Ellen's Reviews > Sarek

Years ago I read this book in audiobook, abridged format. Simon Schuster/Pocket Books rarely made an unabridged format in those days. I thought it was "good enough" and I probably didn't miss much. I was so wrong. Never before has there been a stronger case for unabridged audio performances. Staunch Trek fan that I am, I was so excited to see that the unabridged version could be paired on the Kindle for my first Star Trek immersion reading experience. The narration, although not one of the famous voices often pulled into the studio for the abridged versions, was top notch and carried the nuances fans have come to know for voices such as Spock, Kirk, Sarek, et all. The ability to be able to look on screen made the Klingon phrases much easier to decipher and follow.

Chronologically, the story is set just after Star Trek 6: The Undiscovered Country. The Klingons are still reeling from the ecological disaster of Praxis' explosion and a delicate peace is being forged between the Federation and their old enemies. Meanwhile, Spock's human mother, Amanda, is succumbing to advanced age. Through Amanda's journals and memories, this book walks through nearly a century of Federation history. Ms. Crispin does a great job tying together tiny little references in the series and movies as it applies to Spock's life and fleshes them out believably. She reaches beneath the Vulcan logic shield to reveal the true emotions of both Spock and Sarek in a way that fans will appreciate.

Hey Pocket Books, give us more unabridged stuff!