Gemworld: Book One of Two

by John Vornholt

Dazzling to behold, Gemworld is one of the wonders of the Federation: an artificial world composed entirely of crystal, its atmosphere held in place by a sophisticated network of force fields. Home to... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 067104270X
• ISBN13: 9780671042707
• Release Date: January 2000
• Publisher: Pocket Books
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 0.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 4.2" x 6.8"

Customer Reviews

STNG #58 Gemworld Book 1 - An interesting tale!

One thing is for certain every time you pick up a Star Trek novel written by John Vornholt, he generally comes up with extremely well detailed descriptions for aliens and their worlds as he has done once again here with Gemworld. Capitalizing on the Star Trek Deep Space Nine second season episode of "Melora," John Vornholt has come up with a believable back story for her and her home world. There are two theories about Gemworld, one is that it is artificial and the more believable of the two is that it is an ancient world that has gone through many phases and for a millennia its inhabitants have done everything they can to keep it intact. Here is where John Vornholt's talents shine, besides the odd nature of the planet there are also six indigenous, sentient species on Gemworld, to include the Elaysians in which Melora is a member of. What makes this one even more interesting and unusual is that Lieutenant Reginald Barclay is pretty much in the spotlight. It is sometimes refreshing where the main characters aren't always the lead in a novel. The premise:Lieutenant Melora Pazlar is on board the Enterprise temporarily as a mission specialist and the Enterprise is on its way to Primus IV which is a low gravity planet. As the Enterprise speeds its way towards Primus IV, Melora has a very real dream which she believes to have been induced by the Lipuls which are one of the six sentient species on her home world of Gemworld. After a chance meeting between her and Lieutenant Reginald Barclay and a "Lipul" dream being forced on Counselor Troi, Captain Picard is forced to change course for Gemworld to determine what the crisis may be and hopefully help. What follows is but the first of a two book series where this, the first one is another of John Vornholt's excellent Star Trek tales.I highly recommend this and book two of this mini trek series as I'm greatly looking forward to reading the second one myself! {ssintrepid}

An unusual world with an unusual problem.

Gemworld was an excellent series of 2 books by John Vornholt. Vornholt has a definite grasp of how the characters form Star Trek TNG would behave, making the story seem feasible. I enjoyed reading about the unusual world that Gemworld is (almost zero gravity, so the inhabitants float whenever in their planet's atmosphere). Naturally, this would cause the people from Gemworld to have very little muscle to fight gravity with, so when put in Earth normal gravity, they collapse. This fact was utilized greatly throughout the novel. Another thing that is enjoyable is Barclay. For anyone who watched Star Trek TNG on tv, Barclay is a familiar character. He was always inept socially, so his forming a relationship with Melora Pazlar, a Gemworld native, is very surprising. Definitely read this book and the second in the series if you are at all familiar with the Star Trek characters, or are simply looking for a good story.

Gemworld Book 1

This book is Star Trek at its very best. It takes you beyond the two dimensions of television and movies by letting your imagination take you into the characters minds and their surroundings. You travel with them on this mission and are drawn in instantly to the mystery and non stop twists and turns. Once I completed this first part I immediately had to find book two to see the outcome.

Another Vornholt classic!

Star Trek: Gemworld Book 1 is one of the best Star Trek novels I have ever had the pleasure of reading. The descriptions of Gemworld are so precise, I felt as if I could see it myself. I loved how the characters of Melora Pazlar and Reg Barclay got developed, and how parts of the Enterprise-E never seen before were described. Well done!

Reg Barclay & Deanna Troi to the rescue

Reg Barclay has long been one of ST:TNG's favorite characters. In Gemworld he comes into his own. He falls in love and becomes the hero as he tries to save Gemworld from total disaster. Data is, as usual, most helpful, but Reg, Melora, and Deanna Troi seem to do the most. Deanna or Reg should have been on the cover! This takes place after ST:Insurrection, so Deanna & Riker are Imzadi again. The second book concludes the adventure.