Star Trek: The Unsettling Stars
by Alan Dean Foster
Synopsis:
Taking place in an alternate timeline created when the Starship Kelvin was destroyed by a Romulan invader from the future, this bold new novel follows Captain James T. Kirk and an inexperienced crew commandeering a repaired U.S.S. Enterprise out of spacedock for a simple shakedown cruise. When a distress call comes in, the Enterprise must aid a large colony ship of alien refugees known as the Perenorean, who are under siege by an unknown enemy. But Kirk and his crew will find that the situation with the peaceful Perenorean is far more complicated than they bargained for, and the answers as to why they were attacked in the first place unfold in the most insidious of ways…
Review:
This is another quick, fast-paced Star Trek novel set in the Kelvin timeline. This has the feel of a fun episode of the Original series, yet in the alternate timeline. The Enterprise aids a group of aliens who are about to be wiped out. They’re peaceful and bright, so it’s hard to believe that their pursuers hate them so much. As the mystery behind the Perenorean unfolds, it seems to be an unsolvable dilemma. I got a bit frustrated with how naïve Kirk seems at times, but this is set when he’s still young and fairly new to the Captain’s chair. Readers will be suspicious at once. But each time the Enterprise crew meets a new species, they try to keep open minds. Full of mystery, drama, and humor – I thoroughly enjoyed this captivating read.