Tiff is back with the latest on Kirsten Beyer's ever impressive Voyager novel series...
To say I was eager to read Kirsten Beyer’s latest novel was an understatement.
Following on from Atonement, this new novel is the
unofficial start of a new plotline as the previous arc finished with the last
novel. the main thrust of which is the appearance of another Kathryn Janeway.
The novel starts of solidly with the ramifications from the
events in Atonement still clearly present.
Nancy Conlon’s recovery from Seriareen possession has proved
slow and difficult, both she and her partner Harry Kim have suffered greatly,
the latter sinking into a state of depression and anxiety.
But now the author addresses one of the biggest ‘reset’
conclusions from Voyager’s seven season run, Year of Hell.
Beyer has attempted (and succeeded) in taking on an exciting
and intricate challenge here but her detailed knowledge the subject has allowed her to
blend back-story and conjecture into a satisfying tale.
The story balances on the actions of the Krenim species and
their refusal to allow what they call a ‘chaotic variable’ to exist and
threaten their imagined ‘perfect timeline’. This variable is of course Admiral
Katherine Janeway.
Proceeding with their abduction, the Krenim actually take an
incarnation of Janeway from her younger life, the episode Shattered.
Beyer’s encyclopaedic knowledge really flexes itself here,
as we enter the foray of two Janeways and the villainous designs of the Krenim.
We also get a chance to revisit another previously neglected
character, Thomas Riker (born of a transporter accident yet a sentient
independent person from the more familiar Will); Chakotay comments that …“two
identical people choosing very different paths become pale reflections of each
other.”
As viewers, we were able to witness all of the events of the Year of Hell from safely behind the fourth wall. Here we are forced to share and allow the characters of
Voyager to have that memory thrust upon them with cruel reality and unavoidable
memory.
Seven of Nine describes the similarities she sees in ‘our’
Janeway’s eyes which convince her that she is Janeway: “a specific combination
of defiance and pain.”
It is at times painful to read as we secretly wish that none
of them should have to know or feel the horrors of that year, but there is hope
yet for reasoning. Janeway herself acknowledges some relief that of the many
versions of her that she witnessed die, most were following a similar path to
her, affording her some comfort in her chosen path in life.
Classic themes are abound, courage, forgiveness, redemption
and destiny of course
Tuvok battles with Loss, the Krenim protagonist demonstrates
courage, even the omnipotent Q ponders familial immortality.
It seems as though no one, not even a Q can escape destiny.
Hands down this is one of the best Star Trek books I have
ever read.
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