Stargate SG-1: Siren Song (Stargate SG-1)

It should have been. On the surface, it has all of the elements that should produce a cracking adventure for our heroes. The characterisations are mostly on target - although I personally had issues with Carter being completely out of tactics and ideas once she was left to deal with things on her own. I could accept her coming up with a plan that didn't work - but for her to sit there unable to come up with any plan at all just wasn't my Carter. The inclusion of an intriguing character from the show's early days - Aris Boch - should have spiked the interest more. I've always wanted to know more about Aris.

My main problem was that I found the writing style stodgy and over-wordy. I skipped page after page of tedious description and didn't miss out on any plot. A sure sign that the red edit pen could have been used more frequently. The novel quickly became bogged down, dragging tediously, and I gave up on it out of boredom two thirds of the way through.

A missed opportunity. Could have been a great book, should have been a terrific adventure. Sadly it was neither.


Absolutely Wonderful!   March 15, 2006
Michelle L Hull (Richmond, British Columbia Canada)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful

I am often disappointed by media-based novels; they're often simplistic and written for fairly mindless consumption, like bon-bons. This book was no mere bon-bon, though. It was meaty, plotty, with a real understanding of the SG universe and its characters. The plot made sense, was well-paced and interesting, and meaningful in the broader context of the series. It felt like one of the better episodes, and as a result it was a compelling read. I especially loved how it was referential to the story arc of the series without becoming convoluted. I was also pleased to find that the characterizations were the people on the screen, and written with a sensitivity to the place in the SG arc that this story is set. Oftentimes media characters are not well-utilised; they come off as cardboard cut-outs, or puppets of the author. In "Siren Song" they are unique, complex and recognizable.

I hope these writers try their hand at another story; it was a refreshing break from the usual fare. It's nice to be engaged as a reader for a change, rather than disappointed.


Something lacking…   March 6, 2006
7 out of 11 found this review helpful

I’ve read all of Fandemonium’s SG-1 books and enjoyed them immensely but for some reason this one just doesn’t cut it for me. It’s a good, well-thought-out plot but it didn’t even remotely engage me on an emotional level.

The authors have steered well clear of mentioning the O’Neill/Carter relationship – which is fine by me and will be welcomed by series fans who do not like that particular story arc. But the trouble is that in choosing to ignore it the authors have sucked the feeling out of this book. There is no emotional core to the story at all: no sense that these characters [even putting aside O’Neill and Carter] care for one another. And it’s totally unnecessary: take Sacrifice Moon, one of the earlier books, as an example. It’s set way before the O’Neill/Carter arc and doesn’t mention it at all – plus, it supposes the team has only just been formed. Even so, the author still manages to weave the spell that these people care for each other.

I really hate to say this [and never in my wildest dreams did I ever think I’d say it about a Fandemonium offering] but Siren Song is a real let-down for me. Of course, it’s not helped by the fact that it follows on the heels of Sally Malcolm’s Cost of Honor, a novel touched with greatness. As I mentioned, it’s a good adventure… I can’t help wondering how much better this would have been had Sally written it.