House of Cards (Star Trek: New Frontier, #1) by Peter David

House of Cards (Star Trek: New Frontier, #1) Reviews

• 
  Alejandro

  Indeed a new frontier in "Star Trek" franchise!
  
  
  This is the 1st novel in the “Star Trek: New Frontier” book series.
  
  
  FIRST PROSE STAR TREK SERIES
  
  This novel was very important for the line of prose novels of Pocket Books about Star Trek.
  
  Since before this, there were only prose novels about the original series and spin-offs aired on TV, however, Pocket Books made a strong bet giving green light to this idea by author, Peter David, one of the most popular writers in the franchise, to create a new Star Trek spin-off series BUT exclusively for the development on prose novel format.
  
  Peter David knew that the key factor to make this works was to "cast" an interesting crew, in the same way that it would be made for a TV show.
  
  So, he was allowed to bring known characters as "Cmdr. Elizabeth Shelby", "Dr. Selar" and "Lt. Robin Lefler", all of them have appeared on Star Trek: The Next Generation but since there weren't any plans to re-use them so, they were "free" to be used as regular members of the new crew, the three characters were popular with the Trekkers so it was a wise move.
  
  Also, Peter David had written some novels directed to younger readers in the line Starfleet Academy narrating the years of Worf at the academy, and in those books, he created three characters: "Soleta", "Zak Kebron" and "Mark McHenry", so it was logical that they must be assigned in some ship after graduation like Worf, so, Peter David bring them to the new crew too.
  
  However, he also created "brand-new" characters for the new series like "Burgoyne 172" and "Si Cwan" and the most important character to secure the success of the series...
  
  ...the captain...
  
  Meet: Mackenzie Calhoun...
  
  ...that his name may sound of Earth origin but it was a "personal" decision of the character to fit better but his real name was M'k'n'zy of Calhoun, an alien with a convulted past.
  
  
  NEW FRONTIER, NEW OPPORTUNITIES
  
  Peter David was smart making the debut of this new series to appeal not only to fans of 24th Century based series of Star Trek but also of the Original Series bringing as "guest stars" in the first part of the "pilot" adventure to Captain Jean-Luc Picard and Ambassador Spock.
  
  And I say "first part" since the first four books of the series in reality are all part of a same adventure, but "Pocket Books" decided to print them in thinner editions with a cheap price to secure that new reader of the series may take the risk of buying them.
  
  In many series and stories of Star Trek, you may find explorations of known Earth history events but transformed to alien equivalents. In Star Trek: New Frontier, Peter David decided that it was a good idea to explore the fall of the USSR and its following socio-political struggles but also merging it with some concepts of the fall of the Romanov dinasty too, so...
  
  ...in this series you find that the scenario is a space sector known as 221-G that until very recently was under the tight control of the Tallonian Empire, however this empire collapsed and now several worlds and star systems are in disorder, suffering civil wars, uprising of hunger, etc...
  
  Therefore, the Federation decided to send a starship to study the situation in the sector and to bring any possible humanitarian help.
  
  I was lucky to get the beginning of the series on its original format of 4 books (that this one is the first of them) since for collection is better because later I think you only would find the omnibus edition of this 4 books.
  
  Star Trek: New Frontier was so well accepted by fans that there were even some crossover book events with the other series that were real TV shows, and even some comic books, proving that this book series was already perceived as strong as the other spin-offs of the franchise.
  
  Moreover, the success of Star Trek: New Frontier, in its format of prose novels, opened the doors to a whole bunch of new series like Starfleet Corps of Engineers, I.K.S. Gorkon, Titan, Stargazer, etc...
  
  
• 
  Jamie

  Mostly background, this seems like a solid setup for a new series starring a new ship and captain, one created for use in prose novels rather than derived from an existing television series.
• 
  C.T. Phipps

  Star Trek: New Frontier is the father of the modern Star Trek Expanded Universe. Much like Timothy Zahn's Thrawn Trilogy created the modern Star Wars Expanded Universe, so did Peter David's adventures of Captain Mackenzie Calhoun and the U.S.S Excalibur create the foundations on which all others would follow.
  
  Star Trek fiction existed before this massive multi-book series, existed in books by the hundreds in-fact, but it was continuity-less and insubstantial as a cloud to the greater universe. I hesitate to use the word licensed fan fiction, because some of it was really good, but that's how Paramount viewed it. Flattering, fun to read, but lacking in consistency and unimportant in the grand scheme of things.
  
  New Frontier changed that by providing a self-contained universe written entirely by Peter David, carrying the consequences from one story to the next. For over fifteen years, the adventures of Captain Calhoun have entertained fans of Star Trek and created a bedrock to let publishers know fans were willing to follow original characters into the void.
  
  With the obliteration of planet Vulcan by Nero, the old universe now exists entirely within text (and in Star Trek Online) so the importance of Star Trek fiction can't be understated. So, what better way to celebrate my love of Star Trek fiction than to discuss the Star Trek: New Frontier universe with its first four volumes collected neatly into this omnibus.
  
  So what do I have to say about this series, now that I've talked it up for about four paragraphs?
  
  It is very-very silly.
  
  No, seriously, that's what you should understand before you pick up this volume and read a word of it. Peter David is a comic book writer, one of my favorite if not my favorite, and I mean that in both tenses of the word. The adventures of Captain Calhoun and his wacky crew trump the Original Series in terms of ridiculousness, are often prone to comedy skits, and include a race of Ewok-shaped evil wizards. If the idea of a planet-sized egg for a being not-too-dissimilar to the Phoenix from the X-men comics offends you, this may not be the series for you.
  
  The strange thing is, New Frontier is still capable of generating drama and pathos despite its occasional verges into utter insanity. I care about the characters of the U.S.S. Excalibur more than I care about a lot of fictional characters. The death of billions during the Star Trek Destiny series affected me less than than the loss of some crew members here. This is definitely a book series where your mileage may vary but I recommend checking them out just in case.
  
  Now that I've discussed the series as a whole to death, I'll mention the omnibus itself. The premise for New Frontier is brilliance in itself and I've replicated it a dozen times for my tabletop Star Trek games. A big Romulan Empire-sized territory called the Thallonian Empire has collapsed, leaving dozens of star systems anarchic and without leadership.
  
  The Federation, fearing a humanitarian crisis on an epic scale, sends a lone starship into the chaos to patch things up. It is captained by the second most renegade/rules-ignoring Captain in Starfleet history (the most being Chris Pine's Captain Kirk).
  
  Captain Mackenzie Calhoun is a former planetary warlord who joined Starfleet after liberating his planet from oppressive alien rule. He's also spent the past six years on undercover assignments for Admiral Nechayev, doing the sorts of things Section 31 would do if it had been invented yet out-of-universe.
  
  His crew is a similar collection of misfits including straight woman Shelby from "The Best of Both Worlds", Robin Lefler (Wesley's girlfriend played by Ashley Judd), a hermaphrodite alien engineer, one-off TNG character Selar, an exiled alien dictator, and the cast from Peter David's Starfleet Academy books. It's not the sort of cast which immediately excites you but the way they interact is delightful. Assuming, you know, you throw out all sense that Starfleet has any discipline whatsoever.
  
  I suggest buying the Kindle collection of the first four four books but I own the paperback of the first volume as a collector's piece.
  
  9/10
• 
  Sean Randall

  The majority of authors I have read who have dealt with a Star Trek novel have treated the characters and universe itself with some semblance of reverence.
  
  "What the hell kind of person was capable of sounding erudite while losing blood out of his face by the pint?"
  
  Peter David seems intent on breaking this trend, with his combination of amusing asides and in-character sarcasm.
  
  "please leave me to my work. This is a scientifically curious situation, and it takes precedence over the famed Thallonian inhospitableness."
  
  David seems to be well on the road to starting his own mini trek series, though. He's taken some fringe characters from television (such as Selar and Elizabeth Shelby) and seems to be setting them on a path to innumerable adventures. Having added characters of his own into the mix (Mackenzie Calhoun, Si Cwan, Soleta, etc), and with judicious use of cannon characters (although in unexpected positions sometimes) such as Edward Jellico, Alynna Nechayev and Spock, all seems ready for Calhoun to take the Captain's seat of this vessel with one of the most eclectic crews in starfleet.
  
  Not having any eyesight, I've been unable to keep up with comic books over the years. I know, of course, that Peter David wrote comics - his flamboyant style and quick wit makes him quite good at it, I imagine. still, this is a very short novel and I can see why the first four were combined into an omnibus volume.
  
  Short doesn't mean less, though - well it does, but there's plenty more in the series. I absolutely enjoyed every minute of it and will pick up the second one forthwith.
• 
  Obsidian

  Once again this is definitely a graphic novel for long time readers of The Dark Tower. No real surprises here, it's still "The Drawing of the Three" but now we have the big shootout with Eddie/Roland and Balazar and his gang. The main reason why I gave this four stars is once again I don't like how Roland and Eddie are illustrated in this. Eddie feels/looks too short and not like I had him in my head. I went eh about Roland too. 
  
  So this graphic novel follows Eddie has fallen into Roland's world. He has heroin strapped to him and he has to either believe that Roland is real and so is the door or just go and get caught by the airlines. We quickly follow
  
  So Eddie is getting a little of the groove that we see in the later books. And Roland (our gunslinger) drawing the first that will be his new ka-tet is less than impressed. But we quickly see the grudging respect between them build.
  
  I did feel for Henry in this one. Heck, even Jack (not that much, but just a smidge). 
  
  The writing is great and even though I know what is going to happen, I was still nervous. I will say that the scene we read about in books with Roland/Eddie taking on Balazar was a bit off and then I realized why. Eddie wasn't naked (LOL). 
  
  I don't know why the illustrations are not grabbing me for all of the characters. Maybe because we saw some of these characters depicted in some of The Dark Tower standalone books. I will look up later to see if it is the same illustrators for that or what.
  
  The novel ends with Roland ready to meet the lady of shadows.  
• 
  Libby

  It’s amazing how the content of the story can make such a difference. A few years ago, I picked up
  Sir Apropos of Nothing by Peter David and did not like it at all. Apparently the story just did not appeal to my personal tastes because it certainly wasn’t the author. On recommendation of other Goodreads member I picked up Peter David’s Star Trek: New Frontier series and absolutely loved it! Story was fun, style was sharp and true to Trek universe, and there was a pleasantly surprising amount of humor intertwined with the passionate characters. A very fun read. I’ll certainly continue with this series and highly recommend it to any Trekkie.
  
• 
  Jerry (Rebel With a Massive Media Library)

  Good writing and story, but the e-book version I had was missing some lines on a few pages. Next time, I'll just find a print version.
• 
  Lexxi Kitty

  This is an interesting 'origin story' type of book for several of the crewmembers of the Star Trek spaceship. Little short stories about several, including the captain, science officer. Plus part of the story takes place on 'The Next Generation' version of the Enterprise, oh and Spock is around.
  
  On the other hand - while there were some interesting stories here . . . there really wasn't much of a coherent whole novel here. Though I understand that this is a series and that this book here was 'setting up' everything else. At least I hope that was the reason for the somewhat less than coherent novel situation.
  
  I've actually had the hardcopy version of the first four books since something like the late 1990s but never got around to trying the books. And no, I didn't get the first and read it - I'm actually reading that big huge 4 book hardback. Not sure I'll read all the books in there (since it is a physical copy book and it's harder for me to read those now), so I put my review here instead of on the 4 book copy I actually own.
  
  May 13 2017
• 
  David

  This is the best Star Trek novel I've ever read. Which actually isn's saying too much. I think it's (maybe) the third ST novel I've read. Nonetheless, I'm totally loving it. Peter David has long been one of my favorite comics writers but this is the first time I've read his prose work. I'm going to have to read more David prose work.
• 
  Seren

  I wouldn’t call this a book in its own right, more of a part one to a longer book. It’s very much just setting up the plot rather than having any of its own, but I did enjoy it. I like Mackenzie as a character, and I’d like to read the next one to see where it goes.
  There were a few craft issues which irritated me, like switching between viewpoints in the same paragraphs.
• 
  ShamNoop

  This book was literally 100% setup.
• 
  Dan

  Title: House of Cards
  Author: Peter David
  Series: New Frontier, book one
  Copyright Date: 1997
  Number of pages: 168
  
  This novel is the first in a new series concept developed by senior editor John J. Ordover and author Peter David called the New Frontier. It takes place in Sector 221-G, an area of space controlled for all of Federation history by a militaristic race called the Thallonians, of which little is known when this series starts. The Thallonians ruled the other races in their sector with a vicious iron hand, but suddenly the Thallonian Empire crashed leaving the entire area in a state of chaos. Into this politically volatile situation a Federation starship, the U.S.S. Excalibur, is sent to help where it can and report what it finds.
  
  Excalibur's captain is a new character named Mackenzie Calhoun. The first book in the series tells the story of Mackenzie, where he comes from, how he came to command the Excalibur and be assigned this mission. I enjoyed the novel a great deal, enough even to rate it five stars. It is a short novel, in which more than ten pages are blank or just part headings. This shortness is not a drawback. David tells the story at a good pace without any boring dawdles. The part and chapter headings by being so stark clearly signal when each section takes place and provides a clean break from the other book sections.
  
  The novel spans twenty years. The first fifty-one pages takes place twenty years ago and gives us Mackenzie's origin. The Next Generation cast is brought in towards the end of this first section in dramatic fashion. I loved it! The next section takes place ten years ago and is about Soleta, a new female Vulcan character who becomes the Excalibur's science officer. The thirty page section also features Spock. I liked this section too, especially the way Spock entered into it. The third section is set two years ago and is short, just 13 pages, and introduces a third new character, a Vulcan doctor, female, named Selar. This novel does not make it clear yet, but presumably she is to become the Excalibur's doctor. The fourth and final 69-page section takes place in the present and is about how the mission for Sector 221-G arises and why Mackenzie and Soleta were assigned it.
  
  The three new characters David introduces are intriguing, and I love how unerringly perfectly he portrays the entire Next Generation cast (minus Worf, who makes no appearance) perfectly in character. His portrayal of Spock is a little less convincing for me. Spock would have to be quite aged by this time and David describes some rather superhuman physical prowess, especially speed, that Spock never evinced on television even when in his prime. David only here gives away the fact that he is primarily a superhero comic book writer. But this is a nitpick.
  
  Overall, I was pleasantly surprised at just how engaging this plot was, the author's ability to move things along, the new characters he has introduced, and the fascinating premise for the entire series. Star fleet captains are so upright and Star Fleety. It's nice to get one who has his own rules and agenda. The novel ends on a cliffhanger that made me go straight to my computer and order the second in the series, also by Peter David. I can't wait for its arrival!
• 
  RumBelle

  Of all the Star Trek series I have read, this was the most odd beginning to a series. The first 50 or so pages was about Calhoun's young life. Then the middle 50 or so focused on other characters, and barely mentioned Calhoun at all. The last chunk of pages, brought him back, but only at the last five or so pages, and then you find out that this isn't even a self contained novel, the story continues. I really like Calhoun as a character, so I was disappointed as his lack of appearance (in a series about him!). I really don't know how I feel about this book, I don't hate it, but I certainly did not love it. I might try the next book.
• 
  Michael Holloway

  This book is astonishing, in that it is all backstory with no plot until the very final chapter. Characters are as one-dimensional as it is possible to get - most jarringly Jellico is changed from a competent captain with a very different style to Picard, to a blistering idiot who all the other characters take pleasure in annoying.
  For the first 'proper' Star Trek EU novel, some very strange choices were made, and the whole thing falls completely flat.
• 
  Steve

  I eat this stuff like cotton candy. Should I be embarrassed by low brow fiction? Well, heck, I enjoy it. A guilty pleasure. This series started in 1997, and is a new captain, built off the TV shows. Next Generation and the first series characters are present. It's new built on the old. I ordered the next one.
• 
  John Yelverton

  There is a lot more sex in this book than I am used reading, especially in a "Star Trek" book. Additionally, the cliff hanger ending was very frustrating as the book really only makes up an Act I, if not a Prologue.
• 
  Michael

  Well-written, fast-paced and ends too soon (it is meant as a bit of serial fiction, so...)
• 
  Paul Riches

  Star Trek New Frontier Boldly Goes!!!!
  
  
  Back in the 1997, the Star Trek books editors wanted to try something different.
  
  They were tired of how the books couldn’t really change the characters, they were just allowed to tell what they considered routine adventures. Some fans, like me, were fine with that, but other fans, like me, wanted epic scale and massive changes all the time.
  
  So the concept of Star Trek New Frontier was born, with editor John J. Ordover and writer Peter David being the proud parents.
  
  New Frontier takes place in the time of Next Generation in the movies era after First Contact. The expansive dictatorial and secretive Thallonian Empire has collapsed and chaos seems to be thriving inside this far flung area. The Federation wants to help, but is not sure how to, so a decision is made to send a single Starship in to render aid and assess the situation internally. It is risky, but as one Captain stated, risk is our business.
  
  Soon a ship, Captain and crew are picked and head out, and immediately run into issues galore in the once powerful Empire, subjects that tax their moral dilemmas. They also face numerous personal issues, that tax themselves and their relationships. This is just the sort of drama Peter David excels at, making this book series a perfect fit for him.
  
  David populates the Excalibur with his own creation, Captain Mackenzie Calhoun, a strong willed man who led a revolution as a teen on his planet and then was recruited into Starfleet by Captain Picard and his First Officer Jack Crusher. He becomes a Captain, faces trouble, does some dirty work for the Federation, and is now back in charge. Part of me thinks this was originally supposed to be Commander Quentin Stone from David’s A Rock And A Hard Place Next Gen novel.
  
  The rest of the crew is a mix of characters David created in his excellent Starfleet Academy trilogy of Young Readers novels starring Cadet Worf. This includes Security Chief toughie Zak Kebron, Vulcan Science Officer Soleta, and odd genius Navigator Mark McHenry. Others are minor recurring characters from various Next Gen episodes, like Commander Shelby from the famous Best Of Both Worlds cliffhanger, the Vulcan Dr Selar, and Robin Lefler who quotes her own unique set of life rules. Completely new are Engineer Burgoyne 172, who is from a race of she/he beings who are unafraid to explore their sexuality, which leads to David really getting into gender issues and language amongst other topics, and also new is Prince Si Cwan from the former Empire. He knew it was troubled and tried to reform it but to no avail, so now he serves as “Ambassador” and guide while he searches for his sister.
  
  With this cast, David explores a zillion subplots, including the previous romantic relationship between Calhoun and Shelby, the purely sexual dating of McHenry and Burgoyne 172, Dr Selar having PTSD because her husband died during wedding night Pon Farr, Dr Selar’s hormones sending signals to Burgoyne 172, and Soleta dealing with a shocking family secret. As you can tell, David does not shy away from tackling controversial stories, and with the premise of New Frontier being that things can evolve, you can tell things are going to move forward in very fascinating ways. Which, by the way, they do. New Frontier goes on with twenty something books, and I know that characters get married and have children and leave the ship, and alot of not so nice things happen as well.
  
  The setup for New Frontier is spread over four slim paperbacks, which I think were originally designed to be a hardcover. The scope of the story is big enough, and the richness of the crew personalities, do warrant this. And besides Picard and Crusher, we also get cameos from Riker, now Admiral Jellico who is still an ass, and the awesome Ambassador Spock! At one point, a certain Engineer from Kirk’s Enterprise is maybe possibly mentioned. Was he supposed to be a part of this as well?
  
  David is creating a great tapestry in New Frontier, one worthy of a modern day streaming service and would be definitely be an award-winning hit. That would be awesome.
  
  Scoopriches
• 
  Octavia Cade

  The first in the New Frontier sub-series in the Star Trek universe, and it's clearly a set-up novel. Nearly the entire first half of the book is taken up introducing three new characters, giving them all separate origin stories. The second half is all plot set-up. Spock is shoe-horned in, I assume for the sake of ratings, while Picard and other Enterprise characters decide that, for humanitarian purposes, a starship needs to be sent into a war-torn region of space. Together, they need to find a captain to take on this likely disaster. Now, credit where it's due, I thoroughly enjoyed the TNG characters in this, and I think the mission itself has the potential to be interesting, although it hasn't started yet. Presumably that's what book #2 is for.
  
  What's causing this to get a two star rating is the new characters. Of those three, I'm afraid I'm only interested in Dr. Selar. The other two just make me want to roll my eyes. Soleta is deeply annoying just on the face of her. I rather suspect I'm supposed to see her as spunky, whereas she really just comes across as rude. But the bigger problem is the chosen captain. Mackenzie Calhoun, once we get rid of all those bloody apostrophes... boy rebel genius turned adult rebel genius, apparently, albeit this constant state of rebellion is against two different institutions. Well. Like most people I have a streak of perversity, and you can only tell me so many times just how edgily fantabulous some character is before I start thinking bollocks to that. Picard's constant slavish praise does not help. I get that it's authorial manipulation: You trust Picard, and Picard says Calhoun is the best thing ever, therefore you'll think Calhoun is the best thing ever. Well I don't. I'm quite prepared to be manipulated for the sake of story, but this is just too damn blatant. Maybe it'll improve. I hope so, because right now it's all subtle as a sledgehammer, and about as realistic.
  
  And, finally, if any Trek author feels the need to write about Orion slave girls ever again, they should put down the keyboard and go have a nice lie-down until the upper brain reasserts itself, because there is only so much eye-rolling one girl can reasonably be expected to perform in a single sitting. That is all.
• 
  Ian Adams

  
  “Star Trek, New Frontier (Book One)” by Peter David (1997) First Edition PB
  
  Overall Rating 6/10 – Phasers didn’t make stun
  
  Plot
  The Federation are called in to mediate a failed sector where a Royal House has been deposed and a neighbouring race appear to be helping insurgents. The best person for the job is already elsewhere deep undercover …
  
  Writing Style
  Naive and unclipped. Many instances of duplicate words used far too often. Some irritating instances of the use of the word “for” (as in “For he was too strong”, “For there were too many of them” etc.). That aside, it was an easy read and easy to follow the film unfold in your mind’s eye.
  
  
  Point of View/Voice
  Written in the 3rd Person / Past Tense (standard convention)
  
  
  Critique
  So much to say. On the positive side, the author has exactly portrayed the existing Star Trek characters and their quirks. Damn fine work actually. It was also nice to see that a “new” episode of Star Trek has been found (the novel) because it slots into the brain as though you have just watched it on TV. Nice Job.
  
  On the less positive side, the entire first half of the book was given to backstory and was totally unnecessary. I very nearly put it down because it was droning on for too long with what I believed to be unnecessary material. This proved correct later.
  
  The whole plot seemed to be a prelude of everything to come. A sort of “starter” before the main meal – perhaps even just an aperitif. It was quite a lot to digest just to make your way onwards. For me, the use of the word “for” (as above in writing style) is hugely irritating. It is both unnecessary and bestows fake accreditation in the writing. It doesn’t manifest much but when it does it’s like a punch in the gut to me. I guess if I wasn’t such an avid fan of Star Trek, I probably wouldn’t have read past the first few pages. But, because I am, I already have all the other books in this series and I will get around to reading them in between other “proper” books I enjoy.
  
• 
  Strix

  Taking away a star because of two things: first, most of the book is setup for the main characters with only a few scenes involving the main plot. Second, the damn thing ends on a cliffhanger! Agh!
  
  The rest of the stars - holy cannoli, this is a book worthy of the Star Trek name. Interesting aliens, an interesting collision with the Prime Directive, well-written TV show characters - to the point that I could hear the dialogue in the actor's voices! - and finally the hints of a fascinating plot that I want more of.
  
  A summary, by the characters: First, Mac, our handsome captain on the cover. The book opens with a flashback about his youth as a rebel. He's an alien on a planet that's been conquered by other aliens, and he's going to get them off via guerilla warfare and rebellion. The book covers this in short order, then explains how he goes from that to becoming a captain.
  
  Second, a dual-intro to the main plot and our heroine(?) - Soleta, a Vulcan. We find her being sneaky on an alien planet trying to learn about their culture despite their xenophobia, and things go wrong. This alien planet becomes vitally important later on, even after she's left it, so pay attention!
  
  Third, another Vulcan named Selar: she has the smallest focus in the book, but easily the most emotional. She's a medical officer from the Enterprise, and, well, you'll see.
  
  It all links together in the second half of the book as the Enterprise arrives at Deep Space Five, and we get to see some delightful scenes involving Picard and crew - and Spock! - as they set up the main plot for the rest of the series.
  
  At this point you're either interested or you aren't - this is Star Trek at its TV-show best, with lots of aliens and tricky moral dilemmas and fun characters. If you don't like Star Trek, away with you!
  
  It's also short, roughly 150~ pages so I can't speak for the quality of the rest of the series yet... but if it's anything like this, I'm excited.
• 
  Corey

  Nice, light, summer read within the universe of Star Trek. This isn't a huge breakout novel or series, but it is at the very least entertaining.
  
  With the book being so short (right around 150 pages), the entertainment is also quick and easy to digest. I really like the diversity of characters, though I would have to say that this first book in the series exists entirely as just a prelude and introduction of characters. You have to wait to the second book to actually see them on the starship together it seems, as this book serves only to show you the interesting characters and round them all up for the series.
  
  Still, I can forgive the lack of serious resolution since the book is so short and the characters themselves seem quite captivating given such little "screen" time. Looking forward to digging into this series and the characters.
• 
  Harry Laban ♫︎

  Man, this was great.
  
  House of Cards, and the whole New Frontier series, written by Trek-author master Peter David, essentially created the modern ST expanded universe, like the Thrawn trilogy did for Star Wars. Now, the whole adventuring part doesn't really kick off until book dos, but House of Cards provides a nice backdrop and some much-needed context for the books that proceed it.
  
  At just under 170 pages, it's a quick read (and my 60th book of the year! Can I get a woop-woop), and is really solid in building lore of the Thallonian Empire, sector 221-G, the captain Mackenzie Calhoun, and some other characters.
  
  Some familiar faces feature, with Riker, Spock and Picard (and some others) playing pretty important roles.
  
  It's a great opener, and I can't wait to bust open book 2 in the new year, when the U.S.S 𝘌𝘹𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘣𝘶𝘳 finally takes off...
• 
  Ken LeBlanc

  As someone who has seen every single episode of Star Trek nearly ten times, but has only recently began to dabble in the books, I have to say that this is a quality novel. I’m hard pressed to imagine why cbs paramount never turned this into a live action trek series. The story and characterization are great. The characters presented in this are memorable and have interesting backstories, especially Calhoun. Dr. Selar’s chapters are intense and help shed some light on why she disappeared from TNG. This book quite literally felt like I was reading a Star Trek episode. I hope lower decks or some other show can bring Calhoun into canon for a cameo because he’s already one of my favourite characters and I’ve only read his story for 2 days.
  
  Overall, I give this book a perfect 5/5 and I cannot wait to read the next new frontier book.
• 
  Carol Gibson

  This is a book series created by Peter David of a completely new ship and Captain there are some characters taken from The Next Generation. This book was all over the place as well as taking place through different times introducing Calhoun and some other characters as well as setting up the series. I felt it was rather boring in places and think it would have been better if they had started with the ship on its mission and told stories via flashback that might have made it more interesting to me.
  
  I do like the setup of the series and plan on reading more now we have gotten past the origin story.
  
  I do have a feeling that Calhoun may annoy me at times he starts off as such a Harry Su style character. We will have to see as the series goes on.