Showing posts with label Discovery. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Discovery. Show all posts

Thursday, May 28, 2020

Dead Endless

Star Trek: Discovery
Dead Endless by Dave Galanter
Release date: December 17th 2019
Read December 1st 2019

Previous book (Discovery): The Enterprise War
Next book (Discovery): Die Standing
Purchase Dead Endless:
Trade Paperback: Amazon.com | Amazon.ca | Amazon.co.uk
E-book (Kindle): Amazon.com | Amazon.ca | Amazon.co.uk

 Publisher's description:
The U.S.S. Discovery’s specialty is using its spore-based hub drive to jump great distances faster than any warp-faring vessel in Starfleet. To do this, Lieutenant Paul Stamets navigates the ship through the recently revealed mycelial network, a subspace domain Discovery can briefly transit but in which it cannot remain. After responding to a startling distress call originating from within the network, the Discovery crew find themselves trapped in an inescapable realm where they will surely perish unless their missing mycelial fuel is found or restored. Is the seemingly human man found alone and alive inside the network the Starfleet officer he claims to be, or an impostor created by alien intruders who hope to extract themselves from the mycelial plane at the expense of all lives aboard Discovery?

My thoughts:

Click here to watch my video review of Dead Endless, or click play on the embedded video below!



Final thoughts:

Dead Endless is a moving story about characters I love. The story is not what it initially appears to be, but eventually reveals itself to be much more poignant that it would seem at first glance. Dave Galanter is one of my favorite Trek authors, and his writing does not disappoint here. In fact, Dead Endless was my pick for top Star Trek novel of 2019, and it is well-deserved.

 More about Dead Endless:



Also by Dave Galanter:

Next time on Trek Lit Reviews:

My next review will be for the conclusion of the Star Trek: Destiny trilogy: Lost Souls by David Mack.


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Wednesday, August 28, 2019

The Enterprise War

Star Trek: Discovery
The Enterprise War by John Jackson Miller
Release date: July 30th 2019
Read August 4th 2019

Previous book (Discovery): The Way to the Stars
Next book (Discovery): Dead Endless
Purchase:
Trade Paperback: Amazon.com | Amazon.ca | Amazon.co.uk
E-book (Kindle): Amazon.com | Amazon.ca | Amazon.co.uk

 Publisher's description:
A shattered ship, a divided crew—trapped in the infernal nightmare of conflict!

 Hearing of the outbreak of hostilities between the United Federation of Planets and the Klingon Empire, Captain Christopher Pike attempts to bring the U.S.S. Enterprise home to join in the fight. But in the hellish nebula known as the Pergamum, the stalwart commander instead finds an epic battle of his own, pitting ancient enemies against one another—with not just the Enterprise, but her crew as the spoils of war.

 Lost and out of contact with Earth for an entire year, Pike and his trusted first officer, Number One, struggle to find and reunite the ship’s crew—all while Science Officer Spock confronts a mystery that puts even his exceptional skills to the test…with more than their own survival possibly riding on the outcome….

My thoughts:

Click here to watch my video review of Discovery: The Enterprise War, or click play on the embedded video below!



Final thoughts:

With The Enterprise War, the Star Trek: Discovery novels are five for five! John Jackson Miller has crafted an excellent story that fills in the gaps in the Discovery television series. It was fun to follow the adventures of the Enterprise for the year before season 2 and discover new insights into that season's storyline. Jackson nails the delivery of the characters, especially Captain Pike and Number One. The actors' voices are clearly heard when reading this novel. Top marks, definitely looking forward to Miller's next contribution to the Star Trek litverse!

 More about The Enterprise War:



Also by John Jackson Miller:

Next time on Trek Lit Reviews:

My next review is for the second book in the old Lost Years saga: Star Trek #54: A Flag Full of Stars by Brad Ferguson.


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Wednesday, June 12, 2019

The Way to the Stars

Star Trek: Discovery
The Way to the Stars by Una McCormack
Release date: January 8th 2019
Read January 11th 2019

Previous book (Discovery): Fear Itself
Next book (Discovery): The Enterprise War
Purchase:
Trade Paperback: Amazon.com | Amazon.ca | Amazon.co.uk
E-book (Kindle): Amazon.com | Amazon.ca | Amazon.co.uk

 Publisher's description:
Despite being an inexperienced Starfleet cadet, Sylvia Tilly became essential to the U.S.S. Discovery finding its way back home from the Mirror Universe. But how did she find that courage? From where did she get that steel? Who nurtured that spark of brilliance? The Way to the Stars recounts for fans everywhere the untold story of Tilly’s past.

 It’s not easy being sixteen, especially when everyone expects great things from Tilly. It’s even harder when her mother and father are Federation luminaries, not to mention pressing her to attend one of the best schools that the Federation has to offer. Tilly wants to achieve great things—even though she hasn’t quite worked out how to do that or what it is she wants to do. But this year, everything will change for Tilly, as she about to embark upon the adventure of a lifetime—an adventure that will take her ever closer to the stars….

My thoughts:

Click here to watch my video review of Discovery: The Way to the Stars, or click play on the embedded video below!



Final thoughts:

The Way to the Stars is an excellent bit of backstory for one of my favorite Discovery characters. The young Sylvia Tilly comes to life with a past that seems far too familiar to many people. Over the course of the story, she begins to chart a new course in her life and grow into the person she will become by the time we see her as a cadet in season one of Discovery. This book contains some great life lessons for those among us who may have struggled with the expectations of their peers and their parents. 5/5.

 More about The Way to the Stars:



Also by Una McCormack:

Next time on Trek Lit Reviews:

Next up is my review of the first book in the Star Trek: Titan series: Taking Wing by Michael A. Martin & Andy Mangels.


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Saturday, December 29, 2018

Fear Itself

Star Trek: Discovery
Fear Itself by James Swallow
Release date: June 5th 2018
Read June 11th 2018

Previous book (Discovery): Drastic Measures
Next book (Discovery): The Way to the Stars
Purchase:
Trade Paperback: Amazon.com | Amazon.ca | Amazon.co.uk
E-book (Kindle): Amazon.com | Amazon.ca | Amazon.co.uk

 Publisher's description:
Lieutenant Saru is a Kelpien, a member of a prey species born on a world overrun by monstrous predators…and a being who very intimately understands the nature of fear. Challenged on all sides, he is determined to surpass his origins and succeed as a Starfleet officer aboard the U.S.S. Shenzhou. But when Saru breaks protocol in order to prove himself to his crewmates, what begins as a vital rescue mission to save a vessel in distress soon escalates out of control. Forced into a command role he may not be ready for, Saru is caught between his duty and the conflicting agendas of two antagonistic alien races. To survive, he will need to seek a path of peace against all odds, and risk compromising the very ideals he has sworn to uphold….

My thoughts:

Click here to watch my video review of Discovery: Fear Itself, or click play on the embedded video below!



Final thoughts:

An excellent novel digging into what makes one of the most popular Discovery characters tick. James Swallow gives us a fun and fascinating story that gets to the root of Saru's character, and show us that his fearful nature may not be exactly what we or his colleagues expect. 5/5.

 More about Fear Itself:


Also by James Swallow:

Next time on Trek Lit Reviews:

Next up is my wrap-up of the year in Trek Lit!


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Thursday, August 23, 2018

Drastic Measures

Star Trek: Discovery
Drastic Measures by Dayton Ward
Release date: February 6th 2018
Read March 1st 2018

Previous book (Discovery): Desperate Hours
Next book (Discovery): Fear Itself
Purchase:
Trade Paperback: Amazon.com | Amazon.ca | Amazon.co.uk
E-book (Kindle): Amazon.com | Amazon.ca | Amazon.co.uk

 Publisher's description:
It is 2246, ten years prior to the Battle at the Binary Stars, and an aggressive contagion is ravaging the food supplies of the remote Federation colony Tarsus IV and the eight thousand people who call it home. Distress signals have been sent, but any meaningful assistance is weeks away. Lieutenant Commander Gabriel Lorca and a small team assigned to a Starfleet monitoring outpost are caught up in the escalating crisis, and bear witness as the colony’s governor, Adrian Kodos, employs an unimaginable solution in order to prevent mass starvation.

 While awaiting transfer to her next assignment, Commander Philippa Georgiou is tasked with leading to Tarsus IV a small, hastily assembled group of first responders. It’s hoped this advance party can help stabilize the situation until more aid arrives, but Georgiou and her team discover that they‘re too late—Governor Kodos has already implemented his heinous strategy for extending the colony’s besieged food stores and safeguarding the community’s long-term survival.

 In the midst of their rescue mission, Georgiou and Lorca must now hunt for the architect of this horrific tragedy and the man whom history will one day brand “Kodos the Executioner”….

My thoughts:
"The revolution is successful. But survival depends on drastic measures. Your continued existence represents a threat to the well-being of society. Your lives mean slow death to the more valued members of the colony. Therefore, I have no alternative but to sentence you to death. Your execution is so ordered, signed Kodos, Governor of Tarsus IV."
With those chilling words, Adrian Kodos sentenced 4000 colonists to death to ensure the survival of the remaining population of Tarsus IV. In this Discovery novel, we learn that Philippa Georgiou and Gabriel Lorca were on hand during these events and the crisis that followed.

Click here to watch my video review of Discovery: Drastic Measures, or click play on the embedded video below!



Final thoughts:

Dayton Ward's Drastic Measures does a great job in integrating Discovery characters into the history of Star Trek, while at the same time creating new and interesting backstories and lore for both Lorca and Georgiou. Especially in Lorca's case, given that this book is the most we ever see of this character from the prime universe. Readers should pay extra attention to the very last "bonus chapter" at the end of the novel for some possible hints about future developments on Star Trek: Discovery...

 More about Drastic Measures:


Also by Dayton Ward:

Next time on Trek Lit Reviews:

My next review will be for a Voyager novel from the older numbered series: Echoes by Dean Wesley Smith, Kristine Kathryn Rusch, and Nina Kirki Hoffman.


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Sunday, April 22, 2018

Desperate Hours

Star Trek: Discovery
Desperate Hours by David Mack
Release date: September 26th 2017
Read October 2nd 2017

 Next book (Discovery): Drastic Measures
Purchase:
Trade Paperback: Amazon.com | Amazon.ca | Amazon.co.uk
E-book (Kindle): Amazon.com | Amazon.ca | Amazon.co.uk

 Publisher's description:
Aboard the Starship Shenzhou, Lieutenant Michael Burnham, a human woman raised and educated among Vulcans, is promoted to acting first officer. But if she wants to keep the job, she must prove to Captain Philippa Georgiou that she deserves to have it.

 She gets her chance when the Shenzhou must protect a Federation colony that is under attack by an ancient alien vessel that has surfaced from the deepest fathoms of the planet’s dark, uncharted sea.

 As the menace from this mysterious vessel grows stronger, Starfleet declares the colony expendable in the name of halting the threat. To save thousands of innocent lives, Burnham must infiltrate the alien ship. But to do so, she needs to face the truth of her troubled past, and seek the aid of a man she has tried to avoid her entire life—until now.

My thoughts:

Click here to watch my video review of Star Trek: Discovery: Desperate Hours, or click play on the embedded video below!



Final thoughts:

A story that features strong character moments and insights, not only for the Discovery characters Burnham, Saru, and Georgiou, but also for "special guest stars" Pike, Spock, and Una. A fairly typical Trek story plot-wise, but still very enjoyable and a fun adventure set aboard the U.S.S. Shenzhou. Four out of five stars!

 More about Desperate Hours:


Also by David Mack:

Next time on Trek Lit Reviews:

Next up is the first Star Trek: Voyager original novel from 1995: The Escape by Dean Wesley Smith & Kristine Kathryn Rusch.


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