Author(s):	Peter David
Artist(s):	Keith Birdsong
Publisher:	Pocket Books
Series:	Pocket TNG #18
Published:	September 1991
Pages:	256
Stardate:	Unknown (2366)
Reference(s):	ISBN 0671733893
Audiobook
Narrator:	Majel Barrett and John de Lancie
Running Time:	90 minutes
Publisher:	Simon and Schuster Audioworks
Published:	1 April 1992
Reference(s):	ISBN 0671759582

Two of the most powerful forces in the galaxy are about to collide.

Contents 1 Summary 2 Memorable Quotes 3 Background 4 Characters 5 References 6 External link

SummaryEdit

From the book jacket

When two powerful rival families of the spacefaring merchant race called the Tizarin are to be joined through marriage, the USS Enterprise-D is chosen as the site for the wedding. Though Captain Picard is pleased by the happy duty, his pleasure is cut short by the arrival of the Federation delegate from Betazed: Lwaxana Troi – the mother of ship's counselor, Deanna Troi.

Despite Lwaxana Troi's romantic overtures toward the captain, the celebration seems to go smoothly until the situation is further complicated by the arrival of the notorious and all powerful being called Q – who has come to examine and challenge the human concept of love. Suddenly, the festivities are in turmoil, the powerful Tizarin families are on the verge of war, and Lwaxana Troi is determined to teach Q a lesson in love that he will never forget...

Memorable QuotesEdit

"The Enterprise officers looked at each other. "She's really beating the stuffing out of him," observed Riker. "What do you think we should do?"
"Sell tickets," rumbled Worf."

- conversation during a retaliation against Q

"You are a Tzarin, of the House of Shinbun?"
"I am Data. Of the Enterprise."

- Data is mistaken for a Tzarin

"Into the jaws of death rode the three hundred..."

- Picard before entering Lwaxana's guest quarters for a formal dinner

Note that he is quoting incorrectly from "The Charge of the Light Brigade", a poem by Alfred, Lord Tennyson. It should be "six hundred". The line was later quoted correctly in DS9: "Sacrifice of Angels"

BackgroundEdit

• Q and Lwaxana Troi appear in the same story.
• An audio adaptation is available on compact disc or cassette, read by John de Lancie and Majel Barrett Roddenberry. The actors take turns as narrator, voice their own characters, and divide the remaining characters up by gender. Also available as a download from the iTunes Store.
• In another example of Shakespeare and Star Trek, two feuding houses are joined when offspring from each family fall in love. Romeo and Juliet is brought up for comparison, with Picard discussing the differences between the two stories.

CharactersEdit

Jean-Luc Picard

Q

Lwaxana Troi

Wesley Crusher

Deanna Troi

Guinan

Miles O'Brien

Cohen 

Lieutenant.

Clapp 

Lieutenant.

Jackson 

Technician.

Q2

Dr Beverly Crusher

ReferencesEdit

Ambassador shuttle 

Long-range passenger spacecraft of Lwaxana Troi, which ferried her from Betazed.

Sex 

Wesley very nearly consummates ownership of a blue-skinned alien girl given him as a gift. He asks for Troi's advice.

Tizarin 

Humanoid space-based species. Their society is divided into Houses, distinguished by colors.

External link Edit

• Q-in-Law at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works

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