The Price You Pay (Stargate SG-1, #2) by Ashley McConnell

The Price You Pay (Stargate SG-1, #2) Reviews

• 
  Helen

  The characterisation of our team was quite good, but the conclusion to the tale felt very rushed to me.
  The premise reminded me a bit of 'The Hunger Games'. I think this probably came first, but I have to say I think Suzanne Collins did it better.
• 
  Damona

  I think that this book makes a nice addition to the Stargate SG1 universe. It's a new adventure (new as in, not in the tv show or movies). I see that other reviewers have complained that the characters aren't written "true", but I think that, since it's supposed to fall in the middle of the first season, they are fairly true to the characters in the show at that time.
  
  I love Jack, with all his snide remarks, and Teal’c, with his eyebrow raises and... interesting... sense of humor. Daniel Jackson, naturally, sneezes through the whole "episode". The only main character I wasn’t fond of in this book was Sam, and I'm not quite sure why. I think it’s that she seems just a bit more whiny and emotional than she is depicted in the show.
  
  Overall, it's an interesting plot, good use of established characters, and decent writing. I'll be passing these books on to my teenagers, who are also huge SG1 fans!
• 
  MasterGamgee

  Any books from well-known movie/series franchises are usually a hit or miss with me, more often than not a miss. This book was just OK for me. I didn't find the character of O'Neil true to the series nor that of Carter. The story seemed to go on and on, then just ended. There was no resolution to the world and the situation the team visited, no alien technology they were able to bring back and no further understanding of the world they visited. Much ado about nothing. I picked this up because I was cleaning and chanced upon it. I thought I hit jackpot and looked forward to the story. Ultimately I was more disappointed with it than not.
• 
  Finn

  I have read better "unofficial" fanfiction than this "official published" one, but it's okay I guess.
  It certainly had potential but it falls short and never really pushes through. It feels stunted (if that makes any sense).
• 
  Jacqueline

  ** SPOILERS BELOW **
  
  SG-1 travel to NPR76309, or M’kwethet as its known by the locals, and initially things appear fine. The people are curious, believing the team to be “Rejects”, but before they can get any answers to their questions, they are taken to the council leaders. Here, the leaders ask the team if they have brought instructions from the Goa’uld – which the they deny – and suddenly, the leaders have no time, nor inclination, to speak to them.
  
  The reason the people of M’kwethet know of the Goa’uld, but don’t fear them, is because they’ve managed to strike a deal: the bad guys will let them live in peace… if the locals send through a “Chosen” offering every two years. This offering is actually a carefully selected group of young people from the planet – who are made to believe it’s a great honour to be chosen – but who will actually just become Goa’uld slaves. (Think of The Hunger Games and that’s basically what they are competing and being selected for.)
  
  It just so happens that M’kwethet are preparing to send the next batch of “Chosen” participants when SG-1 arrive. Upon discovering what’s going on, the team clash with the locals over their “tradition” and unable to convince them to stop sacrificing their children, they decide to leave – only for Colonel O’Neill to discover that the planet doesn’t have a DHD (Dial Home Device) to open the Stargate. The team are stranded.
  
  The council order the team to stay out of the way and not cause any trouble – so Jack subsequently orders his team to find out everything they can about their hosts. Carter and Daniel quickly make friends with some of the potential “Chosen” and (with Teal’c’s help) manage to convince them that being chosen is not an honour. As a result, some of the young people decide to run away until after the ceremony. Carter and Teal’c help hide them while Jack and Daniel go in place of the kids. The latter duo plan to go through the gate and acquire a portable DHD from the Goa’uld so they can eventually get back to Earth. Things don’t go to plan though once Daniel and Jack arrive on this new planet. Known as Saqqara, they find themselves on an Apophis home world. From here, they intend to steal a portable DHD and return to M’kwethet to rescue Sam and Teal’c.
  
  This is the second novel by Ashley McConnell and it’s set midway through the first season of SG-1. I understand that the show was still very much in its early days here, but when I read this story, it almost felt like a poor attempt at fanfiction. For example, the author’s handle (or lack of) on some of the characters was the main issue for me; Ashley tried, but for fans reading this book, will know it’s not in keeping with their TV counterparts. The character of Sam Carter in particular is just way, way off.
  
  The storyline in itself was thought-out; you had an idea of where the situation was heading – and how it was going to go down – so there was episodic-like potential there, but it never quite broke through. The ending especially felt rushed, and potentially important moments were glossed over (or not addressed at all), possibly for convenience, who knows? Overall, it just fell short where it became an ‘okay’ story, instead of a ‘great’ story.
  
  If we stay with SG-1 for the moment, I would say Teal’c is the one most “in character” – and that’s purely because he doesn’t actually have much to say. Of the times when he does speak, it’s almost like they are throwaway or dismissive comments; something the stoic Jaffa definitely wasn’t in the series! There were parts of the book were Jack’s character was passable (bar the fact that he let one half of his team get drunk while on a mission, he left Daniel behind on Saqqara, and the author seemed intent on making him flirt with any female he came into contact with). Daniel really, really annoyed me throughout this story; I can’t even tell you why. He just did – and I know he was still searching for his wife at this stage, and this is referenced in the book, but he deliberately goes against Jack’s orders to try and find her. He had absolutely no guilt in blowing the entire mission to go on a wild goose chase. It just bothered me.
  
  But now we come to Samantha Carter. I love Carter; she’s strong, independent, intelligent. A true role model and I love how Amanda Tapping has deliberately portrayed the character on the show in this way. Sadly, Ashley did not grasp these elements of Sam at all in this novel. No matter who spoke to her, her initial response was “to glare” at them; one second, she was wholeheartedly supporting the colonel’s actions to leave M’kwethet and go home, the next, she was about to start a fight because she was sure they would change the locals’ mind. She was portrayed as indecisive, whiny, and unprofessional.
  
  It didn’t feel like a team who actually liked each other or even tried to get along or make things work, and at key points/conversations in the story, their interactions felt wrong. There’s a scene in Chapter 5 when SG-1 are – reluctantly – invited to the M’kwethet’s great feast. They are ordered to stay out of the way, but Sam and Daniel try to find out what they can about the Goa’uld’s history with the planet. It results in the two teammates getting drunk… and Jack and Teal’c let it happen. I know they might still be relatively new to travelling through the Stargate, but there were certain lessons they learned early (the Brief Candle episode, anyone?). Getting drunk while on a mission is a no-no!
  
  The other main issue I had was, in my eyes, the huge gaping plot hole. A probe was supposedly sent to this planet and all the data came back telling the team about the weather, the people on that planet, etc… but somehow everyone managed to miss the fact that the planet had absolutely no DHD?! It’s not like it’s easy to miss.
• 
  Adam

  Like with the other Stargate novels by this author there are a lot of inconsistencies and errors throughout the book, like descriptions of characters, dialogue and so on; but the actual plot is quite interesting and fairly easy to read.
• 
  Denise

  Another quick, fun read set in season 1. Reads pretty much like an average TV episode - entertaining but not outstanding. 3.5/5
• 
  David Baird

  I'm going through a phase of reading any and all Stargate books.. I just love the series so need to get a quick fix.
  
  The Price You Pay certainly filled my need as we set off with Jack and the rest of SG1 on their next adventure through the gate. This time they find themselves stranded without a DHD to get home.. worse still they learn that the people on the planet they have just arrived on have an arrangement with the Gould.. in return for life they freely offer themselves as hosts.. the issue is many don't really know just what they are going to be sacrificing.
  
  While trying to enlighten the most recent offering to the Gould Jack and Daniel find themselves catapulted to another world with little chance of escape. Jack leads well and as usual the team just make it out by the skin of their teeth.
  
  A decent installment which I enjoyed reading. Their was a lot of build up but when the end came it was over too quickly..would have liked to see that drawn out a bit more but overall I really enjoyed it
• 
  Dark-Draco

  Hmm, ok, not the best ever TV linked novel, but I did think it was a decent adventure for the SG1 team. Not all of it rang true and the character's didn't always seem like their TV counterparts, but there was plenty of running round, getting the better of bad guys and generally, sort-of, coming out the winners.
• 
  K

  M'kwethet星に偵察任務に赴いたSG1。スターゲイトをくぐったら、そこは市場のど真ん中だった。
  住民達は突然現れたSG1の面々を見ても驚く様子もない。それどころかゴアウルドのことも恐れていないようだ。この星とゴアウルドの関係をもっと探ろうとするSG1だが、ふとスターゲイトの前にDHDが存在しないことに気がつく。つまりこの星からはゲイトを開くことができない。SG1もこのままでは地球に戻れない。困り果てるSG1だったが…。
  
  ※オニールとダニエルが宿主候補として差し出されてしまい、どう脱出するのかハラハラしました。
  ダニエルのシャーレへの思いもとても切ないです。ダニエルファンにはオススメの一品。
• 
  Rebecca

  I loved the tv series so decided to start with the books. This is not a bad addition to the series. I like the character interactions, and it read much like an episode of Stargate. It was a little slow to start but nonetheless enjoyable for any fan.
  
  I would recommend to fans of the series.
• 
  Sir Nicho

  Only slightly better than the previous book by the same author. Would not recommend.
• 
  Isa

  Very entertaining!
• 
  Scott Gardner

  Easy little read , not a massive fan of the series , though I loved the film , if your a fan you'll like it
• 
  James

  Pretty average Stargate story set during the warly days of SG1. A few interesting moments and O'Neill has been captured very recognisably, a fairly short and enjoyable read.
• 
  Graisi O'Hara

  This was good, but not great, and a little short.
• 
  Rosie Amber

  The Price You Pay is a companion book to the Stargate TV series and provides a new mission for the SG-1 team. In this book they go to NPR76309 or M'kwethet as the locals call themselves. The gate is in the town square and the team are asked if they are messengers from the Goa'uld.
  
  This planet of people do not fear the Goa'uld, they have chosen to serve them in return for peace. They provide regular amounts of servants and offerings to keep their peace. The planet are in fact preparing the next batch of chosen, when the team from Earth begin stirring up defiance amongst the chosen.
  
  There is one big problem for SG-1, they can't find a DHD (Dial Home Device) so they are stuck on the planet. O'Neill and Daniel get themselves places on the next chosen group and are taken to Saqqara an Apophis home world. From here they intend to steal a portable DHD and rescue Sam and Teal'c.
  
  This is the third Stargate companion book I've read all by different authors and they vary in their accuracy to replicate the language, mannerisms and actions of the well known SG-1 team. With the level of fan support the TV series has, companion books need to really reflect the well set out and popular characters. This book tried hard, Teal'c was the best likeness to his TV character and Jack O'Neill was fairy good I didn't think the author grasped the character of Samantha Carter well at all and Daniel was given thoughts that I didn't think always fitted with the on-screen character. However the storyline was well thought-out and followed a well liked theme.
• 
  Andrew

  This is the second of my stargate novels - I will pin my colours to the mast and declare I am a fan of both the film and the TV series - however reading this book - didn't feel like either - the characters didn't feel right and in fact in key moments and conversations it was utterly wrong - it was like a pastiche where someone has tired to connect to characters but not quite. I don't want to give too much away but this didn't feel like the stargate I enjoy so much
• 
  Brian Turner

  The SG-1 team find themselves on a planet where the natives willingly give a tribute to the Goa'uld every two years.
  
  Unable to make them allies in the ongoing war, they then find themselves stranded on the planet, with the Goa'uld about to come for the next tribute.
  
  The author gets the characters just right, but the action doesn't start until nearly the end of the book, so there's lots of conversations about why the locals do what they do and being told that's wrong by O'Neill et al.
• 
  Jason

  Two stars only because it was Stargate SG-1. The story was riddled with errors, both with respect to the show, and with respect to it's self. Character names accidentally switched, paragraphs that seem out of place or don't make any sense. Plenty of jarring typos. This could have been a really interesting story if the novel had been edited properly.
• 
  Miss Clark

  Best SG-1 book by McConnell. And that is not saying a whole lot, since that whole line of novels wasn't very impressive. I didn't feel that they grasped the dynamics of the team or the show very well, but this one was the best of the lot.
• 
  Julie

  This is probably the best TV-show-to-book adaptation I've ever read. It really had the feel of watching an episode of SG-1. So, kudos to you, Ashley McConnell!
• 
  teatunesandtales

  It was okay. It was kind of like reading really bad fanfiction though, as she didn't really know the voice of the characters and canon. I've read better.
• 
  Vampiress_demitri

  great plot
• 
  Hope

  I wish for a more closed ending than the book has, but it seems more realistic to end it the way McConnell did. Nothing in life ends perfectly, why should this story?
• 
  Douglas

  A fun little book clearly written in the early days of the show. I really enjoyed the dynamics of SG-1 from the first few seasons.
• 
  Kellyanne Higgins

  More poor characterisation and another week plot for McConnell
• 
  John

  Being a fan of the series when I saw this had to read it - fun