STARGATE SG-1: Hall of the Two Truths by Susannah Parker Sinard
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I’m a fan of the Stargate tv franchise but only dipped into the novels recently, I’ve read more of Atlantis than SG1 so it was time I jumped into the significant library of titles released since the shows went of the air.
In this case I picked up Hall Of The Two Truths by first time Stargate author Susannah Parker Sinard and with the usual trepidation always present when reading another’s viewpoint of favoured characters shared the journey of SG1 as described in the novel. The story is set during the fifth season of SG1 so the Goa’uld are still in a free for all after the demise of Apophis and the team are still in turmoil over “their” failure to save the inhabitants of K’tau (Red Sky). This allows the author to mix things up a little and read more into the chemistry of the team than was always the case on the television show. So let’s dip into the story a little but without any significant spoilers, after being approached by the Tok’ra the team are investigating ruins on a previously unknown world. Jack thinks it’s all a waste of time but allows Daniel and Sam to keep investigating and they do indeed find some alien technology which seems to only activate when Jack touches is (yes the reader is well ahead of the team at this point). Soon after their location is attacked and the team plus the Tok’ra representative are captured and soon after they awake in a sealed cavern only accessible by rings. They are then joined by two women named NebtHet a’Eshe and Aset a’Teneb who welcome them to “Duat” and after describing personal details of each member of SG1 proceed to zat them twice and so far away from home SG1 die.
Ok there you go, go buy the novel and get reading because this is just the beginning of an adventure that’s pretty much not like any other as the mythology of the ancient Egyptians gods and walking through the underworld facing tasks and obstacles for the soul to overcome before being judged are revealed to us through the eyes of our favoured explorers.
Hall Of The Two Truths was an enjoyable read, the concept was very interesting and the story complex enough to really hold my attention with the characters (regular and recurring from the show) all written well and believable in context. I quite liked the scenes with General Hammond dealing with the Tok’ra especially Anise but it was the exploration of the psyche and character of SG1 where the novel really hits its mark.
After another very successful raid against the Lucian Alliance their leader Netan places a bounty on SG1 and thanks to them being tagged during the last raid the galaxies premiere bounty hunters are on their way to Earth to collect. Cameron along with Vala are going to his high school reunion, Daniel is deep in some research at a public library, Teal’c is offworld dealing with some Jaffa issues and Sam is attending a technology conference to demonstrate some of the tech she is “working” on. Meanwhile back in Kansas Vala is making quite the impression on John’s parents and to be honest I think she has been accepted by the mother who maybe sees a bit of a kindred spirit but Cameron is dealing with an old crush and a friend who it seems is more than happy to stir things up a bit.