Review: 'Star Trek: Picard: To Defy Fate' by Dayton Ward

Disclosure: I received a free review copy from the publisher.

Books are profoundly subjective; what thrills one reader might leave another in a state of dismay. As I wade through Star Trek: Picard: To Defy Fate, my feelings are mixed, teetering on the edge of apathy. On one hand, Dayton Ward’s intricate depictions of the Trek universe resonate with my longtime affection for the franchise, and I typically relish his writing. On the other hand, I can’t shake off that the narrative is a convoluted mess, cluttered with an overabundance of nostalgic references that often feel more like fan service than substance. The dialogues seem awkward and out of character. To make matters worse, the story suffers from a maddening repetitiveness, reiterating events and rehashing explanations we’ve already digested in prior chapters. Sure, 2026 marks the 60th anniversary of Star Trek, but To Defy Fate hardly seems worthy of such a momentous celebration.

Set in 2401, mere weeks after the harrowing attack from rogue Changelings and remnants of the Borg Collective, the story unfolds as the Federation grapples with an arduous recovery process, one that requires rebuilding not just ships, but trust and hope. Newly minted Captain Seven of Nine, alongside her first officer Commander Raffi Musiker, embarks on a tour of the U.S.S. Titan-A, which is mired in a lengthy repair and refit. Yet, amidst their exploration, they succumb to an enigmatic temporal event that leaves them both incapacitated, with Seven slipping into a deep coma.

In an unexpected twist, the familiar faces of Admiral Jean-Luc Picard and Dr. Beverly Crusher are confronted by Wesley, Crusher’s son, now a quasi-ethereal Traveler traversing the labyrinth of time and space. He brings ominous tidings of unidentified forces intent on unsettling the very fabric of reality. Despite their initial efforts to contain the disturbance, the chaos only escalates, spiraling out of control.

Accompanied by Crusher, Picard, and Musiker, Wesley undertakes a perilous journey through time in a frantic bid to thwart whoever seeks to rewrite history. I’ll refrain from divulging further details to spare potential readers from spoilers but let me emphasize this: Star Trek has always been a niche, it's Lit-verse even more so, and the so-called "mastermind" behind the chaos is revealed in the first chapter, stripping away any hint of suspense or surprise. The revelation is disappointingly anticlimactic.

Wesley Crusher in his guise as a Traveler is depicted with a peculiar, almost chaotic mindset, reminiscent of his oddball persona from the nearly forgotten animated series Star Trek: Prodigy. For those unaware, the Trek Lit-verse that existed between Star Trek: Nemesis and the announcement of Star Trek: Picard had to be erased, leading to the creation of the Star Trek: Coda trilogy, bringing the earlier universe to a close. This begs the question: Is this Wesley the same character from the old Lit-verse? As a Traveler, time is an abstraction for Wesley, granting him the power to flit effortlessly across timelines and realities. To me, he reads as the same Wesley Crusher I’ve known from previous narratives.

At times, To Defy Fate feels like a lackluster clip-show, a patchwork of fan-favorite moments, yet these events are altered—instead of evoking nostalgia, they foster confusion. Haven’t we already seen this play out on screen? Oh, right—it's the 60th Anniversary, which seems to be the flimsy reasoning for revisiting familiar territory.

And then there’s the cover: Why is Seven of Nine featured so prominently when her role is minimal at best? She’s comatose for much of the story, turning her inclusion into a mere marketing ploy. Where are Riker, Geordi, Worf, and Data? Their 2401 counterparts are absent from this narrative, replaced by the flimsy presence of Jack Crusher, or should I say, Jack Picard.

In the end, Star Trek: Picard: To Defy Fate emerges as a tedious mesh of time-traveling antics, surprisingly well-crafted by a talented author but lacking a coherent plot. While I didn’t despise it, nor did I fall in love with it, rather, I found myself in a state of ambivalence. If you consider yourself a Trekkie, approach this one with caution. ╌★★½✰✰

〜B.J. Burgess