Book Review- John Vornholt- Starfleet Academy: Capture the Flag

John Vornholt- Starfleet Academy: Capture the Flag (Minstrel Books 1994) 3.25 Stars

Geordi LaForge is in his first year of Starfleet Academy and after beating a competitive cadet in a game, he must now face him in an elimination game of capture the flag. Geordi is scrawny and not very athletic, yet he has been chosen to be captain of one of the four teams. To make a point he has chosen a team of similar beings who are also always chosen last. Now he must face a stronger, more athletic team, and use his brain to outsmart them.

I liked the introduction to this book, as it was different from the norm, and made you curious about the rest of the book. Then it kind of tanks off and gets boring, taking awhile to get to the main point of the novel. I was driven on only by the knowledge that this was my favourite book in this series when I was growing up. When it got to the point I really enjoyed the book and I love what it has to teach children about how being toughest and strongest is not always an advantage in life, you also have to be able to use your head. The ending was cheesy and predictable, but was also kind of amusing, and I could see kids loving it. I would recommend this book to young sci-fi fans.

For more of my reviews check out my website, www.tonypeters.webs.com

Tony Peters

Kids on a Case: The Case of the Ten Grand Kidnapping

http://authortonypeters.blogspot.com/

Book Review- Diane Carey- Cadet Kirk

Diane Carey- Star Trek: Starfleet Academy: Cadet Kirk (Pocket Books 1996) 3 Stars

James T Kirk is in the Starfleet Academy and he is a stickler for following the book, until he discovered that the book doesn’t always work. He was just supposed to transport a famous scientist, Richard Daystrom, to another planet, but instead he ends up transporting Cadets Spock and McCoy. While on their trip they are tractor beamed and pulled into a small outpost. They have been kidnapped by pirates who are looking for Daystrom. Can they free themselves and prevent Daystrom from falling into the same trap?

One thing that I noticed right away in this novel was that this author had not read the previous instalment of this series. Diane Carey has Kirk and McCoy meeting for the first time in this book, when they in fact met in the previous instalment. Kirk was also not as I expected him. He is supposed to be a brash, independent young man, not a by-the-book cadet. Once I got past these facts though, it wasn’t that bad of a book. The plot was pretty good and it had a fast-pace once you got past the first section, which was slow. It also had a good ending which was predictable, but entertaining. Overall I thought that this was an average book that you may enjoy if you like sci-fi.

For more of my reviews check out my website, www.tonypeters.webs.com

Tony Peters

Kids on a Case: The Case of the Ten Grand Kidnapping

http://authortonypeters.blogspot.com/