Set in the Next Generation series, this novel presents a
return to the Nexus featured in the film Generations.
Jean-Luc Picard is commanding the Enterprise and travels to
aid a science mission. The Newton is a pure science vessel
and by studying the nexus, a ribbon-like energy field
travelling through space, the scientists have determined
that it will pass into an area of the galaxy inhabited by
religious fanatic fundamentalists the Kinshaya. Rather
than let the irrational enemies of Starfleet use the nexus
for destruction, the scientists have decided to try to
destroy the nexus.
Picard has spent time inside the nexus, experiencing all
his hopes and dreams, but has seen how a man called Soran
was driven mad by the drugged state it creates and was
prepared to blow up stars and planets to get back inside
the ribbon. Married and with his own child, the captain
has a lot to lose and reluctantly follows orders. However
the attempt to destroy the nexus doesn't succeed and the
science ship's captain is killed. Picard is now the senior
officer on the scene, and has to make fast decisions,
including whether or not the attempt was sabotaged.
Knowledge of the series is assumed and having seen the film
would definitely help. Characters, racial types and
classes of starship are tossed out without much
description. But those most likely to read this book are
surely already fans of the Star Trek world. Main
characters are Worf, Dr Crusher and LaForge. In a nod to
modern readers a Czech officer is on the bridge having
replaced an Indian officer, and females have a greatly
expanded role. The Kinshaya starships are called
Liberators, the name of the starship in British TV series
Blake's Seven, for which this author James Swallow has
written in the past.
Picard travels inside the marvellous nexus but this time
instead of meeting Kirk or Guynan, he meets the memory of
Soran, so we see the obsessed man's point of view and why
he had been so desperate to return to his illusory family
in the energy field. The Kinshaya are feathered and
beaked, like griffins we are told, and just as predatory.
They make nicely unusual bad guys and their threats to eat
Picard and regurgitate him for the nestlings are fun to
read. Fans will love STAR TREK: THE STUFF OF DREAMS by a
British writer with much history of writing for the
series.
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