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Star Trek Explorer: A Year to the Day That I Saw Myself Die and Other Stories review




Chekov's Challenge by Walter Koenig and Chris Mcauley

In the aftermath of The Wrath of Khan the Enterprise is attacked by Orion Pirates.  During the space battle the Enterprise is boarded and the Orions intend to raid the ship and then destroy it by placing explosives on the Warp Core.  Chekov and his security team manage to defeat the invaders while Sulu performs a daring maneuver that overcomes and destroys the Orion Pirates.   

As a story this is... fine.  It adds very little in my opinion.  We get the sense Chekov is in a state of shock, not only from the death of Spock but from his experiences with Khan.  Placing the story between Star Trek II and III is interesting.  There is a very small amount of time one could just about wedge a small story.  There are a few references sprinkled in the story but as a story written by Chekov himself I expected something more substantial.  I think I would have liked it better if you removed the space battle entirely.  Just have Chekov reflect on the events of 'Khan' in solace.  


The Kellidian Kidnapping by Keith R. A. Decandido

A Voyager story where Tuvok and Neelix must rescue Captain Janeway.  It is perfectly fine.  I've read many of Decandido's novels and this is just a little taste.  It feels like a story that could easily slide between episodes.  A story that could open up and expand into different, unpredictable directions.  


Lost and Founder by David Mack

Set thousands of years after the final episode of DS9, Odo emerges and feels nostalgic for the old days and his old friends on DS9.  He has conversations with his comrades, imagined constructs from his mind.  He ponders life, existence and the universe.  And after speaking with Kira, feels a renewed sense of self.

The setting of this story, some thousands of years after the finale, is interesting.  Odo is alone in what is perhaps the farthest point in the Trek timeline, at least that I can remember.  Though he converses with constructs of his friends it feels poignant. 


The Trouble with Jones by Greg Cox

On vacation Captain Kirk encounters Cyrano Jones.  Central here is the fallout from the episode This Side of Paradise.  One of the colonists is obsessed with returning to the euphoric state induced by the plants.  Working together Kirk and Jones manage to overcome the colonist.  It is a fine little story and typical of Cox, mixing bits of Trek continuity.  It almost feels like an original series version of Captain's Holiday.  


Jack of Diamonds by Una Mccormack

Jack Crusher gets into trouble, and rather than have his mother easily solve the problem, decides to meet it head on.  Except, Beverly steps in and beams him up, negating the situation.  

This story was kind of a let down to be perfectly honest.  Mccormack is good, I've read a number of her books.  Here though it is all build up to Jack deciding to face a problem he created only for Beverly to pull the rug, and the theme of the story, out from under him and the reader. 


Stories include:

“Chekov’s Challenge” by Walter Koenig and Chris McAuley
“The Kellidian Kidnapping” by Keith R. A. DeCandido
“Lost and Founder” by David Mack
“A Year to the Day I Saw Myself Die” by Michael Collins
“See and Seen” by Peter Holmstrom
“Sundering” by David Mack
“Academy Acquisition” by Jake Black
“Work Worth Doing” by Keith R. A. Candido
“The Trouble with Jones” by Greg Cox
“Jack of Diamonds” by Una McCormack
“A Dish Served Cold” by Chris Dows
“Forewarned and Three-Armed” by Rich Handley
“Working Miracles” by Jake Black
“Confirmation Bias” by Michael Dismuke

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