Literary Treks 307: Twisted Like a Bag of Bread

Star Trek: Discovery
Die Standing
Exclusive Interview with John Jackson Miller!

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

Philippa Georgiou, former Emperor of the Terran Empire in the Mirror Universe, has found herself in our universe and under the watchful eye of Section 31. Believing that she has knowledge and skills useful to the organization, she is recruited to take on a mission into a mysterious region of space known as the Troika. However, she has her own agenda. Will Georgiou make good on her desire to rebuild all she has lost in our universe?

In this episode of Literary Treks, hosts Dan Gunther and Bruce Gibson are joined once again by New York Times bestselling author John Jackson Miller to talk about his most recent Discovery novel, Die Standing. We talk about Philippa Georgiou Augustus Iaponius Centarius, Section 31, a familiar face from The Original Series, a Trill gymnast named Emony Dax, a vampiric cloud creature, the mysterious Troika and the three species that comprise it, and wrap up with what John is working on now and where he can be found online.

At the top of the show, Dan and Bruce review issue #12 of Star Trek: Year Five, and respond to listener feedback from The Babel Conference for Literary Treks 306: There's Shag Carpet on This Ship Somewhere.

Literary Treks 307: Twisted Like a Bag of Bread
Discovery: Die Standing - Exclusive interview with John Jackson Miller!

Previous episode: Literary Treks 306: There's Shag Carpet on This Ship Somewhere
Next episode: Literary Treks 308: Maybe Stop Biting and Kidnapping Counselors

Comic Review: Too Long a Sacrifice #1

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Too Long a Sacrifice #1
Writers: by Scott Tipton & David Tipton
Artist: Greg Scott
Release date: July 15^th 2020

Next issue: Too Long a Sacrifice #2

Purchase:
Kindle & Comixology: Amazon.com | Amazon.ca | Amazon.co.uk

Publisher's description:

Death casts its shadow as Constable Odo searches for truth amid a web of treachery and lies. Everyone on the Promanade has a motive for this murder, be it vengeance, justice... or old-fashioned greed. Legendary Star Trek scribes Scott Tipton and David Tipton team with noir artist Greg Scott for the first Deep Space Nine comic book series in a decade!

My thoughts:

Click here to watch my video review of Too Long a Sacrifice #1, or click play on the embedded video below!

Final thoughts:

An interesting start to the miniseries, with a focus on how the characters respond to a horrific crime commited on the station. Odo is the primary focus, and his investigation of an explosion on the promenade leads to some interesting revelations. I'm looking forward to seeing what's next for this story!


Next Comic:

Star Trek: Year Five #13

Release Day! Discovery: Die Standing

Star Trek: Discovery
Die Standing
by John Jackson Miller

A new day, a new Star Trek novel! Today sees the official release of Star Trek: Discovery: Die Standing by New York Times bestselling author John Jackson Miller!

Chronicling the adventures of mirror-universe Philippa Georgiou after her crossover into our universe, Die Standing tells the story of her adapting to life in the prime universe and her efforts to rebuilt all that she has lost.

Check out below for the back-cover blurb and links to purchase from Amazon!

Publisher's description:

An all-new novel based upon the explosive Star Trek TV series!

No one in the history of histories has lost more than Philippa Georgiou, ruler of the Terran Empire. Forced to take refuge in the Federation’s universe, she bides her time until Section 31, a rogue spy force within Starfleet, offers her a chance to work as their agent. She has no intention of serving under anyone else, of course; her only interest is escape.

But when a young Trill, Emony Dax, discovers a powerful interstellar menace, Georgiou recognizes it as a superweapon that escaped her grasp in her own universe. Escorted by a team sent by an untrusting Federation to watch over her, the emperor journeys to a region forbidden to travelers. But will what she finds there end the threat—or give “Agent Georgiou” the means to create her old empire anew?

Purchase Star Trek: Discovery: Die Standing:

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

Previous Release: The Original Series: Agents of Influence

Next Release: Kelvin Timeline: More Beautiful Than Death

Literary Treks 306: There's Shag Carpet on This Ship Somewhere

Star Trek: The Original Series
Agents of Influence
Exclusive Interview with Dayton Ward!

Purchase:
Trade paperback: Amazon.com | Amazon.ca | Amazon.co.uk
E-book (Kindle): Amazon.com | Amazon.ca | Amazon.co.uk

When the extraction of undercover agents from the Klingon Empire goes disastrously wrong, it's up to Captain Kirk and the crew of the Enterprise to come to the rescue. The U.S.S. Endeavour, crashed on the surface of an asteroid, must hold out against Klingon reprisal and Orion attacks long enough to ensure they deliver their valuable passengers safely back to Federation space.

In this episode of Literary Treks, hosts Bruce Gibson and Dan Gunther are joined once again by author Dayton Ward to discuss his newest Original Series novel, Agents of Influence. We talk about the undercover agents at the center of this story, the U.S.S. Endeavour and her crew, the Klingon/Orion alliance, an unorthodox "ground assault" on a starship, Klingons and Humans coming to an understanding, a spy among Starfleet's ranks, and wrap up with what Dayton is working on now and where he can be found online.

At the top of the show, Bruce and Dan talk about their decision to move on from Literary Treks and where they will be continuing the Star Trek book and comics discussion in the future. We also respond to listener feedback from The Babel Conference for the previous episode, Literary Treks 305: The Nacene Scenes.

Literary Treks 306: There's Shag Carpet on This Ship Somewhere
The Original Series: Agents of Influence - Exclusive interview with author Dayton Ward!

Previous episode: Literary Treks 305: The Nacene Scenes
Next episode: Literary Treks 307: Twisted Like a Bag of Bread

Literary Treks 305: The Nacene Scenes

Star Trek: Voyager
String Theory, Book 3
Evolution
by Heather Jarman

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

After incalculable losses, the crew of the U.S.S. Voyager continues to battle against the forces of "Phoebe Janeway" and her army of exiles, determined to re-enter Exosia. The effects of the conflict among the Nacene threaten to spill beyond the boundaries of the Monorhan system. The very underpinning of the universe threatens to unravel thanks to the actions of the exiled Nacene, and only Voyager stands in their way! 

In this episode of Literary Treks, hosts Dan Gunther and Bruce Gibson discuss the third and final book in the String Theory trilogy: Evolution by Heather Jarman. We talk about Tom & Harry's adventure in the Q Continuum, The Doctor's mission to Ocampa's past, the final showdown on Voyager, Janeway's absence in this novel, the plot elements that set us up for Voyager's future, and wrap up with our final thoughts and ratings.

At the top of the show, we judge the upcoming More Beautiful Than Death by David Mack by its cover, review issue #11 of Star Trek: Year Five, and respond to feedback from The Babel Conference for Literary Treks 304: Vulcans Do Not Cry.

Literary Treks 305: The Nacene Scenes
Voyager: String Theory, Book 3: Evolution by Heather Jarman

Previous episode: Literary Treks 304: Vulcans Do Not Cry
Next episode: Literary Treks 306: There's Shag Carpet on This Ship Somewhere

Release Day! Agents of Influence by Dayton Ward

Star Trek: The Original Series
Agents of Influence
by Dayton Ward

The latest novel adventure from Star Trek: The Original Series officially hits shelves today: Dayton Ward's Agents of Influence is now on sale in bookstores and online shops everywhere!

Set during the classic five-year mission, Agents of Influence chronicles an undercover operation in the Klingon Empire. Captain Kirk and the Enterprise must undertake a risky rescue of an undercover agent, and preserve the tenuous peace between the Empire and the Federation.

Check out below for the back-cover blurb and links to purchase from Amazon.

Publisher's description:

An epic new Star Trek saga by New York Times bestselling author Dayton Ward set during the original Five-Year Mission!

For years, Starfleet Intelligence agents have carried out undercover assignments deep within the Klingon Empire. Surgically altered and rigorously trained in Klingon culture, they operate in plain sight and without any direct support, while collecting information and infiltrating the highest levels of imperial power. Their actions have given Starfleet valuable insight into the inner workings of Klingon government and its relentless military apparatus.

After three of Starfleet’s longest serving agents fear exposure, they initiate emergency extraction procedures. Their planned rendezvous with the USS Endeavour goes awry, threatening to reveal their activities and the damaging intelligence they’ve collected during their mission. Tasked by Starfleet to salvage the botched rescue attempt, Captain James T. Kirk and the crew of the USS Enterprise must discover the truth behind a secret weapons experiment while avoiding an interstellar incident with the potential to ignite a new war between the Federation and one of its oldest adversaries.

Purchase Star Trek: The Original Series: Agents of Influence:

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

Previous Release: The Kelvin Timeline: The Unsettling Stars

Next Release: Discovery: Die Standing

Literary Treks 304: Vulcans Do Not Cry

Star Trek: Voyager
String Theory, Book II
Fusion
by Kirsten Beyer

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

As Voyager continues her exploration of the Monorhan star system, they encounter a vast array orbiting a black hole. Tuvok, having been compelled to board the array, has come under the influence of a mysterious alien lifeform. Meanwhile, a powerful being in the guise of Captain Janeway's sister, Phoebe, carries out her sinister agenda aboard Voyager.

In this episode of Literary Treks, hosts Bruce Gibson and Dan Gunther discuss the second book in the String Theory trilogy, Fusion by Kirsten Beyer. We talk about Tuvok's journey, the mysterious array, the fourteenth tribe of Monorha and their role in the events unfolding, Phoebe Janeway, and the cliffhanger ending, wrapping up with our final thoughts and ratings.

At the top of the show, we discuss the results of a recent poll in our Goodreads group, review the classic DS9 comic Blood & Honor written by Mark Lenard, and respond to listener feedback from The Babel Conference for Literary Treks 303: A Pair of Legs in Sickbay.

Literary Treks 304: Vulcans Do Not Cry
Voyager: String Theory, Book II: Fusion by Kirsten Beyer

Previous episode: Literary Treks 303: A Pair of Legs in Sickbay
Next episode: Literary Treks 305: The Nacene Scenes