This book covers Picard's life, from his growing up on his family's vineyard in France, to him becoming Ambassador to Vulcan, where he helps Spock in trying to prevent Romulus from being destroyed (as shown in the first STAR TREK movie). Most of the tales are about the relationship between he and his family back in France, particularly brother and father, and also his time aboard the Stargazer, and his friendship with Jack Crusher-and Jack's new wife, Beverly. What I found interesting is that it successfully fills in a lot of his backstory not covered in the television series or movies, such as why Picard was so against having children aboard the Enterprise when he first took command. He also discusses his assimilation by the Borg and how that affected him, his torture by the Cardassians-and his experience of living an entire life on the long-dead world of Kataan. All of the events talked about reflect the television series and the movies, not any of the STAR TREK paperbacks written since then. For example, what happens to Picard and Beverly Crusher is quite different than in the recent novels. Nonetheless, I enjoyed this much more than Goodman's KIRK autobiography. Highly recommended.
This book covers Picard's life, from his growing up on his family's vineyard in France, to him becoming Ambassador to Vulcan, where he helps Spock in trying to prevent Romulus from being destroyed (as shown in the first STAR TREK movie). Most of the tales are about the relationship between he and his family back in France, particularly brother and father, and also his time aboard the Stargazer, and his friendship with Jack Crusher-and Jack's new wife, Beverly. What I found interesting is that it successfully fills in a lot of his backstory not covered in the television series or movies, such as why Picard was so against having children aboard the Enterprise when he first took command. He also discusses his assimilation by the Borg and how that affected him, his torture by the Cardassians-and his experience of living an entire life on the long-dead world of Kataan. All of the events talked about reflect the television series and the movies, not any of the STAR TREK paperbacks written since then. For example, what happens to Picard and Beverly Crusher is quite different than in the recent novels. Nonetheless, I enjoyed this much more than Goodman's KIRK autobiography. Highly recommended.
