Firewall

Star Trek: Picard
Firewall by David Mack
Release date: February 27, 2024
Read February 18^th 2024

Previous book (Picard): Second Self
Next book (Picard): 

Purchase:
Hardcover: Amazon.com | Amazon.ca | Amazon.co.uk
E-book (Kindle): Amazon.com | Amazon.ca | Amazon.co.uk
Audiobook:  Amazon.com | Amazon.ca | Amazon.co.uk

Publisher's description:

A thrilling prequel adventure based on the acclaimed TV series Star Trek: Picard!

Two years after the USS Voyager’s return from the Delta Quadrant, Seven of Nine finds herself rejected for a position in Starfleet…and instead finds a new home with the interstellar rogue law enforcement corps known as the Fenris Rangers. The Rangers seem like an ideal fit for Seven—but to embrace this new destiny, she must leave behind all she’s ever known, and risk losing the most important thing in her life: her friendship with Admiral Kathryn Janeway.

My thoughts:

When Seven of Nine first showed up on Star Trek: Picard at the end of the episode "Absolute Candor," many Star Trek fans were left wondering about her backstory. What happened to her in the aftermath of Voyager's return to the Alpha Quadrant? Why was she not in Starfleet? And how had she come to join the Fenris Rangers? While some aspects of those questions have been addressed on-screen in the years since, the vast majority of Seven's time from the end of Voyager to where we see her in Star Trek: Picard still remained a mystery. Until now!

The surprise appearance of Seven of Nine in season one of Star Trek: Picard left many viewers wondering what happened to her in the intervening years since the end of Star Trek: Voyager.

In David Mack's Firewall, the author brings us up to speed, showing the "lost years" of Seven's backstory. While some fan reactions I've seen online take issue with how Mack has characterized Seven's development during this time, I take a very different stance. Remember, when Seven of Nine was first introduced on Voyager, the character was freshly liberated from the Borg Collective, having been assimilated when she was a very young child. For all intents and purposes, she was going through her own childhood as she learned to be an individual and exist separate from the Collective. Combine that with the artificial environment of a ship of only about 150 people, isolated from the rest of human society, it becomes clear that Seven never really had the chance to fully explore who she is as an adult.

One thing Voyager had going for it, however, was that it was generally a positive environment in which Seven could grow. She was surrounded by mostly sympathetic people who had her best interests at heart. Upon returning to the Alpha Quadrant, however, Seven was forced to confront a society that distrusted and hated the Borg. Not knowing her as the crew of Voyager does, it's only natural that there would be a great deal of pushback against her. This is not to excuse the behavior of those around her; certainly, it would be ideal if the people of the Federation would understand that individual drones are just as much victims of the Borg Collective as the targets they attack.

Seven's poor treatment by the citizens of the Federation is frustrating, if somewhat understandable, but her treatment by the Federation government itself is appalling. She is rejected in her application to Starfleet Academy, but even more egregious than that, she is denied Federation citizenship! Ostensibly this is because she refuses to go by the name in her official records, Annika Hansen, preferring to go by Seven of Nine. There is a clear allegory to the issue of dead-naming and the trans experience, and David Mack does a great job in upholding the Trek tradition of shining a light on social issues through the lens of science fiction. Similarly, Seven's exploration of her queer identity was a welcome aspect of the novel. I found myself seeing a lot of parallels between what Seven goes though in Firewall and the experiences of one who has come out as gay or bisexual later in life.

Eventually, Seven finds herself working with the Fenris Rangers, a law enforcement agency that has, in recent years, found itself operating outside of the law due to the fact that the governments that contracted the Rangers no longer exist. The group continues to maintain a semblance of law and order on nearby worlds, but the various planets continue to slip into lawlessness and anarchy thanks to the efforts of bad players working to destabilize the region. Additionally, NGOs that used to provide needed relief have recently pulled out to assist with the humanitarian crisis generated by the impending Romulan supernova. However, Seven's work with the Rangers isn't entirely of her own volition; a supposed Federation Intelligence operative has recruited her to infiltrate the Rangers and report on their activities. It becomes clear fairly early on that this "agent," Arastoo Mardani, isn't exactly on the up-and-up. His real name turns out to be Erol Tazgül, and he is a former Federation spymaster who (according to Starfleet Intelligence) has turned entrepreneur, sponsoring warlords in the Qiris sector to further his own ambitions.

The villains of the piece, Tazgül and his warlord beneficiary, General Kohgish, make for some great antagonists mostly due to how believable their motivations are. Kohgish wants to acquire as much capital as possible to solidify his stranglehold on the Qiris sector, while Erol Tazgül's aims are rooted in the extreme political stance he takes. Both felt like they could have been ripped from today's headlines, making this story resonate for any readers who happen to be students of modern history or politics. By the end of the novel, it's still somewhat unclear if Tazgül is truly working on his own, or still at the behest of Starfleet Intelligence, a question that leaves the reader shuddering at its implications. I will say that I was glad the author didn't use the shorthand that is commonly done and say that Tazgül is working for Section 31, as I feel that is a well visited far too often these days.

General Kohgish is an Antican warlord who hopes to control the Qiris sector.

The characters that Seven comes to call colleagues and friends in the Fenris Rangers were some of my favorite things about this novel. Her mentor, Keon Harper, is an older Ranger who has been doing this for a long time. This makes him somewhat jaded, but also never losing the idealism that brought him to the Fenris Rangers in the first place. His mentorship of Seven, and the effect that Seven has on him in return, was a true pleasure to read. Seven's other fellow rangers are a fun cast of characters, but one stand out in particular is someone I truly hope we see more of in the future: Ellory Kayd and Seven eventually strike up a romantic relationship, and it is truly heart-warming to see Seven finding somewhere to belong and someone to belong with. We of course know that the relationship doesn't last far into the future, leading me to wonder if there is a story there to pick up on at some point.

Finally, a major throughline in this novel and, indeed, in Seven of Nine's life, is the role of Admiral Kathryn Janeway. Seven's original mentor and parent-figure, Janeway has always had a vested interest in Seven, and went to bat for her when she was rejected from the Academy. Her perspective on Seven's experiences throughout the story is an interesting one. There are times in this novel when Janeway's view of the situation in the Qiris sector is frankly naive, but I think this was a great choice on the part of the author. She is not there in the thick of it with Seven, and only knows what the Federation news sources are saying about this situation. I think this says something interesting about where we get our information and serves as a warning to be on guard for bias in our sources of news. Regardless, the love that Janeway has for Seven (and that Seven has for Janeway) is always apparent, even when they are on opposing sides of an issue.

I also appreciated the elements from Star Trek: Prodigy that were used in the novel. David Mack worked as a consultant on season one of Prodigy, and I personally know how much he loves that series. Elements such as the U.S.S. Dauntless and her crew were very welcome to see, as were the oblique references to plot elements from Prodigy.

Admiral Janeway's ship from Star Trek: Prodigy, the U.S.S. Dauntless, makes an appearance in Firewall.

For some, the darker tone of Firewall may be off-putting, but in all fairness it does match the state of the Star Trek universe as seen in Star Trek: Picard. The action in this novel takes place far away from the gleaming egalitarian cities of Earth, and the desperate situations that people find themselves in are a stark reminder that not everyone in the Star Trek universe can live only to better themselves and the rest of sentient-kind.

Final thoughts:

I thoroughly enjoyed Firewall, and appreciated the exploration of Seven of Nine's life between the end of Voyager and her appearances in Picard. David Mack's worldbuilding of the planets in the Qiris sector and the environment in which the Fenris Rangers operate gave some much-need context for what we saw in Star Trek: Picard. I especially enjoyed the original characters populating this novel, a number of whom I hope we see again in a future story. The allegories to queer and trans experiences as well as the "ripped from the headlines" situations place this novel in the best tradition of Star Trek stories that highlight social issues from today. Top marks for this novel, one of my favorites in recent years.

More about Firewall:

• WINNER of the 2024 Scribe Award for Best Media Tie-In Novel (SFF division)
• TrekBBS Review and Discussion Thread
• Podcast: Positively Trek Book Club: Seven of Nine Knows Her Name - Exclusive interview with author David Mack!

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Also by David Mack:

• Star Trek: S.C.E. #7: Invincible, Part One of Two with Keith R.A. DeCandido (2001)
• Star Trek: S.C.E. #8: Invincible, Part Two of Two with Keith R.A. DeCandido (2001)
• Star Trek: The Next Generation: A Time to Kill (2004)
• Star Trek: The Next Generation: A Time to Heal (2004)
• Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: Warpath (2006)
• Star Trek: Vanguard: Reap the Whirlwind (2007)
• Star Trek: Destiny, Book I: Gods of Night (2008)
• Star Trek: Destiny, Book II: Mere Mortals (2008)
• Star Trek: Destiny, Book III: Lost Souls (2008)
• Star Trek: Vanguard: Precipice (2009)
• Star Trek: Mirror Universe: The Sorrows of Empire, expanded edition (2010)
• "The Stars Look Down" from Star Trek: Vanguard: Declassified (2011)
• Star Trek: Mirror Universe: Rise Like Lions (2011)
• Star Trek: Vanguard: Storming Heaven (2012)
• Star Trek: The Next Generation: Cold Equations, Book I: The Persistence of Memory (2012)
• Star Trek: The Next Generation: Cold Equations, Book II: Silent Weapons (2012)
• Star Trek: The Next Generation: Cold Equations, Book III: The Body Electric (2013)
• Star Trek: The Fall: A Ceremony of Losses (2013)
• Star Trek: Seekers #1: Second Nature (2014)
• Star Trek: Section 31: Disavowed (2014)
• Star Trek: Seekers #3: Long Shot (2015)
• Star Trek: Legacies, Book 2 of 3: Best Defense (2016)
• Star Trek: Section 31: Control (2017)
• Star Trek: Discovery: Desperate Hours (2017)
• Star Trek: Titan: Fortune of War (2017)
• Star Trek: The Next Generation: Collateral Damage (2019)

Next time on Trek Lit Reviews:

Next review is for book 3 of the Star Trek: Voyager: String Theory trilogy: Evolution by Heather Jarman.

Comic Review: Too Long a Sacrifice #2

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Too Long a Sacrifice #2
Writers: by Scott Tipton & David Tipton
Artist: Greg Scott

Release date: August 19^th 2020

Previous issue: Too Long a Sacrifice #1

Next issue: Too Long a Sacrifice #3

Purchase (Kindle & Comixology):
Amazon.com | Amazon.ca | Amazon.co.uk

Publisher's description:

With the murderer still on the loose, the inhabitants of Deep Space Nine are starting to divide into factions, made even worse when the Ferengi government gets involved. To make matters worse, conflict between Constable Odo and the Federation’s handpicked criminal investigator threatens to derail the investigation itself! The DS9 murder mystery continues in this new space noir from David and Scott Tipton (STAR TREK: MIRROR BROKEN, STAR TREK: THE Q CONFLICT) and Greg Scott (GOTHAM CENTRAL, THE X-FILES)!

My thoughts:

Click here to watch my video review of Too Long a Sacrifice #2, or click play on the embedded video below!

Final thoughts:

While the story feels like it is lacking forward momentum at times, the plot is fascinating enough to hold my interest to see where this is all heading. Looking forward to getting some answers as to the connections between some of the events of this story in issues three and four!


Next Comic:

Star Trek: Hell's Mirror

Comic Review: Year Five #13

Star Trek: Year Five #13
Writers: Jackson Lanzing & Collin Kelly
Artist: Angel Hernandez
Release date: August 5^th 2020

Previous issue: Year Five #12
Next issue: Year Five #14

Purchase:
Kindle & Comixology: Amazon.com | Amazon.ca | Amazon.co.uk

Publisher's description:

The Enterprise and her crew finally make it back to Federation space, but the Federation they find isn’t quite the same as the one they had left behind. Meanwhile, Aegis and Gary Seven’s grand design continues to take shape—and the consequences will be staggering. The final voyages of the original Enterprise crew continue in this episode from showrunners Jackson Lanzing & Collin Kelly (GREEN ARROW, NIGHTWING)!

My thoughts:

Click here to watch my video review of Star Trek: Year Five #13, or click play on the embedded video below!

Final thoughts:

The start of a new story arc, in which the Enterprise crew returns to Federation space to find their peaceful society showing cracks at the edges. A fascinating concept, and very much in line with the current trend of Star Trek storytelling in recent years. I'm very much looking forward to seeing where this story ultimately goes. Highly recommend!


Next Comic:

Deep Space Nine: Too Long a Sacrifice #2

Comic Review: Too Long a Sacrifice #1

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Too Long a Sacrifice #1
Writers: by Scott Tipton & David Tipton
Artist: Greg Scott
Release date: July 15^th 2020

Next issue: Too Long a Sacrifice #2

Purchase:
Kindle & Comixology: Amazon.com | Amazon.ca | Amazon.co.uk

Publisher's description:

Death casts its shadow as Constable Odo searches for truth amid a web of treachery and lies. Everyone on the Promanade has a motive for this murder, be it vengeance, justice... or old-fashioned greed. Legendary Star Trek scribes Scott Tipton and David Tipton team with noir artist Greg Scott for the first Deep Space Nine comic book series in a decade!

My thoughts:

Click here to watch my video review of Too Long a Sacrifice #1, or click play on the embedded video below!

Final thoughts:

An interesting start to the miniseries, with a focus on how the characters respond to a horrific crime commited on the station. Odo is the primary focus, and his investigation of an explosion on the promenade leads to some interesting revelations. I'm looking forward to seeing what's next for this story!


Next Comic:

Star Trek: Year Five #13

Dead Endless

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

• TrekBBS Review and Discussion Thread
• Podcast: Literary Treks 292: More of a Culmets Book - Exclusive interview with author Dave Galanter!

Also by Dave Galanter:

• Star Trek: S.C.E. #11: Ambush with Greg Brodeur (2001)
• Star Trek: Mere Anarchy: Shadows of the Indignant (2006)
• Star Trek: Troublesome Minds (2009)
• Star Trek: The Original Series: Crisis of Consciousness (2015)

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.

Collateral Damage

Star Trek: The Next Generation
Collateral Damage by David Mack
Release date: October 8^th 2019
Read October 16^th 2019

Previous book (The Next Generation): Available Light

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

Publisher's description:

The past returns to haunt Captain Jean-Luc Picard—a crime he thought long buried has been exposed, and he must return to Earth to answer for his role in a conspiracy that some call treason. Meanwhile, the U.S.S. Enterprise is sent to apprehend pirates who have stolen vital technology from a fragile Federation colony. But acting captain Commander Worf discovers that the pirates’ motives are not what they seem, and that sometimes standing for justice means defying the law….

My thoughts:

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

Final thoughts:

An impressive wrap-up to a number of dangling threads from the Trek litverse, but with still more room to move the story forward from here. Some great moral lessons for the Federation at large, and repercussions for Jean-Luc Picard as well. I loved this novel, and I'm eager to discover where things go from here! David Mack has once again knocked it out of the park.

More about Collateral Damage:

• TrekBBS Review and Discussion Thread
• Podcast: Literary Treks 286: The Wrong Thing for the Right Reason - Exclusive interview with author David Mack!

Also by David Mack:

• Star Trek: S.C.E. #7: Invincible, Part One of Two with Keith R.A. DeCandido (2001)
• Star Trek: S.C.E. #8: Invincible, Part Two of Two with Keith R.A. DeCandido (2001)
• Star Trek: The Next Generation: A Time to Kill (2004)
• Star Trek: The Next Generation: A Time to Heal (2004)
• Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: Warpath (2006)
• Star Trek: Vanguard: Reap the Whirlwind (2007)
• Star Trek: Destiny, Book I: Gods of Night (2008)
• Star Trek: Destiny, Book II: Mere Mortals (2008)
• Star Trek: Destiny, Book III: Lost Souls (2008)
• Star Trek: Vanguard: Precipice (2009)
• Star Trek: Mirror Universe: The Sorrows of Empire, expanded edition (2010)
• "The Stars Look Down" from Star Trek: Vanguard: Declassified (2011)
• Star Trek: Mirror Universe: Rise Like Lions (2011)
• Star Trek: Vanguard: Storming Heaven (2012)
• Star Trek: The Next Generation: Cold Equations, Book I: The Persistence of Memory (2012)
• Star Trek: The Next Generation: Cold Equations, Book II: Silent Weapons (2012)
• Star Trek: The Next Generation: Cold Equations, Book III: The Body Electric (2013)
• Star Trek: The Fall: A Ceremony of Losses (2013)
• Star Trek: Seekers #1: Second Nature (2014)
• Star Trek: Section 31: Disavowed (2014)
• Star Trek: Seekers #3: Long Shot (2015)
• Star Trek: Legacies, Book 2 of 3: Best Defense (2016)
• Star Trek: Section 31: Control (2017)
• Star Trek: Discovery: Desperate Hours (2017)
• Star Trek: Titan: Fortune of War (2017)
• Star Trek: Picard: Firewall (2024)

Next time on Trek Lit Reviews:

Next review will be for the Star Trek: Discovery novel Dead Endless by Dave Galanter. See you then!

The Antares Maelstrom

Star Trek: The Original Series
The Antares Maelstrom by Greg Cox
Release date: August 13^th 2019
Read August 14^th 2019

Previous book (The Original Series): The Captain's Oath
Next book (The Original Series): The Motion Picture: 40th Anniversary Edition

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

Publisher's description:

The final frontier erupts into chaos as vast quantities of a rare energy source are discovered beneath the surface of Baldur-3, a remote planet beyond the outer fringes of Federation space. Now an old-fashioned "gold rush" is underway as a flood of would-be prospectors, from countless worlds and species, races toward the planet to stake their claim.

The galactic stampede threatens the stability of neighboring planets and space stations, as widespread strife and sabotage and all-around pandemonium result in a desperate need for Starfleet assistance. Captain James T. Kirk and the crew of the Starship Enterprise are dispatched to deal with the escalating crisis... which lies on the other side of a famously perilous region of space known as the Antares Maelstrom.

My thoughts:

Click here to watch my video review of The Original Series: The Antares Maelstrom, or click play on the embedded video below!

Final thoughts:

A fun TOS story that makes numerous callbacks to original Star Trek episodes. Every member of the main cast is given an interesting part to play, and the story feels like a good old-fashioned TOS adventure. While some may bristle at the large number of plotlines the story juggles, I found myself enjoying each one. A great entry in the long-running TOS book line!

More about The Antares Maelstrom:

• TrekBBS Review and Discussion Thread
• Podcast: Literary Treks 279: The Young, Rash, Impetuous Russian - Exclusive interview with author Greg Cox!

Also by Greg Cox:

• Star Trek: The Next Generation #47: The Q Continuum, Book 1 of 3: Q-Space (1998)
• Star Trek: The Next Generation #48: The Q Continuum, Book 2 of 3: Q-Zone (1998)
• Star Trek: The Next Generation #49: The Q Continuum, Book 3 of 3: Q-Strike (1998)
• Star Trek: The Rings of Time (2012)
• Star Trek: The Original Series: The Weight of Worlds (2013)
• Star Trek: The Original Series: No Time Like the Past (2014)
• Star Trek: The Original Series: Foul Deeds Will Rise (2014)
• Star Trek: The Original Series: Child of Two Worlds (2015)
• Star Trek: The Original Series: Miasma (2016)
• Star Trek: Legacies, Book One: Captain to Captain (2016)

Next time on Trek Lit Reviews:

My next review is for the first book in the Star Trek: Destiny trilogy by David Mack: Gods of Night.

The Enterprise War

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

• TrekBBS Review and Discussion Thread
• Podcast: Literary Treks 278: His Losses Continue to "Mount" - Exclusive interview with author John Jackson Miller!

Also by John Jackson Miller:

• Star Trek: Titan: Absent Enemies (2014)
• Star Trek: The Next Generation: Takedown (2015)
• Star Trek: Prey, Book 1: Hell's Heart (2016)
• Star Trek: Prey, Book 2: The Jackal's Trick (2016)
• Star Trek: Prey, Book 3: The Hall of Heroes (2016)

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.

The Captain's Oath

Star Trek: The Original Series
The Captain's Oath by Christopher L. Bennett
Release date: May 28^th 2019
Read May 28^th 2019

Previous book (The Original Series): The Face of the Unknown
Next book (The Original Series): The Antares Maelstrom

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

Publisher's description:

The saga of James T. Kirk's historic command of the U.S.S. Enterprise is known throughout the galaxy. But one part of the legend has barely been touched upon until now: the story of Kirk's first starship command and the remarkable achievements by which Starfleet's youngest captain earned the right to succeed Christopher Pike as the commander of the famous Enterprise. From his early battles with the Klingons to the rescue of endangered civilizations, Kirk grapples with difficult questions: Is he a warrior or a peacemaker? Should he obey regulations or trust his instincts? This thrilling novel illustrates the events and choices that would shape James T. Kirk into one of the most renowned captains in Starfleet history.

My thoughts:

Click here to watch my video review of The Original Series: The Captain's Oath, or click play on the embedded video below!

Final thoughts:

A strong novel showcasing Kirk's career as a captain before The Original Series, as well as the events that led him to take command of the Enterprise. Christopher Bennett does his usual awesome job of connecting various bits of canon and crafting a terrific story that fills in some of the missing bits. Great character work in this novel, and fascinating problems for Kirk and his crews to overcome. I always enjoy Bennett's world-building, and the more-alien-than-usual Agni are a great addition to the Trek gallery of lifeforms. Highly recommend this novel, which gives great insight into the man James T. Kirk was, as well as informing the man he would become.

More about The Captain's Oath:

• TrekBBS Review and Discussion Thread
• Podcast: Literary Treks 271: To Thine Own Self Be True

Also by Christopher L. Bennett:

• Star Trek: Ex Machina (2005)
• Star Trek: Titan: Orion's Hounds (2006)
• Star Trek: Mere Anarchy: The Darkness Drops Again (2007)
• Star Trek: The Next Generation: The Buried Age (2007)
• Star Trek: The Next Generation: Greater Than the Sum (2008)
• Star Trek: Department of Temporal Investigations: Watching the Clock (2011)
• Star Trek: Typhon Pact: The Struggle Within (2011)
• Star Trek: Department of Temporal Investigations: Forgotten History (2012)
• Star Trek: Enterprise: Rise of the Federation: A Choice of Futures (2013)
• Star Trek: Enterprise: Rise of the Federation: Tower of Babel (2014)
• Star Trek: Department of Temporal Investigations: The Collectors (2014)
• Star Trek: Enterprise: Rise of the Federation: Uncertain Logic (2015)
• Star Trek: Enterprise: Rise of the Federation: Live By the Code (2016)
• Star Trek: Department of Temporal Investigations: Time Lock (2016)
• Star Trek: The Original Series: The Face of the Unknown (2017)
• Star Trek: Department of Temporal Investigations: Shield of the Gods (2017)
• Star Trek: Enterprise: Rise of the Federation: Patterns of Interference (2017)
• Star Trek: The Original Series: The Higher Frontier (2020)

Next time on Trek Lit Reviews:

My next review is for the Star Trek: Titan novel, Orion's Hounds, by Christopher L. Bennett!

Available Light

Star Trek: The Next Generation
Available Light by Dayton Ward
Release date: April 9^th 2019
Read April 11^th 2019

Previous book (The Next Generation): Hearts and Minds
Next book (The Next Generation): Collateral Damage

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

Publisher's description:

Section 31, the covert organization which has operated without accountability in the shadows for more than two centuries, has been exposed. Throughout the Federation, the rogue group’s agents and leaders are being taken into custody as the sheer scope of its misdeeds comes to light. Now Starfleet Command must decide the consequences for numerous officers caught up in the scandal — including Admirals William Ross, Edward Jellico, Alynna Nechayev, and Captain Jean-Luc Picard who, along with many others, are implicated in the forced removal of a Federation president.

Meanwhile, deep in the distant, unexplored region of space known as the Odyssean Pass, Picard and the crew of the Starship Enterprise must put aside personal feelings and political concerns as they investigate a massive mysterious spacecraft. Adrift for centuries in the void, the ship is vital to the survival of an endangered civilization which has spent generations searching for a world to sustain what remains of its people. Complicating matters is a band of marauders who have their own designs on the ancient ship, with only the Enterprise standing in their way....

My thoughts:

Click here to watch my video review of The Next Generation: Available Light, or click play on the embedded video below!

Final thoughts:

A strong continuation of the on-going story post-Nemesis, drawing a lot from the previous novels going all the way back to the A Time To series. Very excited to see this story continue, and the personal stakes for Picard continue to mount. The main part of the story, involving the exploration of a seemingly-derelict ship, is a lot of fun with some interesting scientific concepts involved. I love the role that T'Ryssa Chen gets to play in this story, and the secondary characters introduced in this novel are quite interesting. Definitely a solid entry in the on-going Star Trek novel-verse!

More about Available Light:

• TrekBBS Review and Discussion Thread
• Podcast: Literary Treks 266: Bringing the Truth Out of the Shadows - Exclusive interview with author Dayton Ward

Also by Dayton Ward:

• Star Trek: S.C.E. #4: Interphase, Part One with Kevin Dilmore (2001)
• Star Trek: S.C.E. #5: Interphase, Part Two with Kevin Dilmore (2001)
• Star Trek #97: In the Name of Honor (2002)
• Star Trek: A Time to Sow with Kevin Dilmore (2004)
• Star Trek: A Time to Harvest with Kevin Dilmore (2004)
• Star Trek: Mere Anarchy, Book 1: Things Fall Apart with Kevin Dilmore (2006)
• Star Trek: Vanguard: Open Secrets (2009)
• "Almost Tomorrow" from Star Trek: Vanguard: Declassified (2011)
• Star Trek: Vanguard: What Judgments Come with Kevin Dilmore (2011)
• Star Trek: That Which Divides (2012)
• Star Trek: Vanguard: In Tempest's Wake (2012)
• Star Trek: The Original Series: From History's Shadow (2013)
• Star Trek: The Fall: Peaceable Kingdoms (2014)
• Star Trek: Seekers #2: Point of Divergence with Kevin Dilmore (2014)
• Star Trek: The Next Generation: Armageddon's Arrow (2015)
• Star Trek: Seekers #4: All That's Left with Kevin Dilmore (2015)
• Star Trek: The Original Series: Elusive Salvation (2016)
• Star Trek: Legacies, Book 3: Purgatory's Key with Kevin Dilmore (2016)
• Star Trek: The Next Generation: Headlong Flight (2017)
• Star Trek: The Next Generation: Hearts and Minds (2017)
• Hidden Universe Travel Guide to The Klingon Empire (2017)
• Star Trek: Discovery: Drastic Measures (2018)

Next time on Trek Lit Reviews:

My next review is for the TNG novel Resistance by J.M. Dillard.

The Way to the Stars

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

• TrekBBS Review and Discussion Thread
• Podcast: Literary Treks 257: Lots of Bits of Me - Exclusive interview with author Una McCormack!

Also by Una McCormack:

• Worlds of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Volume One: Cardassia: The Lotus Flower (2004)
• Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: Hollow Men (2005)
• Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: The Never-Ending Sacrifice (2009)
• Star Trek: Typhon Pact: Brinkmanship (2012)
• Star Trek: The Fall: The Crimson Shadow (2013)
• Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: The Missing (2014)
• Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: Enigma Tales (2017)
• Star Trek: Picard: The Last Best Hope (2020)

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.

Fear Itself

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

• TrekBBS Review and Discussion Thread
• Podcast: Literary Treks 234: The Seed That Gets No Water - Exclusive interview with James Swallow

• Podcast: ReadingTrek #12: "Saru-berries"

Also by James Swallow:

• Star Trek: Terok Nor: Day of the Vipers (2008)
• Star Trek: Titan: Synthesis (2009)
• Star Trek: Cast No Shadow (2011)
• Star Trek: The Next Generation: The Stuff of Dreams (2013)
• Star Trek: The Fall: The Poisoned Chalice (2014)
• Star Trek: Titan: Sight Unseen (2015)
• Star Trek: The Original Series: The Latter Fire (2016)

Next time on Trek Lit Reviews:

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

Lost Scenes

Star Trek: Lost Scenes by David Tilotta & Curt McAloney
Release date: August 21^st 2018
Read November 9^th 2018

Purchase:
Hardcover: Amazon.com | Amazon.ca | Amazon.co.uk

Publisher's description:

Think you know everything about the Original Series? Think again. Star Trek: The Lost Scenes is packed with hundreds of never-before-seen color photos of the world's ultimate sci-fi series. Professionally restored images are used to chronicle the making of the series, reassemble deleted scenes, and showcase bloopers from the first pilot through the last episode. Whether you're a new Star Trek fan or a seasoned veteran, this book is a must-have.

My thoughts:

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

Final thoughts:

An incredibly well-put together book featuring tidbits gathered from all three seasons of The Original Series. I can honestly say, as a life-long fan of Trek who thought he knew everything there was to know about it, I was surprised by a lot of what is in this book. A huge bonus was learning a lot about the craft and art of making a science fiction television series in the 1960s! Tilotta and McAloney have put together a masterpiece that is sure to impress both hardcore fans and new fans alike!

More about Lost Scenes:

• TrekBBS Discussion Thread
• Podcast: Literary Treks 249: A Fun Labor of Love - Exclusive interview with authors David Tilotta & Curt McAloney

Next time on Trek Lit Reviews:

Star Trek #88: Across the Universe by Pamela Sargent & George Zebrowski.