sentiment of childhood glee [I'm looking at you Mr. Bay & you Mr. Orci].
While dropping a few Tribble references into this shameful excuse for a story might make it appear to be set in the Trek universe, the awful characterization and lazy plotting doesn't add any value to that universe. In point of fact it diminishes, not only good Trek but the joyful experiences of the world in which it expands from.
And starting with the re-introduction of the Jarada, a race first heard of in the TNG episode "" that is exactly what this book did. So whereas the insect-like Jarada, well known for idiosyncratic attitude toward protocol as for their especially peculiar language, were isolationist in the television series here, conveniently, the Jarada want to have a chat with Federation representatives in English.
Despite the television series making a point to inform viewers that even Capt. Picard had to study for days in order to communicate just a scant few lines in the Jaradan's language, because the slightest mispronunciation is regarded as an insult. An interesting thread to pick up, which was instead just snipped right off: begging the question - Why was this race use at all? and further Why not just invent a race or use some other established race?
However, that would of course just be the first in a slue of questions a reader would have here. Some others might be:
* Had V.E. Mitchell actually watched a single episode of TNG?
* Why is Chief O'Brien a selfish jerk throughout?
* Did he and Keiko ever have a single conversation before they got married?
* Was making the Admiral a Vulcan who acts like a human, only to appear a scant amount of times, a constructive use of time rather then just any other species which wouldn't need a pointless blurb?
* How does an incompetent and selfish officer serve on the Flagship of the Federation... even if he does know people... Dammit, this is the Trek-verse, command wouldn't let that pass (maybe I'm a bit nitpicky here but once you see 5, 6 or 35 faults they get hard to ignore)?
* Why, in a future society built on tolerance, peace and acceptance do most of the members of the Federation have stereotypical views and/or are intolerant?
* That then leads to the question - Is V.E. Mitchell racist, sexiest or both?
* And for the love of the , how is it that EVERY CHARACTER in this book ACT like a PETULANT CHILD at some point?
On top of all of that is made out to be THE WORST, because... women (seriously, that is the reason: Women).
Sadly, what is so frustrating about this book is that there are some good ideas buried in there, they're just so far beneath all the garbage Mitchell is shoveling over the reader, it can only glimpsed in bits and pieces.
The real "imbalance" in this book is in the text itself, as Keiko and Miles O'Brien 1950s-esk marriage problems and the stereotypical dilemmas of Dr. Crusher, Troi, Worf and Riker take lion's share of the book, while the resolution to the 'problem' is tacked on in a few paragraphs near the end... But what might bother readers more than meandering subplots coming seemingly from different stories altogether, is very obvious question: why did the Jarada really contacted the Federation to begin with (because your guess seems to be as good as the author's, since they made the bold choice not to actually include a reason).
In the end the fault here might've just been that the story was published during season 5 -of the 7 season series- and the s just didn't given any $#!%s... it was fine to them that none of the action actually had any relation to the problem at hand or moved the story forward at all.
Whatever the reasons, this book was a huge waste of time (even for the guilty pleasure of franchise tales). I recommend this book be AVOIDED AT ALL COSTS!
March 21, 2018
Oh no, this was awful. Who are these characters? Every interaction or allusion to Miles / Keiko especially made me want to tear out my own hair. Miles was essentially a men's rights activist who couldn't fathom his wife having a shred of independent thought, and Keiko was consistently referenced by third parties as being 'just as bad' despite doing nothing wrong. Troi and Picard were simpering morons and each character had their own equally meaningless story to stumble through.
None of the action moves the story forward or has any relation to the actual problem at hand. The entire novel is filler unrelated to a very hasty, unsatisfying ending. I wouldn't normally leave a review, let alone a negative one on a Star Trek novel, but the inanity of the Miles / Keiko storyline and the sheer determination of the author to ignore these characters actual personality traits was so frustrating, I have to vent my spleen!
None of the action moves the story forward or has any relation to the actual problem at hand. The entire novel is filler unrelated to a very hasty, unsatisfying ending. I wouldn't normally leave a review, let alone a negative one on a Star Trek novel, but the inanity of the Miles / Keiko storyline and the sheer determination of the author to ignore these characters actual personality traits was so frustrating, I have to vent my spleen!
November 26, 2024
This is so annoying to rate. I loved the story in the beginning. I enjoyed getting into the sci-fi of it all, settling in to learn about the ins and outs of the alien culture, how their society is structured, all the little insectoid facts, the uneasy feeling they were hiding something - I was so all-in at the start of this novel.
Then it just kind of turned into a weird action movie? Way too many plot points were introduced and discarded, and what should have been a quick description of basic movement went on for pages and pages of unnecessary description.
Then there was the ridiculously out of character - and in some cases, seemingly out of time - Enterprise crew. I hardly know where to start!
Let's see: Miles O'Brien is so outrageously old-fashioned he wouldn't have fit in when this book was published, much less in the 24th century, and he's terribly confused why everyone else doesn't feel exactly the same. He's also a whiny little baby and outwardly insubordinate to the point that his superior officers can't shut it down and that's just let go for some reason. Meanwhile, Keiko is a shrill, unfeeling, insecure, unprofessional shrew who is furious at having to... ::checks notes:: ...work with another member of her staff on a mission to document an entire planet's flora?
Crusher has red hair and she pushes it around a lot. Every time she was in a scene you could guarantee her hair - which is red by the way did you know - is going to fall into her face, be angrily flipped out of the way, or, at one point, a simple shake of her head caused her hair to "flip across her face like a red curtain". I can't... I don't... What? I think it was on the 4th mention of this that I started marking them, and I have six markers. If that's not enough for you, she also does something so outrageously medically and personally inappropriate on page 270 that my jaw was on the floor when I read it. She's also whiny and impatient, a weird mix of the bad characterizations of Miles and Keiko. Who is this person?
A Vulcan commissioner was invented for this novel apparently just to make her the worst Vulcan who ever lived, as she consistently engages in wildly illogical, repetitive acts that a Vulcan would never. She seems to have been invented just to bash for being irrational and annoying, much as Keiko was bastardized... Hey, wait, I'm sensing a theme. (Can it ever just not be misogyny?)
There are many more messes of cringe-worthy characterization, but there's also the truly perplexing scene where O'Brien beams multiple people onto the ship through the shields during a battle, while objects are regularly running into the still-up shields and being blown to smithereens. This is not explained at all. No special harmonics, no opening a tiny hole in the shields, no matching frequencies, nothing. Just... beamin' 'em on through willy-nilly.
It's just so frustrating. Why does what could have been a great story have to be ripped to pieces by such awful writing? How does such bad characterization get by an editor of any Star Trek book? I don't understand it, and it's just a damn shame.
2 stars.
Then it just kind of turned into a weird action movie? Way too many plot points were introduced and discarded, and what should have been a quick description of basic movement went on for pages and pages of unnecessary description.
Then there was the ridiculously out of character - and in some cases, seemingly out of time - Enterprise crew. I hardly know where to start!
Let's see: Miles O'Brien is so outrageously old-fashioned he wouldn't have fit in when this book was published, much less in the 24th century, and he's terribly confused why everyone else doesn't feel exactly the same. He's also a whiny little baby and outwardly insubordinate to the point that his superior officers can't shut it down and that's just let go for some reason. Meanwhile, Keiko is a shrill, unfeeling, insecure, unprofessional shrew who is furious at having to... ::checks notes:: ...work with another member of her staff on a mission to document an entire planet's flora?
Crusher has red hair and she pushes it around a lot. Every time she was in a scene you could guarantee her hair - which is red by the way did you know - is going to fall into her face, be angrily flipped out of the way, or, at one point, a simple shake of her head caused her hair to "flip across her face like a red curtain". I can't... I don't... What? I think it was on the 4th mention of this that I started marking them, and I have six markers. If that's not enough for you, she also does something so outrageously medically and personally inappropriate on page 270 that my jaw was on the floor when I read it. She's also whiny and impatient, a weird mix of the bad characterizations of Miles and Keiko. Who is this person?
A Vulcan commissioner was invented for this novel apparently just to make her the worst Vulcan who ever lived, as she consistently engages in wildly illogical, repetitive acts that a Vulcan would never. She seems to have been invented just to bash for being irrational and annoying, much as Keiko was bastardized... Hey, wait, I'm sensing a theme. (Can it ever just not be misogyny?)
There are many more messes of cringe-worthy characterization, but there's also the truly perplexing scene where O'Brien beams multiple people onto the ship through the shields during a battle, while objects are regularly running into the still-up shields and being blown to smithereens. This is not explained at all. No special harmonics, no opening a tiny hole in the shields, no matching frequencies, nothing. Just... beamin' 'em on through willy-nilly.
It's just so frustrating. Why does what could have been a great story have to be ripped to pieces by such awful writing? How does such bad characterization get by an editor of any Star Trek book? I don't understand it, and it's just a damn shame.
2 stars.
August 17, 2018
Why tho
November 10, 2013
There's a danger to reading older TNG novels, especially ones involving secondary characters that were fleshed out further during the show's later seasons (or in subsequent series). Often, the depictions that authors paint of these characters doesn't line up with the characters as we've come to know them and the entire book itself loses a lot of luster accordingly.
I bring this up because of a lot of V.E. Mitchell's book revolves around a meandering and poorly integrated subplot involving the recently married Miles O'Brien and Keiko Ishikawa. The pair is going through difficulties in their early marriage - largely in part of Mitchell's depiction of O'Brien as a stereotypical hot-headed Irish lout who wants his woman pregnant, barefoot and in the kitchen at all times. The Keiko-Miles dilemma had all the gravitas of a junior high romantic scuffle and ultimately adds nothing to the story whatsoever.
"Adding nothing to the story whatsoever" is a recurring theme in this book. Early on, many crew members are split off and have their own adventures, creating a lot of chapter-to-chapter intercutting between their stories. In the end, the stories of Worf, Riker and Keiko contribute absolutely zero to the development of the plot and solving the crisis faced by the crew. The vast majority of this book is padding - the first half of the book is all about "bug people are weird", the second half is about "oh no, bug people are chasing [random crew member] through another dark and slimy passageway."
The only story threads which end up mattering are Crusher's and the one which takes place aboard the ship, which only accounts for maybe a quarter of the book. After spinning its wheels for 200+ pages, the book's plot is easily resolved in the last few pages, giving me the impression the author ran out of steam and decided to just wrap it up as quickly as possible.
I think this is a classic case of someone having a decent idea for a novel and then never really being able to expand it beyond a small novella. It's a quick, mindless read, but even at that, it's mostly a waste of time.
I bring this up because of a lot of V.E. Mitchell's book revolves around a meandering and poorly integrated subplot involving the recently married Miles O'Brien and Keiko Ishikawa. The pair is going through difficulties in their early marriage - largely in part of Mitchell's depiction of O'Brien as a stereotypical hot-headed Irish lout who wants his woman pregnant, barefoot and in the kitchen at all times. The Keiko-Miles dilemma had all the gravitas of a junior high romantic scuffle and ultimately adds nothing to the story whatsoever.
"Adding nothing to the story whatsoever" is a recurring theme in this book. Early on, many crew members are split off and have their own adventures, creating a lot of chapter-to-chapter intercutting between their stories. In the end, the stories of Worf, Riker and Keiko contribute absolutely zero to the development of the plot and solving the crisis faced by the crew. The vast majority of this book is padding - the first half of the book is all about "bug people are weird", the second half is about "oh no, bug people are chasing [random crew member] through another dark and slimy passageway."
The only story threads which end up mattering are Crusher's and the one which takes place aboard the ship, which only accounts for maybe a quarter of the book. After spinning its wheels for 200+ pages, the book's plot is easily resolved in the last few pages, giving me the impression the author ran out of steam and decided to just wrap it up as quickly as possible.
I think this is a classic case of someone having a decent idea for a novel and then never really being able to expand it beyond a small novella. It's a quick, mindless read, but even at that, it's mostly a waste of time.
May 13, 2014
These days when I see a Star Trek novel at a used book sale, I pick it up (if I don't remember having read it as a kid) for nostalgia sake. I have read a diverse enough selection of fiction at this point in my life that I do not anticipate that these novels be anything more than mildly entertaining and comfortingly familiar. A reminder of my geeky childhood before I knew the difference between fan fiction and "real books." Most of the time, I find exactly what I expect.
In the case of "Imbalance," I was disappointed even with my low expectations. Waht I can say for the book was that it is easy to read and although filled with tired expressions and lazy idioms that we read over and over again, it does not detract from the story. The problem mainly lies with the story itself. Although other reviewers have given specifics already, I will just say that the main story is thin. We get to read about the experiences of many of the main characters (even the often overlook Keiko), but they don't get to do much. The author took a lot of time developing the world of the aliens, but then used that elaborate setting for a lame and simple plot.
The worst area of the book was the subplot with Keiko and Miles. It was completely unbelievable that enlightened and intelligent people living in the 24th century, where humans have expanded throughout many worlds, solved most of their problems and successfully live in peace with countless aliens, would have culture clash and misogynistic issues that sounded like a throwback to the 1950's. I skipped many sections of the book that dealt with that part of the story.
I gave the book 2 stars (instead of one) because the author did make an interesting and detailed alien culture for the crew to interact with, and the book flowed well enough despite its shortcomings. However, unless you have read all the other hundreds of Trek books out there, this one is definitely one that is safe to skip.
In the case of "Imbalance," I was disappointed even with my low expectations. Waht I can say for the book was that it is easy to read and although filled with tired expressions and lazy idioms that we read over and over again, it does not detract from the story. The problem mainly lies with the story itself. Although other reviewers have given specifics already, I will just say that the main story is thin. We get to read about the experiences of many of the main characters (even the often overlook Keiko), but they don't get to do much. The author took a lot of time developing the world of the aliens, but then used that elaborate setting for a lame and simple plot.
The worst area of the book was the subplot with Keiko and Miles. It was completely unbelievable that enlightened and intelligent people living in the 24th century, where humans have expanded throughout many worlds, solved most of their problems and successfully live in peace with countless aliens, would have culture clash and misogynistic issues that sounded like a throwback to the 1950's. I skipped many sections of the book that dealt with that part of the story.
I gave the book 2 stars (instead of one) because the author did make an interesting and detailed alien culture for the crew to interact with, and the book flowed well enough despite its shortcomings. However, unless you have read all the other hundreds of Trek books out there, this one is definitely one that is safe to skip.
July 9, 2010
apparently this is almost completely unreadable past the age of 14 or so. it gets its second star because i'm so familiar with it that it's an effective "comfort read" to fill up some time before i'm ready to go to sleep.
most notably, the characters are totally flat except for where they're fleshed out by national stereotypes (which is ridiculous because THERE ARE ALIENS, so who gives a crap if you grew up in a "traditional irish family"). i will refrain from a discussion of gender dynamics and interplanetary diplomacy in the 24th century (or the 1980s). you're welcome.
this used to be one of my favorite star trek novels, too, so it was kinda sad to shatter that memory. but at the same time it amuses me to see that i apparently HAVE somewhat matured in tastes since adolescence. *shudder*.
most notably, the characters are totally flat except for where they're fleshed out by national stereotypes (which is ridiculous because THERE ARE ALIENS, so who gives a crap if you grew up in a "traditional irish family"). i will refrain from a discussion of gender dynamics and interplanetary diplomacy in the 24th century (or the 1980s). you're welcome.
this used to be one of my favorite star trek novels, too, so it was kinda sad to shatter that memory. but at the same time it amuses me to see that i apparently HAVE somewhat matured in tastes since adolescence. *shudder*.
September 15, 2021
The plot was flat and took too long to get going. The scenes regarding Keiko and Miles' marriage problems, and Troi's advice to them, were borderline racist, and offensive to anyone of either Irish or Japanese descent. Troi's counselling was unrealistic and unbelievable, and missed several opportunities for social commentary that had the potential to be interesting and enlightening (e.g. a conversation about a man taking his wife's name when marrying was just skated over). Also, the idea that a doctor would tell a counsellor who would tell the father that a woman is pregnant before telling the woman herself is just... awful. The whole book was just awful. I normally love Trek books, but this one was deeply disappointing.
September 26, 2021
Picard and company are in negotiations with an insectoid race who is considering joining the Federation, and initially things seem to be going better than expected, which is always a portent of disaster. The Jarada are subject to a medical condition which is inexorably sending them all insane, and the away team is split up and forced to deal with a society consisting of individuals who are increasingly unbalanced and increasingly dangerous. It's an enjoyable read, with focus split between a number of characters, which I always like, and it's good to see Keiko get a starring role for once... if only the focus had stayed on her botanical skill, and there'd been less of the squabbling with her husband. I like O'Brien, but he was an unmitigated arse here and I didn't enjoy the implications that Keiko was equally to blame because she wasn't. That is a small quibble, though, and I'm prepared to put up with the tedious marital squabbling if it means I get more Keiko working with plants.
A rather larger quibble - although one that didn't much interfere with my enjoyment, as it was really only there in the last ten percent or so of the book - was the solution to the Jarada insanity. I don't want to give too much away, but for a space-faring race to be so limited in their basic science is just not very believable. Environmental factors should have been one of the first things tested for, and that it wasn't just isn't credible.
A rather larger quibble - although one that didn't much interfere with my enjoyment, as it was really only there in the last ten percent or so of the book - was the solution to the Jarada insanity. I don't want to give too much away, but for a space-faring race to be so limited in their basic science is just not very believable. Environmental factors should have been one of the first things tested for, and that it wasn't just isn't credible.
April 26, 2024
There were so many episodes that after watching them, I always wanted to see more about them, and it's nice that it can happen in the books. The T'kon empire, the Dyson sphere, etc. Well, this book does just that.
This book revolves around the Jarada, a race that came up in an episode never to be heard from again, and further fleshes out their relationship with the Federation. They've requested to have the Enterprise, specifically, sent to conduct negotiations between them and the Federation.
Overall, the story was entertaining, I liked the different POV chapters, giving us aspects of the story from the various characters that are involved (Picard, Riker, Crusher, Worf, Keiko being the main POVs) and what they experience.
I didn't like the way that Miles was portrayed in this story, though. I can understand him being protective of Keiko, but the author took it to a more controlling side, which I don't think fits his character. The rest of the cast felt very much within how I would expect them to be.
This book revolves around the Jarada, a race that came up in an episode never to be heard from again, and further fleshes out their relationship with the Federation. They've requested to have the Enterprise, specifically, sent to conduct negotiations between them and the Federation.
Overall, the story was entertaining, I liked the different POV chapters, giving us aspects of the story from the various characters that are involved (Picard, Riker, Crusher, Worf, Keiko being the main POVs) and what they experience.
I didn't like the way that Miles was portrayed in this story, though. I can understand him being protective of Keiko, but the author took it to a more controlling side, which I don't think fits his character. The rest of the cast felt very much within how I would expect them to be.
August 18, 2021
Imbalance is a sub-par TNG book that is a low point in the TNG book series. It explores an insectoid race called the 'Jarada' who are full of surprises. This book on the other hand contains very little surprises, and the whole content of the book can be found on the back cover. Although there is interesting descriptions of the Jarada, their planet and their culture, the book overall is very boring. Early on the TNG away team is split up and most of the book is read from four different plot lines, which can leave the reader a little off balance. The book reads like a number of TNG episodes with long drawn out explanations and an ending that is tied up too quickly in the last few minutes, and makes very little sense. Although the plot line seems interesting, it is a struggle to read through this book.
October 8, 2021
Meh. The plot is not bad, actually is really interesting but I didn't like too much the fragmentation. Each character has a short chapter and despite the idea that all the pieces will help in understanding the big picture and I guess, building the suspense before revealing what's all about, for me did nothing but annoyed me with all these sudden changes from Worf to Riker to Crusher and so on. And also now, after 30 years or so since it's first appeared and a whole DS9 where Miles O'Brien is more than sufficiently constructed as a character, it's really a serious turn-off to read of a Miles full of tempers who fights anyone and comments on everything. I know that the author is not guilty because at the moment when the book was written O'Brian was even less than a secondary character, but still. Well, quite an easy reading to kill some time but don't keep your expectations high.
June 11, 2022
Paint by Numbers
This book is a "paint by numbers" style Star Trek story. Although it was set in the TNG area, you can swap it with the other shows in the franchise.
Act 1: Our intrepid heroes (and heroines to be politically correct) beam down an alien planet. The interactions are initially cordial but go sour. Suddenly, they are cut off from the ship.
Act 2: Our protagonists realize there is a local mystery - the aliens are going crazy and trying to kill everyone. Whether individually or as a team, our heroes each find themselves holding a piece of the puzzle.
Act 3: There is some science mumbo-jumbo and it is our Federation heroes - unity in diversity, rar-rar, "hold my beer and watch this" - who come up with the solution.
Nevertheless, the book was enjoyable enough that it really is 2.5 stars.
This book is a "paint by numbers" style Star Trek story. Although it was set in the TNG area, you can swap it with the other shows in the franchise.
Act 1: Our intrepid heroes (and heroines to be politically correct) beam down an alien planet. The interactions are initially cordial but go sour. Suddenly, they are cut off from the ship.
Act 2: Our protagonists realize there is a local mystery - the aliens are going crazy and trying to kill everyone. Whether individually or as a team, our heroes each find themselves holding a piece of the puzzle.
Act 3: There is some science mumbo-jumbo and it is our Federation heroes - unity in diversity, rar-rar, "hold my beer and watch this" - who come up with the solution.
Nevertheless, the book was enjoyable enough that it really is 2.5 stars.
September 27, 2023
After the same authors Enemy Unseen and with knowledge that Windows on a Lost World is considered amongst the worst Trek ever written, I didn't have much enthusiasm for Imbalance.
It is better than Enemy Unseen, but not by much. And the word count is slightly higher than the usual Trek novel, but the amount of verbage doesn't equate to an equally chunky plot. There's a lot of running to and fro before you find out the plan behind the aliens machinations and it's barely worth it. Never confuse action with story.
Notable for a big role for Keiko, even if she and O'Brien are characterized very poorly - he's the typical jealous man who can't let his wife do her job because it's too dangerous and doesn't like her spending time with other men.
In conclusion, decently written, but in need of more plot.
It is better than Enemy Unseen, but not by much. And the word count is slightly higher than the usual Trek novel, but the amount of verbage doesn't equate to an equally chunky plot. There's a lot of running to and fro before you find out the plan behind the aliens machinations and it's barely worth it. Never confuse action with story.
Notable for a big role for Keiko, even if she and O'Brien are characterized very poorly - he's the typical jealous man who can't let his wife do her job because it's too dangerous and doesn't like her spending time with other men.
In conclusion, decently written, but in need of more plot.
January 25, 2025
The C plot of an early TNG episode has Picard practicing a formal greeting for the Jarada. They're very touchy about protocol, very insular, and this is the first chance in a while for the Federation to try negotiating with them. Of course, the main plot of the episode intervenes, and there are shenanigans getting Picard back to the bridge to do his ceremonial duty. It's disconnected enough from the rest of the episode that while I could remember that, I couldn't place what episode it belongs to ("The Big Goodbye", one of the better first season episodes).
This novel is set in late fourth season, and revisits the Jarada. They had been entirely a throwaway plot device, so I'm happy to see someone doing something with them. Setup is good; the Jarada ask to open negotiations, and ask for the Enterprise specifically. This is actually at one of their colony planets, and they seem... happy, eager, to discuss a treaty with the Federation. There are suspicions, but you don't just walk away when someone is making overtures like this when all you know is 'this is strange'.
After a reception, an away team is invited on individual tours of the colony, reflecting various specialties and hobbies. In fact, the Jarada seem to know an awful lot about the crew. (This is a plot point, which is used to explain some of the original episode; nice touch.) So we then get five chapters, all dealing with one of the crew being shown around and ending with things going south. Okay, actually a good structure, and from there you can build upon the various threads, and interweave them, and as they come together again build your climax.
Now, for problems. Let's start with one that's not the author's fault: The top front-cover blurb reads, "A mysterious alien race holds a secret that could destroy the U.S.S. Enterprise." Wow, you could put that on any TOS or TNG novel and it would be no more or less accurate, nor less attention-getting. Ugh.
The first problem between the covers is that one of the five away team stranded on the planet (yes, they get stranded, and no the communicators aren't working; but it is nicely explained—if only that explanation worked its way back to the central plot) is Keiko O'Brian (being married to Miles for about half a season at this point), and we have a side-plot of marital troubles stemming from a cultural clash. As a concept, not a bad idea, as done here, a horrible one. Of course, both characters get filled out a lot in the future of this novel, so we get a very different take here, and frankly not very good ones. Both are filled out with fairly 20th-century stereotypes, and Miles especially comes out the worse for it.
The bigger problem is that the plot never regains the cohesion it needs after the split up of characters. Of the six threads (five on the planet, and on board the Enterprise), you only get minimal on-screen crossover and collaboration. Given some of what goes on in the novel, really hitting up the theme of collaboration, and everyone sharing their piece of the puzzle would help the climax a lot. But instead, that only happens piecemeal, and a lot is off-screen. The ending works, but needed a good rewrite. Overall, it's still better than the very early (season 1) TNG novels, but still not on the recommend list.
This novel is set in late fourth season, and revisits the Jarada. They had been entirely a throwaway plot device, so I'm happy to see someone doing something with them. Setup is good; the Jarada ask to open negotiations, and ask for the Enterprise specifically. This is actually at one of their colony planets, and they seem... happy, eager, to discuss a treaty with the Federation. There are suspicions, but you don't just walk away when someone is making overtures like this when all you know is 'this is strange'.
After a reception, an away team is invited on individual tours of the colony, reflecting various specialties and hobbies. In fact, the Jarada seem to know an awful lot about the crew. (This is a plot point, which is used to explain some of the original episode; nice touch.) So we then get five chapters, all dealing with one of the crew being shown around and ending with things going south. Okay, actually a good structure, and from there you can build upon the various threads, and interweave them, and as they come together again build your climax.
Now, for problems. Let's start with one that's not the author's fault: The top front-cover blurb reads, "A mysterious alien race holds a secret that could destroy the U.S.S. Enterprise." Wow, you could put that on any TOS or TNG novel and it would be no more or less accurate, nor less attention-getting. Ugh.
The first problem between the covers is that one of the five away team stranded on the planet (yes, they get stranded, and no the communicators aren't working; but it is nicely explained—if only that explanation worked its way back to the central plot) is Keiko O'Brian (being married to Miles for about half a season at this point), and we have a side-plot of marital troubles stemming from a cultural clash. As a concept, not a bad idea, as done here, a horrible one. Of course, both characters get filled out a lot in the future of this novel, so we get a very different take here, and frankly not very good ones. Both are filled out with fairly 20th-century stereotypes, and Miles especially comes out the worse for it.
The bigger problem is that the plot never regains the cohesion it needs after the split up of characters. Of the six threads (five on the planet, and on board the Enterprise), you only get minimal on-screen crossover and collaboration. Given some of what goes on in the novel, really hitting up the theme of collaboration, and everyone sharing their piece of the puzzle would help the climax a lot. But instead, that only happens piecemeal, and a lot is off-screen. The ending works, but needed a good rewrite. Overall, it's still better than the very early (season 1) TNG novels, but still not on the recommend list.
June 30, 2021
Even as a Trekkie this was really tedious in places, the chapters set on the planet (which is most of them) seem to drag on forever but it picks up when we get back on board the Enterprise. The subplot with Keiko and O’Brien is entirely skippable, and the Irish stereotypes feel out of date in the 21st century, never mind the 24th.
3 stars feels generous but 2 feels harsh, this is a 2.5 star book.
3 stars feels generous but 2 feels harsh, this is a 2.5 star book.
September 8, 2022
Hm. One or two stars. All sorts of action, but nothing actually happened. The scenes with Miles and with Keiko were not only sexist but racist. The plot was meh. The mystery lame. The aliens weren't themselves... and tbh nobody else was either. The more I think about it, the more I can't even give it the second star.
But mostly the series has been readable, even enjoyable, so as long as I own them, I'll keep reading!
But mostly the series has been readable, even enjoyable, so as long as I own them, I'll keep reading!
May 8, 2023
A bit of a slog. Some of the characterisation is really off (Miles and Keiko in particular), and there is a LOT of crawling around in muddy tunnels. Worf and Riker's subplots in particular are basically the same. The ending is quite interesting, but it doesn't really bring the plot threads together, it's too rushed to fully understand the Jarada's motivations, and we never get the insight into the Jarada that we were promised.
February 20, 2018
I found this to be an interesting ride. Once the story really got going I couldn't put the book down. The constantly changing points of view really kept me on the edge of my seat. I really appreciate Keiko in this and I really loved Reggie Tanaka even though, according to the Memory Beta Wikia, we'll never see him again.
February 17, 2025
This is a good adventure for the Enterprise. It deals with a negotiation with an insect intelligent species for treaty rights. However, what they really need is a cure. For some reason, they become insane and their scientists can’t explain why. With some close calls, the hostage team seeks to free themselves and solve the problem.
October 17, 2017
I don't like bugs and this book had a lot of them. I appreciated that Keiko was a major character in this story along with another return of Dr. Selar who definitely gets more appearances in the novels than on the show. Pretty standard story with a not so surprising finish.
June 21, 2017
A run of the mill Star Trek novel, but I love the TNG cast. And this book has a very interesting setting and alien race.
March 27, 2020
I read it the first time when I was 11 and read it again because I’m currently in quarantine.
May 24, 2020
Es werden sehr lange fünf Handlungsstränge erzählt, die dann auf den letzten Seiten schnell zusammen geführt und zu einem Ende verstrickt werden. Irgendwie etwas gezwungen.
October 29, 2020
What can I say I'm a sucker for Star Trek!
November 4, 2016
I love the book, it felt like reading an episode and would recommend it to all TNG fans.
Only by sheer luck did I stumble across this book. It was simply on sale for 1 pound and I couldn't walk past a Star Trek book for such a low price, no matter what (ok, maybe if it were an Enterprise book...). For 1 pound it feels like a steal, 'cause the story is on point (there is some meandering, but since the chapters are rather short, one forgets bad subplots fast), the characters are on point (except for O'Brien and Keiko) and I can't remember the last time I just couldn't wait to get back home to continue reading a book. I saved the book, tried both to read it as fast as I could, 'cause I wanted to know how the story continues and still slow down to have more time to cherish it.
I definitely need to read more Star Trek books again. I don't even know why I've stopped at all. Back in the late nineties I read ever Star Trek book I could get my hands on (and I could get very, very few books where I lived) and I loved them all.
Only by sheer luck did I stumble across this book. It was simply on sale for 1 pound and I couldn't walk past a Star Trek book for such a low price, no matter what (ok, maybe if it were an Enterprise book...). For 1 pound it feels like a steal, 'cause the story is on point (there is some meandering, but since the chapters are rather short, one forgets bad subplots fast), the characters are on point (except for O'Brien and Keiko) and I can't remember the last time I just couldn't wait to get back home to continue reading a book. I saved the book, tried both to read it as fast as I could, 'cause I wanted to know how the story continues and still slow down to have more time to cherish it.
I definitely need to read more Star Trek books again. I don't even know why I've stopped at all. Back in the late nineties I read ever Star Trek book I could get my hands on (and I could get very, very few books where I lived) and I loved them all.
July 1, 2015
This was another solid Trek: Next Generation novel, in that it dealt with a race that was teased on the show, but never seen: the Jarada. Now obviously, an insectoid race wasn't going to happen on the budget of a weekly sci-fi show, and this book filled in much more about the race.
The Enterprise is called to a Jaradan colony, and the crew must unravel what is going wrong with the colony - something seems "off" right from the start - and as Dr. Crusher and a few others of the away team are down on the planet and separated on various tours, a madness seems to spring up throughout the populace, and soon everyone is running for their lives as well as trying to figure out why the alien race has suddenly gone murderously mad. It was well done.
The Enterprise is called to a Jaradan colony, and the crew must unravel what is going wrong with the colony - something seems "off" right from the start - and as Dr. Crusher and a few others of the away team are down on the planet and separated on various tours, a madness seems to spring up throughout the populace, and soon everyone is running for their lives as well as trying to figure out why the alien race has suddenly gone murderously mad. It was well done.
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