By Peter David
This book is, obviously, the fifth part of the "Captain's Table" miniseries, which all of the Star Trek series then being published participated in. More importantly, at least to New Frontier fans, it is also where we finally learn what happened to Mackenzie Calhoun during his time aboard the USS Grissom, an important event in Calhoun's life only hinted at in previous New Frontier novels.
It is not necessary to have read the previous four chapters of the "Captain's Table" miniseries to understand this book, as each novel stands on its own as a self-contained story. The basic idea is that an entrance to a transdimensional bar called the Captain's Table appears to captains throughout history and throughout the galaxy. When they enter the bar, they are able to interact with other patrons from across space and time (although they are of course forbidden to reveal information which may alter history), and they are also required to tell a story. The Captain's Table thus provides a framing device for the stories in each of the novels. Mackenzie Calhoun actually visits the Captain's Table twice, once as a young freedom fighter on his home world, Xenex (he was considered a captain of a group of soldiers he was leading at the time), and again as captain of the Excalibur. It is during this second visit that he relates the story of the Grissom.
We know from previous New Frontier novels that Calhoun's experience aboard the Grissom is something he does not like to talk about, and that it is what caused him to publicly resign from Starfleet. Often when these sorts of dark chapters are hinted at in regards to characters' pasts, the actual reveal is rarely as satisfying as whatever the reader has imagined. Not so in this case. Once Burned is an absolutely fantastic novel that does not disappoint on any level, building in tension until the final pages. It is also, appropriately, the darkest chapter yet of the New Frontier saga. The crew of the Grissom is assigned to escort a diplomatic team consisting of the captain's daughter and brother in hopes of negotiating peace between two warring alien species. A horrible tragedy occurs during this mission, and then things get worse. Much worse. I don't want to reveal too much about the events that transpire, but the chapters have titles like "The Blame," "The Lie," and "The Slaughter." That should give you a pretty good idea of the dark tone of the book, and the increasingly desperate situation Calhoun finds himself in.
One of the great things about Once Burned is that it gives writer Peter David, who has done such a wonderful job creating new characters for the New Frontier series, the opportunity to create an entirely new crew for the Grissom. This new group includes Katerina Mueller, the Grissom's XO who is having an affair with Calhoun. Romeo "Hash" Takahashi, a blond Asian with a southern drawl. And Cray, the creepy Andorian chief of security. I really grew to like these characters over the course of the novel, and was delighted by a surprise statement by Calhoun at the end. Apparently, he had invited some of these characters to serve aboard the Excalibur on the night shift, so it is likely we have not seen the last of them. This is great news, particularly where Kat Mueller, a fun and fascinating character, is concerned. In fact, between the former Grissom officers and Janos, the Mugato security officer introduced in an earlier New Frontier novel, I think a spin off featuring the night crew of the Excalibur could make for a great series.
As much as I enjoyed this novel, I have a couple of minor gripes. In addition to revealing the story of the Grissom tragedy, Once Burned also reveals the origin of the hostility that Admiral Jellico has for Calhoun. I thought the way in which these two characters had a falling out was rather abrupt, and frankly unfair to Admiral Jellico. In my opinion, Calhoun treated him very badly for no good reason, and it made Calhoun look bad. I also didn't like how the beginning of the next novel in "The Captain's Table" sequence, Where Sea Meets Sky, was tacked on to the end of this one. Because each novel features a different captain and stands on its own, it was kind of like ending the book with a commercial. I found it unnecessary and distracting, unfortunately taking away a little bit from the impact of this novel's conclusion.
Despite those two caveats, I give Once Burned my highest possible recommendation. Of course New Frontier fans will want to read it, but I recommend it even if you have not read any of the other New Frontier or "Captain's Table" novels, as it is a fantastic story that stands completely on its own.
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