Star Trek Voyager: Architects of Infinity Review
3 min read
Star Trek Voyager: Architects of Infinity
by Kirsten Beyer
THE STORY:
As the Federation Starship Voyager continues to lead the Full Circle Fleet in its exploration of the Delta Quadrant, Admiral Kathryn Janeway remains concerned about the Krenim Imperium and its ability to rewrite time to suit its whims.
At Captain Chakotay’s suggestion, however, she orders the fleet to focus its attention on a unique planet in a binary system, where a new element has been discovered.
Several biospheres exist on this otherwise uninhabitable world, each containing different atmospheres and features that argue other sentient beings once resided on the surface.
Janeway hopes that digging into an old-fashioned scientific mystery will lift the crews’ morale, but she soon realizes that the secrets buried on this world may be part of a much larger puzzle — one that points to the existence of a species whose power to reshape the galaxy might dwarf that of the Krenim…
Meanwhile, Lieutenants Nancy Conlon and Harry Kim continue to struggle with the choices related to Conlon’s degenerative condition. Full Circle’s medical staff discovers a potential solution, but complications will force a fellow officer to confront her people’s troubled past and her own future in ways she never imagined.
THE REVIEW:
Voyager is back in the Delta quadrant, but this time there are there as explorers and not trying to get back home. And they find an interesting planet to explore, with surprises of its own. But sometimes it is dangerous to explore a new planet and this turns out to be the case.
Meanwhile, Harry Kim’s partner Nancy Conlin is in bad shape and her unborn daughter must be transported out of her body and into a gestational incubator. This event takes away one possible way of curing Conlon, but another way is possible courtesy of Kriosian Ensign Gwyn. Will Gwyn overcome a cultural taboo to help Conlin? Readers will remember that the Kriosions were seen in The Next Generation: The Perfect Mate.
Gwyn makes her decision, which has unexpected repercussions for herself and in the end, she comes to a better knowledge of herself, her family, and her people.
Another crewmember with woes is Icheb, who was left with an unwanted restriction courtesy of the genetic tinkering that helped to create him. Can this restriction be bypassed or will happiness elude Icheb forever?
Look for a shocking ending to the story.
THE VERDICT:
I liked this book. I haven’t read all of the other Voyager books, so I don’t have the back-history that would have enriched this story for me, but it didn’t really matter; the story is standalone.
Trek fans will like the exploration aspect of the story; the strange planet and its mysteries. I’m sure we will be hearing more about this in Beyer’s next book.
The difficulties for some of the characters on Voyager trying to break into the clique of those who had served aboard her while the ship was originally lost in the Delta Quadrant was an interesting addition to the story.
I found the moral dilemmas fascinating. People had to make hard choices, bending the rules and it didn’t always work out for the best. Sometimes a solution wasn’t found. And sometimes, those faced with something unpleasant somehow manage to make lemonade out of lemons.
The surprising ending will have readers wanting the next book. Beyer is contracted to do one more book, To Lose the Earth. Unfortunately, readers might have a bit of a wait for it.
Book Information:
Author: Kirsten Beyer
Publisher: Pocket Books
Publication Date: March 27, 2018
ISBN-13: 9781501138768
ISBN-10: 1501138766
Pages: 384
Star Trek Voyager: Architects of Infinity is available as a mass market paperback for $7.99 ($5.14 on Amazon) or as a Kindle eBook for $6.99. To order, head to the link located here.
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