2017: A Year of Change for Trek Lit
2017: another year gone! The time is flying by faster and faster each year, it seems. Let's take a quick look at the year that was.

There were many other novels to choose from this past year besides Discovery, however, and the year started off in a typical manner: with an Original Series novel, The Face of the Unknown by Christopher L. Bennett. Interestingly, this was the only TOS novel this year, a marked changed from previous TOS-heavy release schedules.
Headlong Flight was next, a multiverse-spanning TNG adventure by Dayton Ward. Following that was a continuation of the Deep Space Nine story with The Long Mirage by David R. George III. Then, in March, came a very interesting story: Section 31: Control by David Mack. This story served to change the Trek universe forever, and fan reaction to this story was certainly mixed.

Releases resumed at the end of May with another TNG story by Dayton Ward, Hearts and Minds. Enigma Tales was next, another in a series of truly excellent Deep Space Nine stories by Una McCormack. July was yet another gap in the release schedule, followed by Patterns of Interference by Christopher L. Bennett, the latest in his Enterprise: Rise of the Federation series.

October was yet another gap in the release schedule, with Titan: Fortune of War by David Mack rounding out the Pocket Books' schedule at the end of November.
Also released at the end of November, from Titan Books, was the English translation of the first ever original Trek novel to be published in German: Star Trek: Prometheus: Fire with Fire.

Last year, I lamented the fact that other projects had disrupted my productivity with regards to this site. This year, I'll put it in more succinct terms: it kicked my ass! I am quite a bit behind on getting reviews done, but my goal is to get caught up in the next couple of months. For the first time, I have also decided to do video reviews of the new releases, which has put me a bit behind. However, as I get better at the whole video thing, I hope to get them out a lot faster! The new releases promise to be a lot fewer this year, which is unfortunate, but it will allow me to catch up. More on that later.
2017 was a year of big gains for my YouTube channel, Kertrats Productions! While I didn't accomplish all of my goals, I'm quite pleased with the growth I've experienced, and I'm looking forward to more success in 2018.

Check out below for the list of reviews I did this past year. Again, I am quite a bit behind, but I am working to catch up. The reviews of new releases are marked with an asterisk and link to my video reviews on YouTube. I will be filling out the new release links as I complete them over the next month or two.
January

February

March

April
Avenger by William Shatner with Judith & Garfield Reeves-Stevens (Shatnerverse)
June

*The Long Mirage by David R. George III (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)
Homecoming by Christie Golden (Star Trek: Voyager)
June

Kobayashi Maru by Michael A. Martin & Andy Mangels (Star Trek: Enterprise)
*Control by David Mack (Star Trek: Section 31)
October

November

December

Unfinished New Release Reviews (to be completed soon!)
- Star Trek: Department of Temporal Investigations: Shield of the Gods by Christopher L. Bennett
- Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: Enigma Tales by Una McCormack
- Hidden Universe Travel Guide to The Klingon Empire by Dayton Ward
- Star Trek: Enterprise: Rise of the Federation: Patterns of Interference by Christopher L. Bennett
- Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: Gamma: Original Sin by David R. George III
- Star Trek: Discovery: Desperate Hours by David Mack
- The Autobiography of Jean-Luc Picard by David A. Goodman
- Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: I, The Constable by Paula M. Block & Terry J. Erdmann
- Star Trek: Titan: Fortune of War by David Mack
- Star Trek: Prometheus: Fire With Fire by Bernd Perplies & Christian Humberg
Best Trek novel of 2017:
While I didn't get every new release reviewed in time for the end of the year, I did read them all. There are some wonderful stories in the selection of Trek novels in 2017, and as always, picking a clear winner is very difficult. Two in particular that rose to the top were Section 31: Control by David Mack and Deep Space Nine: Enigma Tales by Una McCormack. However, in the end, Control edged out the victory due to the sheer audacity of the story it told and the amazing drama that unfolded in its pages. So here it is, officially, the best Star Trek novel of 2017:
Star Trek: Section 31: Control by David Mack!
The story of the fall of Section 31 is an incredible one, and the effect that the artificial intelligence named Urei has on Star Trek history as a whole has to be read to be believed. This was a page-turner from start to finish, and the story will have reverberating effects throughout the Trek lit-verse for many more books to come!
As always, let's finish up by taking a look at next year in Trek Lit.

Drastic Measures features the Discovery characters Georgiou and Lorca dealing with the events on Tarsus IV perpetrated by "Kodos the Executioner," first referenced in the TOS episode "The Conscience of the King." It is set to be released on February 6th.

Architects of Infinity is set to be released on March 27th. No word yet on whether or not the promised follow-up novel, To Lose the Earth, is still scheduled for release.
In addition to the Pocket Books novels, we will also be getting two other Star Trek novels this year, completing the trilogy of Star Trek: Prometheus novels from Titan Books. Book two, The Root of All Rage, is due for release on May 29th, while book three, In the Heart of Chaos, is slated for November release.
For the most part, 2017 has been a pretty good year for Trek Lit, and an amazing year for Star Trek in general with the release of the newest Trek television show. At last, Star Trek is back on TV where it belongs! I have a plan to get things back on track for Trek Lit Reviews, and I have many plans for the Kertrats Productions YouTube channel. Stay tuned, and as always, live long and prosper!
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