This is one of two original Kelvin timeline novels; chronologically it takes place in the middle of the other one, Alan Dean Foster's The Unsettling Stars. In terms of the comics, it must take place after the story arc Legacy of Spock as well. If this book lines up with Legacy of Spock, it's obviously pure coincidence (it was written before it but published after), but it basically does; you just have to squint and assume everyone says, "Last time we saw you, Sarek, it was when we were stopping you from being genocided in the Ceti Alpha system" off camera. Oh, and no one mentions the big refugee fleet.
Star Trek: More Beautiful than Death |
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Published: 2020 Acquired: June 2023 Read: October 2025 |
Anyway, this chronicles an early mission of the Enterprise, just before it embarks on a long-term journey of exploration. The Enterprise takes Sarek to a planet with dilithium; once the Enterprise
is there, they also have to help save the populace from mysterious
wights. At the same time, Kirk wonders if he has a destiny, and Sarek's
new aide sets her romantic sights on Our Man Spock. Time to make Vulcan
babies to save the race!
There are a number of different things happening here, but they didn't
really cohere for me; some are related for plot reasons, but the
connections feel kinda arbitrary. I think the weakest part of the novel,
though, is the alien planet is very difficult to care about, because
it's weirdly mostly off-stage, like a low-budget TNG episode: we see basically just two guys from it, both on the Enterprise,
nothing of the civilization itself, so when we're told they're in
turmoil, it's all very abstract. Felt like a weird choice in a novel, where you could have easily afforded to show us the planet.
I did really enjoy the reveal of what L'Nel was up to—I didn't see this
coming, but it made perfect sense, and was very satisfying when
revealed.
My other favorite part of the book was Scotty. I think overall Mack had a
decent handle on these versions of the characters, though I didn't find
them quite as lively as in The Unsettling Stars. Decent
Kirk (the bits where he defies orders through creative interpretations
were well done), good Spock/Kirk interactions, fine work with Uhura and
Sulu and McCoy... but Mack totally nailed the vibe of the Simon
Pegg Scotty, I loved every bit with him in it. Could easily imagine Pegg
saying the lines, and Mack did a good job marrying comedy with extreme
competence.
Sarek sucks in this timeline even more than the regular one!
This is the second in a series of posts about the Kelvin timeline Star Trek comics (and novels). The next covers Star Trek, Volume 1. Previous installments are listed below:
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