Star Trek: S.C.E. #7-8: Invincible by David Mack and Keith R.A. DeCandido is an ambitious two-parter that stands out thanks to its unique storytelling format. Told largely through a series of log entries, personal reflections, and internal communications from Lieutenant Commander Sonia Gomez, the story offers a real-time, first-person immediacy that’s rare in Trek fiction. It’s a refreshing shift in perspective that deepens Gomez’s character and gives the narrative a strong sense of urgency.
After reading The One, I knew I had to dive deeper into John Marr’s dark future — and The Passengers absolutely delivered. Set in the same unsettlingly plausible world as The One, this novel explores the dangers of blind trust in technology, especially as AI and self-driving cars inch closer to everyday reality. The connections between the two books aren’t subtle, but they’re perfectly placed for fans eager to spot them.
Star Trek: S.C.E. #6: Cold Fusion by Keith R.A. DeCandido ties nicely into the post-Deep Space Nine continuity, serving as a fun “side quest” of sorts for Nog as he seeks help from the da Vinci crew to repair DS9. That broader connection is one of the novella’s strengths. Unfortunately, the danger never quite lands — the outcome feels predetermined, and the stakes never seem high enough to create real tension.
As the Gateways saga continues, Cold Wars by Peter David delivers a novel where the Gateways themselves take center stage. More than just a continuation of the New Frontier storyline, this is a Gateways novel in full force — lengthy, rich with tension, and surprisingly relevant.
Star Trek: S.C.E. #5: Interphase, Part Two by Dayton Ward & Kevin Dilmore delivers a strong, action-packed conclusion to the series’ first two-parter. The pacing ramps up nicely, balancing high-stakes sci-fi tension with some great nostalgic callbacks. It’s a satisfying payoff to the setup in Part One, and it solidifies the creative team’s skill at juggling character and spectacle.
This novella raises the stakes and successfully expands the series’ reach into deeper Star Trek lore. The inclusion of the Tholian perspective was a bold and fascinating choice — we so rarely get their point of view, and it added and eerie, alien texture to the story. I also appreciated the use of the Defiant here more than I did in Enterprise’s mirror-universe episodes. It felt more grounded and purposeful.
This book is a fine entry in the series, but unfortunately, it suffers from placement more than content. Coming immediately after Fatal Error, the story feels a bit too familiar — another planetary emergency involving malfunctioning technology and a race against time to save the day. While that’s classic Star Trek, the similarity in structure and stakes made this novella feel repetitive rather than fresh.
This book continues to develop the da Vinci crew as the series finds its footing. Like a traditional Trek episode, we start to see certain characters steep into the spotlight, though at times it feels like too many are vying for attention. The story is classic Star Trek, full of problem-solving and moral dilemmas, but I found myself not especially invested in the planet’s inhabitants.
I went into this book expecting a fun whodunit with some fourth-wall breaking gimmicks. What I got was so much more clever, layered, and downright delightful than I anticipated. Benjamin Stevenson has crafted a mystery that’s both hilariously self-aware and masterfully plotted.
This book is a fantastic kickoff to the Starfleet Corps of Engineers series. I loved how it introduced the da Vinci crew while weaving in familiar faces like Geordi La Forge and Scotty to anchor the story in the broader Trek universe. The balance between new and established characters felt seamless, making me care about the da Vinci crew right from the start.
