good reader gone bad

Timothy Zahn lit a fire in the Star Wars universe several years ago when he authored the Thrawn trilogy, beginning with Heir to the Empire. He resumes telling the story of Luke Skywalker and Mara Jade Skywalker in Survivor’s Quest, sort of a mystery, which also explores Mara’s doubts about her chosen path. An entertaining read. Zahn is also working on a followup to this novel.

Published in hardcover by Del Rey. ISBN 0345459164

It’s pretty clear that Judith Van Gieson knows and loves the state of New Mexico. Claire Reynier, in her fifth appearance, travels through northern New Mexico and her own memories as she tries to learn the identity of a homeless woman found dead in the basement of the UNM library.

Published in paperback by Signet. ISBN 0451211340

Deadly Morsels contains four mystery novellas with food themes. I picked up this book because it has Red or Green?, a Posadas County story by Steven F. Havill. An old friend of retired sheriff Bill Gastner dies of an apparent heart attack while eating a Burrito Grande from his favorite restaurant. The green chile is a suspect.

Published in paperback by Worldwide. ISBN 0373264526

I read this years ago and reread it recently after channel-surfing into the 1965 film starring George Maharis and Anne Francis. The movie is entertaining, but Alistair MacClean’s book is far more visceral and fast-paced. Maybe transplanting the plot from the cold, wet UK to sunny Southern California is part of the problem. In any event, read the book if you like a good thriller.

Originally published in 1962 under the pseudonym of Ian Stuart.

Undersherriff Estelle Reyes-Guzman has her hands full when the investigation of an insurance agent’s death leads close to home. While trying to piece together a puzzle, she also has to deal with the accidental death of a young woman with two children and two men who might be their father.

Set in fictional Posadas County, New Mexico, Steven F. Havill’s mysteries are always a satisfying read. Mr. Havill’s storytelling skills have made his characters old friends and I usually pick up his books and don’t put them down until I’m done. Highly recommended.

Published by St. Martin’s Minotaur in hardcover. ISBN 0312307853

Beautiful intelligence analyst discovers a fake meteorite, falls off a glacier only to be rescued by a US Navy sub, worries about bloodthirsty hammerhead sharks, and might topple a presidency, meanwhile finding a new love as a special ops Delta team tries to kill her.

The second novel by Dan Brown is a much better effort than Digital Fortress. The plot runs along at breakneck pace, as it does in all of his novels, and the characters don’t do too many stupid things. Pick up this book if you need to kill a few hours.

The mass-market paperback edition of this book is published by Pocket Books. ISBN 0671027387

James Luceno authors the final chapter to the New Jedi Order series, and given his flair for drama and action, he was a good choice to bring this long tale to an exciting conclusion. As expected, our familiar heroes, Luke, Han, Leia, Mara and others, acquire a new understanding of the Force and bring an end to the Yuuzhan Vong invasion. Ok. Now what? Will anyone get to take a vacation now?

Published in hardcover by Del Rey. The hardcover comes with a bonus CD-ROM containing the first New Jedi Order novel, Vector Prime by R. A. Salvatore, in eBook format. ISBN 0345428528

It’s too bad that Margaret Wander Bonanno hasn’t written a few more Star Trek novels. Her Star Trek characters are familiar and her secondary characters are well drawn. This tale takes place near the end of Admiral Uhura’s Starfleet career and also features characters from Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. The inclusion of a young Ben Sisko is very well done.

The Lost Era series illuminates events that take place prior to and between Star Trek television series. Published in paperback by Pocket Books. ISBN 0743464079

Previously, the New Frontier saga was penned entirely by Peter David. Now, a legion of Star Trek writers can say that they’ve played in his Trek sandbox.

These tales of the U.S.S. Excalibur crew complement the novels by telling us more about their past history. All of the short stories in this collection blend well with what we already know about the New Frontier characters. I find it difficult to choose a favorite. They’re all entertaining. In addition to a story, Keith R. A. DeCandido also contributed a New Frontier timeline.

No Limits was edited by Mr. David and published in trade paperback by Pocket Books. ISBN 0743477073

Samuel T. Cogley defends a Klingon accused of killing the Federation administrator of a mining colony. Lt. Areel Shaw is the prosecutor, eager for a rematch with Cogley. Both originally appeared in TOS episode “Court Martial”. This is a well-paced and entertaining courtroom mystery, as well as a tribute to Earl Stanley Gardner’s Perry Mason, down to the book’s design and red-dyed edges. Sam Cogley is familiar enough after more than 35 years of reruns that I can easily see him in a series of mystery novels. The authors also effectively use TOS and Enterprise tube history to paint the background.

I got the impression that authors Bob Ingersoll and Tony Isabella, both veterans of Star Trek comics and novels, have something more in mind for Lt. Areel Shaw in a future story.

Published in paperback by Pocket Books. ISBN 0743464974