Book Report #28 - Killing Floor

Killing Floor

by 

Lee Child

 This is the first book in the Jack Reacher series.  Reacher is an ex-army MP who after being honorably discharged he decides he wants to live off-gird; traveling all over the United States paying his way with cash and barely leaving a paper trail.

This is the first book in the series (I've read one other) and takes place in the South near Atlanta.  There are a couple plot stretches that took me out of the story to say, "Really?"  Reacher gets off a Greyhound bus near a small town, he walks into town looking to dig up some history on an old blues singer he's a fan of.  While walking he's picked up by the police and accused of murder.

It doesn't take long to discover he's not the killer and somehow he becomes involved in the investigation.  He has experience as an MP but there is no way any police investigation would allow the direct involvement of a civilian.  That was the first plot point that made me say, "Really?"  The second came when we find out who WAS killed.

Most of the story involves Reacher driving from place to place occasionally killing bad guys in nasty ways and never, ever being arrested for it.  He even shows one of the cops, who he's now sleeping with, a trunk full of bodies that he created and she doesn't even react to it.

The book was over 500 pages, was boring and far-fetched.

Pass.

No more Reacher for me.

Book Report #27 - Kobayashi Maru

Hmm... been a while.

The strike/lock out sure took their toll; coping with the return to work and all the backed up mail.

I've also just returned from vacation.

Yes... been a while

Kobayashi Maru

a Star Trek: Enterprise novel

by

Andy Mangels and Michael A. Martin

This is not a test.

Up to now, in the Start Trek universe, the Kobayashi Maru is a training exercise meant to train cadets in a no-win situation.  Since Enterprise takes place before the creation of the Federation of Planets it is a real plot line for the crew of the NX-01.

The basic plot is; the Romulans have developed a weapon that allows them to take over the functions of a ship via telepresence.  With this new technology they capture the Kobayashi Maru and lure the Enterprise into a trap.  When the Enterprise attempts a rescue the Romulans attack using Klingon ships that they also control.

A secondary plot line involves a spy mission with Trip Tucker disguised as a Romulan scientist.

During the TV series, I really liked the romantic involvement with Trip and T'Pol so I was glad to read more about that relationship in this book.

I have to say that all these tie-in books are mostly written to fans.  Since I am a fan - I liked the book.  It felt like an episode of the show that was never broadcast; there is some continuation from a previous book (which I now own) and an overall arc that will take place over several more books.  It can certainly be read as a stand-alone, much like any TV show but the true enjoyment comes from reading all the books in the series