FOREWORD
At the time I
write this, Star Trek:
Unlike some of the
other stories I've written over the years (most notably The Reckoning),
this one isn't a negative reaction to something in Trek that roused my
ire. It is, however, the first major evidence of my decision not to acknowledge
either the Deep Space Nine or Voyager Relaunches as canonical for my own stories.
I respect the work
being done at Pocket Books (some of their material is truly excellent)
but am a little uneasy over what seems to be a... homogeneity creeping into
their fiction concept—an attempt to bring most everything written under a
single literary aegis. I much preferred the days when Trek novels were
more about the individual author's creativity than the ability to compose
within certain narrow parameters. Despite the glut of material published in
recent years, books written decades ago, like The Final Reflection and My
Enemy, My Ally remain at the pinnacle of achievement in the genre, from
where I sit—in large part because they took directions without having to
concern themselves with those taken by others. In other words, flights of fancy
shouldn't have to remain in restricted corridors. [Interestingly enough, I’ve
recently learned that Pocket’s annual production has been halved from 24.
Gee, think maybe there’s something to my point?]
In addition, I'm
one of those readers who's been less than wowed by either of the Relaunches (and, trust me, I'm not alone: another author,
one who's actually published by Pocket, mentioned to me his immense
disappointment in certain aspects of the DS9 Relaunch—a
few of them some of the same ones, in fact, with which I take exception). The
praise for each (especially that for DS9's) seems to me a bit frenetic—as
if on some level even those raising the cheers know it's not entirely
justified. "Niners" are well known for a
certain snobbish defensiveness as relates to that series. It was the most
"realistic" (whatever that means in context)—which,
according to their "refined" sensibilities, means it was, by far, the
best.
Um…
no.
Comparing the
direction I've taken with The Reckoning and, now, Belief System
to those chosen by the Pocket Books' Relaunches is a
bit like doing the same to apples and oranges. My own modest efforts can't in
any way upset the apple cart, after all...
...but I myself
have always preferred oranges.