Enigma
Maker
Star Trek Stargazer

By Michael Jan Friedman

      Here are the next two chapters in Picard’s early career when he was captain of the USS Stargazer at only 28 years old. Admiral McAteer still wants him demoted and out of Starfleet if possible, and one way of doing this is to give him a simple mission that keeps him away from the action on the Cardassian border. To make extra sure of Picard’s failure, he has also convened a hearing to discuss what transpired in the last two books – and one of the other people present is Admiral Caber, whose son Picard had to discharge dishonorably. However, out there is a new menace, an all-powerful entity intent on destruction, and it looks as though an old ally is coming back to haunt Picard as well. But last time he met Serenity Santana she proved untrustworthy…

     Why does Star Trek succeed where other SF series fail? In not merely relying on tales of derring-do and special effects, but in spending time exploring the characters themselves, with their relationships and fascinating daily lives. These books are no different, and carry on where the last pair of books (“Three” and “Oblivion,” also reviewed on this site) left off. Thus, Andrea Nikloas is broken hearted at the loss of the parallel Gerda Idun, lizardlike Simenon gazes lovingly at his eggs, and Cole Paris carries on his romance with Jiterica. There could have been more about the mysterious Ubarrak, billed here as “the Federation’s deadliest enemy,” but the main plot concerning the out-of-control Brakmaktin builds to a nice crescendo, even if the final solution seems rather pat. Meeting up with Santana and her crew ties the book in nicely with earlier episodes, and there is also plenty going on rather in the way of a juggler tossing colored balls into the air and keeping them aloft. Again, some more fleshed-out descriptions of the new races they encounter would be all to the good, but this is an entertaining entry in the series. I particularly applaud the way this new series of books fits into the Star Trek canon, and have a life of their own despite mainly involving characters not seen on the screen.