This novel takes a galactic, and even universal, Star Trek-flavored bird's-eye view of existence, space and time, and tries to make sense of it all as seen through our beloved Next Generation characters. But of course, they are but human (well, most of them) and so they can't quite grasp what is happening, once it is finally revealed what is causing the dead zones in space that they encountered in Book One, and continue to deal with in this Book Two.

I thought Picard's characterization was a bit off. He seemed much more angry and touchy-feely than the Picard of television and even other novels, constantly shouting, grabbing people's shoulders, even barging in with phasers drawn. Maybe he's getting grumpy in his old age?

I loved the presence of one of the original series' main characters. He was conversationally maddening and brilliant, just as we expect him to be!

The side plot with Riker, Troi, Data and the Romulan civilian was one of the most enjoyable parts of the novel. Maybe I just appreciate a good sold-into-slavery side plot that allows Riker to flex his mix of seriousness and humor, which featured a lovable Romulan matriarch who of course ends up being wiser than she lets on.

The final chapters with the exposition of

Spoiler

ten-dimensional space, multiverse, and infinite numbers of close-enough Picards all doing a similar thing that ends up saving the universe

was definitely mind-bogglingly and enjoyably over the top, but par for the course given the television series finale and other episodes featuring galaxy-wide and existence-saving plots, so why not?

I'm not sure why Pocket Books decided to stop numbering the novels with this installment, but it was kind of cool reading the "last" numbered one, and of course I consider it required reading for those reading all the books in the interconnected Trek-Lit Reading Order!

Shelf-Talker summary: an action-packed Trek adventure full of theoretical science, three dimensional starship battles, alien antagonists and allies we expect from Star Trek (Vulcan, Romulan, Klingon, and of course a made-up race just for this book), cameos from other Trek franchises, with just a smattering of Trek tropes to make you smile: Data saving the day, Riker charming the ladies, Klingons defying logic due to honor, chief engineers constantly trying to fix things under pressure, and of course, plot necessary but comic relief aliens!

Final rank: 4 out of 5 dimensional measurements!