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Star Trek: Vulcan's Soul: Exiles book 2 by Josepha Sherman and Susan Shwartz
01/01/2008 . Source: Eamonn Murphy 
pub: Simon and Schuster. 338 page paperback. Price: £ 6.99 (UK), $ 7.99 (US), $ 9.99 (CAN). ISBN: 978-0-7434-6360-7. Buy Vulcan's Soul Exiles in the USA - or Buy Vulcan's Soul Exiles in the UK  check out website: www.simonsays.co.uk
This book continues the twin stories told in volume one. Two thousand years in the past, Karatek and his exiled Vulcans are searching for a new home. In the present, the Romulans are being threatened by the Watraii. Alternate chapters with cliff-hanger endings keep the reader happily turning the pages but as a writer I find it easier to deal with the stories separately.
The lesser first. In the present, the renegade force that went to fight the Watraii in book one has come home after their inconclusive skirmish with Chekhov missing, presumed dead. Then Uhura receives word that he might be alive. There is also news that the Watraii raided Romulus and taken a very valuable historic artefact, possibly dating from the time of the Sundering with Vulcan. Another illegal operation is mounted to rescue Chekhov and the artefact and, once again, Captain Saavik leads the force in the U.S.S. Alliance. The Federation has not only failed to reprimand her for the previous expedition but also left her in charge of a ship which she treats as her private property. Oh well. Commander Data and Scotty are aboard for this one. Data has his damned emotion chip (Can someone invent a logic chip for us humans?) but happily doesn't blubber his way through the rest of the book. To say more would be to reveal the plot but the present day story is quite good.
The past story is very good indeed. Karatek, his family, allies and enemies continue their voyage through the galaxy to look for a new home planet. There is good writing about the factional politics of life aboard the exile ships, the old divides of Vulcan society carried to the stars. There is also good writing. I like it that when Karatek is remembering the similes are Vulcan: 'the deck shook like a systra at kalifee'. Green things are likened to blood, too, which reminds us that these are aliens.
Over the course of time, the ships of the fleet have become slightly separated and find it difficult to stay in contact. There are many dangers crossing space, including some that Captain Kirk would meet ages later. One ship encounters the Gamesters of Triskellion, the alien race that kidnaps others and makes them fight to the death as gladiators, mostly because they are bored. They manage to broadcast a warning to the other ships to stay away but their people nobly attempt a rescue. Another vessel is lured to a seeming paradise by an alien entity which controls their minds. In reality the planet is a hellhole with a methane atmosphere. I think Kirk met this one too in the episode 'Spectre Of The Gun'.
There is great loss of life and suffering but eventually they reach a planet which they might call home. Then there is a nasty plot twist which I'm not going to tell you.
The present day plot is a bit weak in places, relying on adventure story gimmicks as old as Buck Rogers. I suspect most readers will be more interested in the Vulcan stuff anyway and it's certainly worth the cover price. Enough mysteries and suspense remains to make Book 3 essential reading and I will forge ahead with it right now.
Eamonn Murphy
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