By GustavoLeao / 14:03, 11 August 2008 / Trek Books

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Star Trek Myriad Universes Echoes and Refractions

Review by Jeff Ayers

Infinity's Prism rocked, so it's no wonder that Pocket Books decided to do another book of stories set in the parallel universes that are familiar and also have their unique attributes.  Welcome to Echoes and Refractions.

The first story, by Timeliner Geoff Trowbridge, Chimes at Midnight, examines the life of Commander Thelin, the Andorian first officer of Captain Kirk in the alternate timeline established in the animated Trek episode, Yesteryear.  Retired from Starfleet, Thelin realizes that the only true home he has is on board a starship, so he re-enlists.  After the battle with Khan for the Genesis device, the story shifts and becomes the story of a young David Marcus, who realizes the man he hated being his father is not such a bad guy after all.  Without Spock's presence, the events of the TOS films play out in unexpected and compelling ways.  Trowbridge tells an amazing story that will resonate with fans of the films.  I only wish there was more Thelin and less David. 

Keith R.A. DeCandido's A Gutted explores a universe where Bajor wasn't liberated and the Cardassians discovered the wormhole in secret.  The Dominion has infiltrated key positions in Starfleet and various alien governments, preparing for the invasion.  So how do you fight an enemy you don't even know exists?  DeCandido's knowledge of the Trek universe is expansive and he utilizes this landscape in a skillful and masterful tale of paranoia and impending doom.  

Chris Roberson proves he should be writing more Trek stories with Brave New World.  Doctor Soong was successful in his experiments and now cybernetics is common throughout the Federation. Several years before, Data mysteriously disappeared and the crew of the Enterprise has always wondered why he left.  When Picard receives a mysterious message from him asking the Enterprise to come into the Neutral Zone, he must decide if he can trust his former officer.  And, is it really Data?  The epilogue is unnecessary, but the rest of the story provides excellent character arcs and surprises.

Overall 8.5 out of 10

Reviewer Jeff Ayers is the author of Voyages of Imagination: The Star Trek Fiction Companion trade paperback, and webmaster of VoyagesOfImagination.com