Dave Galanter: Dead Endless.

While Stamets leads the U.S.S. Discovery through the mycelial network, an error occurs, and the starship becomes trapped within the network. A mysterious stranger, calling out to Stamets, appears to be a human Starfleet officer, but the crew can't be sure. With the starship's hull suffering under the onslaught of the inhabitants of the network, can Stamets and the rest of the crew of Discovery escape in time?

In this episode of Literary Treks, hosts Dan Gunther and Bruce Gibson are joined by author Dave Galanter to discuss his new Discovery novel Dead Endless. We talk about how the story came about, the setting of this story, the relationship between Hugh Culber and Paul Stamets, the mysterious Ephraim, the secondary characters in the story, the bond between a trio of great characters, and end with where Dave can be found online and what he is working on now.

At the top of the show, we review the new Voyager mirror universe comic Mirrors and Smoke, and respond to your feedback from The Babel Conference for Literary Treks 290: I Want All the Spock.

News
VGR: Mirrors and Smoke Comic Review (00:02:35)
Listener Feedback (00:25:22)

Feature: Dave Galanter
Crafting the Novel (00:27:22)
Secret Hints in the Books (00:35:33)
The Tragedy of Culber (00:42:29)
Love to the Other Characters (00:47:04)
The Casting of Discovery (00:56:38)
Ephraim (01:01:49)
Hugh Is Right For Paul (01:09:05)
Writing a Gay Love Story (01:16:18)
Getting the Voice of the Characters (01:22:38)
Saru-Burnham-Georgiou Bond (01:26:42)
Easter Egg at the End (01:31:45)
Final Words from Dave (01:36:43)
Final Thoughts (01:48:14)

Hosts
Dan Gunther and Bruce Gibson

Guest
Dave Galanter

Production
Bruce Gibson (Editor and Producer) Dan Gunther (Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Ken Tripp (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Ken Tripp (Associate Producer) Brandon-Shea Mutala (Associate Producer) Justin Oser (Associate Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Greg Rozier (Associate Producer) Jeffery Harlan (Associate Producer) Casey Pettitt (Associate Producer)

Robb Pearlman: Body By Starfleet.

Let's face it: as Star Trek fans, our primary way of enjoying this franchise is by sitting and watching the hundreds of hours of television shows and films that make up our favorite science fiction universe. But now, thanks to a book that recently hit store shelves, we can use Star Trek to inspire us to get up off the couch and get more active!

In this episode of Literary Treks, hosts Bruce Gibson and Dan Gunther welcome author Robb Pearlman on the show to discuss his new book Body By Starfleet: A Fitness Guide. We talk about where the idea for the guide came from, the real exercises within its pages, the fantastic illustrations, some of our favorite exercises, how non-humanoids can get in on the action, an amusing tie-in video on startrek.com, and wrap up with where Robb can be found online and what he's working on next.

At the top of the show, Bruce and Dan review Star Trek: Year Five #8 from IDW and respond to feedback from The Babel Conference for Literary Treks 289: It Is Better to Heal Than to Harm.

News
Star Trek Year Five #8 Comic Review (00:03:14)
Listener Feedback (00:17:13)

Feature: Discovery: Robb Pearlman
The Workout Idea (00:26:45)
Real Exercises with Puns (00:31:21)
Illustrations (00:37:29)
Some Favorite Exercises (00:40:19)
Captain's Workout Log (00:43:30)
Nonhumanoid Exercises (00:46:36)
Video on startrek.com (00:51:02)
More From Robb (00:56:25)
Final Thoughts (01:02:28)

Hosts
Dan Gunther and Bruce Gibson

Guest
Robb Pearlman

Production
Bruce Gibson (Editor and Producer) Dan Gunther (Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Ken Tripp (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Ken Tripp (Associate Producer) Brandon-Shea Mutala (Associate Producer) Justin Oser (Associate Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Greg Rozier (Associate Producer) Jeffery Harlan (Associate Producer) Casey Pettitt (Associate Producer)

Discovery: Aftermath.

At the culmination of season two of Star Trek: Discovery, the titular starship has traveled through a wormhole into an uncertain future. However, the century they left behind is uncertain as well. A tenuous state of peace exists between the Federation and the Klingon Empire, a situation that both Captain Pike and Chancellor L'Rell are eager to capitalize on. But will they manage to maintain that peace with the forces of chaos doing all they can to disrupt it?

In this episode of Literary Treks, hosts Dan Gunther and Bruce Gibson are joined by The Edge's Brandi Jackola to discuss the Discovery comic trilogy Aftermath. We talk about the surprise return of Kor, Spock's coming to terms with the aftermath of season two of Discovery, L'Rell's ability to play politics, The Shadows of Kahless, and wrap up with our final thoughts and ratings for the trilogy as a whole.

In the news segment, we talk about the release of Star Trek: Picard: Countdown #1 from IDW and Body by Starfleet by Robb Pearlman. We also respond to feedback from The Babel Conference for Literary Treks 288: The Golden Girls in Space.

News
Star Trek: Picard - Countdown #1 Releases (00:02:14)
Body by Starfleet Releases (00:04:29)
Listener Feedback (00:07:08)

Feature: Discovery: Aftermath
Aftermath Issue #1 (00:17:11)
Aftermath Issue #2 (00:46:09)
Aftermath Issue #3 (01:08:51)
Ratings (01:32:10)
Final Thoughts (01:38:06)

Hosts
Dan Gunther and Bruce Gibson

Guest
Brandi Jackola

Production
Bruce Gibson (Editor and Producer) Dan Gunther (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) Justin Oser (Associate Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Greg Rozier (Associate Producer) Jeffery Harlan (Associate Producer) Casey Pettitt (Associate Producer)

David Mack: Lost Souls.

Vastly outnumbered and outgunned by the relentless Borg advance, the United Federation of Planets faces its final hours. Captain Erika Hernandez, formerly of the Columbia, may be all that stands in the path of the insatiable hunger of the Borg Queen for the destruction of the Federation. She and the mysterious Caeliar, with their unlikely link to the Borg, may hold the secret to ending the threat from the Collective once and for all. But will victory come in time for the people of the Federation?

In this episode of Literary Treks, hosts Bruce Gibson and Dan Gunther are joined by the author of the Destiny trilogy, David Mack, to discuss the final book, Lost Souls, and the trilogy as a whole. We talk about the genesis of this epic story, the various character issues that are confronted, Picard's link to the Borg and how it has affected him these many years, Erika Hernandez's part in the story, hope vs. fear, the origin of the Borg Collective, the legacy of Star Trek: Destiny, and wrap up with where David can be found online and what he has coming out in the next year.

At the top of the show, we respond to feedback from The Babel Conference for Literary Treks 287: Fear Usually Leads to Chaos.

News
Listener Feedback (00:03:40)

Feature: David Mack
Creating the Destiny Trilogy (00:09:38)
Small Character Moments (00:29:19)
An Impaired Picard (00:35:20)
Erika Hernandez (00:39:45)
Grace Under Pressure (00:49:54)
The Origin of the Borg (00:59:07)
Give Death Back Its Teeth (01:05:17)
The Finale (01:13:51)
The Legacy of Destiny (01:19:24)
The Books That Follow (01:23:41)
More From David (01:30:15)
Final Thoughts (01:35:04)

Hosts
Dan Gunther and Bruce Gibson

Guest
David Mack

Production
Bruce Gibson (Editor and Producer) Dan Gunther (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) Justin Oser (Associate Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Greg Rozier (Associate Producer) Jeffery Harlan (Associate Producer) Casey Pettitt (Associate Producer)

Mere Mortals.

The Borg continue to threaten the Federation with extinction, and its up to the crews of the Enterprise, Aventine, and Titan to stop them! On New Erigol, the Titan crew find themselves stranded, at the mercy of the mysterious Caelier and their centuries-old companion, Captain Erika Hernandez of the Columbia. Meanwhile, the Enterprise and Aventine explore the subspace tunnels that fill the Azure Nebula. Will they be able to determine which of them the Borg are using to enter Federation space and close it in time?

In this episode of Literary Treks, hosts Dan Gunther and Bruce Gibson discus the second book in the Destiny trilogy Mere Mortals. We talk about the Enterprise and Aventine's attempts to scout the subspace tunnels, the plight of the Titan crew, Captain Hernandez's experiences with the Caeliar, President Bacco's attempts to win the Federation allies in their struggle against the Borg, Pazlar and Ra-Havreii's psychological issues, Deanna's ill-fated pregnancy, the shocking ending, and wrap up with our final thoughts.

At the top of the show, we respond to listener feedback from The Babel Conference for Literary Treks 286: The Wrong Thing for the Right Reason.

News
Listener Feedback (00:05:52)

Feature: Mere Mortals
The Middle Book (00:14:00)
Captains Dax and Picard (00:16:39)
Subspace Tunnels (00:20:16)
Titan on New Erigol (00:32:41)
Hernandez's Transformation (00:37:36)
President Bacco (00:49:20)
Pazlar and Ra-Havreii (00:54:55)
Deanna's Plight (01:00:08)
The Ending (01:06:03)
Ratings (01:16:20)
Final Thoughts (01:20:54)

Hosts
Dan Gunther and Bruce Gibson

Production
Bruce Gibson (Editor and Producer) Dan Gunther (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) Justin Oser (Associate Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Greg Rozier (Associate Producer) Jeffery Harlan (Associate Producer) Casey Pettitt (Associate Producer)

Gods of Night.

As an apocalyptic Borg attack on the Federation begins, the crews of Starfleet's finest starships must rise to the occasion to defend everything they know and love. Meanwhile, the crashed wreck of the Starship Columbia may hold the key to explaining the Borg's vengeful invasion of the Federation. What happened 200 years ago that caused Columbia to crash, and how did it end up in the Gamma Quadrant?

In this episode of Literary Treks, hosts Bruce Gibson and Dan Gunther are joined by The 602 Club's Matthew Rushing to discuss the first book in the Destiny trilogy by David Mack: Gods of Night. We talk about the mystery of the Columbia, the actions of the MACOs that led to her destruction, the mysterious Caeliar, Picard & Crusher's story, Riker & Troi on the Titan, an emotional moment for one of the Voyager crew, the cliffhanger ending, and wrap up with our final thoughts and ratings.

In the news segment, we report on four new hardcover books announced at Destination Star Trek Birmingham: The Art of Star Trek: Discovery by Paula M. Block & Terry J. Erdmann, Star Trek: Voyager: A Celebration by Ben Robinson, The Autobiography of Kathryn Janeway "edited" by Una McCormack, and The Artistry of Dan Curry by Dan Curry & Ben Robinson. We also review issue #7 of Star Trek: Year Five and respond to feedback from the Babel Conference for Literary Treks 285: Those Bloody Mind Control Revolts!

News
Four New Books for 2020 (00:03:50)
Star Trek Year Five #7 Comic Review (00:13:15)
Listener Feedback (00:21:41)

Feature: Gods of Night
First Thoughts on Destiny (00:29:59)
U.S.S. Aventine Finds the Columbia (00:40:29)
Mutiny and Desperation (00:45:23)
The Caeliar (00:53:08)
Picard and the Borg (01:05:40)
Life on the U.S.S. Titan (01:10:44)
A Heartbreaking Voyager Moment (01:17:43)
The End of Book One (01:23:25)
Ratings (01:29:21)
Final Thoughts (01:35:16)

Hosts
Dan Gunther and Bruce Gibson

Guest
Matthew Rushing

Production
Bruce Gibson (Editor and Producer) Dan Gunther (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) Justin Oser (Associate Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Greg Rozier (Associate Producer) Jeffery Harlan (Associate Producer) Casey Pettitt (Associate Producer)

David Mack: Collateral Damage.

Eight years ago, Captain Jean-Luc Picard was party to events that led to the ouster and eventual assassination of disgraced Federation President Min Zife. Now, he must return to Earth to face the music in a hearing called to determine his culpability in those events. Meanwhile, the Enterprise, under the command of Worf, must deal with a determined enemy in possession of a weapon capable of inflicting unimaginable damage on the Federation.

In this episode of Literary Treks, hosts Dan Gunther and Bruce Gibson are once again joined by author David Mack to discuss his most recent novel Collateral Damage. We talk about wrapping up the loose ends of Tezwa, the inspiration for the Nausicaans' plight, the unique literary devices used in this novel, a Starfleet Intelligence spin-off, Worf's development as a character, Lieutenant Aneta Šmrhová, Picard's hearing and eventual fate, and wrap up with where David can be found online and what he is working on now.

At the top of the show, we respond to listener feedback from The Babel Conference with your thoughts on Literary Treks 284: Smoothing Over the Rough Edges of Canon.

News
Listener Feedback (00:02:29)

Feature: David Mack
There Is A Plan (00:08:24)
Tying Up Loose Ends (00:12:07)
The Forgotten Nausicaans (00:24:54)
First-Person Narratives (00:39:29)
Agent Thadiun Okona (00:45:12)
Worf and Aneta Šmrhová (00:54:21)
The Hearing of Picard (01:07:13)
Star Trek: Picard (01:22:41)
More from David (01:26:37)
Final Thoughts (01:35:13)

Hosts
Dan Gunther and Bruce Gibson

Guest
David Mack

Production
Bruce Gibson (Editor and Producer) Dan Gunther (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) Justin Oser (Associate Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Greg Rozier (Associate Producer) Jeffery Harlan (Associate Producer) Casey Pettitt (Associate Producer)

The Motion Picture: 40th Anniversary Edition.

A destructive menace is heading directly towards Earth, and the Enterprise is the only starship in interception range. Admiral James T. Kirk must once again assume command to take on this threat and solve the mystery of "Veejur" before it destroys all life on Earth. The film that launched the Star Trek movie series has mixed reviews, but the novelization of that movie offers us a glimpse into the mind of the creator of Star Trek!

In this episode of Literary Treks, hosts Bruce Gibson and Dan Gunther are joined by "Dr. Trek" himself, Larry Nemecek, to discuss the novelization of Star Trek: The Motion Picture by Gene Roddenberry. We talk about differences between the film and the novel, the persistent "Alan Dean Foster myth," Kirk's subtextual relationship with Spock, the story from Veejur's perspective, Decker's ultimate fate, and wrap up with our final thoughts and ratings.

In the news segment, we report on the announcement of Star Trek: The Motion Picture: Inside the Art & Visual Effects by Jeff Bond & Gene Kozicki, coming in March of 2020. We also respond to listener feedback from the Babel Conference for Literary Treks 283: Everyone's Tilting at Windmills.

News
ST:TMP Inside The Art & Visual Effects (00:03:40)
Listener Feedback (00:04:40)

Feature: The Motion Picture: 40th Anniversary Edition
The Motion Picture (00:10:39)
Different Iterations (00:20:53)
The "Alan Dean Foster" Myth (00:24:24)
T'hy'la and New Humans (00:31:32)
Mining TMP for Future Star Trek (00:46:48)
Canon Has Evolved (00:55:09)
"In Thy Image" (01:01:55)
V'Ger's Perspective (01:08:26)
Additional Scenes (01:12:42)
Epsilon Nine or IX (01:20:46)
Marriage Contracts (01:24:06)
Ratings (01:28:17)
Final Thoughts (01:37:58)

Hosts
Dan Gunther and Bruce Gibson

Guest
Larry Nemecek

Production
Bruce Gibson (Editor and Producer) Dan Gunther (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) Justin Oser (Associate Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Greg Rozier (Associate Producer) Jeffery Harlan (Associate Producer)

Greater Than the Sum.

In recent months, the Borg have returned again and again to threaten the peace of the Federation. Now, Picard and his crew must team up with unexpected allies to prevent the Borg from acquiring quantum slipstream technology, an advancement that would give the Borg unprecedented power to assimilate the Federation. Along with a new and untested crewmember, the men and women under Captain Picard's command face incredible odds in their latest round with the Borg.

In this episode of Literary Treks, hosts Dan Gunther and Bruce Gibson discuss the TNG novel Greater Than the Sum by Christopher L. Bennett. We talk about Lieutenant T'Ryssa Chen, Christopher Bennett's amazing ability to "fix" glitches in Star Trek continuity, a star cluster filled with strange new worlds, an old friend named Hugh, a plan to destroy the Borg once and for all, the ending that leads into David Mack's Destiny trilogy, how this story jives with what we know about Star Trek: Picard, and wrap up with our final thoughts and ratings.

At the top of the show, we respond to listener feedback from The Babel Conference for Literary Treks 282: And Then Wonder Woman Shows Up!

News
Listener Feedback (00:03:43)

Feature: Greater Than the Sum
More of the Borg (00:11:41)
Introducing T'Ryssa Chen (00:14:52)
The Mystery of This Novel (00:21:12)
Bringing It All Together (00:25:49)
Star Cluster NGC 6281 (00:32:18)
Picard and Crusher (00:38:03)
Jasminder Choudhury (00:44:30)
Hugh and the Liberated (00:47:53)
The Plan (00:56:32)
The Epilogue (01:05:22)
Compatibility with Star Trek: Picard (01:09:13)
Ratings (01:12:56)
Final Thoughts (01:16:29)

Hosts
Dan Gunther and Bruce Gibson

Production
Bruce Gibson (Editor and Producer) Dan Gunther (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) Justin Oser (Associate Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Greg Rozier (Associate Producer) Jeffery Harlan (Associate Producer)

Vendetta.

The Borg: the Federation's most lethal adversary. A force of nature, nearly unstoppable, and the harbinger of doom for any civilization unfortunate enough to come to the attention of this cybernetic menace. The crew of the Enterprise thwarted their attack on the Federation once; but now, when this relentless enemy comes again in force, can the Federation once again be saved?

In this episode of Literary Treks, hosts Bruce Gibson and Dan Gunther discuss the TNG novel Vendetta by Peter David. We talk about Picard's mysterious connection to a woman with a vendetta, the horrors of a Borg attack, Geordi's quixotic role in the novel, new types of Borg, Picard's rival, the Doomsday Machine, the theme of Vendetta, how this book compares to its sequel, Before Dishonor, and wrap up with our final thoughts and ratings.

In the news section, we talk about a number of new releases: issue #2 of Star Trek: Aftermath, the 40th anniversary edition of the novelization of Star Trek: The Motion Picture by Gene Roddenberry, and Star Trek: The Next Generation: Collateral Damage by David Mack. We also review issue #6 of Star Trek: Year Five, and respond to listener feedback from the Babel Conference for Literary Treks 281: The Next Evolutionary Step of the Borg.

News
New Releases (00:03:24)
ST: Year Five #6 Comic Review (00:05:53)
Listener Feedback (00:16:46)

Feature: Vendetta
Picard's Long Lost Love (00:28:43)
The Borg Attack! (00:34:09)
Geordi "Don Quixote LaForge (00:38:49)
The First Female Borg (00:43:32)
A Ferengi Borg (00:48:39)
Capt. Korsmo and Cmdr. Shelby (00:51:34)
Guinan's Sister (00:58:02)
Striving to Achieve (01:03:18)
A Prequel to Before Dishonor (01:12:54)
Ratings (01:15:46)
Final Thoughts (01:19:43)

Hosts
Dan Gunther and Bruce Gibson

Production
Bruce Gibson (Editor and Producer) Dan Gunther (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) Justin Oser (Associate Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Greg Rozier (Associate Producer) Jeffery Harlan (Associate Producer)

Aaron Harvey: The Official Guide to the Animated Series.

An often-overlooked corner of the Star Trek universe, the animated Star Trek series of 1973-'74 was the first time Trek would make a comeback. Utilizing most of the original voice talent, TAS approached storytelling in much the same way as its predecessor. A comprehensive guide to this groundbreaking series has never been made available... until now!

In this episode of Literary Treks, hosts Dan Gunther and Bruce Gibson are joined by Aaron Harvey, Trek.fm host and co-author of Star Trek: The Official Guide to the Animated Series. We discuss his passion for the animated adventures of Star Trek, how he and co-author Rich Schepis got the job of creating this guide, the process of putting the book together, the layout of the book, some interesting surprises that were revealed about the series, and wrap up by talking about where Aaron can be found online.

In the news section, we talk about the release of issue #1 of Star Trek: Discovery: Aftermath from IDW, get a sneak peek of Dayton Ward's upcoming Kirk Fu manual, and judge the cover of the upcoming novel Star Trek: Discovery: Dead Endless by Dave Galanter. We also respond to your Babel Conference feedback for Literary Treks 280: The Rigellians are Psycho.

News
Discovery Aftermath #1 Comic Releases (00:02:57)
Preview Pages from Kirk Fu (00:04:43)
DSC: Dead Endless Cover (00:06:53)
Listener Feedback (00:09:12)

Feature: Aaron Harvey
Passion for TAS (00:15:44)
Getting the Gig (00:22:00)
Canon or Not Canon (00:27:10)
Crafting the Book (00:33:14)
Found Artifacts (00:37:56)
Deep Messages (00:49:17)
The Art in the Book (00:58:31)
Fun Detective Investigations (01:01:55)
Colors, Ships, and Bloopers (01:08:05)
More from Aaron (01:16:02)
Final Thoughts (01:18:20)

Hosts
Dan Gunther and Bruce Gibson

Guest
Aaron Harvey

Production
Bruce Gibson (Editor and Producer) Dan Gunther (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) Justin Oser (Associate Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Greg Rozier (Associate Producer) Jeffery Harlan (Associate Producer)

Before Dishonor.

The Enterprise has fought a costly battle with the Borg. Now, the massive cube they faced seems to be dormant, and Starfleet sends a team led by Admiral Kathryn Janeway to investigate. However, the Borg ship comes alive without warning and captures the admiral, using her to lead a direct attack on the heart of the Federation. Now, it's up to the crew of the Enterprise, along with Spock and Seven of Nine, to counter the renewed Borg threat.

In this episode of Literary Treks, hosts Bruce Gibson and Dan Gunther discuss Before Dishonor by Peter David. We talk about the newly-evolved Borg, Seven of Nine's role in the story, Ambassador Spock, unexpected actions taken by Picard's crew, the Doomsday Machine, Admiral Janeway's fate, and wrap up with our final thoughts and ratings.

At the top of the show, we review Star Trek: Year Five #5 from IDW and respond to listener feedback from The Babel Conference for Literary Treks 279: The Young, Rash, Impetuous Russian.

News
Star Trek: Year Five #5 Review (00:03:26)
Listener Feedback (00:18:05)

Feature: Before Dishonor
The Borg Again (00:24:16)
Feels Like a Comic Book (00:33:01)
Seven of Nine and Vargo (00:36:30)
Picard is Doomed! (00:41:49)
Spock Boards the Enterprise (00:46:49)
Mutiny (00:53:27)
The Doomsday Machine (01:01:11)
The Battle (01:03:56)
Death Becomes Her (01:08:54)
Some Interesting Notes (01:14:15)
Ratings (01:19:04)
Final Thoughts (01:26:20)

Hosts
Dan Gunther and Bruce Gibson

Production
Bruce Gibson (Editor and Producer) Dan Gunther (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) Justin Oser (Associate Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Greg Rozier (Associate Producer) Jeffery Harlan (Associate Producer)

Early Voyages #1-4.

Captain Christopher Pike has played a large role in the Star Trek universe over the past year, and we have made a concerted effort to take a look at the books that chronicle the adventures of this captain of the Enterprise. So it only makes sense to cast our gaze back to the late '90s, when Marvel Comics briefly held the licence to print Star Trek comic books, and released a series based on the voyages of the U.S.S. Enterprise under the command of Chris Pike.

In this episode of Literary Treks, hosts Dan Gunther and Bruce Gibson are joined by Shahank Avaaru and Barry DeFord of the Trek Geeks podcast Poli-Treks to discuss the first four issues of Star Trek: Early Voyages. We talk about the crew's introduction in "Flesh of My Flesh," a face-off with the Klingons in "The Fires of Pharos," the crisis on Rigel VII in "Our Dearest Blood," and revisit Talos IV from a new perspective in "Nor Iron Bars a Cage." We wrap up with our final thoughts and ratings and where Barry and Shashank can be found online.

At the top of the show, we respond to your feedback on the Babel Conference for Literary Treks 278: His Losses Continue to "Mount."

News
Brief Updates (00:04:19)
Listener Feedback (00:05:59)

Feature: Early Voyages #1-4
Welcoming the PoliTreks Guys (00:12:31)
Flesh of My Flesh (00:17:29)
The Fires of Pharos (00:32:12)
Our Dearest Blood (00:43:07)
Nor Iron Bars a Cage (00:58:22)
Ratings (01:15:29)
Final Thoughts (01:26:08)

Hosts
Dan Gunther and Bruce Gibson

Guests
Shahank Avaaru
Barry DeFord

Production
Bruce Gibson (Editor and Producer) Dan Gunther (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) Justin Oser (Associate Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Greg Rozier (Associate Producer) Jeffery Harlan (Associate Producer)

Greg Cox: The Antares Maelstrom.

A 23rd century gold rush kicks off when a rare element is discovered on planet Baldur III, and it's up to the crew of the Enterprise to maintain order when the small colony world is overrun by pioneers hoping to strike it rich. Complicating matters is the nearby Antares Maelstrom, a treacherous area of space that has claimed the lives of many explorers over the years. With his crew stretched thin, can Kirk manage to prevent tragedy?

In this episode of Literary Treks, hosts Bruce Gibson and Dan Gunther welcome author Greg Cox to the show to discuss his The Antares Maelstrom. We talk about the pergium discovery that starts things off, an old-fashioned western set in space, Sulu's mystery woman and the role they play, a side quest for Spock and Chekov, a major crisis the colony faces, the mysteries of the Antares Maelstrom, and wrap up with projects that Greg is currently working on and where he can be found online.

At the top of the show, we review issue #4 of Star Trek: Year Five from IDW, and respond to listener feedback from the Babel Conference for Literary Treks 277: You're Meant to Be Confused.

News
Star Trek: Year Five #4 Review (00:02:49)
Listener Feedback (00:11:37)

Feature: Greg Cox
Una in the Legacies Trilogy (00:19:01)
There's Pergium in Them Hills (00:25:32)
Khan's Antares Maelstrom (00:30:11)
An Old Fashion Western (00:33:07)
Sulu's Old Flame and Mystery (00:40:24)
A Shady Character (00:48:37)
Uhura's Dance Hall (00:51:03)
Spock and Chekov's Tea Mission (00:52:48)
Yurnos (00:55:39)
Thunderbird Power Plant (01:00:36)
Getting Through the Maelstrom (01:02:35)
More From Greg (01:14:52)
Final Thoughts (01:19:08)

Hosts
Dan Gunther and Bruce Gibson

Guest
Greg Cox

Production
Bruce Gibson (Editor and Producer) Dan Gunther (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) Justin Oser (Associate Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Greg Rozier (Associate Producer) Jeffery Harlan (Associate Producer)

John Jackson Miller: The Enterprise War.

At the end of Star Trek: Discovery's first season, we encounter the U.S.S. Enterprise under the command of Captain Christopher Pike. A long and costly war with the Klingons has taken its toll on Starfleet, but the Enterprise was kept out of the fray. What was this storied starship up to for the duration of the war, and why was she out of contact with Starfleet for so long? The answers to these questions and more can be found in the subject of this week's episode!

In this episode of Literary Treks, hosts Dan Gunther and Bruce Gibson are joined by John Jackson Miller to talk about his latest book, The Enterprise War. We discuss how the novel ties into seasons one and two of Discovery, the Lurians and the atypical Baladon, Enterprise's revolving door of engineers, the mysterious Boundless, Lt. Evan Connolly, this novel's links to the wider Trek litverse, the final shocking reveal, and wrap up with what Miller is currently working on and where he can be found online.

In the news segment, we break down the 2020 book schedule as revealed at STLV, as well as news of an upcoming comic prequel to Star Trek: Picard. We also respond to listener feedback from the Babel Conference for Literary Treks 276: There's a Line We Can't Cross.

News
2020 New Book Releases (00:04:19)
Star Trek: Picard Countdown Comic (00:09:41)
Listener Feedback (00:12:22)

Feature: John Jackson Miller
Tying It All Together (00:17:50)
Baladon and the Lurians (00:26:01)
Chief Engineer Galadjian (00:32:32)
Kormagan and the Boundless (00:38:38)
Centuries of War (00:45:24)
Pike's Losses (00:51:01)
Powering the Enterprise (00:52:21)
Lt. Evan Connolly (00:56:37)
Links to Continuity (01:04:27)
The Final Reveal (01:10:36)
More From John (01:23:27)
Final Thoughts (01:32:29)

Hosts
Dan Gunther and Bruce Gibson

Guest
John Jackson Miller

Production
Bruce Gibson (Editor and Producer) Dan Gunther (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) Justin Oser (Associate Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Greg Rozier (Associate Producer) Jeffery Harlan (Associate Producer)

Sword of Damocles.

The Starship Titan continues its mission of exploration in the Gum Nebula, encountering a strange phenomenon that stops the vessel dead in its tracks. Tracing the cause back to a planet called Orisha, an away from Titan encounters a strange anomaly that has wreaked devastation on the Orishans for millennia, and will cause one member of Titan's crew to come face to face with his destiny...

In this episode of Literary Treks, hosts Bruce Gibson and Dan Gunther discuss Star Trek: Titan: Sword of Damocles by Geoffrey Thorne. We talk about the non-linear nature of the novel, the planet Orisha and its inhabitants, the risky mission to save the Titan, the fate of Jaza Najem, the unorthodox solution that saves the ship, the design of the U.S.S. Titan by Sean Tourangeau, and wrap up with our final thoughts and ratings.

In the news segment, we discuss the fate of the post-Nemesis novelverse following the news from SDCC. We also respond to listener feedback from The Babel Conference for episode 275: Q is a YouTube Comment Troll.

News
ST: Picard vs. Treklit (00:02:19)
Listener Feedback (00:09:17)

Feature: Sword of Damocles
Non-Linear Storytelling (00:21:46)
Orisha (00:26:54)
Titan's Mission (00:33:57)
Fate and Destiny (00:49:24)
The Solution (00:57:11)
Warp Pulse Theory (01:03:28)
Puzzling Over the Last Chapter (01:05:40)
Character Relationships (01:12:00)
U.S.S. Titan Diagrams (01:14:18)
Ratings (01:17:15)
Final Thoughts (01:19:56)

Hosts
Dan Gunther and Bruce Gibson

Production
Bruce Gibson (Editor and Producer) Dan Gunther (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) Justin Oser (Associate Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Greg Rozier (Associate Producer) Jeffery Harlan (Associate Producer)

Dayton Ward and David R. George III: How to Write Star Trek Novels.

For almost the entire history of Star Trek, novels have played a part in many people's experience of the fandom. They are a way to go beyond what we see on the screen, and Star Trek fiction novels now account for scores more adventures than the television shows and films. But how does a Star Trek novel come to be, and what goes into the writing of a Star Trek adventure in book form?

In this episode of Literary Treks, hosts Dan Gunther and Bruce Gibson are joined by veteran Star Trek authors Dayton Ward and David R. George III to discuss how to write Star Trek novels. We talk about how they got their start in writing, the process of how a Trek novel is published, how writing tie-in fiction differs from writing original fiction, how they approach writing the established characters, working with CBS licensing, and what is required for someone to become a Star Trek author. We wrap up by talking about what projects they currently have on the go, and where they can be found online.

In the news segment, we report on a new Discovery novel coming in December, a schedule change for The Autobiography of Mr. Spock, and a new Voyager Mirror Universe comic coming from IDW. We also review the sixth and final issue of The Q Conflict, as well as respond to listener feedback from The Babel Conference for Literary Treks 274: An Old Man in the Park Feeding Pigeons.

News
DSC: Dead Endless Announced (00:02:37)
Autobiography of Mr. Spock in 2020 (00:05:57)
Voyager Mirror Universe Comic Announced (00:08:29)
The Q Conflict #6 Comic Review (00:11:30)
Listener Feedback (00:26:17)

Feature: Dayton Ward and David R. George III
Getting Started (00:30:48)
Star Trek Books Process (00:39:37)
Keeping Up with Continuity (00:45:20)
Painting a Star Trek Picture (00:54:32)
Writing Characters (01:01:25)
Pushing the Envelope (01:06:31)
Working with CBS Licensing (01:12:09)
How to Get Published (01:18:37)
What's in the Works (01:38:14)
Final Thoughts (01:43:47)

Hosts
Dan Gunther and Bruce Gibson

Guests
Dayton Ward
David R. George III

Production
Bruce Gibson (Editor and Producer) Dan Gunther (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) Justin Oser (Associate Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Greg Rozier (Associate Producer) Jeffery Harlan (Associate Producer)

Q & A.

The supposedly-omnipotent Q has long been a thorn in the side of Jean-Luc Picard and the crew of the Enterprise. From the very beginning of the Enterprise-D's mission to Farpoint, Picard has been put through his paces dealing with the seemingly-childish entity. However, is there more to Q's visitations than meets the eye? Picard and his crew will soon find the answer to that question, with the fate of the entire universe at stake!

In this episode of Literary Treks, hosts Bruce Gibson and Dan Gunther discuss the TNG novel Q & A by Keith R.A. DeCandido. We talk about the new crewmembers of the Enterprise, the strange planet at the heart of the novel, the ultimate Q story, the link to "Parallels," Worf's new outlook on life, a particular cover quandary, and wrap up with our final thoughts and ratings.

In the news segment, we congratulate David Mack on his new role behind the scenes in a couple of upcoming Star Trek television shows, and respond to feedback from The Babel Conference for Literary Treks 273: Unintended Consequences.

News
David Mack and Lower Decks (00:02:24)
Listener Feedback (00:05:03)

Feature: Q & A
The New Crew (00:14:06)
Gorsach IX (00:23:44)
Them with a capital T (00:26:10)
The Ultimate Q Story (00:30:53)
Parallels (00:42:20)
Speaking of Worf... (00:47:37)
Who is that on the cover? (00:52:07)
Ratings (00:54:16)
Final Thoughts (00:59:45)

Hosts
Dan Gunther and Bruce Gibson

Production
Bruce Gibson (Editor and Producer) Dan Gunther (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) Justin Oser (Associate Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Greg Rozier (Associate Producer) Jeffery Harlan (Associate Producer)

The Children of Kings.

Before Kirk's historic five-year mission, the mighty U.S.S. Enterprise was commanded by Captain Christopher Pike. In response to an apparent Klingon attack on a Federation starbase, Pike takes the Enterprise to the Borderlands, a lawless region of space controlled by the Orions. Hoping to strike an alliance with elements of the Orion syndicate, Pike soon discovers that not all is as it seems with this mysterious and ancient race.

In this episode of Literary Treks, hosts Dan Gunther and Bruce Gibson are joined by Justin Oser to discuss The Children of Kings. We talk about the time period in Star Trek history, some confusion about which timeline the book takes place in, Dr. Philip Boyce, Orion history, Number One, other characters in the novel, and wrap up with our final thoughts and ratings.

At the top of the show, Dan and Bruce review issue #3 of IDW's Star Trek: Year Five and respond to listener feedback from The Babel Conference on Literary Treks 272: A Fun Borg Romp?.

News
Star Trek: Year Five #3 Comic Review (00:03:09)
Listener Feedback (00:16:55)

Feature: The Children of Kings
The Setting (00:25:07)
Kelvin or Prime? (00:31:55)
Dr. Philip Boyce (00:42:16)
The Orions (00:47:18)
The Tallith (00:51:59)
How We Visualize Things (00:57:26)
Kritos and Pike (00:59:21)
Number One (01:04:49)
Captain Dmitri Vlasidovich (01:10:54)
Starfleet Intelligence (01:14:05)
Ratings (01:18:08)
Final Thoughts (01:25:20)

Hosts
Dan Gunther and Bruce Gibson

Production
Bruce Gibson (Editor and Producer) Dan Gunther (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) Justin Oser (Associate Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Greg Rozier (Associate Producer) Jeffery Harlan (Associate Producer)

Orion's Hounds.

The Starship Titan under the command of William Riker begins its mission of exploration far beyond the boundaries of Federation space! In the largely-uncharted Gum Nebula, Riker and the crew of Titan encounter giant, space-dwelling lifeforms that have been seen only once before: during the mission to Farpoint Station that began the voyages of the Enterprise-D. But these majestic lifeforms are being hunted, and Riker feels the need to intervene. However, all may not be as it seems.

In this episode of Literary Treks, hosts Dan Gunther and Bruce Gibson discuss the Orion's Hounds. We talk about the beginning of Titan's true mission, the mysterious "star-jellies," Riker's decision to get involved, the other cozmozoans that make up the Gum Nebula ecosystem, the difficulty in changing one's way of life and adapting to new circumstances, some stand-out characters in the novel, and wrap up with our final thoughts and ratings.

In the news segment, we talk about the recently-announced reprinting of the novelization of Star Trek: The Motion Picture in honor of the film's 40th anniversary. We also review the fifth issue in IDW's Star Trek: The Q Conflict miniseries and respond to Babel Conference feedback for Literary Treks 271: To Thine Own Self Be True.

News
ST:TMP Novelization Re-release (00:03:13)
Q-Conflict #5 Comic Review (00:07:55)
Listener Feedback (00:17:56)

Feature: Orion's Hounds
Titan's Mission of Exploration (00:22:53)
The "Star-Jellies" (00:29:41)
Making Snap Judgments (00:34:16)
The Pa'haquel (00:45:24)
A Matter of Perspective (00:50:23)
Adapting to Change (01:03:04)
Character Relationships (01:11:32)
Orilly Malar (01:22:37)
Ratings (01:27:03)
Final Thoughts (01:30:12)

Hosts
Dan Gunther and Bruce Gibson

Production
Bruce Gibson (Editor and Producer) Dan Gunther (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) Justin Oser (Associate Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Greg Rozier (Associate Producer) Jeffery Harlan (Associate Producer)

Resistance.

The Borg are no longer a threat thanks to the decisive blow delivered to them by the crew of Voyager upon their return to the Alpha Quadrant... or so everyone believes. When Captain Jean-Luc Picard begins to once again hear their thoughts in his mind, he knows the truth: The Borg are back in the Alpha Quadrant, with plans not just for assimilation, but annihilation. Starfleet is skeptical, but Jean-Luc is certain that if he does not act immediately, the entire Federation is in jeopardy.

In this episode of Literary Treks, hosts Dan Gunther and Bruce Gibson discuss the TNG novel Resistance by J.M. Dillard. We talk about the return of the Borg, the Enterprise's new Vulcan counselor, drama among the secondary characters, Picard's relationship with Locutus of Borg, the nature of the Borg Queen, and wrap up with our final thoughts and ratings.

At the top of the show, we judge the upcoming Discovery: The Enterprise War by its cover, and report on the sad news of the passing of artist Keith Birdsong. We also respond to feedback from the Babel Conference about Literary Treks 270: Kirk is Dabbing Like a Warp 4 Loony!

News
DSC: The Enterprise War Cover Review (00:02:55)
Remembering Keith Birdsong (00:07:57)
Listener Feedback (00:11:49)

Feature: Resistance
Resistance Cover Art (00:14:35)
The Borg Return (00:20:08)
Admiral Janeway (00:23:46)
Counselor T'Lana (00:30:06)
Temporary First Officer Worf (00:35:23)
Sara Nave and "Lio" Battaglia (00:40:13)
Locutus 2.0 (00:47:25)
The Borg Queen (00:55:29)
The Resolution (01:01:29)
Ratings (01:06:33)
Final Thoughts (01:11:07)

Hosts
Dan Gunther and Bruce Gibson

Production
Bruce Gibson (Editor and Producer) Dan Gunther (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) Justin Oser (Associate Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Greg Rozier (Associate Producer) Jeffery Harlan (Associate Producer)

The Captain's Oath.

Captain James T. Kirk: one of the true legends of Starfleet. Awarded command of the U.S.S. Enterprise at a very young age, Kirk made his mark on the galaxy with an impressive career commanding one of Starfleet's most prestigious vessels. But what made him the captain he would become? And how did his experience commanding smaller starships prepare him for the years spent commanding the Enterprise?

In this episode of Literary Treks, hosts Bruce Gibson and Dan Gunther talk about Christopher L. Bennett's new TOS novel The Captain's Oath. As a special bonus, the author shared his thoughts with us about aspects of the novel which we will share with you! We discuss the different time periods covered in the novel, Kirk's early years as commander of the U.S.S. Sacagawea, the fascinating cast of original characters, the mysterious threat posed by the Agni, Kirk's first mission as commander of the U.S.S. Enterprise, the disparate parts of continuity referenced in The Captain's Oath, and wrap up with our final thoughts and what Christopher L. Bennett has coming soon as well as where he can be found online.

At the top of the show, we review issue #2 of Star Trek: Year Five and respond to listener feedback from The Babel Conference for Literary Treks 269: Kellogg's Spock 'n' Krisp.

News
Star Trek: Year Five #2 Comic Review (00:02:51)
Listener Feedback (00:12:57)

Feature: The Captain's Oath
Different Time Periods (00:22:02)
Kirk's Early Command (00:30:55)
The First Officers (00:44:25)
Dr. Sherev (00:50:31)
Ensign Diaz (00:54:41)
The Agni (00:56:18)
The Enterprise at Karabos II (01:04:09)
Dr. "Bones" McCoy (01:08:18)
Continuity Nods (01:09:50)
Ratings (01:12:39)
The Author's Upcoming Works (01:16:28)
Final Thoughts (01:18:19)

Hosts
Dan Gunther and Bruce Gibson

Production
Bruce Gibson (Editor and Producer) Dan Gunther (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) Justin Oser (Associate Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Greg Rozier (Associate Producer) Jeffery Harlan (Associate Producer)

The Gold Key Archives, Vol. 5: Part 2.

Weird volcano-dwelling shapeshifters! Sentient stars! The return of Lt. Uhuru! A room that makes you crazy! And Starfleet Admiral... Kahn?!? All this and more in the latest installment of our look at the wackiest corner of the Star Trek universe!

In this episode of Literary Treks, hosts Dan Gunther and Bruce Gibson finish their look back at Star Trek: The Gold Key Archives, Volume 5 with the final three stories in the collection: issue 28, "The Mimicking Menace"; issue 30, "Death of a Star"; and issue 31, "The Final Truth."

At the top of the show, we review issue #4 of The Q Conflict from IDW, and respond to listener feedback from the Babel Conference for Literary Treks 268: Andy Does the Consonants, I Do the Vowels.

News
The Q Conflict #4 Comic Review (00:03:19)
Listener Feedback (00:11:01)

Feature: Gold Key Archives, Vol. 5, Part 2
The Mimicking Menace (00:15:13)
Death of a Star (00:34:08)
The Final Truth (00:57:49)
Ratings (01:14:02)
Final Thoughts (01:21:32)

Hosts
Dan Gunther and Bruce Gibson

Production
Bruce Gibson (Editor and Producer) Dan Gunther (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) Justin Oser (Associate Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Greg Rozier (Associate Producer) Jeffery Harlan (Associate Producer)

The Gold Key Archives, Vol. 5: Part 1.

It's been awhile, but it's once again time to dive into the hilarity and ridiculousness that is the Star Trek Gold Key comics! Incredible shrinking people, Japanese Samurais, and chilly red turtle people await you as we take on another round with the strangest corner of the *Star Trek* literary universe!

In this episode of Literary Treks, hosts Bruce Gibson and Dan Gunther take a look at Star Trek: The Gold Key Archives Volume 5, Part 1, which includes issues 25, 26, and 27: "Dwarf Planet," "The Perfect Dream," and "Ice Journey." Make sure to pack your heat-stabilizer tablets, it's gonna be a crazy journey!

At the top of the show, we respond to listener feedback from The Babel Conference for Literary Treks 267: That Word "Sacrifice" Keeps Coming Up.

News
Listener Feedback (00:04:16)

Feature: Gold Key Archives, Vol. 5, Part 1
Gold Key Getting Better? (00:10:09)
Dwarf Planet (00:12:41)
The Perfect Dream (00:28:48)
Ice Journey (00:46:13)
Ratings (01:09:12)
Final Thoughts (01:12:57)

Hosts
Dan Gunther and Bruce Gibson

Production
Bruce Gibson (Editor and Producer) Dan Gunther (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) Justin Oser (Associate Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Greg Rozier (Associate Producer) Jeffery Harlan (Associate Producer)

Michael A. Martin: The Red King.

Searching for a lost Romulan fleet, Captain Riker and the Titan are swept out of the galaxy along with Commander Donatra and the Valdore. They find themselves in the Small Magellanic Cloud, an area of space visited nearly a century earlier by another Federation starship. An long-sundered offshoot of humanity has claimed this area of space, and when reality itself is threatened by an encroaching anomaly, Riker and his crew must save these lost children of Earth before the entire region is consigned to non-existence.

In this episode of Literary Treks, hosts Dan Gunther and Bruce Gibson welcome author Michael A. Martin to the show to discuss Titan: The Red King, which he co-wrote with Andy Mangels. We talk about their experience in launching the Titan series, the origin of the Neyel, Tuvok and Akaar's troubled past, Donatra and the Romulans, religious belief vs. scientific fact, where Titan goes from here, and wrap up with what Michael is working on now and where you can find him online.

At the top of the show, we review the latest Star Trek: Waypoint special issue and respond to listener feedback from the Babel Conference for Literary Treks 266: Bringing the Truth Out of the Shadows

News
Star Trek Waypoint 2019 Comic Review (00:03:46)
Listener Feedback (00:26:19)

Feature: Michael A. Martin
Launching Titan (00:31:32)
The Neyel (00:42:49)
Tuvok and Akaar (00:53:15)
Klingons and Romulans (00:58:42)
Religion is Reality (01:05:15)
The Sleeper Consequences (01:11:50)
Frane Talks to Akaar (01:16:51)
Author Collaboration (01:17:51)
A New Project and Being a Fan (01:20:48)
Final Thoughts (01:24:04)

Hosts
Dan Gunther and Bruce Gibson

Guest
Michael A. Martin

Production
Bruce Gibson (Editor and Producer) Dan Gunther (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) Justin Oser (Associate Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Greg Rozier (Associate Producer) Jeffery Harlan (Associate Producer)

Burning Dreams.

Captain Christopher Pike: until recently, there has not been much canonically revealed about the predecessor of James T. Kirk. That has all changed with season 2 of Star Trek: Discovery. However, years before Anson Mount brought the character back to life, the definitive Christopher Pike novel was written, chronicling the life of the brave Starfleet captain from his earliest years as a boy to his life spent on Talos IV with Vina under the care of the mysterious Talosians.

In this episode of Literary Treks, hosts Bruce Gibson and Dan Gunther discuss the novel Burning Dreams. We talk about Christopher Pike's early years on the colony world Elysium, his relationships with his mother and the father figures in his life, the unique role that fire plays in Pike's history, his embodiment of the ideals of Starfleet and the Federation, how Pike in this novel compares to the Pike of Discovery, the epilogue of the novel, and wrap up with our final thoughts and ratings.

At the top of the show, we review the first issue of Star Trek: Year Five from IDW, and respond to your feedback from the Babel Conference about Literary Treks 265: The Music of Big Pink.

News
Star Trek: Year Five #1 Comic Review (00:03:25)
Listener Feedback (00:18:35)

Feature: Burning Dreams
Pike's Early Years (00:22:22)
The Neworlders (00:30:57)
Charlie's Relationship with Chris (00:36:40)
The Motif of Fire in Pike's Life (00:48:34)
"The Best of Us" (00:55:56)
Comparing to 'Discovery' (01:00:33)
Is Life a Dream? (01:07:27)
Vina's Backstory (01:09:38)
Pike's Love Interests (01:12:06)
The Epilogue with Spock (01:15:15)
Ratings (01:19:52)
Final Thoughts (01:22:46)

Hosts
Dan Gunther and Bruce Gibson

Production
Bruce Gibson (Editor and Producer) Dan Gunther (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) Justin Oser (Associate Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Greg Rozier (Associate Producer) Jeffery Harlan (Associate Producer)

Dayton Ward: Available Light.

For the past couple of years, the post-Nemesis novels have been in a sort of limbo. Contract negotiations dragged on, and at times it felt like the next chapter of the story would never come. Thankfully, that is all behind us with the release of the newest TNG novel, picking up on plot points from Section 31: Control, the previous TNG novel Hearts and Minds, and even going as far back as the Tezwa incident in the A Time To series!

In this episode of Literary Treks, hosts Dan Gunther and Bruce Gibson welcome author Dayton Ward back to the show to discuss his newest Next Generation novel, Available Light. We talk about the fallout from the end of Section 31, Picard's actions in the ousting of disgraced Federation President Min Zife, a mysterious apparent derelict hiding a technological marvel, the Jirol Salvage Guild, the importance of truth, Picard's decision at the end of the novel, the origin of the title Available Light, and wrap up with what Dayton is working on now and where you can find him online.

In the news segment, we talk about the upcoming Star Trek: Year Five series and Star Trek: Discovery: Aftermath miniseries, both from IDW. We also review issue #3 of The Q Conflict and respond to listener feedback from the Babel Conference for Literary Treks 264: No Member Berries.

News
Star Trek: Year Five Update (00:03:56)
Star Trek Discovery - Aftermath Announcement (00:07:15)
The Q Conflict #3 Comic Review (00:09:16)
Listener Feedback (00:15:24)

Feature: Dayton Ward
Writing New Star Trek (00:25:09)
The Bigger They Are... (00:30:22)
Innocent Until Proven Guilty (00:37:12)
The A Storyline (00:41:30)
The Osijemal Ship (00:45:32)
The Jirol Salvage Guild (00:56:34)
Admiral William Ross (01:02:48)
The Truth (01:08:31)
Meaning of the Title (01:17:13)
Currently Working On (01:21:16)
Final Thoughts (01:26:42)

Hosts
Dan Gunther and Bruce Gibson

Guest
Dayton Ward

Production
Bruce Gibson (Editor and Producer) Dan Gunther (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) Justin Oser (Associate Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Greg Rozier (Associate Producer) Jeffery Harlan (Associate Producer)

Keith DeCandido: Articles of the Federation.

In Star Trek, we are used to seeing mighty Federation starships exploring space and boldly going where no one has gone before. However, there is more to Federation society in the 24th century than the men and women of Starfleet: newly-elected Federation President Nan Bacco finds herself embroiled in one crisis after another as she and her administration deal with the fallout from the Tezwa affair and the surprise resignation of her predecessor. The first year of her tenure as president will be her trial by fire, and marks the beginning of a new chapter in the history of the United Federation of Planets.

In this episode of Literary Treks, hosts Bruce Gibson and Dan Gunther welcome author Keith DeCandido back to the show to discuss his landmark novel, Articles of the Federation. We talk about The West Wing of the 24th century, linking this novel to the other novels in the literary universe, the huge cast of characters, various issues that the Bacco administration has to deal with, answer some questions listeners posted in The Babel Conference, and wrap up with what Keith is working on now and where you can find him online.

In the news segment, we announce the upcoming Star Trek: The Official Guide to the Animated Series co-written by Trek.fm's very own Aaron Harvey, and report on the tragic loss of a Star Trek literary legend, author Vonda McIntyre. We also respond to listener feedback from The Babel Conference about Literary Treks 263: Traveling at the Speed of Plot.

News
Star Trek: The Animated Series Book Revealed (00:02:50)
Remembering Vonda McIntyre (00:06:21)
Listener Feedback (00:08:49)

Feature: Keith DeCandido
The West Wing of the 24th Century (00:13:29)
Writing Federation Politics (00:22:36)
Links to the Wider Fiction (00:27:28)
Trinni/ek Food Fight (00:32:43)
A Huge Cast of Characters (00:34:20)
If 'Articles' Were Written Today (00:38:45)
Freedom of the Press Consequences (00:42:11)
Civilian Point of View (00:45:31)
Aligar Trade Renewal (00:49:47)
Ideological Differences (00:52:09)
Nan Bacco Character Influences (00:55:37)
Commencement Address (01:06:02)
Democracy is a Conversation (01:08:06)
Answering Listeners' Questions (01:09:23)
Other Projects (01:18:31)
Final Thoughts (01:29:48)

Hosts
Dan Gunther and Bruce Gibson

Guest
Keith DeCandido

Production
Bruce Gibson (Editor and Producer) Dan Gunther (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) Justin Oser (Associate Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Greg Rozier (Associate Producer) Jeffery Harlan (Associate Producer)

Taking Wing.

A new ship, a new crew, and a new mission! Captain William Riker takes command of the brand new U.S.S. Titan, and along with the most diverse crew in Starfleet history, undertakes a mission to Romulus for negotiations that will shape the future of the quadrant. A number of dangerous factions are vying for control of the Romulan Empire, and Riker and his crew are caught in the middle!

In this episode of Literary Treks, hosts Dan Gunther and Bruce Gibson discuss the first novel in the Star Trek: Titan series, Taking Wing. We discuss the new ship and her diverse crew, a potential Romulan civil war, Spock's role in the novel, a surprise appearance by Tuvok, Riker's unorthodox solution to the crisis, the cliffhanger ending, and wrap up with our final thoughts and ratings.

At the top of the show, we respond to listener feedback to Literary Treks 262: We Almost Had a Spit Take from our Facebook group, The Babel Conference.

News
Listener Feedback (00:03:15)

Feature: Taking Wing
Commander Christine Vale (00:12:45)
Starfleet's Most Diverse Crew (00:20:03)
Romulan Civil War (00:36:53)
Ambassador Spock's Unification (00:42:41)
Undercover Operative (00:50:38)
Captain Riker's Solution (00:56:31)
The Cliffhanger (01:01:15)
Ratings (01:09:40)
Final Thoughts (01:13:19)

Hosts
Dan Gunther and Bruce Gibson

Production
Bruce Gibson (Editor and Producer) Dan Gunther (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) Justin Oser (Associate Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Greg Rozier (Associate Producer) Jeffery Harlan (Associate Producer)

Enemy of My Enemy.

A rogue Changeling on the loose, having replaced Captain Chakotay, threatens the crew of Voyager, while the Cardassian war criminal Crell Moset performs dangerous experiments on Chakotay and his sister, Sekaya. It's up to Dr. Kaz, Harry Kim, and some help from Admiral Janeway and Tom Paris to free Voyager from the grip of forces determined to tear the crew apart.

In this episode of Literary Treks, hosts Dan Gunther and Bruce Gibson are once again joined by Brandi Jackola to discuss Enemy of My Enemy. We talk about the Changeling's plan, Jarem vs. Gradik Kaz, "Super Chakotay," Tom Paris's role in the story, B'Elanna's continuing search for answers on Boreth, the conclusion to the story, and wrap up with our final thoughts and ratings.

In the news section, Bruce and Dan announce the release date for TNG: Collateral Damage by David Mack. We also review the special Star Trek: Discovery comic Captain Saru, and respond to listener feedback from the Babel Conference for Literary Treks 261: A Gem of a Novel.

News
TNG: Collateral Damage Comic Release (00:03:37)
DSC: Captain Saru Comic Review (00:06:54)
Listener Feedback (00:15:59)

Feature: Enemy of My Enemy
The Changeling's Plan (00:22:56)
A Sense of Time (00:35:12)
A Bumbling Idiot (00:39:13)
Jarem and Gradek Kaz (00:47:03)
Super Chakotay (00:53:31)
Paris Steps In (01:08:11)
B'Elanna's Search Continues (01:15:17)
Secession from the Federation (01:19:22)
Ratings (01:25:47)
Final Thoughts (01:36:01)

Hosts
Dan Gunther and Bruce Gibson

Guest
Brandi Jackola

Production
Bruce Gibson (Editor and Producer) Dan Gunther (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) Justin Oser (Associate Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Greg Rozier (Associate Producer) Jeffery Harlan (Associate Producer)

Old Wounds.

Voyager is back in the alpha quadrant and ready to take on new missions for the Federation! Under the command of newly-promoted Captain Chakotay, Voyager sets off with a group of former colonists to make contact with Loran II, their home and a former Maquis colony that has gone silent. Accompanying them on the journey is Chakotay's sister, Sekaya, who's spiritual guidance is sorely needed by the former inhabitants of Loran II, who aren't sure what Voyager will find when they reach their old home: their loved ones, safe and sound, or more bodies to add to the toll that the Dominion War took on the Alpha Quadrant.

In this episode of Literary Treks, hosts Dan Gunther and Bruce Gibson are joined Brandi Jackola to discuss Old Wounds by Christie Golden. We talk about new tensions among the Voyager crew, Torres and Paris taking a side quest on Boreth, Harry and Libby's tumultuous relationship, what the rest of the old crew is up to in the Alpha Quadrant, Voyager's mission to Loran II, and wrap up with our final thoughts and ratings.

At the top of the show, Dan and Bruce review issue #2 of IDW's Star Trek: The Q Conflict, and respond to your feedback from the Babel Conference on Literary Treks 260: Sorry to All the Sela Fans.

News
The Q Conflict #2 Review (00:02:49)
Listener Feedback (00:16:55)

Feature: Old Wounds
New Tensions Among the Crew (00:26:07)
Torres and Paris on Boreth (00:36:10)
Libby and Harry (00:46:07)
The Other Former Crew Members (00:51:57)
The Trill Host of Kaz (00:56:47)
The Huanni Counselor (01:08:12)
Chakotay's Sister, Sekaya (01:11:07)
The Sky Spirits (01:17:26)
Sexualization Problem (01:21:02)
Ratings (01:28:01)
Final Thoughts (01:33:44)

Hosts
Dan Gunther and Bruce Gibson

Guest
Brandi Jackola

Production
Bruce Gibson (Editor and Producer) Dan Gunther (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) Justin Oser (Associate Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Greg Rozier (Associate Producer) Jeffery Harlan (Associate Producer)

Vulcan's Glory.

With the exception of the glimpses we see in "The Cage" and "The Menagerie," not much is known about Spock's early days aboard the U.S.S. Enterprise, or the crew that he served: Captain Christopher Pike and his stalwart first officer Number One. Now that Star Trek: Discovery is exploring this time period and these characters, we feel the time has come to look at some of the books that chronicled Pike's captaincy, starting with one authored by a true veteran of Star Trek writing.

In this episode of Literary Treks, hosts Bruce Gibson and Dan Gunther talk about Vulcan's Glory, written by Original Series writer Dorothy "D.C." Fontana. We discuss the references to past Star Trek such as The Animated Series, the crew of the Enterprise under Pike's command, how well we feel this connects to Star Trek: Discovery, the historical artifact known as "Vulcan's Glory," Pike's mission to the devastated planet Areta, a mysterious murder plot aboard the Enterprise, Scotty and his engine room hooch, and wrap up with our final thoughts and ratings.

At the top of the show, Bruce and Dan review the final issue of IDW's Star Trek vs. Transformers and respond to feedback from The Babel Conference about Literary Treks 259: He's Gotta Grow Some and Just Do It.

News
Star Trek vs. Transformers #5 review (00:03:39)
Listener Feedback (00:16:09)

Feature: Vulcan's Glory
30th Anniversary (00:22:37)
Yesteryear (00:28:02)
First Pike Novel (00:33:15)
Number One of Illyria (00:36:16)
Picturing TOS and DSC (00:43:22)
Historical Artifact (00:49:01)
Family Squabbles on Areta (00:53:35)
The Hunt for Glory (01:01:59)
Spock's Love Interest (01:09:44)
Engine Room Hooch (01:14:04)
Ratings (01:18:33)
Final Thoughts (01:23:24)

Hosts
Dan Gunther and Bruce Gibson

Production
Bruce Gibson (Editor and Producer) Dan Gunther (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) Justin Oser (Associate Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Greg Rozier (Associate Producer) Jeffery Harlan (Associate Producer)

Death in Winter.

Following the film Star Trek Nemesis, novels in the Star Trek literary universe were given more of a free reign to play with the familiar characters and situations, creating what has been termed the "novelverse." Without any more televised or filmed adventures for the crew of the Enterprise-E on the horizon, authors could take the story in new and exciting directions. One of these directions involved the culmination of the "will they/won't they" romance of Jean-Luc Picard and Beverly Crusher, as well as a new source of turmoil for the Romulan Empire.

In this episode of Literary Treks, hosts Dan Gunther and Bruce Gibson discuss Death in Winter. We talk about Beverly's transfer off the Enterprise, the state of the Romulan Star Empire, an undercover mission into Romulan space, Worf and Geordi's role in the story, the love between Picard and Crusher, and wrap up with our final thoughts and ratings.

At the top of the show, we discuss your feedback from the Babel Conference on Literary Treks 258: Inaccurate Operas Will Be Performed of This Day!

News
Listener Feedback (00:03:36)

Feature: Death in Winter
Post-Nemesis Novels (00:10:13)
Beverly's First Assignment (00:13:34)
Sela Strikes Again (00:20:54)
The State of the Romulan Empire (00:24:34)
A Stargazer Reunion (00:31:56)
Worf and Geordi's Role (00:40:56)
Love Comes Around (00:45:45)
Ratings (00:53:22)
Final Thoughts (00:59:03)

Hosts
Dan Gunther and Bruce Gibson

Production
Bruce Gibson (Editor and Producer) Dan Gunther (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) Justin Oser (Associate Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Greg Rozier (Associate Producer) Jeffery Harlan (Associate Producer)

Triangle: Imzadi II.

As Star Trek: The Next Generation drew to a close, an unlikely romance emerged: that of Worf and Deanna Troi. A Klingon warrior with a strict code of honor and a peaceful empath in touch with her feelings do not make the most obvious couple, but Worf and Troi made a go of it before the relationship ultimately disappeared. What happened between the two of them, and how did Will Riker feel about his Imzadi becoming involved with his friend and comrade?

In this episode of Literary Treks, hosts Bruce Gibson and Dan Gunther are once again joined by Amy Nelson to discuss Triangle: Imzadi II. We talk about Worf's lack of luck in love, the triangle between Worf, Troi, and Riker, Romulan Commander Sela and her convoluted plan, Riker's inability to make progress with Troi, and wrap up with our final thoughts and ratings.

At the top of the show, Bruce and Dan review the first issue of The Q Conflict, a new comic miniseries from IDW, and respond to your Babel Conference feedback from Literary Treks 257: Lots of Bits of Me.

News
The Q Conflict #1 Review (00:03:29)
Listener Feedback (00:11:49)

Feature: Triangle: Imzadi II
The Sequel (00:17:20)
Worf's Lost Loves (00:20:20)
That Triangle Moment (00:30:40)
Deanna Troi's Perspective (00:40:47)
Tom Riker's Motivation (00:45:10)
It's So Peter David (00:51:31)
Sela's Series of Bungles (00:53:40)
Alexander, Jellico, and Shelby (01:01:43)
Taking His Time (01:07:09)
The Head of Worf's House (01:15:23)
Ratings (01:18:49)
Final Thoughts (01:26:59)

Hosts
Dan Gunther and Bruce Gibson

Guest
Amy Nelson

Production
Bruce Gibson (Editor and Producer) Dan Gunther (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) Justin Oser (Associate Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Greg Rozier (Associate Producer) Jeffery Harlan (Associate Producer)

A Burning House.

The voyages of the I.K.S. Gorkon have come to an end, far sooner than they should have! As the Gorkon puts into port at Qo'noS, the officers and crew return home. For some, that means a harvest festival with friends and family, and for others, it means intrigue, revelations, and deception. It's just another day in the life of a citizen of the Klingon Empire!

In this episode of Literary Treks, hosts Dan Gunther and Bruce Gibson are joined by Earl Grey's Justin Oser to discuss A Burning House. We talk about life on a Klingon farm during yopta' yupma', Toq's tale of intrigue when he returns to his birthplace of Carraya IV, Rodek coming to terms with revelations about his past, B'Oraq and her attempts to bring modern medicine to the Empire, G'Joth and an opera that bears little resemblance to the truth, other bits we liked about the novel, and wrap up with our final thoughts and ratings.

At the top of the show, Dan and Bruce review Star Trek: IDW 20/20, featuring Picard's first mission as captain of the Stargazer, and respond to your Babel Conference feedback on Literary Treks 256: I Would Need More Than a Paragraph.

News
Star Trek IDW 20/20 Review (00:02:29)
Listener Feedback (00:10:24)

Feature: A Burning House
Klingon Empire Series? (00:18:32)
Wol, Kagak, Goran, and yobta' yupma' (00:22:13)
Toq - Secret Hideout (00:32:11)
Rodek - Memories of Kurn (00:38:22)
B'Oraq and the Klingon Physician (00:48:04)
G'Joth and Kennia (00:57:13)
Klingon Enclave Poetry (01:03:46)
Captain Klag (01:11:21)
Other Bits (01:15:52)
Ratings (01:23:27)
Final Thoughts (01:33:12)

Hosts
Dan Gunther and Bruce Gibson

Guest
Justin Oser

Production
Bruce Gibson (Editor and Producer) Dan Gunther (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) Justin Oser (Associate Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Greg Rozier (Associate Producer) Jeffery Harlan (Associate Producer)

Una McCormack: The Way to the Stars.

Sylvia Tilly has turned into a breakout character on the newest Star Trek series, Discovery. Sometimes awkward, sometimes silly, but always brilliant, Tilly brought a lot of humanity to Discovery's first season. But what was she like before becoming a Starfleet cadet, and what choices led her to joining Starfleet?

In this episode of Literary Treks, hosts Bruce Gibson and Dan Gunther welcome author Una McCormack back to the show to discuss her latest novel, The Way to the Stars. We talk about the process of writing this novel, Tilly's relationship with her mother, her experiences in school, Tilly as a runaway, her impressions of Starfleet, the poor communication she experiences, and wrap up the discussion with where you can find Una online and what she is working on now.

In the news section, we talk about the upcoming Discovery novel The Enterprise War by John Jackson Miller, and judge the covers of two upcoming novels: The Captain's Oath by Christopher L. Bennett and The Antares Maelstrom by Greg Cox. We also talk about an upcoming comic series from IDW: TOS: Year Five, review issue #4 of Star Trek vs. Transformers, and take a look at some Babel Conference feedback on Literary Treks 255: The Hammock Planet: They Don't Have Butts.

News
Discovery: The Enterprise War (00:02:48)
TOS: The Captain's Chair Cover (00:06:00)
TOS: The Antares Maelstrom Cover (00:08:42)
TOS: Year Five from IDW in April (00:10:18)
Star Trek vs. Transformers #4 Review (00:12:49)
Listener Feedback (00:19:36)

Feature: Una McCormack
Getting Started (00:24:58)
Mothers and Daughters (00:31:17)
Keeping Friends (00:39:19)
Being a High Achiever (00:43:26)
A Runaway Tilly (00:50:28)
Your Name Matters (00:55:06)
A Starfleet Career Path (00:59:32)
Captain Yindi Holden (01:04:54)
Poor Communications (01:08:02)
Una's Favorite Novels (01:14:05)
Other Projects (01:16:16)
Final Thoughts (01:18:46)

Hosts
Dan Gunther and Bruce Gibson

Guest
Una McCormack

Production
Bruce Gibson (Editor and Producer) Dan Gunther (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) Justin Oser (Associate Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Greg Rozier (Associate Producer) Jeffery Harlan (Associate Producer)

Imzadi.

Will Riker and Deanna Troi: throughout the run of Star Trek: The Next Generation, it was clear there was a deep connection between these two characters. However, they never truly "got together" until 2002's Star Trek Nemesis. What is the history between Will and Deanna? What drew them together and made them "Imzadi"? At last we look at the story that tells the tale of TNG's greatest romance!

In this episode of Literary Treks, hosts Dan Gunther and Bruce Gibson are joined by Amy Nelson of Earl Grey and The Edge to talk about Imzadi by Peter David. We discuss how we first read Imzadi, Riker's life without Deanna, Will's behavior as a young man, how Will and Deanna first got together, the Guardian of Forever, temporal shenanigans, and wrap up with our final thoughts and ratings.

At the top of the show, Dan and Bruce review the final issue in the TNG: Terra Incognita comic series and discuss your Babel Conference feedback on Literary Treks 254: A Likely Victim.

News
Terra Incognita #6 (00:03:46)
Listener Feedback (00:11:04)

Feature: Imzadi
First Time? (00:15:03)
A Life Without Deanna (00:22:18)
Impetuous Youth (00:29:37)
When They First Met (00:37:28)
Lwaxana, the Mother (00:45:42)
Jungle Love (00:53:24)
Riker Saving the Past (00:56:47)
A Touching Data (01:04:11)
The Changing Future (01:05:53)
All of the Emotions (01:10:52)
Ratings (00:16:52)
Final Thoughts (01:22:50)

Hosts
Dan Gunther and Bruce Gibson

Guest
Amy Nelson

Production
Bruce Gibson (Editor and Producer) Dan Gunther (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) Justin Oser (Associate Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Greg Rozier (Associate Producer) Jeffery Harlan (Associate Producer)

Enemy Territory.

The voyages of the I.K.S. Gorkon continue! Following the events at San-Tarah, the Gorkon must now investigate the disappearance of her brother ship, the I.K.S. Kravokh. The Kravokh had encountered a ship from a newly-discovered warp-capable species, a strange alien race that believes themselves to be the only sentient life in the universe. Now, Klag must take the Gorkon to their homeworld to confront this new threat, all while dealing with a possible uprising among his own ranks!

In this episode of Literary Treks, hosts Dan Gunther and Bruce Gibson are joined by Earl Grey's Justin Oser to talk about I.K.S. Gorkon, Book Three: Enemy Territory by Keith R.A. DeCandido. We discuss the Elabrej Hegemony, Kurak's crippling alcoholism, a mutiny forming aboard the Gorkon, Leader Wol, Rodek's identity crisis, and wrap up with our final thoughts and ratings.

In the news segment, we talk about a new upcoming Star Trek: Waypoint special comic and another Little Golden Book: Too Many Tribbles!

News
Waypoint Special #2 in March (00:02:52)
Too Many Tribbles! in July (00:05:16)
Listener Feedback (00:08:49)

Feature: Enemy Territory
The Elabrej Hegemony (00:12:10)
Their Society (00:21:11)
The Separatists (00:23:03)
Kurak (00:25:35)
Mutiny on the Gorkon (00:31:39)
Wol (00:43:48)
Rodek (00:50:09)
Leskit on the Cover? (00:54:51)
Ratings (00:59:28)
Final Thoughts (01:09:51)

Hosts
Dan Gunther and Bruce Gibson

Guest
Justin Oser

Production
Bruce Gibson (Editor and Producer) Dan Gunther (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) Justin Oser (Associate Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Greg Rozier (Associate Producer) Jeffery Harlan (Associate Producer)

Michael Jan Friedman.

Michael Jan Friedman is one of Star Trek's most prolific authors. Over the course of his association with Star Trek, Mr. Friedman has written or co-written 35 novels, a list that includes original adventures, novelizations, young adult novels, and more. Additionally, he has written 5 Star Trek short stories, 4 reference books, and close to 100 comic adventures for the various Trek crews. When it comes to Star Trek on the page, Michael Jan Friedman is a dynamo.

In this episode of Literary Treks, special correspondent Brandon Shea-Mutala catches up with Michael Jan Friedman at the Northeast Trek Con in Albany. They discuss Friedman's start in writing, how he got involved in writing Star Trek novels, the Star Trek: The Next Generation / X-Men crossover, his experience in writing Star Trek comics, the Star Trek: Stargazer series, and wrap up with what he is working on now and where listeners can find him online.

At the top of the show, Dan and Bruce review the Star Trek: Waypoint special issue and respond to your Babel Conference feedback for Literary Treks 252: Continuity Cop.

News
Waypoint Special #1 (00:02:55)
Listener Feedback (00:30:51)

Feature: Michael Jan Friedman
Getting into Writing (00:36:25)
Leading into Tie-in Fiction (00:41:51)
Collaborating with Authors (00:44:34)
Crossovers (00:45:59)
Writing Comics (00:51:37)
Novelization Challenges (00:54:32)
Stargazer Series (00:57:40)
New Writings (01:04:03)
Final Thoughts (01:06:17)

Hosts
Dan Gunther and Bruce Gibson

Guest
Michael Jan Friedman

Production
Bruce Gibson (Editor and Producer) Dan Gunther (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) Justin Oser (Associate Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Greg Rozier (Associate Producer) Jeffery Harlan (Associate Producer)