It’s three years later and nearly everyone associated with Excalibur and Trident has moved on in some way or another, except their creator, writer of stuff Peter David. He continues to crank out entertaining books like the world is ending tomorrow. Does he know something we don’t? If only he didn’t write so many stories that end with the words to be continued …

Published in hardcover by Pocket Books. ( )

Once again, Peter David shows us why the New Frontier series is the best thing currently happening in the Star Trek universe.

His latest entry in the saga of Captain Calhoun and the crew of the U.S.S. Excaliber picks up the story three years after the events of Stone and Anvil. A lot has changed in the New Frontier universe. Si Cwan is now an important leader in the New Thallonian Empire and married to Robin Lefler, Soleta has joined the Romulan Empire, Shelby is an admiral and Calhoun is, well, he's still Calhoun. From the beginning, the strength of the New Frontier has been the characters and the freedom David has to play with them. Moving the plot forward three years from the last installment means that David can put these strong characters into new situations, but still have readers identify with them. One of the compelling things about this novel is the desire to see how each character got from Stone and Anvil to the events chronicled here.

And in this, David excels.

But there's also one heck of a good plot. Xyon, Calhoun's son returns and wreaks havoc with Kalinda'a wedding day. This throws the New Thallonian empire and Ci Swan's marriage to Lefler into chaos. Meanwhile, a new mysterious alien race shows up with the ability to use transwarp conduits.

For those of you expecting a complete novel, I will say this one ends on a cliffhanger and it's the first part of a new trilogy. But I didn't mind one bit. The story come to a good ending point--leaving you curious and wanting more. And you can bet I'll be the first in line for the next installment of this series later in 2005. ( )

http://www.sfreader.com/read_review.asp?book=1161 ( )

http://defcons-treklit.livejournal.com/9373.html#cutid1 ( )