A good media tie-in novel should hit a number of criteria. Expand upon the established universe. Give the reader better insight into the internal motivation of the characters. Build a setting that goes beyond the restrictions of the original format.
Sally Malcolm’s conclusion to the story she started in A Matter of Honor does all that and more (you can see my review of that book here).
- Expand upon the established universe: In the world that SG-1 deals with in this novel, the reader can see touches of a culture inspired by Jewish mythology. This is a refreshing change from the Egyptian mythos that the Stargate universe relies on so heavily on that time period in the show.
- Provide better insight into internal character motivation: So much of the political intrigue evident in this novel would not have been possible through a visually based medium. In addition, Sam Carter’s character arc would have lost so much if we had only seen what she went through at the hands of the planet’s technology.
- Build a setting not possible in the original format: The scope of this novel was enormous. In fact, my only major critique was the breakneck pace that allowed for very few moments for readers to catch their breath. Instead of visiting just the area of planet right outside the Stargate, this novel allowed the team to explore much more of the world, both physically and culturally.
I thoroughly enjoy all of the Stargate novels being published, and I appreciate the hand that Malcolm has in editing them. I know that she is branching into original fiction, but I would eagerly read any return that Malcolm has to this universe.
Rating: 5 (out of 5) stars.
Cross-posted to Amazon and Goodreads.
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