u/Obvious-Examination6

I mean, have you ever seen an overweight Borg?

EDIT: For the record, this is in jest. I'm actually considering them for the future. So far they seem pretty legit

Earlier this week I finished reading the eighth Discovery novel, Wonderlands. Generally, I'm a huge fan of Una McCormack's novels, but I just didn't care too much about this one.

The basic premise is what Michael was up to in the year that she was thrown into the future before Discovery arrived. While an interesting concept in theory, I just found it rather boring. I get that it's intended to be a deeper character dive into Michael Burnham, but already got so much of that during the series. I think that's my biggest complaint about the TV show itself, in that, unlike the other post-TOS series, it didn't really allow the rest of the cast to shine. So a book where none of them are present, other than Book, is just too much for me.

Also, I found the plot a little slow, though it quickly sped up in the last quarter or so of the book. And, of course, it does give us more time with Grudge!

Sorry, Una, but I have to give this one 3 out of 5 stars. You did fine with the materials available, but I just didn't like the materials that much to begin with.

Agree or disagree?

I recently finished The Way to the Stars, one of the Discovery novels, written by Una McCormick. Going into this book, I wasn't sure what to expect. I was aware it was Tilly's backstory, but that's about it. I know the character is somewhat polarizing, but I generally liked Tilly in the series. That being said, I enjoyed this book FAR more than I thought I would. Honestly, I had a hard time putting it down most nights. It's somewhat shorter than many Trek novels, but it kept the story moving quickly and effectively. If you like Tilly, definitely give this book a read. The author really does a fantastic job with the character.

4.25 out of 5 stars

This morning I finished my fourth Discovery novel, Fear Itself. The story focuses on Saru and his growth as an officer. This is another Discovery novel that I enjoyed more than the series itself. That being said, this is the fourth Discovery book (out of nine total) that does not feature the USS Discovery at all. This book takes place during Saru's time on the Shenzou, and Saru was always one of my favorite characters from Discovery.

A worthwhile read, 4 out of 5 stars.

Recently I finished reading TOS #57: The Rift by Peter David. I honestly don't have much to say other than, as usual, Peter David wrote truly enjoyable Trek fiction! This book was somewhat short at only 274 pages, and with the chapters being pretty short, I blew through this book in just four days. If you're a Pike fan, the first 30% or so is all about that crew, and David did a great job harnessing their personalities. It was also great having Jose Tyler be a big part of the whole story, as even in other novels and comics, he usually didn't get much time to shine.

Easily 4.25 out of 5 stars!

Earlier today I finished TOS #56: Legacy. While not part of the Strange New Worlds/Captain Pike reading list I'd recently completed, it's still a book with Pike in it. That being said, Pike's appearance in this book felt somewhat forced and unnecessary.

Overall the book was enjoyable, if a little slow, with the opportunity for more action-oriented scenes merely glossed over. Chekhov, Sulu, and Uhura are relegated to very minor roles, though this book is hardly the only one guilty of that.

Tl;dr: A worthwhile read, but not worth moving to the top of your reading stack. 3.5 out of 5 stars.

In the past several days I've completed reading both Enterprise Logs and The Lives of Dax. These are both anthologies, one focusing on short stories from all the captains of vehicles named Enterprise, and the other about each of the Dax hosts. I had read several stories from each as part of the Enterprise (series) and Strange New Worlds/Captain Pike reading lists. Since I wrapped up the latter, I figured I'd go ahead and complete these two anthologies before moving on

These are both enjoyable reads, with some stories better than others. For Enterprise Logs, it's always nice to get stories on characters we don't see much of, such as April, Harriman, and Garrett. To be honest, I skipped the first two stories that are based on an old ship and an aircraft carrier. I just had zero interest in those.

The Lives of Dax was a lot of fun, especially Joran's twisted story.

Now on to two other Pike-related related books I found that weren't on the list, Legacy and The Rift.

Perhaps an unpopular opinion, but I adore Lwaxana Troi. Other than Imzadi, Q-in-Law, and the Battle of Betazed, are there any recommended books that feature this daughter of the Fifth House, holder of the Sacred Chalice of Rixx, heir to the Holy Rings of Betazed?

This morning I finished Burning Dreams, the final entry in the Strange New Worlds/Captain Pike reading list. And what a final entry! This book reminded me a lot of what Mosaic was for Captain Janeway. It follows Pike's life from childhood to death, and while some of it is retconned by Strange New Worlds, it truly dives deep into what made Pike the man we only briefly saw in the original pilot episode. Definitely one of the best Trek books I've read so far--kudos to Margaret Wander Bonanno!

4.8 stars out of 5.

That's it. That's the post.