"Star Trek: Discovery: Desperate Hours" by David Mack, 2017

"Star Trek: Discovery: Desperate Hours" by David Mack, 2017

Writing the very first Star Trek Discovery tie-in novel was bestowed upon David Mack, and, in my opinion, he did not disappoint.

 "Star Trek: Discovery: Desperate Hours" takes place one year before the "Star Trek: Discovery" pilot episode and one year after the U.S.S. Enterprise visited Talos IV. We know that the characters and ships we see in the pilot are going to make it through the ordeal in this book. But, for me, that doesn’t detract from the tension or suspense whatsoever – there is excellent pacing and even better character development. And that’s what this novel needed to be: A way for us to get to know these new characters and their relationships on a deeper level, and Mack accomplishes this goal by teaming them with the characters that we already know-- Captain Pike and Spock of the U.S.S. Enterprise.

The story begins with Captain Phillipa Georgiou offering a conditional promotion to Lieutenant Michael Burnham as first officer. This places Burnham in conflict with Kelpien science officer Lieutenant Saru, who was the more seasoned officer and only receives a promotion to second officer. Georgiou, Burnham, and Saru must take the Shenzhou to Sirsa III where a mysterious craft, dubbed the Juggernaut, is attacking the colonists. When it becomes clear that the Juggernaut may pose a threat to the Federation should it leave the planet, Starfleet sends Captain Christopher Pike and the Enterprise to destroy it, with the colony as collateral damage. The story focuses on the conflict between the two ships and their crew, with both trying to do what they think is best for the galaxy.

I was pleased at the amount of insight the novel gives into the characters of Captain Georgiou, Michael Burnham, and Lieutenant Saru, but also by the excellent treatment of some old Trek favorites. Through the story and along the way, Mack includes interesting character studies through combined boarding parties, such as Una from the Enterprise and Saru, but particularly through Burnham and Spock. After the death of her parents, Spock's father Sarek raised Burnham on Vulcan, where she attended the Vulcan Science Academy. In this way, she is like a distorted reflection of Spock, who was estranged from his father while struggling to balance his human and Vulcan ancestry, eventually leaving Vulcan to attend Starfleet Academy. Their interaction drives the story and, as this focuses on a younger Spock, Mack has the ability to present a character still developing into the more familiar iteration of the character.  

It’s a good sci-fi book in general, and an almost-outstanding Trek novel in particular. Fans and newcomers alike will enjoy the Burnham-Spock part of the narrative.Well worth the purchase for any fan of the franchise.

Book description from cover:

Aboard the Starship Shenzhou, Lieutenant Michael Burnham, a human woman raised and educated among Vulcans, is promoted to acting first officer. But if she wants to keep the job, she must prove to Captain Philippa Georgiou that she deserves to have it.

She gets her chance when the Shenzhou must protect a Federation colony that is under attack by an ancient alien vessel that has surfaced from the deepest fathoms of the planet’s dark, uncharted sea.

As the menace from this mysterious vessel grows stronger, Starfleet declares the colony expendable in the name of halting the threat. To save thousands of innocent lives, Burnham must infiltrate the alien ship. But to do so, she needs to face the truth of her troubled past, and seek the aid of a man she has tried to avoid her entire life—until now.

My rating: ★★★☆☆ (3 out of 5 stars) - I liked it.