I've read a few Star Trek novels now, so if nothing else, I know what I like - and Dave Galanter's novel ticks every last box. Gripping story - finished in an afternoon, because I couldn't find a natural place to stop reading - intriguing aliens, and skilful characterisation of the Enterprise crew. This could almost be a 'lost' episode of the original series.

Captain Kirk intervenes to save a life, and finds himself and his crew - especially Spock - caught in the middle of two warring factions, the Isitri and the Odib. The Isitri are telepathic, but fear the presence among their kind of a 'troublesome mind', one with stronger mental powers who enslaves the will of others. Berlis, an outcast saved from death by Kirk, is one such 'troublesome mind' - and the Isitri want him dead, to prevent war with the Odib. When Spock mind-melds with Berlis, Kirk is forced to choose between the following the Prime Directive and saving his friend's life (which is no choice at all with Kirk).

First, the concept of sign language is deftly portrayed by the Isitri, who are mute and mostly deaf. Spock is able to speak telepathically with them, but also quickly picks up their signalling. Second, I love how most of the 'action' takes place aboard the Enterprise, keeping the story character-based. But mainly, I am in raptures over how perfectly Kirk, Spock, Bones and the others - yes, Uhura even gets to sit in the big chair - are instantly recognisable from the show. I could 'hear' their voices, and there is no authorial intervention to balance the roles, like in some novels I have read. In fact, the nods and winks to the original show earn Galanter bonus points, in my view - references to The Galileo Seven and The Tholian Web, plus Kirk getting his hands dirty in engineering and Bones pestering Kirk on the bridge. Perfection. ( )

A most wonderful Star Trek novel.
The author does a great job of accurately portraying the characters as well as presenting them with a great new challenge to overcome.
This story is engaging and quite a fun ride! ( )

This is a fun Star Trek novel. I really enjoyed the way that Galanter wrote Kirk, Bones and Spock. He really hit the nail on the head with each character. You could almost hear each one speak the dialog. If I have one piece of constructive criticism, it would be that Galanter can improve on his physical descriptions. I had a hard time visualizing the Isitri and the Odib people. Again, the characters of these people were written very well. I just found myself stopping on occasion and really struggling to visualize what I was reading. In spite of that minor problem, though, I thoroughly enjoyed the book. ( )

I really enjoyed Galanter's previous classic Trek outing, Shadows of the Indignant in Mere Anarchy, so I was really looking forward to his full-length novel, Troublesome Minds. And it did not disappoint. The Enterprise rescues a crashing ship and as a result involves itself in a dilemma that affects not only a couple planets, but possibly the entire Federation, and definitely Spock's own mental solidity. Though Spock is on the cover and is the crux of the novel in most ways, it's Kirk's book; like the television show, almost everything is filtered through his perspective. It's fortunate, then, that Galanter gets both Kirk and Spock; there's not a problem at all with their depictions here. These are the characters we watched every week on tv in the 1960s. The guest characters are well-written, too, and the plot is nicely complicated, with no easily discernible resolution-- and no easy answers once it has resolved. A cracking, enjoyable Star Trek novel.

Stopping an unknown vessel from destroying an unarmed one, the Enterprise unknowingly puts itself in the middle of an interstellar conflict. The Enterprise has saved a man named Berlis from death by the hands of his own people. Berlis is from a telepathic race. And according to the Isitri, Berlis can control people with a thought. To make matters worse, a nearby race is ready to commit genocide against the Isitri, if they discover a "troublesome mind" like Berlis is allowed to live.

Captain James T. Kirk must choose the lesser of two evils - killing a man who claims to be innocent, or letting him live and condemning an entire planet. Kirk doesn't have much time to come up with a plan when Berlis escapes and leaves behind a confused Spock. The build of suspense paired with such a moral dilemma, makes for a wonderful installment of Star Trek. True to form, the crew of the Enterprise becomes absorbed in global conflict and face it with skill and creativity.

Galanter has come up with a new and exciting challenge for the original crew. And I was more than impressed. The characters are relatable. The predicament is thought provoking. And overall, the story was completely enjoyable. Original series fans, don't miss this latest Star Trek release. ( )