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Star Trek: The Original Series #25
Dwellers in the Crucible
Warrantors of Peace: the Federation's daring experiment to prevent war among its members. each Warrantor, man or woman is hostage for the government of his native world—and is instantly killed if that world breaks the peace. Now Romulans have kidnapped six Warrantors, to foment political chaos—and then civil war—within the Federation. Captain Kirk must send Sulu to infiltrate Romulan territory, find the hostages, and bring them back alive—before the Federation self-destructs!
308 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published September 1, 1985
About the author
Margaret Wander Bonanno
32 books42 followersMargaret Wander Bonanno was an American science fiction writer, ghost writer and small press publisher. She was born in New York City. She wrote seven Star Trek novels, several science fiction novels set in her own worlds, including The Others, a collaborative novel with Nichelle Nichols, a biography, and other works.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
June 15, 2008
No guilty pleasure here. This was a heavy read, almost hard to finish. I've read plenty darker tales of captivity, but never in this universe. The future of Star Trek is unequivocally optimistic, aglow with scientific progress and racial harmony. But it's not a particularly feminist future. Some books and latter-day shows do a good job of rewriting a more inclusive vision. Instead, Crucible treats the man's world as realism. A woman's lot never changes, even for a strong and complex cast of female characters.
Ok, yes, it's the journey of T'Shael and Cleante discovering the power of love within themselves and across cultural mores of friendship/family/sexuality. (Note that I refuse to feel pretentious using the word mores in my review. This book is SERIOUS!) But first they get an up close and personal tour of all the ways that women can be hurt and exploited by love. The title actually comes from this description of love as a crucible: "There is that in it which can purify, refine, strengthen. There is also that which can immolate, destroy."
Even though this novel barely utilized Kirk and the gang, I wouldn't agree with those Amazon reviewers who called it "barely a Star Trek novel." In fact, this is why I always preferred reading Trek to watching it. The best books don't imitate a low-budget shoot-em-up episode, they develop the rich universe created by the shows. This one is full of great alien sociology and revisits some memorable characters like the Romulan Commander. I do wish the author had found a meaningful subplot to keep the Enterprise occupied instead of having Starfleet's flagship cruising around doing nothing but brooding about a few hostages for 6 months. (Or actually followed through on the overdramatic plot summary, which promised that the kidnapping would "shatter the Federation from within.") But thematically the young female human/Vulcan friendship is a nice mirror of longtime soulmates Kirk and Spock. (And to a lesser extent, McCoy/Spock. The autopilot bickering is too cute.)
And for me the most powerful scene is Spock reading the news as meditation/mortification.
Sorry, I know your eyes all glazed over at the first line of this nerdy nerdy review. Anyway, I'm really excited to continue with Bonanno's stuff. Always engrossing and thought-provoking.
Ok, yes, it's the journey of T'Shael and Cleante discovering the power of love within themselves and across cultural mores of friendship/family/sexuality. (Note that I refuse to feel pretentious using the word mores in my review. This book is SERIOUS!) But first they get an up close and personal tour of all the ways that women can be hurt and exploited by love. The title actually comes from this description of love as a crucible: "There is that in it which can purify, refine, strengthen. There is also that which can immolate, destroy."
Even though this novel barely utilized Kirk and the gang, I wouldn't agree with those Amazon reviewers who called it "barely a Star Trek novel." In fact, this is why I always preferred reading Trek to watching it. The best books don't imitate a low-budget shoot-em-up episode, they develop the rich universe created by the shows. This one is full of great alien sociology and revisits some memorable characters like the Romulan Commander. I do wish the author had found a meaningful subplot to keep the Enterprise occupied instead of having Starfleet's flagship cruising around doing nothing but brooding about a few hostages for 6 months. (Or actually followed through on the overdramatic plot summary, which promised that the kidnapping would "shatter the Federation from within.") But thematically the young female human/Vulcan friendship is a nice mirror of longtime soulmates Kirk and Spock. (And to a lesser extent, McCoy/Spock. The autopilot bickering is too cute.)
And for me the most powerful scene is Spock reading the news as meditation/mortification.
Sorry, I know your eyes all glazed over at the first line of this nerdy nerdy review. Anyway, I'm really excited to continue with Bonanno's stuff. Always engrossing and thought-provoking.
December 11, 2012
There are so many problems with this story, but the writing is excellent.
First, I don't accept that the Federation would go along with the idea of Peace Warrantors. Remember, Starfleet and the United Earth live with such trust that they don't even have money! The requirement for Warrantors suggests that threats of violence are the way these supposedly peaceful, trusting governments handle disputes.
Second, Kirk and team would not be six months saving the innocent good guys, allowing three to be tortured to death (one of whom was a child!), and two to be tormented near to death and raped. Clearly, the publication of this had more to do with the psychology of the author and the era. What happened before this was written that the author and publishers needed to deal with through fiction?
Lastly, this story is only peripherally about TOS characters. We learn much about Vulcan sociocultural makeup; but are only given tidbits of Sulu's ongoing dangerous undercover work. The exchanges between Uhura and Spock are just too shallow and saccharin.
I recommend this to anyone interested in an uncomfortable first-person narrative of a tortured, abused and sexually-molested hostage. I suspect this story is quite realistic, rather than heroically Star Trek.
I was delighted with a few insights that not only spoke to the inner Vulcan life, but helped me put words to my ideals; and some of my own psychology and that of some friends.
"[T'Shael, the Vulcan teacher, says, "Master of the Unavoidable] is to suppress overt reactions to that which one cannot prevent or remedy. Performed often enough, the exercise becomes internalized. One controls not only one's reactions, but the thoughts which might evoke those reactions." p.69
[Cleante, who had been studying the Vulcan way] saw one of the [human] boys pulling the leaves off a nearby plant and went into a rage.
"Stop that!" she shrieked, jumping to her feet. "You're hurting that plant. It's not necessary!" p.81
"You are of course aware that all of our world's manufacturing and heavy industry have for centuries been conducted in the asteriod (sic) belt which surrounds the mainland," T'Shael was saying. "Only that which neither despoils the environment nor disturbs the tranquility of our world is permitted onworld." p.160
"The ancient one [T'lingShar, ka'athyra crafter] neither shied from the praise nor took any glory from it. She had done with her life only that which it had been given to her to do." p.161
"But Salet the Gifted One was a public figure, renowned not only on his home world but throughtout the galaxy for his composition and performance on the ka'athyra and other instruments, though such notoriety did not carry the same weight on Vulcan as "fame" in human societies. To offer praise to the individual for innate gifts is illogical, though considerable honor attaches to one's use of such gifts." p.163
First, I don't accept that the Federation would go along with the idea of Peace Warrantors. Remember, Starfleet and the United Earth live with such trust that they don't even have money! The requirement for Warrantors suggests that threats of violence are the way these supposedly peaceful, trusting governments handle disputes.
Second, Kirk and team would not be six months saving the innocent good guys, allowing three to be tortured to death (one of whom was a child!), and two to be tormented near to death and raped. Clearly, the publication of this had more to do with the psychology of the author and the era. What happened before this was written that the author and publishers needed to deal with through fiction?
Lastly, this story is only peripherally about TOS characters. We learn much about Vulcan sociocultural makeup; but are only given tidbits of Sulu's ongoing dangerous undercover work. The exchanges between Uhura and Spock are just too shallow and saccharin.
I recommend this to anyone interested in an uncomfortable first-person narrative of a tortured, abused and sexually-molested hostage. I suspect this story is quite realistic, rather than heroically Star Trek.
I was delighted with a few insights that not only spoke to the inner Vulcan life, but helped me put words to my ideals; and some of my own psychology and that of some friends.
"[T'Shael, the Vulcan teacher, says, "Master of the Unavoidable] is to suppress overt reactions to that which one cannot prevent or remedy. Performed often enough, the exercise becomes internalized. One controls not only one's reactions, but the thoughts which might evoke those reactions." p.69
[Cleante, who had been studying the Vulcan way] saw one of the [human] boys pulling the leaves off a nearby plant and went into a rage.
"Stop that!" she shrieked, jumping to her feet. "You're hurting that plant. It's not necessary!" p.81
"You are of course aware that all of our world's manufacturing and heavy industry have for centuries been conducted in the asteriod (sic) belt which surrounds the mainland," T'Shael was saying. "Only that which neither despoils the environment nor disturbs the tranquility of our world is permitted onworld." p.160
"The ancient one [T'lingShar, ka'athyra crafter] neither shied from the praise nor took any glory from it. She had done with her life only that which it had been given to her to do." p.161
"But Salet the Gifted One was a public figure, renowned not only on his home world but throughtout the galaxy for his composition and performance on the ka'athyra and other instruments, though such notoriety did not carry the same weight on Vulcan as "fame" in human societies. To offer praise to the individual for innate gifts is illogical, though considerable honor attaches to one's use of such gifts." p.163
December 25, 2019
Star Trek novels are always hard to anticipate quality as there are so many of them and each writer has already formulated their idea of the characters which is not necessarily the same as the readers. I went into this novel with no expectations and was pleasantly surprised over how much I enjoyed it.
As others have said, heavy trigger warning for sexual violence, torture, suicide. But if those aren't too triggering for you, this is a really stellar book about the tender relationship between a humanism woman and a Vulcan woman, and the hardship that ultimately brings them to declaring their love for each other. All other things are extraneous. How Ms. Bonanno beat the censors to publish this book about the love between two queer woman that is obviously meant to mirror the Kirk/Spock relationship (and thus implying their own queerness), I will never know but appreciate her for it.
As others have said, heavy trigger warning for sexual violence, torture, suicide. But if those aren't too triggering for you, this is a really stellar book about the tender relationship between a humanism woman and a Vulcan woman, and the hardship that ultimately brings them to declaring their love for each other. All other things are extraneous. How Ms. Bonanno beat the censors to publish this book about the love between two queer woman that is obviously meant to mirror the Kirk/Spock relationship (and thus implying their own queerness), I will never know but appreciate her for it.
March 11, 2023
This book is the story of the author's desire to create two characters of her own, inject them into the Star Trek universe, and then craft a poorly structured narrative around them...and also throw in more than a little sexual assault.
Apparently, per this novel, the Federation is only held together through mutually-assured destruction. The leaders of each world have nominated a loved one who is then taken hostage and shipped off to Vulcan. These hostages have secret codes to the globally-devastating weapons on each planet implanted into their hearts, and the only way they can be retrieved is by the death of the hostage. Okay, but like, why would I want the weapons to devastate my own globe? Does Earth have a secret store of weapons that are capable of being launched at every other planet in the Federation, and vice versa? Also, how much does it ruin the very idea of the Federation to know that they aren't bound together by mutual interests or ideals or even defense, but are tied together by mutual threat? The conflict in this story is that the Romulans and Klingons together plan to kidnap these hostages...and hold them for something...I mean, the back of the book says its to cause chaos in the Federation because once these hostages are missing, all of its member worlds will just go on a free-for-all attacking spree. But, the characters in the book never say anything like this. They send a small raid (like two commandos) to Vulcan who then kidnap a half a dozen of these hostages, three of whom all happen to be everyone's favorite sex kitten race, the Deltans - who are depicted in this book as a race of incestuous sex-addicts, who bone as a form of small talk, and will die if they can't have near-constant physical contact with each other - just like Padme dies...they just give up and then die...There is also no conflict anywhere in the Federation in this book...no mad leaders engaging their weapons at each other with the threat of mutual destruction gone...nothing...almost like there's not point to these hostages and their heart-implant codes. It's just treated like any old prisoner exchange.
Meanwhile, the only two who survive the initial Klingon brutalization - the author's characters, who I sure hope you like because they are 80% of this book - live in this Klingon prison for months, where they are tortured, abused, raped, and nearly killed...and one of the character's begins to rationalize that it's not rape - she actually like's her Klingon rapist, maybe could even love him, and teach him to be a civilized lover - she even says that she's making love to her rapist. It's disgusting really...the character is never called to the mat for her rationalization, either. It's treated as just a normal thing.
Oh, and Sulu goes undercover as a Romulan to try and find out where the hostages are being kept, and eventually transmits like 6 sets of coordinates and then escapes back to the Federation through the Star Trek equivalent of Checkpoint Charlie. But it's all for naught, because eventually the Romulans tell the Federation where the hostages are as part of a negotiation because they were appalled that the Klingons they left them with were murdering rapists - who would have thought (the TOS-style ones that is )? But, Sulu confirms that the location is one of the six he uncovered...and Sulu is somehow awarded medals and such for this action...which, he literally did nothing that wouldn't have happened if he stayed on the Enterprise...and even though his identity is being kept anonymous to the Press, he keeps getting interview requests from the Press...??? Oh, he also keeps the ears on for a few days/weeks after he returns to the ship because...comedy, I guess...?
Overall, I think the author wanted to create a female version of Kirk and Spock...was probably hoping she could turn out a series of these...but, crafted a story put together so poorly from about a half-a-dozen half-formed ideas utilizing characters that are just "meh" at best, who I end up actively disliking by the end...
Pass this one up.
Apparently, per this novel, the Federation is only held together through mutually-assured destruction. The leaders of each world have nominated a loved one who is then taken hostage and shipped off to Vulcan. These hostages have secret codes to the globally-devastating weapons on each planet implanted into their hearts, and the only way they can be retrieved is by the death of the hostage. Okay, but like, why would I want the weapons to devastate my own globe? Does Earth have a secret store of weapons that are capable of being launched at every other planet in the Federation, and vice versa? Also, how much does it ruin the very idea of the Federation to know that they aren't bound together by mutual interests or ideals or even defense, but are tied together by mutual threat? The conflict in this story is that the Romulans and Klingons together plan to kidnap these hostages...and hold them for something...I mean, the back of the book says its to cause chaos in the Federation because once these hostages are missing, all of its member worlds will just go on a free-for-all attacking spree. But, the characters in the book never say anything like this. They send a small raid (like two commandos) to Vulcan who then kidnap a half a dozen of these hostages, three of whom all happen to be everyone's favorite sex kitten race, the Deltans - who are depicted in this book as a race of incestuous sex-addicts, who bone as a form of small talk, and will die if they can't have near-constant physical contact with each other - just like Padme dies...they just give up and then die...There is also no conflict anywhere in the Federation in this book...no mad leaders engaging their weapons at each other with the threat of mutual destruction gone...nothing...almost like there's not point to these hostages and their heart-implant codes. It's just treated like any old prisoner exchange.
Meanwhile, the only two who survive the initial Klingon brutalization - the author's characters, who I sure hope you like because they are 80% of this book - live in this Klingon prison for months, where they are tortured, abused, raped, and nearly killed...and one of the character's begins to rationalize that it's not rape - she actually like's her Klingon rapist, maybe could even love him, and teach him to be a civilized lover - she even says that she's making love to her rapist. It's disgusting really...the character is never called to the mat for her rationalization, either. It's treated as just a normal thing.
Oh, and Sulu goes undercover as a Romulan to try and find out where the hostages are being kept, and eventually transmits like 6 sets of coordinates and then escapes back to the Federation through the Star Trek equivalent of Checkpoint Charlie. But it's all for naught, because eventually the Romulans tell the Federation where the hostages are as part of a negotiation because they were appalled that the Klingons they left them with were murdering rapists - who would have thought (the TOS-style ones that is )? But, Sulu confirms that the location is one of the six he uncovered...and Sulu is somehow awarded medals and such for this action...which, he literally did nothing that wouldn't have happened if he stayed on the Enterprise...and even though his identity is being kept anonymous to the Press, he keeps getting interview requests from the Press...??? Oh, he also keeps the ears on for a few days/weeks after he returns to the ship because...comedy, I guess...?
Overall, I think the author wanted to create a female version of Kirk and Spock...was probably hoping she could turn out a series of these...but, crafted a story put together so poorly from about a half-a-dozen half-formed ideas utilizing characters that are just "meh" at best, who I end up actively disliking by the end...
Pass this one up.
October 6, 2019
We'll be doing an entire book club episode on this book for our podcast, Women at Warp but I'll list a few important points here.
1) This book definitely needs a content warning for sexual violence. I hadn't expected it and was caught off-guard. This is a prison story that includes rape, torture and suicide.
2) This book focuses on original characters, specifically the growing bond between two women, the human Cleante and Vulcan T'Shael. Some people in reviews have been bothered by the relative dearth of scenes featuring the original Enterprise crew, but people in our book club largely saw the focus on the relationship between two women as a positive.
3) The premise of the book was a bit hard for me to swallow. I couldn't really accept that the Federation would require member worlds to send innocent relatives of political figures to live in captivity and potentially to be executed in the event of war. But I found that the plot picked up about halfway through and I sailed through the second half.
1) This book definitely needs a content warning for sexual violence. I hadn't expected it and was caught off-guard. This is a prison story that includes rape, torture and suicide.
2) This book focuses on original characters, specifically the growing bond between two women, the human Cleante and Vulcan T'Shael. Some people in reviews have been bothered by the relative dearth of scenes featuring the original Enterprise crew, but people in our book club largely saw the focus on the relationship between two women as a positive.
3) The premise of the book was a bit hard for me to swallow. I couldn't really accept that the Federation would require member worlds to send innocent relatives of political figures to live in captivity and potentially to be executed in the event of war. But I found that the plot picked up about halfway through and I sailed through the second half.
September 19, 2009
The Federation has a new experiment to ensure peace among its members by holding a loved one hostage for each world. If the government breaks the peace, the hostage is immediately killed by an implant in their heart. Six of these 'warrantors of peace' have been kidnapped, and it is up to the Enterprise to find and rescue them.
I loved this book when I was a kid, and read it quite a number of times. This book is all about emotional involvement in the characters: the friendship, suffering, survival, and psyche, and each of the hostages has a distinct personality and history.
However, I am not sure it would hold up to a reread now. The plot walks the line of cheesy fan fiction, and the whole 'Warrantor of Peace' program does not really seem very Federation-like.
I loved this book when I was a kid, and read it quite a number of times. This book is all about emotional involvement in the characters: the friendship, suffering, survival, and psyche, and each of the hostages has a distinct personality and history.
However, I am not sure it would hold up to a reread now. The plot walks the line of cheesy fan fiction, and the whole 'Warrantor of Peace' program does not really seem very Federation-like.
August 12, 2018
I have re read this book countless times. I love the female version of the friendship between Human, Cleante and Vulcan T'shael.
The are warrantors of peace and are kidnapped by the Romulans and Klingons.
I love the concept of T'hyla. Kirk and Spock come to rescue the two women. This is one of my favorite Star Trek books 📚
The are warrantors of peace and are kidnapped by the Romulans and Klingons.
I love the concept of T'hyla. Kirk and Spock come to rescue the two women. This is one of my favorite Star Trek books 📚
Shelved as 'dnf'
March 8, 2020This whole Warrantors of Peace idea sounds really interesting and the glimpse of how the Vulcans view the Romulans is as well. I'm about halfway in and I've got to drop it. I'm bored and it's slow.
September 23, 2015
I tend to pick up a Star Trek novel when I want a quick, easy but entertaining read. Therefore, I was quite surprised at this one, in that it wasn't that quick or easy to read, and although somewhat entertained, I think I only stuck with it to see if it could be resolved.
On the surface, the story looks quite good. Six 'Warrantors of Peace' are kidnapped by a Romulan / Klingon faction. Sulu is sent undercover to find out where they are, Scotty is sent to do a bit of spying and Spock and Kirk get to ride to the rescue. Like any other episode, whether on screen or paper right? Well no, because this book very quickly became a story about friendship between Vulcan and Human, as its main focus was on two of the hostages. And most of the 'story' was written in flashback, as they remembered things that had happened between them and 'saw them in a new light' now they are prisoners. Oh and there's sex, lots and lots of sex!
So, my first problem is with the Warrantors themselves - I just don't see the Federation or the Vulcans, actually using such a concept. They're basically hostages anyway. The book describes them as having small capsules implanted in their heart, which contain the secret plans to a planets defences, so to get at them someone would have to kill the Warrantor. But I got a bit confused as to whether a capsule contained their homeworld's plans or another planets ... and if they all live on Vulcan, what's the point anyway? So, a strange concept, but ok ... I could overlook that and get on with the story.
I was quite excited to think that Sulu and Scotty might feature more in this story, but again, I was very let down. Scotty's scene with the Klingon in the bar is funny and at least gets some information. But we only get to see Sulu doing his spy thing in a couple of scenes, and it seems that all the information he gets is made null and void when the Romulan's basically give up! Maybe the author thought she needed a second plot line, then kept forgetting about it, but to me it seemed a complete waste of time.
And as for Spock and Kirk - their role is almost non-existent!
In summary, I think what happened is that the author came up with an idea to explore the possible connotations of Spock and Kirk's friendship, by substituting two female characters and throwing them into the same sort of danger that our two normal hero's would be faced with. But the premise chosen doesn't work, and then she tries to shoe horn too much other stuff and keeps getting distracted by inter-species sex!
Wow, a long, rather deep review for such a short book! But overall, it was OK and I've read worse TV-show based novels. But for a true Trekkie, too many inconsistencies to be a truly good read.
On the surface, the story looks quite good. Six 'Warrantors of Peace' are kidnapped by a Romulan / Klingon faction. Sulu is sent undercover to find out where they are, Scotty is sent to do a bit of spying and Spock and Kirk get to ride to the rescue. Like any other episode, whether on screen or paper right? Well no, because this book very quickly became a story about friendship between Vulcan and Human, as its main focus was on two of the hostages. And most of the 'story' was written in flashback, as they remembered things that had happened between them and 'saw them in a new light' now they are prisoners. Oh and there's sex, lots and lots of sex!
So, my first problem is with the Warrantors themselves - I just don't see the Federation or the Vulcans, actually using such a concept. They're basically hostages anyway. The book describes them as having small capsules implanted in their heart, which contain the secret plans to a planets defences, so to get at them someone would have to kill the Warrantor. But I got a bit confused as to whether a capsule contained their homeworld's plans or another planets ... and if they all live on Vulcan, what's the point anyway? So, a strange concept, but ok ... I could overlook that and get on with the story.
I was quite excited to think that Sulu and Scotty might feature more in this story, but again, I was very let down. Scotty's scene with the Klingon in the bar is funny and at least gets some information. But we only get to see Sulu doing his spy thing in a couple of scenes, and it seems that all the information he gets is made null and void when the Romulan's basically give up! Maybe the author thought she needed a second plot line, then kept forgetting about it, but to me it seemed a complete waste of time.
And as for Spock and Kirk - their role is almost non-existent!
In summary, I think what happened is that the author came up with an idea to explore the possible connotations of Spock and Kirk's friendship, by substituting two female characters and throwing them into the same sort of danger that our two normal hero's would be faced with. But the premise chosen doesn't work, and then she tries to shoe horn too much other stuff and keeps getting distracted by inter-species sex!
Wow, a long, rather deep review for such a short book! But overall, it was OK and I've read worse TV-show based novels. But for a true Trekkie, too many inconsistencies to be a truly good read.
September 19, 2020
Having heard a recent interview with Margaret Wander Bonanno, I wanted to read one of her books but not Strangers From The Sky. (Just wasn’t interested in that story). So I was expecting great writing and great characters.
This novel was a miss for me. There’s a lot of sex and most of it is creepy non consensual, including rape. The TOS crew are in about 15% of the novel, while the remainder is devoted to other characters. She had a good idea for a novel but it never really took off.
This novel was a miss for me. There’s a lot of sex and most of it is creepy non consensual, including rape. The TOS crew are in about 15% of the novel, while the remainder is devoted to other characters. She had a good idea for a novel but it never really took off.
June 5, 2007
As the cover suggests, OH THE LESBIAN LOVE. Well. not really. More like intense F/F friendship. It is somewhat sexually explicit, but if there's sex between the leading ladies, it happens outside the text. It's been criticized for not having enough actual Star Trek characters, but I think that's made up for by the multifaceted original characters and the exploration of Vulcan. And there is the obvious parallel between the Human and Vulcan lead characters and Kirk and Spock.
July 22, 2015
Somewhat overwrought captivity-drama based on the (unlikely) premise that representatives of Federation planets must choose hostages who are immediately executed if their planet commits an act of violence. These Warrantors of Peace are kidnapped and held under primitive conditions on a bare and bleak world. The focus is on emotional interactions rather than diplomacy and international relations.
October 9, 2010
This is one of the best Star Trek (original series)novels that I have read.
The only enhancement to the story: I would have liked the two main characters to have fulfilled their soulmate bond sexually at the end. But, the story was very well written without the addition!
The only enhancement to the story: I would have liked the two main characters to have fulfilled their soulmate bond sexually at the end. But, the story was very well written without the addition!
September 11, 2016
basically female versions of Spock and Kirk. Still loved it tho.
August 6, 2019
Not too bad... Not enough Kirk, Spock, and the rest of the crew. Sulu spent months disguised as a Romulan, but we barely read anything about it.
April 4, 2020
It didn't seem as much of the classic crew appears in this book. Instead, the author spends much of the book focusing on two characters who have been kidnapped by the Romulans, but are held by the Klingons. These new characters are young Vulcan T'Shael and young human Cleante. The pair have been kidnapped because they are both Warrantors of Peace: they have implanted within them codes that will trigger doomsday codes for worlds to attack others. The codes can only be revealed if they are killed by their own respective worlds. This was a really shocking development by Federation worlds, but one must roll with this to get the story going.
The two women's backstories are revealed by cutting into present events. This is a typical format in writing, but I found myself more interested in the present than the past. What Bonanno reveals about the pair is very interesting, but did not match the intensity of their dire situation in the present. In fact, rape is brought up in the present, with the Klingons being the assailants. This fits their characters, but I can't remember it being so explicitly discussed in a Trek novel. Thought realistic, this took me out of what I expect and have encountered in the Star Trek Universe.
I was happy to see that Sulu got some solid focus in this book, but his mission disappears for a majority of the book, because the focus is not on him (or Kirk, Spock, McCoy, Uhura, etc...), it's on the two new characters. To poorly paraphrase Dr. Ian Malcolm from Jurassic Park, "You do have some Star Trek in your Star Trek novel?" There just wasn't enough Star Trek flavor in this for me.
Helping give me that Trek flavor I wanted was the introduction of two familiar Romulan characters that were perfectly written and were fantastic when they appeared.
This book was readable, but didn't feature enough familiar faces for me to love.
The two women's backstories are revealed by cutting into present events. This is a typical format in writing, but I found myself more interested in the present than the past. What Bonanno reveals about the pair is very interesting, but did not match the intensity of their dire situation in the present. In fact, rape is brought up in the present, with the Klingons being the assailants. This fits their characters, but I can't remember it being so explicitly discussed in a Trek novel. Thought realistic, this took me out of what I expect and have encountered in the Star Trek Universe.
I was happy to see that Sulu got some solid focus in this book, but his mission disappears for a majority of the book, because the focus is not on him (or Kirk, Spock, McCoy, Uhura, etc...), it's on the two new characters. To poorly paraphrase Dr. Ian Malcolm from Jurassic Park, "You do have some Star Trek in your Star Trek novel?" There just wasn't enough Star Trek flavor in this for me.
Helping give me that Trek flavor I wanted was the introduction of two familiar Romulan characters that were perfectly written and were fantastic when they appeared.
This book was readable, but didn't feature enough familiar faces for me to love.
January 18, 2024
Dwellers in the Crucible by Margaret Wander Bonanno
Challenging, dark, emotional, funny,
inspiring, reflective, sad, and tense.
Medium-paced
Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0 Stars
This is not a story that you want, if you do not want to think (Vulcan logic) and feel (human emotions).
You will already know of the relationship between Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock, but this story explores another strained relationship between Cleante alFaisal and T'Shael.
This story does NOT back down from the struggles of being a prisoner...and all the horrible moments within prison. It also shows the outcome and possible recovery.
Loved how our crew of the Enterprise was pivotal in this story. I at first...did NOT like the reason WHY they got themselves involved, but as the story progressed...it was less of a problem.
There were things that happened previously in the life of the crew...with the Romulan Commander (which I do not know, but it did not impact the story negatively...it just means, that when possible...I will read that story).
I believe I will be thinking about this story and its ramifications for a long time. It is a thought-provoking story, and it pushes the reader to ponder and work through aspects of the story (within themselves). I wonder how I would've reacted under these same pressures (not that I'd ever want to put myself in this situation...if I had a chance to advert it).
A really good story, that adds to the story within the Star Trek TOS universe.
Challenging, dark, emotional, funny,
inspiring, reflective, sad, and tense.
Medium-paced
Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0 Stars
This is not a story that you want, if you do not want to think (Vulcan logic) and feel (human emotions).
You will already know of the relationship between Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock, but this story explores another strained relationship between Cleante alFaisal and T'Shael.
This story does NOT back down from the struggles of being a prisoner...and all the horrible moments within prison. It also shows the outcome and possible recovery.
Loved how our crew of the Enterprise was pivotal in this story. I at first...did NOT like the reason WHY they got themselves involved, but as the story progressed...it was less of a problem.
There were things that happened previously in the life of the crew...with the Romulan Commander (which I do not know, but it did not impact the story negatively...it just means, that when possible...I will read that story).
I believe I will be thinking about this story and its ramifications for a long time. It is a thought-provoking story, and it pushes the reader to ponder and work through aspects of the story (within themselves). I wonder how I would've reacted under these same pressures (not that I'd ever want to put myself in this situation...if I had a chance to advert it).
A really good story, that adds to the story within the Star Trek TOS universe.
May 21, 2017
This is an exceptionally odd "Star Trek" novel. Ninety-five percent of it is great; it's a great character study of a young, impetuous human and her outsider Vulcan friend — which ought to sound pretty familiar. The new characters it creates, especially the hostages and their Klingon captors, are well drawn and interesting. Returning characters like the Enterprise crew and a certain Romulan commander are also handled quite competently. The glimpses into Vulcan, Klingon and Romulan societies are great, too.
BUT. While the plot and characters are great, the author constructs this utterly absurd premise of "the warrantors of peace." The idea that Federation member worlds would have disputes is perfectly fine; in fact, a number of episodes deal with this. The idea that the Federation would take hostages from its member worlds and implant them with bombs to ensure peace is a foul concept that has no place in a "Star Trek" novel. It's baffingly terrible in a book that's otherwise quite good. Worse, solving this problem is exceedingly simple: just have the Romulans kidnap the families of various ambassadors to derail a peace conference. It's perhaps a more pedestrian premise, but it's also one that WORKS.
Additionally, the book features the character of Saavik, which makes no real sense. But that's a much more minor consideration than the ridiculous "warrantor" concept.
BUT. While the plot and characters are great, the author constructs this utterly absurd premise of "the warrantors of peace." The idea that Federation member worlds would have disputes is perfectly fine; in fact, a number of episodes deal with this. The idea that the Federation would take hostages from its member worlds and implant them with bombs to ensure peace is a foul concept that has no place in a "Star Trek" novel. It's baffingly terrible in a book that's otherwise quite good. Worse, solving this problem is exceedingly simple: just have the Romulans kidnap the families of various ambassadors to derail a peace conference. It's perhaps a more pedestrian premise, but it's also one that WORKS.
Additionally, the book features the character of Saavik, which makes no real sense. But that's a much more minor consideration than the ridiculous "warrantor" concept.
August 30, 2022
I read this book because I'm a big fan of Margaret Wander Bonanno's other Star Trek novels. I especially enjoyed Strangers From the Sky and Burning Dreams. Alas, this book was not my cup of tea.
This was her first outing as a Star Trek author. Several things about the book made it a hard read for me. What vexes me most is that I think it's a good book, maybe great. But I just didn't enjoy reading it as much as others.
The new characters of Cleante and T'Shael are the main protagonists. The Enterprise crew is involved in the story but not as much as I would have liked. The two spend the vast majority of the book as captives of the Romulans and Klingons. They and several Deltans are kept prisoner by pretty ruthless Klingons.
Things I liked about the book: it fits between The Motion Picture and The Wrath of Kahn, closer to the latter. It could have been an extra movie.
The exploration of the relationship between Cleante and T'Shael, and how it mirrored Kirk and Spock's long friendship. There were good and interesting things there.
Things we learned about the Vulcan people and the planet Vulcan. Very interesting.
The inclusion of original series characters like Korax from "The Trouble with Tribbles" and the Romulan commander from "The Enterprise Incident".
This was her first outing as a Star Trek author. Several things about the book made it a hard read for me. What vexes me most is that I think it's a good book, maybe great. But I just didn't enjoy reading it as much as others.
The new characters of Cleante and T'Shael are the main protagonists. The Enterprise crew is involved in the story but not as much as I would have liked. The two spend the vast majority of the book as captives of the Romulans and Klingons. They and several Deltans are kept prisoner by pretty ruthless Klingons.
Things I liked about the book: it fits between The Motion Picture and The Wrath of Kahn, closer to the latter. It could have been an extra movie.
The exploration of the relationship between Cleante and T'Shael, and how it mirrored Kirk and Spock's long friendship. There were good and interesting things there.
Things we learned about the Vulcan people and the planet Vulcan. Very interesting.
The inclusion of original series characters like Korax from "The Trouble with Tribbles" and the Romulan commander from "The Enterprise Incident".
September 29, 2018
The cover of this book is very indicative of the story itself. The story is mainly about the two women on the front, Cleante, a human, and T'Shael, a Vulcan and the crew of the Enterprise background characters to a plot that revolves mainly around these women. The focus of each chapter is always dealing with how their friendship came to be and how it plays out in this hostage situation.
Though well written and executed, I am never a big fan of these types of stories that try to do more world-building about a certain part of Star Trek while focusing little on the characters that brought us to purchase the novel in the first place. Here in this novel I found the focus more on the female side of Vulcan society, which had been glimpsed in small parts up until this point, and the Vulcan concept of an intimate friendship.
I did feel for these characters at times but kind of got bored of the schtick about 2/3s of the way through and was hoping there would be more of the Enterprise crew as this story takes place just before Star Trek II and bases a lot of its universe in Diane Duane and John M. Ford's interpretations of Romulan and Klingon societies respectively.
Though well written and executed, I am never a big fan of these types of stories that try to do more world-building about a certain part of Star Trek while focusing little on the characters that brought us to purchase the novel in the first place. Here in this novel I found the focus more on the female side of Vulcan society, which had been glimpsed in small parts up until this point, and the Vulcan concept of an intimate friendship.
I did feel for these characters at times but kind of got bored of the schtick about 2/3s of the way through and was hoping there would be more of the Enterprise crew as this story takes place just before Star Trek II and bases a lot of its universe in Diane Duane and John M. Ford's interpretations of Romulan and Klingon societies respectively.
April 21, 2022
Die Schriftstellerin hat ein eigenartiges Werk abgeliefert: einen ernsten Gefangenenroman mit ganz wenig Star Trek. Sicher, die Handlung spielt im Star-Trek-Universum, aber die Helden von der Enterprise tauchen nur als Randfiguren auf, sie wirken nicht aktiv an den Ereignissen mit. Gleich zu Beginn muss man sich entscheiden, ob man das recht anachronistische Konzept der Friedensbürgen, das die Autorin in die vulkanische Kultur einfügt, akzeptieren möchte oder nicht. Wer diesen Fakt hinnimmt, bekommt eine sehr ernste und teilweise dramatische Geschichte erzählt, die allein von den beiden weiblichen Hauptfiguren gestemmt wird. Durch häufige Perspektivwechsel und zeitlich versetzte Rückblenden liest es sich recht abwechslungsreich dahin und die Protagonisten bekommen reichlich Tiefe. Dennoch werden viele von dem Werk enttäuscht sein, die einen Star-Trek-Roman erwarten. Kirk und seine Gefährten nur als Statisten einzusetzen ist nun einmal zu wenig. Die Thematik mit den Deltanern fand ich gewagt bis grenzwertig und zum Ende hin wirkt die Dramatik etwas erzwungen. Insgesamt ein sehr anspruchsvolles, aber eben auch enttäuschendes Buch.
July 16, 2021
4.25 stars. Let me start with the cons and then I'll move on to my glowing praise afterward:
The conceit of the Warrantors is impossible to believe. The Federation would never agree to such a thing and there's no way it would be necessary in our enlightened future—among Federation members, no less!
Having the unnamed Romulan Commander from The Enterprise Incident show up in nearly ever novel has gotten real old. I know these are all written by different authors and everyone's allowed their own fascination, but man! I'm choosing to read in production order, but people reading Star Trek novels as they came out had no choice, and it is getting painfully repetitive. She can't be the only Romulan woman of any importance in the Star Empire!
Our main character experienced emotional confusion in regards to her captor that came on far too quickly. Stockholm Syndrome is certainly a thing, yes, but this felt quite rushed, especially when compared to everything else explored in the novel.
The author became irredeemably stuck on the phrase "Byzantine eyes" and must have repeated it a dozen times. I hope I never have to read that phrase again. Thesauruses were available even in 1985, I'm sure of it!
Aaaaaand, that's it for the bad in this book. These are honestly minor complaints in what is otherwise a fantastically written story.
This is the story of the relationship between Kirk and Spock while hardly ever mentioning the relationship between Kirk and Spock. The author has essentially rewritten them as a human woman and a Vulcan woman, allowing a more societally acceptable (and Paramount acceptable) physical closeness to be explored without triggering small homophobic minds. It was masterfully done, yet somewhat surprising that no one picked up on it and stopped this thing in its tracks before it could be published.
The most important of the new characters are rich and fully realized. There are many other Star Trek novels that introduce entirely new characters and try to tell a story in another part of the Trekverse without involving our crew, but they tend to fall flat on their faces because the writing or characterization isn't good enough or isn't consistent. This story avoided all of that.
We've got Klingons, Romulans, Deltans, Tellarites, Vulcans, the Federation, all worked in, but the entire story is carried by two new original characters who are deeply explored.
The prose flows backward and forward in time with ease, sometimes flowing back only to work forward to the present and pick back up where we left off, yet it never gets confusing or disorienting. The relationship between the two women is fascinating and filled with self-sacrifice, a truly perfect surrogate for the relationship between our usual heroes.
In terms of the early Star Trek novels, I highly recommend this one.
The conceit of the Warrantors is impossible to believe. The Federation would never agree to such a thing and there's no way it would be necessary in our enlightened future—among Federation members, no less!
Having the unnamed Romulan Commander from The Enterprise Incident show up in nearly ever novel has gotten real old. I know these are all written by different authors and everyone's allowed their own fascination, but man! I'm choosing to read in production order, but people reading Star Trek novels as they came out had no choice, and it is getting painfully repetitive. She can't be the only Romulan woman of any importance in the Star Empire!
Our main character experienced emotional confusion in regards to her captor that came on far too quickly. Stockholm Syndrome is certainly a thing, yes, but this felt quite rushed, especially when compared to everything else explored in the novel.
The author became irredeemably stuck on the phrase "Byzantine eyes" and must have repeated it a dozen times. I hope I never have to read that phrase again. Thesauruses were available even in 1985, I'm sure of it!
Aaaaaand, that's it for the bad in this book. These are honestly minor complaints in what is otherwise a fantastically written story.
This is the story of the relationship between Kirk and Spock while hardly ever mentioning the relationship between Kirk and Spock. The author has essentially rewritten them as a human woman and a Vulcan woman, allowing a more societally acceptable (and Paramount acceptable) physical closeness to be explored without triggering small homophobic minds. It was masterfully done, yet somewhat surprising that no one picked up on it and stopped this thing in its tracks before it could be published.
The most important of the new characters are rich and fully realized. There are many other Star Trek novels that introduce entirely new characters and try to tell a story in another part of the Trekverse without involving our crew, but they tend to fall flat on their faces because the writing or characterization isn't good enough or isn't consistent. This story avoided all of that.
We've got Klingons, Romulans, Deltans, Tellarites, Vulcans, the Federation, all worked in, but the entire story is carried by two new original characters who are deeply explored.
The prose flows backward and forward in time with ease, sometimes flowing back only to work forward to the present and pick back up where we left off, yet it never gets confusing or disorienting. The relationship between the two women is fascinating and filled with self-sacrifice, a truly perfect surrogate for the relationship between our usual heroes.
In terms of the early Star Trek novels, I highly recommend this one.
July 3, 2021
The book had ben sitting on my shelf for awhile but, when Bonanno's death was announced, I decided to give it a try. Unlike her far superior Probe, the first half of this book was a slog. Interestingly, it picked up halfway through with the appearance of the Romulan Commander played by the late Joanne Linville; still nameless...
Oddities to note: the novel takes place around the time of Star Trek II. Despite the note Saavik is half-Romulan, she has very little to do in the book. Also, the main plot is supposedly Sulu going undercover in Romulan space but, for me, the only memorable part of that is when he sneaks back out...
Oddities to note: the novel takes place around the time of Star Trek II. Despite the note Saavik is half-Romulan, she has very little to do in the book. Also, the main plot is supposedly Sulu going undercover in Romulan space but, for me, the only memorable part of that is when he sneaks back out...
January 15, 2024
One of my favorite authors from childhood! Also, what a sexy novel! Who'd a thunk it? Human and Vulcan females held captive and abused by a Klingon warrior. Wowsa!
The author went on to write more Star Trek novels. She got "banned" from the official community by Paramount for a while for protesting their interference in her third Trek novel, Probe, but eventually was brought back into the fold.
Star Trek has an interesting history with female writers dating back to the Original Series scripts. It's just that the writers had to go by their initials to get acceptance in a male dominated 60's world. (D. C. Fontana on the actual series and later A. C. Crispin.)
The author went on to write more Star Trek novels. She got "banned" from the official community by Paramount for a while for protesting their interference in her third Trek novel, Probe, but eventually was brought back into the fold.
Star Trek has an interesting history with female writers dating back to the Original Series scripts. It's just that the writers had to go by their initials to get acceptance in a male dominated 60's world. (D. C. Fontana on the actual series and later A. C. Crispin.)
July 16, 2024
While it admittedly took two months to get through the first third, the remaining 2/3rds flashed by in a mere couple of days. By the end I appreciated why the book required such a slow build. Considering how much I enjoyed the second half, I’d have to say #25 is my favorite so far.
Dwellers in the Crucible is a strangely beautiful Stockholm syndrome something-or-other with an O’Henry-like twist. It’s a story of two women, a human and vulcan, who devotedly seek to help each other survive a horrific kidnapping. The most important theme for me was that of deep friendship. Specifically, the sort of bonding that comes from extreme tempering and sacrifice.
Kirk, McCoy, and Spock (who have experienced so much together) are largely unseen. When they do appear, they’re perfect. The introduced latin phrase, amicus usque ad aras, as demonstrated in the story, is as appropriate to them as to the two heroines. It’s lovely:
Dwellers in the Crucible is a strangely beautiful Stockholm syndrome something-or-other with an O’Henry-like twist. It’s a story of two women, a human and vulcan, who devotedly seek to help each other survive a horrific kidnapping. The most important theme for me was that of deep friendship. Specifically, the sort of bonding that comes from extreme tempering and sacrifice.
Kirk, McCoy, and Spock (who have experienced so much together) are largely unseen. When they do appear, they’re perfect. The introduced latin phrase, amicus usque ad aras, as demonstrated in the story, is as appropriate to them as to the two heroines. It’s lovely:
”A friend in spite of all differences; a friend to the last extremity”
February 14, 2019
Not a lot of action, and some very disturbing portrayals of intimacy, as well as rape, torture, and sadism. There is so much manipulation within even the ‘normal’ relationships. This story is mostly concerned about the developing relationship between the Vulcan and human Warrantors, and then they with their captors, so it’s more a psychological study, complete with Stockholm Syndrome in one of the captives. The Enterprise and her crew are largely peripheral to the story, which doesn’t particularly bother me, as it gives some sense of a larger complex universe.
March 4, 2020
I read this book over and over again as a kid/teen. It's just so kinky without ever being explicit; in fact, on this reread, I was surprised by how little the sex is described. I had remembered it being much more explicit.
I think that what I really like the most about this book is the way it's really about Kirk and Spock, that the depth of the love these women have for each other is a mirror for the love between Kirk and Spock.
I don't buy all the characterizations, but I very much like the world building about Vulcan.
I think that what I really like the most about this book is the way it's really about Kirk and Spock, that the depth of the love these women have for each other is a mirror for the love between Kirk and Spock.
I don't buy all the characterizations, but I very much like the world building about Vulcan.
March 29, 2023
Interesting relationship between two women, one Vulcan, one human who is also Muslim whose mother is an ambassador. The story involves the Klingons who captured the women along with Deltons and others who eventually died in captivity and the Rihansu (aka Romulan) commander whom Spock had seduced while Kirk stole the cloaking device. The main focus was on the treatment of the surviving women and their history and relationship. The story came off as more of a lesbian romance novel, although not so explicit, an less of a Star Trek adventure.
June 1, 2024
There is actually a good story there. A revisit of some classic characters.
But the level of torture and cruelty described in the bulk of the book made it basically the most unpleasant Trek book or any book I've read.
Sure Picard in TNG: "Chain of Command" I get. But the level of brutality was unnecessary and would very much like to forget ever reading this book.
Also the concept of "warrantors" keeping the Federation together might have been the first red flag for this book, which I should have heeded instead of continuing to read.
But the level of torture and cruelty described in the bulk of the book made it basically the most unpleasant Trek book or any book I've read.
Sure Picard in TNG: "Chain of Command" I get. But the level of brutality was unnecessary and would very much like to forget ever reading this book.
Also the concept of "warrantors" keeping the Federation together might have been the first red flag for this book, which I should have heeded instead of continuing to read.
December 18, 2018
The Warrantors of Peace are a group of Federation representatives who gather together to ensure no act of aggression between member worlds. When six Warrantors are kidnapped by Klingon and Romulan agents, it shakes the Federation to its core. And forms an unbreakable bond between two of the Warrantors.
A darker view of the Federation, but Bonanno's understanding of character works well to keep readers enthralled. It is rather a shame that more is not made of the crew of the 'Enterprise'.
A darker view of the Federation, but Bonanno's understanding of character works well to keep readers enthralled. It is rather a shame that more is not made of the crew of the 'Enterprise'.
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