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Star Trek: The Next Generation
Triangle
lmzadi: to the people of the planet Betazed, including Counselor Deanna Troi of the "Starship Enterprise(TM) " it means "beloved" and denotes a special closeness that can never be truly broken. Or can it?
Once William Riker was Deanna's imzadi, but now the ship's counselor has embarked on an unlikely romance with Lieutenant Commander Worf. At first glance, they cannot be more different, but over time they have discovered hidden reserves of courage and compassion within each other. Yet does Worf's future truly lie with Deanna, and whom shall Troi ultimately call "imzadi"?
Even in the 24th century, three Is definitely a crowd.
Once William Riker was Deanna's imzadi, but now the ship's counselor has embarked on an unlikely romance with Lieutenant Commander Worf. At first glance, they cannot be more different, but over time they have discovered hidden reserves of courage and compassion within each other. Yet does Worf's future truly lie with Deanna, and whom shall Troi ultimately call "imzadi"?
Even in the 24th century, three Is definitely a crowd.
375 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 1998
About the author
Peter David
3,537 books1,317 followersaka David Peters
Peter Allen David (often abbreviated PAD) is an American writer, best known for his work in comic books and Star Trek novels. David often jokingly describes his occupation as "Writer of Stuff". David is noted for his prolific writing, characterized by its mingling of real world issues with humor and references to popular culture. He also uses metafiction frequently, usually to humorous effect, as in his work on the comic book Young Justice.
Peter Allen David (often abbreviated PAD) is an American writer, best known for his work in comic books and Star Trek novels. David often jokingly describes his occupation as "Writer of Stuff". David is noted for his prolific writing, characterized by its mingling of real world issues with humor and references to popular culture. He also uses metafiction frequently, usually to humorous effect, as in his work on the comic book Young Justice.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews
February 13, 2023
One of the most engaging Star Trek books I've read in a while. Peter David is an excellent author, and he proves it here.
January 6, 2016
Reading this book reminded the expression "Falling from ecstasy to agony". I say this since to me "Imzadi", the first novel, also by Peter David is my favorite novel of Star Trek, and easily can reach the point of my favorite novel ever (see review of that novel here: Imzadi ). So, maybe can imagine how excited was when I knew that there was a sequel, written by the same author. I didn't understand why there was a sequel since the first novel had a very fair conclussion. However, I said myself: "Hey, who cares? It's a sequel to Imzadi!!!" Well, there are things that it's much better to keep them as an isolated success and not trying to repeat it. And "Imzadi II: Triangle" was of those cases. I think that it even wasn't fault of Peter David, but to the decision of the producers in Star Trek: The Next Generation to put together Deanna Troi with Worf. Worf? Really? I have nothing against the character, many of the best Klingon-related stories on the series were involving this character. However, there are perfect couples, not matter if they are still together or not, that you just don't have to mess up. Deanna Troi and William Riker are a perfect couple. Together or not, they are just perfect for each other. And if you ever read "Imzadi" (the FIRST novel) you won't have any doubt of that anymore in your life. However, when they decided to publish the sequel, they want to use the change in the series where now Worf and Deanna were in the process to be an item, yuck! No, no, no. If you really want to make an interesting triangle, they should use the angle of "Thomas Riker", the transporter-accident clone, and he even is in the novel, but the way that he is used, it was just a waste of the character. I seldom rated a book with just 1 star, but here, I just needed to do that since in the same way that I totally love the first book that I rated with full 5 stars, well sadly (and even more painful since it was written by the same author) I totally hate this sequel so my only honest choice to myself was to rated with just 1 star. In conclussion, I don't any see any good reason to read this book, so if you read the first book and you love it as much as I am, please, don't read this sequel, and if you anyway do it (since this is a free world), well don't say that I didn't warn you.
June 12, 2019
This one was... okay... but it had too much going on at the same time. There were a few different visits from different TNG characters that had different things going on with the story that it was kind of a bit much to keep up with, at least as an audiobook. If it just stuck with a couple of those elements along with the triangle aspect of Riker-Troi-and Worf, then it might have been better for me. Otherwise, it was nice to actually see a reason why from the time TNG the show ended and the first TNG movie happened that the relationship beween Troi and Worf ended.
January 9, 2013
This one kind of sucked. The characterization of Worf wasn't handled well--made him seem more caveman than Klingon. He felt way out of character, especially after rewatching a bunch of later season Next Gen and DS9. Also? Lame ending.
December 22, 2007
Fun book, if you're a Star Trek nerd. I had a few misgivings, the biggest being that Worf was way over-written. He spoke multiple paragraphs at a time, and that's just not realistic, even if he IS in love with Troi.
January 18, 2020
It's a fast and easy read...because it's Peter David and he can write "Star Trek" in his sleep. However, where the first "Imzadi" was two intense stories linked together that blew the covers off of Trek-lit, this feels a bit more ordinary. It also feels a bit too packed...with too many characters, and too many plot-lines competing with each other, resulting in everything feeling more fanwank and less epic story. It does its job, and its characters interactions are great, but I think the first, brilliant "Imzadi" can happily stand alone.
May 14, 2019
Full review: https://www.treklit.com/2019/05/Trian...
Despite my above complaints, I didn't hate Triangle: Imzadi II. Like I previously mentioned, I feel that much of the reasoning behind the end of Worf and Troi's relationship is clever in how it fits into the timeline following Generations. However, there are enough small issues with how the story turns out (and the fact that we don't get a lot of perspective from Troi and the story instead feels like a Riker/Worf outing with Troi as the prize to be fought over) that I feel like I was left wanting more. And, while some of the humor and typical Peter David "craziness" is to be expected, there were some parts that took me a little too far out of the story. A good novel that could have been a great novel, but somewhat missed the mark, unfortunately.
Despite my above complaints, I didn't hate Triangle: Imzadi II. Like I previously mentioned, I feel that much of the reasoning behind the end of Worf and Troi's relationship is clever in how it fits into the timeline following Generations. However, there are enough small issues with how the story turns out (and the fact that we don't get a lot of perspective from Troi and the story instead feels like a Riker/Worf outing with Troi as the prize to be fought over) that I feel like I was left wanting more. And, while some of the humor and typical Peter David "craziness" is to be expected, there were some parts that took me a little too far out of the story. A good novel that could have been a great novel, but somewhat missed the mark, unfortunately.
August 31, 2022
Relatable, as Im zaddy too
September 12, 2014
That was not good. This may have been two star material as it is not, technically, the most offensive thing I've read this month, but since its mostly just a character assassination of my main Klingon, Mr Worf, well, frak it.
I have to give it credit as the very first dues ex DS9 I've ever seen, though.
Wait, not credit, the opposite.
I have to give it credit as the very first dues ex DS9 I've ever seen, though.
Wait, not credit, the opposite.
April 10, 2009
A valiant effort to explain the corner the writers had painted themselves into and much appreciated by the true fans. Still, it never quite makes sense as to why Worf leaves Deanna, even if it's canon that she belongs with Riker.
September 5, 2022
If you've read my review of the first Imzadi book, you'd know that I found it overrated and pretty dated in its execution as a romance novel. So I didn't think it would be tough for Imzadi II to top it, and I really think it did.
Sometimes, love triangles can get really annoying. But here, it felt necessary. Most of the story takes place after Star Trek: Generations (with Worf amusingly telling Data it was actually funny when he pushed Dr. Crusher into the water), and it really fills in the gaps regarding Deanna and Worf's relationship and the lingering tensions with Will Riker. We never really saw Will and Worf argue about what's best for Deanna, which feels natural for two people who love her to do, but we do get that here, and they don't hold back. It really scratches an itch for fans who may have thought the changes in romantic relationships were glossed over onscreen.
Peter David also deals with how Deanna's mother feels about her daughter being with Worf. And Worf's son Alexander also gets some page time, as he's a pivotal character in Worf's life. There's a moment where Picard feels so out of character trying to slap some sense into Will, and I was ready to say Peter David didn't really get how to write Picard here, but then some more absurd stuff happened right after. So then I thought, "Oh, Will's having a dream," and I was right. So kudos to Peter David, you got me good.
Also, this doesn't REALLY matter, but I did notice A Christmas Carol was referred to as a novel, when in actuality it's a novella. Not sure how nobody caught this. Maybe people could just talk it up to this being an alternate universe. Why not?
Since this came out in October 1998, Peter David would have had the hindsight of First Contact as well. Insurrection wouldn't come out until December, but I do wonder whether he was tipped off that Will and Deanna would rekindle their romance, given the way their story ends here. Due to some dire circumstances, Worf realizes that he does not love Deanna as much as Will does, and that they should therefore break off their engagement. Will then tells Deanna that they should take some time before trying to rekindle anything, and Deanna, understandably overwhelmed by all this mood whiplash, is frustrated by the suggestion of needing time. I'm not sure if it was intentional, but this felt like it could've been a subtle reference to how, later on, during the events of First Contact, a drunk Deanna would tell Will "We don't have the time!" in reference to something else. But one could also interpret that line as also referring to her hatred of the proposal of needing time for her and Will to work things out. I like how it's not so in your face as a reference, if this is indeed what Peter David was going for.
The wraparound segments at the beginning and end of this book take place after the big thing that happens in the Deep Space Nine season 6 finale. That big event is, of course, the tragic death of Jadzia. At the start of the book, I questioned whether it was really necessary to include this, given that the bulk of the novel is about the Will-Deanna-Word love triangle. But at the end, I was convinced that the wraparounds were necessary. What really sells it is the closing thoughts from Worf that transcend logic but make so much sense when it comes to love.
So overall, I found this to be a really good read. We got to see these characters be more vulnerable in a way that feels believable. The reason I'm not giving this 5 stars is that I found some parts less engaging than others. But holy moly, when it gets engaging, it's really good. Probably an unpopular opinion among longtime Trek readers, but I definitely prefer Imzadi II over the first one.
Sometimes, love triangles can get really annoying. But here, it felt necessary. Most of the story takes place after Star Trek: Generations (with Worf amusingly telling Data it was actually funny when he pushed Dr. Crusher into the water), and it really fills in the gaps regarding Deanna and Worf's relationship and the lingering tensions with Will Riker. We never really saw Will and Worf argue about what's best for Deanna, which feels natural for two people who love her to do, but we do get that here, and they don't hold back. It really scratches an itch for fans who may have thought the changes in romantic relationships were glossed over onscreen.
Peter David also deals with how Deanna's mother feels about her daughter being with Worf. And Worf's son Alexander also gets some page time, as he's a pivotal character in Worf's life. There's a moment where Picard feels so out of character trying to slap some sense into Will, and I was ready to say Peter David didn't really get how to write Picard here, but then some more absurd stuff happened right after. So then I thought, "Oh, Will's having a dream," and I was right. So kudos to Peter David, you got me good.
Also, this doesn't REALLY matter, but I did notice A Christmas Carol was referred to as a novel, when in actuality it's a novella. Not sure how nobody caught this. Maybe people could just talk it up to this being an alternate universe. Why not?
Since this came out in October 1998, Peter David would have had the hindsight of First Contact as well. Insurrection wouldn't come out until December, but I do wonder whether he was tipped off that Will and Deanna would rekindle their romance, given the way their story ends here. Due to some dire circumstances, Worf realizes that he does not love Deanna as much as Will does, and that they should therefore break off their engagement. Will then tells Deanna that they should take some time before trying to rekindle anything, and Deanna, understandably overwhelmed by all this mood whiplash, is frustrated by the suggestion of needing time. I'm not sure if it was intentional, but this felt like it could've been a subtle reference to how, later on, during the events of First Contact, a drunk Deanna would tell Will "We don't have the time!" in reference to something else. But one could also interpret that line as also referring to her hatred of the proposal of needing time for her and Will to work things out. I like how it's not so in your face as a reference, if this is indeed what Peter David was going for.
The wraparound segments at the beginning and end of this book take place after the big thing that happens in the Deep Space Nine season 6 finale. That big event is, of course, the tragic death of Jadzia. At the start of the book, I questioned whether it was really necessary to include this, given that the bulk of the novel is about the Will-Deanna-Word love triangle. But at the end, I was convinced that the wraparounds were necessary. What really sells it is the closing thoughts from Worf that transcend logic but make so much sense when it comes to love.
So overall, I found this to be a really good read. We got to see these characters be more vulnerable in a way that feels believable. The reason I'm not giving this 5 stars is that I found some parts less engaging than others. But holy moly, when it gets engaging, it's really good. Probably an unpopular opinion among longtime Trek readers, but I definitely prefer Imzadi II over the first one.
March 27, 2018
Marina Sirits was asked on Twitter what her least favourite part of STTNG was and she replied when they had her crash the Enterprise as it was so sexist! This book picks up right after that! It starts quite promisingly, we see Deanna doing her good counsellor schtick and helping Worf and Alexander reconcile after the crash, we see her teasing Will. But then everything shifts and we never see things from her perspective again. Instead it becomes a book focusing on Will, Tom and Worf and who loves her more!
A lot of reviewers seem to have given this one star cause they somehow missed the whole Troi/Worf thing of the last three seasons of the show and thought it was a terrible idea for them to date. I LOVED it. And was quite put out when they split them up so Worf could go on DS9 and then randomly after NOT having them date for 8 years had Troi and Riker get married in the film! This book attempts to fill in what happened, but it does so in a way that I don't really buy. The characters sounded like the characters, but the plot just felt a bit weak, and once again Troi had no agency for herself. Worf decided he didn't love her as much as Will did, so she should be with him. Will on the other hand only wanted her when he couldn't have her. She spent a good deal pining over him, but still seemed committed to Worf. But the descision was taken out of her hands entirely. It all started to go a bit wrong when Luwaxana Troi decided to teach Worf about Betazoid philosophy! Deanna vanished from then on. Plus there was a lot of very odd things with Tom Riker and Tasha's daughter.
If you believe that Dax was Worf's FIRST love and that FIRST loves are the best and most important then this is the book for you. Otherwise.... you may giggle.
I really can't believe that as a teen I shipped Riker and Troi, he was such an idiot. Though having gotten a copy of the original imzadi when I bought this I am tempted to read it too.
A lot of reviewers seem to have given this one star cause they somehow missed the whole Troi/Worf thing of the last three seasons of the show and thought it was a terrible idea for them to date. I LOVED it. And was quite put out when they split them up so Worf could go on DS9 and then randomly after NOT having them date for 8 years had Troi and Riker get married in the film! This book attempts to fill in what happened, but it does so in a way that I don't really buy. The characters sounded like the characters, but the plot just felt a bit weak, and once again Troi had no agency for herself. Worf decided he didn't love her as much as Will did, so she should be with him. Will on the other hand only wanted her when he couldn't have her. She spent a good deal pining over him, but still seemed committed to Worf. But the descision was taken out of her hands entirely. It all started to go a bit wrong when Luwaxana Troi decided to teach Worf about Betazoid philosophy! Deanna vanished from then on. Plus there was a lot of very odd things with Tom Riker and Tasha's daughter.
If you believe that Dax was Worf's FIRST love and that FIRST loves are the best and most important then this is the book for you. Otherwise.... you may giggle.
I really can't believe that as a teen I shipped Riker and Troi, he was such an idiot. Though having gotten a copy of the original imzadi when I bought this I am tempted to read it too.
June 11, 2023
Imzadi II by Peter David
So this book was… not the best. It was ok at most. There was way too much going on at once. Also, there was random cameos that made no sense and just Peter David shoehorned them in the end such as Odo and Shelby. Although I did like how it tied into DS9 and NF a bit in that sense. This book deals with alot, such as the aftermath of Generations, Worf and Deanna’s relationship, how Riker feels about it, Sela, Tom Riker, Klingons, Lwaxana Troi, Alexander and Cardassians, oh my!
I really really enjoyed the opening bits of them on Veridian III as it dealt with the immediate aftermath of Generations and provided alternative perspectives on certain moments such as Data being reunited with Spot which I like. I don’t know why I enjoyed that so much, it was just really interesting to read. Also, seeing a little bit more of the planet I liked and how the rest of the crew dealt with the aftermath was great. That’s also one reason why I like the Return so much. I would have interested to read a book purely about the hearing Jellico had about Picard’s conduct. Also, they make no mention of Geordi’s VISOR being hacked for the reason why the Enterprise crashed, which bothered me.
But onto the rest of the book. I enjoyed Imzadi as it was a decent romance novel with a fun time travel twist but I wasn’t floored by it like everyone else. Worf and Deanna being in a relationship doesn’t bother me that much but I understand why people didn’t like it that much. But with Sela, it just got so convoluted and I felt like it just added nothing of substance to the story. I felt like it would have a better story if you focused on the conflict between Riker and Worf over Deanna and how Deanna felt about that. Instead of upping the cosmic stakes, it should have been a more character driven story. The first Imzadi had that, but the characters were front and centre still.
Overall, this book started off good, but when off the rails in a bad way towards the end.
5/10
So this book was… not the best. It was ok at most. There was way too much going on at once. Also, there was random cameos that made no sense and just Peter David shoehorned them in the end such as Odo and Shelby. Although I did like how it tied into DS9 and NF a bit in that sense. This book deals with alot, such as the aftermath of Generations, Worf and Deanna’s relationship, how Riker feels about it, Sela, Tom Riker, Klingons, Lwaxana Troi, Alexander and Cardassians, oh my!
I really really enjoyed the opening bits of them on Veridian III as it dealt with the immediate aftermath of Generations and provided alternative perspectives on certain moments such as Data being reunited with Spot which I like. I don’t know why I enjoyed that so much, it was just really interesting to read. Also, seeing a little bit more of the planet I liked and how the rest of the crew dealt with the aftermath was great. That’s also one reason why I like the Return so much. I would have interested to read a book purely about the hearing Jellico had about Picard’s conduct. Also, they make no mention of Geordi’s VISOR being hacked for the reason why the Enterprise crashed, which bothered me.
But onto the rest of the book. I enjoyed Imzadi as it was a decent romance novel with a fun time travel twist but I wasn’t floored by it like everyone else. Worf and Deanna being in a relationship doesn’t bother me that much but I understand why people didn’t like it that much. But with Sela, it just got so convoluted and I felt like it just added nothing of substance to the story. I felt like it would have a better story if you focused on the conflict between Riker and Worf over Deanna and how Deanna felt about that. Instead of upping the cosmic stakes, it should have been a more character driven story. The first Imzadi had that, but the characters were front and centre still.
Overall, this book started off good, but when off the rails in a bad way towards the end.
5/10
October 24, 2017
I am not entirely sure what the motivation behind writing this book and making it a sequel to Imzadi was as Imzadi was a love story and this was about the dissolution of Worf's and Troi's relationship so I knew from the get-go that this was not going to be quite a fun read. The story did not go the direction it would go and brought up more characters and focus on those characters that the main characters of Imzadi, Will and Deanna, find themselves as almost secondary characters. Written before Insurrection and likely without the knowledge of where there relationship was going to go this novel would have likely looked differently if it was done a year later.
May 19, 2019
This was NOT as good as it should have been. First of all, you are going to write about a human-Klingon romance with NO description of their intimate moments together? FAIL. Second, you are going to have Imzadi reuniting without even a kiss, or a proposal, or a wedding?? WTF. This was mostly about Romulans, who are. not. interesting. This could have been romantic and sexy and sad and wistful and glorious. Instead it was like: labor camps and disruptor guns and assassination attempts and MEH. Blargh.
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July 7, 2018This story reminds me of A Tale of Two Cities regarding Thomas Riker's character. I like him even more since he was willing to sacrifice himself to save Deanna's life. However Worf obviously didn't even care since he was willing to let his fiance and his son die just for his honor. I was glad to see Thomas survived to the end, I thought he died the first time I read this. I still don't really believe that Trio would have ever married Worf.
June 9, 2019
This isn't necessarily my favorite type of Star Trek book; I like ones that include the entire crew and take place on a starship. That being said, I think its one of the best books that Peter David has written. He nails the characters well, and while it is not heavy on action, he does a great job with the emotions that the story requires. He comes up with the best reasoning behind the Troi/Worf relationship that I've ever seen, and handles the break up of that relationship well.
August 13, 2020
I enjoyed the book. I was in the mood for an easy, enjoyable read and here it was. What struck me, and I never really noticed it before while watching the Star Trek series, is how each character has an individual style of speech. And that style helps to individualize the character. It was haunting how speech style made each character solidify as a person. And it was brilliant.
August 19, 2020
I loved the book! Peter David writes Star Trek TNG characters better than anyone! He does a great job forming a love triangle wrapped in a fun adventure story. My only issue is the way it ends... It feels like a cheat going through 300+ pages of Riker pinning after Troi only to have him get her and then go "nah maybe later" other than that I loved it!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 23, 2021
This book was hard to read.
Truthfully I couldn't finish it.
I know how the story ends. I know that Ricker and Deanna get married. I've seen the movie, lol.
I like Peter David. I just hated the book.
Truthfully I couldn't finish it.
I know how the story ends. I know that Ricker and Deanna get married. I've seen the movie, lol.
I like Peter David. I just hated the book.
March 1, 2022
Good plot line, just ok writing
Having read the books series for 40 years, I find the newer ones,don't quite have the same quality in writing as when authors like DC Fontana were producing thdm
Having read the books series for 40 years, I find the newer ones,don't quite have the same quality in writing as when authors like DC Fontana were producing thdm
February 6, 2023
This explains everything that happened to Worf, Deanna, and Riker in the time between Generations and Worf's appearance on DS9. David tells an engaging story about love and is able to make sense of Trek's inconsistencies.
March 4, 2023
Not badly written but the Worf/Deanna relationship just isn't very engaging and the Betazed scenes are so drawn out. It would have been nice to see more of Deanna's thoughts rather than just the men. But there are some funny lines, and the Worf/Dax sections are good, particularly at the end.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 24, 2024
More infuriating than anything. I didn’t really enjoy the book but kept reading because I wanted to see a good ending. I really didn’t like the plot line of Deanna and Worf in the series/movie and I still didn’t like it here. Now I need to read the final one to be satisfied lol.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 4, 2017
Good bridge between Generations and Worf moving to DS9.
January 13, 2018
I couldn't with this book. And I love Peter David, and his work. But this whole Worf-Troi thing, and this whole triangle thing, I can't.
March 8, 2018
Very interesting.......only adjective I can really think of to describe this book. Overall, I wouldn't read it again though.
May 18, 2018
Okay. Not as good as the first Imzadi.
May 18, 2019
This book is a mess of issues, between Romulans, Tom and Will Riker and Warf, Everyone is going after Troi, This book has much action throughout, This is a good Read.
July 18, 2019
Not as good as the first Imzadi book, but still interesting.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews