Literary Treks: A Star Trek Books and Comics Podcast

Michael A. Martin: The Red King. Searching for a lost Romulan fleet, Captain Riker and the Titan are swept out of the galaxy along with Commander Donatra and the Valdore. They find themselves in the Small Magellanic Cloud, an area of space visited nearly a century earlier by another Federation starship. An long-sundered offshoot of humanity has claimed this area of space, and when reality itself is threatened by an encroaching anomaly, Riker and his crew must save these lost children of Earth before the entire region is consigned to non-existence.

In this episode of Literary Treks, hosts Dan Gunther and Bruce Gibson welcome author Michael A. Martin to the show to discuss Titan: The Red King, which he co-wrote with Andy Mangels. We talk about their experience in launching the Titan series, the origin of the Neyel, Tuvok and Akaar's troubled past, Donatra and the Romulans, religious belief vs. scientific fact, where Titan goes from here, and wrap up with what Michael is working on now and where you can find him online.

At the top of the show, we review the latest Star Trek: Waypoint special issue and respond to listener feedback from the Babel Conference for Literary Treks 266: Bringing the Truth Out of the Shadows

News Star Trek Waypoint 2019 Comic Review (00:03:46) Listener Feedback (00:26:19)

Feature: Michael A. Martin Launching Titan (00:31:32) The Neyel (00:42:49) Tuvok and Akaar (00:53:15) Klingons and Romulans (00:58:42) Religion is Reality (01:05:15) The Sleeper Consequences (01:11:50) Frane Talks to Akaar (01:16:51) Author Collaboration (01:17:51) A New Project and Being a Fan (01:20:48) Final Thoughts (01:24:04)

Hosts Dan Gunther and Bruce Gibson

Guest Michael A. Martin

Production Bruce Gibson (Editor and Producer) Dan Gunther (Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Ken Tripp (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Brandon-Shea Mutala (Patreon Manager) Ken Tripp (Associate Producer) Brandon-Shea Mutala (Associate Producer) Justin Oser (Associate Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Greg Rozier (Associate Producer) Jeffery Harlan (Associate Producer)

Vulcan's Glory. With the exception of the glimpses we see in "The Cage" and "The Menagerie," not much is known about Spock's early days aboard the U.S.S. Enterprise, or the crew that he served: Captain Christopher Pike and his stalwart first officer Number One. Now that Star Trek: Discovery is exploring this time period and these characters, we feel the time has come to look at some of the books that chronicled Pike's captaincy, starting with one authored by a true veteran of Star Trek writing.

In this episode of Literary Treks, hosts Bruce Gibson and Dan Gunther talk about Vulcan's Glory, written by Original Series writer Dorothy "D.C." Fontana. We discuss the references to past Star Trek such as The Animated Series, the crew of the Enterprise under Pike's command, how well we feel this connects to Star Trek: Discovery, the historical artifact known as "Vulcan's Glory," Pike's mission to the devastated planet Areta, a mysterious murder plot aboard the Enterprise, Scotty and his engine room hooch, and wrap up with our final thoughts and ratings.

At the top of the show, Bruce and Dan review the final issue of IDW's Star Trek vs. Transformers and respond to feedback from The Babel Conference about Literary Treks 259: He's Gotta Grow Some and Just Do It.

News Star Trek vs. Transformers #5 review (00:03:39) Listener Feedback (00:16:09)

Feature: Vulcan's Glory 30th Anniversary (00:22:37) Yesteryear (00:28:02) First Pike Novel (00:33:15) Number One of Illyria (00:36:16) Picturing TOS and DSC (00:43:22) Historical Artifact (00:49:01) Family Squabbles on Areta (00:53:35) The Hunt for Glory (01:01:59) Spock's Love Interest (01:09:44) Engine Room Hooch (01:14:04) Ratings (01:18:33) Final Thoughts (01:23:24)

Hosts Dan Gunther and Bruce Gibson

Production Bruce Gibson (Editor and Producer) Dan Gunther (Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Ken Tripp (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Brandon-Shea Mutala (Patreon Manager) Ken Tripp (Associate Producer) Brandon-Shea Mutala (Associate Producer) Justin Oser (Associate Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Greg Rozier (Associate Producer) Jeffery Harlan (Associate Producer)

A Burning House. The voyages of the I.K.S. Gorkon have come to an end, far sooner than they should have! As the Gorkon puts into port at Qo'noS, the officers and crew return home. For some, that means a harvest festival with friends and family, and for others, it means intrigue, revelations, and deception. It's just another day in the life of a citizen of the Klingon Empire!

In this episode of Literary Treks, hosts Dan Gunther and Bruce Gibson are joined by Earl Grey's Justin Oser to discuss A Burning House. We talk about life on a Klingon farm during yopta' yupma', Toq's tale of intrigue when he returns to his birthplace of Carraya IV, Rodek coming to terms with revelations about his past, B'Oraq and her attempts to bring modern medicine to the Empire, G'Joth and an opera that bears little resemblance to the truth, other bits we liked about the novel, and wrap up with our final thoughts and ratings.

At the top of the show, Dan and Bruce review Star Trek: IDW 20/20, featuring Picard's first mission as captain of the Stargazer, and respond to your Babel Conference feedback on Literary Treks 256: I Would Need More Than a Paragraph.

News Star Trek IDW 20/20 Review (00:02:29) Listener Feedback (00:10:24)

Feature: A Burning House Klingon Empire Series? (00:18:32) Wol, Kagak, Goran, and yobta' yupma' (00:22:13) Toq - Secret Hideout (00:32:11) Rodek - Memories of Kurn (00:38:22) B'Oraq and the Klingon Physician (00:48:04) G'Joth and Kennia (00:57:13) Klingon Enclave Poetry (01:03:46) Captain Klag (01:11:21) Other Bits (01:15:52) Ratings (01:23:27) Final Thoughts (01:33:12)

Hosts Dan Gunther and Bruce Gibson

Guest Justin Oser

Production Bruce Gibson (Editor and Producer) Dan Gunther (Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Ken Tripp (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Brandon-Shea Mutala (Patreon Manager) Ken Tripp (Associate Producer) Brandon-Shea Mutala (Associate Producer) Justin Oser (Associate Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Greg Rozier (Associate Producer) Jeffery Harlan (Associate Producer)

Honor Bound. The Children of San-Tarah have emerged victorious over Klag and the crew of the I.K.S. Gorkon, and Klag has promised that the Klingon Empire will leave their planet in peace. However, General Talak, Klag's superior, has different ideas and orders the conquest of San-Tarah. Now, Klag must put out the call to The Order of the Bat'leth and defend both the Children of San-Tarah and Klingon honor itself!

In this episode of Literary Treks, hosts Bruce Gibson and Dan Gunther are joined by Justin Oser to discuss I.K.S. Gorkon, Book Two: Honor Bound by Keith R.A. DeCandido. We talk about The Order of the Bat'leth, Leader Wol, Klag as the Klingon Kirk, Klingon duplicity, the San-Tarah and their role in the Empire, some hanging threads for future novels, and wrap up with our final thoughts and ratings.

In the news section, Bruce and Dan are joined by Larry Nemecek to discuss his updated version of Star Trek: Stellar Cartography. In the feedback segment, Bruce and Dan discuss your thoughts on Literary Treks 249: A Fun Labor of Love.

News Star Trek Stellar Cartography Updated (00:02:17) Listener Feedback (00:26:42)

Feature: Honor Bound Battle of the Bat'leth (00:30:32) Wol (00:40:02) Is Klag a Klingon Kirk? (00:44:16) Who Can You Trust? (00:52:38) Joining the Empire (00:59:50) Kurn/Rodek (01:07:37) Kurak (01:10:55) Back to Wol (01:14:29) Ratings (01:18:19) Final Thoughts (01:24:48)

Hosts Dan Gunther and Bruce Gibson

Production Bruce Gibson (Editor and Producer) Dan Gunther (Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Ken Tripp (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Brandon-Shea Mutala (Patreon Manager) Ken Tripp (Associate Producer) Brandon-Shea Mutala (Associate Producer) Justin Oser (Associate Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Greg Rozier (Associate Producer) Jeffery Harlan (Associate Producer)

New Earth: Wagon Train to the Stars. What would make Admiral Kirk give up the desk after The Motion Picture, Diane Carey answers the question in the first book of the New Earth series, the promise of leading a colony expedition and the promise of new uniforms.

In this episode of Literary Treks hosts Matthew Rushing and Casey Pettitt talk about New Earth: Wagon Train to the Stars. We discuss new worlds, more freedom, greed, working together, Kirk, another war, the writing style, our ratings and final thoughts.

In the news we review at two new comics, Mirror War: La Forge and Star Trek: Klingons. News Mirror War: La Forge (00:02:55) Star Trek: Klingons (00:08:24)

Feature: Wagon Train to the Stars New Worlds (00:13:32) More Freedom? (00:22:09) Greed (00:27:24) Working Together (00:31:39) Kirk (00:36:29) Another War (00:41:53) The Writing Story (00:44:06) Ratings (00:49:50) Final Thoughts (00:52:20)

Hosts Matthew Rushing and Casey Pettitt

Production Matthew Rushing (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Greg Rozier (Associate Producer) Casey Pettitt (Associate Producer)