Ship of the Line (Star Trek: The Next Generation) by Diane Carey










Pretty Decent Fun

Published in 1999

Yes, I hate to admit it, but I read a Star Trek novel. I haven't read one for years, but Ship of the Line was on sale at the dollar store so I picked it up. I also hate to admit it, but I liked it.

The plot focuses on the time between the 2 movies Generations and First Contact. It involves Captain Morgan Bateson, the captain played by Kelsey Grammer (a.k.a. Dr. Frasier Crane) in an episode of the fifth season of the Next Generation series. It deals with his forced time travel of 90 years into the future and Picard's angst over the loss of his ship. Kirk is also in it thanks to great holodeck programs. 

Kelsey Grammer as Capt. Bateson in ST:TNG.
Ship of the Line is way too cluttered and the ending is hackneyed, as many things Trek are. But, it was an entertaining read. A great novel would have dealt in-depth with the issues of a captain without a ship or a man living out of his own time, but who expects to find great literature at the dollar store?

I rate this book 4 stars out of 5. It can be found on Amazon.com here: Ship of the Line by Diane Carey.

Reviewed on August 14, 2004.

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