Toward the Night

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds #3

by James Swallow

A thrilling new novel based on the Paramount+ TV series Star Strange New Worlds!

While patrolling the borders of the Klingon Empire, Captain Christopher Pike and the crew of the USS Enterprise record a series of subspace echoes from a planet orbiting a volatile flare star—and when Lieutenant Spock and Commander Una Chin-Riley lead a landing party to learn more, they discover the ruins of a dead civilization and evidence of starship-grade metals…quite possibly a crash site.

As they continue to investigate the strange signals, Spock and Una find shocking signs of dangerous alien life and remnants of what can only be Federation hardware. The trail soon leads Pike and Enterprise’s helmswoman Lieutenant Erica Ortegas deep into the mystery of a lost Starfleet vessel, missing in action for over ninety years—and to a terrible dilemma that will challenge the crew to question their past...and their future.

Genres: Star Trek, Science Fiction, Fiction, Audiobook, Time Travel, Media Tie In, Space Opera

336 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 29, 2025

About the author

James Swallow is a New York Times, Sunday Times and Amazon #1 bestselling author and scriptwriter, a BAFTA nominee, a former journalist and the award-winning writer of over sixty-five books, along with scripts for video games, comics, radio and television.

DARK HORIZON, his latest stand-alone thriller, is out now from Mountain Leopard Press, and OUTLAW, the 6th action-packed Marc Dane novel, is published by Bonnier.

Along with the Marc Dane thrillers, his writing includes, the Sundowners steampunk Westerns and fiction from the worlds of Star Trek, Tom Clancy, 24, Warhammer 40000, Doctor Who, Deus Ex, Stargate, 2000AD and many more.

For information on new releases & more, sign up to the Readers’ Club here: www.bit.ly/JamesSwallow

Visit James's website at http://www.jswallow.com/ for more, including ROUGH AIR, a free eBook novella in the Marc Dane series.

You can also follow James on Bluesky at @jmswallow.bsky.social, Twitter at @jmswallow, Mastodon at @jmswallow@mstdn.social and jmswallow.tumblr.com at Tumblr.

Reviews

[Jamie]

A fantastic, classic Trek thriller packed with action, creepy chills, a mysterious and seemingly dead alien world, and a time travel conundrum. The character work is especially strong - Ortegas, Chapel, and Chin-Riley get standout development - but the entire crew has moments to shine. These Strange New Worlds books have all been outstanding!

[Liv · Rating 5 out of 5]

(2025) honestly WHAT an incredible time. there's humor there's friendship there's a classic star trek mystery plot, at times it strays into haunted space territory and boy howdy i loved those vibes. so many characters get their chance to step into the limelight. loved very nearly all of it and enjoyed una's stint in command so much. so so pleased with these novels so far. they're soooo in the spirit of star trek. science and friendship and so much fun

(pre-read) UNA AND ORTEGAS IN STARRING ROLES????????? i'm in danger

['Nathan Burgoine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Of the three books thus far in the SNW series, I prefer this one to Star Trek: Strange New Worlds: The High Country, but would still place Star Trek: Strange New Worlds: Asylum in the top spot, but that’s likely unfair a comparison, as Aslyum was some wonderfully written human-rights-issues/philosophy ethics-Trek, whereas Toward the Night is a phaser-shooting, time-travel, bug-hunt adventure-Trek.

They’re different flavours, basically, even though they’re both very Trek—I just think I come out on the side of chewy ethical "Una coming to terms with decisions she made while hiding her status as an illegal alien" stories more than "Chapel spat out the mucous the bug had spat into her throat" stories. Personal preference.

That said? As a time-travel adventure story, this one let a lot of the cast have some time in the sun, and while it suffered from some of the usual issues of IP Trek—there’s just no way around the "redshirt" effect of introducing characters you just know are doomed to die—I had a fun ride with this one. In particular, it was nice to get some more front-and-centre time with Ortegas in this one, a character I really, really enjoy—and her stake in this narrative had some nice, personal feel to it.

This one also came with a wee bonus in the Epilogue that I super-appreciated, given the storyline involved. Brava on sticking that landing.

This is going to be the second book where I am 100% cribbing bits of it for my ongoing Star Trek Adventures campaign for my players. It’s super-nerdy, but every time I read Trek now, that lens of "how would I do this in the game?" pops up.

Of note, I listened to this on audiobook and, alas, they’re still using the same narrator for all the books, and I can’t help but repeat my frustration with this on a particular level: he’s not great at women’s voices, and there are a lot of women’s voices in these stories—Spock, Pike, and M’Benga are outnumbered by Chin-Riley, Noonien-Singh, Uhura, Ortegas, Chapel, and Pelia (and often Mitchell, and in this case, very important new characters, just as was the case in Asylum), I really, really don’t understand why we don’t have a woman narrating. (Well, I mean I do—or at least I can imagine, but.)

[Kieran McAndrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

A garbled distress call coming from within a non aligned sector bordering Klingon space sees the 'Enterprise' responding, but when Pike and an Away Team disappear, Cmdr Chin-Riley must try to outwit a Klingon Commander who wants the 'Enterprise' as a prize in battle.

An intricate plot, which balances the lost Away Team and the trapped crew aboard ship quite well. Swallow has some nice call backs to 'Star Trek: Enterprise' and 'Star Trek: Discovery', which add an extra dimension to the story.

[Daniel Kukwa · Rating 5 out of 5]

That was wonderful -- pure comfort food Trek of the highest quality. It doesn't break any new ground in terms of plot, but it does offer lots of great character beats, and finally gives us a focus on my favourite SNW character, Ortegas. Her family history has a hint of "Aliens/Vasquez" to it, and it's nice to see some more early consternation about how to deal with the problems of time travel. Bonus points for a great use of the Klingons, that manages to be both consistent with SNW and the wider Trekverse. A perfect piece of geeky art, ready to be inhaled in one sitting.

[Caleb Dorsch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! This is one of my new favorite Trek books since the Kurtzman era shows started having tie-ins. It’s on the same level as Rogue Elements, Second Self, Dead Endless, and The Way to the Stars (all of which I found to be phenomenal).

I love that Ortegas has a significant role in this story and that Una continues to shine in the novels. I love a good time travel episode and this scratched that itch in a unique way. It had flavors of past Trek novels that I’ve loved but with new twists. It was just a cleverly written novel all the way through the epilogue.

[Joz Fleming · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really Great!

I really loved the ending, how the epilogue brought things around. I think this is my favorite of the SNW books so far.

[The Void Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

### **Star Trek: Strange New Worlds: Towards the Night – Epic and True to the Series!** ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#### **Overview**
James Swallow’s *Star Trek: Strange New Worlds: Towards the Night* is a thrilling addition to the *Strange New Worlds* universe, delivering a gripping mystery that feels both grand in scale and deeply personal. While patrolling the borders of the Klingon Empire, Captain Christopher Pike and the crew of the USS Enterprise intercept subspace echoes from a planet orbiting a volatile flare star. When Lieutenant Spock and Commander Una Chin-Riley lead a landing party to investigate, they uncover the ruins of a lost civilization and remnants of starship-grade metals—possibly the wreckage of a long-missing Federation vessel.

As the mystery deepens, Spock and Una encounter signs of dangerous alien life and Federation hardware that should not be there. Their discoveries lead Pike and helmswoman Lieutenant Erica Ortegas into a decades-old enigma surrounding a lost Starfleet ship, missing for over ninety years. The crew is soon faced with a dilemma that forces them to question their past and the future of the Federation itself.

#### **Review**
Swallow masterfully captures the essence of *Strange New Worlds*, blending high-stakes adventure with the philosophical dilemmas that define *Star Trek*. The novel’s pacing is sharp, balancing action-packed sequences with introspective moments that explore the characters’ relationships and personal struggles. Pike’s leadership, Spock’s logic, and Una’s unwavering resolve shine through, making this a must-read for fans of the series.

One of the novel’s greatest strengths is its ability to expand on the lore of *Star Trek* while remaining true to its core themes. The mystery surrounding the lost Starfleet vessel is compelling, and the interactions between the Enterprise crew feel authentic, as if lifted straight from the show. Swallow’s writing is immersive, painting vivid scenes that transport readers into the heart of the Federation’s most perilous frontier.

For fans of *Strange New Worlds*, this book is a triumph—an adventure that is both thrilling and deeply rooted in the spirit of exploration and ethical dilemmas that make *Star Trek* so enduring. Whether you’re a longtime Trekkie or a newcomer to the franchise, *Towards the Night* is a stellar read that delivers everything you’d want from a *Star Trek* novel.

Happy reading and live long and prosper 🚀📚

[Jacqueline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Towards the Night is a timey-whimy tale and I loved it. The Enterprise encounters a derelict Federation Spaceship called the Baldwin orbiting a planet with an unstable star that emits radiation and solar flares.
Pike and a landing party go to investigate the Baldwin. Two of the people on the ship find a strange black orb.
Suddenly, there's a flare and the ship disappears. Oh, and a newly minted Klingon Bird of Prey shows up.
The Enterprise manages to get the Klingon to leave temporarily. They go down to the planet (having realized the Baldwin wasn't destroyed, merely misplaced in time).
Meanwhile Pike and his crew have gone down to the planet. They stumble into the survivors from the Baldwin, including Erica Oretegas great- great- Great-Aunt. Essentially, Pike's crew is nearly 100 years in the past and trying to figure out how not to screw-up history.
Spock finds (in the present) the planet is a deserted wasteland. Uhura starts to figure out and translate the glyphs on some black stone that's the same as the black ball of rock from the Baldwin.
It takes time, and avoiding Klingon trouble, but Uhura and Spock figure out the big black stone monument is like a giant status field or transporter buffer. And it's holding the entire population of the planet until the sun is stable again and the planet is inhabitable.
And Spock figures out how to send a message and instructions to Pike to get him and his away team home.
Chapel gets the message and in a mad scramble not only do Pike and his team get rescued but the survivors of the Baldwin get rescued.
A native scientist also comes out, meets Pike, tours the Enterprise but ultimately decides to go back in.
I loved this story that had a happy resolution to time travel. And the time stuck in the past with the giant attacking bugs reminded me of Primeval. Actually, the entire premise reminded me of Primeval - just less chaotic. 5 Stars.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

A planet circling a star that is suddenly acting erratic causing the inhabitants to deal with it in a radical solution, one that will eventually get the attention of Starfleet not once but twice. Toward the Night by James Swallow is the third book featuring the characters from Star Trek: Strange New Worlds in a novelization surrounding one of the latest Star Trek series.

Taking place between the second season episodes “Among the Lotus Eaters” and “Charades”, the book follows the crew of the Enterprise as it tracks down a distress signal from century-lost early Federation vessel in a disputed system between the Federation and Klingon Empire only to find a chronological enigma. I don’t know if there is a record for the number of cliché plot-of-the-week thrown into one story, but this has to be up for consideration as there is a new alien civilization, mysterious derelict starship, mysterious orb, time travel and not ruining the timeline, finding hardboiled shipwreck survivors, long lost family member who isn’t what you imagined, deadly planet in two different time frames, and fighting Klingons just off the top of my head. If this was a single 60-minute episode, it would be bad, but thankful this is in a book allowing all these cliches to meld together in a great narrative scope conceived and executed by James Swallows. Using numerous points of view from the show’s main characters as well as those created for the story, Swallow does a good job bringing the show characters onto the page and bring forth engaging new characters for them to interact with. Of the three books of the Strange New Worlds line, this is easily the best not only in story but in how the author brings all the characters across.

Toward the Night is an example of a media tie-in novel that uses its medium for maximum potential to bring an entertaining story that would be too much for a single episode to the reader for their enjoyment.

[Russell Thiel · Rating 5 out of 5]

really enjoyed this story!!!!

[fox · Rating 5 out of 5]

on this episode of: how many times can we break the prime directive!?

was GREAT to get MORETEGAS even if it is in book form, and the epilogue was a cherry on top to see the Disco crew in the future :')

[Christopher Leto · Rating 5 out of 5]

a fun novel. great addition to the trek family

James Swallow gave us a fun story with an ending in the last page that brought a happy tear to my eye.

We live in dark times now and reading Trek always helps with my mental health. While right now seems dark, I can always hope and fight for a future like the one I read about every time I pick up a novel.

Thanks James

[Donavan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Compared to the last St:SNW book, this was a welcome relief. Oh my god, I loved every minute of it, like what the hell, why isn’t this specifically an episode, it would be such a good 2 parter

[Ircel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Good Story

Nice linkage of different eras through Pike and the Enterprise. A real gift to Trek fans. I recommend this highly

[Esme · Rating 4 out of 5]

i mean yeah thats an episode of star trek for sure 👍

[Therese Peregrine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Exciting and enjoyable, with new concepts to chew over. I was intrigued to know some of the Enterprise crew better, especially La’an and Ortegas.

[Scott Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is pretty much exactly what I hoped it would be. Swallow has done a great job of bringing the TV series to the page. These SNW novels are excellent.

[Tom · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

[Ramil Ramirez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great adventure!!!

[Will · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just like a great episode of the show

Good pacing, interesting plot, lots of action, and characterizations consistent with the portrayal in the show 'Strange New Worlds'. Pretty much exactly what one wants from a 'Star Trek' novel. All the main cast members get a chance to shine. It's a well written, tight story. Recommended!

[Rei Smoak · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am, at heart, a sucker for a great time travel story. And to my mind there's not been a greater medium for those stories than Star Trek. This was one of the best examples of a Trek story I've read recently, too - good character moments for all of the crew, the right amount of technobabble to gloss over rough parts without being overwhelming, and an epilogue that actually made me pump my fist a little in celebration. Can't recommend this one highly enough.

[Paul Lunger · Rating 3 out of 5]

New fiction in the Star Trek universe as of late has been a bit of a challenge since the number of new novels being released is at the smallest level in recent history. "Star Trek: Strange New Worlds" becomes the series of focus here in 2025 and James Swallow gives us "Toward the Night" a book that is not his best work and will likely land middle of the road in the realm of novels. The premise begins with the Enterprise investigating a subspace echo around a planet near an unstable star. The landing party discovers that things aren't entirely amiss on this planet which eventually though leads to the discovery of a ship in orbit that's been missing for decades. That ship though does have ties to Ortegas who had a family member on it.

From here, Swallow's story goes a bit off the rails as he invokes time travel with a rather unusual way to get us there along with the explanation of the members of that missing ship. The story continues at a breakneck pace but it also seems at times there are in the present day things that are invoked particularly the Klingons for reasons we don't need & large insectoids causing havoc on the planet in the past. The explanation of the end result of this beyond farfetched even by Star Trek standards with an ending that could have consequences down the line.

For we the fans of anything new Trek fiction related, "Toward the Night" at least whets our appetite for stuff as we wait on the 3rd season of "Strange New Worlds" to premiere. It does gives us more on Ortegas which is a plus. Overall, though, this is not Swallow's best work, but as a reader and a fan I'm just thankful to have it.

[Casey Pettitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love it when a tie-in author understands the assignment. James Swallow always seems to and this book is no exception.

What we have here is our Strange New Worlds crew on a somewhat classic Star Trek adventure. This story probably could have fit in several of the different Trek shows, but was tailored to fit nicely with Pike and crew.

And really, this isn't as much of a Pike story as it is an Erica Ortegas story with some La'an Noonien-Singh growth thrown in for some good measure. Pike, Number One, Spock, and the others get some good time but I really appreciated the Ortegas story the most.

Some classic Trek elements we get are a ship/crew out of time, the crew split up on various aspects of the mission, ages-long promises kept, and Klingons, just because. But also no less Trek are personal growth stories, which we get with Ortegas and Noonien-Singh.

Ortegas is confronted with a family legacy not living up to expectations; sort of a "don't meet your heroes" situation. But the way Ortegas handles meeting this hero is done so well that she grows into a better person because of it. And for Noonien-Singh, she's confronted yet again by judgments of her based on her name and ancestry alone. She must continue to fight the battle of proving herself as her own person and not just Khan's descendant.

There's so much more to the story than that and you can listen to our interview with the author on Literary Treks episode 387! Overall, I would give this 4.5 out of 5 stars. This book pushed all the right buttons for me and once again makes me long for new Trek novels.

[Christopher Lutz · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 This was a great book. Definitely my favorite of the Strange New Worlds tie in books. James Swallow is one of my favorite Star Trek authors and he perfectly captured the feel of an episode of this series. In addition there are a huge amount of connections to Star Trek: Enterprise and even 2016’s Star Trek: Beyond that are adeptly used to both enhance the story on the page and reinforce existing character arcs from the series. Well done.

[Daniel Pitterman · Rating 3 out of 5]

A really solid Star Trek novel! Something that has been relatively rare in the last decade. Definitely captures the essence of the show and characters. Maybe a little too much about the bugs 🐛 but that is a minor issue.

[Steven Shinder · Rating 3 out of 5]

A serviceable story. Maybe life is keeping me from enjoying it a bit more as I otherwise would have.

[Kyle West · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easily the best of the three SNW novels released thus far.

[Lea Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a terribly original premise, but comfortable characters and great narration. Sucks that today they announce the end of the series.

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

Always a delight to read a new Star Trek: Strange New Worlds novel!

Book titles are an art form. I must admit that the title of the latest Star Trek: Strange New Worlds doesn't do much for me: Toward the Night. But, as always, the adventure was top notch, and there were plenty of twists and turns (as in any good Star Trek novel).

This time, Ensign Uhuru picks up what could be a faint cry for help [a garbled SOS]. The Enterprise goes to investigate.

The signal came from a world near the border between Klingon space and Federation space. (Remember that ST:SNW is set BEFORE the original 1960's Star Trek show. The signal came from what later became the Neutral Zone. At this time, it is simply an area claimed by both sides, Klingon-Federation War had ended just a few years ago, and the Enterprise would have a lot of explaining to do if caught in this disputed area by a Klingon ship.)

Plus, a Federation starship had indeed been lost in this area nearly 100 years ago. That ship appears in Federation records as Missing in Action, all personnel presumed dead.

To make it even more interesting, the planet's sun is highly unstable and is emitting hazardous radiation. And the Enterprise finds wreckage on the planet that could only have come from the lost starship.

Highly recommended for all Star Trek fans, space opera fans, and fans of "found families", another word for Starfleet crews!