Star Trek: S.C.E. #2: Fatal Error

This second entry in the S.C.E. series, written by series co-creator Keith R.A. DeCandido, involves a powerful computer known as Ganitriul, upon which the inhabitants of the planet Eerlik have become completely dependent.  Star Trek fans may assume that the story will involve the artificial intelligence turning against its creators, as we have seen in numerous Star Trek episodes, but DeCandidio subverts these expectations.  When Ganitriul begins to malfunction and sends out a distress call to the Starfleet Corps of Engineers, the threat to our heroes comes not from Ganitriul, but from an extremist sect of Eerlika who want to destroy the all-powerful computer housed on their planet's moon.  Perhaps because they've seen too many Star Trek episodes about artificial intelligences turning against their creators?

This novel was something of an improvement over the first book in the series, primarily for its focus on character development, particularly in regards to 110, the Bynar whose partner was killed in the previous book.  I also liked that Captain David Gold of the starship da Vinci was involved in the action more directly this time around, showing that he is not just a glorified chauffeur for the S.C.E. crew.  Geordi LaForge is still around, on temporary loan from the Enterprise, although he doesn't have much to do in this novel, and I suspect his presence may have been required to justify his prominent appearance on the cover.

Star Trek: S.C.E. #1: The Belly of the Beast

By Dean Wesley Smith

This is the first in a long running series of Star Trek novellas originally released exclusively as e-books.  The concept of S.C.E., as conceived by series creators John J. Ordover and Keith R.A. DeCandido, involves the Starfleet Corps of Engineers and their adventures aboard the starship da Vinci.  The da Vinci is captained by David Gold, and the S.C.E. team is lead by Sonya Gomez, a character who had made a couple of appearances on early episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation.  Many of the other members of the S.C.E. are also minor characters from TNG and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.  There are also a pair of Bynars in the group, and Montgomery Scott works behind the scenes, assigning the group their missions.

The book opens with an intense battle between the Enterprise and a gargantuan alien vessel that is attacking a colony.  Picard and his crew eventually manage to depower the massive ship, and the S.C.E. is called in to investigate.  While the Enterprise departs on another mission, Geordi LaForge and Lieutenant Vale, the Enterprise's new chief of security, stay behind to assist the S.C.E.  As the team penetrates ever deeper into the alien ship, they eventually uncover a frightening new enemy, and the story takes on the feel of a claustrophobic horror movie.  Gomez and her team are eventually able to overcome this new threat to the Federation, but at a terrible cost.

I really love the idea of a series devoted to the engineers, as that branch of Starfleet has given us some of the most memorable and beloved Star Trek characters.  I am also fond of Star Trek stories that are based in some part on real science, and it seems as though this series would be tailor made for such stories.  This first entry in the S.C.E. series showed a lot of promise.  I particularly liked the creepy atmosphere and gruesome aliens.  The ending seemed rather abrupt, but that may have more to do with the fact that I am accustomed to reading full-length Star Trek novels.  I have talked before about my ambivalence towards the writing of Dean Wesley Smith.  His prose is very straightforward and workmanlike, and he doesn't tend to spend a lot of time on character development, which, especially for the first book in a series introducing many new characters, is a weakness.  Compare the characters in this book to those in Peter David's first New Frontier novel, for example.  David takes a lot of time establishing his cast of distinct characters, whereas in this book, few of the S.C.E. crew really distinguished themselves as individuals.  Again, that may have something to do with the length of the book (which I'm assuming was dictated by the publishers or editors with the then relatively new e-book format in mind), but I hope future S.C.E. novels take a bit more time to flesh out the cast.  Still, a promising start to what could be a very cool series.

****
Note: Belly of the Beast is also collected in the print anthology Star Trek: S.C.E., Book One: Have Tech, Will Travel.

This Month in Star Trek Books: November 2011

The following Star Trek books will be available later this month.  I realize I've listed a couple of these books in previous TMISTB entries, but I'm now finding information that suggests they'll be released this month, presumably after having been slightly delayed.


Star Trek Movie Universe Box Set
by David Messina (artist), Robert Orci, Alex Kurtzman, Mike Johnson, and Tim Jones
available: 11/15/2011

From the Publisher:

Relive the Star Trek franchise re-launch on the comic book page with this collector's edition slipcase containing all three Star Trek movie-related trade paperbacks. Find out how and why Nero and Spock have such a tenuous relationship in Countdown! Learn about the dark years Nero spent plotting his revenge against Spock and the Federation in Nero! And finally, experience the motion picture all over again in the strikingly stylish Official Motion Picture Adaptation!


Star Trek: Mirror Universe: Rise Like Lions
by David Mack
available: 11/29/2011

From the Publisher:

IN THE MIRROR UNIVERSE . . .
 
Miles “Smiley” O’Brien struggles to hold together his weary band of freedom fighters in their war against the overwhelming might of the Klingon-Cardassian Alliance. Each day pushes the rebels on Terok Nor one step closer to defeat, but with nowhere left to run, the time has come to make their last stand.
 
Light-years away, Mac Calhoun and his Romulan allies harass Klingon forces with devious hit-and-run attacks. But Calhoun has a grander ambition: he intends to merge his fleet with the Terran Rebellion and lead it to victory—or die trying.
 
Meanwhile, a bitter feud threatens to shatter the Alliance from within. The old rivalry between the Klingons and the Cardassians erupts into open warfare as each vies for the upper hand in their partnership.

Manipulating events from its hidden redoubts, Memory Omega—the secret operation initiated by Spock a century earlier—sees its plans come to fruition sooner than expected. But striking early means risking everything—and if the revolution fails, Spock’s vision for the future will be lost forever.


Star Trek Book of Opposites
by David Borgenicht
available: 11/29/2011

From the Publisher:

EXPLORE STRANGE NEW WORDS!

With the help of Kirk, Spok, McCoy, and two dozen colorful pictures from across the galaxy, teach your children the meaning of big and little, hot and cold, apart and together, and much more!