Star Trek: Strange New Worlds; Asylum by Una McCormack

A new Star Trek adventure based on the thrilling Paramount+ TV seriesStar Trek: Strange New Worlds!

When Una Chin-Riley and Christopher Pike meet at Starfleet Academy after one of his lectures, they immediately become friends. A stellar student, Una is the “poster girl” of her class, and Pike is determined to become a Starfleet captain with his own ship, rhetorically assembling his dream crew. As their friendship evolves, Pike also suspects Una is involved with the Euxhana, a Chionian cultural minority, who are seeking asylum in Federation space, leading to more questions than answers.

Twenty-five years later, Una and Pike are working together on the USS Enterprise to settle a Chionian trade agreement when a pro-Euxhana saboteur launches a terrorist attack. When the suspect is taken into custody for interrogation and is discovered to have a history with Una, her past associations resurface, threatening to expose a secret she’s been harboring all these years…

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In Star Trek: Strange New Worlds; Asylum, readers are treated to a captivating prequel that explores the early friendship between Una Chin-Riley and Christopher Pike at Starfleet Academy. The narrative smoothly shifts between their formative years and their later collaboration on the USS Enterprise, providing a nuanced look at how past connections can influence present events. As they navigate a complex Chionian trade agreement, the stakes heighten with a terrorist attack tied to Una's secretive past, adding tension and depth to the story.

While the blurb may not be entirely accurate in details, it sets the stage for a tale rich in character development and moral dilemmas. Fans of the series will appreciate the exploration of familiar characters and the intricate dynamics of loyalty and trust within the Federation's broader socio-political landscape.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds: Asylum captures the spirit of exploration and camaraderie that defines the franchise. For fans of science fiction, it resonates with the themes explored in The Orville TV show, which also blends humour with social commentary. Additionally, The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers offers a similar exploration of friendship and moral dilemmas within a richly imagined sci-fi universe.

Strange New Worlds: Asylum publishes on the 5th November, 2024. I received a free copy and am giving an honest review.