David Mack: More Beautiful Than Death. J.J. Abrams' Star Trek came out of the gate like a race horse, giving us a new take on the Original Series characters, in a new universe that allowed the creative team at Bad Robot the freedom to take them where they wanted. It was also meant to be a time to forge new boundaries for the literary treks, yet sadly it would take ten years for the books to see publication. In this episode of Literary Treks, hosts Matthew Rushing and C Bryan Jones welcome David Mack back to the show to talk about his book More Beautiful Than Death. We discuss the long publication history, changes to the book, the audiobook market, writing the Kelvin Timeline, themes from the book, the Akiron, disasters, fear and where to find David online and what he has coming up next. In the news section we look at the new Voyager comic Seven's Reckoning that is coming from IDW and our plans for covering the DS9 comic, Too Long A Sacrifice. News Seven's Reckoning Comic (00:01:42) Too Long A Sacrifice Plan (00:05:19) Feature: David Mack It's Been a Long Road (00:06:48) Changes to the Book (00:09:53) The Audiobook Market (00:14:53) Writing the Kelvin Timeline (00:20:44) Doing What is Right (00:32:25) Belief (00:37:24) The Needs of the Many (00:47:09) The Twist (00:54:21) The Akiron (01:00:31) Cultural Impact of Disaster (01:02:07) The Things Fear Causes (01:08:39) What is Next and Where to Find David (01:15:58) Final Thoughts (01:19:31) Hosts Matthew Rushing and C Bryan Jones Guest David Mack Production Matthew Rushing (Editor and Executive Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Greg Rozier (Associate Producer) Casey Pettitt (Associate Producer)

Alan Dean Foster: The Unsettling Stars. The J.J. Abrams film Star Trek was released over a decade ago now, and as expected, novels featuring the new "Kelvin Timeline" crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise were solicited. Four novels were originally scheduled, but none of them were released... until now! Newly-minted Captain James T. Kirk leads the Enterprise on a rescue mission to save a ship of refugees. Settling them on a nearby planet, all seems well. However, the refugees and their new neighbors are soon at odds for what seems to be the strangest of reasons. In this episode of Literary Treks, hosts Bruce Gibson & Dan Gunther welcome legendary author Alan Dean Foster to the show to discuss his new novel, The Unsettling Stars. We talk about the long path to publication for this novel, the experience of writing the alternate Trek characters, the two major alien races in the novel, the unique problem presented by the Perenoreans, Alan Dean Foster's contributions to the legacy of Star Trek, and wrap up with what he is working on now and where he can be found online. At the top of the show, we report on the newly-released cover for the newest Star Trek Little Golden Book. We also review a DS9 comic, "The Rules of Diplomacy," written by Aron Eisenberg, Nog himself! And finally, we discuss listener feedback from The Babel Conference for Literary Treks 301: Sing a Song of Sixpence. News Star Trek Alphabet Book Cover (00:03:23) DS9: The Rules of Diplomacy Comic Review (00:06:04) Listener Feedback (00:15:32) Feature: Alan Dean Foster Kicking Off the Kelvin Timeline (00:18:56) Writing the Alternate Characters (00:24:14) The Perenoreans and the SiBor (00:30:36) Being Too Helpful (00:36:25) No Flaws, Then No Drama (00:39:19) Making People Think (00:44:09) Identifying With Aliens (00:47:22) Contributions to Star Trek (00:51:45) More From Alan (01:00:09) Final Thoughts (01:03:08) Hosts Dan Gunther and Bruce Gibson Guest Alan Dean Foster Production Bruce Gibson (Editor and Producer) Dan Gunther (Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Ken Tripp (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Ken Tripp (Associate Producer) Brandon-Shea Mutala (Associate Producer) Justin Oser (Associate Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Greg Rozier (Associate Producer) Jeffery Harlan (Associate Producer) Casey Pettitt (Associate Producer)

New Frontier: Turnaround. When Admiral Jellico seemingly steals a top-secret Starfleet prototype starship, a comic adventure of epic proportions is kicked off. Captain Calhoun of the Excalibur sets off in pursuit, but can he catch Jellico before destruction rains down on Bravo Station? Everything is not what it seems in this week's graphic novel adventure! In this episode of Literary Treks hosts Matthew Rushing, Dan Gunther and Bruce Gibson talk about the comic series New Frontier: Turnaround. We discuss the New Frontier timeline, the Kelvin Timeline feel, characterization, the story, if it works for New Frontier fans, any surprises and our ratings. In new we discuss the blurb for Patterns of Interference and the second issue of the Waypoint comic. News Patterns of Interference blurb (00:02:50) Waypoint #2 (00:07:50) Feature: Turnaround New Frontier Timeline (00:20:24) Kelvin Timeline Feel (00:27:03) Characterization (00:31:32) The Story (00:33:46) Does it Work for New Frontier Fans? (00:37:24) Any Surprises? (00:41:19) Ratings (00:47:26) Final Thoughts (00:49:32) Hosts Matthew Rushing, Dan Gunther and Bruce Gibson Production Matthew Rushing (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Charlynn Schmiedt (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Ken Tripp (Associate Producer) Brandon-Shea Mutala (Associate Producer) Bruce Gibson (Associate Producer)