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By BWilliams / 12:12, 2 September 2005 / Reviews - Books
Synopsis: 23 new tales from the final frontier, written by the fans for the fans!
Review: For the eighth year in a row Pocket Books has once again opened up the floodgates to aspiring writers for its annual STRANGE NEW WORLDS collection, and once again the fans have responded. As the talent continues to grow, so does the vast tapestry of tales to explore in every facet of the STAR TREK universe and beyond. Without any further ado, let's look at this year's collection of talented writers and tales:
In the last couple of years, the "Speculations" branch has become a fan favorite for many, so it should come as no surprise that this year's grand prize winner is once again from the "Speculations" branch: "Alpha and Omega" by Derek Tyler Attico. In a tale that spans the generations, the crews of the Enterprise and Voyager join together for the deadliest mission of their entire careers and lives: the final and complete obliteration of the Borg.
The second prize winner also fits into the "Speculations" division, "Concurrence", written by Geoffrey Thorne, who also penned "The Soft Room" for SNW VI and "Chiaroscuro" for the DS9 anthology collection "Prophecy and Change". During the events of the Dominion War, a group of Vulcan scientists discover and reprogram an android long believed to have been lost from the days of Captain Kirk.
In third place is the NEXT GENERATION tale "Final Flight" by John Takis, who previously wrote "The Best Defense" for SNW III and "A Girl for Every Star" for SNW V. Set just after the events of STAR TREK: NEMESIS, Captain Picard reflects upon Data's final moments and the loss of one of his closest friends.
With these great tales, it's hard to forget that there are 20 other worthy entries in the various TREK fields. The Original Series comes in with four new tales, beginning with "Shanghaied" by Alan James Garbers. Kirk, Spock, Scotty, and McCoy are summoned to Earth to investigate the location of the remains of the C.S.S. Raleigh, lost for 400 years since the Civil War. What this leads to is an adventure of discovery for the Enterprise's chief engineer.
Kevin Lauderdale, who wrote last year's excellent tale "A Test of Character", returns this year with the sensitive and moving tale "Assignment: One". Lauderdale reveals how the simple involvement of actions Gary Seven makes affects one man's life at the moment America changed forever.
Kevin Andrew Hosey, who had written 'Seven and Seven" for SNW VI, checks in with "Demon". Shortly before the end of the original five-year mission, Kirk experiences an inner ambush like never before and learns that someone he once called friend harbors a deeper secret agenda.
Finally, "Don't Call Me Tiny", written by Paul C. Tseng, spotlights the character who made the line famous in THE SEARCH FOR SPOCK. Ever wonder how Hikaru Sulu got that nickname in the first place? Tseng reveals what transpired in Sulu's young life that not only led him to fight that nickname but also to develop his inner strength of character.
The NEXT GENERATION is represented with three new stories this year. In addition to the third-place winner "Final Flight", we have the tale "Morning Bells Are Ringing", written by Kevin Summers. In this follow-up to the fifth season episode 'Disaster", Picard and the crew of the Enterprise-D respond to an emergency situation from Picard's former 'Number One".
Finally we have "Passages of Deceit", written by newcomer Sarah A. Seaborne. When Picard is diagnosed with Irumodic syndrome, Data attempts to save his life by injecting Borg nanoprobes into his bloodstream. And Beverly Crusher must turn to the one surgeon she does not trust in order to save him.
DEEP SPACE NINE is represented with five new entries this year, beginning with the aptly-named "Trek", written by Dan C. Duval. On Qo'nos, Gorkon's life is at stake, and only a joined Trill named Torias Dax can save him.
Next up, we have "Gumbo", written by Amy Vincent. Told from Jake Sisko's perspective, Vincent tells how important it is not only to enjoy good cooking, but also how important it is to observe those people around you who are most important in your life.
"Promises Made, written by David DeLee, follows up on the events of the episode 'Defiant", as Kira infiltrates a Cardassian prison camp to rescue Tom Riker, who has an agenda on his own to keep.
Muri McCage, who wrote "All Fall Down" for SNW VII, returns with "Always a Price". Shortly after the end of the Dominion War, Kira travels to Bajor to discover that the most important things in life always come with a cost.
VOYAGER also comes in with five new tales this year, beginning with "Transfiguration" by Susan S. McCrackin. Just after Tom and B'Elanna's wedding, they assist a little girl whose mother has died in an engineering accident and significantly impact her life for the better.
Next up is "This Drone" by M.C. DeMarco. Told entirely from Seven's point of view, and set during the events of 'The Gift", she perceives her new life as one of confusion and uncertainty, of not wanting to give in to her new 'captors" aboard the Voyager.
Annie Reed, who penned "The Beginning" for SNW VI and "Don't Cry" for SNW VII, returns this year with "Once Upon a Tribble". When little Miral Paris has trouble sleeping, it's up to her daddy Tom to tell her a bedtime story that she will not forget.
Amy Sisson, who wrote "The Law of Averages" for SNW VII, returns with the hilarious tale "You May Kiss the Bride". Set at the end of the seventh season episode 'Drive", Sisson recounts all of the hilarious misadventures the Voyager crew experiences in going through Tom and B'Elanna's marriage and what led to their eventual elopement.
Finally, JB Stevens, author of last year's tale "Hidden", gives us "Coffee with a Friend". In the aftermath of Voyager's return to Earth, Kathryn Janeway seeks some kind of solace and repentance for her actions in the Delta Quadrant, when a conversation in a coffee shop leads to her renewed insight in making the right decisions.
The recently-cancelled ENTERPRISE is also represented with three new tales this year for those of you who can't get enough of our most recent TREK casualty. First up is "Egg Drop Soup", written by Robert Burke Richardson. Set before the events of the series, Doctor Phlox learns how important it is to view Earth customs as he impacts one young child's life for the better.
Next up is "Hero", written by newcomer Lorraine Anderson. During the Enterprise's tumultuous journey through the Expanse, one of the lowliest of crewmen becomes the hero for a day, saving the Enterprise from certain disaster.
Finally, we have "Insanity", by newcomer A. Rhea King. The discovery of a strange marble has the crew of the Enterprise NX-01 losing all of their marbles and succumbing to hallucinations, and it's up to Phlox to figure out why.
The popular "Speculations" branch, which has the grand prize winner "Alpha and Omega" and the second prize winner "Concurrence" this year, also has a third entry, "Dawn", written by Paul J. Kaplan, who previously wrote "The End of Night" for SNW VI and "The Trouble With Tribals" for SNW VII. Picard and the Enterprise-D crew encounter two time travelers whose very presence threatens the fabric of space and time.
More wonderful tales are included in this latest edition. 'Assignment: One" for me was a sensitive tale that was wonderfully written, as Kevin Lauderdale shows how the destiny of Sean Geoffrey Christopher was forever changed in the instant America's destiny changed as well. 'Don't Call Me Tiny" is another winner in my book, because we get the opportunity to see what made Sulu the hero he would become in the Original Series and movies. Amy Vincent has one of the better tales with 'Gumbo" because of her straightforward approach that combines great character observation with a very unique way of cooking; in both instances, everything and everyone is equally important. This was the one tale that, in my opinion, should have gotten one of the top three prizes. And Alan James Garbers has a wonderful adventure yarn to tell in 'Shanghaied". They, along with John Takis, should be among the next cadre of breakout TREK novelists in the months to come, I believe. Keep an eye out for their breakthrough novels one day.
While I thoroughly enjoyed 'Alpha and Omega", for some reason I couldn't quite grasp the final denouement Derek Tyler Attico presented, echoing the final moments of STAR TREK: THE MOTION PICTURE. To me this ending seemed a little out of place, like it didn't fit, though I'm sure he has his reasons for bringing everything full circle.
Once again the editors at Pocket Books have brought us an all-new series of tales that add to the expanded tapestry of the STAR TREK universe, and there's not a bad tale in the whole bunch. A job well done to all participants! Onward to STRANGE NEW WORLDS IX!
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