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Category: Books
Genre: Science Fiction & Fantasy
Author: Greg Cox

The Eugenics Wars Vol. 2: The Rise and Fall of Khan Noonien Singh

The Eugenics Wars (Volume II) focuses on Khan’s dream to unify the earth under his rule with the assistance of his genetically enhanced brethren. However, Khan’s vision quickly dissipates and turns for the worst. This forces his hand to accept a deal from his nemesis Gary Seven—a deal which eventually lead Khan and his crew of 54 men and 31 women onboard the DY-100 class sleeper ship known as the Botany Bay.

The beauty of the Eugenics Wars books is its emphasis on the concept of “continuity” or what Cox refers too as “inter-author cooperation and consistency.” Using past references from other Star Trek episodes and novels, Cox is able to bridge and parlay several plots from the predominantly one-shot Star Trek: The Original Series episodes into the Eugenics Wars books.

Cox fully utilizes the characters in the Star Trek Universe by exploring the characters of Gary Seven and Roberta Lincoln (Episode: Assignment: Earth) and breathing life into others such as Shaun Christopher (References are made about him in Episode: Tomorrow is Yesterday), Jackson Roykirk (Episode: The Changeling), and Dr. Walter Nichols (Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home).

Lastly, the Eugenics Wars (Volume II) is also filled with a number of historical references from the 1990’s ranging from the London to Paris “Chunnel” commercial train service, to natural calamities (the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo in the Philippines), and even tabloid scandals such as the Olympic ice skating incident involving Tonya Harding and Nancy Kerrigan and the infamous John and Lorena Bobbit err…domestic violence issue.

Star Trek: The Eugenics Wars – The Rise and Fall of Khan Noonien Singh (Volume 2) is a great read that will keep you wanting for more from start till finish.

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Category: Books
Genre: Science Fiction & Fantasy
Author: J.M. Dillard

Star Trek: The Lost Years

Have you ever wondered what events transpired between the end of the Enterprise’s five-year mission and Star Trek: The Motion Picture? These questions are answered in J.N. Dillard’s Star Trek: The Lost Years. Published in 1989, Star Trek: The Lost Years is the first of four books which focuses on the two-and-a-half year period between the end of the first five-year mission and the events chronicled in Star Trek: The Motion Picture. J.M. Dillard book focuses (roughly) on the first seven months the Enterprise crews’ transition to their new assignments. Dillard touches on several crucial points in the lives of the main characters such as Kirk’s appointment to Rear Admiral, the reason behind McCoy’s eventual resignation from Starfleet, and Spock’s wish to be a postulant of the Kolinahr rather than taking on a wife.

The book also brings to life characters such as Fleet Admiral Heihachiro Nogura (who is mentioned briefly at the start of Star Trek: The Motion Picture), Vice Admiral Lori Ciana (who according to one source was the other figure who perished along with the Vulcan science officer at the transporter malfunction in the aforementioned movie), and lastly, fan favorite Kevin Thomas Riley who from his days in the enterprise, is promoted to be Rear Admiral Kirk’s Chief of Staff in Starfleet Headquarters.

Dillard also gives some insightful information on characters such as Spock (who has roots in Minnesota) and McCoy (who’s first wife is named Jocelyn and that Dr. McCoy spend his early years in Georgia). Lastly, the book left probably the best Bones McCoy thought ever when he described someone as having “lost their shields. Took a spacewalk in the asteroid belt without his helmet. And beamed down one too many times.”

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