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Star Trek: Voyager #3
Ragnarok
Hope flares for Captain Kathryn Janeway and the crew of the USS Voyager when their sensors detect a signal that could lead them to a way home. But as the Starship Voyager races to the source of the signal, the crew find themselves in the middle of a raging battle between two warring races, a battle that has lasted for hundreds, if not thousands, of years.
Now, to find a way home, Captain Janeway and her crew must make their way through the most violent space-born conflict ever known � with both sides determined to destroy them!
Now, to find a way home, Captain Janeway and her crew must make their way through the most violent space-born conflict ever known � with both sides determined to destroy them!
277 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published July 1, 1995
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
April 8, 2020
On the whole, Star Trek novels are surprisingly very good. I think this one might have been written before the series was broadcast. The characterizations are across the whole crew either a bit off or very off. The plot concept is a fairly decent one but its execution is just wrong. I do wonder if the author, Lawrence Watt-Evans, has ever watched any of the Star Trek TV shows.
October 18, 2022
For an early Voyager novel, this isn't terrible: the characters are awkward in a way early TV Voyager was awkward, and the premise is fantastic. However, the very decision to fly into this war on the arrogant chance Janeway could help stop it after centuries is so preposterous that it colours the rest of the novel. There were any number of ways to put Voyager into the fray, but not only does this one not make any sense, it's also a complete whitewash of the Prime Directive. There also is very little engagement with the actual aliens involved in this war...giving them more of a face would have been beneficial to the story. Not at all bad for what it is, but it's a vast missed opportunity.
November 13, 2020
Much better than the last Voyager book I had, but the author doesn't have the best grasp on the show. Characterisation was better than the last one, but this one still seems to be a bit patchy.
I was a bit disappointed in that the whole thing seemed to be nothing but an action story.
Update for 2020 reread: not a fan this time around either. Characterisation is all over the place. B'elanna is way more angry than she was in the early seasons of the show and for no reason. Paris is awful and insubordinate. Kim was even more naive and inexperienced. Everyone else was okay-ish but nothing standout. Definitely reads like someone who was expanding on a basic synopsis of the show and characters than someone who was that familiar with them. And yeah, it's very plot point heavy and not very character driven and that's not the sort of thing I like to read, especially for tie in novels.
I was a bit disappointed in that the whole thing seemed to be nothing but an action story.
Update for 2020 reread: not a fan this time around either. Characterisation is all over the place. B'elanna is way more angry than she was in the early seasons of the show and for no reason. Paris is awful and insubordinate. Kim was even more naive and inexperienced. Everyone else was okay-ish but nothing standout. Definitely reads like someone who was expanding on a basic synopsis of the show and characters than someone who was that familiar with them. And yeah, it's very plot point heavy and not very character driven and that's not the sort of thing I like to read, especially for tie in novels.
April 8, 2017
Another book with a woman on the cover -- this time, Captain Janeway. It was nice to spend some time with my old friends again, even if it was back in the early days of Voyager when Harry Kim was green and Tom Paris was a punk and the Doctor was viewed as a computer. This had an interesting plot involving a never-ending war between two alien races and the temptation in the middle of the battle which may be able to get Voyager home. Lots of insight into war strategy and weapons technology. My main quibble was the near constant use of the definite article in discussing Voyager -- any true Trekker knows that Voyager is not merely a ship, she is a character and therefore should not be referred to as "the Voyager."
April 1, 2018
After enjoying the escape I decided to go straight to the next novel in the series. I miss the TV show dearly and love how easy it is to imagine the scenes played out in this book. The words used in the book are not difficult to read or decipher, which make it the perfect book to read before sleep or after a tiring day.
I enjoyed the storyline and was continuingly intrigued to find out what would happen between the two races in question. After the initial set up of the plot things get very suspenseful, I enjoyed the action elements and the fast paced nature of these encounters. The book became a lot more enjoyable once the main storyline was underway. This book was definitely better than The Escape and I fully recommend it to Star Trek Voyager fans.
I enjoyed the storyline and was continuingly intrigued to find out what would happen between the two races in question. After the initial set up of the plot things get very suspenseful, I enjoyed the action elements and the fast paced nature of these encounters. The book became a lot more enjoyable once the main storyline was underway. This book was definitely better than The Escape and I fully recommend it to Star Trek Voyager fans.
April 17, 2014
The alien species were interesting, but a little one-note. The Voyager crew is not exactly normal. The author does a fine job of crafting them interestingly--but there were certain affectations that seemed out of place. There were also a few times when the cohesiveness fell apart (an alien species which only speaks in imperatives and never in questions...except that one time they ask a question) and other small problems which take you out of the story a bit. Overall it was a good read.
**Potential Spoiler**
The ending was sort of anti-climactic, but I liked that Voyager was not able to converse these people out of their multi-century war.
**Potential Spoiler**
The ending was sort of anti-climactic, but I liked that Voyager was not able to converse these people out of their multi-century war.
June 22, 2018
This Voyager book is about the crew seeing something that resembles the caretaker so they go in that direction despite warnings. This one is mostly about Janeway, Chakotay, Neelix, with a little bit about Kim and only some short parts with the rest of the crew.
I don't think this author got the crews personalities down pat but he did an amazing job showing how the crew must have 'gotten along' right at first, when the Maquis didn't know what to think of the Voyager crew and visa versa. I love the little snarky remarks and how you can really feel the ambivalent relationships. There were two extra crewmen that added to the story, I think that is were some other Voyager books lacked needed supporting roles. It was also atmospheric and I caught myself getting a little scared or worried for certain characters.
I know others didn't like Neelix in this one but I felt that he was actually true to character during this early on in the season. Overall I enjoyed it, and would recommend it. I do think that 3 stars is low for this book, I think even though it isn't the best it was a fun fast paced read with some details about star fleet and the characters that made since and were nice to know.
And I can't forget the aliens were interesting and fun.
I don't think this author got the crews personalities down pat but he did an amazing job showing how the crew must have 'gotten along' right at first, when the Maquis didn't know what to think of the Voyager crew and visa versa. I love the little snarky remarks and how you can really feel the ambivalent relationships. There were two extra crewmen that added to the story, I think that is were some other Voyager books lacked needed supporting roles. It was also atmospheric and I caught myself getting a little scared or worried for certain characters.
I know others didn't like Neelix in this one but I felt that he was actually true to character during this early on in the season. Overall I enjoyed it, and would recommend it. I do think that 3 stars is low for this book, I think even though it isn't the best it was a fun fast paced read with some details about star fleet and the characters that made since and were nice to know.
And I can't forget the aliens were interesting and fun.
December 17, 2019
To me, book 3's characters felt a little more accurate and authentic than in book 2 (The Escape). Not perfect, by any means, but closer to what we've come to know. Keeping in mind that this book was written in just 1995, it makes sense that the author didn't have the full scale of knowledge we do now about the depth of characters.
That said, there was one major flaw that I felt was hard to overlook: Janeway. The way that she got them into the middle of the war was really out of character. She would never have taken that kind of risk with such a little plan. The author could have found a way to get Voyager involved in some other fashion, and then the rest of the story would have been fine.
I also found it really annoying that the ship was constantly referred to as "the Voyager." I don't remember at any point it being talked about like that.
In the end, I still busted through it quickly and it was enjoyable. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone not into Star Trek, but if Voyager has a soft spot in your heart, then yeah, you'll still have fun with it,
That said, there was one major flaw that I felt was hard to overlook: Janeway. The way that she got them into the middle of the war was really out of character. She would never have taken that kind of risk with such a little plan. The author could have found a way to get Voyager involved in some other fashion, and then the rest of the story would have been fine.
I also found it really annoying that the ship was constantly referred to as "the Voyager." I don't remember at any point it being talked about like that.
In the end, I still busted through it quickly and it was enjoyable. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone not into Star Trek, but if Voyager has a soft spot in your heart, then yeah, you'll still have fun with it,
July 2, 2023
From the moment I started this book I was enthralled, I finished this book in one sitting. I found myself pulled into the mystery, I just couldn't put the book down.
2023 Update: This time around I've actually watched the TOS episode they touch on. While I still enjoyed the book this time around it wasn't as good. Of course that's because I know reveal to the mystery. I would call this a high 2 stars but I will leave my original rating of 4.
This quote I found to be quite funny, probably the crowning moment of the entire book.. From B'Elanna Torres to the Warp Core. " 'You behave yourself!' she shouted. 'You just stay aligned, or I'll take you apart with my bare hands, space the pieces, and build the ship a new warp drive myself.' "
2023 Update: This time around I've actually watched the TOS episode they touch on. While I still enjoyed the book this time around it wasn't as good. Of course that's because I know reveal to the mystery. I would call this a high 2 stars but I will leave my original rating of 4.
This quote I found to be quite funny, probably the crowning moment of the entire book.. From B'Elanna Torres to the Warp Core. " 'You behave yourself!' she shouted. 'You just stay aligned, or I'll take you apart with my bare hands, space the pieces, and build the ship a new warp drive myself.' "
May 17, 2021
Very good voyager novel the only thing I hated was when neelix complained to Jane way about going into the kuriyar cluster to find out why the two species the p'nir and the hacai are fighting. Author got the characters spot on and the space battle scenes were well staged the book did remind me of the episode in the second season 'Alliances' and I like that the first federation was mentioned from the original series. All in all a very good novel
January 30, 2018
Well I haven't read a ton of Voyager novels at this point but I am glad I found one that I really enjoyed. This novel read easily for me - The Escape was such a drag to get through and every page seemed to be difficult to turn but this one was very enjoyable. I liked premise and them getting stuck in it was due to a poor decision by Janeway (who doesn't always make bad choices but she does make them which is a great part of her character). Overall it was a fun read and I liked the ending.
July 7, 2019
Dear Nathan Archer of 1995: have you even watched a Star Trek Voyager episode? If you have, did you even pay any attention to the characters?
Never mind, don't answer. I can answer for you - NO. This book might have been okay about some random crew I don't know, but Captain Janeway, in a ship thrown across the galaxy to the Delta Quadrant, alone with no Star Fleet backup, would NOT wade into a war that has been going on for hundred of years and that has caused the destruction of every planet in the sector in hopes of negotiating peace. Nope nope nope. Not going to happen.
Archer could have had Voyager accidentally pulled into the war, while investigating a Caretaker-like communication. But no, the author had to have the Voyager crew deliberately put themselves in harm's way. I didn't buy the plot for one single second. Also, a matriarchal insect-like alien race, again?
Not sure why I keep reading Star Trek novels. I guess because I love the characters so much I want more time with them. This book was thoroughly disappointing.
Never mind, don't answer. I can answer for you - NO. This book might have been okay about some random crew I don't know, but Captain Janeway, in a ship thrown across the galaxy to the Delta Quadrant, alone with no Star Fleet backup, would NOT wade into a war that has been going on for hundred of years and that has caused the destruction of every planet in the sector in hopes of negotiating peace. Nope nope nope. Not going to happen.
Archer could have had Voyager accidentally pulled into the war, while investigating a Caretaker-like communication. But no, the author had to have the Voyager crew deliberately put themselves in harm's way. I didn't buy the plot for one single second. Also, a matriarchal insect-like alien race, again?
Not sure why I keep reading Star Trek novels. I guess because I love the characters so much I want more time with them. This book was thoroughly disappointing.
May 26, 2024
This book is so ridiculous and stupid that it somehow fits into the cannon of early Star Trek Voyager perfectly. The crew find some weird signal, investigate it, stumble upon an ancient war that leads to a Vulcan explaining to a 1 year old Ocampa ancient Earth mythologies. Janeway deliberately breaches Prime Directive protocols to try and stop the war, risks the lives of her crew, and in the end accomplishes nothing except turning the forces against them. Just another day in season 1 Delta Quadrant, and it is glorious.
Plenty of characters get time to shine, particularly Harry Kim who does a dang fine job infiltrating a scary alien ship. Torres is Torres, Neelix is Neelix, Tuvok manages to shoot phasers AND interject at the perfect time. Chakatoy has some good lines too.
This book is such a mixed bag, the pacing is weird, yet once it really picked up I enjoyed every page and frankly it might be my favorite Star Trek Pocket book as of writing this. That should change, but any Voyager fan should read this.
Plenty of characters get time to shine, particularly Harry Kim who does a dang fine job infiltrating a scary alien ship. Torres is Torres, Neelix is Neelix, Tuvok manages to shoot phasers AND interject at the perfect time. Chakatoy has some good lines too.
This book is such a mixed bag, the pacing is weird, yet once it really picked up I enjoyed every page and frankly it might be my favorite Star Trek Pocket book as of writing this. That should change, but any Voyager fan should read this.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 12, 2017
Blog:
I liked it. Took me about 5 days to read it. (Nearly typed years then :P) I wasn’t in a rush, don’t get me wrong the book sucks you in. As soon as the action starts that’s it your in the action for the rest of the book. Now bare in mind the books are done by different authors so this does affect the style and some other things. The author of the 2nd installment didn’t really explain things or people too much. Where as with this book, the 3rd, the author explains quite a bit and uses the 1st book’s scenes as backing, it doesn’t use anything from the 2nd voyager novel. (2nd and 3rd came out 2 months apart which would explain the lack of mentions of the 2nd book)
(May contain some spoilers and hints of the inner story)
It was done very intelligently and logical. It wasn’t pew pew pew for the sake sake of pew. I did guess how it played out very early on in the book. It very arrogant to think you could just step into a 600+ years of war and bring peace. It wasn’t lets spend years building a relationship and reputation to attempt to make peace, more of an instant peace. The only way possible for that kind of peace in a short period of time, would be to become a new threat, a new enemy they could team up to defeat. 600+ years of war will only make a culture based on war. So you would have to respond with a war like strategy. Something Janeway or hell even Tuvok should have logically thought about. Pew. Sorry just like how that sounds. But yeah the way it all plays out is very logical, it not magical bullshit. It all explained or based in logic. Which is why the Star Trek books are always a good read.
Would I recommend it? Yes. Even if you’ve not watched the series or read the other books it is a good book. You don’t need to understand the world it based on, to enjoy the book. It a good story within itself as a solo book.
I liked it. Took me about 5 days to read it. (Nearly typed years then :P) I wasn’t in a rush, don’t get me wrong the book sucks you in. As soon as the action starts that’s it your in the action for the rest of the book. Now bare in mind the books are done by different authors so this does affect the style and some other things. The author of the 2nd installment didn’t really explain things or people too much. Where as with this book, the 3rd, the author explains quite a bit and uses the 1st book’s scenes as backing, it doesn’t use anything from the 2nd voyager novel. (2nd and 3rd came out 2 months apart which would explain the lack of mentions of the 2nd book)
(May contain some spoilers and hints of the inner story)
It was done very intelligently and logical. It wasn’t pew pew pew for the sake sake of pew. I did guess how it played out very early on in the book. It very arrogant to think you could just step into a 600+ years of war and bring peace. It wasn’t lets spend years building a relationship and reputation to attempt to make peace, more of an instant peace. The only way possible for that kind of peace in a short period of time, would be to become a new threat, a new enemy they could team up to defeat. 600+ years of war will only make a culture based on war. So you would have to respond with a war like strategy. Something Janeway or hell even Tuvok should have logically thought about. Pew. Sorry just like how that sounds. But yeah the way it all plays out is very logical, it not magical bullshit. It all explained or based in logic. Which is why the Star Trek books are always a good read.
Would I recommend it? Yes. Even if you’ve not watched the series or read the other books it is a good book. You don’t need to understand the world it based on, to enjoy the book. It a good story within itself as a solo book.
November 6, 2020
I am surprising myself by giving this book 4 stars. Most Trek gets 3 as they are good science fictiony stories but not reinventing the wheel. This is atypical, Voyager tries to do a good thing and more or less gets their ass handed to them. That is where it is so different from other Trek novels, most are fun adventure stories and not too heavy on the message. This has elements of any given episode of what I call Gilligan's Trek but has a nice way to address the futility of war and it has a bit of TOS "Let This Be Your Last Battlefield."
September 27, 2021
It was okay. Once the shuttlecraft left Voyager, I had to keep reading to the end to find out if -- we all know they do, so how -- they got back. I loved the description of the two different aliens. But the characters themselves fell a little flat. Only because I know the bridge crew's personalities now after having watched all of the seasons can I imagine their tone of voice and facial expressions. It really wasn't described in the book -- my imagination had to take over. Especially for Kes. Otherwise, an enjoyable -- but probably forgettable -- read.
October 19, 2017
Ragnarock is okay. There are some fun moments, but the pacing is oddly slow considering how much action there is in it. This is also the second and final original novel set in Voyager's first season and a bit of a wasted opportunity. Season one was ripe for a book that should more of the Maquis and Federation crews getting along. Instead we get a generic adventure.
The books could have done what the TV show didn't. An average book thats completely skippable.
The books could have done what the TV show didn't. An average book thats completely skippable.
March 23, 2020
Ignoring some inconsistencies in character behavior and even the behavior of the alien species, the whole scenario is something way too huge for Voyager to even try to get involved in, for any reason. Janeway has always been shown as human and not always perfect, but she should have known better than to just dive into this huge war. I can't get past that one big issue reading the rest of the book.
July 19, 2021
Slow going for the first half and quite repetitive but enjoyed the action-packed second half. Interesting premise, characters were a little off but was some exploration of tension between the Starfleet and Marquis crews. I enjoyed the ending, and felt it very fitting but overall the story felt a bit pointless and the plan of getting involved in the first place was a bit strange and not very thought out.
December 10, 2019
It's one giant action scene, the inciting incident doesn't really make any sense, and the ending of the book is ABSURDLY rushed and really feels like a lot of nonsense happily ever after guff.
Not to mention the complete lack of any real substantive social commentary or particularly compelling character development.
Not to mention the complete lack of any real substantive social commentary or particularly compelling character development.
May 28, 2020
Even with glaring differences in the characters (Tom Paris especially) which places the writing of this book before first series broadcast, and some questionable decisions (though this does faintly echo the course of 'Year of Hell' later on), this is still an enjoyable read. It also offers the chance to introduce not-so-humanoid lifeforms, which don't happen too much on-screen due to budgets.
November 17, 2021
This was so much better than I expected. I bought it in a whim at a comic book store in Everett WA. I was intrigued by the “Ragnarok� title. My favorite part was the way it was written with so much detail, detail that you don’t get to experience when watching the series. I felt like I was really in the Voyager bridge. It was a fun read!
May 18, 2017
it was enjoyable. Some parts flowed really well while others seemed to drag. The end was very sudden and almost forced. Every now and then the characters really broke character but usually only for a line or 2 of dialogue.
September 3, 2020
This one was great. I liked the way the new alien species' were described and I liked the way the author approached their interactions with the Voyager crew.
While I questioned the reasoning that led to a shuttlecraft being sent into the fray, I thoroughly enjoyed the outcome.
While I questioned the reasoning that led to a shuttlecraft being sent into the fray, I thoroughly enjoyed the outcome.
January 18, 2021
This is the one where Neelix warns Janeway to not go in to the system, but she does anyway. Characters are well-portrayed overall. This is a fun way to relive Voyager since it aired 26 years ago! I also think that novels come up with more creative aliens since they don't have to put it on TV.
May 9, 2020
A solid four stars. The action that follows the "search for the action" at the beginning is worth the wait. Only a slight, implausible plot-drop at the end.
May 2, 2023
Idk who that was but it wasn’t Captain Janeway. Whoever wrote her character got it sooooooo wrong.
September 2, 2023
It was a good book. Not all star trek books are but there was plenty of action and some interesting twists.
October 14, 2024
This was unfortunate. Crew acted out of character, plot was thin, motivations and decisions made no sense. Blah.
August 13, 2015
I read this novel for the first time back when it was released and I was in either junior high or high school. I am rereading it many years later after picking it up at Half Price Books. I really enjoyed it as a teenager. The plot was new and interesting to me and Voyager was itself so new that the characters were wide open for development by the novel writers. The TV show hadn't really fleshed them out yet, so nothing struck me as out of character.
I have now finished reading Ragnarok for the second time with more than 15 years having passed. I still enjoyed the book. I was pleasantly surprised in how I felt about the way the characters acted. There were very few times where I felt like someone acted differently from what I expected. For example, yes, Chakotay and Paris didn't get along very well in the book, but this was true in the show where this incident would fall chronologically. It took them a while to develop a fairly healthy relationship.
The only person that didn't ring quite true to me was Captain Janeway, but even there I had to remind myself that at first she wasn't sure who to rely upon for advice. She respected Chakotay in Season 1, but she wasn't certain whether his primary allegiance was to the Maquis crew members or to the crew as a whole. As another reviewer commented, Tom Paris was an arrogant, smart-mouthed irritant for the first season. Neelix was an oddity who had not yet proven himself entirely. The only person she fully trusted in Season 1 was Tuvok and there was a scene in the book where I thought the author missed the mark on their relationship.
Overall, I feel like a reader willing to put himself or herself in the frame of mind to expect Season 1 characters will be pleased with the book and its plot. This may be difficult for someone who reads the book now that the series has been over for so many years and had a 7 season run. But, if the reader can keep in mind that this author was writing about what was a new television series at the time, I think it will be an enjoyable read. If not, perhaps this book should be skipped.
I have now finished reading Ragnarok for the second time with more than 15 years having passed. I still enjoyed the book. I was pleasantly surprised in how I felt about the way the characters acted. There were very few times where I felt like someone acted differently from what I expected. For example, yes, Chakotay and Paris didn't get along very well in the book, but this was true in the show where this incident would fall chronologically. It took them a while to develop a fairly healthy relationship.
The only person that didn't ring quite true to me was Captain Janeway, but even there I had to remind myself that at first she wasn't sure who to rely upon for advice. She respected Chakotay in Season 1, but she wasn't certain whether his primary allegiance was to the Maquis crew members or to the crew as a whole. As another reviewer commented, Tom Paris was an arrogant, smart-mouthed irritant for the first season. Neelix was an oddity who had not yet proven himself entirely. The only person she fully trusted in Season 1 was Tuvok and there was a scene in the book where I thought the author missed the mark on their relationship.
Overall, I feel like a reader willing to put himself or herself in the frame of mind to expect Season 1 characters will be pleased with the book and its plot. This may be difficult for someone who reads the book now that the series has been over for so many years and had a 7 season run. But, if the reader can keep in mind that this author was writing about what was a new television series at the time, I think it will be an enjoyable read. If not, perhaps this book should be skipped.
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