Positively Trek Book Club: More Beautiful than Death

Star Trek (Kelvin Timeline)
More Beautiful than Death
Special guest: author David Mack!

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

Captain Kirk and the crew of the Enterprise are assigned to escort Ambassador Sarek to the planet Akiron, a world rich in dilithium deposits. However, upon arrival, they discover the people of Akiron under attack by strange creatures, described by their victims as “demons.” It is now up to Kirk, guided by a mysterious Kathikar mystic, to save the people of Akiron from these sinister “wights.” Meanwhile, Sarek’s Vulcan aide, L’Nel, has a diabolical plan in place for Spock--a plan that will result in his death!

In this episode of the Positively Trek Book Club, Bruce Gibson and Dan Gunther are joined by author David Mack to discuss his Kelvin Timeline novel, More Beautiful than Death. We talk about the long road this book took to publication, how David wrote the characters of the Kelvin Timeline, Sarek’s role in the story, how Kirk’s beliefs inform his character, and the Spock/L’Nel subplot. We also talk about David Mack’s role as a consultant on Lower Decks and Prodigy, and wrap up with what he is working on now and where he can be found online.

Positively Trek 30: Book Club: More Beautiful than Death
Exclusive interview with author David Mack!

Previous episode: Strangers From the Sky with Margaret Wander Bonanno
Next episode: Star Trek: Hell's Mirror

Release Day! More Beautiful Than Death by David Mack

Star Trek (Kelvin Timeline)
More Beautiful Than Death
by David Mack

Where would we be without our regular fix of Star Trek fiction? Today sees the release of a new novel, ten years in the making: More Beautiful Than Death by New York Times' bestselling author David Mack!

Set in the "Kelvin Timeline" of the last three feature films, this novel features the alternate crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise under the command of James T. Kirk. Their mission: to escort Spock's father, Sarek, on a diplomatic mission to a planet seemingly under siege by horrific demons!

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

Publisher's description:

An original novel based on the thrilling new Star Trek movies!

Based on the “Kelvin Universe” movie saga!

Captain James T. Kirk and the Enterprise crew escort Spock’s father, Ambassador Sarek of Vulcan, to a dilithium-rich planet called Akiron. They arrive to find this world under siege by creatures that some of the planet’s denizens believe are demons. Sarek orders Kirk to abandon the mission, but the young captain won’t turn his back on people in danger. After a harrowing encounter with the dark-energy “demons,” Kirk’s belief in a rational universe is challenged by a mystic who insists that it wasn’t coincidence that brought Kirk to Akiron, but the alien equivalent of a Karmic debt.

Purchase Star Trek: More Beautiful Than Death:

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

Previous Release: Discovery: Die Standing

Next Release: Voyager: To Lose the Earth

New Podcast! Positively Trek Book Club: Strangers From the Sky

Star Trek
Strangers From the Sky
Special guest: author Margaret Wander Bonanno!

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

In the history of the Federation, the story of first contact between Humans and Vulcans is well-known: Earth astronauts came to the rescue of a Vulcan ship, stranded in our system’s asteroid belt. The rest is, as they say, history. But what if the official story is not how it actually happened? What if first contact with the Vulcans actually came many years earlier? And what if Captain James T. Kirk and the crew of the Enterprise were instrumental in that event happening the way it did?

In this, the first episode of the Positively Trek Book Club, hosts Dan Gunther and Bruce Gibson are joined by author Margaret Wander Bonanno to talk about her renowned and much-celebrated novel, Strangers From the Sky. We discuss how Margaret became a fan and an author of Trek books, how this story came about, how it stands up in the face of the canon that has moved on in the years since it was published, the characters that populate the story, and how its legacy has affected Trek Lit in the years since.

Positively Trek Book Club: Strangers From the Sky
Exclusive Interview with author Margaret Wander Bonanno

Next episode: More Beautiful than Death by David Mack

Comic Review: Year Five #13

Star Trek: Year Five #13
Writers: Jackson Lanzing & Collin Kelly
Artist: Angel Hernandez
Release date: August 5^th 2020

Previous issue: Year Five #12
Next issue: Year Five #14

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

Publisher's description:

The Enterprise and her crew finally make it back to Federation space, but the Federation they find isn’t quite the same as the one they had left behind. Meanwhile, Aegis and Gary Seven’s grand design continues to take shape—and the consequences will be staggering. The final voyages of the original Enterprise crew continue in this episode from showrunners Jackson Lanzing & Collin Kelly (GREEN ARROW, NIGHTWING)!

My thoughts:

Click here to watch my video review of Star Trek: Year Five #13, or click play on the embedded video below!

Final thoughts:

The start of a new story arc, in which the Enterprise crew returns to Federation space to find their peaceful society showing cracks at the edges. A fascinating concept, and very much in line with the current trend of Star Trek storytelling in recent years. I'm very much looking forward to seeing where this story ultimately goes. Highly recommend!


Next Comic:

Deep Space Nine: Too Long a Sacrifice #2

Literary Treks 308: Maybe Stop Biting and Kidnapping Counselors

Star Trek: Titan
Over a Torrent Sea
by Christopher L. Bennett

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

In the aftermath of the devastating events of the Destiny trilogy, the Starship Titan is once again assigned to deep space exploration beyond the farthest borders of the Federation. Investigating an oceanic world of abundant and mysterious life, the crew unwittingly causes distress to the ecosystem and to the lives of the inhabitants of the world, nicknamed Droplet. Now, Captain Riker and Ensign Lavena, cut off from the rest of the crew, must convince their captors of their sincere desire to help the people of Droplet before the damage becomes irreparable.

In their final episode as hosts of Literary Treks, hosts Bruce Gibson and Dan Gunther discuss the Star Trek: Titan novel Over a Torrent Sea by Christopher L. Bennett. They talk about Titan's new mission, the Squales of Droplet, Ensign Aili Lavena and her past, a difficult maternal situation for Deanna Troi, the unintended consequences of the crew's decisions, atonement for past mistakes, and wrap up with their final thoughts and ratings.

At the top of the show, Bruce and Dan review the first issue in IDW's new Deep Space Nine miniseries, Too Long a Sacrifice.

Literary Treks 308: Maybe Stop Biting and Kidnapping Counselors
Titan: Over a Torrent Sea by Christopher L. Bennett

Previous episode: Literary Treks 307: Twisted Like a Bag of Bread
Next episode: Stay Tuned for Book Coverage on Positively Trek!

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