Book review
Written by Dayton Ward
Pocket Books paperback
Release date Out now

Pocket's 23rd Century original fiction line continues to impress in its fourth outing, as author Dayton Ward (working from a story devised with regular writing partner Kevin Dilmore) moves away from the hard science fiction of the series to date, to concentrate firmly on the "human" element.

The political background is well sketched in (the story is set against the backdrop of Star Trek's first season, in which the Federation nearly went to war with the Klingon Empire), and Ward drops the reader straight into the action, as the Organians move to prevent open conflict. This is followed by an extended flashback that moves a number of the players into new positions, with some stunning revelations right up to the closing pages.

However, amid high drama on Vulcan with T'Prynn and at Reyes' trial, the secrets of the Taurus Reach aren't forgotten. Jim Kirk's old flame Carol Marcus is heavily involved in the action, and a renegade Tholian passes on some vital information...

Inevitably one or two characters don't appear, or merit only cameos, as we get to know new faces, but Ward succeeds in keeping the numerous plotlines bubbling away. Peter Quentin

VERDICT: 7/10
An enjoyable read.

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