The Face of the Unknown (Star Trek: The Original Series)

I am not going to give any spoilers about the book or the story. I am here to rate the tone and feeling of the book.Just got this book yesterday afternoon, and I have been reading it since its arrival. I am about three-quarters of the way done with this book.So far its a good read, all the characters are written in tone and I feel like if I close my eyes and the lines had been said by the actors, it would feel very much in character. The Author seems to know the characters and his Star Trek knowledge is pretty good.The main plot kept me wanting to know more as well as anything on the side wasn't distraction enough to make the story stir off into that direction. There is plenty of books that the side stories seem much more interesting then the main story, not here.This year for Star Trek books has been a blessing for us TOS fans and I am glad to have all these great new reads.

Bennett knows his Trekverse, and long-time Trek fans will appreciate it in this inventive re-visiting of an old familiar character. The best writers like Bennett can simultaneously answer long-held questions about earlier stories while crafting an all-new story that builds on all that we liked about the original characters, yet remains fresh with allusions to current technologies and science.

I have often wondered what happened to Balok, Bailey, the Fesarius and the First Federation since that iconic first season episode, The Corbormite Maneuver. Bennett takes us on a fascinating ride as we catch up with the leaders of the First Federation and the secret that threatens their survival as well as the crew of the Starship Enterprise. Pour a glass of Tranya and enjoy this tale of fear leading sentient beings into making tragic decisions and how hope shows the way to the future.

Outstanding read. In fact, I am going to read it again! Very well written, at times is a page-turner. Kirk, Spock, Mc, and Scott at their best. Gives the reader a good understanding of what happened to the First Federation. Description of their new home world is vivid, grand, and unnerving at the same time. Action, fighting, saber rattling, flirting, love, hate, war, and peace all in the same book. Also, several new species are found between the covers. A must read for all Trek fans.

Is a good story continues episode and tells you what becomes of characters that encounter spurring there 5 year mission I encourage more star trek books to go that way.

The story follows up on the events of The Corbomite Maneuver. I have always wanted to know more about what happened to Bailey after he was sent over to the Fesarius as part of a cultural exchange. Finally, we get the answer to the question. Encountering old friends like Balok and encountering the Fesarius are very rewarding. The author has managed to capture those characters perfectly. I am always a little hesitant to pick up these books but Corbomite Maneuver is my favorite episode and the cover art alone was reason enough for me to pick up this book. I was not disappointed and you will not be either.

I have found the novel to be deeply engrossing. I had hesitations about this author given that his experience is largely in writing Star Wars novels. However, his characterizations of the crew seem to me to accurately reflect the characters we know and love so well. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for true Star Trek in the age of rubbish like Discovery.

A good follow up on a TOS episode. Always wondered what became of Mr.Bailey and the First Federation. Hopefully this book will inspire follow ups on more of the TOS episodes and perhaps other books in the TOS universe. Although parts of the dialogue do stretch out a bit it is enjoyable.

The Enterprise is engaged by a vessel which claims to have been attacked by a Federation ship, the body and wreckage they offer up as proof is startling in its familiarity, the dead being is the same species as used by Balok when trying to "fool" the Enterprise when it entered the area of space now known to be controlled by the First Federation.The Enterprise enters First Federation space and attempts to find the Fesarius and Lt. Bailey, they find it under attack and come to its aid only to find that the "puppets" used by Balok were indeed once a known and feared race in this region of space and they have returned.I wonder if it is true that the best stories draw from events of the original series, there is precedent and The Face of the Unknown is certainly more proof of the theory. Christopher L. Bennett a long time fan of The Corbomite Maneuver delivered a novel that took the very basics from the tv epsiode and expanded them into a complex and fascinating look into the First Federation. The explanation of their technology and the worlds that comprised it and the mystery of such a huge are of space close to the expanding Federation of Planets is covered with style and expertise. The final result is an excellent novel which adds immensely to what we knew of Balok and the Fesarius and of course Lt. David "He's doing a countdown!" Bailey.

Sequel to The Corbomite Maneuver - flows along OK but gets a little bogged down in the middle with too much detail on a world scene that won't be seen again

The Corbomite Manoeuvre is a favourite episode of Trek for me. This opportunity to revisit that story and take a dive into Balok & Bailey's friendship was most welcome. The pacing is flat at times but this is a decent book.

Overall, a hugely enjoyable novel, that really flesh's out the episode of the original series.Christopher L Bennett is one of the best Star Trek authors.

A+

Gegen Ende der ersten Fünf-Jahres-Mission begegnet die Besatzung der ENTERPRISE unter Cpt. Kirk einem Schiff der Betelgeuzer, einer freimütigen Freibeuterrasse, die auf dem Weg durch das Universum immer wieder nach Herausforderungen sucht. Diese sind kurz zuvor mit einer anderen Gruppe aggressiver Sternenfahrer aneinander geraten, die erstaunliche Ähnlichkeit mit dem Mannequin haben, den Balok von der Ersten Föderation haben. Was Kirk und seine Besatzung animiert, dieses kindlich wirkende Schlitzohr wieder aufzusuchen, um herauszubekommen, was es damit auf sich hat.Statt auf Balok stoßen sie aber auf ein paar andere Mitglieder der Ersten Föderation, die sich in der Begleitung des ehemaligen Lieutenant Bailey befinden, den Kirk damals als kommissarischen Bot-schafter bei Balok zurückgelassen hatte. Und dieser hat seitdem erstaunlich wenige Erkenntnisse über die Erste Föderation sammeln können. So kennt er noch nicht einmal den Namen eines einzigen Heimatplaneten der dazu gehörigen Rassen. Und Balok scheint verschwunden zu sein. Tatsächlich suchen die anderen Erste-Föderationsschiffe nach ihm.Während man sich noch am Beschnuppern ist, empfängt Lieutenant Uhura eine auf einem Richt-funkstrahl gesendete Botschaft, die offensichtlich nur für die ENTERPRISE bestimmt ist und diese durch ein Rätsel, dessen Urheber Balok zu sein scheint, zu einem anderen Sternensystem lockt. Dort begegnen sie zunächst einigen Schiffe derjenigen, die das Gesicht von Baloks Mannequin tragen und die dem Föderationsschiff sehr aggressiv begegnen. Bei einigen Ausweichmanövern im Gefecht stößt die ENTERPRISE dann ganz überraschende auf ein großes Geheimnis der Ersten Föderation. Und es soll nicht das letzte Geheimnis dieser Art sein.Isolation oder Offenheit? Herrschen durch Information oder Angst? Sicherheit vor Freiheit? Das sind im Moment wieder überaus aktuelle Fragen und liegt hier nicht nur eine sehr interessante und spannende Geschichte vor, sondern auch eine, die gerade in den USA im Moment sehr in die Zeit passt. Lesenswert.

Ok.