Book Report: Nightshade

Author: Laurell K. Hamilton

Main Characters: Captain Picard, Lt. Worf, Deanna Troi, General Basha, Colonel Talanne

Minor Characters: Breck, General Alick, General Hanne

Point of View: (*) First Person ( ) Camera-Eye (*) Omniscient

Symbols: General Basha - those who fight wars only because it's all they have and know

PLOT LINE:

Exposition: Enterprise orbiting Oriana; Picard, Troi, Worf beam down to negotiate peace between Torlicks and Venturie factions; Enterprise called away; Troi, Worf meet a member of the Green faction, who says they have a way to clean the planet's water, Picard takes this information to General Basha

Narrative Hook: General Basha refuses to include Greens in peace process, because Greens are hated, his wife Talanne convinces him to let them attend peace talks, at peace talks Gen. Alick of the Venturies is poisoned, Picard and Greens are blamed, Worf given 24 hours to find evidence to save Captain from execution.

Rising Action: Worf interrogates witnesses and suspects, Talanne takes them to see Greens, to discuss with their leader what had happened, since the poison was one that could be made only be the Green, learned that it had to be one of those arrested.

Climax: Worf comes in time to stop Picard's execution, he stalls till Talanne gets there, its uncovered that Basha poisoned the drink, he denies it, finally admits it, is turned over to the Venturies, Talanne made General

Falling Action: Enterprise returns to Oriana, Talanne arranges for peace with the Greens, allows them to send people over to help, asks Worf if he wan't consider staying on the planet to teach people of a warrior's honor.

Resolution: Worf says that would not be in the best of interests in peacetime. He, Picard, and Troi beam back to the Enterprise.

What incident begins this story? This story begins when the Enterprise comes to Oriana to negotiate peace, but when Picard gets the Greens into the peace talks, the Venturie leader is poisoned and Picard and the Greens are arrested for it.

What is the major conflict? The major conflict is person vs. society, Worf must find evidence to convince the Torlics and Venturies that Picard and the Greens were not responsible for the assassination.

What further events complicate this story? The story is further complicated when Worf learns that torture is the Orianian method of interrogation and that Picard will be tortured.

When Worf learns that one of the Greens arrrested had to have supplied the poison he knows he will have trouble convincing the Torlick and Venturie that not all Green are evil.

How is the conflict resolved? The conflict is solved when at the executions Worf finds the General Basha at the controls. He realizes now that Basha poisoned the drink, and wanted to put the Greens to death personally so they won't reveal him as the assassin. Worf stalls until Talanne gets there, then they were able to bring out the truth.

What is the setting of this story and how does it contribute to the novel as a whole? The setting of this story is the Planet Oriana in the 24th Century. Setting is not as important in this story as it can be in others, this story could take place in the present, if there was a planet ravaged by war.

A theme is a general statement that the author wishes to make about life. Write one sentence which states the theme of this book. The theme of this story is that a lasting peace cannot be established by fighting or military conquests, but from a willingness to compromise and work together.

List at least two quotes that you think are worth remembering.
"We are here to show them that violence is not the answer. Fighting will not prove our point."
"As long as you see yourself as a separate people, you cannot work together. You must put aside old hatreds and work as one people, not fractured groups."

Comment on the author's style. The author wrote much of thist story in a way that it was seen through the eyes of various characters, but in 3rd person.

Why did you dis/like this author? I liked this author because you were left guessing as to who was the assassin until Worf found out himself, she created a suspenseful story.

Why did you dis/like this story? I like this story because it put Worf, a Klingon, who is naturally an agressive, fierce, warlike person, in a position where he had to be the peacemaker, which was not easy for him.


Return to Adamz Hoemwurk Paij.