Simon & Schuster Canada take me to the 32nd century with the crew of the Discovery as another Star Trek adventure unfolds in a great read by Dayton Ward.

Set shortly after the events of the third season, with the Burn story arc resolved, the crew of the Discovery find themselves a new mission by Admiral Vance, and under the command of Micheal Burnham launch on an adventure that harkens back to the events that led them to the future.

Discovery receives a distress signal, and Burnham and Tilly are delighted to reacquaint themselves with the Xaheans, but are troubled to learn how the past nine hundred years have played out for the civilization.

The distress call leads them to a ship in need of aid. They learn that that the Xahean homeworld was ravaged not only by the Burn, but by the Dominion War in the 24th century, This has caused divisive lines to form across the society. The Discovery may be pulled into events that may dictate where they, the restoration of the Federation, and the Xahean people.

The story moves along quickly, as the crew attempt to adapt to their new lives in the 32nd century. They are aided by a Denobulan doctor who is serving temporarily as the crew’s counsellor. Our regular characters check in with the doctor, even as the story plunges the ship and crew into danger.

It seems there is someone aboard the Xahean sanctuary who has plans for Discovery and Paul Stamets. Plans that tie directly to the ship’s unique spore drive.

Ward delivers a story that plays out like an episode. It’s not big and sweeping, it’s a confined story that ties itself directly into the series’ established continuity, calling back things from the show’s first three seasons.

The new series of Trek books have so much continuity and canon to pull from with their stories that they feel far and away completely different from their predecessors. They are so immersed in the world, that whether they are canon or not, they certainly feel like they are. They fill out back story, let us glimpse personal moments, and take us on adventures beyond what we see on the screen.

Star Trek novels have come a long way and there is a lot of fun to be had in them. Ward has written a number of them, and each one seems to be an improvement on the last, taking us further with the characters, and the worlds they exist in.

Somewhere to Belong is a solid tale, it isn’t big and huge like some Trek tales have been, but it explores the characters and what they’ve gone through, and how they may now finally have a quiet moment after almost three seasons of nonstop story.

Star Trek: Discovery – Somewhere to Belong is available now from Simon & Schuster, check it out and boldy go with all of the Star Trek titles available from now! The human adventure is just beginning…