Slice of SciFi Rating = 3.5 out of 5.0 Stars
Star Trek novels, for the most part, have always stood about a head taller than any of the TV shows or films. This particular trilogy titled “Star Trek Destiny” stands a head taller than many of the Trek novels I have read, and I’ve certainly read my fair share over the last 40-plus years.
From author David Mack, his trilogy brings the United Federation of Planets and the entire Alpha, Beta, and Delta Quadrants to a point they have never really been before — total annihilation from literally thousands of mega Borg cubes containing millions of Borg, all driven by the insatiable desire of their Queen to eliminate humanoid life from the Milky Way Galaxy once and for all. Not assimilation but complete and utter desolation.
Everything has changed in Destiny. Familiar faces have changed dramatically, and notable characters are killed, MIA or assimilated. This is a Trek saga on the order of the darkest possible BSG.
On hand are Captains Jean-Luc Picard, William Riker and Ezri Dax, leading the seriously dilapidated Federation force that is supported by every available Klingon, Romulan, Cardassian, Ferengi, Breen, Gorn vessel and more – all former enemies, now allies in one last desperate war of survival.
Mack captures the very voice and nuance of all these familiar characters and takes the reader on a rollarcoaster ride of excitement, adventure, mystery and scientific discovery that covers nearly 800 years of human history.
At the center of it all is one lone early pioneer of going where no one had gone before, Captain Erika Hernandez, commanding officer of the missing-in-action crew of the starship NX-02 Columbia.
Star Trek Destiny – Book One “Gods of Night”; Book Two “Mere Mortals” & Book Three “Lost Souls” is an astounding achievement in Trek storytelling that could only have been accomplished by a sci-fi author of Mack’s caliber.
Did you read the books? First, this trilogy came out about a half-year ago. Second, nearly everything you put up there is right from the back covers of the books.
And third, you say, and I quote, “notable characters are killed, MIA or assimilated.”
That’s a blatant lie. Not one person is assimilated in these three books. And it’s a pretty major plot point that nobody gets assimilated.
If you missed that, I again question, did you even read the books?
What difference does it make when the books came out? As long as it wasn’t more than a year ago it is still relevant enough to review for the millions of readers that may not have read it or even known about them.
Perhaps I need to repeat your own question back to you. Did you read the books? All throughout the entire series mention of Kathryn Janeway being assimilated by the Borg is a theme.
I did read the books cover to cover and the only line I used from any back cover was that which I put in quotes and bold print at the top of the review.
Take a chill pill Mitch. As a fellow Nebraskan you should settle back and enjoy the summer Plains heat. 😉
On a completely non-Sam related note, blech, those covers are hideous. Especially the type.
Blah.
Disclaimer: I work at a book design company.
Jeremy from Seattle is exactly correct! The covers look as if they’re trying to sell the books and the movies all jumbled together. There are any number of ways to improve these covers, but that’s just my opinion as a science fiction fantasy author. Check out my first and recently released novel, Long Journey to Rneadal. This exciting tale is a romantic action adventure in space and is more about the characters than the technology.
I’ve read the first two of these books and the third is sitting on my desk, waiting for a break in the Uni reading list. It’s epic, and it’s awesome, and it’s fantastic.
Just wanted to say the last 10 Trek books are actually sharing the same continuity. I just read a Voyager book titled “Full Circle” and it references what happened in these books as well as a few books before this. I’m liking how the books seem to be all related lately. Years ago most of the Trek books were actually stand alone books.
I just read these in the last month, so I find the review relevant. Also, it’s hard to discuss a trilogy of books in too much depth without giving away too much of book one . Part of the fun is the reader discovering for themselves what happens, not someone telling them…
These are better than the average Trek book and change the published Trek continuity. They were and are a big deal….
Why such a glowing review with only a 3.5 star rating? What was missing or off about the books that they weren’t a 4 or 5? Just curious….
I very much enjoyed this series. Even though I liked the character 7 of 9, the biggest problems with the Voyager series is that it really watered down The Borg (though I know some say that started with the introduction of The Borg Queen in First Contact), making them seem like just another alien menace, like the Romulans or Cardassions, instead of the ultimate threat that they were made out to be in their first appearance, and the subsequent invasion where they transformed Picard into Locutus. In that episode, ONE cube (albiet with the knowledge of Picard) was able to wipe out 40 Federation and Klingon ships, but suddenly Voyager was able to handle the Borg all by itself. The Borg should have been held back for extremely rare appearances, like only every 2 or 3 years, for big seasons finales or premiers.
The book series finally did that. Brought back the “Oh Frak!” level of danger. Although I do think that the revealed origin of The Borg, connecting them to the Caeliar, & all the time travel stuff, was a bit overly complicated (I actually liked the origin from that “Legacy” video game, where The Borg were a spin-off from V’ger), I think it was good to get a definitive beginning and ending to The Borg.
I wish this series could have been filmed as a TV miniseries, with actors from all of those casts. It would have a perfect “ending” to the original timeline, before it all started over with the Abrams reboot.