The fourth novel in The Next Generation series from Pocket Books is set between the events Arsenal of Freedom and Skin of Evil and gives Tasha Yar more story time than she received in her only season on the show.

It also fills out some of her backstory, and while nothing contradicts the established canon, it does not touch on the character of Ishara Yar at all. The story reveals how Tasha got away from the violent colony she grew up on, and how it was a Starfleet vessel that saved her, and how the leader of the mission, a security officer nicknamed Dare saved and influenced her.

And eventually, the pair become lovers as Tasha completes her Starfleet training and begins her service. Unfortunately, Dare finds himself accused of murder theft, and violation of Starfleet regulations, it breaks Tasha’s heart, and though Dare insists on his innocence the evidence suggests otherwise.

Between the episodes mentioned above, Data and Yar find themselves assigned an away mission that sees them visiting a remote planet that may be on the verge of civil war, and the planet’s leader isn’t telling them everything.

There are kidnappings, reveals, truths, and small surprises, and amongst it all, is Dare. Tasha, with Data at her side, will have to decide between her emotions and duty, and Data will work to help his friend and the mystery that is surrounding the planet, and its troubling leader.

There are no big moments in the story, but Lorrah handles the characters of Yar and Data well though no real chances are taken with the characters, but one can’t do that with established characters, and you can’t really mess with canon. Still, I hoped for a little more from Yar’s past.

It’s no surprise that Dare shows up in Tasha’s present, you can see that one coming from the first chapter, but Lorrah handles the tale well, and it honestly feels like it could have been an episode. There’s a nice sense of continuity to the events that tie in with the first season, and it feels very much like the first season, from the way the characters are written to their behaviour. They aren’t quite the characters they grow into, but they are familiar.

It’s fun, and to paraphrase Lorrah in her introduction, all Star Trek is Star Trek, and this one explores some of Tasha’s past, and Data’s developing personality, admitting what we already knew about the character, that he has feelings of a sort, even before he got his emotion chip.

The human adventure will continue as I explore more of the Star Trek universe, both The Original Series, and The Next Generation. Boldly go…