Mark Lenard Books

Spock's family background.


This is definitely an example of a more interesting Star Trek novel.

Spock, as we know, is a hybrid, and humans don't live as long as Vulcans - his mother is dying.

He returns to visit and try and talk to his father.

Definitely interesting to see the background of this family, and if you are interested in less of the ship solves a mission type Star Trek plot, you could try this book.

Praxus, a klingon moon has exploded, due to overmining, or possibly sabotage. The Klingon empire's food production has been threatened, as tidal forces have been disrupted and weather currents change; massive shortages of resource seem eminent.

Chancellor Azerbur continues to work with Federation president and the federation responses with medical aid and food supply relief. Azerbur has issued in a new era of peace and commerce with the Federation. The war with Klingon has been official announced, over.

The hardliners don't want peace. Trayne, alias Saren, a Vulcan, secret plans are to use Kamarg, the Klingon ambassador, to attack federation colonies and turn the federation against Klingon. Kamarg is part of the militant group and believes that Klingon survival depends on warfare and land conquest. The Freelans (Romulans) are using Vulcan slaves, as mind control agents and are manipulating the minds of the Klingons and humuns against the federation and Vulcan. Trayne specifically uses Savel's telepathic power, specifically against Kamarg, causing him too hate the federation through vulcan mind control.

Kamarag manages to draw support of many high-ranking Klingons, in his cause. The hardliners want a military solution, centralized control of the federation, and capture of vital federation agriculture, mineral resources, and technology. Klingon invasion plans are brewing followed by Romulan.

The Romulan empire will wait until the federation is significantly weakened from the war conflict and then swoop across the neutral zone and capture federation territory. The Freelans report to the Romulans Lords. Over the last seventy years, the Freelans have been taking Vulcan hostage and converting them to slaves. The plan has been slow in the making, but all the key elements have been put in place. Millions if not billions of lives are at stake.

Sarek has been correspondence with the Freelan ambassador, Trayne. Sarek seek conclusive proof and infiltrates the Freelan data system with the aid of Soren. Freelan lists are discovered but not accessible for download. Sarek and Soren escape detection just as the Freelan security beams into the data center. Later, Sarek will confined in Spock, about his discoveries.

The Vulcans remain strongly dependant on Federation computer and military technology. Vulcan has strong military technology and leads the federation in scientific research. KEHL design was too weaken Vulcan resolve to stay members of the federation.

The Idol cult sect called the Gol is the oligarchy controlling Vulcan society. Sarek's first wife, T'Rea joined this evil sect and divorced Sarek. Sybok was born. Sybok rejected T'Rea's.

Amanda tells Sarek that "life after life" will happen or not happen. Sarek fight tradition and listens. Vulcan's believe in spirit essences encapsulation and that the new host inherits the spirit essence; this idea is similar in falsity to the idea of reincarnation.

Sarek soon after found Amanda, his true love. At the time of the Freelan crisis, Amanda was 93 and suffering from a rare blood disease. Spock was called home. Sarek was force to leave to negotiate the freedom of orion colony hostages on Kadura held by rouge Klingon warriors, under the command of Keraz. Amanda has Sarek promise, he will read her journal before he leaves. Spock warns Sarek that Amanda is about to die. Sarek manages to reach Amanda with his mind before she dies. Sarek shares with the reader Amanda's life, Spock decision to join the federation, Spocks outcast, Amanda's separation from Sarek, and reuniting.

No one had ever seen a Freeland, until Sarek. Freelans lived a secretive life. 70 years early, Sarek discovered the Freelan were Vulcan during the Pon Farr incident. The freelans said nothing of the incident. Sarek kept the secret seeking proof.

Now, on earth, Sarek is meeting with the Vulcan consult and discovers that Induma, the KEHL leader, is being Vulcan mind controlled. Induma is leader of the Keep the Earth human league, who chant, "Vulcans go home". Peter Kirk, nephew to Jame Kirk becomes entangled with the KEHL group. Peter alerts Kirk, to the KEHL movement against the Vulcans. Lisa tells Peter that she fears the Vulcans because they have weapons of mass destruction. KEHL leaders start accusing the Vulcans of espionage, selling out to "Vulcan interests". KEHL has linked to a clandestine Vulcan operation (Freelan), conspiracy proof of the Vulcan consultant being manipulated. KEHL discovers Peter and take him hostage. Kirk wants to talk with Peter and discovers he is not on the planet. Spock deduces were Peter's abductors will take him. A rescue plan is put into action.

While Peter is a prisoner, he falls in love with Valdr. Valdr is bethrothed by Karamag to become Karg's wife. Valdr despise Kargs. Valdr feeds Peter each day. Peter falls in love with Valdr. Valdr plans and executes an escape plan. Kirk, McCoy, and Spock find Peter and join in his escape planning to reach a space port for a trip off the planet. Karg intercepts the group and surrounds the group. Karg stabs Valdr with a knife. Valdr declares Peter, her mate. Peter challeges Karg and defeats him in a duel, but does not kill him. Peter reveals that Karg is Chancellor Corkon's murderer.

Sarek prevents Freelan terrorist from starting a war between the Klingon empire and the federation. Sarek and Spock beam on Traynes bridge, after Sarek predicts correctly the new position that the cloak bird of prey will emerge. Sarek has realize Trayne pattern as a chess move used by Trayne. Conclusive proof of a Romulan conspiracy is established. Sarek challenges Trayne to a duel. Trayne acknowledges the challenge and remembers his early childhood fears, at the time his parents were killed. Sarek and Trayne fight against each other with poison blades, both are injuried, but McCoy manages to save both. Sarek returns to Freelan to liberate the Vulcans. Trayne returns to Romulus to report failure. Trayne's second in command aid Kirk in stopping the Klingon invasion and Azerbur troops arrive crushing the rebellion. Peter Kirk abandons Valdr for his career. Azerbur recruits Valdr to become a staff member. Spock formulates the reunionification theory.

Two words discribe my feelings about Sarek by A.C. Crispin: Good Times.

I really enjoyed this book, and in cadence with the other reviewers I couldn't put it down for the last 3rd. Literally, I hid in a closet and a stairwell at work just so I could get a few more pages in. I laughed and cried and gasped in shock many times during my reading. Every one of the characters acted as I thought they should and gave me new insight into those characters that I know so well. Even though officially it is not, in my eyes this is canon since everything jives so danged well and I love the story. And my word is law in some local bowling clubs.

I loved this one, cause it really delves into Spock and Sarek's relationship, plus you get to see Amanda's point of view on things. It also show's a lot of her relationship with Sarek, shows the sentimental side of him that while loath to show it since it would be a emotional display it also makes you understand that they were truly in love and how they were able to make it work...because love is certainly not logical and humans are rather emotional about these things. I also enjoyed how it explained the falling out that Sarek and Spock had when Spock went into Starfleet. I've enjoyed the other books that I've read also that delve into the father/son relationship:

The Vulcan Academy Murders
The IDIC Epidemic
Spock's World

Definitly read this one

As any Trekkie would do, I got this book that's about one of my favorite Vulcans.

This book is the heart-wrenching story of Sarek's deep love for Amanda, their courtship, marriage, and now his agony and fear at the realization of her terminal illness.

A.C. Crispin has a great way of representing the personalities of the characters, as well as the emotions. The anguish Sarek goes through, as well as other emotions, are well represented and touch the heart.

This is a MUST READ for any Star Trek Fan!

One of the few books I have read more than once and every time it's wonderful.

Rock on.

I have read a number of Star Trek novels, some better than others, some I did not bother finishing. I hated putting this one down and I hated worse when it was over. I didn't want it to end. A great read. Buy it.

I am not going to go into as much detail as the prior reviewers. However, I heartily concur with their reviews of this book and the suggestion by one reviewer that this would have made a better movie as Trek movies crossed from the original crew to the New Generation. Suffice it to say that I felt this was this best Star Trek book I have ever read. The plot line development took a bit getting used to right off the bat, but I soon recognized what the authors were doing. That was probably because I went in expecting a standard Trek book and got this. So it took me a bit for the "shock" to wear off. The plot development is a bit like the movie "Syriana" (sp?). In that, instead of the traditional plot line taking you from point A to point B, the plot here started out at multiple then all those plot lines converged on a central point. Either way, as I said, definitely the best Trek book I have read.

A Star Trek novel that was of more interest than some, because of the story of Zefram Cochrane, one of the key architects of advanced human spaceflight in the Star Trek Universe.

The story covers history, Cochrane's struggles with bureaucracy and authorities, and his own demons.

Years go by, and a book comes along, that makes you wonder what is fact, what is fiction, what is faction; a book that makes you want to read it all over again; that makes you read each and every single word from the front cover of the dust jacket to the last bar code on the back of the jacket; that makes you stay awake in fear lest if you fall asleep you might break the rhythm of the story, or, be afraid like a child that the adventure might proceed without you to witness it...

This is it.

"Federation" is a story encompassing the biggest figures in the ST Universe, right from Kirk, to Picard, to Cochrane, to Sarek, and the crews from two different Enterprises. It spans 3 centuries, and countless worlds, and goes from here to eternity (and back!) - and I don't just mean literally.

Its the 21st century, and Zephram Cochrane is being celebrated for giving humanity the gift of the First Warp Drive, but not everyone is following Cochrane to shake his hand and to congratulate him. There is someone out there to whom Cochrane is an asset to be acquired and contained and exploited. Incalculable horrors lie in store, not just for Cochrane but for the entire human race, if he gives in. So he must escape.

Meanwhile, its the 22nd Century, and Kirk is battling to escape the scrutiny of a diligent Starfleet Admiral, intent on proving that Kirk is involved in a conspiracy that runs so deep into Starfleet, it could shake the Starfleet to its core, and in fact could mark a premature extinction bell for the entire Federation. Kirk must save his name and his life (in that order) and prove that he is not a traitor, by going against all the rules in the book. The problem is, can he do it before his time runs out?

Meanwhile, its the 23rd century, and Picard is trying his best to see through the double dealings of an extremely shrewd Ferengi, whose agenda is not at all what it seems. Enter the Romulans, and the picture becomes skewed. Enter an ancient evil from two centuries ago and there's no picture any more. But then, how could someone (or something!) survive more than 200 years, and what could be so important that it has to be pursued for more than two centuries?

These three seemingly unrelated stories appear in the book, and the authors expertly intertwine these three threads into a single explosive climax that blew my mind away!

But I'm jumping the gun... the book is much more than just a far-fetched and stretched out climax. It is a treatise, written with the love and respect that the History of the Star Trek Universe deserves in the minds of every die-hard Trekkie. Concepts like warp drive, what exactly is supra-light travel, how is it possible (agreed fictional, but still more convincing than most stuff I've read!), the story of Cochrane's personal journeys through the stars, the origin of the Starfleet Badge Insignia, to name a few. This last element, in my opinion, is the crowning achievement of this book. It melds fact and fiction with such adroitness that it's capable of making converts out of non-believers!

I would recommend this book to all Trekkies out there, as well as all non-Trekkies; if there's one book you want to read about ST, this gets my vote.

Absolute 5 / 5 stuff!