When murder and sabotage imperil the time-sensitive and top-secret mission of a team of civilian scientists, Starfleet deploys Captain Christopher Pike and the Enterprise crew to Kathara Station, a classified research facility located above the accretion disk of a black hole.
Lieutenant Commander Una Chin-Riley soon discovers the station’s director, Valkeya, is hiding secrets—but so is Captain Pike, who many years earlier visited this same black hole on a mission that went tragically wrong, and whose consequences have haunted him ever since.
Caught in the crossfire on the station are Science Officer Spock, Nurse Christine Chapel, and Security Chief La’An Noonien-Singh, whose romantic entanglements old and new threaten to unravel their bonds of friendship.
As enemies converge upon the station, can Valkeya and Pike both atone for the mistakes of their pasts in time to avert a tragedy? With time running out, the survival of Kathara Station, the USS Enterprise, and dozens of innocent lives hinges on their acts of contrition…
Review:
I know I’ve been reviewed several Star Trek books lately… What can I say? It’s a good time to be a Trekkie with all of this new content!
David Mack is a favorite author of mine – and this latest novel doesn’t disappoint. Weaving an impressive story of intrigue, murder, and suspense – Stranger New World fans will not want to miss this exceptional installment, set in the 3rd season. We get a deeper dive into Spock’s relationships, and a more believable tension than we got in the tv series. I thoroughly enjoyed the character development, as well as the memorable plot.
Ring of Fire is fast-paced, yet with plenty of drama and humor and technobabble. In fact, one of my favorite interactions is with Scotty and Pelia – a relationship that hasn’t been fleshed out nearly enough in the series. This high-stakes adventure culminates in a powerful ending. This would have made a great episode, but it’s even better as a novel.