Starfleet Academy: The Gemini Agent, by Rick Barba
As final exams come around, so do hazing rituals and pranks. But as one prank turns almost deadly for a certain Russian wiz kid, the evidence points to Kirk as the culprit. Though the allegations seem absurd, there happens to be a night when Kirk blacked out, with several hours unaccounted for. Bones, Uhurah, and a new Vulcan friend team up to figure out what really happened, and clear Kirk’s name. Kirk’s entire future depends on them proving his innocence.
In this latest installment of the young adult Starfleet Academy series, a sixteen-year-old Chekov joins the cast of characters. He’s years younger than his classmates, thanks to his genius intellect. But that brings about new problems, when it comes to girls. Returning in this story are of course Kirk, Bones, Uhura, and Spock. Uhura and Spock begin to form a closer relationship, crossing into a personal level. Though these novels do not need to be read in order, as they are completely stand-alone stories, it’s fun to see the gradual character progression.
An interesting Romulan spy plot is integral to the story. And while it’s blatantly obvious who the spy is, there are a couple of unexpected twists along the way. Full of adventure, intrigue and romance, The Gemini Agent is a fun and fast-paced addition to a fantastic new series. Taking place during the academy days from the latest film, this an entertaining read for Star Trek fans of all ages. I can’t get enough of this series.