Greg Cox: Lost to Eternity.     One of the beauties of Star Trek is all the treads that one can pull on from the plethora of stories that have been told over the years making the books the perfect place to explore all these possibilities.  In this episode of Literary Treks hosts Casey Pettitt and Jonathan Koan welcome author Greg Cox to talk about his new Star Trek book, Lost to Eternity. They discuss, being back with a new book, the genesis of the book, Saavik, a new species, the antagonist, bringing it together, writing 2024, no Past Tense, approvals, what’s coming up and final thoughts. Feature: Greg Cox Greg Cox is Back (00:03:53) The Genesis (00:04:53) Saavik (00:13:53) A New Species (00:17:54) The Antagonist (00:26:10) Bringing it Together (00:32:44) Writing 2024 (00:39:58) No Past Tense (00:43:56) Approvals (00:47:38) What’s Coming Up (00:50:05) Final Thoughts (00:57:04)          Hosts Casey Pettitt and Jonathan Koan  Guest  Greg Cox Production Matthew Rushing (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Greg Rozier (Associate Producer) Casey Pettitt (Associate Producer)

David Mack: Firewall.     With the release of Star Trek: Picard the questions of what happened to our favorite characters from shows like Deep Space Nine and Voyager was once again up in the air and the introduction of Seven of Nine to the show made the questions around her history after the series even more mysterious. In this episode of Literary Treks hosts, Matthew, Casey and Jonathan welcome author David Mack to discuss his new Picard era novel, Firewall. We discus the background of the story, writing in the Picard timeline, Seven’s emotions, an anchor, getting in the way, new characters, the spy element, staying true, the framing device, production, making the map, what’s next for David and our final thoughts.  In the news section we discuss two newly announced books for 2024!   News Book News (00:01:43)                Feature: David Mack The Background of This Story (00:09:45) Writing in the Picard Timeline (00:13:18) Seven’s Emotions (00:20:25) An Anchor (00:30:40) Getting in the Way (00:36:50) New Characters (00:41:33) The Spy Element (00:46:16) Staying True (00:54:34) Framing Device (00:56:39) The Production of the Book (01:00:54) Making the Map (01:05:08) What is Coming Next (01:08:54) Final Thoughts (01:18:08)          Hosts Matthew Rushing, Casey Pettitt and Jonathan Koan  Guest  David Mack Production Matthew Rushing (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Greg Rozier (Associate Producer) Casey Pettitt (Associate Producer)

Greg Cox: A Contest of Principles. The crew of the Enterprise face a challenge unlike any other when when they are called to a system with three different inhabited planets and are asked to observe a contentious election on the only planet in the system the Federation has a relationship with. In this episode of Literary Treks, hosts Matthew Rushing and C Bryan Jones welcome Greg Cox back to the show to talk about his book A Contest of Principles. We discuss keeping it fresh, the ethics of news, story genesis, part of the story, responsibility, re-litigating the past, finding out something new, does the right thing, working with new Trek, what Greg has coming up and where to find him online. In the news section we judge a book by it's cover, look at the recent as well as upcoming releases for 2021, then review the Year 5 comic issues 15 and 16. News Judge a Book by it's Cover (00:01:33) Upcoming Releases (00:05:03) Recent Releases (00:06:07) Year 5 Issues 15 and 16 Review (00:07:06) Feature: Greg Cox Keeping it Fresh (00:14:58) The Ethics of News (00:23:20) Story Genesis (00:26:59) Part of the Story (00:31:34) Responsibility (00:35:27) Re-litigating the Past (00:40:39) Finding Out Something New (00:50:06) Does the Right Thing (00:56:07) Working in New Trek (00:59:10) What's Next for Greg (01:04:50) Greg Online (01:06:49) Final Thoughts (01:09:12) Hosts Matthew Rushing and C Bryan Jones Guest Greg Cox Production Matthew Rushing (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Greg Rozier (Associate Producer) Casey Pettitt (Associate Producer)

Spock's World. Vulcan: more than any other fictional world within the Star Trek universe, this desert planet has captured the imaginations of Trek fans since we caught our first glimpse of it in the Original Series episode "Amok Time." We know a lot about Vulcans through Spock, Sarek, and the handful of other Vulcans we have met in Trek over the years, but what are the people of that world really like? What is the history of that alien world, and how do they view us, the illogical, emotional neighbors that might threaten their logical view of the universe? In this episode of Literary Treks, hosts Bruce Gibson and Dan Gunther are joined by Earl Grey's Justin Oser to talk about a beloved classic Trek novel, Spock's World. We discuss the two tracks the story follows, the nature of Vulcans, a series of Vulcan TED talks, the diversity of the Enterprise crew, the Enterprise's BBS, and wrap up with our final thoughts and ratings. In the news segment, we talk about the recent announcement of a new TNG mirror universe comic that follows up on last year's Mirror Broken series. News Through the Mirror Announcement (00:03:53) Feature: Spock's World 30 Years (00:06:24) 2 Books in 1 (00:09:52) Vulcan: 1 Through 7 (00:19:05) Vulcan TED Talkas (01:00:23) Enterprise Online (01:23:50) Ratings (01:29:55) Final Thoughts (01:29:55) Hosts Dan Gunther and Bruce Gibson Guest Justin Oser Production Matthew Rushing (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Ken Tripp (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Brandon-Shea Mutala (Patreon Manager) Ken Tripp (Associate Producer) Brandon-Shea Mutala (Associate Producer) Bruce Gibson (Associate Producer) Justin Oser (Associate Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Greg Rozier (Associate Producer) Jeffery Harlan (Associate Producer)

Kobayashi Maru. One of the things that disappointed fans the most when Enterprise was canceled was the loss of seeing the Romulan War play out, so as the relaunch hit it’s stride it continued the series’ build into that storyline. In this episode of Literary Treks hosts Matthew Rushing and Bruce Gibson are joined by Section 31 agent Brandon-Shea Mutala to talk about Star Trek Enterprise: Kobayashi Maru. We discuss Archer coming into his own, wrong things for the wrong reasons, a shadowy man, a shadowy problem, overly long and not a lot of plot points, the Kobayashi Maru, historical connections and our ratings. In the news segment we look at the upcoming release of The Star Trek Book as well as something for free. News The Star Trek Book (00:02:15) Something for Free (00:06:48) Feature: Kobayashi Maru Dan’s Still Missing (00:10:31) Archer Coming Into His Own (00:12:54) Wrong Things for the Wrong Reasons (00:18:36) Shadowy Man (00:32:56) Shadowy Problem (00:42:09) Overly Long, Not Enough Plot (00:46:50) The Kobayashi Maru (00:52:47) Historical Connections (01:01:54) Ratings (01:06:22) Final Thoughts (01:10:04) Hosts Matthew Rushing and Bruce Gibson Guest Brandon-Shea Mutala Production Matthew Rushing (Editor and Producer) Norman C. Lao (Executive Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Charlynn Schmiedt (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Will Nguyen (Content Manager) Ken Tripp (Associate Producer) Will Nguyen (Associate Producer) Brandon-Shea Mutala (Associate Producer) Bruce Gibson (Associate Producer)

Mere Anarchy: The Blood-Dimmed Tide. Journeying thought The Original Series timeline the Mere Anarchy series have given fans a taste of what was happening in every period of the characters lives as well as the important events they were apart of and the penultimate book in the series is no exception. In this episode of Literary Treks hosts Matthew Rushing and Dan Gunther talk about The Blood-Dimmed Tide. We discuss Mestiko becoming a focal point, the oversight issue, bureaucracy, setting up the milieu of The Undiscovered Country, the Klingon Empire as a metaphor, Kirk’s prejudice, frustration acting out and our ratings. In the news segment we talk about the new covers and blurbs for Elusive Salvation and Live by the Code, the German Prometheus trilogy and Doug Drexler’s upcoming covers for the Prey trilogy. Hosts Matthew Rushing and Dan Gunther Production Matthew Rushing (Editor and Producer) Norman C. Lao (Executive Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Charlynn Schmiedt (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Will Nguyen (Content Manager) Ken Tripp (Associate Producer) Will Nguyen (Associate Producer) Brandon-Shea Mutala (Associate Producer) Bruce Gibson (Associate Producer) News Elusive Salvation Cover and Blurb (00:02:27) Live by the Code Cover and Blurb (00:06:21) German Prometheus Trilogy (00:10:18) Prey Covers (00:13:08) Feature: The Blood-Dimmed Tide Crazy to Think (00:15:38) Mestiko Becoming a Focus (00:16:42) The Oversight Issue (00:20:22) Bureaucracy (00:24:49) Setting Up the Milieu of The Undiscovered Country (00:26:19) The Klingon Empire as a Metaphor (00:34:54) Kirk’s Prejudice (00:39:11) Frustration Acting Out (00:46:17) Ratings (00:52:22) Final Thoughts (00:54:24) Send us your feedback! Twitter: @trekfm Facebook: http://facebook.com/trekfm Voicemail: http://www.speakpipe.com/trekfm Contact Form: http://www.trek.fm/contact Visit the Trek.fm website at http://trek.fm Subscribe in iTunes: http://itunes.com/trekfm Support the Network! Become a Trek.fm Patron on Patreon and help us keep Star Trek talk coming every week. We have great perks for you at http://patreon.com/trekfm

Keith DeCandido: Slings and Arrows: Enterprises of Great Pitch and Moment. From the moment First Contact hit the screens and Geordi mentioned the Enterprise-E had been in space for a year, fans wondered what transpired that year. With huge events on DS9, fans knew the crew of the Enterprise had to be involved somehow. Luckily Treklit came to the rescue with the Sings and Arrows series.  In this episode of Literary Treks hosts Matthew Rushing and Dan Gunter are joined by author Keith DeCandido to talk about the last book in Slings and Arrows, Enterprises of Great Pitch and Movement as well as the series. We discuss the conclusion, the genesis of the series, choosing the writers, Keith's installment, Sisko and Picard, tying it all together, favorite moments, Keith's future in Treklit, his work outside Star Trek and where to find him online. In the news we talk about a new book and cover to judge, The Wit and Wisdom of Star Trek and one more thing from Dayton Ward.   Hosts Matthew Rushing and Dan Gunther   Guest Keith DeCandido   Editor and Producer  Matthew Rushing  Richard Marquez   Associate Producers Will Nguyen Lisa Stevens Kenneth Trip   Production Manager Richard Marquez   Content Coordinator Will Nguyen   News New Book and Book Cover Judging (00:01:59) The Wit and Wisdom of Star Trek (00:05:22) Dayton Has One More Thing (00:06:58)   Feature: Keith DeCandido Slings and Arrows Conclusion (00:09:34) Keith Shares About the Genesis of the Project (00:12:13) Choosing the Writers (00:20:12) Enterprises of Great Pitch and Movement (00:23:24) Sisko and Picard (00:26:34) Tying it All Together (00:32:46) Favorite Moments from the Series (00:44:53) Hope for More Star Trek? (00:48:26) Outside Star Trek (00:49:51) Keith Online (00:57:15) Closing (00:59:12)   Send us your feedback! Twitter: @trekfm Facebook: http://facebook.com/trekfm Voicemail: http://www.speakpipe.com/trekfm Contact Form: http://www.trek.fm/contact Visit the Trek.fm website at http://trek.fm/ Subscribe in iTunes: http://itunes.com/trekfm   Support the Network!   Become a Trek.fm Patron on Patreon and help us keep our shows coming to you every week. We have great perks for you at http://patreon.com/trekfm

Mission Gamma: This Gray Spirit. When Deep Space Nine premiered, the stated goal of the Starfleet presence on the station and the purpose Sisko's mission was to prepare Bajor for Federation membership. As the series went on, this came close to happening once; but a warning from the Emissary put the issue on the backburner. Then the Dominion War happened. With all of that now in the past—and with other loose ends from "What You Leave Behind" either wrapped up or at least addressed—Mission Gamma sets Bajor back on a course for Federation membership and provides DS9 with a new TOS-like initiative to seek out new life and strange new worlds. In the episode of Literary Treks hosts Matthew Rushing and Christopher Jones continue our look at Mission Gamma with the second book, This Gray Spirit. We discuss Ezri's search for her place in the line of Dax hosts, Shar's continued struggle with his place in the unique Andorian reproductive crisis, and how the Yrythyan society of the Gamma Quadrant could hold the keys for solutions to both. We also explore the legacy of Ziyal, the intricacies of Bajoran-Cardassian-Federation politicals, and what it means to be part of the Federation. Plus, we decide whether kelp cakes are a good choice for breakfast and find out why much of the book feels like it takes place inside a Gaylord hotel. In our news segment we judge Lust's Latinum Lost and Found by its cover, check in on The Trek Collective's interview with Star Trek: Seekers artist Rob Caswell, and state the case for the USS Titan being part of the Official Starships Collection.   Send us your feedback! Twitter: @trekfm Facebook: http://facebook.com/trekfm Voicemail: http://www.speakpipe.com/trekfm Contact Form: http://www.trek.fm/contact   Chapters   News Lust's Latinum Lost and Found cover revealed (3:04) The Trek Collective interviews Seekers artist Rob Caswell (9:47) Help get the USS Titan into the Official Starships Collection (11:20) Support Trek.fm by becoming a Patron on Patreon (19:05) Sponsor: Audible (20:56)   Feature: Mission Gamma: This Gray Spirit Initial Thoughts (23:20) Do We Want Strange New Worlds from DS9? (29:07) The Yrythny Caste System and the Defiant Visita Costco (36:07) Political Games of Bajor, Cardassia, and the Federation (43:32) What Does It Mean to Be Part of the Federation? (55:32) Finding Ezri Dax (59:34) An Andorian Soap Opera? (1:04:48) Final Thoughts (1:10:14) Closing (1:14:24)

Editing Star Trek with Margaret Clark. When it comes to Star Trek novels, it’s the authors who get all the glory. The covers are emblazoned with their names. They’re the ones fielding the questions in interviews. But there’s a whole other side to the process of dreaming up the stories, finding the people who will write them, and getting them into your hands. Those tasks fall upon the editor, and Star Trek is fortunate enough to have not only an extremely talented woman behind the curtain, but someone who is a lifelong Star Trek fan. In this episode of Literary Treks hosts Matthew Rushing and Christopher Jones are joined by Margaret Clark, the guiding force behind the Star Trek books, to talk about the process of planning the publication schedule, choosing the basic paths for the characters of the literally universe, and the challenges of publishing mass-market books in an age of digital media and dwindling storefronts. We also learn more about how The Fall came together, the plans for all of 2014, and even a few titles heading our way in 2015. Lastly, we find out what is in the works for the 50th anniversary of Star Trek in 2016. In our news segment we take a look at the cover art and blurb for the second Rise of the Federation novel, Christopher L. Bennett’s Tower of Babel.

The Khitomer Conflict Begins. Star Trek Into Darkness was built around the belief that war with the Klingons was inevitable—at least in the eyes of Admiral Marcus. The prospect itself served a plot focused on the inner workings of Starfleet. And while the film didn't deliver this galactic conflict, IDW's Star Trek Ongoing series will. The big-screen story was continued in the uninspiring After Darkness and now, with that out of the way, a new four-part story titled "The Khitomer Conflict" begins in Ongoing #25. In this episode of Literary Treks hosts Matthew Rushing and Christopher Jones dive into the first part of this war story to find out just what is going on between the Klingons and Romulans, how the Federation and Section 31 are involved, and why this story should have been After Darkness in the first place. In our news segment we look at a flood of books and comics news including John Jackson Miller's upcoming Titan novella Absent Enemies, Michael A. Martin's Seasons of Light and Darkness, Scott Harrison's Shadow of the Machine, and two yet-to-be-titled books coming from Scott Pearson and the writing team of Paula M. Block and Terry J. Erdmann. We also talk cover art for Dayton Ward's Peaceable Kingdoms and the rest of The Fall, IDW's Stardate Collection Volume 2, and we discuss Dayton's recent Ten For Ward post about Star Trek novels for the new reader. 

Rise of the Federation: A Choice of Futures. The premature cancellation of Enterprise left fans in the dark about two key events in Star Trek history. The first was the Romulan War, which has since had light shone upon it by Michael A. Martin. The second is the founding of the Federation, a pivotal time that we still know almost nothing about. Until now that is. In this episode of Literary Treks, hosts Matthew Rushing and Christopher Jones dive into the first book in Christopher L. Bennett's Rise of the Federation series, A Choice of Futures. We explore the early struggles faced by the Humans, Vulcans, Andorians, and Tellarites as they work to establish the United Federation of Planets, the combined Starfleet, and the very identity of what these organizations will be. The challenges are many as external threats work to undermine the fledgling union, incompatible technologies are pushed together, internal political debates rage, and old rivalries linger. Even Section 31 gets in on the act as our old friend Trip Tucker continues down a path far from the one he once shared with Archer. In our news segment we take a first look at Kirsten Beyer's Voyager novel Protectors, Greg Cox's TOS-Voyager crossover tale No Time Like The Past, and get a quick peek at the next installment of Rise of the Federation, Tower of Babel. 

Greg Cox. A lifelong Star Trek fan and prolific author of franchise tie-in fiction, Greg Cox penned his first Star Trek novel in 1995. Devil In the Sky, a numbered DS9 book written together with John Gregory Betancourt, marked the beginning of a long stream of fan-favourites spanning nearly two decades. In this episode of Literary Treks we're joined by Greg to talk about his new TOS novel The Weight of Worlds, as well as many of his other works including The Q Continuum trilogy, The Eugenics Wars, and some of his non-Trek books, too. In our news segment we discuss new teasers about "The Fall" from Una McCormack, David R. George III, and David Mack, tell you which books you need to read to prepare for the series, look at a second part to Rise of the Federation titled "Tower of Babel" along with the Star Trek Space-Spanning Treasury Edition from IDW, and we review Countdown to Darkness #4. 

Tony Daniel: Devil's Bargain. With the complexity of today's expanded universe, it's refreshing to pick up a standalone TOS novel from time to time; and that's just what renowned SF author Tony Daniel has given us in his new book Devil's Bargain. In this episode of Literary Treks we're joined by Tony to talk about his first venture into writing Star Trek, the unique story he set out to tell, and why you really can't ever have too many Hortas. In our news segment we check in on this week's big release slate that includes both James Swallow's The Stuff of Dreams and Greg Cox's The Weight of Worlds, IDW's upcoming June comics, and we dig into the third installment of Countdown to Darkness. 

Avatar, Book Two. S.D. Perry set up the continuation of Deep Space Nine beautifully in the first part of the Avatar duology, but the real payoff comes in book two. On the final pages of the first half we were left with a cliffhanger that threatened to renew hostilities between the Federation and the Dominion. In this episode of Literary Treks we conclude our look at the start of Pocket Books' relaunch of DS9 and how S.D. Perry may have not only captured the pure essence of Deep Space Nine but actually elevated it. In our news segment we look inside Mike and Denise Okuda's new book On Board the U.S.S. Enterprise, get an update on Willain Leisner's upcoming TOS novel The Shocks of Adversity, learn how to speak Klingon, and check in on the release schedule for IDW's Star Trek Ongoing #19 and the Ongoing Volume 4 omnibus.