Q-in-Law

Star Trek: The Next Generation #18

by  Peter David

I've read a bunch of these spin-off adventure books and have to say this is one of the better ones.

The main plot involves a wedding between two young aliens who have decided to wed despite the fact that their families absolutely, positively abhor one another.

Data observes that this seems kinda like a direct rip-off of Romeo and Juliet. Everyone on the bridge laughs and waves the notion away.

But of course, it IS Romeo and Juliet.

IN SPACE.

The wedding is set to take place on the Enterprise with Picard officiating. He's horrified to discover that Lwaxana Troi will be in attendance. And enraged when Q shows up dressed as an Admiral. Q informs him that the continuum has put him on a sort of probation and that he's trying to be a better person.

Picard calls bullshit.

Q acts innocent.

Picard tells him to get the hell off his ship.

Q pouts.

The aliens tell Picard that turning away a guest during a wedding celebration is considered bad luck and that the entire ceremony will collapse if Picard forces Q to leave. So, of course, Picard agrees not to shout Q off the Enterprise, so long as Q promises to behave himself.

Lwaxana being Lwaxana is drawn to Q and from there shenanigans ensue.

There's also a really awkward subplot with Wesley and a slave girl who keeps accidentally injuring him.

Overall:

- The book is paced a great deal like an episode of TNG and as such you can read it very quickly (it took me around 4 hours).

- Q's dialogue is spot-on. You can practically hear it delivered in John de Lancie's voice. The other characters often times seemed a little less in character, although close enough you could still recognize them.

- There's a good mix here between humorous and serious and even though the humorous stuff gets a bit silly at times, it still matches the tone of the TV show.

- The way some of the female characters are handled is a bit annoying.

- That plot with Wesley and the slave girl. Like... Big Yikes.

If you're a fan of TNG, you'll probably find something to like in this book.