Tuesday, January 31, 2017

Release Day! Headlong Flight by Dayton Ward

Star Trek: The Next Generation
Headlong Flight by Dayton Ward

Although it has already been showing up on bookstore shelves, today is the official release date for the latest TNG adventure by Dayton Ward: Headlong Flight, continuing the voyages of the Enterprise-E as they explore the Odyssean Pass.

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

My Review





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….

Purchase Headlong Flight:



Monday, January 30, 2017

Literary Treks 177: Threatening Facial Hair

Star Trek Archives Volume 6: Best of Alternate Universes
The Mirror Universe Saga



The mirror universe: an alternate reality where humans value treachery, personal gain, and avarice over friendship, community, and shared triumph. A place where history has crafted a very different Starfleet made up of vicious, brutal barbarians bent on galactic conquest. Can our heroes overcome an all-out war with their evil counterparts from this horrific universe?

In this episode of Literary Treks, hosts Dan Gunther and Bruce Gibson talk about Star Trek Archives Volume 6: The Mirror Universe Saga. We discuss the story, continuity errors, lower decks characters, mirror Spock, pity, deviations, wrapping up, and our ratings.

In the news segment, we talk about the upcoming Star Trek Deviations comic, comic covers in March, the Classic UK Comics Vol. 2 release, and the Star Trek Graphic Novel Collection from Eaglemoss.


Literary Treks 177: Threatening Facial Hair
Star Trek Archives Vol. 6: Best of Alternate Universes






Previous episode: Literary Treks 176: Trek Archaeologists
Next episode: Literary Treks 178: James Kirk into James Bond


Friday, January 20, 2017

The Face of the Unknown

Star Trek: The Original Series
The Face of the Unknown by Christopher L. Bennett
Release date: December 27th 2016
Read January 4th 2017


Previous book (The Original Series): Legacies, Book 3: Purgatory's Key

Next book (The Original Series): The Captain's Oath


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



Spoilers ahead for The Face of the Unknown!

Publisher's description:
Continuing the milestone 50th anniversary celebration of Star Trek—a brand-new novel of The Original Series featuring James T. Kirk, Spock, and the crew of the USS Enterprise!

Investigating a series of violent raids by a mysterious predatory species, Captain James T. Kirk discovers that these events share a startling connection with the First Federation, a friendly but secretive civilization contacted early in the USS Enterprise’s five-year mission. Traveling to the First Federation in search of answers, the Enterprise suddenly comes under attack from these strange marauders. Seeking refuge, the starship finds its way to the true home of the First Federation, an astonishing collection of worlds hidden from the galaxy beyond. The inhabitants of this isolated realm are wary of outsiders, and some accuse Kirk and his crew for bringing the wrath of their ancient enemy down upon them. When an attempt to stave off disaster goes tragically wrong, Kirk is held fully accountable, and Commander Spock learns there are even deeper forces that threaten this civilization. If Kirk and Spock cannot convince the First Federation's leaders to overcome their fears, the resulting catastrophe could doom them all!

My thoughts:

This year, with new releases, I'm trying something a little different. Click here to watch my video review of The Face of the Unknown on YouTube, or watch the embedded video below!




Final thoughts:

As usual from Christopher Bennett, we get top-notch storytelling with a compelling link to current-day events. Revisiting the First Federation was fun, and Bennett has succeeded in his mission to create the definitive story about that civilization. The tranya-loving Balok is a fun character, and it was terrific to get a follow-up to Bailey's mission from "The Corbomite Maneuver."
4/5.

More about The Face of the Unknown:


Also by Christopher L. Bennett:

Next time on Trek Lit Reviews:

I have a lot of books that were read in 2016 that I have to catch up on. First up is a tale from The Lost Era, all about Captain Picard shortly before the beginning of The Next Generation: The Buried Age by Christopher L. Bennett.

Thursday, January 19, 2017

Literary Treks 176: Trek Archaeologists: Michael & Denise Okuda!

The Roddenberry Vault
An exclusive interview with Michael & Denise Okuda!



The 50th anniversary of Star Trek has been a year of celebration of the franchise we all love. What better way to celebrate our favorite science fiction universe than to get glimpses of it that have never been seen before? The discovery of long-lost footage of Star Trek: The Original Series by Trek veterans Michael and Denise Okuda has made this possible!

In this episode of Literary Treks, hosts Dan Gunther and Bruce Gibson welcome back Matthew Rushing as well as Michael and Denise Okuda to talk about The Roddenberry Vault. We discuss 50 year of TOS, the beginning of the project, the holy grail, timeline, the thrill, the James Blish connection, what's in the set, new scenes, and the gift.


Literary Treks 176: Trek Archaeologists
Exclusive Interview with Michael & Denise Okuda!






Previous episode: Literary Treks 175: The Boogyman
Next episode: Literary Treks 177: Threatening Facial Hair


Wednesday, January 11, 2017

Kertrats Productions in 2017

As many of you know, last year represented a bit of a lull for this website. Most of that can be attributed to my focusing on my new YouTube channel, Kertrats Productions. I think I've been able to create a more workable schedule for this year, however, and you should definitely see an uptick in output on Trek Lit Reviews. However, you may also be interested in some of the content on my YouTube channel, especially due to the fact that there will be more Star Trek book content on the channel this year. Look for monthly video review of Star Trek new releases throughout 2017! And check out the video below for a rundown on all of the plans for Kertrats Productions for the new year.



Literary Treks 175: The Boogyman




When "The Corbomite Maneuver" first aired in 1966, it introduced a number of concepts that became inextricably linked with Star Trek: the wonder of exploration, courage in the face of fear, and the idea that not everything is as it seems. Someone who appears to be an implacable enemy might just turn out to be a friend. This week, we look at a new novel that serves as a sequel to that much-loved classic episode.

In this episode of Literary Treks, hosts Bruce Gibson and Dan Gunther talk about the new TOS novel The Face of the Unknown. We discuss the "puppet", global warming, fear-mongering speculation, Spock's future, the moment in time for the book, and ratings.

In the news segment, we look at the first issue of Stranger Worlds, Boldly Go #4, the Boldly Go #5 cover, and Trek Lit's 50th anniversary.


Literary Treks 175: The Boogyman
Discussion of Christopher L. Bennett's The Face of the Unknown






Previous episode: Literary Treks 174: Trending on Twitter
Next episode: Literary Treks 176: Trek Archaeologists