By BWilliams / 10:10, 16 March 2004 / Reviews - Books

Over the past six months we have looked at some of the lost chapters and events in the STAR TREK saga spanning the time between the GENERATIONS prologue and the beginning of THE NEXT GENERATION. We've seen events take shape and form the many delicate threads and even the fragile state of the galaxy by the mid-24th century. Now we come to CATALYST OF SORROWS, the final chapter in the LOST ERA series that marks the return of writer Margaret Wander Bonanno to the STAR TREK universe.

One of the more interesting aspects of the novel comes at the beginning with the return of Commander Uhura. Ever since the lovely and talented Nichelle Nichols last appeared in the role in THE UNDISCOVERED COUNTRY, fans have wondered as to Uhura's future by the time of THE NEXT GENERATION and the GENERATIONS feature film. With CATALYST OF SORROWS, Bonanno reveals what happened with Uhura by this time.

Now a Starfleet admiral, Uhura receives some extremely distressing news: a new outbreak of a Romulan plague fever called "the Gnawing," thought to be long extinct, has suddenly resurfaced and killed over 200 Romulans across the Neutral Zone -- and the virus appears to be heading toward Federation space. Thus it is up to Uhura and a crack team of medical specialists and handpicked agents – among them Beverly Crusher, Dr. Selar, a young Benjamin Sisko, Lt. Tuvok, and Uhura's long-time friend and Enterprise comrade Leonard McCoy -- to determine its cause and neutralize it before more lives are lost.

Bonanno has always had a strong balance between characterization and action, as in her previous novels DWELLERS IN THE CRUCIBLE and STRANGERS FROM THE SKY. With CATALYST, Bonanno returns to what brought her to the dance in the 1980's. Her portrayal of Zetha, a young Romulan who comes into Uhura's confidence, is painted in mysterious shadows: either she is who she says she is, a complete innocent in the ways of humanity, or she is a brilliant liar. CATALYST also brings to light elements of Uhura's life after THE UNDISCOVERED COUNTRY. With temptations of a Section 31 affiliation with Starfleet Intelligence tugging at her coattails, Uhura covertly keeps an open tab with the Romulan Empire, despite growing political tensions between the two superpowers, through her contacts with the promising Romulan senator Cretak. It is this secret growth that Bonanno allows Uhura to freely experience in her career. And just when you think Admiral Uhura has grown content and ready to retire, Bonanno throws in the twists to keep Uhura's character growing and changing.

Bonanno seamlessly balances between past and present events, giving readers further glimpses into the development of the Romulan culture and its evolution over the years in the STAR TREK expanded universe. Through this cultural development she introduces a key plot point in "the Gnawing," a side effect of the Romulans' tenuous adaptation from Vulcan to their new life, costing many lives in the process much like the Great Plague of the Middle Ages or the AIDS epidemic of the last 25 years. And through CATALYST OF SORROWS one question permeates the entire story: how could a long-dormant virus spread across several worlds and kill many innocents in the process?

None of the main characters dominate the spotlight at the expense of the others; all share an equal part in this riveting tale. But at the heart of the novel is Zetha. The mystery of her character keeps the readers -- and the other characters -- off-balance as to her role in the story. The final denouements are enough to surprise readers until the very end.

Margaret Wander Bonanno has crafted a strong novel that is rich with detail, background, characterization, humor, and action, all of the elements needed to make an excellent tale from start to finish. If a series of novels has to go out on a high note, CATALYST OF SORROWS is it. This is the first great STAR TREK epic of 2004! I hope that Bonanno gets to play in this universe again soon.

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