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Make It So Friday

Of the ‘New’ bunch of Star Trek shows this was the last one that I tried. After watching the original Star Trek Animated Series and the Lower Decks series this one just looked different and so gritty, not to mention I was definitely not the demographic that it was aimed at. Heh

I was so so amazingly wrong. We meet a group of interesting and different young aliens at a sort of prison planet-ish. They all got there in different ways, but, when they find the USS Protostar, a Starfleet Starship, they all have to come together to get out of there. Once on board we also get introduced to Hologram Kathryn Janeway, who is there to help out the Cadets that were supposed to be on board. There are the usual adventures, they slowly learn so much more about the ship, and themselves and each other too. And, there is an overarching season long story too.

I wasn’t totally wrong, there are parts that were gritty-ish and serious. But, the show was definitely rooted in Star Trek. Just, a Star Trek for the younger kids, and one where the grey isn’t as easily fixed and not shied away from. It was a really really fun watch, and, I’m so glad that it was saved for at least a third season too.

Star Trek Prodigy Season 1

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Make It So Friday

This is the final book in the four book series that takes place after the original series ends, but before the first Star Trek movie. I recommended the first book in the series, The Lost Years. And, the second and third books, A Flag Full of Stars and Traitor Winds were good books too, but, this one, that like the first one was by J.M. Dillard, was my favourite of the series.

The still Admiral Kirk is just done with sitting behind a desk. And, when he decides to get back on a ship, boy does he do it right and fully. He’s invited to observe a new automated rescue ship. Except, suddenly he’s in command of that ship, oh, and that ship is full of quite a few cadets. And, he needs to stop the rescue ship before it (as well as the very very bearded McCoy) sails right into Tholian space (remember the interesting web from the original series?).

As well as a almost thriller like sort of story, it was cool to sort of see some of the ‘new’ computer things that would wind up in Star Trek The Next Generation (after all, this book was being written long after The Next Generation premiered), like the being able to find anyone on the ship at any time from a panel in the hall. I know that I’m an easy mark when it comes to whether I like a Star Trek novel or not, but, this one was a really great read.

You may like this book If you Liked: Moments Asunder by Dayton Ward, Captain to Captain by Greg Cox, or The Body Electric by David Mack

Recovery by JM Dillard

#makeitsofriday #nmlRA #nevins memorial library #star trek #star trek novel #star trek novels #star trek fiction #j.m. dillard #star trek recovery #recovery #star trek the original series #james kirk #leonard mccoy

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Make It So Friday

Dax is one of the best characters in Star Trek. (I could say, I think, but, I’m not gonna, the I think is baked in since I’m writing this blurb). There’s something about an immortal being who is also not immortal, who dies and yet still lives. And, there’s something about the combination of newness of the host and oldness of the symbionts that is just, really cool to think about.

This is technically a book of short stories by some awesome authors like, Michael Jan Friedman, S.D, Perry, Judith & Garfield Reeves-Stevens, and more. They each take on a story about one of the 9 Dax symbionts, from Lela, to Torias, to Jadzia and Ezri too. My favorites were the one by Susan Wright, "Infinity" about Tobias, and of course, the one about my favorite Dax, Jadzia, “Reflections” by L.A. Graf.

But, honestly, the coolest part of this wasn’t just that we got to learn about all the Dax hosts, but, that so many of the Dax hosts also knew other big characters in the Star Trek universe, like Dr. McCoy and others. Fun.

You may like this book If you Liked: The Last Best Hope by Una McCormack, The Autobiography of Jean-Luc Picard by David A. Goodman, or Star Trek by John Byrne

The Lives of Dax by Marco Palmieri, Ed.

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Make It So Friday

Star Trek graphic novels have been published by almost all the big comic publishers. But, I think that IDW has done some of the best work. And, in that I include this TNG/DS9/Voyager era new Star Trek series.

It takes place after the Dominion war. Ben Sisko is back. And, he has been given his marching orders by the Prophets. Starfleet isn’t crazy about it, but, they give him a new ship that’s also an old ship, the USS Theseus. He also gets quite the crew. Data as his first officer, Scotty (yep, that Scotty who was stuck in a transporter for decades) as Chief Engineer, ooh, and, Beverly Crusher as the CMO. I was pleasantly surprised to see her character on here. I was also a little confused what the purpose of having Tom Paris as the Helmsman though, but, perhaps in future TPBs that’ll be explained.

Anyway, Benjamin Sisko is back to stop a godkiller, but, there are questions. Who is it, as well as the whys and hows of it all. I’m hoping that this series gets to keep going. It’s an interesting crew, and a story that has lots of ways it can go. We’ll see if the Star Trek streaming stuff gives this series (and the other ones IDW is putting out these days) a boost.

Star Trek, Vol. 1: Godshock by Collin Kelly

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Make It So Friday

There were two stories in this novel. Both about Kahless, just, different Kahlesses (Kahlessae?) One is set in the ‘heroic age’ about the real Kahless, and a story that sort of shows how he came to find and then be the flag bearer for Klingon honor. The other is set in ‘our’ time and follows the cloned Kahless, Captain Jean-Luc Picard, and Lieutenant Worf as they try to prevent a rebellion against the current Emperor.

Lots going on and, the plot did not pause to breathe at all. There was always something going on as the two different Kahlesses tried to save their Klingon Empire. Such an awesome read. And, also, one of the books that, as long as you know a little something about Star Trek The Next Generation, it can be read by Star Trek newbies and lifers alike.

You may like this book If you Liked: Captain to Captain by Greg Cox, Greg, Gods of Night by David Mack, or Taking Wing by Michael A. Martin

Kahless by Michael Jan Friedman

#nmlRA #nevins memorial library #makeitsofriday #kahless #star trek novel #star trek the next generation #star trek klingons #star trek the next generation novel #jean luc picard #worf

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Make It So Friday

Dr. McCoy is thrust into becoming Commander McCoy when he is given the conn by Kirk, who then seems to disappear from not just the planet that he was on, but from everywhere entirely. But, I’m getting ahead of myself, the story starts with the Enterprise being ordered to go to a planet that seems to have 3 distinct species that are conscious of their consciousness. They are also all super unique lifeforms, and mysterious too. The crew goes down, and then, the Captain does. And suddenly, McCoy is in charge, and his time in charge is definitely not a pleasure cruise.

I definitely liked that we get to see Uhura a lot since the Linguists get some great stuff in this book. (The wanting verbs cracked me up). And McCoy is definitely a unique commander too. Then, there were the antagonists in the book. They were awesome, as was how McCoy dealt with them. That was really fun.

This always seems to be a highly recommended TOS book, and, I definitely get why, it was a very different look at what a conscious being can be and what a Starship commander can be too.

You may like this book If you Liked: Harm's Way by David Mack, Captain to Captain by Greg Cox, or One Constant Star by David R. George, III

Doctor's Orders by Diane Duane

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Make It So Friday

A lot of Star Trek serieses can sorta be read in any order, and at anytime. And, while that’s sort of true of the Double Helix series also. On the other hand, if it’s read all at the ‘same time’ (i.e. over a few days or weeks or months) it’s such an amazingly awesome and epic story that really holds together well.

It starts with a plague on a planet where there’s also quite a lot of civil strife too. The Enterprise-D and Beverly Crusher are on the case though. It seems simple enough, but, it’s not actually simple at all. We then get four more books that are set mostly in ‘present’ time with all sorts of awesome characters like Montgomery Scott, Gul Dukat, Pulaski, Kira, more Beverly, and of course Bones from TOS. Then there’s the final book, which, actually goes all the way to the beginning with Jean-Luc Picard on the Stargazer and why the rest of the books and the through storyline actually happened to begin with.

It was set up so well. A slow burn as for who was doing this behind the scenes, and why it was happening too. Each book stood on its own merits, but, also had this really interesting and awesome through line. And then the final book was just…. Amazing. Although, to be fair, I’m a sucker for a good Stargazer story (that series is on my list to read too).

You may like this book If you Liked: Vulcan's Soul by Josepha Sherman, Prey by John Jackson Miller, or Cold Equations by David Mack

Double Helix Series by Various

#makeitsofriday #nmlRA #nevins memorial library #star trek #star trek novels #star trek novel #star trek fiction #double helix series #john gergory betacourt #diane carey #peter david #michael jan friedman #christie golden #dean wesley smith #kristie kathryn rusch #john vornholt

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Make It So Friday

James T. Kirk is facing retirement… again… The Enterprise-B is about to be launched and, this time he’s definitely not going to be its Captain. So, when a mysterious hybrid woman approaches him with quite the adventure (as well as some more than G or PG rated convincing going on), he decides to leave Starfleet and help this woman and her plant. Except, of course, not everything is as it seems, and, that might mean the death of not just Kirk, but his old crewmates too.

This was a really fun and interesting take “written” by William Shatner, as well as written by Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens. It was a look at what happened before Kirk is on the Enterprise-B in the movie Generations (and the whole Nexus thing, etc. happens). Except, at the end of this book there’s a slightly different ending to that too. That makes sense because this is the start of a series that stars Kirk, which, ya know, requires him to be alive post-Generations.

I usually wouldn’t put something so sorta negative in a recommendation, but, while, this book is amazing and I really liked most of it. Starting with The Return (the next novel in the ‘Shatnerverse’ series), well, it goes off the rails a little. The Borg aren’t really the Borg in the second book, the Romulans doesn’t seem very Romulan, and, the TNG cast has… different characterizations for them. So, read the second in this series being fairly warned that if you’re a fan of the main Star Trek Novels, your milage may vary when it comes to the other ‘Shatnerverse’ novels.

You may like this book If you Liked: The Last Best Hope by Una McCormack, Fire with Fire by Bernd Perplies, or Revenant by Alex White

The Ashes of Eden by William Shatner & Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens

#makeitsofriday #nmlRA #nevins memorial library #star trek #star trek novel #star trek novels #star trek fiction #the ashes of eden #william shatner #Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens #shatnerverse

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Make It So Friday

This was a fun in between comic. It takes place between the finale of Season 2 of Picard and the beginning of Season 3 of Picard. We see Seven going back and forth between whether she wants to rejoin Starfleet or stay with the Rangers. And, then, Picard and the new Stargazer get involved in a very tricky diplomatic issue. Jean-Luc had visited before in the old Stargazer, and it got complicated when the Romulans arrived at the planet. But, now, it's even more complicated.

It was a good and really fun read, and I'm confused if this is where the series will end, or if they'll do more. I hope they'll do more, but that probably won’t happen since at this point Season 3 has come out. Now I guess I should go see if Season 3 is out on DVD/Blu Ray yet.

Star Trek Picard: Stargazer by Kirsten Beyer

#makeitsofriday #nmlRA #nevins memorial library #star trek #star trek novel #star trek novels #star trek fiction #star trek picard #star trek picard stargazer #stargazer #jean-luc picard #seven of nine

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Make It So Friday

Yes, yes, two autobiographies in a row.... (there may be more too, these are super interesting). This was both the same and different from the Picard and Janeway biographies that I had previously read.

It’s the same in that still gives us insights into some of the parts of their lives that we hadn't known before. But it’s slightly different because James T. Kirk has been around for so long as a character, that, much more of his life has been revealed during the actual TV and movies.

Still, it was interesting to read some of the events that I have watched on the show/movies, ‘in his own words’. And, honestly, my favorite part was the afterword by Spock. On the one hand, we know that he's still alive after the "publication" of the book after the Enterprise B in Generations. But, it breaks the fourth wall if that is said, so, how they used Spock to sort of hint that he was still alive was inventive and in canon-ish even. Fun book. And I’m definitely looking forward to finally getting to the Spock Autobiography, (and then the Sisko Autobiography is coming out in December as well!!)

You may like this book If you Liked: Confessions of a Teen Sleuth by Chelsea Cain, Pawnee by Leslie Knope, or Let Me Off at the Top! by Ron Burgundy

The Autobiography of James T. Kirk by David A. Goodman

#makeitsofriday #nmlRA #nevins memorial library #star trek #star trek novels #star trek novel #star trek fiction #the autobiography of james t kirk #david goodman #james kirk

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Make It So Friday

That was way too short, but really fun. And, it was definitely very much a ‘play with the characters and put them back where they were’ sort of TPB. After all, Season 1 had quite the cliffhanger with Una Chin-Riley (I mean, that cliffhanger was nothing compared to the Season 2 cliffhanger, oof, but…).

In this storyline the Strange New Worlds Enterprise crew do try to get evidence that will get Una off the hook for her, but, instead find themselves having to try and save their own lives first.

It was a fun read, in an, as I said, a ‘play and put back’ sort of way. It adds depth to the Strange New Worlds universe, without breaking it. Always a good thing.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds: The Illyrian Enigma by Kirsten Beyer

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Make It So Friday

I really liked this book, but, it was also one of the hardest to get into of the Autobiographies. I think part of that is because Spock is one of the most dense story wise characters there is in the Star Trek universe, he has had even more time spent on him than Kirk. Honestly, in every generation there seems to be a Spock, and, for the most part, while they’re a lot a like, the also each add to the layered onion that is the character.

So, because there are so many Spocks, and such a rich and layered story, this book seemed to be so so much more interwoven with the canon from the screen (I mean, if I'm recalling correctly, they even used canon from the Animated Series, which was awesome).

It tells the story of Mr. Spock from his birth through right before the 2009ish reboot movie. And, even more interestingly, it’s not just him writing his autobiography, but, he’s also sort of writing it to Jean-Luc Picard (see, layers upon layers). As usual, the author blended the canon with the non-canon, and, McCormack also got the voice of Spock almost perfect. It was such a fun read.

Twiddles thumbs and waits impatiently for The Autobiography of Benjamin Sisko

You may like this book If you Liked: The Autobiography of Jean-Luc Picard by David A. Goodman, Moments Asunder by Dayton Ward, or The Romulan War by Michael A. Martin

The Autobiography of Mr. Spock by Una McCormack

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Make It So Friday

I have read all these totally out of order. This was actually the second book in these Autobiographies, the first being James Kirk’s Autobiography (*whistles in the key of November 11th 2023*). I read the third one (Janeway’s) first, and am glad that I did. It felt like Kathryn Janeway’s had more made up stuff than other ones in the series have. So, Jean-Luc’s having so much actually canon info in it that David Goodman has so amazingly interwove with the stuff that he’s made up was really cool.

Like the others in this series we get to see from the time he was a kid in France, through his time at the Academy, not to mention his 20 years as Captain of the Stargazer and many of the years on the Enterprise-D.

One warning about this autobiography though. If you were waiting for some awesome stuff about Next Generation Season 7 or the movies, yeah, not there. It literally skips the entirety of Season 7. You get a story related to the end of the 6th season, and then suddenly next is something relating to the Generations movie. Ah well…. I can keep my headcanon about all the stuff surrounding "Genesis" and “Attached” I guess. And, I did laugh while reading the end, since, now that Season 3 of Picard is out, oops…. We have new Old Man Picard canon.

You may like this book If you Liked: The Autobiography of Mr. Spock by Una McCormack, or Moments Asunder by Dayton Ward

The Autobiography of Jean-Luc Picard by David A. Goodman

#makeitsofriday #nmlRA #nevins memorial library #star trek #star trek novel #star trek novels #star trek fiction #the autobiography of jean-luc picard #david a goodman

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Make It So Friday

I have read prequels as well as other comics that are set within or before a video games. The various Arkham comic books based on the game are pretty cool. So, I wasn't super surprised when this was a really fun read too. Although, shh… I’m not sure I'll ever play the game (although it does seem like a very Star Trek: Elite Force games, so, perhaps I will…)

The story is of Dr. Leah Brahms, who is working on a new warp engine that is better. Then, add to that the Talarians, and it made for quite the explosive read.

I'd forgotten about the Human Talarian that was on the show (Jono, played by Chad Allen who was also on Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman), but his story here was super interesting. And, of course, getting caught up with Leah is always interesting. It was a very fun read, and definitely good PR for the video game.

Star Trek: Resurgence by Andrew Grant

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Make It So Friday

This is the episode novelization of the episode Relics. It has the Enterprise-D finding Montgomery Scott stuck in a transporter in a ship that crashed 75 years before on the outside of a Dyson Sphere. Oh, and the Enterprise gets sucked into the sphere too.

It has been awhile since I've seen the episode, but, if I recall, this is a pretty accurate novelization of the epi. A good combo of the actual happenings in the episode with some good extra stuff too. A short and fun read.

You may like this book If you Liked: Captain to Captain by Greg Cox, Gods of Night by David Mack, or Acts of Contrition by Kirsten Beyer

Relics by Michael Jan Friedman

#makeitsofriday #nmlRA #nevins memorial library #star trek novel #star trek #star trek novels #star trek the next generation #the next generation #relics #michael jan friedman #based on a tv episode #scotty #geordi la forge #Montgomery Scott

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Make It So Friday

This comic series takes place after the ‘Kelvin Universe’ (i.e. the newer Star Trek movies) movie Star Trek Beyond. The crew of the USS Enterprise have all be reassigned to other ships and crews. And those ships are meeting new (well, new to them) species and ships.

Honestly, going into reading this I was a little worried that the Borg would seem shoehorned into the story, but, the story does actually work really well. Add to that a cool Prime Directive story, and, then, a white hole (which, probably don’t actually exist, and are just super super theoretical) story, this was a fun volume of Star Trek Kelvin stories. (And, as long as you’ve seen the first movie from 2009, you’ll probably get this TPB.

Star Trek: Boldly Go, Vol. 1 by Mike Johnson

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