To Be or Not To Be
| Zine | |
|---|---|
| Title: | To Be or Not To Be |
| Publisher: | 1701 AD Publications |
| Editor: | |
| Author(s): | Janet Lawn |
| Cover Artist(s): | |
| Illustrator(s): | |
| Date(s): | 1990 |
| Medium: | |
| Genre: | gen |
| Fandom: | Star Trek: TNG |
| Language: | English |
| External Links: | |
| Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
To Be or Not to Be is a Star Trek: TNG 100-page novel by Janet Lawn.
Reactions and Reviews
This is a single story zine about Data; it takes us from his discovery by the crew of the 'Tripoli' to his entry into Starfleet Academy. If you are at all interested in TNG's android then this zine is a must.It begins well with an expansion of the account of Data's discovery in 'Datalore'. We are given an impression of what it might be like to be an android waking up for the very first time as well as to watch it happening. It ends well with Data looking forward to an exciting future in Starfleet (which we all know he has).
The bit in the middle tells of his problems in being accepted by Humans as a living being with rights, and of his gradual awareness of those problems. It tells of the people who help him and of those who do not. And that is all I am going to give away.
This is a charming story about a charming character; the Data portrayed in this zine matches my interpretation of the TNG character exactly. It explores his sensitive side rather than his humorous side. Although there is a little humour the situation is far too serious to be funny. It made me wonder how many animals that we exploit suffer to some extent in the same way as Data does in this story.
I very much enjoyed the style of this writer. Some fans tend to go a little overboard for my taste. They use too many adjectives and try to inject just a little too much feeling into everything. Janet Lawn has not done that; I found the amount of sensitivity in this zine to be exactly right.
Verdict: I thoroughly recommend this zine to anyone who wants to read a well-written story about Data. [1]