The second original novel in The Next Generation book series came out om September of 1988, two months before the premiere of season two. The crew of the Enterprise comes across a strange derelict starship and when Data and LaForge investigate they are transported away, leaving Captain Picard and the rest struggling to find out where his away team was sent.

As Picard investigates, the duo discovers themselves on a similar ship and a planet that is under its control. The pair discover two brothers who have been at war for over fifty years as one of them has assumed control of the ship and its abilities keeping the population under his thumb.

It ends up being a fairly basic story, but there are some interesting things going on that contrast interestingly with canon, Troi calls Picard ‘Jean-Luc’ a number of times when you know she’d refer to him as captain in this scenario. There’s a nice connection between Troi and Riker, something that reminds one of the final of season three of Picard, and finally, there’s a nod to The Animated Series as the away team wears field-effect belts that allow them to survive in hostile environments including vacuum. Oh, and when Riker and Tasha find a way to follow in Data and LaForge’s footsteps they wear a strange radiation suit that doesn’t sound familiar at all.

It’s an interesting enough tale and very much in keeping with the feel of season one, and it definitely leans into the friendship that is starting to grow between Data and LaForge.

It’s definitely early days for the book series, canon hasn’t been established as deeply as it will be, and much like season one, and two, the stories are simple (with some exceptions). It does capture the feel of the series with its noted differences, though not all the characters are behaving quite as they will.

Still, it’s a lot of fun going back to the late 80s when all of a sudden, for the first time since the early 70s, there was no Star Trek on television, new characters to get to know, new worlds to explore, and the ability to boldy go with them.

It’s great to read these early stories knowing how things would change, how characters would grow, and delight in the differences that pop up. The voyages will continue for the crew of the NCC-1701-D in The Children of Hamlin…