Nadienne Williams's Reviews > Q-in-Law

Okay, so I gushed over the last Peter David TNG book I read...and then I read this one...and whilst it is well-crafted and well-written, showing that the author is competent, I found that the story itself leaves a lot to be desired. Indeed, until the last maybe 50 pages of the book I found myself wondering what was the point of this story and/or was anything going to actually happen? This is like one of those episodes that you watch and then walk away wondering: okay, but like what was the point?

So, first off: content warning (and only one brief mention by Data), but the aliens in this book, the Tizarin, are supposedly just like the Roma (Data uses the "g" word - which I'm rather surprised about - when I was in college in 1998, that word was known to be derogatory, so I can't imagine that it was an unknown fact in 1991), and are also members of the Federation...and yet, they are traveling merchants and traders who often compete with the Ferengi. I have so many problems with them, as a race. First, with what money? Second, one family has silver skin and black hair and the other has blue skin and orange hair (and these colors extend to their heraldry and ship colorings - which is weird). Okay - but like why? They're the same race...that's quite a drastic difference...can we get some exposition on that, please?

Also - they have slave/servants. What?!? See, now I understand that the Federation tries to respect the Vulcan ideal of IDIC (infinite diversity in infinite combination), but they also have the Federation charter and their own ideals, such as being anti-slavery. One would think that if one were to become a Federation member, one would have to abide by certain terms, such as no slavery. Now, now, I know that there is a whole segment of the populace out there who doesn't see indentured servants as a bad thing - but, trust me, it's slavery - and I don't think that even the 90s can be an excuse for that. My issue in question involves the Juliet-analog's slave, Karla (oh yes, there are shades of Romeo and Juliet in this story). Wesley does something to save the day, so the servant, Karla, is gifted to him as way of reward...and she's pretty much under the assumption that the terms of her service with Wesley essentially means constant, non-stop, and immediate boning (and she's super happy and excited about it and thinks that her life of slavery is really just the cat's pajamas). Thankfully, Wesley doesn't pursue it...but other crewmembers comment that they totally would...and I'm like what?!? It's almost like so many of these authors see the Federations ideals as a thin veneer that no one really, actually believes in or strives for. Apparently, "Human nature" hasn't changed in 300/400 years. I mean, except I know it's awful in 2022, so...

Anyway, the story is that the daughter/son of these rivals houses are in love and want to be married, but for some reason Q shows up and wants to explore this emotion called love (how tropey can we be) and decides to fall in love with/string along Lwaxana. My favorite part is where Lwaxana actually points out that Q has been nothing but helpful and beneficial to the Federation/the Enterprise; alerting them to the Borg, learning the capacity for self-sacrifice when he became mortal, showing them all to respect their limitations (when Riker became a Q, briefly), etc. I really, really liked that part. :) At one point, Lwaxana even is granted the powers of Q, which leads to the story's resolution.

In the end, the two people get married, we find out Q doesn't actually love Lwaxana, but was stringing her along, and learns another lesson about meddling with mortals (shout out to the Q Two cameo). Also, so like, what would the baby look like between the two Tizarin. Do the colors blend? Is one dominant? Are the families going to unite? Will they change their heraldry? So many questions!

I'm also going to complain that the cover art is just replications of Q and Lwaxana from different episodes and not original art (I mean, it is original in that someone painting it, but it's a replication of still images from the show).

Any way...it's...um...okay, I guess. Be prepared for people existing non-chalantly in the vacuum of space and/or the crew shrugging after seeing it for the third time as "just another day on the ship" to be the thing that's supposed to be funny, I guess...