What do you think?
Rate this book
Star Trek: The Original Series #33
Deep Domain
A routine diplomatic visit to the water-world of Akkalla becomes a nightmarish search for a missing Spock and Chekov, a search that plunges Admiral Kirk headlong into a corrupt government's desperate struggle to retain power.
For both A Federation Science outpost and Akkalla's valiant freedom fighters have begun uncovering the ancient secrets hidden beneath her tranquil oceans. Secrets whose exposure may even mean civil war for the people of Akkalla -- and death for the crew of the Starship Enterprise™.
288 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 1987
21 people are currently reading
509 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
May 25, 2018
This came out before Star Trek The Voyage Home but lot of its Whale of a plot has the similar themes set around fish .
I often wondered why the Author did not accuse them of ripe off.
I often wondered why the Author did not accuse them of ripe off.
July 23, 2022
My earliest memory of Star Trek is from when I must have been in 2nd or 3rd grade, over at my next-door neighbor's house. The TV was on and there was a scene with a bulbous alien head with glowing eyes shrouded in mist saying something about trespass into its territory (I only learned much later that episode was entitled Spectre Of The Gun). My friend's mother said we shouldn't watch that cause it would scare us. Contrary to her statement, I was entranced. I didn't realize it at the time, but that episode (along with a copy of The Martian Chronicles on my dad's bookshelf) triggered a lifelong obsession with Star Trek, and SF in general.
Also without my explicit awareness, Star Trek was slowly and subtly affecting my thinking with progressive and humanistic values that were in conflict with the politically regressive and fundamentalist indoctrination of my parent's church. Star Trek has from its very beginnings been about a positive vision of humanity's potential to move beyond tribalistic fighting, and towards a society driven by more than just profit and conflict. Many people who claim to be fans of Star Trek can be heard grousing about what they call political correctness, or wokism, or whatever term they choose for dismissing anything they don't like, without actually taking time to understand the core arguments. These people are not actual fans of Star Trek. They haven't been paying attention.
This book was published nearly 40 years ago, and it is a perfect example of the kind of story those fake-fans would whine and cry about. This book is highly applicable to the current political climate in the US, with its central concerns of a society justifying the rampant detsruction of an ecosystem for the purpose of short term gains accompanied by the deliberate supression of scientific research and factual information. It is pretty much a direct analogue to the tobacco industry (in earlier times), and the fossil fuel industry (now), and the current continued denial of the reality of climate change. It's both amazing how much this book applies to what is going on now, and deeply depressing.
Besides the core story, there are numerous quotes that could apply to events of the recent 40 years:
"Oh, this isn't torture, commander. It's just an interrogation enhancement techniqe, useful for softening resistance."
"No government can last long if it neglects the physical realities of its world."
The writing is occasionally weak with some occasional cringe-inducing dialog, and the use of telepathy is probably my least favorite aspect of the Star Trek universe, but I accept it as part of the canon. Despite the flaws, I really quite enjoyed this book, more than I expected, which makes me think that maybe I should read more of the Star Trek novels, something I stopped doing back in my post-college years when I decided that franchise fiction was mostly not good.
Also without my explicit awareness, Star Trek was slowly and subtly affecting my thinking with progressive and humanistic values that were in conflict with the politically regressive and fundamentalist indoctrination of my parent's church. Star Trek has from its very beginnings been about a positive vision of humanity's potential to move beyond tribalistic fighting, and towards a society driven by more than just profit and conflict. Many people who claim to be fans of Star Trek can be heard grousing about what they call political correctness, or wokism, or whatever term they choose for dismissing anything they don't like, without actually taking time to understand the core arguments. These people are not actual fans of Star Trek. They haven't been paying attention.
This book was published nearly 40 years ago, and it is a perfect example of the kind of story those fake-fans would whine and cry about. This book is highly applicable to the current political climate in the US, with its central concerns of a society justifying the rampant detsruction of an ecosystem for the purpose of short term gains accompanied by the deliberate supression of scientific research and factual information. It is pretty much a direct analogue to the tobacco industry (in earlier times), and the fossil fuel industry (now), and the current continued denial of the reality of climate change. It's both amazing how much this book applies to what is going on now, and deeply depressing.
Besides the core story, there are numerous quotes that could apply to events of the recent 40 years:
"Oh, this isn't torture, commander. It's just an interrogation enhancement techniqe, useful for softening resistance."
"No government can last long if it neglects the physical realities of its world."
The writing is occasionally weak with some occasional cringe-inducing dialog, and the use of telepathy is probably my least favorite aspect of the Star Trek universe, but I accept it as part of the canon. Despite the flaws, I really quite enjoyed this book, more than I expected, which makes me think that maybe I should read more of the Star Trek novels, something I stopped doing back in my post-college years when I decided that franchise fiction was mostly not good.
June 4, 2016
Takes place after the first movie and before the second.
Pretty good “episode”, although the writing has a fanfic vibe now and again. An awkward phrase here, a few too many Tom Swifties there, that kinda of thing.
The author clearly had some statements to make, but the preaching rarely went beyond a few sentences at a time, and I never felt that the whole purpose of the story was to bang the reader over the head with The Message. When it comes to that, Weinstein has a lighter touch than some of the people who wrote the actual episodes!
While there is one lovely scene with a young local lady and her “grandfather,” for the most part the original characters do not rise above the demands of the plot. Which is not to say that they are entirely uninteresting, but they never really live and breathe on their own.
Part of the problem is that there are far too many of them, so few of them get sufficient time “on stage” to grow or change or truly develop their relationships, but even those who manage that are interesting more as plot points than as people.
There are a couple of science errors like treating the recapitulation theory (“ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny”) as legit, or ignoring the impact that the author’s modifications would have on the primary function of a whale’s tail. Frictional drag on a whale’s tail rapidly reduces its ability to fulfill its primary purpose of propelling the whale – that’s presumably why whales and most fish have small stabilizing fins. Large perpendicular fins on a horizontal set of flukes only seem to work when something else is propelling the object, as with torpedoes or planes.
I seem to be more sensitive to scientific stuff lately -- the scientific "errors" (probably accurate at the time, but no longer) in Heinlein's Orphans of the Sky irritated me too, which is not usually the case.
Pretty good “episode”, although the writing has a fanfic vibe now and again. An awkward phrase here, a few too many Tom Swifties there, that kinda of thing.
The author clearly had some statements to make, but the preaching rarely went beyond a few sentences at a time, and I never felt that the whole purpose of the story was to bang the reader over the head with The Message. When it comes to that, Weinstein has a lighter touch than some of the people who wrote the actual episodes!
While there is one lovely scene with a young local lady and her “grandfather,” for the most part the original characters do not rise above the demands of the plot. Which is not to say that they are entirely uninteresting, but they never really live and breathe on their own.
Part of the problem is that there are far too many of them, so few of them get sufficient time “on stage” to grow or change or truly develop their relationships, but even those who manage that are interesting more as plot points than as people.
There are a couple of science errors like treating the recapitulation theory (“ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny”) as legit, or ignoring the impact that the author’s modifications would have on the primary function of a whale’s tail. Frictional drag on a whale’s tail rapidly reduces its ability to fulfill its primary purpose of propelling the whale – that’s presumably why whales and most fish have small stabilizing fins. Large perpendicular fins on a horizontal set of flukes only seem to work when something else is propelling the object, as with torpedoes or planes.
I seem to be more sensitive to scientific stuff lately -- the scientific "errors" (probably accurate at the time, but no longer) in Heinlein's Orphans of the Sky irritated me too, which is not usually the case.
September 23, 2025
This novel takes place after The Motion Picture and prior to The Wrath of Khan. It was written before the canon between the two movies was more clearly established, but if I had to place it, I'd say it fits best during Christopher L. Bennett's "The Higher Frontier" when the second five year mission ended.
As the author notes in his forward, this story was birthed in the same writing sessions as Star Trek IV. So, how does it fair? It's okay, but it could have been a lot better. The story wastes too much time on a servicable but familiar political plot that we've all experienced a hundred times, and it spends too much time describing the environment. If the story was paired down a bit to keep the plot moving faster, it would have been much improved. If it had been a movie, the nature of the medium would have solved this problem. I would have preferred this plot over the Earth-centered time travel plot of Star Trek IV.
If you're thinking of reading this book, don't let my review dissuade you. Despite its flaws, Deep Domain is still worth reading and helps transition the timeline into Wrath of Khan.
3.5 out of 5.
As the author notes in his forward, this story was birthed in the same writing sessions as Star Trek IV. So, how does it fair? It's okay, but it could have been a lot better. The story wastes too much time on a servicable but familiar political plot that we've all experienced a hundred times, and it spends too much time describing the environment. If the story was paired down a bit to keep the plot moving faster, it would have been much improved. If it had been a movie, the nature of the medium would have solved this problem. I would have preferred this plot over the Earth-centered time travel plot of Star Trek IV.
If you're thinking of reading this book, don't let my review dissuade you. Despite its flaws, Deep Domain is still worth reading and helps transition the timeline into Wrath of Khan.
3.5 out of 5.
December 29, 2021
3.25 stars. This was written with the vision of a theatrical film for the story (Star Trek IV, to be exact), and that is very clear in the writing style. Some parts drag due to the way movement and surroundings are described in choreographed detail.
The story itself tends to bounce around, with several of the plot threads seemingly forgotten about or intentionally abandoned. The storytelling will be smooth for a while, but then become jerky and disjointed. "But enough about that unresolved plot point, here's a whole new thread instead!"
For all that, the overall story itself isn't bad, and probably would have presented well as a movie. Many scenes were extremely visual and would have looked impressive on the silver screen. The ocean floor scenes, especially, ached for an IMAX showing!
I probably won't read this one again, but I enjoyed it well enough.
The story itself tends to bounce around, with several of the plot threads seemingly forgotten about or intentionally abandoned. The storytelling will be smooth for a while, but then become jerky and disjointed. "But enough about that unresolved plot point, here's a whole new thread instead!"
For all that, the overall story itself isn't bad, and probably would have presented well as a movie. Many scenes were extremely visual and would have looked impressive on the silver screen. The ocean floor scenes, especially, ached for an IMAX showing!
I probably won't read this one again, but I enjoyed it well enough.
February 28, 2017
Like many books in this series, this one was good but not great.
July 14, 2024
The Short Version
Some fun times with the classic Trek crew are to be had, and there's some interesting story beats, but it's all spread far too thinly. Mostly this book is just a massive bore where very little happens, and what does happen is ridiculously predictable.
I don't look for literary genius in Star Trek books, but I do hope to at least have some fun. Only recommended to the most die hard fans that already read everything else.
The Long Version
This book starts off promisingly enough. Sulu and a new cat like ensign have some delightful exchanges about chocolate. I was completely onboard and loving my time back with the crew. Then there's some standard peril and a mystery to resolve, and I was hooked.
But the book can't seem to tell what story it wants to focus on. About halfway through the book, the lovable cat ensign is basically replaced by a scientist from the water planet they are visiting who is far less interesting. This is a trend throughout this book. Characters and storylines get introduced, then slowly fade into the background as new stories come up. This makes it very hard to get attached to characters as they keep being replaced. The replacements tend to be consistently less and less interesting on top of it.
By the time we get to the final confrontation, not a whole lot is happening, and the stakes somehow seem significantly lower than they did at the start of the book. That said, at least something happens during the finale, which is more than I can say for the rest of the book.
There were also some interesting sci fi ideas presented here, but they never really get explored. . If the book had taken the time to really explore some of these concepts it could have been truly fascinating, but instead it jams them into a paint by numbers Star Trek story that plays like a lesser episode. A mediocre Star Trek episode still has the decency to be over in under an hour. Unless your a speed reader, you'll be stuck in this tedium far longer.
Recommended for completionists only.
Some fun times with the classic Trek crew are to be had, and there's some interesting story beats, but it's all spread far too thinly. Mostly this book is just a massive bore where very little happens, and what does happen is ridiculously predictable.
I don't look for literary genius in Star Trek books, but I do hope to at least have some fun. Only recommended to the most die hard fans that already read everything else.
The Long Version
This book starts off promisingly enough. Sulu and a new cat like ensign have some delightful exchanges about chocolate. I was completely onboard and loving my time back with the crew. Then there's some standard peril and a mystery to resolve, and I was hooked.
But the book can't seem to tell what story it wants to focus on. About halfway through the book, the lovable cat ensign is basically replaced by a scientist from the water planet they are visiting who is far less interesting. This is a trend throughout this book. Characters and storylines get introduced, then slowly fade into the background as new stories come up. This makes it very hard to get attached to characters as they keep being replaced. The replacements tend to be consistently less and less interesting on top of it.
By the time we get to the final confrontation, not a whole lot is happening, and the stakes somehow seem significantly lower than they did at the start of the book. That said, at least something happens during the finale, which is more than I can say for the rest of the book.
There were also some interesting sci fi ideas presented here, but they never really get explored. . If the book had taken the time to really explore some of these concepts it could have been truly fascinating, but instead it jams them into a paint by numbers Star Trek story that plays like a lesser episode. A mediocre Star Trek episode still has the decency to be over in under an hour. Unless your a speed reader, you'll be stuck in this tedium far longer.
Recommended for completionists only.
July 10, 2021
Some avid readers of Star Trek fiction know the story behind Deep Domain. That story being how author Howard Weinstein was called in by director Leonard Nimoy to brainstorm ideas for Star Trek IV:The Voyage Home.
While I'm sure Nimoy used some of Weinstein's input, whatever wasn't used-from Howard's story outline-became this book. The result is a uniquely satisfying Star Trek adventure that addresses some of the same allegory Star Trek IV does.
While checking in with a Federation science outpost on the water world Akkalla, the Enterprise crew finds the scientists missing; apparently kidnapped. They also find a great deal of political and social unrest as the fascist military is trying to take over the government.
As it turns out, this already corrupt government has been making a 'deal with the devil' by trading their natural resources for a neighboring planet's high technology. And just as it is with our own planet, the wildlife and ecology have to pay the price for a political agenda.
Spock and Chekov are sent down to investigate in a state of the art aquatic shuttlecraft, aptly named- the "Cousteau". They also end up getting kidnapped and pretty soon Admiral Kirk and crew have a huge mess to sort out and many mysteries to solve.
Much of the exposition is ironed out by the second half of this book and our Federation heros go searching for the mythical Wwafida. I felt a true sense of wonder as they searched the Akkallan ocean for these creatures-whose very existence could bring stability to the government.
I found the Akkallan ocean floor every bit as exotic as an alien world. Learning the history and mysteries of this planet-which has a land to water ratio of 98% water-was my favorite part of the book.
I also loved the ample use of Dr. McCoy. The good Dr. Is given alot to do in this read as he gets to play ship's counselor-of sorts, smoothing things over when Kirk can't. Bones is also given all the best lines and gets to save the day on occasion.
Weinstein's sensibilities toward endangered wildlife and ecology are in full bore here. This book very aptly demonstrates the importance of biodiversity in a thriving ecosystem. It also showcases how all life on a planet is biologically linked, one way or another.
While reading this book I often envisioned what it would have looked like on the big screen, as Star Trek: IV. It would have been cinematic, to say the least! But while there are allegorical similarities between Deep Domain and Trek 4, I feel this book has more in common with the Star Trek animated episode, "The Ambergris Element".
All in all, I found this to be a very entertaining Star Trek adventure with alot of originality. It's a story that's as relevant today as it was thirty-some years ago.
While I'm sure Nimoy used some of Weinstein's input, whatever wasn't used-from Howard's story outline-became this book. The result is a uniquely satisfying Star Trek adventure that addresses some of the same allegory Star Trek IV does.
While checking in with a Federation science outpost on the water world Akkalla, the Enterprise crew finds the scientists missing; apparently kidnapped. They also find a great deal of political and social unrest as the fascist military is trying to take over the government.
As it turns out, this already corrupt government has been making a 'deal with the devil' by trading their natural resources for a neighboring planet's high technology. And just as it is with our own planet, the wildlife and ecology have to pay the price for a political agenda.
Spock and Chekov are sent down to investigate in a state of the art aquatic shuttlecraft, aptly named- the "Cousteau". They also end up getting kidnapped and pretty soon Admiral Kirk and crew have a huge mess to sort out and many mysteries to solve.
Much of the exposition is ironed out by the second half of this book and our Federation heros go searching for the mythical Wwafida. I felt a true sense of wonder as they searched the Akkallan ocean for these creatures-whose very existence could bring stability to the government.
I found the Akkallan ocean floor every bit as exotic as an alien world. Learning the history and mysteries of this planet-which has a land to water ratio of 98% water-was my favorite part of the book.
I also loved the ample use of Dr. McCoy. The good Dr. Is given alot to do in this read as he gets to play ship's counselor-of sorts, smoothing things over when Kirk can't. Bones is also given all the best lines and gets to save the day on occasion.
Weinstein's sensibilities toward endangered wildlife and ecology are in full bore here. This book very aptly demonstrates the importance of biodiversity in a thriving ecosystem. It also showcases how all life on a planet is biologically linked, one way or another.
While reading this book I often envisioned what it would have looked like on the big screen, as Star Trek: IV. It would have been cinematic, to say the least! But while there are allegorical similarities between Deep Domain and Trek 4, I feel this book has more in common with the Star Trek animated episode, "The Ambergris Element".
All in all, I found this to be a very entertaining Star Trek adventure with alot of originality. It's a story that's as relevant today as it was thirty-some years ago.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 28, 2019
Decent for a Star Trek book. I liked all the page time McCoy was granted.
February 5, 2019
A routine mission to provide assistance to a Federation Science Team on the oceanic world Akkalla goes horribly wrong when Spock and Chekov are missing, declared dead by the government.
Kirk uncovers a conspiracy to keep the Akkallans under control while the government sells fishing rights to a neighbour in trade for advanced technology. But at what cost?
Weinstein has written another ecologically grounded adventure which warns of the risks involved in tampering with nature.
Kirk uncovers a conspiracy to keep the Akkallans under control while the government sells fishing rights to a neighbour in trade for advanced technology. But at what cost?
Weinstein has written another ecologically grounded adventure which warns of the risks involved in tampering with nature.
April 15, 2025
The book opens with a Federation science team located on the planet Akkalla, a planet comprised mostly of oceans. The team members are all frustrated as they are on the verge of finding a new life form but are being prevented from doing the necessary research.
Spock and Chekov crash-land on the planet and Kirk is denied permission to search for them. But, true to form, Kirk finds a way to search anyway. During said search the crew makes discoveries that link the current population to a legend of the planet's past.
NOTE: According to the author this was based on a draft of the Star Trek 4 movie script that he wrote. However, the end of the story places it just before Star Trek 2 as Kirk mentions he recommended Chekhov as the first officer to Captain Terrell on the Reliant.
Spock and Chekov crash-land on the planet and Kirk is denied permission to search for them. But, true to form, Kirk finds a way to search anyway. During said search the crew makes discoveries that link the current population to a legend of the planet's past.
NOTE: According to the author this was based on a draft of the Star Trek 4 movie script that he wrote. However, the end of the story places it just before Star Trek 2 as Kirk mentions he recommended Chekhov as the first officer to Captain Terrell on the Reliant.
March 18, 2020
Another good attempt at capturing TOS, taking place between The Motion Picture and Wrath of Khan. With a problematic, though intriguing, plot it suffers from a slue of missed opportunities [Nothing Chekov did deserved a promotion Jimbo!] not to mention a little more of a fanfic vibe than I like, even from a franchise novel.
Recommendation - In the end it's basically a fun book, if you're already planning on reading it I'd go ahead. But if you're on the fence I'd advise against it, despite the fact that the novel came out of the story meetings for Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home.
The main plot revolves around a world more mostly of water than our own on which holds a deep secrete within the depths of it's oceans. As the U.S.S. Enterprise reviews the Federation Science Outpost located on the world they become embroiled in the politics of this UFP Member World and before long needs to stand the line against invading Ocean Raider from another planet... and that is only part of this fish tale.
While Mr. Weinstein does a pretty decent job and is clearly in this element, Deep Domain is hardly a wale of a tale (despite what you might infer from the cover). The concepts are never fully realized and inconsistencies threaten to get in the way of real enjoyment: 2.5 ★★
Recommendation - In the end it's basically a fun book, if you're already planning on reading it I'd go ahead. But if you're on the fence I'd advise against it, despite the fact that the novel came out of the story meetings for Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home.
The main plot revolves around a world more mostly of water than our own on which holds a deep secrete within the depths of it's oceans. As the U.S.S. Enterprise reviews the Federation Science Outpost located on the world they become embroiled in the politics of this UFP Member World and before long needs to stand the line against invading Ocean Raider from another planet... and that is only part of this fish tale.
While Mr. Weinstein does a pretty decent job and is clearly in this element, Deep Domain is hardly a wale of a tale (despite what you might infer from the cover). The concepts are never fully realized and inconsistencies threaten to get in the way of real enjoyment: 2.5 ★★
September 19, 2009
I read this back in the 80's. It takes place during the first 4 Star Trek movies a favorite time period of mine. Cool story because it takes place on a planet mostly filled with water. The crew has a shuttle craft/ submarine that they use. The star trek movie I wish they would of made. Cool story & thats saying alot. With star trek books you have to watch for what author your getting because the quality of there books can be great or not so great. But overall a great star trek book. I've read it 5 times in the last 20 years! Get it!
November 19, 2018
Enjoyed the book quite a bit. Simple story but very interesting to follow liked the tie in to the plot between the first and second movies. I never get tired of more Trek content. This felt like reading what could have been a great episode. And it read like an episode. Great all the way and great continuity.
May 15, 2019
An interesting but slow read. It was difficult to get into at first, as there was a lot going on in a way that felt a bit disjointed, but once the pieces started to be brought together a little over halfway through then I enjoyed it. If it had been a longer novel though I probably would not have seen it all the way through.
I wouldn't mind seeing this as an actual Star Trek episode or film though. I think it is one of the few Trek book plots that I've read so far that I think would be good on screen, probably even better than just a novel. Despite being published in 1987, it still is highly relevant (probably sadly so) in today's political climate as a heavy handed critique on how capitalism has led to the destruction of environments and whole species in the pursuit of power and wealth. There's even a slight discussion on how this has also led to the erasure of the culture and knowledge of the indigenous people, something that I wish had been expanded on a lot more.
Overall, an okay book to me but one I wouldn't recommend unless you have the dual interest in Star Trek and environmental justice.
I wouldn't mind seeing this as an actual Star Trek episode or film though. I think it is one of the few Trek book plots that I've read so far that I think would be good on screen, probably even better than just a novel. Despite being published in 1987, it still is highly relevant (probably sadly so) in today's political climate as a heavy handed critique on how capitalism has led to the destruction of environments and whole species in the pursuit of power and wealth. There's even a slight discussion on how this has also led to the erasure of the culture and knowledge of the indigenous people, something that I wish had been expanded on a lot more.
Overall, an okay book to me but one I wouldn't recommend unless you have the dual interest in Star Trek and environmental justice.
December 9, 2024
I like reading these old Star Trek books as palette cleansers - something to pick up and enjoy for a few days between reading huge tomes or more serious literature. Similar to the Dragonlance series or Forgotten Realms series - the books are usually three stars, fun, entertaining but nothing you would go out of your way to recommend (and there are times when that's all I want out of a book). This particular Star Trek novel is a cut above most of them. Solid four stars.
Plot: A routine diplomatic visit to the water-world of Akkalla becomes a nightmarish search for a missing Spock and Chekov, a search that plunges Admiral Kirk headlong into a corrupt government's desperate struggle to retain power.
The author spent quite a bit of extra time developing the plot, the world building and the characters and it shows. This book has depth and meaning far beyond what you usually get out of the cookie cutter Star Trek book series.
I really enjoyed the political intrigue, the character dynamics and the "problem of the week" and he did all of this without losing the fun and adventure that makes Star Trek amazing. Good stuff.
Plot: A routine diplomatic visit to the water-world of Akkalla becomes a nightmarish search for a missing Spock and Chekov, a search that plunges Admiral Kirk headlong into a corrupt government's desperate struggle to retain power.
The author spent quite a bit of extra time developing the plot, the world building and the characters and it shows. This book has depth and meaning far beyond what you usually get out of the cookie cutter Star Trek book series.
I really enjoyed the political intrigue, the character dynamics and the "problem of the week" and he did all of this without losing the fun and adventure that makes Star Trek amazing. Good stuff.
October 2, 2021
An interesting story, but too many good characters and plots are introduced and then abandoned. The love triangle within the Akkalan leadership is ridiculous.
October 29, 2023
Fans who complain about how “woke” modern Trek is should probably avoid this one: it’s about protecting the environment and preserving historical sites and cultures, featuring villains who are against scientific advances that might disrupt the status quo. As the author’s foreword says, this plot came out of story meetings after the third movie, so there are some similarities in theme between this book and The Voyage Home. It’s a rattling good story, too, and captures the feel of the show beautifully.
October 26, 2025
Eh. Fine. A little preachy, especially to this member of the choir (so to speak).
I do like when Chekhov says, first in Russian, "Heaven have mercy on our poor stupid souls."
And I like the little 'bits,' for example McCoy being understood as a logical thinker.
And Kirk having an opportunity to say to Bones, "I thought you were a doctor, not a communications engineer." ("'A man of many talents,' McCoy answered modestly.")
I do like when Chekhov says, first in Russian, "Heaven have mercy on our poor stupid souls."
And I like the little 'bits,' for example McCoy being understood as a logical thinker.
And Kirk having an opportunity to say to Bones, "I thought you were a doctor, not a communications engineer." ("'A man of many talents,' McCoy answered modestly.")
July 28, 2020
I think there was some potential here but a misinterpretation of how the Prime Directive works leaves this one have a lot to be desired. I found it that some characters would just randomly drop out of the story like Mcphillips and Maybri and seemed like they never returned. The Loch Ness Monster being real in the Star Trek universe was eye-rolling.
January 30, 2021
I found this story utterly compelling throughout with a rich plot and impressive visual imagery. The characters felt real to me and the scenario painted a fascinating new world in the trek universe.
Having Chekov and Spock stuck together gave me a bit of a Neelix and Tuvok vibe which I also enjoyed.
Having Chekov and Spock stuck together gave me a bit of a Neelix and Tuvok vibe which I also enjoyed.
July 26, 2023
I liked the book. It had fun and interesting story idea which was written mostly well thought I did think the middle was a bit boring as well as the new characters. I was hoping to see more interactions with Chekov and Kirk while they were lost and I did feel that Chekov played too small part in the story.
December 24, 2023
Spock and Chekov are on a scientific mission to the water world of Akkalla. On arrival a few days later Kirk and the Enterprise discover they are missing. Can they be found as the planet experiences political upheaval.
An entertaining re-read.
An entertaining re-read.
August 6, 2019
Good solid classic trek novel with good characterisations
December 30, 2021
Nice. Went a bit deeper into the characters and felt quite nostalgic. A nice take on an older crew tempered by age and experience.
May 1, 2022
A decent star trek book, felt like it dragged a bit though. The ending was abrupt.
July 22, 2022
Awesome
November 6, 2022
To boring to get into much
June 13, 2023
This is a different one. A huge change occurs in one of the characters. Again good action involving all characters. Underwater universe.
May 25, 2024
good story
Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews