Author: Scott HarrisonFirst Publication: March 2015
Publisher: Pocket Books
Source: NetGalley
Cover Artist: ???
Challenge:
42 Challenge 2015One of my favorite Next Generation stories was the one that showed how Picard dealt with being turned against the Federation by the Borg. It showed him returning to Earth and visiting his brother’s family. Many times we see a big event but do not get to see how the characters deal with the repercussions. “Shadow of the Machine” is done in a similar style.
The crew returns to Earth after the first movie encounter with V’Ger. The Enterprise needs repairs and it is the perfect time for shore leave on the homeworld. As Scott Harrison shows us, the crew is not perfect. Take a look at how things go wrong for Sulu when he visits his daughter. Kirk is hesitant about visiting his nephew (who is struggling with the death of his father). I give Harrison high marks for capturing the voice and personality of the various characters. While the stories are not a threat to the Federation, they are very important to the crew. It is the personal stories he touches on that make this one of my favorite Trek books of recent years. And the shorter length is perfect for this story.
I will be looking for more stories by Scott Harrison. Highly recommended.
