By BWilliams / 00:38, 2 August 2005 / Reviews - Books

Any time you have the launch of a brand-new STAR TREK series, whether in print or on television, it always holds the promise of furthering the legend while continuing in the tradition of going where no one has gone before. But in the case of HARBINGER, the first novel of the all-new original series VANGUARD, writer David Mack takes us back to the days of the Original Series by giving us a harder-edged look at a space station on the edge of a new frontier.

Returning from its historic voyage to the edge of the galaxy (chronicled in 'Where No Man Has Gone Before"�), the U.S.S. Enterprise journeys through the Taurus Reach, a vast and little-known region of space in which Vanguard Station has been constructed. Puzzled by the Federation's interest in the Taurus Reach and its close proximity to the Tholian Assembly, Captain Kirk ponders the mystery of Vanguard Station and begins to suspect that there is much more to Vanguard than meets the eye.

Despite what you may think, VANGUARD is not a TOS-era version of DEEP SPACE NINE, as editor Marco Palmieri has stated in months past. Rather, it has its own unique feel and flavor to it that differentiates it from its 24th century counterpart. Right away we meet the diverse crew and company that reside aboard Vanguard Station. Commodore Diego Reyes, a 30-year Starfleet veteran and the station's commanding officer, is one of only four people on board who knows of Starfleet's mission in the Taurus Reach. Reyes is frequently at odds with Captain Rana Desai, the station's JAG officer, on how to serve the Federation's ideals, all the while keeping their personal relationship apart from their professional relationship. Lt. Commander T'Prynn, the station's intelligence officer, harbors an intense secret that may jeopardize not only her mission aboard Vanguard but also her very life. Ambassador Jetanien, the senior Federation diplomat aboard Vanguard, is there to supervise a staff of envoys and aides to deal with all of the diplomatic issues that arise in the Taurus Reach. Lieutenant Ming Xiong, the station's archaeology and anthropology officer, is eager to explore the Taurus Reach while remaining open to an exchange of scientific ideas and building bridges with other alien cultures. Dr. Zeke Fisher, the station's chief medical officer, wants nothing more than to retire and see his replacement, Dr. M'Benga (whom we have seen on a few episodes of TOS), take over.

In addition to Starfleet's presence, Vanguard Station is home to aliens, scoundrels, and rogues from different walks of the galaxy. Tim Pennington, a frontier correspondent for the Federation News Service, wants nothing more than to score the big news story, even at the risk of his own life and reputation. Cervantes Quinn, a rogue trader and scoundrel in the mold of Harry Mudd, Cyrano Jones, and even Han Solo, gets involved in a mix of legal and not-so-legal actions, all the while staying out of trouble with the Federation. Ganz, a merchant-prince in the mold of the characters witnessed in 'The Cage"�, is lured by the promise of new markets for his illegal trade operations, including narcotics, weapons smuggling, and sexual commerce. But even with a mix of Starfleet and non-Starfleet personnel aboard, it wouldn't be a space station without a spy aboard, which is where Anna Sandesjo comes in. Sandesjo, the senior Federation diplomatic attaché, is in reality a Klingon agent named Lurqal, surgically altered to appear human and ordered to investigate Starfleet's interest in the Taurus Reach.

HARBINGER actually owes more to TNG's pilot episode 'Encounter at Farpoint"� than it does to DS9, particularly in Mack's set-up and execution. While the Enterprise undergoes crucial repairs and upgrades to its systems, Kirk and Spock must look into the mystery behind Vanguard Station, as they and the Vanguard Station's personnel learn the true purpose of its creation and the outcome that it may mean for the Federation.

Of course, it wouldn't be a David Mack novel without his signature penchant for suspenseful, hard-hitting action that harkens back to his earlier novels, not to mention an ever-increasing body count in the process. When one of the starships assigned to Vanguard is lost in battle, Mack makes you care about the lives lost, the lives touched by their losses, and the dramatic after-effects that occur throughout the novel's myriad events.

In addition to Mack's tale, HARBINGER also contains a series of illustrated schematics of the Vanguard Station, expertly conceived and designed by Masao Okazaki. It's not all that often we get to see schematics to a starship or base of operations provided for the readers; a few of the past Klingon- and Romulan-themed novels have had such schematics provided. Usually it is left up to the reader to conceive his or her own perceptions of the locations. In the case of HARBINGER it is quite a welcome addition indeed.

A good mystery and adventure is always ripe with secrets for the reader to uncover, and in the case of HARBINGER, David Mack splendidly peppers the first entry of the VANGUARD series with plenty of secrets left for future writers to explore in later installments. That's what makes a good series all the more successful, and I for one am looking forward to further exploring the mystery of and adventure with the crew of the Vanguard Station.

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