Shatner continues his mirror universe trilogy, with Dark Victory. It seems not only has Captain James T. Kirk survived into the 24th century, so has his mirror universe counterpart, Emperor Tiberius. And they are on a collision course.

Wrapping up the cliffhanger of the previous book, Picard and his crew are reunited, and Kirk and his old friends, McCoy and Spock carry on with their lives. In fact, Teilani, Kirk’s love, is pregnant, and they are planning a wedding.

After the introduction and resolution, the novel jumps forward to post-Insurrection. The authors weave in a lot more ideas, like those of the Preservers, and a horde of dangerous children. And maybe a hint (or more) of some Section 31 activities.

Kirk and Teilani are preparing for their wedding, and on the day of, disaster strikes, following up on Tiberius’ promise to take his universe from Kirk, as Kirk did to him.

Teilani is poisoned, and she and their unborn child are on the verge of death. McCoy is keeping them in stasis, but that’s only slowing things down, it won’t keep her safe forever. Only a few days at most.

Kirk agrees to help out if Starfleet will help him find a cure, something he is convinced Tiberius has at his disposal.

But there’s more going on here than Kirk and company can initially figure out.

As seems to be the way these tales go, Kirk and Picard bump heads a little before, once again, aligning on the same side. And Kirk, as always, still seems to be the smartest person in the room. This doesn’t do his character, or any of the others any good, but it doesn’t ruin the story, you just take it in stride, and enjoy the ride.

With the Reeves-Stevens aiding Shatner, you know there are going to be fun details and use of characters, and this one is packed full. They certainly know how to tell a good story, and sure, you could argue that the franchise has really gone back to the well on the mirror universe way too many times, but at least it plays out in a fun way.

It also sets up the third book in the series, by digging into the Preserver story first established back in The Original Series episode The Paradise Syndrome.

The Shatner-verse stories are fun, I love the references that are worked into them, the cameos and appearances. They are fairly epic, more big-screen Trek, than small-screen, so I sometimes find them at odds with the rest of the Star Trek novels. Still, all of them are fun, and it’s interesting to see Kirk continue on in the 24th century, and now looking at the adventure of family and fatherhood while boldly going…