Star Trek and Philosophy: The Wrath of Kant (Popular Culture and Philosophy) Review

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(More customer reviews)What I liked:
-Specific references to a lot of episodes of all of the series from the original through the most recent.
-Specific references to the philosophy of several famous philosophers.
-Covered topics I have pondered upon, such as why we want to live in the Federation
-Managed to work in a couple of the humorous Ferengi laws of acquisition
What kept me from giving it 5:
-Could have been a little more entertaining, there were some dry patches - I actually enjoyed an audio tape of the Ferengi rules of Acquisition more from an entertainment perspective
-Perhaps taken a less of a classical philosophy view on why people like Star Trek and instead branched out to suggest some more revolutionary ideas on why we like it so much - kind of like the movie Trekkies started to get into


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Philosophy and space travel are characterized by the same fundamental purpose: exploration. An essential guide for both philosophers and Trekkers, Star Trek and Philosophy combines a philosophical spirit of inquiry with the beloved television and film series to consider questions not only about the scientific prospects of interstellar travel but also the inward journey to examine the human condition. The expansive topics range from the possibilities for communication among different cultural backgrounds to questions about the stoic temperament exhibited by Vulcans to Ferengi business practices. Specifically chosen to break new ground in exploring the philosophical dimensions of Star Trek, these articles boldly go where no philosopher has gone before.

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Trapped in Time (Star Trek Deep Space Nine) Review

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(More customer reviews)I loved the DS9 young adult novels when I was younger, so decided to pick this one up. Its very well written (better than some "normal" Star Trek novels) and has an interesting plot and an important message to tell. Other characters to appear besides Jake and Nog are Sisko, Picard, O'Brien and Dulmer and Lucsly, the "time cops" from "Trials and Tribble-ations".

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Jake and Nog are in Paris where they chase a Changeling back in time to the Resistance Movement in Paris in the 1940s. Along the way, Jake meets a girl who turns out to be a distant ancestor of Picard's.

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Starships: Star Trek Roleplaying Game Review

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(More customer reviews)Starships is a very worthwhile purchase for narrators that plan on duing heavy-duty starship combat in their campaigns. The expanded construction rules really allow your imagination to take full control and create whatever you so desire, and the book provides a plethora of different starships from major galactic powers (e.g. the UFP, Romulans, Cardassians, Klingons and Borg).
You'll need the Narrator's Guide in addition to this book if you want to create an expanded edition starship because they did not copy over various key tables. It's also a bit frusturating that they did not provide an updated Starship Profile sheet. But overall, I'd say Starships is a worthwhile addition the Star Trek RPG family.

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Star Trek Roleplaying Game Aliens Review

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(More customer reviews)Decipher's latest RPG guide, "Aliens", is another attractive volume in the familiar style, well worth picking up even if you never play the roleplaying game itself. There are 58 alien races here, lots of non-canonical elaboration about Star Trek aliens' planet names and (rather overly stereotypical) physical and emotional traits from all live-action incarnations of Star Trek. Most entries come with at least one colour photo.
As with Last Unicorn Games (LUG), the previous RPG licensee's efforts, "ST: The Motion Picture " is represented by Betelgeuseans and Zaranites, but this time there are no photos for these guys. Ilia represents the Deltans.
Some other ST races are conspicuous by their absence; I guess Decipher's authors have been cautious about expanding some races we know little about, but even races covered in earlier Decipher volumes aren't in this one (ie, no Regulans/Caitians of ST's old Animated Series this time).
No Grazerites. No Zaldans. There's an Elasian (of TOS), but no Troyians. No "Nemesis" Remans. The Suliban of "Enterprise" are included, but no Denobulans, even though Dr. Phlox is mentioned in the Introduction. Several major Delta Quadrant aliens are included for gamers wanting to keep the USS Voyager lost in space.
One surprise is that the Efrosian UFP President of "ST VI: The Undiscovered Country" is given yet another overhaul. (The name "Efrosian" was supposedly given to the alien race introduced in "ST IV: The Voyage Home" by the Makeup Dept. and named for Paramount's Mel Efros. The term was then popularised by "Cinefantastique" magazine and the old FASA RPG materials - and most recently by the Pocket Books novel "In the Name of Honor". Other Pocket novels and novelizations have called the race "Deltan".) However, in Decipher's "Aliens" volume, the ST VI UFP President's pic represents the Atreonids of Atreos IV. Sigh...
Anyway, this book is beautifully presented and well worth checking out! Green cover this time.

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Star Trek Starfleet Technical Manual: Training Command Starfleet Academy Review

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(More customer reviews)Franz Joseph's STAR FLEET TECHNICAL MANUAL includes many design elements that might raise questions in fans' minds. Is the Enterprise's bridge really rotated 36 degrees off the ship's centerline? Does the Federation really have a starship with three warp nacelles? Is the Starfleet shuttlecraft really too small to allow its occupants to stand up and walk around?
If you watch the original Star Trek series and take its sets, props, and miniatures literally, then the answer to all the above questions is no. On the other hand, if you take Star Trek's sets, props, and miniatures literally, then the Enterprise has no bathrooms, Sulu and Chekov gain tactical information about enemy ships based entirely on flashing console buttons, and the Enterprise's warp nacelles spontaneously feature either large, colorful, flickering forward domes, or small, unlit, red spiked forward domes.
If you want a technical manual that is 100% faithful to the sets, props, and miniatures as seen in the original Star Trek television series, then the STAR FLEET TECHNICAL MANUAL is not for you. If, however, you want a book that takes the sets, props, and miniatures and extrapolates cohesive, realistic, and exciting technologies that enhance the believability of the Star Trek universe, then this is the book for you.
The STAR FLEET TECHNICAL MANUAL did far more than fuel the imaginations of countless fans. It also served as the model from which all subsequent Star Trek technical material is based. Gene Roddenberry himself was very impressed with the book and its counterpart, a set of hand-drawn, deck-by-deck plans to the original starship Enterprise. Although Roddenberry would later denounce the canonical status of the STAR FLEET TECHNICAL MANUAL, the book's influence on the Star Trek universe is widespread.
The very identity of the first two starships Enterprise is due in part to Franz Joseph's contributions. To my knowledge, it was Franz Joseph who first dubbed the Enterprise a Constitution-class starship, and that name made its way into indisputable Star Trek canon: witness Picard and Scotty's holodeck conversation in Star Trek: The Next Generation's "Relics."
The "real" Star Trek universe does not exist on the television or movie screens, in novels, official magazines, technical manuals, comic books, T-shirts, posters, porcelain plates, or fuzzy toy Tribbles. The "real" Star Trek universe exists in the mind of each of its fans. The STAR FLEET TECHNICAL MANUAL helps bring that universe to a tangible and fascinating life.

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OFFICIAL USE ONLY MARK R5PCSTARFLEET COMMANDSTARFLEET HEADQUARTERSUNITED FEDERATION OF PLANETSFRANZ JOSEPHUNITED FEDERATION REPRESENTATIVESTARDATE 7512.02To: Ballantine BooksPlanetary Agents, NA, USA, 100191. A printed Terran version of the Starfleet Technical Manual was approved by the Federation Council for release to civilians and civilian auxiliaries on your planet. We have reviewed copies of this version as printed by you, and wish to assure you and the others that these copies are precisely correct and complete as authorized. We believe some of your civilians are confused because they are unfamiliar with the system and arrangement of Technical Orders, therefore, we offer the following by way of clarification.2. The print-out version of the Starfleet Technical Manual, as used by the Starfleet Academy, is a collection of only those Technical Orders necessary to the indoctrination of new cadets until such time as they become experienced in the use of the data read-out stations of Mastercom/SFHQ. Further, the Terran version contains even fewer Technical Orders because of the prohibition of the Prime Directive. Neither version is a book of pages as the questioners seem to think–nor do they contain all of the technical information stored in the data banks of Mastercom/SFHQ. Your civilians must understand these technical data banks contain all the knowledge presently known to the United Federation of Planets from all the member planets. If it were to be published in book form, the sum total would amount to more books than you now have stored in your libraries. Obviously, this cannot be done. It is equally obvious that you cannot have the galactic knowledge of future centuries given to your planet as a gift; you must earn it by your own efforts just as others have done.3. In the Terran version, the General Index summarizes the subject area groupings by Technical Order number blocks as a part of the total system of classification. It does not give the total classification system, nor does it indicate whether or not such subject matter is available. The Introduction (T.0:00:00:06) for instance, is not included because it has not been authorized for release at this time. Each Section Index lists the Technical Orders currently approved for each section, and shows the correct issue by authentication date (and amendment code–if required). Thus a Section Index shows whether or not a particular manual contains the correct issues.Those listed with an asterisk may become available in a future print-out from Mastercom/SFHQ. Other Technical Order numbers that are missing do not appear by reason of the prohibition of the Prime Directive, or they have not been approved for release at this time.4. In as gentle and as diplomatic a manner as we may, we would like to point out that this confusion is just another example of the many primitive attributes of your planet that prevents its acceptance into the United Federation of Planets at this time in your current calendar. But be patient, the day will come when your planet will have finally overcome these obstacles, and take its place in the intergalactic community of intelligent life forms.Live long and prosper.

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To Reign in Hell: The Exile of Khan Noonien Singh (Star Trek: Eugenics Wars) Review

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(More customer reviews)A few years ago author Greg Cox brilliantly depicted Khan's backstory in the two volumes of his bestselling "The Eugenics Wars" novels. Now Cox has done it again as he wraps up his ambitious triptych with the exceptional new novel "To Reign in Hell: The Exile of Khan Noonien Singh".
Greg Cox grabs your attention on the opening page and sets the stage for the enthralling and tragic tale of Khan's years on Ceti Alpha V. Cox has once again chosen to use a framing story around flashbacks, the same storytelling technique he used so effectively in his previous Kahn novels. In "To Reign in Hell", however, Cox wisely keeps the framing story very simple and allows Kahn himself to tell the tale.
Set immediately after the conclusion of "Star Trek: The Voyage Home", Kirk, burdened by guilt and seeking answers travels back to Ceti Alpha V accompanied by Spock, Dr. McCoy, and Sulu. Hidden on the planet they discover a journal kept by Kahn that chronicles the fifteen years that Kahn, Marla McIvers and Kahn's genetically engineered followers spent on the doomed planet. The exiles struggle for survival is poignantly and graphically depicted as the fledgling colony endures a constant stream of tragic disappointment, and bitterness and sorrow ultimately chip away at Khan's sanity.
With "To Reign in Hell" Greg Cox has skillfully taken the small amount of material established in "Star Trek: The Wrath of Kahn" and spun a spellbinding and heartbreaking tale that manages to clarify all sorts of continuity inconsistencies and a myriad of small details such as why Kahn's hand is covered with a glove. In the face of everything Khan maintains his arrogance. Cox absolutely nails the character, which comes as no surprise, after all he knows him intimately by now. It would have been quite easy for Khan's personality to overshadow the story but it never does. Kahn's ruthlessness and sense of superiority is nicely balanced by the other characters, especially that of his wife Lieutenant Marla McIvers.
The tone and pacing of the plot is perfect and I particularly enjoyed the classical references scattered effectively throughout the story. We all know how Khan's story ends, but despite that the compelling narrative draws you in and keeps the reader mesmerized allowing the ironic twist at the end to come as a complete surprise. The end also ties in very nicely with "The Eugenics Wars" novels although it is not necessary to have read those volumes to completely enjoy and appreciate the story Cox tells in "To Reign in Hell".
"To Reign in Hell" is a phenomenal story in and of itself and an extraordinary conclusion to the saga of Kahn Noonien Singh that Cox began with "The Eugenics Wars".


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To Reign in Hell chronicles the fifteen years between the Original Series episode 'Space Seed' and the feature film 'The Wrath of Khan' - now widely regarded as a landmark in the Star Trek universe. Defeated by Captain James T. Kirk and exiled with his few remaining followers to the isolation of Ceti Alpha V, Khan Noonien Singh is marooned on a planet that has suddenly transformed into a hostile wasteland, where he and his band of acolytes must fight for their very lives. The once-proud conqueror finds his life irrevocably shattered, and begins his descent into madness...

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Star Trek Roleplaying Game: Player's Guide Review

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(More customer reviews)First, let me say that I bought this for the Trek content and for inspiration as a writer and may never play the game. I have played some previous RPGs (none Trek) so I can still evaluate it as one - I hope. Anyway, this appears to be a complete player's guide. Unlike some games, everything you need is here, and sourcebooks are extras not essentials. There are ten starting species to play: Humans, Bajorans, Betazoids, Cardassians, Klingons, Ferengi, Trill, Vulcans, Talaxians and Ocampans. Each matches what we have seen in the show in their attribute modifiers and special abilities, although Vulcans have so many that some were cut. The action is done by rolling dice once, adding your character's skill score, bonuses and penalties and then comparing the result to the number needed for success. Everything your characters can do is expressed in a skill, and the range of skill coverage is very good. Characters also have edges and flaws, character traits that help define their personalities and affect their skills. Finally, each character also has Courage points. These represent heroic action and you use them to add to your rolls, either to prevent failure or boost the level of your success. (I would love this feature as a player.) There are seven basic professions: Diplomat, Merchant, Mystic, Rogue, Scientist, Soldier and Starship Officer. There are elite starship officer professions for every one we have seen in the shows. There are other elite professions that can be entered by anyone meeting their prerequisites. This system manages transfers like Spock from Science Officer to Commander to Ambassador and then probably either Envoy or Spy, all as a Starship Officer. All in all, the system really captures the feel of Star Trek characters.
The guide has a number of flaws. Least annoying first, there are a number of canon errors, which is surprising considering how much trivia the Decipher staff know about Star Trek. It was enough to bother me a little, so some fellow Trek reviewers may be driven crazy by it. As has been mentioned in most reviews (such as on rpg.net) the chapter and section order is really bad. The sections on character mechanics and level advancement should have been consolidated and in front. Character Development should probably have been in front of Professions, since you would use them in that order, and the non-starship elite professions should have followed the basic professions. The worst flaws are outright errors in presenting the mechanics of the game. There are edges listed in training that were renamed or eliminated by the time the Traits chapter was written. There are errors in the examples supposed to clarify how the game works. The level advancement rules are sometimes unclear. The Starship Duty ability is, according to the FAQ on the web, importantly more limited than it reads in the Guide. This needed a much more thorough editing before printing.
These problems are irritating, but they are fortunately simple to resolve. The character generation system and the skill test system are solid and very simple to implement. The guide also explicitly states that the players can create their own skills and edges, and even rules for doing so, and that the Narrator can change the type of skill test as he sees fit, if necessary. Should I ever choose to play, I would be very happy to use this system. As a collector, the insight into the skills and abilities of the character types, especially the elite professions, was worth the price. Also, nearly a third of the guide is given to chapters on equipment, starships, the galaxy and the Federation. Those sections were really interesting and informative. As a player I would give this a four for the errors, but as a collector I give it five stars.

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Seven of Nine (Star Trek: Voyager) Review

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(More customer reviews)Unlike most of the Voyager novels, I didn't rush right out and buy this book the day it was released. Contrary to the norm, I am not much of a Seven of Nine fan. I like Jeri Ryan very much, but I just felt the character was drastically over used, and frankly, I was tired of her. But, I am a devoted Christie Golden fan, and am unable to resist anything written by her.
As usual, she did not disappoint. This book is without a doubt about Seven of Nine, but Ms. Golden wrote it in a wonderfully creative manner that included all the characters. She has a knack for capturing the essence of the Voyager characters that makes her writing a sheer delight to read. The same is true of this book.
The story is engaging, the aliens are creepy, and Seven is interesting and very, very likable. Those are words I do not say easily, believe me. This is a terrific book! Even if you aren't part of the masses that think Seven is the best thing since peanut butter, you'll enjoy this story.

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Once she was Annika Hansen, an innocent child assimilated by the fearsome, all-conquering Borg. Now she is Seven of Nine, a unique mixture of humanbiology and Borg technology. Cut off from the collective that has been her only reality for most of her existence, and forced to join the crew of the Starship Voyager™, she must come to grips with her surprising new environment -- and her own lost individuality.Seven of Nine has already captured the imagination of fans all over the world. Now the most sensational new character of the twenty-fourth century stars in her first full-length novel. Resistance is futile.

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Spirit Walk, Book One: Old Wounds (Star Trek Voyager (Paperback Unnumbered)) (Bk. 1) Review

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(More customer reviews)Old Wounds is an interesting new addition to the Star Trek: Voyager story and a good, fast read. All but two of the characters we have come to know & love are there: Chakotay, new Captain of the Voyager, with Harry Kim as his head of security; Admiral Janeway & Tuvok teaching at Star Fleet Academy, where Seven of Nine and the Doctor are members of a Think Tank and the Doctor continues his fight for Holographic Rights. Tom, B'Elanna, and their daughter are on the Klingon world Boreth searching for clues about why some think their daughter is a Messiah. Neelix is still in the Delta Quadrant; Kes' whereabouts are unknown.
On his first Starfleet mission as a Captain, Chakotay is ferrying some colonists back to their home planet, evacuated during the Cardassian War. His sister, Sekaya, is along as a spiritual advisor to the colonists, helping to make their reintegration into the world easier. Back on earth, Harry Kim's beloved Libby is combining her career as a musician with her other calling as a spy for the Federation, rooting out moles. And several new characters are included, most notably Dr. Jarem Kaz, a joined Trill whose last host was active in the Maquis, the ship's physician, and Astall, the counselor from a race called the Huanni, who are even more empathetic than Betazoids. Commander Andrew "Priggy" Ellis, a by the book officer, is his second in command.
The trip is uneventful until they near the planet, when things go horribly wrong. . .
It's good to see most of the old faces in a new Voyager adventure. I enjoyed this and am looking forward to the sequel.
One criticism: the book cover read Spirit Walk Book One. It didn't specify one of two, one of three, one of six thousand. It would have been helpful to know how many were in this series.

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Captain Chakotay, one-time Maquis resistance fighter, is ready to prove himself as the new commanding officer of the Starship Voyager -- but sceptics back at Starfleet Command are watching him closely for any sign that he will revert to his renegade Maquis ways. His first mission as captain,to transport a group of displaced colonists back to their home planet of Loran II, seems easy enough: make sure the planet is safe for colonisation, unload the settlers, and head back to Earth. He even has an extra reason to enjoy the trip -- his sister Sekaya has joined the mission as a spiritual advisor to the gentle and peace-loving colonists. But on Loran II hey discover a mysterious storm, an ominously deserted settlement and a hidden threat from Chakotay's past that could destroy them all. Will his career as captain be over before it has even begun?

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The Garden (Star Trek Voyager, No 11) Review

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(More customer reviews)The book seems out of order in the series. Instead of number 11 I would have guessed it to be one of the first three by the problems faced by the crew and references made by the author about the journey ahead and the conditions on the ship. It sounds as if the crew is still struggling for survival here, but in previous stories their situation seems to have already stabilized somewhat.
This was one of the most interesting story concepts that I have come across in the Voyager series. The only reason I could not give this book five stars and then some is because of the vast number of disconcerting typos throughout the book. I'm not talking about the simple occasional letter left off a word... at one point one ensign's gender pronoun references change back and forth several times in the same chapter. Proofreaders are worth the money! But if you're not distracted by grammatical incongruities, this is a wonderfully engaging story.

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Low on food and desperate to replenish their supply, the USS Voyager crew discovers a planet abundant in healthy vegetation. In order to get the food the crew must trade technology with the inhabitants of the planet. Before that, the crew are forced to join the battle as the planet's enemy attacks.

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The Eugenics Wars Vol. 2: The Rise and Fall of Khan Noonien Singh (Star Trek) Review

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(More customer reviews)Lets make this very clear: this is a Star Trek novel. Like most Trek novels, one does have to have some familarity with the characters and concept. So, when talking about this novel, let's keep it within the context it's about. It's Star Trek, and like many others, I have a fondness for Star Trek.
Based upon both the classic television series and the second Star Trek movie, the novel tells the continuing tales of Gary Seven, Roberta Lincoln, and the rise of the tyrant Kahn in the late 20th century.
The story flows smoothly, keeping the consistant development of the characters from which have known and are used too. It does whallop you with cameos from every series ('Enterprise' inculded) but that just for excessive continuity. It continues the tale of Kahn, how he took over one quarter of the planet, and lost his empire to his and other own egos. (You don't ahve to be superhuman to have an excessive ego.) Hey, its fun. It is interesting to see that Eugenics Wars were conducted covertly, and although I was not surprised with the way Kahn was portrayed, although at one monemt in the passages, Kahn did seem concerned about humanity, briefly. I was both interested and annoyed with the development of his super brothers and sisters. The Romainan butcher was acceptable, the yankee superman was stretched, but the Amazon women was pushed too far.(Someone's DNA molecule was dropped one too many times while gestating). I think, as the story flowed, we learned a great deal about Kahn and why he did (and the author stayed witin character. See the portaryal of Kahn by the actor in the episode 'Space Seed'. NOT The Wrath of Kahn.) what he did but we also saw what happened to two other characters we liked as well. While Gary Seven and Roberta were not played out a two diemnsional cartoons, I would have liked to have more development with them. They were there as the protagonists against Kahn's antagonist / rebellious protagonist. I was intriguied by the way the story unfolded. I already knew Kahn fled Earth. I liked learning how it happened.
To that, the author doesn't disappoint.
Isis was expected, I give it that, but I won't tell more as to ruin it for the reader. As a Star Trek novel, it fills the historical 'Trek' well. It is good reading, not cumbersome and overtly detailed, and the author handles the concept while blending in current events very well.
If you've read Book I, finish the tale with Book II. Its a fun, nicely written, action adventure tale with interesting characters. It fits well with the incredible amout of 'prequel' concepts we seem to be going through at this time. It's also interesting as the background or secondary story deals with Captain Kirk's crew in the 23rd century with 23rd cebtury supermen. And that stroy takes place BEFORE The Wrath Of Kahn.
Again, it Star Trek based; the author shows his like for the Star Trek mythos and in no way dishonors it. You can tell the author enjoys Star Trek.
And that's what a Trek novel should be, a fun, action paced adveture. Give it a shot, both Book I and Book II are really enjoyable and trek fans of all ages with appreciate it.
Maybe, we'll finally get more stories about Gary Seven and Roberta Lincoln as well...

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The Forgotten War (Star Trek: The Next Generation) Review

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(More customer reviews)I picked up this book on a whim - as its been years since I've read a Star Trek book. At first, it was difficult to get into the writing, as I am used to books that are written on a more difficult reading level, however, when I managed to move past this, I enjoyed the book. The basic premise of having two groups of people whom are stranded on a planet and fighting an ancient, and now resolved, war is fascinating. The differences in the two cultures both from the past and the "present" fuels this book. And the ending,though it is somewhat predictable once you get into the book and understand the feelings of the two warring groups, is definitely interesting. In fact,
I loved the ending. If you're looking for a quick read, I would highly suggest reading this book. It is entertaining and the story is interesting.

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The legendary Starfleet Captain Lucien Murat, a contemporary of Christopher Pike, disappeared during a battle with the alien Tarn. Now, generations later, Captain Picard is conducting delicate diplomatic negotiations with the Tarn when the Starship Enterprise™ discovers the descendants of Murat and his crew stranded on a desolate planet, still fighting a war that ended decades ago.The human castaways face destruction, but more than these precious lives are at stake. Unless Picard can find a solution, a lost hero's legacy may ignite a new era of interstellar war!

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Star Trek: Voyager: Full Circle Review

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(More customer reviews)Voyager fans have had a rocky few years. The first 4 Relaunch books were less than fantastic IMO, but at least we had something. Then 5 years without any major post-series action. Of course we had Tuvok in the extremely well written Titan series. There were cameos by multiple crew members in other titles. And we had the death of a beloved character in the shocking if moving 'Before Dishonor' by Peter David; a Next Generation title that starred Janeway & Seven. Seven also saw quite a bit of development in the exciting Destiny trilogy by David Mack.
But now we have 'Full Circle' and Voyager hasn't been this good in ages. The author, Kirsten Beyer previously wrote the excellent middle volume in the Voyager "String Theory" trilogy. She got the characters right then, and she's perfected them beyond my hopes in this new integral installment. Those who feel that the loss of 1 character from the ensemble is too much to bear may understandably want to skip this one, but if they choose to do so they are missing out on quite a ride - and easily the best post-series Voyager story yet. Those that felt that the first 4 Relaunch titles by Christie Golden were missing something need to give this one a shot! The characters have rarely been this well written. The story has never been this moving. The series feels reinvigorated. And I for one am very happy with what is happening in the post-Voyager landscape.

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When the U.S.S. Voyager is dispatched on an urgent mission to the planet Kerovi, Captain Chakotay and his first officer, Commander Thomas Paris, must choose between following their orders and saving the lives of two of those dearest to them. B'Elanna Torres and her daughter, Miral, are both missing in the wake of a brutal attack on the Klingon world of Boreth. With the aid of their former captain, Admiral Kathryn Janeway -- as well as many old friends and new allies -- Voyager's crew must unravel an ancient mystery, placing themselves between two warrior sects battling for the soul of the Klingon people...while the life of Miral hangs in the balance. But these events and their repercussions are merely the prelude to even darker days to come. As Voyager is drawn into a desperate struggle to prevent the annihilation of the Federation, lives are shattered, and the bonds that were forged in the Delta Quadrant are challenged in ways that none could have imagined. For though destiny has dealt them crushing blows, Voyager's crew must rise to face their future...and begin a perilous journey in which the wheel of fate comes full circle.

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War Dragons (Star Trek: The Captain's Table, Book 1) Review

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(More customer reviews)The first "Star Trek" novel to be told from the first person perspective through the eyes of captains James T. Kirk and Hikaru Sulu is a treat to read. Each character takes turns telling his story and it works rather well. Graf has captured both captains well and getting to hear their takes on things is a real treat. The best part is the first half of Kirk's story that deals with his first days as captain of the Enterprise and the building of the legendary crew as a unit, working together. After that story ends, it's a rather pedestrian affair to stop insterstellar war in the movie era. However, based on the strength of Kirk's narrative in the first half of the novel, I highly recommend it.

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There's a bar called "The Captain's Table," where those who have commanded mighty vessels of every shape and era can meet, relax, and share a friendly drink or two with others of their calling. Sometimes a brawl may break out but it's all in the family, more or less. Just remember, the first round of drinks is always paid for with a story...even beyond the final frontier. Captain James T. Kirk must join forces with Captain Hikaru Sulu, new commander of the U.S.S. Excelsior, to resolve a simmering political situation in a distant star system. For more than twenty years, the ancient enmity between Nykkus and Anjiri has resisted the best efforts of Federation diplomats. Now Kirk and Sulu have one last chance to end the bloodshed -- before it erupts into a full-scale interstellar war!

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War Drums (Star Trek The Next Generation, No 23) Review

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(More customer reviews)This one constitutes decent Star Trek entertainment. It is set in the "Next Generation" universe. Basically, the USS Enterprise is dispatched to deal with a situation in which a very small Earth colony is being plagued by a group of Klingon aborigines. It turns out that the Klingons are children who were fleeing the Romulans (they were being evacuated from a war zone) and they crash-landed on the colony planet. In a sort of "Lord of the Flies" scenario, the Klingons revert to savagery and begin preying on the colony. Captain Picard and Co., mainly Ro, Data, Worf, and Troi, are charged with dealing with the situation.
No "Star Trek" novel constitutes great literature, but this one is solidly written, and the storyline hangs together pretty well. The author, thankfully, manages to steer clear of the overused devices of time travel and telepathy, and simply writes us a story about space travel. How novel and refreshing! I did question whether the Klingon youths would have stood up as well as this novel assumes against a technologically advanced human colony armed with phasers, replicators, and the works, but each reader can decide for him or her self.
An enjoyable read.

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The Star Trek Cookbook Review

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(More customer reviews)A Star-Trek cookbook narrated by Neelix the Chef was a nice idea, but poor editing, and not enough supervision by people who know Star Trek characters, have made this book a mess.
First, some of the recipes themselves are poorly written and edited. For example, the Peptide Cake recipe does not specify the pan size. (The recipe mentions a "sheet-cake pan," the standard size of which is too large for the recipe.) The recipe itself is a little strange, as it is a sponge cake that contains many egg yolks but *no* egg whites. Since I don't know what the writers were trying to achieve, I can't say for sure that they made a mistake, but I suspect that the egg whites were left out by accident. There are other recipes for which I suspect ingredients are missing as well. This would not surprise me, due to the number of typos that are scattered throughout the text.
Second, some of the recipes are inconsistent with the book's narration, as well as with information from the tv shows. For example, after having confirmed that "raktajino" is a beverage similar to strong coffee (and having printed a recipe for making raktajino out of coffee beans,) "Neelix" offers a recipe for raktajino cake that contains no coffee! In another example, "Neelix" says that "parthos" can be made out of brussels sprouts. Any one who has seen "The Next Generation" knows that parthos looks nothing like brussels sprouts, and everything like bright green spinach. Finally, while the book gives a reasonable recipe for "Klingon blood pie," (basically a steak and kidney pie,) there is also a version, called a "favorite" of a Klingon character, that is really a sweet cherry pie. To pass a cherry pie off as "blood pie" is to say that the publishers really don't know--and don't care-- what Star Trek is all about.
Third, there are inconsistancies in the narration. On page 115, "Neelix" says that Commander Riker's favorite Klingon dish is "bregit lung"; on page 117 he says that Riker's favorite Klingon dish is "pipius claw."
An annoying aspect of the book is padding with recipes that have nothing to do with Star Trek. These recipes are given teasers that are meant to connect them with Star Trek characters. But who needs a recipe for oatmeal on the doubtful assertion that it's Jake Sisko's favorite breakfast, or a recipe for green beans (improbably called "Klingon green beans," as if any Klingon would actually sit at the same table with them!)
The book strictly avoids beverage recipes that contain alcohol, so this book is of no use to those who want to recreate ales and spirits for taste as well as looks.
The book has its good points-- it tells you how to recreate prop food, and some of the recipes are good, even thought they have little to do with Star Trek, and some of the stars have contributed good recipes.

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Is there one food that humans, Klingons, Bajorans, and Vulcans would like? If so, what would it taste like? How would you prepare it? Could you find all the ingredients locally? This is the task that faces Neelix, chef for the U.S.S. Voyager™, every time he takes on the challenge of trying to feed its crew of 140 food critics. But over the course of their journey, Neelix's learned a few tricks of the trade. He had to, just as a matter of self-preservation. Ethan Phillips, in the persona of Neelix, and William J. Birnes, the New York Times bestselling coauthor of The Day After Roswell, throw wide the vaults of interstellar haute cuisine, revealing for the first time the secret preparation techniques behind all those exotic dishes and drinks. The favorite foods of characters from every Star Trek series and movie are here, all adapted for easy use in twentieth-century kitchens. The Star Trek Cookbook also features a complete guide for whipping up the all the drinks served at Quark's. Fun, and easy to use, the Star Trek Cookbook is your indispensable guide to the food of the stars!

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Star Trek Online: The Needs of the Many Review

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(More customer reviews)I'm a little disapointed with this one. I normally consume Trek books of any era, by any author with great delight. You don't even want to know how many copies of "How Much For Just The Planet" I have.
I don't regret buying this one, but I regret not buying it at a used book store for less.
One issue is perhaps unavoidable given the overall format. With the whole "Living History" idea, I expect some certain similarities in tone and format to World War Z. But on this one, there are a couple times when I can almost hear the rustle of pages from That Other Book in the background. Again, that could be simply because it's a "living history" about a massive war.
The other, greater issue is the author's clear and obvious choice to politicize the book. Between dedicating the book to a currently active politician, and making assorted thinly veiled references to policies of a Recent President Who Shall Not Be Named as well as current events, it gets pretty ham-handed.
Social commentary has always been an enriching element in Star Trek, but this work is somewhat tainted by it's level of current-day political commentary, enhanced by the "narrator's" penchant for wistfully sermonizing, sermons which become downright sticky and gooey sweet.
"Jake" ends up reducing the notional interviews from interviews to a socio-political soapbox for the author to use him to mumble from, a vehicle for his own commentary as opposed to focussing on the experiences and stories of his interview subjects. It's rarely a good thing when the focus of a documentary becomes the interviewer, and not the subjects or their stories. If I want to read an author's politicizing, I'll go to their homepage or blog. The digs at a recent administration and political faction become a wink at the camera that damages the immersion, and wastes type that could have been used telling a better story. (This being despite my personal dislike of said administration.)
Still, there are some good vignettes, some good bits of dialogue, but it's somewhat inferior to what I've come to expect in current Star Trek reading material.

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Prior to the terror-filled times of the Long War—the seemingly endless struggle against the Undine, a paranoid, shape-shifting race once known only as Species 8472—enemy sleeper agents quietly penetrated every echelon of Federation society, as well as other starfaring civilizations throughout the Alpha and Beta quadrants. The ensuing conflict shook humanity to its very core, often placing its highest ideals against a pure survival instinct. All too frequently, the Undine War demanded the harshest of sacrifices and exacted the steepest of personal costs from the countless millions whose lives the great interdimensional clash forever altered.Drawn from his exhaustive research and interviews, The Needs of the Many delivers a glimpse of Betar Prize–winning author Jake Sisko's comprehensive "living history" of this tumultuous era. With collaborator Michael A. Martin, Sisko illuminates an often-poorly-understood time, an age marked indelibly by both fear and courage—not to mention the willingness of multitudes of unsung heroes who became the living embodiment of the ancient Vulcan philosopher Surak's famous axiom, "The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few."

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