STAR TREK - TALES FROM THE CAPTAIN'S TABLE

POCKET BOOKS

Edited by Keith R.A. DeCandido

Copyright 2005 by Paramount Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

STAR TREK - TALES FROM THE CAPTAIN'S TABLE, edited by Keith R.A. DeCandido, is an anthology of stories that are based on the idea of The Captain's Table, which is a multi-dimensional space bar that allows Captain's from various times and planets to come in to gather and have a friendly drink - which is paid for by telling a story.

With the bartender Cap as the only recurring character at home in The Captain's Table, he provides a sense of continuity between all the stories of the anthology as Cap welcomes back all of these captains into his bar. The anthology contains nine stories from nine different captains from all the various series. The stories are of Captains Jean-Luc Picard of the U.S.S. Stargazer told by Michael Jan Friedman, Elizabeth Shelby of the U.S.S Trident told by Peter David, Klag of the I.K.S Gorkon told by Keith R.A. DeCandido, Kira Nerys of Deep Space 9 told by Heather Jarman, Jonathan Archer of the Starship Enterprise told by Louisa M. Swann, Demora Sulu of the U.S.S Enterprise B told by David R. George III, Chakotay of the U.S.S. Voyager told by Christie Golden, and David Gold of the U.S.S. da Vinci told by John J. Ordover. These stories are written by some of Star Trek's best writers. These stories range from serious to comedic, adventure and romance, triumph and tragedy, duty and honor and are mostly told in first person which is befitting for a story told in a bar.

Due to the deminsionality of The Captain's Table and the telling of the tales, Demora Sulu appears at various ages of her life in this anthology. I mostly think of Demora Sulu as a young impetuous Starfleet officer as portrayed in The Captain's Daughter, instead of the older mature woman Captain of the Enterprise despite being in other stories besides The Captain's Daughter.

Pancho
All people smile in the same language.

STAR TREK - NEW FRONTIER - THE QUIET PLACE

An Original publication of POCKET BOOKS

Written by Peter David

Copyright 1999 by Paramount Pictures. All Rights Reserved



Set in Star Trek's New Frontier series - a young woman, Riella, is being pursued by both the driven Redeemers - as well as being pursued by the aggressive Dogs of War because she has been dreaming about the mythical "The Quiet Place." Apparently the mysterious Riella is not really who she thought she was.

This book introduces the enterprising anti-hero Xyon, who reluctantly becomes the protector of Riella as he helps her search for her true identity. It was funny to me that Riella questions Xyon's intentions and fitness as protector as he constantly risks getting beaten up for her.

The book also has a bonus extra - Chapter 4 of Starfleet: Year One. This chapter focuses on suggestions for the design of a new starship project for Starfleet, like a new engine, from various driven Starfleet captains since the captains are the ones taking the risks with their starships.

Pancho
All people smile in the same language.

Star Trek - New Frontier - Captain's Table: Once Burned

Pocket Books, A Division of Simon & Shuster, Inc.

Written by Peter David

Copyright 1998 by Paramount Pictures

Once Burned, the fifth book of Star Trek's Captain's Table series is about Captain Mackenzie Calhoun of the Starship Excalibur. The Captain's Table is a bar for captains where the drink is paid with a story. This is where Captain Calhoun tells the story of his greatest tragedy, of how and why he got court-martialed and left Starfleet.

I initially felt Calhoun was too tame in the book. As he was younger than he normally is in the New Frontier series, I felt Calhoun should have been wilder and more undisciplined as a young Starfleet officer considering his childhood background. At least it seems that Calhoun should not be so collaborative with his other crew mates. The fact that Calhoun took charge toward the end does show the leader in him. I felt the ending was rather satisfying for the book considering the circumstances.

Pancho
All people smile in the same language.

The Incredible Hulk

Ballantine Books/Del Rey/
Presidio Press/One World

Written by Peter David
Based on the screenplay by Edward Norton and Zak Penn
Copyright 2008

This novelization of the movie The Incredible Hulk is a fairly accurate adaptation of the movie. As with novelizations by Peter David, there is more characterization to the characters than was portrayed in the movie - especially with his extensive experience with comics.

While on the run from the military, scientist Bruce Banner tries to find a solution for his condition of becoming the aggressive monster -  the Hulk. One military soldier searching for the Hulk, driven to do anything to stop him, is even willing to undergo the same process to become just like the Hulk in order to stop the Hulk.

While I have not read the comic book in years, the drama in this novelization equals and in some cases surpasses what I remember of the comic book with it's detail-oriented narration.

Pancho
All people smile in the same language.