Changes: Vendetta

Latest revision as of 18:18, 19 January 2023

Real world article
(written from a Production point of view)

The USS Enterprise's most deadly foe returns!

Vendetta is a Pocket TNG novel – the second "Giant" novel – written by Peter David. Published by Pocket Books, it was first released in May 1991.

Summary

From the book jacket: The Borg – half organic being and half machine, they are the most feared race in the known galaxy. In their relentless quest for technological perfection, they have destroyed entire star systems, enslaved countless peoples, and, in a single brutal attack, decimated Starfleet's mightiest vessels. Only a final desperate gambit by Captain Picard and the USS Enterprise crew stopped the Borg from conquering the entire Federation. And now they have returned.

Answering a distress call from a planet under attack by the Borg, the USS Enterprise crew meets Delcara, the lone survivor of an alien race the Borg obliterated. Blinded by hatred, Delcara seeks the ultimate revenge – the complete destruction of her race's executioners. But the USS Enterprise crew learns that Delcara's vengeance carries a terrible price, for once unleashed, the destructive force she commands will annihilate not only the Borg, but countess innocents as well…

Excerpts of copyrighted sources are included for review purposes only, without any intention of infringement.

Background information

The novel carries a disclaimer that "The plot and background details of Vendetta are solely the author's interpretation of the universe of Star Trek, and vary in some respects from the universe as created by Gene Roddenberry.". This stemmed from a dispute between author David and Richard Arnold, who wanted the character of Reannon Bonaventure removed, because it was the position of Arnold and the studio (at the time) that female Borg did not exist. David refused to write out the character, and the disclaimer was the compromise. (Voyages of Imagination, p. 207)
The novel takes place some time after "Data's Day"; Data knows how to tap dance and O'Brien is married.
Troi references the period in which she lost her empathic powers depicted in "The Loss".
The novel contains several anti-Borg weapons which were based on actual events from TNG. The deflector pulse weapon the USS Repulse uses on a Borg cube is a carbon copy of the attack the Enterprise tried in "The Best of Both Worlds". The "warp bubble" weapon is a replication of the effect that trapped Dr. Crusher in "Remember Me".
When discussing the implausibility of Picard's connection to Delcara, Troi mentions her own experience of Wyatt Miller's knowledge of the plague ship that he would 'join' before her wedding ("Haven"), Picard admitting that he privately wondered if the whole scenario was an elaborate deception on Wyatt's part but keeping his thoughts on the matter private as everyone involved seemed to be doing what they wanted.
The events of this book are directly referenced in the later Before Dishonor, which refers both to the planet killer's anti-Borg nature and the erroneous concept of genderless Borg. Peter David wrote both novels.

Characters

Katherine Pulaski

Doctor. Currently CMO of the Repulse

Argyle

Engineer

Argyle, who previously appeared in Pocket TNG: Metamorphosis, appears next in comic books of the DC TNG volume 2 series.

Selar

Miles O'Brien

Elizabeth Shelby

First officer on the Chekov.

Delcara

Morgan Korsmo

Captain of the Chekov, Academy classmate of Picard.

Hobson

navigator on the Chekov.

Peel

tactical officer on the Chekov.

Talbot

Professor for Starfleet history at Starfleet Academy.

Leah Sapp

Starfleet Academy cadet, classmate of Picard.

Reannon Bonaventure

Chafin

Ensign

Named after the author's friend, T.A. Chafin.

Boyajian
Loskene: Tholian commander; Loskene is personally annoyed by another Enterprise violating their space and also asks if Spock is on the ship.
Meyer
Dantar 8
Dantar 9
Lojene
Turane: Ferengi DaiMon, assimilated by the Borg, renamed Vastator to serve a liaison function similar to Locutus. A vestige of his Ferengi individuality remained; he would hail ships about to be attacked with the line, "Let us deal."

References

antimatter spread

The Enterprise reuses this technique as a weapon to inflict damage to a Borg cube, not just as a distracting maneuver.

USS Chekov

Excelsior-class starship of Captain Morgan Korsmo.

USS Curie

Rescue ship of Commodore (Dr.) Terman.

Gomtuu

When encountering the planet killer, Troi and Picard contrast its emotional drive with the "Tin Man".

Gorn

Phantom Cruiser

Ship where Captain Reannon Bonaventure assimilated by Borg

The story of the Phantom Cruiser and Capt. Bonaventure are superficially very similar to the later character Seven of Nine and the USS Raven.

planet killer

a weapon of last resort designed to combat the Borg; destroying dead planets left in the Borg's wake and then using its anti-proton beam to destroy encountered Borg cubes. Picard surmises that the civilization that constructed it launched a prototype, destined for Borg space but which was destroyed by the Enterprise en route, but the final version was never launched. Delcara locates and takes control of this final weapon, launching it as part of her vendetta.

Preservers

Picard speculates that the race may have been the civilization responsible for creating the planet killer.

USS Repulse (NCC-2544)

Captained by Ariel Taggart. Dr Katherine Pulaski is once again CMO.

The Repulse is incorrectly described as a Nebula-class starship.

Tholians

External links

Vendetta at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works
Vendetta at the Internet Speculative Fiction Database

Previous novel:	Series	Next novel:
Metamorphosis	Pocket TNG Unnumbered novels	Reunion

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{realworld}}
+{{real world}}
-{{Sidebar novel|
+{{sidebar novel|
-| image             = Vendetta tng novel cover.jpg
+|image        = Vendetta tng novel cover.jpg
-| Author            = [[Peter David]]
+|author       = [[Peter David]]
-| Publisher         = [[Pocket Books]]
+|publisher    = [[Pocket Books]]
-| Series            = [[Pocket TNG]] Giant #2
+|series       = [[Pocket TNG]] Giant #2
-| Published         = {{m|May|1991}}
+|published    = {{m|May|1991}}
-| Pages             = 400
+|pages        = 400
-| Year              = [[2367]]
+|year         = [[2367]]
+|ISBN         = {{ISBN|0671741454}} (mass-market paperback)<br />{{ISBN|185286379X}} (paperback)<br />{{ASIN|B000FC0W8S}} (Kindle)
-| ISBN              = 0671741454
 }}
-''The ''U.S.S. Enterprise''{{'}}s most deadly foe returns!''
+''The USS ''Enterprise''{{'}}s most deadly foe returns!''
+'''''Vendetta''''' is a [[Pocket TNG]] novel &ndash; the second "Giant" novel &ndash; written by [[Peter David]]. Published by [[Pocket Books]], it was first released in {{m|May|1991}}.
-==Summary==
+== Summary ==
 ;From the book jacket:
-:''The [[Borg]] &ndash; half organic being and half machine, they are the most feared race in the known galaxy. In their relentless quest for technological perfection, they have destroyed entire [[star system]]s, enslaved countless peoples, and, in a single brutal attack, decimated Starfleet's mightiest vessels. Only a final desperate gambit by Captain Picard and the U.S.S. ''Enterprise'' crew stopped the Borg from conquering the entire Federation. And now they have returned.''
+:''The [[Borg]] &ndash; half organic being and half machine, they are the most feared race in the known galaxy. In their relentless quest for technological perfection, they have destroyed entire [[star system]]s, enslaved countless peoples, and, in a single brutal attack, decimated [[Starfleet]]'s mightiest vessels. Only a final desperate gambit by [[Captain]] [[Jean-Luc Picard|Picard]] and the {{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701-D}} crew stopped the Borg from conquering the entire [[Federation]]. And now they have returned.''
-{{review}}
+:''Answering a distress call from a planet under attack by the Borg, the USS ''Enterprise'' crew meets Delcara, the lone survivor of an alien race the Borg obliterated. Blinded by hatred, Delcara seeks the ultimate revenge &ndash; the complete destruction of her race's executioners. But the USS ''Enterprise'' crew learns that Delcara's vengeance carries a terrible price, for once unleashed, the destructive force she commands will annihilate not only the Borg, but countess innocents as well&hellip;
-Years after Wolf 359, when the Federation successfully fought off a Borg invasion, Picard must go face to face with them again.
+{{review}}
 <!--
-===Chapter One===
+=== Chapter One ===
 SUMMARY Ch1, etc..
-===Memorable Quotes===
+== Memorable quotes ==
 QUOTES-->
-==Background Information==
+== Background information ==
+* The novel carries a disclaimer that "''The plot and background details of ''Vendetta'' are solely the author's interpretation of the universe of ''Star Trek'', and vary in some respects from the universe as created by Gene Roddenberry.''". This stemmed from a dispute between author David and [[Richard Arnold]], who wanted the character of Reannon Bonaventure removed, because it was the position of Arnold and the studio (at the time) that female Borg did not exist. David refused to write out the character, and the disclaimer was the compromise. ({{VoI|207}})
-* This novel indicates that the [[planet killer]] from {{TOS|The Doomsday Machine}} was designed to combat the [[Borg]]; destroying dead [[planet]]s left in the Borg's wake and then using its anti-proton beam to destroy encountered [[Borg cube]]s.
+* The novel takes place some time after {{e|Data's Day}}; Data knows how to tap dance and O'Brien is married.
-* Tholians and Commander [[Loskene]] make an appearance from {{e|The Tholian Web}}. Loskene is personally annoyed by another {{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701}} and also asks if [[Spock]] is on the ship. Picard thinks how Tholians are unaware of humanoid lifespan, indicating that Spock is already dead which is proved untrue by {{e|Unification I}}.
+* Troi references the period in which she lost her empathic powers depicted in {{e|The Loss}}.
-* In the novel, [[Shelby]] is serving as first officer of the {{USS|Chekov}}, while Dr. [[Katherine Pulaski]] is serving as CMO on the {{USS|Repulse}}.
+* The novel contains several anti-Borg weapons which were based on actual events from TNG. The deflector pulse weapon the USS ''Repulse'' uses on a Borg cube is a carbon copy of the attack the Enterprise tried in {{e|The Best of Both Worlds}}. The "warp bubble" weapon is a replication of the effect that trapped Dr. [[Beverly Crusher|Crusher]] in {{e|Remember Me}}.
-* The Borg assimilated what may be their first [[Ferengi]] ship in this book. The unlucky [[DaiMon]], Turane, became a Borg named Vastator and served a liaison function similar to [[Locutus of Borg|Locutus]]. A vestige of his Ferengi individuality remained; he would hail ships about to be attacked with the line, "Let us deal."
+* When discussing the implausibility of Picard's connection to Delcara, Troi mentions her own experience of [[Wyatt Miller]]'s knowledge of the plague ship that he would 'join' before her wedding ({{e|Haven}}), Picard admitting that he privately wondered if the whole scenario was an elaborate deception on Wyatt's part but keeping his thoughts on the matter private as everyone involved seemed to be doing what they wanted.
-* The novel contains several anti-Borg weapons which were based on actual events from TNG. The deflector pulse weapon the USS ''Repulse'' uses on a Borg cube is a carbon copy of the attack the Enterprise tried in {{e|The Best of Both Worlds}}. The "warp bubble" weapon is a replication of the effect that trapped Dr [[Beverly Crusher|Crusher]] in mini universe in {{e|Remember Me}}.
+* The events of this book are directly referenced in the later ''[[Before Dishonor]]'', which refers both to the planet killer's anti-Borg nature and the erroneous concept of genderless Borg. Peter David wrote both novels.
-* The novel depicts the [[antimatter spread]] distraction the Enterprise-D saucer used in {{e|The Best of Both Worlds, Part II}} as a weapon that can inflict damage to an enemy vessel, not just as a distracting maneuver.
-* The events of this book are directly referenced in a follow up book in the [[Pocket TNG|TNG relaunch]] series. ''[[Before Dishonor]]'' refers to the the Doomsday machine's anti-Borg nature and the erroneous concept of genderless Borg. Peter David wrote both novels.
-==Characters==
+== Characters ==
 ;[[Jean-Luc Picard]] : [[Captain]]
 ;[[William T. Riker]]
@@ Line 41: / Line 42: @@
 ;[[Deanna Troi]]
 ;[[Guinan]]
-;[[Katherine Pulaski]] : [[Doctor]].
+;[[Katherine Pulaski]] : [[Doctor]]. Currently CMO of the ''Repulse''
 ;[[Argyle]] : [[Engineer]]
-:: '' Argyle, who previously appeared in [[Pocket TNG]]: ''[[Metamorphosis (novel)|Metamorphosis]]'', appears next in [[comics|comic book]]s of the [[Star Trek: The Next Generation (DC volume 2)|DC TNG volume 2]] series.
+:: '' Argyle, who previously appeared in [[Pocket TNG]]: ''{{dis|Metamorphosis|novel}}'', appears next in {{comic}}s of the [[Star Trek: The Next Generation (DC volume 2)|DC TNG volume 2]] series.''
 ;[[Selar]]
 ;[[Miles O'Brien]]
-;[[Elizabeth Shelby]]
+;[[Elizabeth Shelby]]: First officer on the ''Chekov''.
 ;Delcara
 ;Morgan Korsmo : Captain of the ''Chekov'', Academy classmate of Picard.
@@ Line 57: / Line 58: @@
 ::''Named after the author's friend, [[T.A. Chafin]].''
 ;Boyajian
-;[[Loskene]] : [[Tholian]] commander
+;[[Loskene]] : [[Tholian]] commander; Loskene is personally annoyed by another ''Enterprise'' violating their space and also asks if [[Spock]] is on the ship.
 ;Meyer
 ;Dantar 8
 ;Dantar 9
 ;Lojene
+;Turane: Ferengi [[DaiMon]], assimilated by the Borg, renamed Vastator to serve a liaison function similar to [[Locutus of Borg|Locutus]]. A vestige of his Ferengi individuality remained; he would hail ships about to be attacked with the line, "Let us deal."
-==References==
+== References ==
+;[[antimatter spread]]: The ''Enterprise'' reuses this technique as a weapon to inflict damage to a [[Borg cube]], not just as a distracting maneuver.
-;{{USS|Chekov}} : {{ShipClass|Excelsior}} starship of Captain Morgan Korsmo.
+;{{USS|Chekov}} : {{class|Excelsior}} starship of Captain Morgan Korsmo.
 ;USS ''Curie'' : Rescue ship of Commodore (Dr.) Terman.
+;''[[Gomtuu]]'': When encountering the planet killer, Troi and Picard contrast its emotional drive with the "Tin Man".
 ;[[Gorn]] :
 ;''Phantom Cruiser'' : Ship where Captain Reannon Bonaventure assimilated by Borg
-:: ''The story of the Phantom Cruiser and Capt. Bonaventure are superficially very similar to the later character [[Seven of Nine]] and the {{USS|Raven}}.
+::''The story of the Phantom Cruiser and Capt. Bonaventure are superficially very similar to the later character [[Seven of Nine]] and the {{USS|Raven}}.''
+;[[planet killer]]: a weapon of last resort designed to combat the [[Borg]]; destroying dead [[planet]]s left in the Borg's wake and then using its anti-proton beam to destroy encountered [[Borg cube]]s. Picard surmises that the civilization that constructed it launched a prototype, destined for Borg space but which was destroyed by the ''Enterprise'' ''en route'', but the final version was never launched. Delcara locates and takes control of this final weapon, launching it as part of her vendetta.
-;{{USS|Repulse}} (NCC-2544) : Captain Ariel Taggart.
+;[[Preservers]]: Picard speculates that the race may have been the civilization responsible for creating the planet killer.
-:Dr [[Katherine Pulaski]] is once again the CMO of the Repulse.
+;{{USS|Repulse}} (NCC-2544) : Captained by Ariel Taggart. Dr [[Katherine Pulaski]] is once again CMO.
-:The Repulse is incorrectly described as a [[Nebula class]] starship.
+::''The Repulse is incorrectly described as a {{class|Nebula}} starship.''
 ;[[Tholian]]s
-:Commander [[Loskene]]
-== External link ==
+== External links ==
-* {{NCwiki-title}}
+* {{mbeta-title}}
+* {{ISFDB|pub|3729}}
 {{Novel nav
 | series  = [[Pocket TNG]]<br />Unnumbered novels
-| prev    = ''[[Metamorphosis (novel)|Metamorphosis]]''
+| prev    = ''{{dis|Metamorphosis|novel}}''
-| next    = ''[[Reunion]]''
+| next    = ''{{dis|Reunion|novel}}''
 }}
-[[Category:Novels]]
 [[cs:Vendetta]]
 [[de:Vendetta]]
+[[Category:Novels]]