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Star Trek: The Amazing Stories
From 1998 to 2000, Amazing Stories, the world's oldest science fiction magazine, presented a series of original Star Trek stories written by a number of bestselling authors. Now these little-seen Star Trek adventures have been collected together for the first time, along with brand-new tales written expressly for this volume!Among the highlights: * Spock comes to terms with the death of his father in a touching tale penned by A. C. Crispin, bestselling author of Sarek.* Counselor Deanna Troi risks everything to aid the evacuation of an endangered planet.* Seven of Nine learns a lesson in humanity when the Starship Voyager takes on some unusual alien visitors.* Beverly Crusher discovers that holographic doctors take some getting used to, especially during a medical emergency.* Plus, Captain Proton, Defender of the Earth, must face the awesome menace of...the Space Vortex of Doom!* Proving that amazing things sometimes come in small packages, these and other slices of the vast Star Trek universe provide a replicator's worth of treats for Trekkers everywhere! Proving that amazing things sometimes come in small packages, these and other slices of the vast Star Trek universe provide a replicator's worth of treats for Trekkers everywhere!
160 pages, Paperback
First published August 20, 2002
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127 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
February 2, 2016
I really enjoyed all but one story in this collection. The highlights are the stories by Crispin and Bell.
March 21, 2025
Final Words
I like A.C. Crispin's works so this one fit in there for the most part. Although it held itself back by being too referential to the point of being anachronistic by referencing the Tapestry episode before it takes place. I like how this is pretty much an epilogue to the Unification episodes just needed a little tweaking. 3/5
Bedside Matters
Well I figured since it was short I could stomach a short story by Greg Cox but that was harder than I thought. He cannot write dialogue. He cannot write good characters. I feel like the scenes and dialogues are interrupted and not complimented by character's thoughts. He's awful. This story is stupid and has much depth as a kiddie pool. 1/5
On the Scent of Trouble
Okay this one is pretty stupid and borderline fan fiction in quality. Everyone just tosses their brains out the window while Picard goes crazy because these aliens smell funny. Nobody has any common sense. This makes me think that these Amazing Stories on the cover are not as amazing as they seem.
1/5
Life Itself is Reason Enough
Okay and the last TNG story at least ends their half on a good note. A grand epic story that is short, has some emotion, a polar bear fight and a ticking clock to boot. Not only that it even uses the Calypso which we never got to see in action on the show so this is what an Amazing Story should be. 5/5
A Night at Sandrine's
Well when Sandrine's was the focus I was a little worried as I was never too interested in the setting on the show but what I didn't expect was a story for why they never went back. The Moriarty thing was kind of like "Don't go there..." and they didn't and then the story went in a more heartfelt direction than expected as Paris deals with his past demons and learns to grow. This kind of made me sad because I think the character needed a moment like this on screen and we never got it. The Doctor's side of the story was an odd distraction but overall it was a good little story. 4/5
When Push Comes to Shove
This seems like Voyager's version of the TNG episode Transfigurations although its more about capturing the individual for nefarious purposes than just being different. I like the idea of a nomadic people and was something that doesn't show up too much in Trek. Anyway, story was interesting and it was too bad it had to be a short story as I think there was more that could have been explored there. 4/5
The Space Vortex of Doom
It's cute. It's a Captain Proton story if you can't guess it from the title. 2/3 Voyager stories are holodeck related...hmm... the story is fine but the campy serial sci-fi aesthetic was never something I connected with so it is what it is. 3/5
Overall 3/5 - The cover says outstanding fiction...a few bad eggs bring down a set of short stories that could have been better especially since they were described as "amazing".
I like A.C. Crispin's works so this one fit in there for the most part. Although it held itself back by being too referential to the point of being anachronistic by referencing the Tapestry episode before it takes place. I like how this is pretty much an epilogue to the Unification episodes just needed a little tweaking. 3/5
Bedside Matters
Well I figured since it was short I could stomach a short story by Greg Cox but that was harder than I thought. He cannot write dialogue. He cannot write good characters. I feel like the scenes and dialogues are interrupted and not complimented by character's thoughts. He's awful. This story is stupid and has much depth as a kiddie pool. 1/5
On the Scent of Trouble
Okay this one is pretty stupid and borderline fan fiction in quality. Everyone just tosses their brains out the window while Picard goes crazy because these aliens smell funny. Nobody has any common sense. This makes me think that these Amazing Stories on the cover are not as amazing as they seem.
1/5
Life Itself is Reason Enough
Okay and the last TNG story at least ends their half on a good note. A grand epic story that is short, has some emotion, a polar bear fight and a ticking clock to boot. Not only that it even uses the Calypso which we never got to see in action on the show so this is what an Amazing Story should be. 5/5
A Night at Sandrine's
Well when Sandrine's was the focus I was a little worried as I was never too interested in the setting on the show but what I didn't expect was a story for why they never went back. The Moriarty thing was kind of like "Don't go there..." and they didn't and then the story went in a more heartfelt direction than expected as Paris deals with his past demons and learns to grow. This kind of made me sad because I think the character needed a moment like this on screen and we never got it. The Doctor's side of the story was an odd distraction but overall it was a good little story. 4/5
When Push Comes to Shove
This seems like Voyager's version of the TNG episode Transfigurations although its more about capturing the individual for nefarious purposes than just being different. I like the idea of a nomadic people and was something that doesn't show up too much in Trek. Anyway, story was interesting and it was too bad it had to be a short story as I think there was more that could have been explored there. 4/5
The Space Vortex of Doom
It's cute. It's a Captain Proton story if you can't guess it from the title. 2/3 Voyager stories are holodeck related...hmm... the story is fine but the campy serial sci-fi aesthetic was never something I connected with so it is what it is. 3/5
Overall 3/5 - The cover says outstanding fiction...a few bad eggs bring down a set of short stories that could have been better especially since they were described as "amazing".
July 30, 2024
Nothing remarkable here nor are the stories long enough to accommodate any twists or surprises, but for those acquainted with the universe of Star Trek spin-offs this collection will be a pleasant diversion you can finish in a single sitting. For those not acquainted with the various series these stories, with their established characters and obscure references, will range from puzzling to outright baffling as in the case of D. W. Smith's "The Space Vortex of Doom" (HINT: google "Captain Proton/holodeck").
October 2, 2020
It's a pleasant, competent, if unremarkable & undemanding set of short stories. The opening stories for each section (TNG and Voyager) are by far the strongest entries, with the most emotion and the most successful character work. However, the stories are occasionally blighted by some off-kilter notes with the main characters of both series...and one howler of a continuity error in the otherwise superb story about the funeral of Sarek.
September 9, 2018
Not particularly amazing, actually. Eight very short stories from the TNG and VOY universes - some of them okay, some of them terrible, merely one of them („When push comes to shove“) remotely interesting.
September 29, 2018
Some fun short stories set in the Next Generation and Voyager series. Always fun to spend time with these characters.
September 9, 2021
Some fantastic short stories featuring 'Star Trek' characters, with some sharp pen portraits worthy of expansion.
April 17, 2025
Fun short stories from Next Gen and Voyager. Any fan will enjoy them.
February 24, 2016
For years I've been wanting to get into Star Trek novels. For anyone familiar with the Star Trek expanded universe, you know that's a daunting undertaking. So daunting, in fact, that I haven't picked up a piece of Star Trek literature in decades. When I decided to dip my toes back into the EU waters, I researched many different books, series and stories to find the best re-entry point. I finally landed on The Amazing Stories to give myself a good variety of series, characters and themes. This is a short story collection originally published individually in Amazing Stories magazine, hence the name, around the turn of the century.
The first story, “Last Word” by AC Crispin, takes place immediately following the episode Unification of ST:TNG. The story involves Picard traveling to Sarek's funeral. Due to some mind meld mumbo jumbo Picard has been having dreams of being on Vulcan as Sarek. Geordi and Data feature as part of the Enterprise delegation to the funeral. There are some plot elements of a bomb threat which resolves rather quickly. The true meat of the story is getting insight into Picard, Sarek and Spock's relationships. This story is a treat for long time fans and a great way to begin the collection.
“Bedside Manners” by Greg Cox involves Dr. Crusher, from ST:TNG, using the Emergency Medical Hologram, from ST:VOY in an emergency situation. She first has the EMH aid her while treating Data's cat Spot. Then a new turtle like species is introduced as an ambassador requires emergency treatment. Federation diplomacy is explored in an amusing scene where the ambassador's aide refuses to let Dr. Crusher remove the ambassador's shell to examine him. Overall, this story felt like a single scene in a longer episode.
“On the Scent of Trouble” by John Gregory Betancourt is a story about the ST:TNG crew initiating First Contact with a telepathic species that also uses smells to communicate. Soon after the species arrives on the Enterprise, crew members begin hallucinating. This felt like classic episode material and could have been dragged out to full episode length if B and C plots were included.
Next is “Life Itself is Reason Enough” by M. Shayne Bell. In this story the Enterprise is part of a larger group of Federation ships evacuating a planet that's about to undergo a catastrophic natural disaster. This takes place sometime after the ST:TNG episode Parallels. The main plot involves Worf and Counselor Troi on the surface of the planet and deals with Worf's budding feelings for Troi. The author is able to punctuate Worf's inner monologues with some compelling action. This is the best of all the stories in this collection.
“A Night at Sandrine's” by Christie Golden is the first ST:VOY story. Here Tom Paris puts on a holodeck party for the crew at a French nightclub. The plot explores his feelings for an old girlfriend through the use of a holodeck character he models after her. This is mostly a character driven story, but the writing is flat and sucks the story of any real drama. There are hints of Paris and B'Ellana Torres' future relationship but that's all this story has to offer. It is mostly forgettable.
“When Push Comes to Shove” by Joespha Sherman and Susan Shwartz is next and is the best of the ST:VOY stories. Voyager rescues an alien race from a derelict ship. As often happens in these Star Trek stories, another race is hunting that rescued group and threatens Voyager. Seven of Nine begins to bond with the child of the rescued group and this allows some minor exploration of her memories as a Borg and as a human child. There is enough plot in this story to be a full episode.
The final story is “The Space Vortex of Doom” by DW “Prof” Smith. This is a fun holodeck romp that plays a Captain Proton adventure as if it were real. For those unfamiliar with Captain Proton, it's a holodeck program where Tom Paris plays a black and white 1930's sci-fi serial character. Only here, we're reading it as though all the characters are real. It's a fun campy story to end the collection. A definite high note.
All in all this is a good collection of stories. Their quality varies but the standouts are worth the price of admission. I'll definitely be exploring the expanded universe again.
The first story, “Last Word” by AC Crispin, takes place immediately following the episode Unification of ST:TNG. The story involves Picard traveling to Sarek's funeral. Due to some mind meld mumbo jumbo Picard has been having dreams of being on Vulcan as Sarek. Geordi and Data feature as part of the Enterprise delegation to the funeral. There are some plot elements of a bomb threat which resolves rather quickly. The true meat of the story is getting insight into Picard, Sarek and Spock's relationships. This story is a treat for long time fans and a great way to begin the collection.
“Bedside Manners” by Greg Cox involves Dr. Crusher, from ST:TNG, using the Emergency Medical Hologram, from ST:VOY in an emergency situation. She first has the EMH aid her while treating Data's cat Spot. Then a new turtle like species is introduced as an ambassador requires emergency treatment. Federation diplomacy is explored in an amusing scene where the ambassador's aide refuses to let Dr. Crusher remove the ambassador's shell to examine him. Overall, this story felt like a single scene in a longer episode.
“On the Scent of Trouble” by John Gregory Betancourt is a story about the ST:TNG crew initiating First Contact with a telepathic species that also uses smells to communicate. Soon after the species arrives on the Enterprise, crew members begin hallucinating. This felt like classic episode material and could have been dragged out to full episode length if B and C plots were included.
Next is “Life Itself is Reason Enough” by M. Shayne Bell. In this story the Enterprise is part of a larger group of Federation ships evacuating a planet that's about to undergo a catastrophic natural disaster. This takes place sometime after the ST:TNG episode Parallels. The main plot involves Worf and Counselor Troi on the surface of the planet and deals with Worf's budding feelings for Troi. The author is able to punctuate Worf's inner monologues with some compelling action. This is the best of all the stories in this collection.
“A Night at Sandrine's” by Christie Golden is the first ST:VOY story. Here Tom Paris puts on a holodeck party for the crew at a French nightclub. The plot explores his feelings for an old girlfriend through the use of a holodeck character he models after her. This is mostly a character driven story, but the writing is flat and sucks the story of any real drama. There are hints of Paris and B'Ellana Torres' future relationship but that's all this story has to offer. It is mostly forgettable.
“When Push Comes to Shove” by Joespha Sherman and Susan Shwartz is next and is the best of the ST:VOY stories. Voyager rescues an alien race from a derelict ship. As often happens in these Star Trek stories, another race is hunting that rescued group and threatens Voyager. Seven of Nine begins to bond with the child of the rescued group and this allows some minor exploration of her memories as a Borg and as a human child. There is enough plot in this story to be a full episode.
The final story is “The Space Vortex of Doom” by DW “Prof” Smith. This is a fun holodeck romp that plays a Captain Proton adventure as if it were real. For those unfamiliar with Captain Proton, it's a holodeck program where Tom Paris plays a black and white 1930's sci-fi serial character. Only here, we're reading it as though all the characters are real. It's a fun campy story to end the collection. A definite high note.
All in all this is a good collection of stories. Their quality varies but the standouts are worth the price of admission. I'll definitely be exploring the expanded universe again.
November 9, 2023
Some good stories. Some where a bit slow to start but very enjoyable. First book I have fully read in years
April 2, 2019
Essential Trek read — super quick, enjoyable, and fun.
August 11, 2016
I am a big Star Trek fan but this was very disappointing.
I had this in an ereader format and knew nothing about it really. I thought it was a complete novel.
I was a little surprised to find a bunch of short stories. I could not finish the book. I read the first couple of stories and found them to be beyond simple. They came across to me almost as childrens stories. I realize that a short story must build quickly and end but these seemed without substance. The good guys go to scene of crime - the bad guy is discoverd - the good guy overcomes with very little effort.
No plot, no build up, just wam bam thank you mam.
I was looking for something with a lot more meat and potatoes.
I am not bashing the authors in any way - please dont take this that way. I am sure
they are all good authors in their own right - this book just caught me off guard, it was not
what i was looking for.
I had this in an ereader format and knew nothing about it really. I thought it was a complete novel.
I was a little surprised to find a bunch of short stories. I could not finish the book. I read the first couple of stories and found them to be beyond simple. They came across to me almost as childrens stories. I realize that a short story must build quickly and end but these seemed without substance. The good guys go to scene of crime - the bad guy is discoverd - the good guy overcomes with very little effort.
No plot, no build up, just wam bam thank you mam.
I was looking for something with a lot more meat and potatoes.
I am not bashing the authors in any way - please dont take this that way. I am sure
they are all good authors in their own right - this book just caught me off guard, it was not
what i was looking for.
July 9, 2016
Considering that Star Trek is largely a planet of the week product, it's too bad there aren't more short story collections. This anthology, built around tales published in Amazing Stories, follows the crews of TNG and VOY and is surprisingly character driven.
Captain Picard attends Sarek's funeral while contemplating his relationship with his own father. Troi pushes herself beyond exhaustion to save a dying world. Tom Paris thinks about what his holodeck recreations say about his personal interactions.
It's all compelling stuff, written by pros and largely fitting into "canon." The only misfire is a Captain Proton story which feels like filler.
Captain Picard attends Sarek's funeral while contemplating his relationship with his own father. Troi pushes herself beyond exhaustion to save a dying world. Tom Paris thinks about what his holodeck recreations say about his personal interactions.
It's all compelling stuff, written by pros and largely fitting into "canon." The only misfire is a Captain Proton story which feels like filler.
June 16, 2014
A collection of very short stories involving the Next gen crew and the Voyager crew. Picard goes to Sarek's funeral, the EMH proves his worth, though cant really remember the others much. There is a Captain Proton story that is very tongue in cheek. They are light stories, quick reads, nothing complicated. An introduction to star trek books for teenagers, or at least that is what it feels like. A good read.
December 24, 2018
3.5 stars
August 27, 2014
Not a bad collection of trek short stories
September 1, 2015
I only chose to read a few of the stories, they weren't well written but I liked definitely liked the unique stories. Thanks.
August 26, 2016
Nice, short & sweet. Love Star Trek Voyager.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews