Literary Treks 213: Suck on That, Gaila

Titan: Fortune of War
Exclusive interview with author David Mack

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

The Husnock: described as beings of "hideous intelligence," this sprawling empire represented a surprise threat to the United Federation of Planets in the 24th century. However, the inevitable invasion never arrived due to the fact that the entire species was wiped out by an incredibly powerful and enraged entity, a Douwd who went by the name of Kevin Uxbridge. Now, all of the ships, weapons, and machines of war of the Husnock sit empty and unclaimed, awaiting the opportunistic clutches of Nausicaans, Ferengi, Pakleds, and more.

In this episode of Literary Treks, hosts Bruce Gibson and Dan Gunther are joined by author David Mack to discuss his latest Titan novel, Fortune of War. We talk about the links to TNG's The Survivors, the Husnock, Admiral Riker's new role, the characters of Titan, "The Chase" on speed, and wrap up with what David Mack has on the go for future novels and where you can find him online.

In our news segment, we are once again joined by Earl Grey and The Edge host Amy Nelson to talk about the final issue of the TNG: Mirror Broken comic from IDW.

Literary Treks 213: Suck on That, Gaila
Titan: Fortune of War: Exclusive interview with author David Mack

 

Previous episode: Literary Treks 212: Slips, Strips, Bars, and Bricks
Next episode: Literary Treks 214: A Pair of Richards

Literary Treks 212: Slips, Strips, Bars, and Bricks

Deep Space Nine: I, The Constable
An e-book exclusive novella by Paula M. Block & Terry J. Erdmann

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

Quark is the kind of Ferengi that can smell profit on the wind, and when his tavern-magnate uncle passes away, he detects just such an opportunity! However, in the pursuit of his newfound potential profit, Quark gets caught up in a web of crime and intrigue, and it's up to Odo to don his constable's uniform and save the day. Along the way, he will deal with double-crosses, nasty armed thugs, and gallons of glebbening rain on the mean streets of Ferenginar.

In this episode of Literary Treks, hosts Dan Gunther and Bruce Gibson welcome authors Paula M. Block and Terry J. Erdmann to the show to discuss their recent Deep Space Nine e-novella, I, The Constable. We talk about the inspiration for the story, the research they did to capture the noir feel, changes in the society of Ferenginar, the voices of the characters both old and new, Quark's seemingly newfound generosity, some fun references, and wrap up with where you can find Paula and Terry online.

In the news segment, we judge the cover of the upcoming Discovery novel Drastic Measures by Dayton Ward and review two new comics: Boldly Go #14 and the first issue of a new series: Discovery: The Light of Kahless.

Literary Treks 212: Slips, Strips, Bars, and Bricks
Exclusive interview with Paula M. Block & Terry J. Erdmann, authors of DS9: I, The Constable

 

Previous episode: Literary Treks 211: Team Garak!
Next episode: Literary Treks 213: Suck on That, Gaila

Hearts and Minds

Star Trek: The Next Generation
Hearts and Minds by Dayton Ward
Release date: May 30^th 2017
Read June 7^th 2017

Previous book (The Next Generation): Headlong Flight
Next book (The Next Generation): Available Light

Mass-Market Paperback: Amazon.com | Amazon.ca | Amazon.co.uk

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

Spoilers ahead for Hearts and Minds!

Publisher's description:

2031: United States Air Force fighter jets shoot down an unidentified spacecraft and take its crew into custody. Soon, it’s learned that the ship is one of several dispatched across space by an alien species, the Eizand, to search for a new home before their own world becomes uninhabitable. Fearing extraterrestrial invasion, government and military agencies which for more than eighty years have operated in secret swing into action, charged with protecting humanity no matter the cost...

2386: Continuing their exploration of the Odyssean Pass, Captain Jean-Luc Picard and the crew of the Starship Enterprise discover what they at first believe is a previously uncharted world, with a civilization still recovering from the effects of global nuclear war. An astonishing priority message from Starfleet Command warns that there’s more to this planet than meets the eye, and Picard soon realizes that the mysteries of this world may well weave through centuries of undisclosed human history...

My thoughts:

Click here to watch my video review of TNG: Hearts and Minds, or click play on the embedded video below!

Final thoughts:

A fun follow-up to previous TOS novels From History's Shadow and Elusive Salvation, while at the same time continuing the voyages of the Enterprise-E in the Odyssean Pass from Armageddon's Arrow and Headlong Flight. Hearts and Minds also deals with some weighty issues, and I'm fascinated to see where Picard's story goes from here. 4/5 stars.


More about Hearts and Minds:

• TrekBBS Discussion Thread
• Podcast: Literary Treks 193: Dayton's Treks - Exclusive interview with David Mack

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)
• Hidden Universe Travel Guides: Star Trek: The Klingon Empire (2017)
• Star Trek: Discovery: Drastic Measures (2018)
• Star Trek: The Next Generation: Available Light (2019)

Next time on Trek Lit Reviews:

Next review is for Best Destiny by Diane Carey.

Literary Treks 211: Team Garak!

Deep Space Nine #27: A Stitch in Time
by Andrew J. Robinson

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

One of the things that Star Trek: Deep Space Nine is lauded for is the huge variety of compelling secondary characters that the show introduced. Many Niners would agree that the best of these was the enigmatic Cardassian tailor, Garak, brought to life by the supremely talented actor, Andrew J. Robinson. Encouraged to publish the life story of Garak in his own words, Robinson entered the world of Star Trek novels in 2000, adding a wonderful and highly-regarded story to the Trek literature universe.

In this episode of Literary Treks, hosts Dan Gunther and Bruce Gibson are joined by Earl Grey's Justin Oser to discuss a favorite novel of many Trek fans, A Stitch in Time. We talk about Garak's history, growing up on Cardassia Prime, the reason for his exile on Deep Space Nine, post-war Cardassia, The Oralian Way, the reliability of Garak's account of his life, and wrap up with our final thoughts and ratings.

In the news segment, we feature an exclusive interview with Zachary Auburn, author of the truly unique book, A Field Guide to the Aliens of Star Trek: The Next Generation.

Literary Treks 211: Team Garak!
Deep Space Nine: A Stitch in Time by Andrew J. Robinson

 

Previous episode: Literary Treks 210: Orange is the New Black
Next episode: Literary Treks 212: Slips, Strips, Bars, and Bricks

Release Day, Part 2! Prometheus: Fire with Fire (English Edition)

Star Trek: Prometheus
Fire with Fire by Bernd Perplies & Christian Humberg

And here is the second new release for today: the English translated version of Prometheus: Fire with Fire by Bernd Perplies & Christian Humberg. Originally published in Germany under the title Feuer gegen Feuer, this novel is the first Trek novel to be originally published in a language other than English! Pick up your copy today using the links below to purchase from Amazon!

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 flagship, the U.S.S. Prometheus, into the Cluster to investigate the threat before all-consuming war breaks out.

Purchase Prometheus: Fire with Fire:

Mass-market Paperback: Amazon.com | Amazon.ca | Amazon.co.uk

E-book (Kindle): Amazon.com | Amazon.ca

Previous Release: Titan: Fortune of War

Next Release: Discovery: Drastic Measures

Release Day! Titan: Fortune of War by David Mack

Star Trek: Titan
Fortune of War by David Mack

Today is the official release date for not one, but *two* Star Trek novels! First up is Titan: Fortune of War by David Mack. In this latest voyage of the U.S.S. Titan, the crew deals with fallout from a previous adventure of the Enterprise-D in TNG's third season. While today is the official release date, this title has already been showing up at bookstores everywhere over the past couple of weeks. Check out below for the cover art as well as links to purchase from Amazon!

Publisher's description:

An original spin-off novel set in the popular Star Trek: The Next Generation universe from New York Times bestselling author David Mack.

Death slumbers in the ashes of silent planets, waiting to be awakened and unleashed…

Twenty years have passed since the interstellar scourge known as the Husnock were exterminated without warning by a being with godlike abilities. Left behind, intact but abandoned, their desolate worlds and derelict ships brim with destructive potential.

Now a discovery by a Federation cultural research team has drawn the attention of several ruthless factions. From black market smugglers to alien military forces, it seems every belligerent power in the quadrant hopes to capture the Husnock's lethal technology.

All that stands between the galaxy and those who have come to plunder the cruelest secrets of the Husnock are Admiral William Riker, Captain Christine Vale, and the crew of the Starship Titan.

Purchase Titan: Fortune of War:

Mass-market Paperback: Amazon.com | Amazon.ca | Amazon.co.uk

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

Previous Release: Deep Space Nine: I, The Constable

Next Release: Prometheus: Fire with Fire

Literary Treks 210: Orange is the New Black

Voyager #15: Echoes
by Dean Wesley Smith, Kristine Kathryn Rusch, & Nina Kiriki Hoffman

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

For every action we take, there are multiple possibilities. And for each of those possibilities, a new universe is born, with each decision branching off into infinite parallel worlds, each of them subtly different from all of the rest. Captain Janeway and the crew of Voyager come across one world where the barriers between these universes are coming down: every two and a half hours, a door is opened between all realities, and every person is shifted to the next reality. And in one of these realities, a horrific holocaust repeats itself as every shift spells the deaths of billions.

In this episode of Literary Treks, hosts Bruce Gibson and Dan Gunther are joined by The Edge's Brandon-Shea Mutala to discuss Echoes by Dean Wesley Smith, Kristine Kathryn Rusch, and Nina Kiriki Hoffman. We talk about the plot of the novel, the unique perspective of the story's events, the dreaded Voyager reset button, Tuvok's role in the story, the crews' doppelgangers, and wrap up with our final thoughts and ratings.

In our news segment, we discuss Bruce's new comic acquisition and talk about the newly-released Star Trek: The Book of Lists.

Literary Treks 210: Orange is the New Black
Voyager #15: Echoes by Dean Wesley Smith, Kristine Kathryn Rusch, & Nina Kiriki Hoffman

 

Previous episode: Literary Treks 209: I'm in Love with Beverly, Too
Next episode: Literary Treks 211: Team Garak!