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Star Trek: The Janus Gate #3
Past Prologue
Thanks to the accidental triggering of an ancient alien technology, Captain Kirk has been banished to his own past. During a brutal massacre on Tarsus IV, Kodos the Executioner entered the history books as one of the most genocidal tyrants of the twenty-third century. As a boy, Kirk barely survived. Can he stand by now and let it happen again?
Lt. Kevin Riley is the only other survivor of Tarsus IV serving aboard the U.S.S Enterprise. His traumatic memories provide Spock's best hope of finding their time-lost captain -- before Kirk alters their time line forever!
Lt. Kevin Riley is the only other survivor of Tarsus IV serving aboard the U.S.S Enterprise. His traumatic memories provide Spock's best hope of finding their time-lost captain -- before Kirk alters their time line forever!
272 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published June 25, 2002
10 people are currently reading
277 people want to read
About the author
L.A. Graf
25 books40 followersL.A. Graf reportedly stands for Let's All Get Rich and Famous. Its a pseudonym used by authors Karen Rose Cercone and Julia Ecklar.
They have co-written some eleven Star Trek novels. Their first Star Trek novel came out in 1990.
They have co-written some eleven Star Trek novels. Their first Star Trek novel came out in 1990.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
October 31, 2025
This one finally tell Kirk's story but it seems to just go through the paces and not be really that exciting unfortunately. A lot of the interesting perspectives of the other crew are set aside for Kirk's story which had to happen but was a nice part of the prior two books. I would probably have liked this book a little more but the hand wave solution to how no one remembers what happened made me a little angry as that was a big question throughout the whole trilogy. I appreciated the decision of Chekov's sacrificing of Sulu though and what he had to do to save the timeline. I think this one had potential to explore a few more ideas of time travel here but everyone forgets what happened so who cares?!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 23, 2024
I'm afraid this is where this trilogy and I part ways -- I simply lost interest in the story. It's perfectly well-written, but I just couldn't get worked up over anything that was happening. I'm moving on...
June 9, 2019
Author L.A. Graf brings us the last tale in the Janus Gate trilogy with Past Prologue. Captain Kirk has been thrown 19 years into his past while his younger self has been with his ship and crew for the past couple of days. The younger version of Kirk finally tells both Spock and McCoy which planet and time he had come from and they devise a plan that uses the future versions of Sulu and Chekov as an escort for the young Kirk. While 19 years in the past Captain Kirk and his father George Kirk are on the hunt for young Jimmy whom Captain Kirk knows is no were on the planet. But as the events of the uprising continue George Kirk begins to pick up human life signs on his tricorder which leads them to meet up with Sulu and Chekov and young Kirk. Then once they meet its a race in two time periods because the Enterprise under Uhura's command is forced to make sure that there is a window in the defense net that is being put into orbit of Tlaoil. While 19 years ago both Kirk, Sulu, and Chekov have to make sure that George Kirk and his son make it off Grex alive so that way his son can grow up to command the Enterprise. This is a great book and it ends in such a way that you would never think but I do highly recommend it for all Star Trek fans.
May 11, 2020
The final book in this trilogy goes along as one would expect after reading the previous two installments.
Modern day Kirk has traded places with his fourteen-year-old self and works with a familiar person in his past to survive the experience on a world under siege. In the present the Enterprise crew has to figure out how to restart the Janus Gate so they can switch out the younger Kirk with the captain they are familiar with. The Shechenag are the antagonists at this location, as they block the protagonists from operating the device at the source and in the planet's orbit.
There was one tremendous surprise from some out of time characters in the final pages, but it couldn't make up for a rote conclusion. If you're remotely a Star Trek fan, you'll know how this ends.
Overall, a very disappointing trilogy.
Modern day Kirk has traded places with his fourteen-year-old self and works with a familiar person in his past to survive the experience on a world under siege. In the present the Enterprise crew has to figure out how to restart the Janus Gate so they can switch out the younger Kirk with the captain they are familiar with. The Shechenag are the antagonists at this location, as they block the protagonists from operating the device at the source and in the planet's orbit.
There was one tremendous surprise from some out of time characters in the final pages, but it couldn't make up for a rote conclusion. If you're remotely a Star Trek fan, you'll know how this ends.
Overall, a very disappointing trilogy.
February 21, 2018
I have to give L.A. Graf a big thumbs up for creating a wonderful story that would have made a great episode. What happened during those 3 days when they got thrown into a time warp after events from Psi 2000. There is more time travel, encounters with Gorn, future and past versions of the crew. I loved when Uhura got a chance to be in command. My one beef, was the scene in the observation lounge between Kirk and Spock. I felt there should have been more interaction between them. It was too clinical for me. I do recommend this trilogy.
February 1, 2020
Satisfying conclusion
A very enjoyable conclusion to the saga. This from a writer who is familiar with the Trek universe. Well worth reading.
A very enjoyable conclusion to the saga. This from a writer who is familiar with the Trek universe. Well worth reading.
July 22, 2014
“Past Prologue” by L.A. Graf is the third and final book in “The Janus Gate” trilogy, a series of novels set during the Star Trek Original Series. Kirk is stranded in his past and is trying to find his younger self who is missing in the chaos of a civil war. He is helped by his own father but neither of them realises that 14 year old Kirk is now in the future. In this future Sulu and Chekov have to work with older versions of themselves to try and find a way to reactivate the Janus Gate to ensure that everyone is sent back to their correct timelines. Of course, nothing is ever easy for the crew of the Enterprise and they are being forced to do this whilst an alien race attempts to seal the Janus Gate away for good.
I will start by mentioning that this book continues the tradition of this series in that it has a back cover synopsis that doesn’t match what actually occurs in the book. I am quite weary of mentioning this when it comes to “The Janus Gate” as the publishers have been quite consistent in getting it wrong. Whilst any reader has probably already read the previous two books so knows the story and can skip the synopsis anyway it just doesn’t give me a good impression of the publisher.
The story that we do get is an enjoyable adventure told at a much faster pace than the previous novel and full of action which kept me entertained right through to the ending. Of course this increased pacing and more action focussed narrative meant that there was less time spent on character development. Whilst this did ensure the excitement levels were kept high it meant we missed the chance to see something really interesting between the two Sulus and Chekovs.
A final negative aspect of the novel for me was in relation to the ending. Basically Graf inserts a reset switch type scenario to solve all the paradoxes and fit in with the TV series which never mentions what is seen here. The crew get to continue their journey with no memories of the event and act as if nothing happened. I understand why it was done and was actually expecting it but I still can’t find myself liking that form of ending.
Overall, this was an enjoyable final chapter in what has been a rather fun adventure. This story is much more focussed on the action that we have seen in the previous novels which does reduce the amount of character development that occurs. If you read the first two books in this trilogy then you quite simply have to read book three so you can see how everything Graf has put together in the previous novels finally comes to together in an entertaining conclusion.
I will start by mentioning that this book continues the tradition of this series in that it has a back cover synopsis that doesn’t match what actually occurs in the book. I am quite weary of mentioning this when it comes to “The Janus Gate” as the publishers have been quite consistent in getting it wrong. Whilst any reader has probably already read the previous two books so knows the story and can skip the synopsis anyway it just doesn’t give me a good impression of the publisher.
The story that we do get is an enjoyable adventure told at a much faster pace than the previous novel and full of action which kept me entertained right through to the ending. Of course this increased pacing and more action focussed narrative meant that there was less time spent on character development. Whilst this did ensure the excitement levels were kept high it meant we missed the chance to see something really interesting between the two Sulus and Chekovs.
A final negative aspect of the novel for me was in relation to the ending. Basically Graf inserts a reset switch type scenario to solve all the paradoxes and fit in with the TV series which never mentions what is seen here. The crew get to continue their journey with no memories of the event and act as if nothing happened. I understand why it was done and was actually expecting it but I still can’t find myself liking that form of ending.
Overall, this was an enjoyable final chapter in what has been a rather fun adventure. This story is much more focussed on the action that we have seen in the previous novels which does reduce the amount of character development that occurs. If you read the first two books in this trilogy then you quite simply have to read book three so you can see how everything Graf has put together in the previous novels finally comes to together in an entertaining conclusion.
January 21, 2017
Last of the trilogy where all ends meet. Thrilling but with a high psychology factor - Kirk reviewing the relation with his father with different (much older) eyes. Nice to read, luckily there is ample attention to what is happening with the Enterprise and the rest of the crew. The author manages to get out of the timewarp complications unscathed and at the end leaves a sense of feelgood. Plausible or not, ethically correct or not, it is a Star Trek novel that earns its place in the trilogy and the trilogy is an excellent part of the Star Trek franchise.
July 26, 2010
ok, so I liked the story, but what exactly did the summary on the back of the book (which sounded pretty good too) have to do with the book?? Kirk wasn't sent back to Tarsus IV and Spock never asked Kevin Riley for help. Confusing. Also, they made a big deal on the front of the book about the story focusing on minor characters. The stories that L. A. Graf writes for Star Trek usually give a good size part to Sulu, Chekov, and Uhura, so this was different how?
June 19, 2010
The crew of the Enterprise must retrieve Captain Kirk from his past, and return his younger self to his place in time.
This was a pretty good conclusion to the trilogy. I thought the first two were better though.
Also, the snippet about Kevin Riley on the back cover has nothing to do with this book.
This was a pretty good conclusion to the trilogy. I thought the first two were better though.
Also, the snippet about Kevin Riley on the back cover has nothing to do with this book.
June 27, 2013
The 3 books of the trilogy need to be viewed together really. The series improved as it went on with Past prologue being the best of them. On it's own I would give it 3.5 stars. The blurb on the back of the books is not correct bye the way.
Some interesting thoughts on time travel and morality of changing timelines etc
Some interesting thoughts on time travel and morality of changing timelines etc
January 30, 2017
Great conclusion!
An excellent finish to the Janus Gate books. Plenty of action and sci-fi possibilities. Good pacing, always held my interest, written well enough to really conjure the original series actors and sets. This may as well be a 3 part televised episode. Hats of to the writer. Let's All Get Rich And Famous.
An excellent finish to the Janus Gate books. Plenty of action and sci-fi possibilities. Good pacing, always held my interest, written well enough to really conjure the original series actors and sets. This may as well be a 3 part televised episode. Hats of to the writer. Let's All Get Rich And Famous.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews