Welcome back to another roundup of the Star Trek books I’ve been reading recently. Today’s selection is of four books from The Next Generation, and one bonus novel from the Stargazer prequel series. Let’s make it so and get on with the reviews.

A Call to Darkness
by Michael Jan Friedman

Picard finds himself trapped on a planet that uses war as a form of entertainment, but can’t remember who he is. The amnesia aspect is pretty standard, but well-played, and overall it’s a fun adventure. However, the B-plot of a sickness on the Enterprise never really amounts to much. It’s always nice to see Doctor Pulaski get a bit of attention, but as is often the case, it’s Data who steals the show here.

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A Rock and a Hard Place
by Peter David

I was disinclined to like this one as soon as I discovered the title is a pun. Indeed, the two storylines are nothing to write home about. The same, however, can not be said for Peter David’s writing. From start to finish, this book was a joy to read, with great comedic elements balanced out by genuine tension. David has a particularly good ear for dialogue, with every character sounding just like they do on screen. The ingredients may be standard, but the end result was a genuine pleasure to read.

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Intellivore
by Diane Duane

This is a fantastic little novel that really does feel like a missing episode of The Next Generation. It’s a surprisingly slow burn of a story that sees Picard et al searching for a mysterious force that has killed the crews of several ships. Along the way, Duane builds a creeping sense of unease that never lets up until the final confrontation. The nature of the enemy is also an intriguing one, with firm elements of cosmic horror running alongside the usual Trek love affair with science. The strongest of this batch by a narrow margin, Intellivore can stand proudly alongside the later Litverse novels.

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The Battle of Betazed
by Susan Kearney and Charlotte Douglas

This is one of those books that answers the question ‘what was the Enterprise doing during the Dominion War?’ As such, it’s a crossover between TNG and DS9, largely brought about by reuniting Worf and O’Brien with their former colleagues. It’s a simple enough tale of war, heroics, and sacrifice that doesn’t quite make the most of its potential. The plot hinges on a serial killer who is tragically underdeveloped, but Troi does get more to do here than she often did on screen. Bonus points must also be awarded for the development of Crell Moset, previously seen only as a hologram on Voyager.

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Stargazer #2: Progenitor
by Michael Jan Friedman

What I admire most about the Stargazer series is that it’s not an origin story. There’s no attempt to cram in the first time Picard told somebody to ‘make it so,’ or force interactions with future members of the Enterprise crew. Instead, it’s simply a set of stories about a young man who happens to be Picard. This particular instalment features that classic Trek standby: A member of the crew going home to take part in a secretive ritual. It’s a fun little adventure, filled with predictable yet enjoyable turns, and also delivers on the scheming of a certain admiral in the background that promises to cause more problems in the series ahead.