Star Trek: Picard Second Self by Una McCormack
320 pages, Paperback
Expected publication September 19, 2023 (I didn't realize it wasn't available in paperback yet)
Listened to this on Audiobook. Kinda sorta of regretted that decision. Nothing to insult the production of the audiobook. The woman who read did a wonderful job, but Dr.McCormack's Star Trek books are my favorites and I wanted to really live in the language. In this modern era there are several talented writers working on ST properties. Greg Cox, Dayton Ward and David Mack for example are great at making you feel a part of the tapestry of it all. Una McCormack's Star Trek novels take on a weight unmatched.
I wrote a very long review and interviewed Una about her Prequel novel to the series Picard. I felt that the book had an understanding of the politics and dynamics that elevated not only that book but Picard Season One. I can't say this novel helped season two, that mess really couldn't be saved. However, this story is set before the events of that season.
It is not McCormack's fault. She does a wonderful job with the Picard characters including Raffi who is a character I enjoy. I am still not sure Picard had enough weight to hand-pick a retired officer the chair on The Stargazer but whatever - not this novel's fault.
The idea of Raffi and Elnor on an undercover mission to find a Cardassian war criminal is just a wonderful idea. Look you can consider this a spoiler, but anyone who knows Dr. McCormack's work saw a mile away who Raffi was tracking down and I think he should've been on the cover, to attract more readers.
Una and I share many Star Trek interests, one of which is our favorite all-time Trek character Elim Garak. There was one moment in the book where she nailed Garak so well, that In my head I not only knew what he would say but I totally pictured Andrew Robinson physically acting the scene so well that I was unreasonably excited about it.
This book rules for many reasons, the weight it gives to Bajor, Cardassia, the occupation, the Dominion war, the Romulan supernova, Raffi's internal conflict and time in Romulan affairs, Garak's character, Elnor's decision to join the academy. All this is given weight, and meaning. I was listening on a walk one day, and a throwaway dialogue about how many centuries Bajorans were traveling the stars before Cardassia made me think the rest of the night about the relationship between these two fictional species.
Star Trek: Picard Second Self does a wonderful job of telling a Star Trek story that adds weight and depth not just to Picard but the entire Star Trek universe. If that sounds hyperbolic oh well. It was great. Una sees the Trek world in way I do she thinks about the cultural stuff, the political science meeting people, she does world building the way I like mentioning the point in the day of ships to high a reality. All good stuff.
Also Lots of F-bombs for Star Trek, I had no problem with most of them, the only I cringed at was when Raffi did one on a open comm to the Stargazer. Minor nitpick.
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