In the Heart of Chaos

Star Trek: Prometheus
In the Heart of Chaos by Bernd Perplies & Christian Humberg
Release date: November 27^th 2018
Read December 10^th 2018

Previous book (Prometheus): The Root of All Rage

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

Publisher's description:

The situation in the Lembatta Cluster is deteriorating rapidly. Fleets from the Federation and Klingon Empire are heading for the borders. The crews of the U.S.S. Prometheus and I.K.S. Bortas are racing against time to break the cycle of violence that is spreading through the Alpha Quadrant. Adams and Kromm are on the trail of a secret weapons facility, but instead discover an enemy from their pasts who seems utterly unstoppable. Together, they search for the answers to their questions, before the galaxy goes down in flames.

My thoughts:

The Star Trek: Prometheus trilogy represents a pretty significant milestone in Star Trek literature: the first time an original liscenced Star Trek story has been originally published in a language other than English. Conceived of by German publisher Cross Cult for the celebration of the 50th anniversary of Trek, the Prometheus trilogy featured the mission of Captain Richard Adams and the crew of the U.S.S. Prometheus into the Lembatta Cluster to confront a growing terrorist threat to both the United Federation of Planets and the Klingon Empire. To represent the Empire's interests, accompanying the Prometheus is the I.K.S. Bortas, former flagship of Chancellor Gowron, and commanded by Captain Kromm.

In this, the third and final novel, the foe that the Federation faces is becoming more apparent: the so-called "Son of the Ancient Reds" from the mythology of the Renao is all too real, and causing feelings of xenophobia, racism, and bigotry to bubble up to the surface for nearly everyone in the Lembatta Cluster. Star Trek fans might remember the "Beta XII-A Entity" from the TOS episode "The Day of the Dove," a non-corporeal being who fed on feelings of hatred and pitted the crew of the Enterprise against the Klingons led by Kang. The entity that Prometheus must confront is a similar one, but much more powerful.

The Starship Prometheus confronts forces that threaten to tear Renao society apart.

According to the ancient legend, the Son of the Ancient Reds was defeated by the "White Guardian," which turns out to be another energy being. Locating others of their kind, the Prometheus sets off to try to convince another being to battle the Son and free the Lembatta Cluster from its influence. However, they are unwilling to risk themselves, instead allowing Jassat ak Namur to carry some of their energy and use it to end the life of the Son. I enjoyed this part of the novel in particular as it allowed the Prometheus to leave the Lembatta Cluster and engage in a more "exploration" type mission while still serving the goals of the main mission.

The Klingons also play an interesting part in the novel. Over the past two books, Kromm has been getting more and more aggressive, obviously also partially under the influence of the Son of the Ancient Reds. However, in this novel, we see a bit of a return to what I would call "good" Klingon behavior. At the end of the novel, I would say that Kromm comports himself quite well, and while he and his first officer never did see eye-to-eye, he once again becomes "honorable" in my eyes.

Initially, I had issues with including Spock in this series, feeling that it made the universe feel very small. However, with this novel, I find myself having to eat my words. Spock's inclusion makes the story much better, linking it to the events of The Original Series, as well as providing some great moments with this classic character.

I initially chaffed against the inclusion of Spock in these novels, but I found him to be an important part of the story when all was said and done.

I've long said that one of the things that Trek does very well is provide a mirror for current societal issues, and in that respect, the Prometheus trilogy excels. Sometimes the parallels might be a bit "on the nose," but seeing issues like terrorism, xenophobia, racism, and the "alt-right" being explored in a Star Trek setting is definitely a good thing. In this novel, we see those issues played out through th eyes of the Renao, who are seeing their way of life destroyed by these issues. One particular story that's followed throughout the novel is the relationship between a father and son, with the son being radicalized by propaganda and, of course, the influence of the Son of the Ancient Reds. While in the case of the real world, our issues aren't being caused by a malevolent entity, Trek can still be a good forum for exploring these issues and presenting them in a way that might cause some of us to reflect on what is going wrong in the world and make changes for the better. I'm obviously not saying that a Star Trek novel will change the world, but if it sparks even one conversation that can nudge things in the right direction, it will have done its job.

The conclusion to the novel was satisfying, but in some ways it seems to have ended a little too perfectly. I'm not saying that I wanted a tragic ending, but there is definitely a lot of "happily ever after" going on here. However, I do like where things are left and would most certainly not be opposed to seeing these characters again in the future. Perhaps another kick at the can with more Star Trek: Prometheus novels from Cross Cult? Or, barring that, incorporating some of the characters and situations into future Star Trek novels from Simon & Schuster would also be very welcome.

Final thoughts:

In the Heart of Chaos and the entire Star Trek: Prometheus trilogy are worthy additions to the Star Trek universe. Humberg and Perplies have put together a fun crew with a lot of potential, and I'm genuinely sad that we may not see them again. I can only hope that the voyages of the U.S.S. Prometheus might continue in some way, shape, or form in the future. It was certainly an interesting take on the novelverse, and I'm sure the authors have some ideas about where to take things from here. If you're interested in hearing from one of the authors, please listen to episode 253 of the Literary Treks podcast, in which Bruce Gibson and I spoke with author Christian Humberg about this novel and the trilogy as a whole. Find the link below!

More about In the Heart of Chaos:

• TrekBBS Review and Discussion Thread
• Podcast: Literary Treks 253: Basically Watching the News Frankly - Exclusive interview with author Christian Humberg

Also by Bernd Perplies & Christian Humberg:

• Star Trek: Prometheus: Fire with Fire (2017)
• Star Trek: Prometheus: The Root of All Rage (2018)

Next time on Trek Lit Reviews:

The first book of the New Earth miniseries: Wagon Train to the Stars by Diane Carey.

The Root of All Rage

Star Trek: Prometheus
The Root of All Rage by Bernd Perplies & Christian Humberg
Translated into English from the original German Der Ursprung allen Zorns
Release date: May 29^th 2018
Read June 5^th 2018

Previous book (Prometheus): Fire with Fire
Next book (Prometheus): In the Heart of Chaos

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

Publisher's description:

A dangerous evil is flourishing in the Alpha Quadrant. In the Lembatta Cluster, a curious region of space, fanatics who call themselves the Purifying Flame are trying to start a galactic war, and the warlike Klingons are baying for blood. The Federation have sent the U.S.S. Prometheus to settle the crisis, and the crew must contend with both the hostile Renao: the secretive inhabitants of the Cluster, and the Klingon captain of the I.K.S Bortas, who is desperate for war.

My thoughts:

It is certainly not a new idea, but one that remains absolutely true: science fiction is a terrific vehicle for examining issues that face our world today, but in a fantastical setting that can sometimes reveal more about us than fiction set in the modern day can. If you read my review of the previous Prometheus book, Fire with Fire, you may remember that I was a little skeptical of the whole Prometheus series, but that I was proven wrong and pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed that novel. Well, The Root of All Rage continues to bring readers a great story in the tradition of Star Trek-style social messaging, further solidifying the Prometheus series as a great addition to the Star Trek universe.

The Root of All Rage continues the Prometheus series, a trilogy that was originally published in German by CrossCult, a Germany-based publisher who is also responsible for German-language translations of Pocket Books' Star Trek novels. Originally released in 2016, the Star Trek: Prometheus trilogy was conceived of as an idea to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Star Trek. As such, the story features cameos from a number of Trek characters, most notably Spock, but also features characters such as Lwaxana Troi and, briefly, Captain Jean-Luc Picard.

Lwaxana Troi plays a role in this novel, much to my surprise.

I initially bristled a bit at the inclusion of these characters, feeling that their use in this story contributed to the "small universe syndrome" that Trek literature often falls victim to. However, they are used to fairly good effect here. I'm still a little wary of just how much of the story involves Spock; it may be just a bit too much, but perhaps book three will further justify his use here. There are certainly indications that his prior experience on the Enterprise during TOS will come in handy!

One issue that this series is tackling head on is bigotry and racial prejudice. The Purifying Flame, a terrorist group made up of the Renao, is responsible for terrorist attacks against the Federation and the Klingon Empire. Renao citizens are the target of bigotry, mostly from the Klingons, but also from Starfleet officers and even civilians on Earth. This is most directly seen through the character of Jassat, a Renao officer serving aboard the U.S.S. Prometheus. As the story progresses, he is persecuted more and more by his fellow crewmembers. Adding fuel to the fire is a strange form of radiation that seems to be affecting people, further driving their feelings of hate and bigotry. We discover the source of this radiation, and I'm happy to say I guessed it: an entity similar to the "Beta XII-A" entity seen in the TOS episode "The Day of the Dove," which caused the Enterprise crew to be locked in battle with Klingons under the command of Kang. There is even a reference to the Enterprise-E's encounter with this entity in the Q Continuum novel trilogy by Greg Cox, which I was not expecting at all.

An entity similar to the Beta XII-A entity (seen here aboard the Enterprise in TOS's "The Day of the Dove") seems to be responsible for the escalating violence in the Lembatta Cluster.

Another character that serves to explore the topic of racism is Raspin, a jeghpu'wI' ("conquered species" in Klingon) serving aboard the I.K.S. Bortas. His mistreatment and abuse at the hands of some of the Bortas crew are so internalized as to cause him to see himself as worthless. There is an important lesson here: our actions and beliefs can have far greater consequences than we can even imagine, and seeing things from another person's perspective is incredibly important if we are to break the cycle of violence. Sadly, there are some who will never learn the lesson, but one of the great things about the Prometheus trilogy is that it doesn't treat the Klingons like a monolithic species, and there are some who are more nuanced in their view of alien species.

Despite the efforts of the more level-headed people among the crew, a conflict between the Bortas and the Prometheus seems inevitable.

Things are definitely coming to a head in this series; thanks to the influence of the mysterious entity that lies in wait in the Lembatta Cluster, tensions continue to ratchet higher, with a face-off between the Prometheus and the Bortas clearly on the horizon. As I mentioned earlier, Spock's experience with the entity from "The Day of the Dove" will prove invaluable, so there is a lot that has been set up for the final chapter of Prometheus, which will arrive in December for those of us on the English-speaking side of things.

Final thoughts:

Perplies and Humberg have a great grasp on what makes a good Star Trek story. The characters of Prometheus are compelling, and I feel like they took a page out of Keith R.A. DeCandido's book with their use of diversity and variation among the Klingon crew in particular. They have also managed to craft an engrossing story that has an important social message in the best tradition of Trek. The story uses the typical Trek tropes to good effect without overusing them, which is sometimes a difficult line to walk. They have set up the final book in such a way that I find I am really looking forward to seeing how this all plays out, and I'm definitely excited for the conclusion, which will be available in English in December. Rest assured I'll be reviewing it shortly after its release. 4/5.

More about The Root of All Rage:

• TrekBBS Review and Discussion Thread
• Podcast: Literary Treks 233: The Yin and the Yang of Klingons

Also by Bernd Perplies & Christian Humberg:

• Star Trek: Prometheus: Fire with Fire (2017)
• Star Trek: Prometheus: In the Heart of Chaos (2018)

Next time on Trek Lit Reviews:

Next up: an older Deep Space Nine novel from back in the numbered days: DS9 #5: Fallen Heroes by Dafydd ab Hugh.

Fire with Fire

Star Trek: Prometheus
Fire with Fire by Bernd Perplies & Christian Humberg
Translated into English from the original German Feuer gegen Feuer
Release date: November 28^th 2017
Read December 13^th 2017

Next book (Prometheus): The Root of All Rage

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

Spoilers ahead for Fire with Fire!

Publisher's description:

A mysterious terrorist organization has carried out several attacks against the Federation and Klingon Empire. Tensions are running high in a region already crippled by conflict. The perpetrators are tracked to the Lembatta Cluster, a mysterious region of space whose inhabitants, the Renao, regard the the Alpha Quadrant’s powers as little more than conquering tyrants. The Federation are desperate to prevent more bloodshed, and have sent their most powerful warship, the U.S.S. Prometheus, into the Cluster to investigate the threat before all-consuming war breaks out.

My thoughts:

"You have not experienced Star Trek until you have read it in the original German." - Chancellor Angela Merkel, probably.

I, unfortunately, do not read German. So when it was announced that an original Star Trek trilogy would be published in German by Cross Cult Publishing, I was thrilled, but also a bit sad that I wouldn't be able to read it myself. However, it was soon announced that English translations would follow, and I found myself looking forward to reading this take on the Star Trek literary universe. I promptly cancelled the German language courses I had signed up for and patiently waited for release day.

When I first heard the premise of Prometheus, I was a little bit wary. The idea of taking the most powerful, uber-strong, cool, slick, and deadly starship in Star Trek and centering a book series around it felt a little bit "fan-fictiony." It was the sort of idea that young fans playing Star Trek on the playground might come up with. We see the Prometheus kicking ass in the Voyager episode "Message in a Bottle," dispatching a Romulan Warbird with nary a second thought, splitting into three parts and generally being really bad-ass. Sounds kind of fan-wanky to me.

Thankfully, I was wrong about this. This first book in the Prometheus trilogy turned out to be a thoughtful and fascinating story, a welcome addition to the Star Trek literary universe. For a number of reasons, I had judged this project unfairly, and I came away pleasantly surprised.

The "hero ship" of this series is the U.S.S. Prometheus, seen in the fourth season Voyager episode "Message in a Bottle."

The inciting incident for this story is a series of attacks by a terrorist group calling itself "The Purifying Flame," seemingly-disaffected young people from a species called the Renao, a typically isolationist species who call the Lembatta Cluster home. The Purifying Flame calls aliens "sphere defilers." Their belief is based on the idea that everyone should remain in their "sphere" - their home - and that by entering other environments, they inherently destroy them.

In order to bring the parties responsible for the terrorist attacks to justice, the U.S.S. Prometheus is dispatched to the Lembatta Cluster, along with the Klingon ship I.K.S. Bortas, formerly the flagship of Chancellor Gowron, now considered a "ship without honor." The Bortas is commanded by a young and inexperienced captain who is considered a "hero of the Ning'tao," but in actuality is impulsive and somewhat reckless.

Accompanying the Prometheus into the Lembatta Cluster is the I.K.S. Bortas, first seen in the fourth season TNG episode "Reunion."

This all sets us up for what looks to be a fascinating adventure in the Lembatta Cluster, investigating the Renao and The Purifying Flame. The presence of the Klingons, who are more eager to deal out their particular brand of justice than the Federation officers, adds a volatile element to the story. The two crews working together showcases an interesting dynamic, as Starfleet idealism sometimes gives way to the "efficiency" of Klingon methods.

Fire with Fire surprised me with how well it fit into the established Star Trek literary continuity. It makes sense, given that Cross Cult is responsible for the publishing of the Pocket Books' Trek line in Germany, that the Prometheus series would follow the post-Nemesis continuity, but it was still a pleasant surprise to see characters such as Admiral Akaar along with references to events in other recent Trek novels.

I have to admit that the addition of Ambassador Spock to this story was almost a bridge too far for me.

For the most part, this novel avoids the "fan-wanky" elements I was concerned with initially. However, it does come close a few times. The inclusion of a number of familiar characters was welcome, but when Ambassador Spock shows up, it almost crosses the line into too much. Another instance that I thought would be an issue, but actually turns out to be not too bad, is the addition of a descendant of the Kirk family to the cast. Jenna Kirk, an engineer on the Prometheus, is a descendant of James T. Kirk's nephew, Peter. Her character is more three-dimensional than just "another Kirk," however, and she was a welcome addition to the story.

Finally, another character whose presence makes sense in the story is the Federation ambassador to the Klingon Empire, Alexander Rozhenko. The son of Worf plays an interesting role in the story, and serves to sort of "ride herd" on the Klingons taking part in the mission. I have to admit, it's nice to see more development of this character.

One character addition that makes sense to the story is Ambassador Alexander Rozhenko.

The situation in this novel serves as a fairly blatant allegory to terrorism and governmental responses to it in today's world. This is definitely a point in the pro column. Star Trek is always at its best when it is used as a mirror for our own world. Terrorism and radicalization is a huge issue in the 21st century, and there are many lessons to be learned. Cheers to Perplies and Humberg for tackling this thorny issue in the Star Trek universe.

Finally, I have to give a hearty thumbs up to the authors for the "deep-cut" Trek references in this novel. These guys clearly know their Star Trek! My favorite would have to be the reference to the Ning'tao, which is the Klingon bird-of-prey that Kor took over in the Deep Space Nine episode "Once More Unto the Breach," taking on ten Jem'Hadar ships to buy time for the Klingon strike force in that episode to escape. It's clear that the captain of the Bortas is the "young and inexperienced" captain of the Ning'tao referred to in that episode!

Final thoughts:

A welcome addition to the world of Trek lit! I'm glad this series was made available to English speakers, as the story is off to a great start in this novel. An interesting allegory to the troubles facing the world today, Fire with Fire sets up the rest of the Prometheus trilogy nicely, putting pieces in place for what I hope turns out to be an epic adventure.

More about Fire with Fire:

• TrekBBS Review and Discussion Thread
• Podcast: Literary Treks 214: A Pair of Richards

• Podcast: ReadingTrek #5: Prometheus: Fire with Fire
• Podcast: ReadingTrek #6: "Like Riding a Bike"

Also by Bernd Perplies & Christian Humberg

• Star Trek: Prometheus: The Root of All Rage (2018)
• Star Trek: Prometheus: In the Heart of Chaos (2018)

Next time on Trek Lit Reviews:

My next review is for the Shatnerverse novel Preserver, the last book in his mirror universe trilogy.