My thoughts:
More than any other story line in the
Star Trek literary universe,
Destiny has impacted the current state of
Star Trek novels. Although the word has been overused in recent years,
Destiny is nothing short of epic. A story that spans generations, with a tragic event for the crew of the
Columbia in the 22nd century, and an apocalyptic Borg invasion in the 24th,
Destiny ties together the whole of
Trek history into one incredibly intricate and compelling story.
In this, the first novel of the trilogy, the various pieces are moved onto the chess board, setting things up for the huge story to come. In the 22nd century, a battle with the Romulans at the outbreak of the Earth/Romulan War leaves the
Columbia crippled and out of contact with Starfleet. With no alternatives, Captain Erika Hernandez sets a course for the nearest habitable planet and pushes
Columbia's impulse engines to relativistic speeds - the warp drive is offline. Upon arriving at the planet they discover is called Erigol, the inhabitants - a species calling themselves the Caeliar - informs the landing party that they will not be allowed to leave the surface, and the orbiting
Columbia will not be permitted to leave.
The novel alternates between the
Columbia crew in the 22nd century and the crews of a number of starships in the 24th century. Of course, on the front line of the battle against the Borg is Captain Jean-Luc Picard and the crew of the
Enterprise. Outfitted with transphasic torpedoes (see:
Voyager's "Endgame"), the
Enterprise is assigned to determine how and where the Borg are entering Federation space. Meanwhile, the
U.S.S. Aventine under the command of Ezri Dax is investigating the crashed wreck of the
Columbia, which has somehow wound up in the Gamma Quadrant. The third 24th-century starship the story follows is Captain Riker's
U.S.S. Titan, which finds itself far beyond the borders of the Federation investigating a strange, seemingly artificial star system.
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| This image, "Last Flight of the Columbia," from Ships of the Line, was the inspiration for much of this story for David Mack. |
Interspersed with the huge, epic narrative of the battle against the Borg are smaller, human stories that serve to remind the reader just what it is the characters are fighting for. Picard and Crusher have a child on the way, which causes Jean-Luc to reflect on what kind of universe their child will be born into. Riker and Troi are having difficulties in conceiving a child, and Troi makes what some would see as reckless decisions regarding her nonviable pregnancy. And in the flashback sequences, the crew of the
Columbia, imprisoned on Erigol, deal with their fate in a variety of ways.
One of the big themes that comes out of the novel is the idea of fear as the impetus for much of the story: the Caeliar fear outside contact, so they do not allow the
Columbia crew to leave. Major Foyle, the head of the
Columbia's MACO contingent, fears never returning home and takes drastic steps to secure their freedom. All the while, they are setting in motion events that will shape the future not only for themselves, but for the entire galaxy.
Some may feel that the whole "Federation in peril" story has been overdone. However, it has never been done quite like this. The future that Picard sees when he hears the Borg in his head is nothing short of apocalyptic. The Federation is being brought to its knees in a way it never has before, and while those who have read the entire trilogy know how it will all turn out, at this point the outcome appears bleak to say the least. This is the ultimate test of the Federation, and even someone as strong as Jean-Luc Picard at times seems resigned to the fact that the Federation will fail.
All of these elements will eventually come together, but for now, they are all mostly set up for what is to come. Eventually, we learn of the fate of the Caeliar, and how members of the
Columbia crew contributed to the cataclysm that befell them. At the end of the novel, an away team from
Titan investigates a planet surrounded by an artificial shell. A familiar figure greets them: former Captain Erika Hernandez of the
Starship Columbia, who welcomes them to "New Erigol."
Final thoughts:
This is an incredibly strong start to the
Destiny trilogy, both when I first read it years ago and in my most recent re-read. The action sequences are among the best in
Star Trek, and the character moments work very well for the most part. I found the
Columbia sequences to be equal parts heartbreaking and horrifying. It's clear from the very start that this is a very tightly-plotted story, with twists and turns that readers will not see coming. At the same time, the story is pure
Star Trek through and through. If you haven't read
Destiny yet, do yourself a favor and put it on your list immediately; this is
Trek lit at its absolute finest, and the best is still yet to come.
