Friday, March 31, 2017

Literary Treks 184: Don't Scratch Your Sand Pimples!

Enterprise: By the Book
by Dean Wesley Smith & Kristine Kathryn Rusch


Season one of Enterprise was a unique time in Star Trek history: for the first time, humans were setting out to explore the galaxy and make first contact with new alien species. Would they jump in with both feet, introducing themselves and their technology with little regard for the consequences, or would they take the slow, measured approach favored by the Vulcans?

In this week's episode of Literary Treks, hosts Dan Gunther and Bruce Gibson are joined by special guest Brandon-Shea Mutala to discuss the first original Enterprise novel: By the Book. We talk about the crew's RPG game, Archer's first contact style, how well the novel portrays the series in its early days, the two alien races, Vulcan logic vs. Human impulsiveness, and wrap up with our ratings.

In the news, we have a new TNG cover to judge and a new Waypoint comic to discuss.


Literary Treks 184: Don't Scratch Your Sand Pimples!
Enterprise: By the Book by Dean Wesley Smith and Kristine Kathryn Rusch






Previous episode: Literary Treks 183: Morn's Little French Beret
Next episode: Literary Treks 185: Damiano's Pizza


Tuesday, March 28, 2017

Literary Treks 183: Morn's Little French Beret

Deep Space Nine: The Long Mirage
Exclusive interview with author David R. George III!



We once again return to everyone's favorite space station, Deep Space Nine! Kira has returned from her time in the celestial temple, Morn is still missing, and Nog wants his friend Vic Fontaine back. All of these stories end up tied together in ways you couldn't possibly imagine!

In this episode of Literary Treks, hosts Dan Gunther and Bruce Gibson are joined by author David R. George III to talk about his latest DS9 adventure, The Long Mirage. We discuss where the characters are now, the possible sentience of Vic Fontaine, Quark's relationships, Ro's choices, Sisko's absence, tying the Vic Fontaine and Morn stories together, faith and belief, and the meaning behind the title.

In the news segment, we preview the Jean-Luc Picard autobiography, anticipate the release of Section 31: Control, review the new Star Trek Deviations comic, and announce the title of David Mack's upcoming Star Trek: Discovery novel!


Literary Treks 183: Morn's Little French Beret
Interview with David R. George III, author of Deep Space Nine: The Long Mirage






Previous episode: Literary Treks 182: Tough Noogies
Next episode: Literary Treks 184: Don't Scratch Your Sand Pimples!


Release Day! Section 31: Control by David Mack!

Star Trek: Section 31
Control by David Mack

At long last, the much-anticipated follow-up to Section 31: Disavowed is here! I've been waiting to see what was next for Julian Bashir in his on-going clash with the enigmatic shadow organization, Section 31. And finally, we can all find out together!

Section 31: Control by David Mack officially releases today in bookstores everywhere and in e-book format. Download or order it today, preferably using the links below if you feel so inclined!

And maybe someone can tell me why Chapters, Canada's largest book retailer, still shows this as "not available in stores" even though the release day is upon us. Really? No store in Canada has this book? What is up with that, Chapters? It may be time to move exclusively to Amazon, I think.



Check out below for the cover art, back cover blurb, and links to purchase from Amazon! And look for my review of Section 31: Control available now!



Publisher's description:
From the New York Times bestselling author David Mack comes an original, thrilling Section 31 novel set in the Star Trek: The Next Generation universe!

No law…no conscience…no mercy. Amoral, shrouded in secrecy, and answering to no one, Section 31 is the mysterious covert operations division of Starfleet, a rogue shadow group pledged to defend the Federation at any cost. The discovery of a two-hundred-year-old secret gives Doctor Julian Bashir his best chance yet to expose and destroy the illegal spy organization. But his foes won’t go down without a fight, and his mission to protect the Federation he loves just end up triggering its destruction. Only one thing is for certain: this time, the price of victory will be paid with Bashir’s dearest blood.

Purchase Section 31: Control:



Wednesday, March 22, 2017

New cover reveal! TNG: Hearts and Minds by Dayton Ward

New cover revealed for the next TNG adventure by Dayton Ward! I'm really looking forward to this one, as it is a follow-up to two of my favorite Ward adventures, From History's Shadow and Elusive Salvation! Check out the cover art and back cover blurb for the upcoming Hearts and Minds!



Publisher's Description:

An electrifying thriller from the New York Times bestselling author in the Star Trek: The Next Generation universe.

2031: United States Air Force fighter jets shoot down an unidentified spacecraft and take its crew into custody. Soon, it’s learned that the ship is one of several dispatched across space by an alien species, the Eizand, to search for a new home before their own world becomes uninhabitable. Fearing extraterrestrial invasion, government and military agencies which for more than eighty years have operated in secret swing into action, charged with protecting humanity no matter the cost...

2386: Continuing their exploration of the Odyssean Pass, Captain Jean-Luc Picard and the crew of the Starship Enterprise discover what they at first believe is a previously uncharted world, with a civilization still recovering from the effects of global nuclear war. An astonishing priority message from Starfleet Command warns that there’s more to this planet than meets the eye, and Picard soon realizes that the mysteries of this world may well weave through centuries of undisclosed human history...


Pre-order Hearts and Minds from:

Mass-market paperback: Amazon.com | Amazon.ca | Amazon.co.uk
E-book (Kindle): Amazon.com | Amazon.ca | Amazon.co.uk


Tuesday, March 21, 2017

Literary Treks 182: Tough Noogies

Star Trek: Countdown: Volume One



When the new J.J. Abrams Star Trek film hit theaters in 2009, audiences were left with a lot of questions: who is this Nero guy? Why does he have a super-powerful mining ship? And what exactly happened before he and Spock travelled to the 23rd century via black hole? Thankfully, those questions and more were answered if you were fortunate enough to read some well-timed IDW Star Trek comics!

In this episode of Literary Treks, hosts Bruce Gibson and Dan Gunther talk about the four-issue comic miniseries Countdown. We discuss each of the issues, the character of Nero, a resurrected Data, Ambassador Picard, General Worf of the Klingon Empire, Spock and Nero's ultimate fate, and conclude with our ratings.

In the news segment, we talk about upcoming comics for May, a special preview of issue number one of Mirror Broken, and an exciting sale on Star Trek comics at Comixology!


Literary Treks 182: Tough Noogies
Countdown, Volume One






Previous episode: Literary Treks 181: Mas Marko? Mas Polo!
Next episode: Literary Treks 183: Morn's Little French Beret


Friday, March 17, 2017

Headlong Flight

Star Trek: The Next Generation
Headlong Flight by Dayton Ward
Release date: January 31st 2017
Read February 7th 2017


Previous book (The Next Generation): Prey, Book 3: The Hall of Heroes

Next book (The Next Generation): Hearts and Minds


Mass-market paperback: Amazon.com | Amazon.ca | Amazon.co.uk
E-book (Kindle): Amazon.com | Amazon.ca | Amazon.co.uk



Spoilers ahead for Headlong Flight!

Publisher's description:
An exhilarating thriller from bestselling author Dayton Ward set in the universe of Star Trek: The Next Generation, following Captain Jean-Luc Picard and his crew as they explore the previously uncharted and dangerous Odyssean Pass.

Surveying a nebula as part of their continuing exploration of the previously uncharted “Odyssean Pass,” Captain Jean-Luc Picard and the crew of the Starship Enterprise encounter a rogue planet. Life signs are detected on the barren world’s surface, and then a garbled message is received: a partial warning to stay away at all costs. Determined to render assistance, Picard dispatches Commander Worf and an away team to investigate, but their shuttlecraft is forced to make an emergency landing on the surface—moments before all contact is lost and the planet completely disappears.

Worf and his team learn that this mysterious world is locked into an unending succession of random jumps between dimensions, the result of an ambitious experiment gone awry. The Enterprise crewmembers and the alien scientists who created the technology behind this astonishing feat find themselves trapped, powerless to break the cycle. Meanwhile, as the planet continues to fade in and out of various planes of existence, other parties have now taken notice….

My thoughts:

Click here to watch my video review of Headlong Flight, or click play on the embedded video below!




Final thoughts:

This novel ended up being a bit of a surprise hit for me. I was prepared for a pretty standard, run-of-the-mill TNG adventure, but this novel turned out to be one of my favorite Dayton Ward books ever. The action was tightly plotted, the situations the characters found themselves in were fresh and interesting, and the inclusion of alternate realities gave the story just the little extra it needed without feeling like it was fan service or gimmicky.

More about Headlong Flight:


Also by Dayton Ward:

Next time on Trek Lit Reviews:

I'm afraid I've fallen behind in my schedule once again! Hoping to have a review for the "Shatnerverse" novel Avenger up soon. In the meantime, live long and prosper!


Thursday, March 2, 2017

Literary Treks 181: Mas Marko? Mas Polo!




In 1993, a new Star Trek series hit the airwaves: Deep Space Nine, a darker, grittier Trek set aboard a space station. Like every new Star Trek series, a line of original novels was produced by Pocket Books, and the first book in that series would be penned by none other than Trek literary legend, Peter David.

In this episode of Literary Treks, Dan Gunther, Bruce Gibson, and special guest Brandon Shea-Mutala discuss the first original Deep Space Nine novel, The Siege. We talk about the links to season one of DS9, how well Peter David captures the voices of the characters, the violence of the story, a possible Babylon 5 connection, Bashir's actions, and the story's villain.

In the news segment, we share our thoughts on the new comics Boldly Go issue 5, and Stranger Worlds issue 3.


Literary Treks 181: Mas Marko? Mas Polo!
Deep Space Nine #2: The Siege by Peter






Previous episode: Literary Treks 180: Seeing Geordis in My Sleep
Next episode: Literary Treks 182: Tough Noogies