Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: Section 31: Abyss

By David Weddle and Jeffrey Lang

 

It's important to note right up front that Abyss, while part of the Section 31 "miniseries" that ran through most of the Star Trek fiction line, does not require you to have read any of the other Section 31 novels, nor does it set up any of those other stories.  The Section 31 books were designed to stand alone completely independent of one another, somewhat like the Captain's Table books, which likewise did not have a continuing story but rather a unifying theme.  It is equally important to note that this is the third book published in the relaunch of the Deep Space Nine books that were published after the conclusion of the television series, and thus is an important book in establishing the new DS9 continuity.

In a story vaguely reminiscent of Joseph Conrad's classic novella, Heart of Darkness, Dr. Julian Bashir is approached by Sloan, an operative for the shadowy black ops organization which operates secretly from within the Federation known as Section 31.  Apparently, Section 31 had recruited Ethan Locken, a genetically enhanced human, to assist them in secret operations during the recently concluded Dominion War.  Predictably, Locken then went rogue, setting himself up as "the new Kahn," in charge of his own group of Jem'Hadar soldiers on a planet hidden in the unstable area of space known as the Badlands.  Not a good situation, and one that Sloan hopes Bashir (who is also genetically enhanced) can help them to resolve.  Reluctantly, Bashir agrees to the mission, partly in hopes of exposing Section 31, whom he has had dealings with in the past.  Bashir's girlfriend, Ezri Dax, now on the Command Track in Starfleet, Chief of Security Ro Laren, and Taran'atar, the Jem'Hadar sent by Odo to live and work with the crew of DS9, accompany Bashir on his mission.  A further, intriguing wrinkle is added to the story when Bashir comes to expect that DS9's new first officer, commander Elias Vaughan, may have a connection to Section 31.

Bashir's group is separated during a crash landing on the planet where Locken is hiding.  While Ro Laren and Taran'atar work with the natives of the planet to fight against Locken's Jem'Hadar soldiers, Bashir and Ezri Dax are captured, and it seems as though the charismatic (and clearly insane) Locken may be tempting Bashir to the dark side.

Although I like the concept of Section 31, I have never been a huge fan of those stories involving Bashir's genetic enhancement, and so a lot of this admittedly well constructed novel fell flat for me.  I never really bought that Bashir would be tempted for even a moment to switch to Locken's side, and Locken himself comes across as Kahn Lite.  Years later, Star Trek: Enterprise would revisit the concept of genetically enhanced humans in a much more interesting fashion.  Still, for DS9 fans, this is probably a must read, particularly for the insights into some of the new characters, specifically Elias Vaughan and Taran'atar.  Ultimately this is a solid, early entry in the well-conceived Deep Space Nine relaunch.

This Month in Star Trek Books: April 2012

The following Star Trek books are available this month.

 

 

Star Trek Volume 1

written by Mike Johnson, drawn by Steve Molnar
available: now

From the Publisher:

The adventures of the Starship Enterprise continue in this new story that picks up where the blockbuster 2009 film left off! Featuring the new cast of the film, these missions re-imagine the stories from the original series in the alternate timeline created by the film, along with new threats and characters never seen before! With creative collaboration from Star Trek writer/producer Roberto Orci, this new series begins the countdown to the much-anticipated movie sequel premiering in 2012!

 

 

Star Trek: DTI: Forgotten History

by Christopher L. Bennett

available: 4/24/2012  

 

 

 

From the Publisher:

 

The agents of the Department of Temporal Investigations are assigned to look into an anomaly that has appeared deep in Federation territory. It’s difficult to get clear readings, but a mysterious inactive vessel lies at the heart of the anomaly, one outfitted with some sort of temporal drive disrupting space-time and subspace. To the agents’ shock, the ship bears a striking resemblance to a Constitution-class starship, and its warp signature matches that of the original Federation starship Enterprise NCC-1701—the ship of James T. Kirk, that infamous bogeyman of temporal investigators, whose record of violations is held up by DTI agents as a cautionary tale for Starfleet recklessness toward history. But the vessel’s hull markings identify it as Timeship Two, belonging to none other than the DTI itself. At first, Agents Lucsly and Dulmur assume the ship is from some other timeline . . . but its quantum signature confirms that it came from their own past, despite the fact that the DTI never possessed such a timeship. While the anomaly is closely monitored, Lucsly and Dulmur must search for answers in the history of Kirk’s Enterprise and its many encounters with time travel—a series of events with direct ties to the origins of the DTI itself. . . .

 

 

 

This Month in Star Trek Books: March 2012

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

Star Trek: Destiny
by David Mack
available: 3/13/2012

From the Publisher:

THREE THRILLING STAR TREK NOVELS IN ONE VOLUME!

Half a decade after the Dominion War and more than a year after the rise and fall of Praetor Shinzon, the galaxy’s greatest scourge, the Borg, returns to wreak havoc upon the Federation—and this time, its goal is nothing less than total annihilation.

Elsewhere, deep in the Gamma Quadrant, an ancient mystery is solved. One of Earth’s first generation of starships, lost for centuries, has been found dead and empty on a desolate planet. But its discovery so far from home has raised disturbing questions, and the answers harken back to a struggle for survival that once tested a captain and her crew to the limits of their humanity.

From that terrifying flashpoint begins an apocalyptic odyssey that will reach across time and space to reveal the past, define the future, and show three captains that some destinies are inescapable. For Captain Jean-Luc Picard of the U.S.S. Enterprise, defending the future has never been so important, or so personal—and the wrong choice will cost him everything for which he has struggled and suffered. For Captain William Riker of the U.S.S. Titan, that choice has already been made—haunted by the memories of those he was forced to leave behind, he must jeopardize all that he has left in a desperate bid to save the Federation. And for Captain Ezri Dax of the U.S.S. Aventine, whose impetuous youth is balanced by the wisdom of many lifetimes, the choice is a simple one: there is no going back—only forward to whatever future awaits them. . . .

CONTAINS THE COMPLETE AND CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED DESTINY TRILOGY

GODS OF NIGHT

MERE MORTALS

LOST SOULS

Star Trek: Vanguard: Storming Heaven

by David Mack

available: 3/27/2012

From the Publisher:

“I WAS THERE UNTILTHE END, MATE. THE BITTER, BLOODY END.”

Vanguard is under siege. Surrounded by enemies, Admiral Nogura sends the scout ship Sagittarius to find an ancient weapon that might be the Federation’s only hope of stopping the alien threat known as the Shedai . . . Qo’noS is wracked by scandal. Councillor Gorkon fights to expose a Romulan plot to corrupt members of the Klingon High Council, only to learn the hard way that crusaders have few allies, and even fewer friends . . . Tholia teeters on the brink of madness. To prevent Starfleet from wielding theShedai’s power as its own, the Tholians deploy an armada with one mission: Kill the Shedai—by destroying Vanguard.

THE EPIC SAGA’S EXPLOSIVE FINALE

Star Trek, Volume 1

written by Mike Johnson, drawn by Steve Molnar

available: 3/27/2012

From the Publisher:

The adventures of the Starship Enterprise continue in this new story that picks up where the blockbuster 2009 film left off! Featuring the new cast of the film, these missions re-imagine the stories from the original series in the alternate timeline created by the film, along with new threats and characters never seen before! With creative collaboration from Star Trek writer/producer Roberto Orci, this new series begins the countdown to the much-anticipated movie sequel premiering in 2012!           



Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: Avatar, Books One and Two

by S.D. Perry

In 2001, Pocket Books, longtime publishers of Star Trek fiction, tried something new.  For the first time, they would continue the story of one of the television series beyond the events of the final episode.  A considerable challenge, especially since the series in question was the excellent Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, a series that was known for complex storylines and an ever-shifting status quo.  Not only was the quality of the series very high, but events in the final episode had removed many of the main characters from the cast.  The two-part Avatar series meets these challenges by providing a great story by S.D. Perry, a writer who had done little previous work in the Star Trek universe, and by introducing many new characters to the cast.

Book One opens with a timeline detailing all of the major events that occurred over the course of the DS9 television series, which served as a great reminder of where everyone was left after the final episode, and also reminded me of just how much I loved DS9.  After the timeline, the story begins three months after the events of the final episode (which is also the length of time that would have passed between seasons of the television series), with Jake Sisko's discovery of a heretical Bajoran prophecy, which seems to indicate that Jake must travel into the wormhole to bring back his father, Benjamin Sisko, who has ascended linear time to live with the godlike Prophets.  Meanwhile, Colonel Kira Nerys has assumed command of Deep Space Nine, which has been left nearly defenseless after the recently concluded Dominion War.  While repairs are being made to the station and to the Defiant, the U.S.S. Aldebaran has been tasked with providing the station's defense.  Despite the recently brokered peace, the station is indeed attacked by a small group of Jem'Hadar warships, and the Aldebaran is destroyed in the process.  The station is saved in the nick of time by the Defiant, under the command of Ezri Dax, whose experiences in the battle will lead her to reevaluate her life as a joined Trill and her career in Starfleet.  As in the television series, these books mix political intrigue with religious and mystical themes, as the same heretical text that contained the prophecy about the possible return of Benjamin Sisko also seems to indicate that a large number of Bajorans must die to herald the birth of the Avatar, the unborn child of Benjamin Sisko and Kasidy Yates.

S.D. Perry has a firm grasp on the tone of the series and the characters.  Kira Nerys struggles with the burden of command and suffers a devastating loss at the very end of Book Two.  Dr. Julian Bashir and Ensign Ezri Dax's budding romance is handled with nuance and complexity.  The Ferengi barkeep  Quark provides his usual comedic relief, even as his nephew Nog continues to come into his own as a capable Starfleet officer.  As well as these familiar characters are handled, it is in the introduction of some exciting new characters that the Avatar books really shine.  Among the new members of the cast are:

 * Ensign ch'Thane, an Andorian officer whose mother is a high ranking Federation diplomat.  As this novel was published before Star Trek: Enterprise was on the air, the Andorians were a still somewhat unexamined alien race in the Star Trek universe, and the addition of ch'Thane should open up a lot of storytelling possibilities, particularly as the young officer seems to be hiding a lot of secrets about his past.

 * Commander Elias Vaughn, a 101 year old Starfleet officer who has been involved in covert missions for decades, and who experiences a spiritual epiphany when he and the crew of the Enterprise uncover the lost Bajoran Orb of Memory.  While it has long been established that humans of the twenty-fourth century live considerably longer than their counterparts in the present day, the concept has never really been explored on any of the various Star Trek series, making Elias Vaughn an intriguing and welcome addition to the cast.

 * Ro Laren, a popular supporting character from Star Trek: The Next Generation, formerly of Starfleet and the Maquis, now serving with Bajoran Special Forces and assigned as the new security chief of Deep Space Nine. The agnostic Ro is an excellent foil for the devout Colonel Kira.  One of the best things about Odo, the previous chief of security, was his antagonistic relationship with Quark.  The relationship between Ro Laren and Quark is quite different but no less entertaining: He is in love with her.

 * Taran'atar is perhaps my favorite of the new characters, a Jem'Hadar soldier with a genetic immunity to ketracel white who has been sent by Odo to learn about humanity from his friends aboard DS9.  All of the various incarnations of Star Trek have included an outsider character who struggled with the concept of humanity, and Odo was that character on DS9.  Having him send Taran'atar to the station, ostensibly to fulfill that role anew, was a brilliant move that should, again, provide for rich storylines.

These books kept me on the edge of my seat, and are excellent science fiction novels that maintain the high level of quality established by the television series.  The bar was set very high by the television show, and the Avatar books have likewise established a very high level of quality that I hope the following books in the series are able to match.  An excellent start to an exciting new chapter of Star Trek fiction.

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."           

Shatner Rules: Your Guide To Understanding the Shatnerverse and the World At Large

By William Shatner with Chris Regan

In his newest book, Shatner Rules, and in his previous (excellent) autobiography Up Till Now, William Shatner makes a distinction between his two personas, "Bill" and "William Shatner." Bill is a fairly normal, laid back guy who enjoys spending time with friends and family. "William Shatner" is a performer, and has become almost as much of a character as the many portrayed by the actor over the course of his career. "William Shatner" is always "on," a showboat who may be a bit too full of himself, but in an endearing way. You want "William Shatner" as a guest on your talk show. You want "Bill" as a guest for dinner.

If Up Till Now was written primarily in "Bill's" voice, Shatner Rules is primarily written in the voice of "William Shatner." Organized as a series of rules for life, Shatner Rules is essentially a collection of anecdotes detailing amusing events from Shatner's personal and professional life, and the lessons he's learned from them. The book should not be mistaken for a second volume of Shatner's memoirs, but, because the actor/singer(!?)/director/producer/author continues to be so prolific, it is a nice companion to that longer work, and does a nice job of catching us up on the various projects he's been involved in since Up Till Now's publication.

The book is frequently very funny, such as a chapter detailing a fan's theft of Shatner's underwear from a hotel room, or a meeting between the ultra liberal Henry Rollins and Rush Limbaugh at a Shatner hosted football party. There are some serious moments as well, as the death of Shatner's wife is briefly discussed, but for the most part the tone is light and amusing. I confess I get a perverse thrill out of the various "feuds" between Shatner and some of his former Star Trek cast members, and Shatner doesn't pull any punches here on that score, particularly concerning George Takei and his recent highly publicized wedding (to which Shatner was not invited), which Shatner suggests may have been something of a publicity stunt.

The first and most important of Shatner's Rules is "Say 'Yes'," a philosophy which has served him well in his career and life. Even decisions which may have at first seemed to be poor ones (his infamous and oft-mocked "The Transformed Man" album, for example) can lead to unexpected opportunities (a further musical collaboration with Ben Folds, leading to a famous series of commercials for Priceline, leading to David Kelley's casting Shatner in Boston Legal in one of the most highly praised and rewarded performances of his career). At eighty years of age (another oft-discussed topic in Shatner Rules), Shatner has accumulated a lot of experience and a lot of wisdom, and he shares some of it in this book. Reading Shatner Rules is a bit like sitting down with a beloved uncle, whose stories are often laugh out loud funny, and may contain a few valuable life lessons as well.

Star Trek Books Reading Order

Check out this amazing chart showing the connections between all of the Star Trek books from the 8of5 Blog: http://8of5.blogspot.com/p/trek-lit-reading-order.html

Very cool!

Star Trek Vault: 40 Years From the Archives

Guess what I got for Christmas?  Yes, Star Trek has joined other franchises such as Marvel Comics and Transformers in the popular "vault" format.  For those unfamiliar, these sorts of gift books have been showing up fairly regularly in book stores the past few years.  They are usually oversized books showcasing a lot of photos and artwork, and often include several "extras," little collectible items inserted in pockets throughout the text.

Star Trek seems tailor made for this sort of approach, and the Star Trek Vault does not disappoint.  I'm always a bit hesitant to recommend nonfiction Trek books, because I'm afraid some hardcore fans will be disappointed they haven't learned anything they didn't already know.  Still, while author Scott Tipton doesn't break any new ground here (much of his information seems to have been gleaned from interviews in Star Trek Magazine), I was fond of his approach.  Each chapter takes a look at a particular Star Trek television series (animated series included), or series of films (TOS & TNG).  Each of the series is given more or less the same amount of pages in the book, which made for a nice, balanced approach.  Curiously, the latest big screen Trek offering, the J.J. Abrams directed Star Trek (2009) is not discussed.

One thing that makes this book unique among Trek surveys is that Tipton spends as much time discussing all of the merchandising as he does the series themselves.  The evolution of Star Trek action figures across various licence holders was interesting, as was a close look at the Star Trek comic books produced by various publishers over the years (Tipton himself writes Star Trek comics for current licence holder IDW).  My favorite was Tipton's hilarious description of one of the oddest bits of Star Trek merchandise ever produced, the official Star Trek V marshmallow dispenser!

As for the extras tucked away in the book's pages, you'll find a "Spock Lives" pennant from Star Trek II: The Wrath of Kahn, a reproduction of a vintage Star Trek coloring book, unintentionally hilarious trading cards, and a Japanese movie poster for Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home.  There are lots of other such goodies that should delight Trek fans and collectors, as this aspect of the book was particularly well handled.  The production values on this book are top notch, and I would recommend every Star Trek fan clear some space on their shelves for this entertaining look at our favorite pop culture phenomenon.

This Month in Star Trek Books: January 2012

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

Star Trek Classics: The Next Generation: The Gorn Crisis
written by Kevin J. Anderson and Rebecca Moesta, drawn by Igor Kordey
available: 1/10/2012

From the Publisher:

With a fierce war raging and resources running low, the U.S.S Enterprise has been assigned a sensitive diplomatic mission - to enlist aid from the alien race known as the Gorn. But the Gorn have a crisis of their own, a brewing revolution in their ranks. And when it comes to the Federation, some of the Gorn have long memories...


Star Trek: The Original Series: The Rings of Time
by Greg Cox
available: 1/31/2012

From the Publisher:

2020: The U.S.S. Lewis & Clark, under the command of Colonel Shaun Christopher, sets off on humanity’s first manned mission to Saturn. But the unexpected presence of a stowaway complicates the mission—as does a startling encounter with an alien probe. But when Colonel Christopher attempts to capture the probe, he suddenly finds himself transported across time and space to a future era of space exploration. . . .

Stardate 7103.4: The U.S.S. Enterprise responds to an urgent distress call from a mining colony orbiting Klondike VI, a ringed gas giant not unlike Saturn. For unknown reasons, the planet’s rings are coming apart, threatening the safety of the colony and its inhabitants. Searching for a way to avert the disaster, Captain James T. Kirk and his crew investigate a mysterious alien probe that has just entered the system. But when the probe is beamed aboard, Kirk abruptly finds himself floating in space above Saturn, wearing an old-fashioned NASA spacesuit, with the Enterprise nowhere in sight. . . .

Two missions. Two crews. And a time-twisting crisis that spans the centuries. . . .

Merry Christmas!

Star Trek: S.C.E. #3: Hard Crash

by Christie Golden

A mysterious and powerful ship crash lands on the surface of a populated planet.  When the S.C.E. crew investigates, they find the ship's deceased pilot (and only occupant) physically connected to the ship.  While an autopsy reveals possible connections to the Borg, the crashed ship becomes active and begins to fire on the da Vinci.

What at first appears to be a sinister threat reveals itself to be something much more complex, in this surprisingly moving third entry in the S.C.E. series.  Once again, 110, the Bynar whose mate was killed in the first book in the series, plays a significant role and is more or less the hero of the story.  We also learn a bit more about the personal lives of some of the da Vinci's crew, particularly the linguist Bart Faulwell.  Another solid entry in this entertaining series of short novels.

This Month in Star Trek Books: December 2011

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


Star Trek: New Frontier #18: Blind Man's Bluff (mass market paperback edition, previously published in trade paperback)
by Peter David
available: 12/27/11

From the Publisher:

Captain MacKenzie Calhoun has faced incredible odds before, but nothing he has ever experienced could prepare him for the simultaneous threats from two of the most destructive forces he’s ever encountered. The first is the D’myurj—a mysterious and powerful alien race bent on either the complete domination of humanity or its destruction . . . a potentially massive risk to the very foundations of Starfleet, one that goes so deep it’s impossible to determine whom to trust. The second is even more alarming: Morgan Primus, once a living creature with a soul and a conscience, now an incredibly sophisticated computer simulation taking up residence within the very core of the U.S.S. Excalibur . . . and quickly becoming a growing menace for the Federation. MacKenzie Calhoun is playing a dangerous game as he attempts to outwit and outmaneuver these new enemies, with the fate of the Excalibur crew members and potentially the lives of billions at stake. . . .

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!

Author Interviews: Keith R.A. DeCandido and Michael Martin

At The Chronic Rift, in the latest episode of Dead Kitchen Radio, Keith R.A. DeCandido reflects on Star Trek: S.C.E., a series of novels he co-created.  Meanwhile, StarTrek.com offers another great Star Trek author interview, this time an epic two-parter with Star Trek: Enterprise: The Romulan War: To Brave the Storm author Michael Martin.

Star Trek: New Frontier #10: Excalibur: Renaissance

By Peter David

As in the first book of the Excalibur trilogy, this novel follows some of the former members of the crew of the recently destroyed starship Excalibur as they go their seperate ways and have their own adventures.  One storyline involves Selar, Burgoyne, and their child, Xyon,whose gender is at last revealed...he's a boy.  Selar has taken Xyon back to Vulcan to be raised as a member of that species.  Burgoyne is furious about this, desiring a relationship with hir son and convinced the child must be raised as both a Vulcan and a Hermat.  S/he pursues Selar to Vulcan and eventually challenges her to ritualized combat similar to that seen in the famous Original Series episode Amok Time.  I have always thought that episode was interesting because of Spock's repressed sexual energy being channeled as violence towards Kirk (a man he loves), so it was fun to see that sexual tension brought to the surface between these two characters in this way.  The Selar/Burgoyne/Xyon storyline is brought to a satisfying conclusion, and provides a nice ending (for now) to the soap operatic relationship between those characters that New Frontier fans should enjoy.  My only gripe with this section of the book involves a surprise guest star brought in at the end.  I didn't really understand why this character would involve himself in Burgoyne's and Selar's domestic dispute.

Meanwhile, Robin Lefler and her enigmatic mother, Morgan, take a vacation on the pleasure planet Risa.  While there, they encounter Montgomery Scott, always a welcome presence in any Star Trek story.  Scotty and Morgan have a bit of a flirtatious relationship, and Robin seems to have found romance as well, but the young man she has met is harboring dark secrets.  This storyline is not wrapped up completely in this novel and leads directly into the final book of the Excalibur trilogy.

I liked this book more than the previous novel in the series, mostly for the resolution of Selar and Burgoyne's relationship and the appearance of Scotty.  It still feels like a bit of an appetizer before the main course, but a tastier one this time out.