Introduction
Star Trek represents one of the most successful Sci-fi series ever. I have been a fan of the series from quite a young age. So when I happened to see this
book relating to the Lost Years i.e. the time after the first mission of Enterprise was decommissioned and the
crew got scattered, I grabbed at it with both hands.
Plot
The story breaks out with the whereabouts of the various characters of the Enterprise crew. Of these, three have a very important part to play.
Zoom into, Ensign Pavel Chekov who has
enrolled at Starfleet Security Academy. He is just beginning to enjoy the Annapolis snow, but the trouble is with the schedule and training at the academy which seems to be draining into him. Add to that a pesky senior Leong and that does not seem to lift Chekov's spirits any higher.
Zoom into, Lieutenant Sulu who has enrolled as a Starfleet test pilot. He and his new boss Hernan Nakai are working on the controversial
Wraith II
project. The project seems to have two major risks involved, one the wraith device itself about which nothing much is known and the other is someone seems have set his sights on it.
Zoom into, Lieutenant Uhura who has enrolled as a lecturer in Starfleet University and her class has at least one high profile student in Jackson Kahle - ex Starfleet employee and now the boss of highly acclaimed Uniphase Incorporated.
The story begins to hot up as some mysterious happenings begin. First of all Hernan Nakai and the Wraith vanish. Next up Chekov is charged with murder. Next Sulu is rumoured to have died in an plane crash. Suddenly, Chekov is on the run. Somebody seems to be dicrediting ex-Enterprise crew or hunting them down. So what do the crew do? Of course, look up to the captain. But where is he? Dr. Mccoy also weaves in and out of the plot.
So what happened to Sulu? To Chekov? What happened to the Wraith project? Check this book out for these details!!
The StoryLine
The book starts pretty slowly till the introductions of the new whereabouts of the crew is established. Then the story picks up pace and then gushes headlong from one episode to another and to a good finale at the end.
The best thing about the book is that Pavel Chekov and Sulu, two of the lesser known mortals of the Enterprise crew get to show more of their talents here. The grit of Chekov and the calmness of Sulu come to the fore in this novel.
Apart from this the novel is good reading, but does not really reach the hieghts of any literary level.
Verdict
I would rate it around 4, just because the way characters of side characters of the main series has been developed. Also the pace of the plot does add to Graf's credit.