STAR TREK - THE LOST ERA - CATALYST OF SORROWS

An Original Publication of POCKET BOOKS

Written by Margaret Wander Bonanno

Based upon STAR TREK and STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION created by Gene Roddenberry

STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE created by Rick Berman & Michael Piller

and STAR TREK: VOYAGER created by Rick Berman & Michael Piller & Jeri Taylor

Copyright 2004 by Paramount Pictures. All Rights Reserved.



In Catalyst of Sorrows by Margaret Wander Bonanno, Romulan Tal-Shiar agent Zetha is sent from the Romulan Star Empire to Federation space by an old and trusted Romulan friend of Admiral Uhura, chief of Starfleet Intelligence. Zetha was to bring news to Uhura of an ancient deadly plague that crosses species - which is spreading throughout the Empire. Uhura's friend hopes of Federation assistance in stopping the plague. Uhura picks a young Lieutenant Benjamn Sisko, Lieutenant Tuvok, Dr. Selar, and Zetha to investigate in the field to try to locate the origin and try to stop it.

I like that the relationships between the young people from the different cultures survive their various governments politics after all these years, like the young Uhura and the young Romulan diplomatic assistant. It was great to see Uhura overcome Dr. McCoy's excuse of wanting to remain in retirement so he can work remotely on finding a cure for this plague. It was also good to see Dr. McCoy working with Beverly Crusher in the lab. When they discover that the disease was actually manufactured, the ground team searches for the creator of the disease with the possibility that he may have created a cure as well. However, other factions also want the creator for their own agenda.

Surprisingly, a minor character from Star Trek: The Search for Spock becomes an important part of the book. How this character got from his position in the movie - to the position he has in the book was a little hard for me to believe, but sufficient time had elapsed that I could accept his career path and his current position. I liked seeing the juxtaposition of the leader of the Tal-Shiar and of a young Luther Sloan, who would soon be in charge of Section 31 - both of which are covert agencies of their respective governments.

Pancho
All people smile in the same language.

STAR TREK - THE LOST ERA- SERPENTS AMONG THE RUINS

POCKET BOOKS

Written by David R. George III

Copyright 2003 by Paramount Pictures. All rights reserved.



In Serpents Among the Ruins, the legendary Tomad Incident - in which thousands were killed - is finally told. Flight tests conducted for a prototype starship, the U.S.S. Universe with it's new engines, ends tragically in disaster close to the border space of the Romulan Star Empire. When the news of the observed disaster reaches the Romulans, the Romulans believe that the Federation is developing weapons of mass destruction to be used against them. As a military buildup ensues on all sides, which includes the Klingons - who want to regain the glory of their Empire - Captain John Harriman of the U.S.S. Enterprise confronts an old Romulan enemy aboard the Romulan flagship Tomad.

This is an older John Harriman of the Enterprise than the one who was shown in the movie Star Trek: Generations.  Harriman is not the insecure bumbler that he was in the movie, but a mature experienced individual who is quite at home on the Enterprise B  - and is also an almost burned-out Captain approaching the end of his career. The diplomats deal with the tense strategic negotiations between the three major powers in order to prevent another Federation/Romulan war and having the Klingons fighting for peace. Harriman, in what is basically his final mission, is sent on a classified mission by Starfleet Special Operations - which includes a young Elias Vaughn. Harriman and Vaughn are snuck aboard the Romulan Flagship Tomad, commanded by Harriman's old enemy Admiral Aventeer Vokar, deep in Romulan space - while Harriman leaves Demora Sulu in command of the Enterprise as they rotate the personal in the outposts monitoring the Romulan Neutral Zone. Vokar's desire for vengeance against his old enemy Harriman makes Harrison's mission extremely dangerous as they perform sabatouge on Vokar's ship Tomad. This mission is also sad as Harriman must undertake the mission while his father Admiral Harriman was critically injured during the U.S.S. Universe disaster. You wish that Harriman and his father the Admiral would reconcile with each other after the Admiral's injury as Admiral Harriman has been disappointed with him ever since the events of Star Trek: Generations and the book Star Trek - The Captain's Daughter. It is also sad when Vaughn is forced to kill for the first time.

This book is basically the flash point where several parts of the Star Trek universe changes after the events in the book, at least in the Star Trek literature.

Pancho
All people smile in the same language.

STAR TREK - THE LOST ERA - THE SUNDERED

POCKET BOOKS
a division of Simon & Shuster, Inc.

Written by Michael A. Martin and Andy Mangels

Copyrigtht 2003 by Paramount Pictures. All rights Reserved.

In The Sundered, Captain Sulu and the U.S.S. Excelsior is sent on an ambassadorial mission to the Tholians, but is secretly on an intelligence mission to spy on Tholian space. Ambassador Burgess finds about him spying on the Tholians and tells them. As the Tholians engage them, along with their more advanced Tholian energy Web, they run across a mysterious race that is closer to home than they think.

Ambassador Burgess was not a likable character as she goes behind Sulu and Starfleet and tells the Tholian ambassadors what is happening with little apology to Sulu. Even she says her career was finished, although she was determined to stop the war between the Federation, the Tholians, and the aggressive Neyel race. Her solution to establish communications, while unorthodox, did leave you feeling that there is something good about her after all as the Neyal search for their ancient home. Reading about the genesis of the engineered Neyal was a bit sudden as they go from an intelligent peaceful people to aggressive phobic conquerors.

Pancho
All people smile in the same language.

Star Trek: The Lost Era - Well of Souls

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

Written by Ilsa J. Bick

Copyright 2003 by Paramount Pictures

Well of Souls is set during the little known time of the U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-C. Little known Captain Rachel Garrett must deal with both her rogue First Officer Samir al-Halak as well as dealing with Garrett's estranged family as they all deal with searching for an archaeological find on an ancient Cardassian planet that Garrett's son found.

It is interesting to get to know a little bit more about the Enterprise's woman captain, Captain Rachel Garrett and the crew of the Enterprise C as I think the only reference to all of them is the TV episode "Yesterday's Enterprise." Garrett and the crew add to the history of the Enterprise. The most interesting part of the story is of the new First Officer al-Halak dealing with a dark family secret of his, as well as al-Halak's history with Starfleet Intelligence - and the tragic circumstances that happens with both. As a result of which, Captain Garett is closed minded toward her new First Officer al-Halak.

Pancho
All people smile in the same language.