Forward Motion by Fletcher DeLancey

Forward Motion
by Fletcher DeLancey
Pages: 892
Published Date: 2008
Publisher: Fanfiction
Series: Past Imperfect (5th in series)

Review
Rating: 5.5 out of 5.0
Read: February 5 to February 7 2016

I was somewhat reluctant to read this book for two specific reasons. This be a really really long book, and, secondly, I'd already read an 'after return' series of books through the official canon. I figured any need to learn more about the 'after stuff' had been satisfied both by the official books and by the previous book in this here series. Since they did 'get back' at the end of the last book. Well, no, just reading that tells me that it didn't include 'after stuff'.

Right, so. This really long book involves family, assassins/terrorists, couples, briefings/parades, and business. This book was jammed backed with stuff. All of which was handled quite well.

On the family side – I guess anyone who wanted something more, longer, more in depth involving Seven of Nine and her human relatives will have to read the official books. Because that is something tackled relatively deeply there. But only lightly here. Well, more than lightly. The aunt and Annika meet. The ‘after’ versions of 7 are vaguely interesting in their two different interpretations. The official version has 7 actually using her real name (and dating Chakotay, which was really gross on many many levels; more than just because I despise Chakotay). While the fan fiction has 7 still using 7 of Nine. Yet, 7 seemed to have grown more as a character, filled out more, in the fan fiction than in the official version.

More family – the Janeway family, as might be expected, was an important feature in this book. With mother Gretchen, sister Phoebe, Kathryn herself, and Lynne. Plus the motherly-ness Gretchen brings, in certain scenes with Revi.

Even more family – it was only touched on very briefly, but B’Elanna’s mother turns up in this book, along with Tom’s father. B’Elanna’s father wasn’t involved, and I don’t recall if Tom’s mother was mentioned. In the official canon, B’Elanna's father and mother turn up, however briefly.

I suppose I should mention that Alison’s aunt plays a role as well, but then she always did, what with being Admiral Necheyev, Janeway’s direct boss. Their dynamic of being aunt/niece played a part in this book, but not as importantly, on one level, as some other families.

Revi Sandovhar’s mother and father also popped up. Good/bad. Those who actually read this series in order, probably already recall that there is something like bad blood between Revi and her family. Mostly between Revi and father. Well, that gets addressed in this book here.

One last family to mention (though I’m sure I’m missing others). And that would be the Hamilton family. Both the living (Elise, Brian, Melanie (Elise’s mother, Brian’s sister), and . . um, Adele and . . Stephen is mentioned, he’s Elise’s brother; and, of course, Lynne Hamilton), and the dead (Lynne’s parents via messages).

That whole family dynamic was handled quite well.

In terms of coupling/Romance. The main couples continued living their lives – Revi & Seven, Lynne & Kathryn Janeway, but they also had to share the spotlight this time around with a third main couple. Alison and Elise.

Well, darn. My ability to write stuff is sadly lacking. Failing. I’m failing!

Well, I liked everything that occurred in this book, despite my reluctance to read it. Quite enjoyable time spent by me reading this here book.

February 8 2016