Editing Newsletter/Winter 2009 (section)

== Star Trek Book Review '''The Romulan Way''' ==
[[Image:The Romulan Way.jpg|250px|right]]by Diane Duane and Peter Morwood

<small>Novel Review by [[Chance Raschen|Charlie Raschen]]</small>

Originally published by Simon and Schuster 1987 with subsequent reprints, 254 pages

ISBN 10 0743403703
 
ISBN 13 978-0743403702

'''From the back cover:''' ''They are a race of warriors, a noble people to whom honor is all. They are cousin to the Vulcan, ally to the Klingon, and Starfleet's most feared and cunning adversary. They are the Romulans – and for eight years, Federation Agent Terise LoBrutto has hidden in their midst.''

''Now the presence of a captured Starfleet officer forces her to make a fateful choice between exposure and escape. Between maintaining her cover – and saving the life of Dr. Leonard McCoy.''
 
''Here, in a startlingly different adventure, is the truth behind one of the most fascinating alien races ever created in Star Trek – the Romulans.'' 

We all should understand by now that the idea of a story in the Star Trek universe being considered canon is purely a matter of speculation and argumentation. The book I am reviewing fits well into the “questionable canon” category. That being said, '''The Romulan Way''' by Duane and Morwood can be very informative about the history of the Vulcan and Romulan peoples and the political history of the two, not to mention what brought about their subsequent separation.

Ever been curious to know how the Romulans acquired Klingon built D-7 battle cruisers, or how the Klingons got Romulan cloaking devises?  And yes people, even more political intrigue, and this time between the Federation, Klingons, and Romulans. Like spies? Got them all over the place; and assassins too. Of course, let us not forget about how our dear Doctor Leonard “Bones” McCoy developed his taste for Romulan Ale.

This one book contains three good separate stories. I personally didn’t like the way the stories in this book were intertwined; primarily because of how the shift from one story to another took place. I’d be reading one story, then “BANG!” I’d find myself in a different story and get confused because of the sudden change. I’m a little slow like that at times. Overall, I really enjoyed this book; I read it at least four times; once front to back, then flipping through in order to read each individual story by itself. If you are not concerned with canon facts, this book makes a very good reference. Enjoy it; I did.