Bit of a mixed bag here. The writing's thoughtful and it's a book about ideas rather than action, although there is some of the latter, no question. But the first half is also very slow and just a wee bit dull. I was planning on two stars until the halfway point, where things began to improve quite a bit and even some of the rather heavy-handed allegories weren't impacting on my enjoyment. I was beginning to think this was a solid three star read, until we hit the ridiculous ending. Worf finally gets something to do and it's tonally jarring and just painful, all the more so because the story had been setting up a discussion about the prices of power, and what happens when one group decides to abuse it. Well, nothing, that's what happens. Tasha Yar has an interesting point when she predicts what's going to happen to the exploitative bunch aboard the satellite, and honestly... there's an argument to be made that both justice and the Prime Directive say to let that prediction play out. Instead the PD is used to justify the opposite, and - I can't say I wouldn't mind so much, because the end really is dreadful - but I'd mind it a tiny little bit less if there'd been some considered discussion about the fact that when it comes to oppressing your fellow citizens, on your own head be the consequences when they finally rise up.

Finally, I don't have the faintest idea why Worf and Troi are on the cover of this book. They both have very minor roles - the main characters here are clearly Geordi and Data, and by a significant margin. Cover decisions really make no sense at all sometimes.