Dark Allies

by Peter David

Book Overview

The Black Mass has returned and its target is Tulan IV, homeworld of the fearsome Redeemers. The New Frontier adventures of Captain Mackenzie Calhoun and the USS Excalibur are available solely in book... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0671020803
• ISBN13: 9780671020804
• Release Date: November 1999
• Publisher: Pocket Books
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 0.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 4.2" x 6.8"

Customer Reviews

Star Trek New Frontier No 8 Dark Allies

At the end of Star Trek New Frontier #7 "The Quiet Place" the Overlord of the Redeemers learns that the Black Mass is headed towards Tulane IV, the home world of the Redeemers. He quickly surmises that the only prospect he has of stopping the destruction of his home world is to enlist the aid of Captain Calhoun and the USS Excalibur, hence the title "Dark Allies," considering the previously established animosity between them.In "Dark Allies," we are treated to another finely crafted furtherance of the New Frontier series and the goings on aboard the USS Excalibur. As I've stated in previous reviews of these novels, one of the things I like about how Peter David sets the story up is how he starts them off with, more or less, a historical chapter. "Dark Allies" is no different in this aspect... "Twenty years earlier" - Dark Allies begins on Rolisa, a small out of the way planet which is subjugated by the Thallonian Empire. We are introduced to the Black Mass that had been eluded to somewhere in one of the first four books, and brought to the forefront at the end of "The Quiet Place". The Black Mass is in the process of destroying Rolisa and aboard a Thallonian war vessel, a young Si Cwan is with his uncle, Sedi Cwan who is in command of the fleet. Sedi Cwan and the Thallonian fleet quickly discover that they can't even get the attention of the Black Mass and watch in horror as it devours an entire solar system. Imagine the impression this put on a young Si Cwan."Now" - The continuing saga of the USS Excalibur unfolds. The plotline of Ensign Lefler's desire for Si Cwan; the continued pregnancy of Dr. Selar; the interaction between Captain Calhoun and Commander Shelby; a very good scene with Commander Katerina Mueller, a great character from "Once Burned," carried over to the Excalibur; Ensign Janos gets a really good and funny scene; the story line between Xyon, Captain Calhoun's son and Kalinda is really well written, and finally Si Cwan gets some very good lines in this one.One of the great things about the New Frontier series and Peter David's excellent writing is the fact that he's allowed a lot of freedom with this series. In reading these great books, you will encounter character interactions that are simply not possible with other stand alone Star Trek novels. Peter David also does a good job of writing humor into these books, even in situations where you wouldn't think there should be humor, you find yourself laughing through and saying, "that was a good scene." One final note, the cover art for "Dark Allies" and its predecessor, "The Quiet Place" is outstanding. Thank you once again to Peter David for another great read.

Fantastic

A totally fun, exciting and hilarious read. An all-out riot. Great characters and action, as well as plenty of inside jokes, like Burgoyne fighting the 'Purple People Eater'. I'd have to say that Peter David has done a great job with the New Frontier series. They are honestly some of the best Trek books I've read in a long time.

New Frontier lives!

When I saw the first novel of the "New Frontier" series, I didn't really know what it was all about. "What? No Picard or Kirk? Can't be!" I thought. Nevertheless I bought the book (it was, as far as I remember, "House of Cards") and found it much better than the usual Picard or Kirk stuff. After that I got all other NF-novels. Now I am so far to admit that Peter David is doing great work with the series. "Dark Allies" is no exception. It is Star Trek at its best, and it goes further than most normal Star Trek fiction. Star Wars and B5 fans who ignore Star Trek because of some stupid principles should really read this book. The only negative point about it(and other NF-books) is the cliffhanger at the end...

When is the next book coming out?

This whole series has been great...this was no exception. The ending, wheww...definetly a must reda for that reason alone. Anyone with any information on when the next volume comes out...let me know!

An enjoyable entry in a great series

Now this more along the lines of what the New Frontiers books should be about--an interesting dilemma and some great character interaction. After the step in the difference direction with the Quiet Place, David makes Dark Allies one of the fastest paced but most densely plotted New Frontier books yet. The Redeemers have their backs to the wall and are forced to ask Calhoune and company to help them fend off a force of creatures that are going to destroy their homeworld. However, as in the NF universe, nothing is ever what it seems. The Redeemers are going to make darn sure that Calhoune will help. Double crosses and triple crosses abound in a book that unfolds at great pace and has a nicely done resolution.But what unfolds onboard the Excaliber is even more interesting. The characters we've come to know and love are gloriously alive and jump off the page. Everything in the first seven (well, nine actually) books is a set-up for a great payoff here..and you get the feeling it will only get better with each passing book.The only bad part...David ends on one hell of a cliffhanger. It makes me want the next book NOW and not next year when it does come out. A must read.