by Robert E. Vardeman “Zarv’s entire family had been killed by the Romulans in a brief incursion years before.  His hatred for them and all they stood for transcended mere duty; it took on personal overtones.” This is a direct sequel to Mr. Vardeman’s “The Klingon Gambit,” and it is just as wretched, ridiculous, and poorly-written as its predecessor. Even though Enterprise and her crew are in desperate need of repairs and rest after their last mission, they are given a trio of ambassadors and […]

by A.C. Crispin  “I wish that once, just once, I could command a mission where everything goes perfectly.  Everything.  The transporter functions without a hitch, both the warp drive and the impulse engines stay on-line for the duration, nobody from security suffers so much as a hangnail, and the ship’s computer doesn’t even hiccup.”  Since this a sequel to the same author’s “Yesterday’s Son,” I decided to read it out of order.  It’s actually #39 in the Pocketbooks series, while “Yesterday’s Son” is #11.  I […]

by A.C. Crispin  “I specified clearance for three, Captain.  Taking into account Dr. McCoy’s predictable penchant for rushing in where angels fear to tread, I reasoned he would attempt this.  There is usually a logical pattern to his illogical behavior.”  Remember when Spock and McCoy found themselves transported through time 5,000 years into the past, into the middle of an ice age? And Spock reverted to pre-Surak Vulcanism and ate meat? And had a brief, passionate affair with a woman named Zarabeth? When Spock and […]

by M.S. Murdock  “Jim Kirk was aware of sound.  The ship roared around him, its gentle vibration magnified by his receptivity.  It throbbed through bone and muscle, its pulse his.  He thought fleetingly of the computer’s statement he and the ship were joined, and had to admit in some ways it was right, though the joining was on a different level…more his love of an idea.”  Ok, so an epidemic is wiping out the Romulan empire.  The only cure is derived from a grain (named […]

by Sondra Marshak and Myrna Culbreath  “She was possibly a gorgeous female. He was not certain of what species. She was humanoid, certainly.  She even looked, for all practical purposes, Human. But there was a hint of something almost feral about the tawny eyes.  The matching tawny mane seemed to grow to some natural length and shape which she merely shook back.  She wore soft boots and a coppery bodysuit which looked as if it were poured out of the living metal, cut in lines […]

by Sonni Cooper “His dark shape flamed through the room, causing a skipped heartbeat, as he bargained for possession of the women. Shrouded in a garment made of lightning, he took the ladies as his own, bringing delight clouded in mystery. To see his face through the veil of dark flame. To touch his hand, strong and warm. To belong to this man of fire, if only for a moment. Time too short for love complete. He is a shadow of mystery. My flaming love.” […]