Book Description
On the cusp of their epic battle with Shinzon, many of Captain Jean-Luc Picard's long-time crew were heading for new assignments and new challenges. Among the changes were William Riker's promotion to captain and his new command, Riker's marriage to Counselor Deanna Troi, and Dr. Beverly Crusher's new career at Starfleet Medical. But the story of what set them on a path away from the Starship Enterprise has never been told. UNTIL NOW. It was supposed to be a mission of mercy, until the unthinkable occurred: the destruction of the U.S.S. Juno, killing all hands on board. Starfleet Command has unjustly assessed the actions of Captain Picard and the Enterprise crew during that fateful assignment to the Rashanar Battle Site -- the sector that saw one of the fiercest conflicts of the Dominion War, and which is now a hazardous interstellar graveyard filled with hundreds of devastated starships. While the court-ordered medical evaluation that relieved Picard of command is ongoing, there is growing speculation that his illustrious career may be coming to an end. To clear his former commander, acting captain William Riker and a demoralized skeleton crew agree to conduct a covert operation, and must venture the Starship Enterprise back into Rashanar to track down a mythical menace -- one that may already be responsible for the annihilation of countless fully armed starships. Unbridled hostility and the promise of death lurk at every turn, but they could never imagine that their only chance of survival may lie in the unexpected return of a long-absent friend....
A Time to Die (Star Trek: The Next Generation Series) FROM THE PUBLISHER
On the cusp of their epic battle with Shinzon, many of Captain Jean-Luc Picard's long-time crew were heading for new assignments and new challenges. Among the changes were William Riker's promotion to captain and his new command, Riker's marriage to Counselor Deanna Troi, and Dr. Beverly Crusher's new career at Starfleet Medical. But the story of what set them on a path away from the Starship Enterprise has never been told.
UNTIL NOW.
It was supposed to be a mission of mercy, until the unthinkable occurred: the destruction of the U.S.S. Juno, killing all hands on board. Starfleet Command has unjustly assessed the actions of Captain Picard and the Enterprise crew during that fateful assignment to the Rashanar Battle Site -- the sector that saw one of the fiercest conflicts of the Dominion War, and which is now a hazardous interstellar graveyard filled with hundreds of devastated starships. While the court-ordered medical evaluation that relieved Picard of command is ongoing, there is growing speculation that his illustrious career may be coming to an end.
To clear his former commander, acting captain William Riker and a demoralized skeleton crew agree to conduct a covert operation, and must venture the Starship Enterprise back into Rashanar to track down a mythical menace -- one that may already be responsible for the annihilation of countless fully armed starships. Unbridled hostility and the promise of death lurk at every turn, but they could never imagine that their only chance of survival may lie in the unexpected return of a long-absent friend....
FROM THE CRITICS
KLIATT - Hugh Flick, Jr.
These are the first two volumes of a projected nine-book series about the adventures of Captain Picard and the Enterprise that take place between the events of the two movies, Star Trek: Insurrection and Star Trek: Nemesis. In A Time To Be Born, the Enterprise, while on a routine mission to recover bodies from a huge battle in the Dominion War, discovers a shape-shifting ship that is methodically mimicking and destroying Federation ships. After Picard attempts to destroy this dangerous adversary, a Star Fleet ship gets destroyed and Picard is called back to Star Fleet Headquarters to face an investigation of the incident. In the background of this tale is Wesley Crusher's initiation as a Traveler. However, as part of the initiation, Wesley sees the destruction of the Enterprise in the Pool of Prophesy. A Time to Die concludes the two-book adventure begun in A Time To Be Born. In this installment, Captain Picard must somehow clear himself of a charge of wrongdoing that resulted in the destruction of another Star Fleet ship. In order to do this, he must find and destroy the shape-shifting entity. He is helped in this quest by the extraordinary powers of Wesley, who has just been initiated as a Traveler. The plot is a bit complicated but Captain Picard eventually triumphs and is able to destroy the predatory entity. (Star Trek). KLIATT Codes: JSARecommended for junior and senior high school students, advanced students, and adults. 2004, Simon & Schuster, Pocket Books, 296p., each. Ages 12 to adult.