Tuesday, May 30, 2017

Release Day! Dayton Ward captures our Hearts and Minds!

Star Trek: The Next Generation
Hearts and Minds by Dayton Ward

New book day is always a happy time! Today, make sure to get your copy of Dayton Ward's new TNG novel, Hearts and Minds. I've been looking forward to this one, as it has been billed as a sort-of sequel to two of my favorite Trek novels in recent years: From History's Shadow and Elusive Salvation! Promising the same time-twisty adventure of those books, Hearts and Minds has been on my must-have list ever since it was first announced.

Hearts and Minds has already been popping up in bookstores, so you might have already picked it up before today. My local Coles bookstore had it in stock a few days ago, which still doesn't excuse them for not stocking Section 31: Control in any of their stores across Canada (yeah, I'm still bitter...).

Hearts and Minds has been showing up early in bookstores this past week or so!

Check out below for the cover art, back cover blurb, and links to purchase from Amazon! And look for my review of TNG: Hearts and Minds at some point in the near future!



Publisher's description:
An electrifying thriller from the New York Times bestselling author in the Star Trek: The Next Generation universe.

2031: United States Air Force fighter jets shoot down an unidentified spacecraft and take its crew into custody. Soon, it’s learned that the ship is one of several dispatched across space by an alien species, the Eizand, to search for a new home before their own world becomes uninhabitable. Fearing extraterrestrial invasion, government and military agencies which for more than eighty years have operated in secret swing into action, charged with protecting humanity no matter the cost...

2386: Continuing their exploration of the Odyssean Pass, Captain Jean-Luc Picard and the crew of the Starship Enterprise discover what they at first believe is a previously uncharted world, with a civilization still recovering from the effects of global nuclear war. An astonishing priority message from Starfleet Command warns that there’s more to this planet than meets the eye, and Picard soon realizes that the mysteries of this world may well weave through centuries of undisclosed human history...

Purchase Section 31: Control:



Previous Release: Section 31: Control

Wednesday, May 24, 2017

Literary Treks 190: As the Q Turns

by Peter David



During the original five-year mission, Captain Kirk and his crew found themselves at the mercy of a seemingly-omnipotent being: Trelane. Discovering that he was merely an out-of-control child, Trelane was corralled by his parents, members of the Q Continuum. However, he has now returned to exact vengeance on a new generation...

In this episode of Literary Treks, hosts Dan Gunther and Bruce Gibson are joined by special guest Amy Nelson to talk about Peter David's novel Q-Squared. We discuss Trelane's status as a Q, the Picard-Beverly-Jack Crusher triangle, Riker and Deanna, Jack Crusher's uniqueness, alternate universes, funny moments, a cosmic temper tantrum, and wrap up with our ratings.

In the news segment, we review Mirror Broken #0, talk about the upcoming Juan Ortiz artbook featuring his TNG works, and rate the cover of the Klingon Empire Travel Guide by Dayton Ward.

Literary Treks 190: As the Q Turns
The Next Generation: Q-Squared by Peter David






Previous episode: Literary Treks 189: Embrace the Worf
Next episode: Literary Treks 191: #SuluStache

Cover for Patterns of Interference Revealed!

New cover day! Revealed is the stunning art featuring Trip Tucker that serves as the cover for the upcoming Enterprise novel, Patterns of Interference, the fifth book in his Rise of the Federation series.

Check out the cover art below, as well as links to pre-order Rise of the Federation: Patterns of Interference from Amazon! The release date for Patterns of Interference is August 29th, so be on the look out!




Publisher's Description:

The time has come to act. Following the destructive consequences of the Ware crisis, Admiral Jonathan Archer and Section 31 agent Trip Tucker now both attempt to change their institutions to prevent further such tragedies. Archer pushes for a Starfleet directive of noninterference, but he faces unexpected opposition from allies within the fleet—and unwelcome support from adversaries who wish to drive the Federation into complete isolationism. Meanwhile, Tucker plays a dangerous game against the corrupt leaders of the clandestine Section 31  hoping to bring down their conspiracy once and for all. But is he willing to jeopardize Archer's efforts—and perhaps the fate of an entire world—in order to win?

Pre-order Rise of the Federation: Patterns of Interference from:

Mass-market paperback: Amazon.com | Amazon.ca | Amazon.co.uk
E-book (Kindle): Amazon.com | Amazon.ca | Amazon.co.uk


Friday, May 19, 2017

Literary Treks 189: Embrace the Worf

Enemy Unseen Part 2: "Embrace the Wolf"



100 years earlier, a malevolent entity that feeds on fear threatened the crew of the Enterprise under Captain Kirk and framed Scotty for murder. At the time, Redjac, also known as Jack the Ripper, was thought to have been banished for all eternity. However, he has returned to terrorize the crew of another Enterprise!

In this episode of Literary Treks, hosts Dan Gunther and Bruce Gibson present part two of our discussion about the Star Trek comics collection Enemy Unseen, which includes the story "Embrace the Wolf." We talk about a sequel to "Wolf in the Fold," Redjac, the unorthodox method used to defeat him, overcoming our fears, and wrap up with our final thoughts and ratings.

In the news segment, we discuss a pair of interviews with the creators of the TNG mirror universe comic story Mirror Broken, announce that the UK Comics collection #3 is available for pre-order, judge the cover of the new DTI novella Shield of the Gods, and talk about David Mack's upcoming original novel The Midnight Front.

Literary Treks 189: Embrace the Worf
Enemy Unseen, Part 2: Embrace the Wolf






Previous episode: Literary Treks 188: Children of the Corn
Next episode: Literary Treks 190: As the Q Turns

Sunday, May 7, 2017

Literary Treks 188: Children of the Corn

Dark Victory by William Shatner
with Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens



James T. Kirk has faced many enemies over the course of his life: Klingons, Khan, Romulans, and countless others. However, none of them will prove as worthy an opponent as his most dreaded enemy: himself! The mirror universe shows us dark reflections of ourselves, and Kirk's counterpart, Tiberius, is the deadliest of them all!

In this episode of Literary Treks, hosts Bruce Gibson and Dan Gunther discuss the William Shatner novel, Dark Victory, book two in his Mirror Universe trilogy. We talk about the plot, Project Sign, the pacing, a lack of trust, the legend of the Preservers, Kirk trying to outrun death, and our ratings.

In the news, we review two comics: New Visions 15: The Traveler, and Green Lantern: Stranger Worlds #6.

Literary Treks 188: Children of the Corn
Dark Victory by William Shatner with Judith & Garfield Reeves-Stevens







Previous episode: Literary Treks 187: Lucsly's Head Would Explode
Next episode: Literary Treks 189: Embrace the Worf

Friday, May 5, 2017

Literary Treks 187: Lucsly's Head Would Explode

Voyager #2: The Escape
by Dean Wesley Smith & Kristine Kathryn Rusch



Time travel has been covered a lot in Star Trek. Starfleet characters often find themselves thrown about the space-time continuum, usually in some sort of unintended accident. But what if there was a society out there whose entire civilization was based on controlled and regulated time travel? Torres, Neelix, and Kim find themselves at the mercy of just such a society, having inadvertently broken their highest law. The punishment? Death.

This week on Literary Treks, Brandon Shea-Mutala joins hosts Dan Gunther and Bruce Gibson to help continue our look at the first original novels of each Star Trek series by going back to the very beginning of Voyager with The Escape. We discuss why this book, how well the authors capture the tone of Voyager and its characters, the plot, the society of Alcawell, inflexible bureaucracies, the characters of Kjanders and Drickel, some impractical shoes, and end with our final thoughts and ratings.

In the news, we discuss the current Pocket Books release schedule, reveal some upcoming DS9 titles, rate the cover for Enigma Tales, and review issue #7 of Boldly Go.

Literary Treks 187: Lucsly's Head Would Explode
Voyager #2: The Escape by Dean Wesley Smith & Kristine Kathryn Rusch







Previous episode: Literary Treks 186: Tragedy in Every Sense of the Word
Next episode: Literary Treks 188: Children of the Corn