Sometimes I just want to travel with old friends. And the oldest of those friends, are the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise, Captain James T. Kirk commanding. As the Pocketbook series continued, the stories have gotten stronger, tying in with the ever-expanding franchise’s continuity.

Across the Universe takes place during the original five-year mission. The Enterprise has come alongside a ship from the past. A long hauler, not unlike the Botany Bay. The surviving crew, thanks to relativistic travel, are old, but a couple of centuries has passed them by as they travel.

They are colonists. The planet they were headed to is no longer there (thanks, Doomsday Machine), but Kirk and Spock find another for them, even as Scotty effects temporary repairs on the colony ship, The Hawking.

On arrival, overtures are made to the planet’s current colony, who are eager to welcome these newcomers. But there’s something happening on the planet. Some strange spreading green moss and undergrowth that is absorbing colonies, and colonists.

As the green matter spreads, can Kirk, Spock and the rest find a way to save the colonies?

It’s a fairly basic story. I get why the colonists had to be from the past, but it’s not explored as deeply as it could have been. It works very much like an episode does, an exploration of the unknown, discoveries, and more.

There are some moments that feel very Trek. I have a little bit of an issue with the shutttlecraft sequence. Are you telling me they can’t hover?

Beyond that, it’s nice to hang out with my old friends and go on new adventures with them.

As mentioned, it’s fairly basic, almost constructed to follow an episode’s beats, but spaced over the course of a novel. It’s enjoyable, it’s not my favourite story so far in the paperback series, but it helped scratch that itch I had for some Trek.

I do like that most of the characters get a moment to shine. There’s some personal stuff for Uhura and Chekov, Sulu does some flying, Kirk does his thing, Scotty fixes, McCoy grouses, and Spock, well in this story, Spock gets to help save the day. Pretty much on his own.

The colonists’ out-of-time story seems to be pushed aside for most of the tale, as the planetary problems move to center stage, and I think that’s a missed opportunity.

The Human Adventure continues as the Enterprise continues to boldly go…