To Reign in Hell: The Exile of Khan Noonien Singh - Greg Cox

I have to admit to reading this book before but have never reviewed it as it was before I started posting my opinions on the internet. I decided to re-read it as I am having a bit of a Star Trek moment and I adore Khan - I believe this was mentioned in a previous post. Everyone has their guilty pleasures and I am afraid this is mine. I am not ashamed of this.

On to the book and away from my confessions. This novel fills the gap between the episode Space Seed and The Wrath of Khan. It depicts the plight of the genetically engineered supermen and their survival on Ceti Alpha V. Cox recreates the characters perfectly and it is a real credit to them. There is never a point where Khan acts in a non-Khan way and the same can be said for the rest of the cast too. Cox has fortified Marla's character with some iron so she manages to survive in the world and not fall prey to the environment or the squabbling of the other characters. Yet she retains the same naivety and innocence that she had in Space Seed. She is a strong central character and was a joy to read about.

The technical aspects of this book are brilliant too. The language was easy to read and still engaging. Although I have read this before, more than once, it still had me turning the pages wanting to know what happened next. There are no dull moments in this story and it gives valuable insights into the characters we know from the Star Trek films; from Khan's madness to Kirk's remorse, all are covered in this book. Cox also has the ability to manipulate the point of view of the reader. You end up feeling genuinely sorry for the stranded supermen, some of the events they have to face are too cruel to think about. I'll not go into any details as I want you to go and read this yourself. I won't ruin it for you.

I'll not rattle on and on about the wonderful aspects of this novel; its great and if you're a Star Trek fan, it is a must read. If you ever wondered what happened on Ceti Alpha V, this is the book for you. Cox is a fabulous author and the novel is a joy to read.

Star Trek Into Darkness - JJ Abrams and Co

To say I was apprehensive about going to see this film is an understatement. I love Star Trek. I have loved Star Trek for as long as I can remember. Watching it on a Wednesday evening at 6pm on channel 4 was a highlight of the week - I don't care how sad that makes me sound, I loved it and still do. I will also confess now that I have been a Khan fangirl since I saw the film many years ago. I also recall my best friend at the time taunting me over this and my fourteen year old self getting rather embarrassed... This fangirling never died. I have an action figure on my desk and a movie poster on my wall. I'm telling you this so you know what the new film has to live up to.

The first Star Trek film by Abrams was phenomenal but the thought of someone messing about with my all time favourite film made me squirm a bit inside. And you know what? It was all for nothing. Abrams has done a cracking job. The film is different enough for it to fit with the new pantheon but the similarities and parallels between the two are enough to keep raving fans like me happy.

I don't really know where to begin with my praise for the film, seeing how reviewing films is a whole lot different to my usual area of expertise. The script was great, dialogue between that characters flowed well and there is enough one liners to make you laugh without making a farce of it. There is even a point where Kirk tells one of the characters off for too many metaphors - I won't say which but it is a nice link between old and new.

 

The only thing I will mention is that this story isn't going to win any massive awards for individuality and uniqueness. There were parts that my partner and I could guess and knew what would happen next but I found that I didn't care that much. The acting and themes in the story detracted from these small predictability's and it made it a film well worth watching. JJ Abrams, I salute you.