En route to a diplomatic mission, the Enterprise receives a
distress call from the USS McRaven. As the Enterprise approaches the area where the
McRaven appears to be, the crew encounters an anomoly unlike anything they’ve
ever experienced. Space itself seems inconsistent—warping, changing appearance.
But during the brief periods of calm, they locate the McRaven—along with other
ships of various origins, all tightly surrounding and being held in place by an
enormous unidentified vessel....
STAR TREK: THE ORIGINAL SERIES
The Folded World
by Jeff Mariotte
Off the top, the concept of a spatial anomaly is a bit of a yawner when it comes to Star Trek. Been there, done that... repeatedly! It takes a really special story to set the random anomaly apart… and I do mean a special one.
Jeff Mariotte’s “The Folded World” is the best Trek story I’ve
laid my eyes on all year… and it definitely deserves a place in your reading
list.
STAR TREK: THE ORIGINAL SERIES
The Folded World
by Jeff Mariotte
Off the top, the concept of a spatial anomaly is a bit of a yawner when it comes to Star Trek. Been there, done that... repeatedly! It takes a really special story to set the random anomaly apart… and I do mean a special one.
Given that author Jeff Mariotte chose the tapestry of the
Original Series for his anomaly story, there is a certain lack of urgency that
you just inherit when you think of the story. It’s not an alternate universe
tale, so we know all our friends must survive the experience in order to rock
the next Enterprise
adventure… so, most likely, there will be some nice moments in an otherwise
droll presentation.
As the story opens, we meet Aleshia… her land is being
ravaged, and her people don’t know why. Somehow, her story seems out of place,
and yet it is engaging and intriguing. It leaves you wanting to know more. What isn’t clear is just how integral her
story will become to the overall narrative… but you already begin to get a
feeling of great concern for her as the story shifts to the Enterprise.
There, Kirk is escorting a delegate from the planet Ixtolde
towards what is hoped to be their inclusion in the Federation when the story’s
fold in space-time presents itself as the captor of another Federation
starship.
As the story unfolds, Kirk and his team struggle to rescue
the crew of the McRaven, understand the continuum in which they find
themselves, and are confronted with what may well be one of the strangest realities
they ever encounter.
As “The Folded World” unfolds, Mariotte takes an extremely
base concept – that of the spatial anomaly – and employs it more skillfully
than just about any other writer I have ever seen make the attempt. He
introduces a supporting cast that quickly engages the reader – particularly Miranda
Tikolo. She may wear a red dress, but she’s no typical redshirt; and Mariotte
uses her to great effect while never really turning the story into a full-blown
lower decks expedition. Her history and backstory, rooted in the episode “Balance
of Terror” is compelling, and she immediately becomes an investable character.
Given the fact that she’ll probably, at best, show up in the background of
another TOS-era novel, that’s a significant accomplishment on Mariotte’s part.
The entire story, in fact, is a significant accomplishment.
What he manages to weave is compelling, engaging, peril-inducing goodness with
both a strong degree of thought required to embrace some of its wider concepts,
as well as little though required to enjoy the action/adventure side of the
coin.
Similar to the recent “Star Trek Continues” release,
Mariotte’s story gives us a genuine, lovingly presented story that both hooks
the reader and gives the satisfaction that only a deeply faithful take
on The Original Series can provide. While the story is edgier than some of the early Pocket
novels, something about the feel of this story reminded me, in a very positive
way, of the enjoyment I always get from reading some of my favorites from that
era.
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