Steven Barnes

Steven Barnes’ novelization of Ira Steven Behr, Hans Beimler, and Marc Scott Zicree’s Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode, “Far Beyond the Stars,” adapts and expands upon the original episode script. He takes what is possibly one of the best standalone episodes of DS9 and adds more depth and nuance to the story, turning it into one of the best tie-in novels. The story focuses on Captain Benjamin Sisko experiencing visions of 1950s New York City and a pulp science-fiction writer named Benny Russell, who begins writing stories of a future space station commander and the promise of Black Americans’ place in that future amid the segregation of the mid-twentieth century. Barnes extends further back in Benny Russell’s past, portraying him as encountering a Bajoran orb at the 1939 World’s Fair amid the symbols of the future that dominated that era and the segregation that limited Black Americans’ access to the fair. Even with time set aside for Black fairgoers, they were underrepresented or entirely absent from dioramas imagining the future, instead only finding African culture among the exhibits focusing on smaller nations. As New York City climbed to the skies, Black residents scrape by and fear to hope for more. In 1953, Russell’s life includes more commentary and context about Harlem as well as the work of Black authors. While the television episode portrayed Russell as writing a story about Ben Sisko, Barnes’ book includes mention of him writing prior adventures of Captains Kirk and Picard. The other authors at the pulp magazine provide a chance to work in references to Asimov, Harlan Ellison, and more. The result is a novelization that surpasses the episode it adapts, crafting one of the best Star Trek stories of all time that perfectly encapsulates the franchise’s message.… (mehr)

The Devil’s Wake by Steven Barnes is a zombie apocalypse story that follows all the usual routes. A strange disease affects people and turns them into flesh eating monsters. The main characters are a group of young people who travel by rickety bus through Washington State, Oregon and into California. I didn’t realize that this was the first book in a series so was rather disappointed with the abrupt ending. Although there was plenty of action and it was a quick, fun read, I don’t think I will be continuing on with this series as it really had nothing new to offer.… (mehr)

A dying woman makes a wish to a supernatural being to keep her orphaned granddaughter safe. As is the way of wishes, things get dark and bloody. Unfortunately, the slow burn to horror was so slow I got bored and tuned out. It's not bad, but nothing here really surprised or engaged me.

(A graphic novel project: I'm reading all the books on the list of NPR's Books We Love 2022: Favorite Comics and Graphic Novels. Only three to go!)… (mehr)