Star Trek: S.C.E. #5: Interphase, Book Two

by Dayton Ward and Kevin Dilmore

The second of a two-part series about the Starfleet Corp. of Engineer's efforts to rescue the derelict U.S.S. Defiant from interphase space provides a more or less satisfying conclusion to the story set up in book one.  Sonya Gomez and her team of engineers are trapped aboard a powerless Defiant in interphase, and must devise a creative solution to reopen the interspatial rift and return to normal space.  Meanwhile, back in normal space, Kieran Duffy finds himself in command of the da Vinci, as the da Vinci's captain, David Gold, is stranded with Gomez and her crew aboard the Defiant.  A group of hostile Tholians has targeted the da Vinci with one of their deadly energy webs, in an eerie parallel of the situation faced by the crew of the Enterprise decades ago.  While the conclusion was a bit abrupt, I enjoyed the mounting tension in this book, and all of the nods to the original series episode The Tholian Web, including cameo appearances by Montgomery Scott and another of the original Enterprise crew.  Together, the two Interphase novels are probably the best of the S.C.E. books to date, and are especially recommended to fans of The Original Series.

Star Trek: S.C.E. #4: Interphase, Book One

by Dayton Ward and Kevin Dilmore

This first book in a two-part series provides an irresistible hook to fans of The Orignal Series: The U.S.S. Defiant, the Enterprise's sister ship last seen in the TOS episode "The Tholian Web," has been spotted drifting in and out of interphase space.  Obviously, this is of particular interest to Captain Montgomery Scott, who dispatches the da Vinci and her crew of S.C.E. officers to investigate this decades old mystery.  Tensions run high in this first novel, which mostly provides the setup for book two, as the Federation must work with the Tholians, with whom they have forged a delicate alliance.  It is clear that the Starfleet Admiralty considers smooth relations with the Tholians more important than the recovery of the Defiant.

When the S.C.E. crew discovers a secret Tholian weapon aboard the Defiant, the Tholians turn against the da Vinci, and part of her crew become trapped aboard the Defiant in interphase.  Ward and Dilmore take advantage of this longer S.C.E. story to establish tension as well as explore the characters in a bit more depth than the authors are often afforded.  It is also a treat to learn how the Tholians interact with Starfleet in the twenty-fourth century, and the opening scene even takes place from the point of view of that mysterious race.  As sometimes happens with Star Trek novels, the continuity established here would later be contradicted by a couple of very entertaining episodes of Star Trek: Enterprise.

Star Trek: New Frontier #11: Excalibur: Resoration

by Peter David

Reports of the death of Captain Mackenzie Calhoun prove to have been greatly exaggerated, in this, the third and final book in Peter David's Excalibur trilogy.  Like the previous two Excalibur novels, this book follows former crew members of the destroyed starship Excalibur in parallel storylines.  Here we find that Calhoun did in fact escape the Excalibur's destruction (unbeknownst to the rest of his crew, who believe that he died), and has crashed his shuttlecraft on a planet that is home to a pre-warp civilization.  The wonderful Mackenzie Calhoun is Peter David's single greatest contribution to the world of Trek fiction, and he is in fine form here as David places him in a familiar genre that fits the renegade officer like a glove: the western.  All of the tropes of that genre are on display here, including a climactic shootout.  Calhoun first ends up in jail, and then becomes the alien society's equivalent of sheriff.  He keeps his origins a secret, constantly referring to himself as a man "just passing through." 

Despite this, Calhoun appears to be completely stranded with no conceivable way of making his way off planet or even contacting Starfleet.  He reluctantly begins to make a life for himself on this world, becoming particularly attached to a strange young woman named Rheela, and her young son, Moke.  Rheela appears to have the extraordinary ability to control the weather, which causes her to be shunned by the superstitious community who nevertheless depend on her abilities to create much-needed rain.  Characters with semi-mystical abilities are a hallmark of David's Trek work, as are the colorful casts of brand new characters, such as those introduced here as the inhabitants of the town.  While it appears Calhoun and Rheela are headed for a romance, Calhoun's heart clearly belongs to his estranged ex-fiance and former first officer, Elizabeth Shelby, whose own story provides the other half of this novel.

Shelby has finally been granted her greatest desire: command of her own starship.  As captain of the Exeter, Shelby finds her moral resolve tested in a difficult situation in which a group of aliens who initially refuse membership in the United Federation of planets nevertheless require the Exeter's help against their enemies.  Commander Garbeck is introduced as Shelby's first officer, and provides a great foil, as Garbeck is similar to Shelby and tends to play the role Shelby did as first officer of the Excalibur, constantly quoting Starfleet rules and regulations even as Shelby begins to feel stifled by them.  Shelby finds she is becoming more like Calhoun than she ever imagined she would be.

By novel's end, the former Excalibur crew has been reunited aboard a brand new ship, but the conclusion of this book assures that things will never be completely the same.  Change seems to be the only constant in the New Frontier novels, which is one of their strengths.  While I ultimately prefer those books in which all of the characters are together aboard a single ship, this book, with its strong characterization and compelling dual narratives, provides a great conclusion to the Excalibur trilogy, closing the door on another chapter in the lives of this unorthodox crew, while opening another.

This Month in Star Trek Books: February 2012

The following Star Trek books will be available later this month:

Star Trek: That Which Divides
by Dayton Ward and Kevin Dilmore
available: 2/28/2012

From the Publisher:

Located in an area of non-aligned space near Federation and Romulan territory, the Kondaii system is home to a unique stellar phenomenon: a spatial rift that opens every three years in proximity to the system’s sole inhabited planet. Only during this brief period is communication possible with the small, mineral-rich planetoid inside the rift. The local population has established a mining colony on this planetoid, and for the limited duration that the rift is open, a massive interplanetary operation is set into motion: ferrying mineral ore to the home planet while simultaneously transferring personnel and replenishing essential supplies and equipment—everything necessary to sustain the colony before it once again enters forced isolation.

While studying the rift, the science vessel U.S.S. Huang Zhong is severely damaged and crash-lands on the planetoid. After the Starship Enterprise arrives to conduct rescue operations, evidence quickly points to the rift’s artificial nature. It is a feat far beyond the capacity of the local inhabitants, and presents an alluring mystery for Captain James T. Kirk and his crew. It also attracts the attention of the Romulans, who are most interested in studying and perhaps seizing this supposed advanced technology—by any means necessary.

Star Trek Classics, Volume 2: Enemy Unseen

written by Keith R.A. DeCandido, Christopher Golden, Tom Sniegoski, and Scott Ciencin.  drawn by Peter Pachoumis, Scott Benefiel, Dave Hoover, and Andrew Currie

available: 2/28/2012





From the Publisher:

In a long and distinguished career, Captain Jean-Luc Picard and his crew have faced uncounted foes and vanquished incredible dangers. But what happens when the enemy can't be easily seen - when it lurks in the shadows, disguises itself as polite society, or emerges from the depths of one's own mind? These are the antagonists with which the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise must contend with in this volume, the most dangerous kind of enemy - the enemy unseen.

Contains the three stories "Perchance to Dream", "Embrace the Wolf," and "The Killing Shadows."