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{| class="wiki-sidebar"
 
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{{Sidebar novel|
|-
 
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| image = A Rock and a Hard Place cover.jpg
| colspan="2" style="text-align: center" | [[Image:No image yet.jpg|200px|Cover image.]]
 
 
| Author = [[Peter David]]
|-
 
 
| Publisher = [[Pocket Books]]
| class="odd" | Author:
 
 
| Series = [[Pocket TNG]] #10
| class="even" | [[Peter David]]
 
  +
| Published = {{m|January|1990}}
|-
 
  +
| Pages = 244
| class="odd" | Illustrator:
 
  +
| Year = [[2366]]
| class="even" |
 
  +
| ISBN = 0671693646
|-
 
 
}}
| class="odd" | Publisher:
 
  +
''Commander Riker fights for Survival on a desolate world.''
| class="even" | [[Pocket Books]]
 
 
== Summary ==
|-
 
| class="odd" | Series:
 
| class="even" | [[Pocket TNG]] #10
 
|-
 
| class="odd" | Published:
 
| class="even" | [[January 1990]]
 
|-
 
| class="odd" | Pages:
 
| class="even" |
 
|-
 
| class="odd" | Year:
 
| class="even" | [[2366]]
 
|-
 
| class="odd" | Stardate:
 
| class="even" |
 
|-
 
| class="odd" | Reference #:
 
| class="even" | ISBN 0671693646
 
|}
 
 
==Summary==
 
 
;From the book jacket
 
;From the book jacket
:''Under the best circumstances, terraforming is a tough, dangerous task that pits the hardiest of pioneers against an unforgiving environment. When the terraformers on the planet Paradise fall behind schedule, commander Riker is given temporary leave from the USS Enterprise™ and sent to assist.
+
:''Under the best circumstances, terraforming is a tough, dangerous task that pits the hardiest of pioneers against an unforgiving environment. When the terraformers on the planet Paradise fall behind schedule, [[Commander]] [[William T. Riker|Riker]] is given temporary leave from the [[USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D)|USS ''Enterprise'']]™ and sent to assist.''
   
:''Riker's replacement on the Starship Enterprise is a volatile officer named Stone whose behavior soon raises questions about his ability and his judgment. Meanwhile, Commander Riker has become enmeshed in a life and struggle with Paradise's brutal landscape. However, he soon learns that not all of the planet's dangers are natural in origin -- as he comes face to face with Paradise's greatest danger and most hideous secret.
+
:''Riker's replacement on the Starship ''Enterprise'' is a volatile officer named Stone whose behavior soon raises questions about his ability and his judgment. Meanwhile, Commander Riker has become enmeshed in a life and struggle with Paradise's brutal landscape. However, he soon learns that not all of the planet's dangers are natural in origin – as he comes face to face with Paradise's greatest danger and most hideous secret.''
   
 
{{review}}
 
{{review}}
  +
== Memorable Quotes ==
  +
"''The transporter is the great equalizer... And I'm in charge of it all. Y'see, to me, everybody is just molecules, that's all. And nobody's molecules are more important than anybody else's.''"
  +
: - '''Chief O'Brien''' (p. 102)
   
==Background==
 
*This novel, fairly uncommonly, has an original character (Commdr. Quintin Stone) as one of the protagonists, the other being [[William T. Riker|Commdr. Riker]].
 
*It should be noted that some of Stone's traits are similar to those of [[Hawk|Lt. Sean Hawk]] from the novel [[Rogue]] by [[Andy Mangels]] and [[Michael A. Martin]] - in particular, photographic memory, which is certainly atypical for a human character. Their personalities, however, are completely different.
 
   
  +
"''You're judged on your handshake. The handshake was originally a way of making sure your opponent wasn't carrying a weapon. But it's also a way of showing that you can defend yourself without a weapon.''"
==Characters==
 
  +
: - '''Quintin Stone''' (p. 45)
;[[William Riker]]
 
  +
;Quintin Stone : Starfleet executive officer, Commander Riker's "replacement" during his assignment, the real purpose of his presence on the ''Enterprise'' is to receive some discipline under [[Jean-Luc_Picard|Captain Picard]]. Rising through the ranks of Starfleet, he was considered intelligent, charismatic, and potentially an excellent leader - one of Starfleet's best and brightest. More recently, however, he has proven to be disrespectful of authority, scarred (figuratively and literally) and probably psychopathic (this last term describes most of his actions). If Capt. Picard and [[Deanna Troi|Counselor Troi]] can't set him on a more useful path, it's likely that his days in Starfleet will be short-lived.
 
  +
  +
"''At the [[Starfleet Academy|Academy]] they taught us the [[Picard Maneuver]]. If your trick had failed and destroyed your ship, it would have been called 'The Picard Blunder' or 'Picard's folly'. Success forgives everything.''"
  +
: - '''Quintin Stone''' (p. 139)
  +
  +
"''When you go outside procedures and it blows up in your face, you're an idiot. When you go outside procedures and it works, you're an original thinker''"
  +
: - '''Quintin Stone''' (p. 139)
  +
  +
"''[[Will Riker|He]] would have played by the rules, and perhaps the ambassadors would be dead, and Ryne would still be in power, but at least the rules would be satisfied.''"
  +
: - '''Quintin Stone''' (p. 140)
  +
 
== Background Information ==
 
* This novel, fairly uncommonly, has an original character (Commander Quintin Stone) as one of the protagonists, the other being Riker.
  +
* It should be noted that some of Stone's traits are similar to those of Mackenzie Calhoun from the ''[[Star Trek: New Frontier]]'' [[novels]] – including his facial scar, checkered history and disrespect for authority.
  +
 
== Characters ==
  +
;[[Jean-Luc Picard]]
 
;[[William T. Riker]]
  +
;[[Geordi La Forge]]
  +
;[[Worf]] : There's tension between Worf and Troi due to the events of {{e|The Child}}, where he was in favor of terminating her pregnancy.
 
;[[Deanna Troi]] : The counselor once again demonstrates her psychic link with Will Riker when he subconsciously calls out to her. This occurs twice in this novel, both times when Riker is near death.
  +
;[[Beverly Crusher]] : Crusher has recently returned to the ''Enterprise'' after her stint at [[Starfleet Medical]].
 
::''This places the novel near the beginning of [[TNG Season 3|Season 3]], after the departure of Dr. [[Katherine Pulaski|Pulaski]] and Dr. Crusher's return.
  +
;[[Data]]
  +
;[[Wesley Crusher]]
  +
;[[Miles O'Brien]]
  +
;[[Guinan]]
 
;Quintin Stone : Starfleet executive officer, Commander Riker's "replacement" during his assignment, the real purpose of his presence on the ''Enterprise'' is to receive some discipline under [[Captain]] [[Jean-Luc Picard|Picard]]. Rising through the ranks of Starfleet, he was considered intelligent, charismatic, and potentially an excellent leader – one of Starfleet's best and brightest. More recently, however, he has proven to be disrespectful of authority, scarred (figuratively and literally) and probably psychopathic (this last term describes most of his actions). If Capt. Picard and [[Counselor]] [[Deanna Troi|Troi]] can't set him on a more useful path, it is likely that his days in Starfleet will be short-lived.
 
::''The character of Quintin Stone, a scar-faced maverick, will be reincarnated in one of Peter David's later series; the character of Mackenzie Calhoun in ''[[Star Trek: New Frontier]]'' shares a large number of character traits with Stone.''
 
::''The character of Quintin Stone, a scar-faced maverick, will be reincarnated in one of Peter David's later series; the character of Mackenzie Calhoun in ''[[Star Trek: New Frontier]]'' shares a large number of character traits with Stone.''
 
;Andrew Borjas : Captain of the ''Nimitz''.
;[[Deanna Troi]] : The counselor once again demonstrates her psychic link with [[William T. Riker|Will Riker]] when he subconsciously calls out to her. This occurs twice in this novel, both times when Riker is near death.
 
  +
;Karen Williams : [[Admiral]].
;[[Beverly Crusher]] : Towards the end of the book, a crewmember mentions the return of [[Beverly Crusher|Dr. Beverly Crusher]]. This places the novel near the beginning of [[TNG_Season_3|Season 3]], after the departure of [[Pulaski|Dr. Pulaski]] and Dr. Crusher's return.
 
  +
;Jenny : four-year-old child aboard the ''Enterprise''.
;Andrew Borjas : Captain
 
  +
;Buchanan : security officer, part of the away team to the planet Culinan.
  +
;Vernon Detwiller : geophysicist on the ''Enterprise'', part of the team dispatched to Paradise.
  +
;Tinker : security officer, part of the rescue team sent after Riker on Paradise.
  +
;D'Angelo : security officer, part of the rescue team sent after Riker on Paradise.
  +
;Scully : security officer, part of the rescue team sent after Riker on Paradise.
  +
;Jansen : member of Dr. Crusher's medical staff.
  +
;Sweeney : member of Dr. Crusher's medical staff.
  +
;Paul Estin : nickname Scooter, friend of Wesley Crusher.
  +
;Mark Masters : head scientist of the Paradise terraforming colony.
  +
;Jackson Carter: childhood friend of Riker, two years older than him. Leader of the Paradise colony.
  +
;Eleanor Carter (née Buch) : wife of Jackson Carter. Childhood acquaintance of Riker.
  +
;Stephy Carter : fifteen-year-old daughter of Jackson and Eleanor Carter.
  +
;Taylor : colonist on Paradise.
  +
;Sylvia : colonist on Paradise.
  +
;Dave Mosley : colonist on Paradise. A few years older than Stephy Carter.
  +
;Ryne : praedor (monarch) of the planet Culinan.
  +
;Clarke : staff member at the communications center on Culinan.
  +
;Ebunan A'T'siva : elected praetor of Culinan, successor of Ryne.
  +
;Qumwl the Eminently Quotable: son of [[Kahless the Unforgettable]], source of many Klingon sayings (according to Worf).
  +
 
== References ==
  +
;''Monitor'' : Federation starship. Quintin Stone was serving on the ''Monitor'' three years earlier.
  +
  +
;''Nimitz'' : Federation starship, commanded by Captain Andrew Borjas. First officer was Quintin Stone, until his reassignment to the ''Enterprise''.
   
  +
;Ianni : planet in the Roze system, trying to join the [[Federation]]. A ''coup d'état'' took place while a ''Monitor'' away team led by Quintin Stone was on the planet three years earlier. Atrocities were committed during the ''coup''. Stone wasn't allowed to intervene due to the Prime Directive. These events made him the borderline lunatic he is today.
==References==
 
;[[USS Monitor|USS ''Moniter'' (NCC-61826)]]
 
   
 
;Paradise : Definitely a misnomer for this inhospitable planet. Paradise is best described by the term "frozen wasteland". Commander Riker is chosen for this assignment partly due to his upbringing in [[Alaska]], the other being the need to rotate in a "problem officer" in his place on the ''Enterprise''.
;USS ''Nimitz'' : Federation starship, of Captain Andrew Borjas
 
   
 
;Starlight : The city of the terraformers on Paradise. So far, it is the only place on Paradise where weather conditions are generally tolerable. Venturing outside its limits is highly dangerous. This is compounded by the fact that the usability of transport, scanning and communication equipment is severely limited on the rest of the planet.
;Paradise : definitely a misnomer for this inhospitable planet. Paradise is best described by the term "frozen wasteland". [[William T. Riker|Commander Riker]] is chosen for this assignment partly due to his upbringing in [[Alaska]], the other being the need to rotate in a "problem officer" in his place on the Enterprise.
 
   
 
;Wild Things : Part wolf, part husky, all survival. These dog-like beasts (one is depicted on the cover) were genetically engineered specifically to survive Paradise's harsh conditions. When they were declared a failure, they were to have been destroyed; however, the majority of them managed to escape, with dire consequences. The Wild Things are dedicated to a pack mentality: though there is no naturally occurring food source on Paradise, the pack nonetheless survived by cannibalizing its weaker members.
;Starlight : the city of the terraformers on Paradise. So far, it is the only place on Paradise where weather conditions are generally tolerable. Venturing outside its limits is highly dangerous. This is compounded by the fact that transport, scanning, communication equipment is severely limited on the rest of the planet.
 
   
  +
== External link ==
;Wild Things : part wolf, part husky, all survival. These dog-like beasts (one is depicted on the cover) were genetically engineered specifically to survive Paradise's harsh conditions. When they were declared a failure, they were to have been destroyed; however, the majority of them managed to escape, with dire consequences. The Wild Things are dedicated to a pack mentality: though there is no naturally occurring food source on Paradise, the pack nonetheless survived by cannibalizing its weaker members.
 
  +
* {{NCwiki-title}}
   
  +
{{Novel nav
 
|prev = #9: ''[[A Call to Darkness]]''
  +
|series = [[Pocket TNG]]<br />Numbered novels
 
|next = #11: ''[[Gulliver's Fugitives]]''
 
}}
   
 
[[cs:A Rock and a Hard Place]]
{| class="browser"
 
  +
[[de:Eine Hölle namens Paradies]]
|-
 
  +
[[sv:A Rock and a Hard Place]]
| class="prev" | Previous novel:<br />[[A Call to Darkness]]
 
  +
[[Category:Novels|Rock and a Hard Place, A]]
| class="topic" | [[Novels]]<br />[[Pocket TNG]]
 
| class="next" | Next novel:<br />[[Gulliver's Fugitives]]
 
|}
 
[[Category:Novels|Rock and a Hard Place]]
 

Revision as of 11:28, 1 June 2014

Template:Realworld

Commander Riker fights for Survival on a desolate world.

Summary

From the book jacket
Under the best circumstances, terraforming is a tough, dangerous task that pits the hardiest of pioneers against an unforgiving environment. When the terraformers on the planet Paradise fall behind schedule, Commander Riker is given temporary leave from the USS Enterprise™ and sent to assist.
Riker's replacement on the Starship Enterprise is a volatile officer named Stone whose behavior soon raises questions about his ability and his judgment. Meanwhile, Commander Riker has become enmeshed in a life and struggle with Paradise's brutal landscape. However, he soon learns that not all of the planet's dangers are natural in origin – as he comes face to face with Paradise's greatest danger and most hideous secret.

Excerpts of copyrighted sources are included for review purposes only, without any intention of infringement.

Memorable Quotes

"The transporter is the great equalizer... And I'm in charge of it all. Y'see, to me, everybody is just molecules, that's all. And nobody's molecules are more important than anybody else's."

- Chief O'Brien (p. 102)


"You're judged on your handshake. The handshake was originally a way of making sure your opponent wasn't carrying a weapon. But it's also a way of showing that you can defend yourself without a weapon."

- Quintin Stone (p. 45)


"At the Academy they taught us the Picard Maneuver. If your trick had failed and destroyed your ship, it would have been called 'The Picard Blunder' or 'Picard's folly'. Success forgives everything."

- Quintin Stone (p. 139)

"When you go outside procedures and it blows up in your face, you're an idiot. When you go outside procedures and it works, you're an original thinker"

- Quintin Stone (p. 139)

"He would have played by the rules, and perhaps the ambassadors would be dead, and Ryne would still be in power, but at least the rules would be satisfied."

- Quintin Stone (p. 140)

Background Information

  • This novel, fairly uncommonly, has an original character (Commander Quintin Stone) as one of the protagonists, the other being Riker.
  • It should be noted that some of Stone's traits are similar to those of Mackenzie Calhoun from the Star Trek: New Frontier novels – including his facial scar, checkered history and disrespect for authority.

Characters

Jean-Luc Picard
William T. Riker
Geordi La Forge
Worf
There's tension between Worf and Troi due to the events of "The Child", where he was in favor of terminating her pregnancy.
Deanna Troi
The counselor once again demonstrates her psychic link with Will Riker when he subconsciously calls out to her. This occurs twice in this novel, both times when Riker is near death.
Beverly Crusher
Crusher has recently returned to the Enterprise after her stint at Starfleet Medical.
This places the novel near the beginning of Season 3, after the departure of Dr. Pulaski and Dr. Crusher's return.
Data
Wesley Crusher
Miles O'Brien
Guinan
Quintin Stone
Starfleet executive officer, Commander Riker's "replacement" during his assignment, the real purpose of his presence on the Enterprise is to receive some discipline under Captain Picard. Rising through the ranks of Starfleet, he was considered intelligent, charismatic, and potentially an excellent leader – one of Starfleet's best and brightest. More recently, however, he has proven to be disrespectful of authority, scarred (figuratively and literally) and probably psychopathic (this last term describes most of his actions). If Capt. Picard and Counselor Troi can't set him on a more useful path, it is likely that his days in Starfleet will be short-lived.
The character of Quintin Stone, a scar-faced maverick, will be reincarnated in one of Peter David's later series; the character of Mackenzie Calhoun in Star Trek: New Frontier shares a large number of character traits with Stone.
Andrew Borjas
Captain of the Nimitz.
Karen Williams
Admiral.
Jenny
four-year-old child aboard the Enterprise.
Buchanan
security officer, part of the away team to the planet Culinan.
Vernon Detwiller
geophysicist on the Enterprise, part of the team dispatched to Paradise.
Tinker
security officer, part of the rescue team sent after Riker on Paradise.
D'Angelo
security officer, part of the rescue team sent after Riker on Paradise.
Scully
security officer, part of the rescue team sent after Riker on Paradise.
Jansen
member of Dr. Crusher's medical staff.
Sweeney
member of Dr. Crusher's medical staff.
Paul Estin
nickname Scooter, friend of Wesley Crusher.
Mark Masters
head scientist of the Paradise terraforming colony.
Jackson Carter
childhood friend of Riker, two years older than him. Leader of the Paradise colony.
Eleanor Carter (née Buch)
wife of Jackson Carter. Childhood acquaintance of Riker.
Stephy Carter
fifteen-year-old daughter of Jackson and Eleanor Carter.
Taylor
colonist on Paradise.
Sylvia
colonist on Paradise.
Dave Mosley
colonist on Paradise. A few years older than Stephy Carter.
Ryne
praedor (monarch) of the planet Culinan.
Clarke
staff member at the communications center on Culinan.
Ebunan A'T'siva
elected praetor of Culinan, successor of Ryne.
Qumwl the Eminently Quotable
son of Kahless the Unforgettable, source of many Klingon sayings (according to Worf).

References

Monitor
Federation starship. Quintin Stone was serving on the Monitor three years earlier.
Nimitz
Federation starship, commanded by Captain Andrew Borjas. First officer was Quintin Stone, until his reassignment to the Enterprise.
Ianni
planet in the Roze system, trying to join the Federation. A coup d'état took place while a Monitor away team led by Quintin Stone was on the planet three years earlier. Atrocities were committed during the coup. Stone wasn't allowed to intervene due to the Prime Directive. These events made him the borderline lunatic he is today.
Paradise
Definitely a misnomer for this inhospitable planet. Paradise is best described by the term "frozen wasteland". Commander Riker is chosen for this assignment partly due to his upbringing in Alaska, the other being the need to rotate in a "problem officer" in his place on the Enterprise.
Starlight
The city of the terraformers on Paradise. So far, it is the only place on Paradise where weather conditions are generally tolerable. Venturing outside its limits is highly dangerous. This is compounded by the fact that the usability of transport, scanning and communication equipment is severely limited on the rest of the planet.
Wild Things
Part wolf, part husky, all survival. These dog-like beasts (one is depicted on the cover) were genetically engineered specifically to survive Paradise's harsh conditions. When they were declared a failure, they were to have been destroyed; however, the majority of them managed to escape, with dire consequences. The Wild Things are dedicated to a pack mentality: though there is no naturally occurring food source on Paradise, the pack nonetheless survived by cannibalizing its weaker members.

External link

  • Template:NCwiki-title


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