Star Trek: Picard

Just finished this book. It was exceptionally well written. Fast paced. Gave excellent background to the show, and some tidbits of good info on the TNG crew. Obviously, we all knew where it was going to end up. But the journey it took was very interesting.

Una McCormack is a veteran of Star Trek, now writing for a new age version, which she does so brilliantly.

We get a lot more about the political wrangling of the Federation Council vs Starfleet vs a distrustful enemy that can’t ask for aid, nor wishes to acknowledge the scale of the problem, and considers the ramifications of Federation assistance, which seems a much bigger issue to them than billions of their citizens dying in the supernova they seem almost to reject. I liked the frustration this caused on both sides.

We see various groups of people across the Federation—most of that action on Earth and Mars—trying to solve the unsolvable.

We are given a clearer view of the late 24th Century, where the ideals of what we know about Star Trek are tested to the limits, because of this calamitous situation. And the fact it threatens to consume the entire Federation, is again something that felt much better explained than in the show. Old school players like Picard, defending the values of the Federation, while newer younger members who can’t understand why their work should be put on indefinite hold, for Romulans. Since most were too young to have served during the Dominion War, and have only been on either Mars or Earth, they are disconnected with the founding principles of the Federation. It’s all so far away... Romulans should be in Romulan Space. Etc.

The scale of what is needed, in terms of ships, resources, locations for relocation, are explored. I found myself surprised by the level of aid required. The feasibility of the project is questioned at every level. The Romulan distrust of the Federation, properly explored. The resolute position of Admiral Picard, doing what was right, politics be dammed and his stubborn “will do” attitude, which has always been the brilliance of his command style, fails to get him the results he is so used to.

A CinC who believes in the mission, but has to smooth over the political ramifications of Picard’s choices... and a senior Captain, Clancy (we all know her!) who is cautiously on board, but continually frustrated by Picard, because of his dismissal of the politics and the enormous strain the mission is putting on the Federation. With resources spread thin and outlying planets left in terrible despair by the loss of their support, secession starts being pushed around the Federation News Network (FNN). Picard continually misses the enormity of the political situation. It isn't his problem. His eyes on solving the insurmountable task of moving billions of people, against a backdrop of Romulan suspicion, and a Federation Council swaying to loud voices in the media.

There is xenophobia and veiled racism within the Federation. But that’s not new. TNG and Voyager dealt with that to some degree, but never more so than DS9...

Some wins. Mostly failures. And of course the results we know.

I really enjoyed this book. If you want to have the backstory for Picard, without spoiling the show, this is it.