Star Trek: The Original Series: Inception

Young doctor Carol Marcus is researching an exciting field that could terraform barren planets and end hunger. But this latest project will take her away from her beau in Starfleet, Jim Kirk. The two are in love, but their career comes first for both of them. Meanwhile, botanist Leila Kalomi meets Starfleet officer Spock, while trying to find direction in her life and decides to join Marcus' team. But there are some that do not want the terraforming research to continue. And those with a grudge may be a danger to the project and the scientists themselves. Star Trek fans are familiar with the events in the film Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, where we are introduced to Carol Marcus and Jim Kirk's son that he never knew, as well as a project known as Genesis. This story takes us back to the relationship between Carol and Jim and what happened between the two, years before Jim becomes captain of the Enterprise. The authors bring new light to events only hinted at in the movie. Here, we are able to see a moving but fated love story. Though I knew the eventual outcome of the lives of several of the characters, it didn't lessen the intensity or feeling. Inception is an interesting story of love, loss, ambition, and the impact of scientific advancements. The characters are vivid and their stories poignant. This novel is quite different than others in the various series, but I found it wonderfully written and captivating. The story focuses more on personal interactions and drama than action and adventure, yet I found it very engaging and a quick read.

Given what I remembered from the Second Star Trek film, that book came as a complete surprise. I hadn't realized that what prompted the Doctor and her son to be who they were in the film, to be the same people as described in several others, and why her son maintains some animosity towards Jim Kirk. It also stuffs a Photon Torpedo in to the premise behind the book that came out some years ago which contained Carol not realizing she was, like that, and saying good bye to Jim, and the man we know now, just getting started on his first mission out there.

This is a great book that leads into the Star Trek the Wrath of Khan .. enjoy as I did. It explores the relationship between Kirk and Carol Marcus as well as introducing Spock and Genesis. I'm a huge Star Trek fan and loved it. Recommend it to any ST fan.... :)

I have read many Trek novels and as most Trek lovers know....there's a lot of BAD books out there. However, Inception was not a complete let down. In fact, to the contrary...it's one of the better stories I have read in a long time (granted, the bar is not set very high). It fills in a blank in Trek history that is very believable and interesting. The only beef I have with it is the fact that it delves into the subject rather shallowly and ends quite abruptly, without resolution. The book was good....it could have been GREAT, had it been done more thoroughly. A worthwhile read, though.