markk

During a visit to an orbital trading post, the U.S.S. Enterprise responds to a distress call from a freighter reportedly under attack from the Klingons, When they arrive at the scene, however, the crew find themselves facing a new threat, one that leaves their ship temporarily crippled. Now they face a difficult journey back while under the threat of a renewed attack, and all while one their chief medical officer, Leonard McCoy is recovering from a trauma that has left him with no memory of the previous 25 years.

While known for her novels set in the Next Generation universe, Carmen Carter's first contribution to the Star Trek franchise came with this 1987 novel, which was her only book published featuring the original crew. To me this fact is regrettable, as her contribution to the Pocket Books series is one of the best in it that I have read. Part of this is that unlike so many others by more prominent authors there is no universe-threatening crisis or other rehash of a series trope in it, just a good, gripping story about a ship overcoming a threat that is nicely enriched by her characterization of the crew. None is better explored than Doctor McCoy, who goes form being the captain's curmudgeonly conscience to a conflicted figure questioning the choices he made. It's an interesting plot device that succeeds better than it should, thanks to Carter's effective development of McCoy's turmoil and his engagement with his surroundings. When combined with one of the more unique threats ever devised for the franchise, the result is an entertaining story that reflects some of the best-realized possibilities of the book format for the Star Trek universe.