Howard Weinstein delivers his first Next Gen novel with Power Hungry. Set squarely in the second season of the series, Weinstein shows that he has a pretty solid handle on the characters, and explores an environmental theme that sounds very familiar to the way we are treating our own planet.

The Enterprise is on a mercy mission to Thiopa. They are leading a convoy of five automated cargo carriers that are transporting foodstuffs, medicine, and other necessary items to help assauge the problems that are plaguing the planet.

Unfortunately, upon their arrival they find out things aren’t as sharply defined as they were led to believe. There is a power struggle going on between a leader who is more concerned with technology and the sciences that can help save their planet, though those same technologies are already ruining the planet, a side effect of the tech given them by another species who mined the planet.

There is also a religious group that is more planet-concious, citing a belief of living in balance with nature, and it seems they have been branded a terrorist organization.

Captain Picard and his crew are prohibited from becoming involved in planetary politics when the planet isn’t a member of the Federatioin, they can only provide aid. But who will actually get the food, the well-off leaders or the people they are attempting to starve out?

Things are complicated by Riker’s kidnapping by the religious group, and a seemingly arrogant diplomat assigned by the Federation who is a stickler for details. But as our characters discover truths about the situation will they be able to offer any help at all or will the people of Thiopa have to solve their environmental problems themselves?

Weinstein keeps the story moving, and writes the Next Gen cast well, though at this point in the series, the characters themselves were still being formed by the stories and actors. But it definitely feels like a Trek story, it has a message, it has lots going on, though the whole Worf musical instrument thing was a little odd, and I’m glad something like that never made it into the series.

Still, it’s a fun novel, and considering at the time we only had the first two seasons of the now classic show, this was probably a welcome adventure to keep those of us who were fans going until the next Trek novel, or the beginning of the third season, whatever happened first.

I remember adding this book to mjy collection when it was released, I was reading the Trek books voraciously, and I like that this one has reall stood the test of time (for the most part). There are more adventures to come with the crew of the Entreprise D as I explore more of their novel adventures from Simon & Schuster.

Boldly go.