Surak's Soul.

Subcommander T'Pol, on a landing party to the planet Oan whose population has almost completely been wiped out, inadvertently causes the death of the last survivor of the Oani race. Disturbed by her actions, she decides to adopt a strict interpretation of Surak's doctrine of complete non-violence, refusing to wear a sidearm or use the ship's weaponry, even in defense. But when the ship is threatened by the same menace that ravaged the Oani, can T'Pol afford to stick with her convictions, or will she be forced to kill again?

In this episode of Literary Treks, hosts Bruce Gibson and Dan Gunther are joined by Earl Grey's Justin Oser to discuss the Enterprise novel Surak's Soul. We talk about medical mysteries, T'Pol's dilemma, similarities to the Enterprise episode "The Seventh," T'Pol's youth on Vulcan, the mysterious Wanderer, and wrap up with our final thoughts and ratings.

In the news section, Bruce and Dan review the first issue of IDW's Star Trek: The Next Generation: Terra Incognita miniseries.

News
Terra Incognita #1 (00:02:33)

Feature: Surak's Soul
Special Guest (00:14:29)
Medical Mystery (00:21:19)
T'Pol Kills (00:28:48)
"The Seventh" (00:42:07)
Wondering About the Wanderer (00:48:39)
Young T'Pol (00:53:01)
Wrapping Up (01:01:27)
Ratings (01:07:45)
Final Thoughts (01:16:41)

Hosts
Dan Gunther and Bruce Gibson

Guest
Justin Oser

Production
Matthew Rushing (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Ken Tripp (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Brandon-Shea Mutala (Patreon Manager) Ken Tripp (Associate Producer) Brandon-Shea Mutala (Associate Producer) Bruce Gibson (Associate Producer) Justin Oser (Associate Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Greg Rozier (Associate Producer) Jeffery Harlan (Associate Producer)

Phil Farrand: The Nitpicker's Guides.

Many people think of nitpicking as a disrespectful act. If you enjoy a show, why pick it apart? I, however, would contend that if you love someone, it is actually a compassionate act to tell them about the dab of mustard on their upper lip! Such is the idea behind the Nitpicker's Guides, books that attempted to catalog and describe each and every error in a number of Star Trek series, be they continuity errors, equipment oddities, changed premises, or just general goofs.

In this episode of Literary Treks, hosts Dan Gunther and Bruce Gibson sit down with Phil Farrand, author of The Nitpicker's Guide for Next Generation Trekkers volumes one and two, The Nitpicker's Guide for Classic Trekkers, and The Nitpicker's Guide for Deep Space Nine Trekkers. We discuss the origin of the guides, the process of writing them, the community of nitpickers called The Nitpicker's Guild, positive nitpicking versus negativity and toxic fandom, and what Phil is currently working on and where you can find him online.

In the news segment, we talk about Big Finish and their Prometheus audiobooks, and review two new comics: what looks to be the final issue of New Visions, and Star Trek: Discovery: Succession #3.

News
Prometheus Audiobooks (00:03:31)
New Visions #22 (00:06:21)
Succession #3 (00:23:27)

Feature: Phil Farrand
Origin of the Guides (00:28:39)
Fan Reaction (00:37:13)
Nitpicking In Good Cheer (00:38:32)
Fostering the Nitpickers Guild (00:41:10)
Fine Line Between Fun and Complaining (00:47:26)
Hollywood Double Standards (00:52:35)
Publishing More Guides (00:59:18)
Becoming A Writer (01:20:09)
Final Thoughts (01:33:03)

Hosts
Dan Gunther and Bruce Gibson

Guest
Phil Farrand

Production
Matthew Rushing (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Ken Tripp (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Brandon-Shea Mutala (Patreon Manager) Ken Tripp (Associate Producer) Brandon-Shea Mutala (Associate Producer) Bruce Gibson (Associate Producer) Justin Oser (Associate Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Greg Rozier (Associate Producer) Jeffery Harlan (Associate Producer)

A Time to Sow.

Morale aboard the Enterprise has been dealt a serious blow. The incident at the Rashanar battle site has left a definite stain on the career of Jean-Luc Picard, and he and his crew can't help but feel that their latest assignment is designed to get them off the radar for the time being. However, their mission to investigate a centuries-old distress call may be more intriguing than Starfleet intended. When a new civilization is found to be thriving against all odds, Picard and his crew must get to the bottom of a mystery that threatens to tear that civilization apart.

In this episode of Literary Treks, hosts Bruce Gibson and Dan Gunther discuss A Time to Sow, the third book in the nine-part A Time To series, and the first book in a duology by Dayton Ward and Kevin Dilmore. We talk about a surprise visit to the time period of Star Trek: Enterprise, Starfleet "milk runs," Data's emotions (or lack thereof), an act of sabotage, the Dokallan civilization, an outside threat, and wrap up with our final thoughts and ratings.

In the news section, we discuss the upcoming Star Trek vs. Transformers comic miniseries coming soon from IDW, The Art of John Eaves by Joe Nazzaro coming later this year, and I Am Captain Kirk, a new Little Golden Book for the tiny Trekkies out there!

News
Star Trek vs. Transformers (00:03:27)
The Art of John Eaves (00:08:39)
I Am Captain Kirk (00:10:19)

Feature: A Time to Sow
The Third Book (00:13:54)
Too Little, Too Late (00:17:43)
Low Priority Missions (00:23:01)
Don't Get "Sow" Emotional (00:33:35)
An Act of Sabotage (00:39:46)
The Dokallans (00:43:09)
Another Force at Work (00:49:42)
Other Cliffhangers (00:57:40)
Ratings (01:00:13)
Final Thoughts (01:03:05)

Hosts
Dan Gunther and Bruce Gibson

Production
Matthew Rushing (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Ken Tripp (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Brandon-Shea Mutala (Patreon Manager) Ken Tripp (Associate Producer) Brandon-Shea Mutala (Associate Producer) Bruce Gibson (Associate Producer) Justin Oser (Associate Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Greg Rozier (Associate Producer) Jeffery Harlan (Associate Producer)

James Swallow: Fear Itself.

For many fans, the breakout character of Star Trek: Discovery has been Saru, the Kelpien science officer aboard the U.S.S. Shenzhou. Kelpiens are a prey species, driven by instinct to heed their natural fear response and be hyper-alert to any danger present in their surroundings. Saru is no exception to this, and when a rescue mission begins to spiral out of control, he must learn to temper his fear if he has any hope of getting himself and his team out alive.

In this episode of Literary Treks, hosts Dan Gunther and Bruce Gibson are joined by James Swallow, author of the new Discovery novel, Fear Itself. We discuss the process of writing the novel, getting inside Saru's head, the various species involved in the story, Saru and Burnham's relationship, Captain Georgiou's leadership style, overcoming fear, and what other projects James has on the horizon. We also briefly talk about the current troubled state of Pocket Books' Star Trek line, and what might be in store for its future.

In the news section, we preview a new book coming next year from Dayton Ward: Kirk Fu Manual: An Introduction to the Final Frontier's Most Feared Martial Art!

News
Kirk Fu Manual (00:02:39)

Feature: James Swallow
The Latest Discovery (00:05:47)
The Process (00:06:22)
Inside Saru's Head (00:13:04)
Two Races (00:17:18)
The Tholians (00:21:25)
The Gorlans (00:25:07)
The Hub (00:29:10)
Burnham and Saru (00:31:51)
A Novel About Fear (00:40:28)
Beginning and the End (00:42:21)
The Return of Trek Novels? (00:55:22)
James Upcoming and Online (01:02:19)
Final Thoughts (01:06:49)

Hosts
Dan Gunther and Bruce Gibson

Guest
James Swallow

Production
Matthew Rushing (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Ken Tripp (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Brandon-Shea Mutala (Patreon Manager) Ken Tripp (Associate Producer) Brandon-Shea Mutala (Associate Producer) Bruce Gibson (Associate Producer) Justin Oser (Associate Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Greg Rozier (Associate Producer) Jeffery Harlan (Associate Producer)