Impressive cover art for DS9: The Missing! *UPDATED*

We have a new cover to show you today: To be released on December 30th, it's Deep Space Nine: The Missing by Una McCormack! Check out the impressive cover art by Doug Drexler below, and read the publisher's description. This one sounds like it's going to be good! But then, when are Una McCormick's novels not terrific?

As always, links are included below to pre-order The Missing from Amazon. Ordering using these links helps out Trek Lit Reviews. So, thank you!


UPDATE:

The cover art has been tweaked slightly to great effect (in my humble opinion)! Gone is the weird purple background in favor of a much more contrast-y black. Looks much better!

The entire sector is waiting to see what the newly reopened Bajoran wormhole will mean for the shifting political landscape in the Alpha Quadrant. On Deep Space 9, Captain Ro Laren is suddenly drawn into the affairs of the People of the Open Sky, who have come to the station in search of sanctuary. Despite the opposition of the station's security officer, Jefferson Blackmer, Ro Laren and Deep Space 9's new CMO, Doctor Beverly Crusher, offer the People aid. But when Dr. Crusher’s highly secure files are accessed without permission—the same files that hold the secrets of the Shedai, a race whose powerful but half-understood scientific secrets solved the Andorian catastrophe—the People seem the likeliest suspects.

As tensions rise on the station, the science vessel Athene Donald arrives as part of its journey of exploration. The brainchild of Doctor Katherine Pulaski, this ship is crewed by different species from the Khitomer Accords and the Typhon Pact. Pulaski’s hope is that science will do what diplomacy has not: help the great powers put aside their hostilities and work together. But when the Athene Donald is summarily stopped in her voyage by the powerful vessel of a hitherto unknown species, Pulaski begins to wonder—will this first contact bring her crew together or tear them all apart?

Purchase the mass-market paperback from: Amazon.com | Amazon.ca | Amazon.co.uk
Purchase the e-book (Kindle) version from: Amazon.com | Amazon.ca | Amazon.co.uk

Day of the Vipers

Star Trek: Terok Nor (A Saga of The Lost Era)
Day of the Vipers, 2318 - 2328 by James Swallow
Published April 2008
Read March 18^th 2014

Previous book (The Lost Era): The Next Generation: The Buried Age
Next book (Terok Nor): Night of the Wolves

Purchase (MMPB): Amazon.com | Amazon.ca | Amazon.co.uk
Purchase (Kindle): Amazon.com | Amazon.ca | Amazon.co.uk

Spoilers ahead for Day of the Vipers and the Terok Nor miniseries!

From the back cover:

A seemingly benign visitation to the bountiful world of Bajor from the resource-poor Cardassian Union is viewed with cautious optimism by some, trepidation by others, and a calculating gleam by unscrupulous opportunists. What begins as a gesture of compassion soon becomes something very different. Seen through the eyes of participants on both sides -- including those of a young officer named Skrain Dukat -- the personal, political, and religious tensions between the Bajorans and the Cardassians quickly spiral out of control, irrevocably shaping the futures of both worlds in an emotionally charged and unforgettable tale of treachery, tragedy, and hope.

My thoughts:

The Cardassian occupation of Bajor is a 60-year period of history that was explored at various times in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, and the aftermath of which is the setting of the series itself. In the course of several episodes (such as "Necessary Evil," "Things Past," and "Wrongs Darker Than Death or Night"), we have seen what Bajor and Terok Nor were like during the occupation, but what about before the Cardassians arrived? What was Bajor like, and what led to the beginning of the occupation? It is the answers to these questions that make Day of the Vipers so compelling.

Many episodes of Deep Space Nine have shown us flashbacks of Bajor during the occupation (such as this scene from "Ties of Blood and Water"), but how did the occupation begin? Day of the Vipers answers this question.

Dramatic irony is used throughout the story. As readers familiar with the occupation of Bajor, we know where this is all headed: to a very dark, disastrous place. However, the characters in the story aren't privy to that information, and their plight is made all the more tragic due to the inevitability of what is to come. At times, you just want to reach into the pages to grab characters by the lapels and scream, "don't you see what is happening?!?" It is frustrating to witness the mistakes and deceptions that led to the horrors of the Cardassian occupation.

The true tragedy is the fall of two worlds, Bajor and Cardassia. Like Bajor, Cardassia was once a verdant planet with a population that lived in peace with nature. However, Cardassia has forgotten this and is now a desolate wasteland, home to a people who are desperate. This desperation is visited upon the Bajorans, who can't conceive of a people who would take what is theirs because they have none of their own.

The occupation is not only the story of Bajor, but of Cardassia as well. The famine and hardships experienced by that world directly led to the occupation of Bajor, a resource-rich world that proved extremely tempting to the resource-poor Cardassians.

Reading a few on-line reviews of Day of the Vipers, I noticed that some readers seemed to have been put off by the slower pace of the novel. However, I felt that the pacing of the story was very fitting. The Cardassian occupation was not an event that happened all at once; rather, there was a slow build-up. The Cardassians didn't arrive and invade Bajor militarily en masse, but instead insinuated themselves into Bajoran government and day-to-day life. The build-up to the occupation was slow and methodical, culminating in a horrific "false flag" incident in which a Bajoran fleet was destroyed by Cardassians acting as allies, while pinning the blame for the attack on the Tzenkethi. The slow build-up was perfect for the monumental importance of these events.

Final thoughts:

Day of the Vipers is an excellent beginning to the Terok Nor miniseries, setting up the horrors of the Cardassian occupation very well. At times quite dark and depressing (we all know where this story is headed), this novel nonetheless shows the resilience and pride of the Bajoran people. This is not the most accessible of Star Trek novels. I think that a casual fan of Star Trek would have a much harder time picking up this novel than a more conventional TOS or TNG novel. However, for ardent fans, Day of the Vipers introduces a pivotal piece of Star Trek history, and I would recommend this novel for any reader who loves Deep Space Nine and the rich, well-developed lore of that series.

Also by James Swallow:

• Star Trek: Titan: Synthesis (2009)
• Star Trek: Cast No Shadow (2011)
• Star Trek: The Next Generation: The Stuff of Dreams (2013)
• Star Trek: The Fall: The Poisoned Chalice (2013)
• Star Trek: Titan: Sight Unseen (2015)
• Star Trek: The Original Series: The Latter Fire (2016)
• Star Trek: Discovery: Fear Itself (2018)

My next read:

Continuing my series of reviews of the Deep Space Nine relaunch novels, my next review will be for S.D. Perry's Rising Son. Look for that soon!

Release Day! Voyager: Acts of Contrition

It's already been showing up on bookshelves, but today is the official release date for Kirsten Beyer's latest addition to the Voyager post-series novel-verse: Acts of Contrition!

Go download the e-book copy or grab the dead tree version today! And look below for the publisher's description and ordering links. By ordering through us, you'll be helping to support Trek Lit Reviews!

My review of Acts of Contrition.

Publisher's description:

Admiral Kathryn Janeway has now taken command of the Full Circle Fleet. Her first mission: return to the Delta Quadrant and open diplomatic relations with the Confederacy of the Worlds of the First Quadrant, a civilization whose power rivals that of the Federation. Captain Chakotay knows that his choices could derail the potential alliance. While grateful to the Confederacy Interstellar Fleet for rescuing the Federation starships from an alien armada, Voyager’s captain cannot forget the horrors upon which the Confederacy was founded.

More troubling, it appears that several of Voyager’s old adversaries have formed a separate and unlikely pact that is determined to bring down the Confederacy at all costs. Sins of the past haunt the crew members of the Full Circle Fleet as they attempt to chart a course for the future. Will they learn much too late that some sins can never be forgiven…or forgotten?

Purchase Voyager: Acts of Contrition:

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

Previous Release: Deep Space Nine: Lust's Latinum Lost (and Found)

Next Release: The Next Generation: Q Are Cordially Uninvited...

These Are The Voyages: TOS, Season Two

THESE ARE THE VOYAGES: TOS, SEASON TWO
by Marc Cushman with Susan Osborn
Foreword by Walter Koenig
688 pages
Published by Jacobs/Brown Press
Read August 27, 2014

Hardcover: Amazon.com | Amazon.ca | Amazon.co.uk
Paperback: Amazon.com | Amazon.ca | Amazon.co.uk
E-book (Kindle): Amazon.com | Amazon.ca

Publisher’s Description:

In the 1980s Gene Roddenberry and Robert H. Justman gave Marc Cushman permission to write the definitive history of the first Star Trek. They backed their stamp of approval by providing documentation never before shared with the public. These Are The Voyages, published in three volumes - one designated for each season of TOS (The Original Series) - will take you back in time and put you into the producers’ offices, the writers’ room, onto the soundstages, and in front of your TV sets for the first historic broadcasts. Included are hundreds of memos between Roddenberry and his staff, production schedules, budgets, fan letters, behind-the-scenes images, and the TV ratings. Buckle your seat belts; the trek of a lifetime continues with Season Two.

My Thoughts:

As with the first These Are the Voyages, Marc Cushman has provided fans with a gargantuan, meticulously-researched volume of facts, trivia, and first-hand accounts of the creation of Star Trek, this time chronicling the classic television show’s second season.

The opening chapters focus on the transition from season one to season two, including the suspense with regards to whether or not the expensive-to-produce show would be renewed. The story of Star Trek behind the scenes is just as exciting as the Star Trek we got on our television sets each week. The very real sense of franticness and difficulty in producing Star Trek is palapble as one reads the pages of this section.

Individual episodes are featured in production order as the discussion between the producers, writers, and the network is chronicled, with each episode getting a separate chapter. The cast of characters featured by Cushman are at times both larger-than-life and surprisingly human. Through their memos regarding each episode’s script and production, we hear the voices of each of the producers and writers: Gene Roddenberry often insisting on a larger “message” to include in each script, Gene Coon focused on creating and maintaining a consistent “Star Trek feel,” Dorothy Fontana and her brilliant eye for characters and drama, and Robert Justman’s protestations about budget and believability couched in a sometimes dark sense of humor.

Also included in each episode’s summary are reminiscences of guest actors and writers, the Neilsen ratings, and the historical context in which each episode was produced. Reportedly, Cushman’s editor did a lot of work to get him to trim back the amount of information included in this book. I can see how it would have been easy to get carried away. Even with the trims, there is a lot here, more than in the first book. And I’m informed that the third volume has even more with which to fill its pages!

Interstitial chapters feature various writers and other background personnel as they join the production, such as David Gerrold and John Meredyth Lucas. Other sections are included, such as depictions of Star Trek in the popular media of the time and, of particular interest, an overview of story ideas that were purchased and in some cases even developed, but never aired.

As with the first volume, the real joy in These Are the Voyages: TOS, Season Two comes in sitting down with the hefty tome and re-watching the episodes. Even someone such as myself, who has seen each episode an uncountable number of times, can pick new things out of the show while following along with Cushman as he revisits the world of 1960s television production.


Final Thoughts:

Above all else, this book is a lot of fun to read. Even the most ardent Star Trek fan will find something new and exciting about their favorite entertainment in the pages of These Are the Voyages. And, as mentioned above, season 3 has even more to talk about. I am very fascinated to learn more about that troubled season, and I am very much looking forward to the third and final volume of These Are the Voyages: TOS.

My next read:

Next up, as promised months ago, is my review of James Swallow's Terok Nor: Day of the Vipers, a tale of The Lost Era!

Lust's Latinum Lost (and Found)

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Lust's Latinum Lost (and Found) by Paula M. Block & Terry J. Erdmann
E-book exclusive novella
Release date: September 1^st 2014
Read September 7^th 2014

Previous book (Deep Space Nine): The Never-Ending Sacrifice
Previous book (24th century continuity): The Next Generation: The Light Fantastic
Next book (Deep Space Nine): The Missing

Next book (24th century continuity): Section 31: Disavowed

Kindle E-Book: Amazon.com | Amazon.ca | Amazon.co.uk

Spoilers ahead for Lust's Latinum Lost (and Found) and the current state of Deep Space Nine!

From the back cover:

Business is down at Quark’s Public House, Café, Gaming Emporium, Holosuite Arcade, and Ferengi Embassy to Bajor. Way down. Lower level of hell down. The station is bustling, but residents and visitors are spending more time (and latinum) at the new Deep Space 9's park, sports fields, theater, swimming complex, and who knows what else, than they are at Quark’s establishment. All of Quark's misfortunes just could be reversed, however, when he finds out that one of the steamiest holonovels to hit the Alpha Quadrant in years is up for grabs. And he has an inroad to acquiring it before anyone else. Or does he?

My thoughts:

Lust's Latinum Lost (and Found) marks the first story released since The Never-Ending Sacrifice back in 2009 to carry the Deep Space Nine title. Granted, we've had stories that focused on the station and its characters since then, but they were all branded under alternative titles such as Typhon Pact or The Fall. This return to Deep Space Nine-titled stories is very welcome, and I look forward to seeing the trend continue!

This novella features a small, simple story that focuses on Quark and his efforts to obtain the newest entry in the Vulcan Love Slave series for his struggling business. While the "Ferengi episodes" weren't my favorite aspect of Deep Space Nine, there were some very good ones such as "Rules of Acquisition" and "The Magnificent Ferengi." Lust's Latinum Lost (and Found) plays out much like one those Ferengi-centric episodes, and I for one am very glad we get the opportunity to explore these smaller stories. It is very unlikely that this sort of story could be told if Pocket Books had to dedicate an entire full-size novel to it. Instead, because the costs of producing an e-book novella are so much lower, we are able to get a story such as this.

Pel, from "Rules of Acquisition."

The story itself is a lot of fun, as Quark is thwarted at nearly every turn in his attempts to obtain the new holonovel. I especially enjoyed the character of Shmenge, a young Ferengi sent to Quark to become his apprentice. While reading the opening chapters, Shmenge began to remind me of someone, but I couldn't initially think of who it was. Finally, I realized that he reminded me of Pel, a female Ferengi who posed as a male to become Quark's waiter and business partner in a second season DS9 episode, the aforementioned "Rules of Acquisition." I was later pleasantly surprised when Pel shows up in this story! I had always wondered what became of her, as she was one of my favorite Ferengi characters in Deep Space Nine.

The writing team of Paula M. Block and Terry J. Erdmann are probably best known for their reference books (such as the amazing Deep Space Nine Companion). Beyond that, however, Paula Block also oversees all licensed Star Trek publishing and therefore has intimate knowledge of that side of the Trek business. That knowledge comes through clearly when, in the course of trying to track down the new Vulcan Love Slave program, Quark and Shmenge attend a holo-entertainment convention. I've been to a few Star Trek conventions and other events such as VidCon, and I'm very familiar with the type of environment that is showcased in this story. The novella lightly pokes fun at the culture of conventions and expos. Particularly amusing were the armloads of "swag" that Shmenge managed to acquire, as was his wide-eyed enthusiasm that you often see in the faces of first-time convention goers.

The vendors' room at a Star Trek convention. The convention featured in this novella felt very familiar...

Finally, I liked the idea of Vulcan Love Slave embracing a wider audience. I'm reminded of the well-publicized success of 50 Shades of Grey among female audiences. I love that Vulcan Love Slave has female authors and that this new version is more egalitarian in the "adventures" it provides to the users!

Final thoughts:

Another glowing example of the type of story that is perfect for this shorter, e-book novella format! Lust's Latinum Lost (and Found) was a fun romp in the style of the old Ferengi episodes of DS9. I would enjoy seeing more e-book releases in this vein in the future. Perhaps another Ferengi story from Paula and Terry?


Further resources:

• TrekBBS discussion and review thread for Lust's Latinum Lost (and Found)
• PODCAST: Literary Treks 77: Some Sort of Erotic Milliways - Discussion of Lust's Latinum Lost (and Found)

Also by Paula M. Block & Terry J. Erdmann:

• Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: Rules of Accusation (2016)
• Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: I, The Constable (2017)

My next read:

The second book of the These Are the Voyages trilogy of reference books by Marc Cushman, this one dealing with season two of Star Trek: The Original Series.

Cover and blurb for Q Are Cordially Uninvited!

On October 6th, the latest in Simon and Schuster's line of Star Trek e-book novellas is released: Q Are Cordially Uninvited... by Rudy Josephs. Look below for the cover and publisher's description, along with links to pre-order from Amazon!

The wedding of Captain Jean-Luc Picard to Doctor Beverly Crusher was a small, private affair overseen by the mayor of La Barre, France, and witnessed by the groom’s sister-in-law and the mayor’s wife. At least, that’s what the happy couple always told their friends. On the anniversary of that blessed day, however, Worf and Geordi La Forge manage to coax the real story out of the pair, to discover a tale of mythical treasure and a lost civilization in the Delta Quadrant. It all begins when the omnipotent being Q crashes the festivities, declaring himself best man and bringing along an unwilling guest as a surprise for the groom.

Purchase the e-book (Kindle) version from: Amazon.com | Amazon.ca | Amazon.co.uk

Seekers #2

Star Trek: Seekers #2
Point of Divergence by Dayton Ward & Kevin Dilmore
Story by Dayton Ward & Kevin Dilmore and David Mack
Release date: August 26^th 2014
Read September 5^th 2014

Previous book (Seekers): #1: Second Nature
Next book (Seekers): #3: Long Shot

Paperback: Amazon.com | Amazon.ca | Amazon.co.uk
Kindle: Amazon.com | Amazon.ca | Amazon.co.uk

Spoilers ahead for Seekers #1, #2, and the Vanguard series!

From the back cover:

The Taurus Reach. Once the conquered realm of a powerful alien species, this region remains largely shrouded in mystery even as it brims with potential for exploration and colonization. The Federation has sent in two of its finest starships on a quest to uncover the secrets it may yet hold...

The Tomol are a primitive civilization occupying a lone island on a remote world. Their culture is an enigma, centered on every member’s commitment to a painful, fiery self-sacrifice upon reaching maturity. But one of their clan has shunned this obligation, triggering a transformation into a new, powerful life form. Answering the distress call of the U.S.S. Sagittarius—which has crashed on the planet following a fierce battle with the Klingons—Captain Atish Khatami and the crew of the Starship Endeavour must now attempt a rescue mission…even as they are locked in battle with the evolving, increasingly malevolent Tomol who, if allowed to escape their home world, pose an imminent threat to the entire galaxy!

My thoughts:

Among my favorite aspects of Star Trek: Vanguard were the dual crews of the U.S.S. Sagittarius and the U.S.S. Endeavour. The Sagittarius, a small Archer-class scout, was quite unlike any other Starfleet vessel seen on Trek before. The other, the Endeavour, was a little more familiar: a Constitution-class heavy cruiser like the Enterprise. The Endeavour takes center seat in this, the second of the Seekers novels.

The U.S.S. Endeavour is the focus of Dayton Ward & Kevin Dilmore's entries in the Seekers series.

There is a great deal to like about this novel. The writing team of Ward and Dilmore is back writing Trek together again for the first time since Vanguard: What Judgments Come back in 2011. Together they have crafted a solid second entry in this fledgling series, topping off an exciting story with a conclusion that is ultimately quite satisfying.

Much like the previous novel, one area in which this book excels is with the character work. The relationships between the characters are a joy to read, particularly the interplay between Dr. Leone and nearly every other character. Also a treat was the captain to captain relationship that developed between Captain Khatami of the Endeavour and the Klingon Captain Kang. The grudging respect that Kang initially shows towards Khatami evolves into a true recognition of her skill and honor as a ship master, and I loved Kang's comparisons of Khatami and Kirk.

The legendary Kang is the Klingon foil to Captain Atish Khatami in Seekers #2: Point of Divergence.

The pacing of the novel is quite good, and I found that I finished it quite quickly. It was a little slower than book one, but still a very engaging and a fun read. While the action sequences aren't quite as nail-biting as the ones in Mack's Second Nature, I still found the story very gripping.

I very much enjoyed the twist with regards to the nature of the Tomol and the role that both the Shedai and the Preservers played in their history. The end of the novel and the resolution to the Tomol crisis had a very Star Trek feel to it, in the best sense of the term. Throughout both books, the Changed among the Tomol have been set up as an implacable foe with no discernible reason governing their actions. However, the final resolution shows that even the most fearsome enemy can be reasoned with, and that there is no such thing as absolute evil. As I mentioned above, it is a very Star Trek ending.

Blink and you'll miss it:

On page 214, keep an eye out for a reference to Fight Club. It's not exactly subtle, but it was still a pretty cool reference to catch.

Final thoughts:

As usual, a very fun, well-paced outing from the team of Dayton Ward & Kevin Dilmore. With the conclusion of this two-part story, the Sagittarius and the Endeavour are ready to head out on their dual missions of exploration in the Taurus Reach. If this story is any indication, I am very much going to enjoy following these crews on their voyage into the unknown. More Seekers, please!

Further resources:

• TrekBBS dicussion and review thread for Seekers #2
• PODCAST: Literary Treks 78: The Numbers On the Front Should Help - Discussion with Dayton Ward and Kevin Dilmore

Also by Dayton Ward & Kevin Dilmore:

• Star Trek: S.C.E. #4: Interphase, Part One (2001)
• Star Trek: S.C.E. #5: Interphase, Part Two (2001)
• Star Trek: A Time to Sow (2004)
• Star Trek: A Time to Harvest (2004)
• Star Trek: Mere Anarchy, Book 1: Things Fall Apart with Kevin Dilmore (2006)
• Star Trek: Vanguard: What Judgments Come (2011)
• Star Trek: Seekers #4: All That's Left (2015)
• Star Trek: Legacies, Book 3: Purgatory's Key (2016)

My next read:

Coming up: The new Deep Space Nine e-book novella by Paula M. Block and Terry J. Erdmann: Lust's Latinum Lost (and Found)!