The Mindsweeper
| Zine | |
|---|---|
| Title: | The Mindsweeper |
| Publisher: | Ann Zewen & Randall Landers & Orion Press |
| Editor: | |
| Author(s): | Donna S. Frelick |
| Cover Artist(s): | Margaret O'Quinn |
| Illustrator(s): | |
| Date(s): | 1993 |
| Series?: | Yes, Children of Haole is the sequel |
| Medium: | print zine |
| Size: | |
| Genre: | |
| Fandom: | Star Trek: TOS |
| Language: | English |
| External Links: | online version |
| Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
The Mindsweeper is a gen 102-page novel by Donna S. Frelick. It was reprinted in Orion Archives: 2266-2270 The First Mission 1. It has a sequel, Children of Haole.
About
From the publisher: "Who is behind an intergalactic trade in protomatter that threatens the survival of war-torn Bellatrix XI? Why is Starfleet's most decorated starship captain facing a devastating charge of sexual misconduct?And, of course, what is this mysterious alien creature called "The Mindsweeper," and what does it want?"
From Media Monitor: "Every story begins with a question: Whodunit? What is important? Who are we and why are we here? In the case of 'The Mindsweeper.' there are plenty of questions to be answered: Who is behind the intergalactic trade in protamaner that threatens the survival of war-torn Bellatrix XI? Why is Starfleet's most decorated starship captain facing a devastating charge of sexual misconduct? And, of course, what is the is mysterious alien creature called 'The Mindsweeper' and what does it want?"
Part of a Series
- The Mindsweeper
- "Return to Tarsus", a story in Orion Archives: 2275-2283 The Second Hiatus
- Children of Haole
- Into the Nexus
Reactions and Reviews
Lovely, lovely, lovely. Great characterization; intriguing alien creature; beautifully handled relationship story; tight plotting of the adventure story; wicked villains...yum. Kate Logan's ship Diana blows up while hauling cargo, causing her to be hauled before Starfleet, causing her to meet up with Kirk, who is in disgrace and being kept off Enterprise pending being charged with sexual crimes. All, of course, a ploy with Kirk as bait to catch a mole to get at evil Klingon Xhosar. Meanwhile, Enterprise, with McCoy increasingly disturbed as Kirk refuses to answer his calls, is off on a mission to Bellatrix XI looking for protomatter smugglers. And so is Kate, with her new ship Roxanne. Meanwhile Xhosar (hiss, boo!) has developed a warm and fuzzy relationship with The Mindsweeper, last of its kind, dying for knowledge, and now living in her head, sucking up new experience but beginning to have doubts. Well, after mayhem, murder, intrigue, delicious arguments and consternation... they all end up on Orionis V, the Mindsweeper's original home. Kirk hires Roxanne to take him to meet Xhosar - she gets impatient and sends them down planet to let the Mindsweeper at them. (Slight plot flaw - it is unclear how the Mindsweeper got out of Xhosar and back home, but it did.) The Mindsweeper is trying to figure out how to make contact. Jim and Kate make love in their last hours, unaware of the Mindsweeper participating and sucking up information about love and courage - it was just dying to meet a starship captain but is shy, so got in touch with Kate instead. Enterprise is investigating a smuggler's base they broke up. The Mindsweeper takes over Roxanne, sucking up more information - now a living ship, she zaps bad guys, rescues Kirk and Kate, and attacks Xhosar's base. Xhosare seems to do about as much damage in a tantrum as the white hats are doing with Roxanne. They escape planet, barely, and are rescued by Enterprise. Xhosar says the wrong thing to a Klingon captain and has her throat slit to everyone's satisfaction. Jim and Kate go their ways as they have to, but stay in love. Roxie stays in the ship and asks to be Kate's sister. [1]
References
- ^ Halliday’s Star Trek Zinedex (TOS) - Title Index, Archived version