Mudd's Legacy: Norman's Woe

Zine
Title:	Mudd's Legacy: Norman's Woe
Publisher:
Editor:
Author(s):	Bill McClure
Cover Artist(s):
Illustrator(s):
Date(s):	1994
Medium:	print
Genre:	gen
Fandom:	Star Trek: TNG
Language:	English
External Links:
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Mudd's Legacy: Norman's Woe is a 132-page (57,000 word) Star Trek: TNG novel by Bill McClure.

a 1994 ad

"...In which Data finally meets thousands of mechanical beings just like himself while visiting a planet discovered 85 years earlier. After developing a relationship with a female android, will Data be forced into sacrificing his own life in order to save his new-found compatriots." -- from an ad in The Monthly

Reactions and Reviews

Lately I've found the Next Generation novels to be a far less satisfying read than the fan written zines. My pile of books is often overlooked in favor of my stack of zines! One particular zine, novella (whichever) is getting quite tatty from repeated reading It's called MUDD'S LEGACY: NORMANS WOES, is written by Bill McLure [sic] ( see ad in D.E. #22) and I love it!

Now, folks, don't be put of by the title, this is not your regular Classic Trek and Next Gen crossover tale. Bill takes the androids of Classic Trek's "I Mudd" into the Next Generation timeline and the resulting story makes excellent reading.

It revolves around two plots. The main one being Data's solo rescue mission to the forbidden planet prompted by an unexpected transmission requesting his help. The message had been sent from the 500,000 android inhabitants of the planet in the hope that Data would be able to help them with their life threatening situation. Amongst the many identical, attractive series of named androids is "the one of a kind" Stella.

Stella's 'homely' appearance but clever witty and strong personality attracts Data's attention and a bond soon develops between them. Since I'm a fan of strong female characters I warmed to Stella immediately and especially liked the way Bill wrote their relationship.

The secondary plot involves another strong but 'pushy' female specialist, Alandra Shor. She is assigned to the Enterprise to assist the crew in their mission to investigate and make contact with what could be a new life form in the Cronus sector. Alandra is ambitious, beautiful, fully Betazoid and is after Deanna's job!

I don't want to reveal any more of the plot suffice it to say that I found the final outcome very satisfying. Bill writes plenty of humor into this story and for me seems to have a wonderful grasp of the Enterprise characters. He even managed to throw some light on the oft mentioned Parisi's Squares in a funny and well observed scene early on in the story.

This one is up there in my 'Top Ten' of zines. Try it! I'm sure most Data fans will love it as much as I do.