by Tony Daniels

Pocket Books, out now

When a group of colonists refuse to leave their threatened homeworld, Spock has a very unusual suggestion…

This original series novel hails from 2013 – although reading it, you could very easily believe that it’s a reprint of a lost Bantam/Corgi novel from the 1970s. It’s one of those stories that gets hopelessly lost in referring everything back to events in the past, abusing rather than using the series continuity (and ignoring potential references to Enterprise that could have increased its credibility within the universe a lot). It also has some of the worst characterisation I’ve read of the original crew – cliches abound, including Kirk falling for the (shot through soft gauze) guest lady and wondering if he should give it all up for her…

The cover is intriguing, depicting Spock shot through a red filter, and in conjunction with the title, you suspect we’re in for Mr Spock being seen as the devil. Actually, it’s a reference to a(nother) classic episode, but those of you hoping for the sort of characterisation of the species referred to that we got in earlier books are in for a disappointment.

Verdict: It’s very rare that a 21st century Star Trek book fails to deliver quite so comprehensively but there really is nothing to recommend. 2/10

Paul Simpson