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.

Hello, fellow Friday 56ers! 

I’ve survived a long and stressful week filled with doctor appointments—my father's, not mine. Thankfully, he is recovering well from his knee replacement surgery. On a brighter note, I managed to get back into reading! The book I'm currently reading is Star Trek: Picard: To Defy Fate by Dayton Ward, which is my pick for this week’s Friday 56 event hosted by My Head is Full of Books. 

I recognize that Star Trek is a niche interest, and Trek literature is an even smaller niche, so I understand if some of you aren’t particularly interested in this book. As a longtime Trekkie, thanks to my dad, I have drifted in and out of the franchise over the years. While there has been a lot of subpar content lately, I’m just glad that new Star Trek material is still being produced. 

To Defy Fate is set three weeks after the climactic battle with the Borg and Changelings that concluded the series finale of Star Trek: Picard. As of Thursday morning, I’m nine chapters in but haven’t formed a definite opinion yet. The story revolves around Wesley Crusher, who is now a traveler, warning his mother Beverly, Admiral Picard, Captain Seven of Nine, and Commander Raffi Musiker about a catastrophic temporal threat. I haven’t read far enough to determine what that threat entails, but it’s intriguing so far.

As a long-time Trekkie, I find myself scratching my head over an unusual marketing move: why release a Star Trek novel in December 2025 for the franchise’s 60th Anniversary when Star Trek: The Original Series doesn’t reach that milestone until September 8, 2026? It seems like a misstep for a niche franchise that thrives on its legacy. If Star Trek: Identity Theft ^[*], the twentieth entry by Greg Cox, had launched just a month later, it would have felt far more aligned with the commemorative spirit. In a way, it feels like a missed opportunity, a decision that might alienate the very fans who are supposed to celebrate.

The novel invites us back to the familiar world of Captain James T. Kirk and the crew of the USS Enterprise-A, eschewing the modern iterations of Star Trek. I find myself among those who view the newer series as a separate entity, like a bubble universe apart from the rich tapestry of the classic shows and films that are, indeed, better. My hope is that this particular phase of storytelling is winding down, making room for a return to the essence of what Star Trek once was.

The latest entry in the Star Trek literary universe, Strange New Worlds: Ring of Fire, crafted by the ever-talented David Mack, has hit the shelves, ready to thrill the segment of Trekkies who still indulge in sci-fi literature. In a landscape that once flourished with a vibrant literary tradition, the audience has dwindled, yet the fandom endures—smaller, perhaps, but still fiercely loyal.

David Alan Mack is no newcomer to the Star Trek cosmos. With three decades of storytelling for the franchise under his belt, he has penned everything from episodes of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine to contributions to the animated series Star Trek: Prodigy. Mack has crafted novels that delve into the mythos, including the Destiny and Cold Equations trilogies. When it comes to storytelling in this universe, Ring of Fire is undoubtedly in capable hands.

As I let these thoughts swirl in my mind, I can’t help but express my disdain for the current trend in Star Trek cover art. They often come off as hastily photoshopped portraits of actors crudely pasted onto a starry canvas. It’s a far cry from the adventurous spirit of “boldly go”—more like “why even bother?” Why not showcase the majestic U.S.S. Enterprise itself, or better yet, engage a gifted artist to craft an original illustration that encapsulates the story's essence? We’re in the realm of sci-fi here, a world that thrives on creativity. But I digress—let’s delve into Strange New Worlds: Ring of Fire ^[*], a novel from the Gallery that David Mack has thoughtfully woven.

Good morning, my fellow book lovers!

Ah, what a week it’s been—a veritable whirlwind of tissues, medications, and relentless coughing as I battle this insidious flu bug that’s crashing my literary party. And to top it off, I’m nursing a canker sore that’s making the act of speaking feel like I’m trying to swallow razor blades. But here I am, determined to bring you my Friday 56 despite the odds stacked against me. Who said the reading life was easy, right? I’ll do my best to swing by your posts this weekend, but if I miss anyone, let’s just blame it on the flu monster lurking in my throat.

'The Friday 56' is hosted by My Head is Full of Books.

Today, I’m thrilled to shine a spotlight on the upcoming release Ring of Fire by David Mack, the fourth installment in the Star Trek: Strange New Worlds series. 

To tie in with the upcoming Paramount+ premiere of the second season of Star Trek: Picard, Simon & Schuster Audio published the original audio drama, Star Trek: Picard: No Man's Land, written by Kristen Beyer & Mike Johnson. The 99-minute audiobook features the voices of Michelle Hurd (Raffi), Jerri Ryan (Seven of Nine), Jack Cutmore-Scott, John Kassir, Fred Tatasciore, Chris Andrew Ciulla, Lisa Flanagan, Gibson Frazier, Lameece Issaq, Natalie Naudus, Xe Sands, and Emily Woo Zeller.

New in bookstores today is the science fiction thriller Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: Revenant ($16.00 U.S./$22.00 Canada, Gallery Books) by Alex White, author of A Big Ship at the Edge of the Galaxy and Alien: The Cold Forge. It's the first novel set during the television series timeline since 2005's Hollow Men by Una McCormack. 

The Star Trek "litverse" concluded last week with the publication of Star Trek: Coda: Oblivion's Gate by David Mack.

The Ashes of Tomorrow, book two Star Trek: Coda trilogy, beamed down to bookstores on October 26th from Gallery Books. I got my hands on a copy before the publication and read the book within a few days. I intended to post a review at the end of last month, but life things happened, and I'm just now finding the time to share my thoughts with everyone.

It seems there's a rule that if a genre television or movie series has a big fanbase, then tie-in novels will soon follow. Once the series has run its course, all media tie-ins come to an end. There are a few exceptions, such as Star Trek and Star Wars. The Star Trek franchise has been kicking out novelizations since 1967, and the first original novel, Mission to Horatius, came out one year later. To date, there have been over 850 Star Trek books published.

Despite my disappointment with the new incarnations of Star Trek, my expectations for the spinoff Star Trek: Picard was a bit high. Like many Trekkies, I had negative feelings for the first season. Out of the new characters, Cristóbal Rios was the only one I liked, even though he was a ripoff of Han Solo. He's the captain, pilot, and owner of the small transport ship, La Sirena - a unique ship that looks more Star Wars than Star Trek.