The Currents of Space ~Isaac Asimov

–published 1952, first Tor trade edition, 2010
–Tor Books
–238 pages
–4.25/5 stars

In a region of space not-yet entirely swallowed by galactic empire, the independent world of Sark holds dominion over the planet Florina, whose peasant class citizenry work the fields of kryt, a cellulose-based fiber craved all over the universe. When a lone spatio-analyst arrives feverishly predicted the planet’s destruction, his mind is wiped clean and he is found later by members of the laboring class, naked and enfeebled on the side of a road. This stranger, thereafter named Rik, is taken in by a peasant woman, Valona March, who nurses him back to health and finds work for him in the mill. After a year of child-like existence, Rik suddenly begins to recover snatches of memory. He knows what he used to be, and he knows that they are all in great danger.

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Star Trek Typhon Pact: Zero Sum Game ~David Mack

–published 2010
–Pocket Books
–336 pages
–4/5 stars

You know how it is–a friend comes over and starts telling you about a book they started reading, their excitement becomes infectious, and before you have had time to weigh the consequences you find yourself at the bookstore counter, exchanging cash for adventure between the covers of a brand new book. The consequences being that said adventure could be grand, or could be a complete bust. In this case it was nearly a foregone conclusion that I would have a good time, especially given the fact that a few days prior I had been contemplating revisiting Deep Space Nine beginning with episode one.

Zero Sum Game is the first book in a four book series that will be released the last week of four consecutive months, October 2010 through January 2011. I am given to understand that this series picks up after the events of the last Borg conflict, a series of books that brought the Deep Space Nine storyline up to the current storyline with Next Generation and Voyager. A group of races hostile to the Federation has formed the Typhon Pact. One of those races,the Breen–featured on the DS9 television series–has stolen the plans for Starfleet’s latest technological advantage, the slipstream drive. Dr. Bashir and his fellow genetically engineered “one that got away”, Sarina Douglas, are tapped by Starfleet Intelligence to conduct a covert search and destroy mission in Breen space. It is a race against the clock, and impossible odds, to stop the Breen before they develop their own slipstream drive and tip the balance of power.

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