Daedalus

Star Trek: Enterprise #7

by Dave Stern

October 5, 2140. After a half-dozen years of research and testing, Starfleet prepares to launch its first warp 5 vessel -- Daedalus. Propelled by a radical new engine designed by Earth's most brilliant warp field theorist, Victor Brodesser, the new ship will at last put the stars within mankind's reach.
But on the eve of her maiden voyage, a maintenance engineer, Ensign Charles Tucker III -- "Trip" to his friends -- discovers a flaw in Daedalus's design. When he confronts Brodesser, the scientist -- as charismatic as he is brilliant -- eases Trip's concerns. The ship launches on schedule, and as Trip watches in horror, it explodes in a catastrophic ion cascade reaction, killing all aboard.
Thirteen years pass. Still haunted by memories of that disaster, Trip now serves as chief engineer aboard Enterprise. When a freak explosion cripples his vessel, leaving her helpless before a surprise attack, Trip is forced to abandon his ship -- and his shipmates. As he is on the verge of mounting a desperate rescue attempt, however, a shocking turn of events forces him to confront the ghosts of Daedalus one final time.

Genres: Star Trek, Science Fiction, Star Trek Enterprise, Fiction, Ebooks, Media Tie In, Adventure

344 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published December 1, 2003

About the author

Dave Stern has written/edited/collaborated on multiple previous works of fiction/non-fiction, including the New York Times-bestselling biography Crosley, the epistolary novel Shadows In The Asylum, and an unauthorized Adam Sandler biography composed with the help of the good people in the Smith College Library. His most recent work is Codename: Blackjack, the second thriller in the Sagas of the Cincinnati series.

His author photo is woefully out of date.

Reviews

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Daedalus is the first of a two-part series of books set in the Star Trek: Enterprise franchise and takes place towards the end of the second season just before the Xindi story arc begins. Initially, this book starts off with deconstructing the Suliban cell ship for a mission into a spatial anomaly but quickly spirals into more of an action-based plot involving military dictators and interfering with less advanced species. Daedalus is told entirely from the perspective of Trip and Hoshi after they have been thrown, quite literally, into a conflict between a rebel faction called the Guild, and a military dictator who achieved power almost overnight with very advanced technology.

Over the course of Daedalus, we learn how Trip comes to grips with the new situation he has found himself in while balancing between helping the Guild, and outright giving them technology they don't have. Throughout the book, it becomes obvious something isn't quite right, such as with the laser pistols. Those weapons are very, very similar to those used by Starfleet almost seven years prior. Also, how did the aliens achieve warp capability when their technological progress indicated they were only slightly more advanced than we are now. These mysteries come up again and again until it is all figured out in the last few pages.

So far, Daedalus is probably one of the best Enterprise books I have read so far. I doubt it will be anywhere near as good as the Star Trek: Destiny series, but, for Star Trek it is certainly above average. It should be noted that the Daedalus series is not part of the Enterprise relaunch so it may be read at any time. The one thing that annoyed me with the book, and the actor portraying Trip said as much about him on the television series, was his overuse of idioms like "Hold your horses" and "Keep your shirt on." This was especially true when Trip was dealing with aliens. This is quite an easy book to read and is easily suggested for fans of the series.

[Crystal Bensley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really bun first book in a 2 book series. Trip focused novel with lots of twists that draw you into the story.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Almost gave it a 4 for the ending, but decided to keep it at 3. It's a very competent book, but personally I wish there was more Enterprise crew interplay. Stern wanted a Trip solo and he certainly accomplished it, but did he really have to sideline Hoshi like that?

[Craig · Rating 5 out of 5]

I feel kind of silly rating this a five but I honestly can't really find a fault with this one. I think Stern really knows how to write Enterprise novels as I really liked his prior work "What Price Honor" and this one doesn't disappoint either. The book raises a lot of questions as you are making your way through until the final foot drops at the end of the book and one is left wondering what will come next? It was a great Trip story as he struggles with his decisions and what he can do to make a difference but NOT TOO MUCH of a difference in an internal power struggle of a people. Still a lot of questions to be answered for the next one so looking forward to that!

[David King · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was actually a little bit confused at first regarding this book as I had assumed prior to reading the blurb that this book would actually be based on the "Enterprise" TV episode of the same name. However, this is not the case and both stories are entirely different from each other which wasn't an issue to me as I actually prefer an original novels to a novelization of an episode.

The story itself mainly follows the antics of Commander Tucker after an investigation into an anomaly leaves the Enterprise crippled before then being attacked and captured by an alien species known as the Denar. Tucker manages to escape alongside Ensign Sato and they are then both rescued by a group calling themselves the Guild who are at war with the very people who attacked the Enterprise. The Guild request Trip's assistance in the form of technological help in return for them helping him find and rescue the Enterprise and its crew. Trip of course is a bit wary about helping too much after previous experiences in influencing less advanced species, but when a further discovery related to his past results in his world being turned upside down, it becomes harder for him to refuse to help.

The first thing I need to say is that this is probably the best Enterprise novel I have read so far although there hasn't been much competition. I found the plot to be simple but interesting, the characters were engaging and there was enough action and plot twists to keep me entertained from start to finish. Now, it isn't what someone would call a classic Science Fiction novel by any stretch of the imagination, but I think it will be a fun read for anyone who was a fan of the show.

In regards to the characters, this book is pretty much all about Trip. The bulk of the storyline is basically built around him although Hoshi is around as well, but her role is hugely limited as well, which I found rather reminiscent of the TV series. That is really about it though in regards to the other crewmembers, a few odd appearances but nothing else, Stern spends more time developing and showcasing his own original Denari characters instead. Personally, I quite enjoyed seeing the development of some interesting and original characters, but it would have also been nice to see a little bit more from the other Enterprise crewmembers in regards to their own predicament.

I have to say that the ending itself was a little bit of a let down due to its cliff hanger nature. There is no real closure when you complete the novel, you basically have to read the sequel "Daedalus's Children" to find out what happens. It annoyed me a little as "Daedalus" wasn't the longest of novels I have read in the Star Trek Universe and it felt to me like the book was split into two parts as a money making idea to fleece the fans some more.

In summary this is a very enjoyable Enterprise novel that had me hooked to the point that I just abandoned my reading list and picked up the sequel as soon as I finished. I will add that as with many other Star Trek books I have read, this book is unlikely to really appeal to someone who isn't normally interested in the show, but any fans should hopefully find something to pique their interest.

[John Able · Rating 1 out of 5]

Being one of the higher rated Enterprise books I was looking forward to getting into this one, especially as I’ve enjoyed all the other stand alone novels up until this point.

It started very well but soon meandered into a very bland new world of equally bland characters. As a positive the voice of Trip was accurate in my opinion but unfortunately the only other Enterprise character in the story is Hoshi and she is horribly relegated to ‘workstation research’ and a coma for the entirety of the book.

The new characters feature a two dimensional general, his stereotypical well trained soldiers and an evil dictator who sounds like a Middle Eastern baddy right off the 9:00 news. Oh sorry, there’s also an alien love interest for Trip so the author could tick alien sex off the list of things to include in an Enterprise novel.

What then ensues is a dull mission of impossible odds over the course of 326 pages (not to mention a second book that I may have to skip all together!) Despite the opposing force having superior technology, ships and manpower apparently you can bypass this by simply... landing on the roof and taking out two guards.

Very disappointing

I would definitely recommend any of the previous Enterprise novels over this one.

If you love these books join me on the Sci-fi TV book review podcast where I’ll be looking at B5, Trek, Quantum Leap, Farscape and more.

[Jordan Scrivner · Rating 4 out of 5]

In my quest to read all the Star Trek books in Stardate order, this was the first book in the Enterprise series that got me absolutely hooked. To use the tried-and-true cliché, this was a real page-turner. It kept me guessing right up until the last page.

12 or so years before the launch of the NX-01, the USS Daedalus (not to be confused with the myriad of other Daedaluses [Daedalae?] in other Star Trek books and episodes) explodes on its maiden voyage, taking with it Victor Brodessor, a mentor of Enterprise's Chief Engineer, Trip. After an attack from hostile aliens sends Trip and Hoshi fleeing for their lives, the pair finds themselves in the middle of a war zone, facing new challenges and having to rely on new friends.

This is definitely a Trip-centered story, and my main complaint about the book is that Hoshi is given little to do. In fact, the xenolinguist spends much of the book in a coma. But Trip is a charming enough character to carry the story, and is a great foil to the dozen or so new characters we meet on this misadventure. Now if only Trip would stop sleeping with the aliens!

Since this book is a two-parter, it ends in a cliffhanger. So stay tuned for part two: Daedalus' Children!

Next up: Star Trek: Starfleet Year One.

[Andy Stjohn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enterprise: Daedalus #1 by David Stern

This is the first Enterprise book I’ve read! The T.V show it’s self is one of my least favorite Trek shows but I did enjoy the last two seasons a bit and it was too bad as the show got cancelled before it got truly good. These are the Voyages was the worst Trek finale of all, but thankfully the relaunch books did Enterprise justice and gave us the fifth season we never had.

This book takes place right before the end of Season 2 and mainly focuses on Trip. Hoshi is in the book briefly, but she’s a supporting character mostly. None of the main cast like Archer, T’Pol or Phlox aren’t there. Personally, T’Pol was my favourite character on Enterprise as I always like Vulcan characters. But Trip is a decent enough character.

And this book overall was pretty decent. It helped it was short, not overly complicated and had an interesting mystery with Daedalus. I felt like it emulated a classic episode of TOS where cultural and technological contamination took place. Although the big twist of the crew being sent to another universe wasn’t this life altering twist the book was trying to set up. I had it spoiled for me by the back of the second book. Overall, a pretty good book and this would have been a really good episode of the T.V show.
7.5/10

[Frank Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic. What an epic story that finishes on such a big reveal that I can't wait to devour part two! A compelling adventure with some clever twists and turns.

Most of the Enterprise crew are not around for most of the events in this book which is fine and hanging out with Trip is always good fun but I do wish that Hoshi had been better utilised.

I didn't like the cheating but it didn't ruin the story.

[Jay · Rating 3 out of 5]

As Enterprise approaches an anomaly near a system that seems to be pre-warp, they are suddenly attacked by a fleet of small ships. Despite the ship being completely overrun, Trip and Hoshi manage to escape in a cloaked Suliban cell-ship. Becoming involved with the underdog faction in a local civil war, Trip finds connections to his past that may influence his and Hoshi's survival.

This is a really bold novel - departing from the formats of previous novels and television episodes. By that I mean it strips almost all of the regular characters and locations away and gives us a story focused heavily on Trip. Even Hoshi is minimized throughout the book even though she escapes with Trip from the initial battle. This really isn't a bad thing in the long run (unless you're not a Trip fan) as it allows us to see Trip in unfamiliar circumstances and how the previous stories have actually affected his growth as a character. This book takes place right after a TV story that focused on Archer's past and how he figured into the development of the NX program that culminated in the launch of Enterprise. In this book, we get to see more of Trip's involvement in early Starfleet development that fills in some gaps in his past. It all gives him a little more depth and an interesting background apart from the regular characters.

The story itself is pretty intriguing. There are several thing happening throughout the book that keeps Trip pretty busy. Unfortunately, most of this book is set-up and leaves readers with more questions than answers - definitely an "act one" here. There's a pretty serious twist at the end that really amps up excitement for the second book.

A solid entry in the line that definitely has me ready to pick up Part Two!

[Benjamin Hall · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was an interesting take on a Trek book that focused entirely on one crew member's point of view; Trip's. You're left experiencing things through his eyes, all the while wondering what is happening to Enterprise and its crew. There were some interesting twists along the way, and sets up nicely for part 2. I do feel like the alien race was TOO similar to humans. It seemed almost a bit lazy to not give them a unique culture or set of norms and morals.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again, I'm biased because Trip Tucker is one of my favorite star trek characters, and this book focuses a lot on him, but this book was absolutely phenomenal. Though there are some out of character moments, the author does just as good of a job at capturing Trip's character as he did with Malcolm in What Price, Honor? And I absolutely love that this book lets us see a little more of Hoshi than the TV show ever did, even if Trip is definitely still the main focus.

[PF · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ethnocentric

While the book is entertaining enough, superficially, I found it rather frustrating and ill-conceived that two separate species/races/cultures would have identical mores and ethical systems around marriage and fidelity, especially when we don't even have this here on Earth now, and this supposedly happens some centuries in the future.

[Peter Rydén · Rating 4 out of 5]

En mycket spännande bok och slutet var starkt överraskande. Den fortsätter i Daedalus's Children vilken ges ut i maj 2004. Det här är en av de bättre böcker som jag har läst i Star Trek-genren, och troligen den bästa i Enterprise-serien. Den tar Enterprise in på områden som den hittills inte har hanterat, men som passar väl in i Star Trek-genren i sin helhet.

[Abbot Patrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

The overall story is interesting, but it is another story of a alternate universe which is very difficult for me to sit through anymore. I enjoyed "Mirror, Mirror" from the Original Star Trek TV series, but after that the writers either got carried away, as they did with Daedalus and the follow up book, or they just get boring, like the Deep Space Nine Mirror Universe stories.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5★

ent writers stop forcing interspecies romance on trip every single time he encounters a woman from a different species challenge: FAILED.

read this for the trip/hoshi crumbs and crumbs i did get. unfortunately, they severely underutilized hoshi and straight up put her in a coma. even outside the show i can never win. man.

[Erica Naone · Rating 4 out of 5]

Engaging and interesting - Trip’s perspective feels right. I saw the twist coming a mile away, though. It was enjoyable to get there but I did wonder why Trip was being dense. Interested to read the conclusion

[Louisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is my favorite out of the Enterprise novels. Can't wait to read the sequel!

[imareader2006 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of the best Star Trek books I’ve ever read. Now I just have to find the sequel😂

[Siobhán Bayertz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't think I would like this at first and the first 80 or so pages, I was finding it hard to get in to. I also was a bit disappointed that the story was mainly focused on Trip. Love his character but prefer when Archer and the rest are involved. Hoshi is in it a bit.

It's quite slow, more the background for the second book but I did end up liking it a lot.

[Steven Shinder · Rating 2 out of 5]

The backstory of the Daedalus is interesting, but the overall way the narrative is told just doesn't go to many compelling places.

[Brian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall, an enjoyable book. The premise seemed fairly interesting, and Trip was depicted well (apart from one instance), along with the characters introduced, and the pacing seemed just right.

There were some decisions that the author made that I felt lessened the originality, and impact that the story had.

For one, what was suppose to be the big plot twist of the book, felt rather obvious and entirely overused on both the TV shows and subsequent novels. I would have liked a different approach that had something new to say.

Secondly, for some reason, the author decided to depict all of the events of the entire book from 1 POV, Trip. While I realize it gives the book some focus, I feel the story would have been better suited by covering multiple POVs, considering the difference of situations. However, while Hoshi was physically there, it seemed the author was so focused on making this a Trip book, that he simply invented an excuse to exclude her, and that felt both obvious and bizarre at the same time.

Thirdly, I found the dialogue to often repeat, rather than reinforce, what was just explained. While it didn't bother me too much, it made the dialogue feel sometimes unnecessary.

Still, now that it's done, I can say that I enjoyed the read, and I'll probably jump right into the next one, and in the end, I think that's what matters most about a book.

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enterprise finds a system that seems to have aliens like humans in it. Meanwhile, they are discovering how to use the Ion drive on the cell ship. The aliens are more of a threat than they thought and trouble ensues. This is a Trip story, so if you don't like the character then don't even bother reading this. It features a few flashbacks of Trip's life that are interesting. The story is very readable and quick paced. The twist is clever, and the book ends on a cliffhanger so that you buy part 2. A good read.

[Joseph Barnes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book....This is a 2 parter that was never used on the t.v. show but I wish it had been. The books are mostly from the viewpoint of Tucker and Hoshie. If your a fan of Enterprise you should enjoy this book. Wish I had seen this storyline on the show because in my opinion the early demise of the show was because of the lack of original GOOD stories.

[Karl Schaeffer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I never did get into the last Star Trek TV series, but I've enjoyed the books that have come out of the series. I need to find the 2nd book "Daedalus's Children".

[Virginia Lacefield · Rating 2 out of 5]

Blah. Main plotline not terrible, sub plot of nutritional problems due to mirror universe was stupid and didn't follow canon.

[Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very quick and easy read.

[Mikael Kuoppala · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very entertaining novel with a nice insight into the character of Trip Tucker.

[Bradley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Somewhat interesting Star Trek book. It did keep my interest over a boring Sunday stuck with my son. =)

[SFReader · Rating 3 out of 5]

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