Not a particularly surprising end, but a very enjoyable read, and a well-crafted journey to the final scene. Looking forward to seeing how well the movie adapts the story.

Not a bad adaptation, with the usual to-be-expected differences that arise when an adaptation is being authored as a film is in production. The setup (everything leading up to the chestburster) is what's expanded the most, taking up a good 3/5 of the book, while all the action goes by pretty quickly. Also interesting (to me, at least) is that aside from the facehugger, the alien forms are obviously from before H.R. Giger became involved in the film, as the chestburster uses the early-in-production "butchered turkey with teeth protruding from the stump of a neck" description, and the alien itself is barely described at all, beyond "big."

A horrid cover, incorporating elements from the novel but bearing no real relation to any particular event in the story, didn't have me expecting much. However, this was one of the better Trek novels, with some interesting ideas as to the "universe" that future AIs might perceive.

The framing story is acceptable Trek adventure, but this was more interesting for the exploration of Saavik's childhood, with some entertaining moments with Spock cast as an unwitting foster-father to an obstinate half-Romulan, half-Vulcan child.

A thoroughly enjoyable steampunk alternative history re-imagining of Seattle's early years, with incredible machines, high-flying adventure...and you can't go wrong with a few zombies here and there. Lots of fun.