"Strange New World" (ENT episode) - Early May
Chronological reading notes/summary (written on 4/19/02):
     Three weeks into mission, crew comes upon idyllic-seeming planet. Crew members who stay on the surface overnight, however, are effected by spores which make their hallucinate and act irrationally. Interesting episode and I think it was a good idea for them to explore the supporting characters early on like this (instead of focusing entirely on Archer as the lead character). However, in my opinion the episode suffers some from 1) poor decisions which put the characters into jeopardy to start with, and 2) a lack of knowledge of the characters to early in the first season. Yes, the point of the episode is to learn more about them. However, it's difficult to really appreciate how erratically some characters are acting (thanks to the pollen) when you haven't really seen them very much yet. Hindsight helps this episode (and some of the other early episodes) seem better on repeat viewing.

"Canamar" (ENT episode)
General Notes: One of the escaped prisoners is a Nausicaan. Nausicaans were last seen in "Fortunate Son" (ENT). Also, this is the earliest reference chronologically to the Orion slave women. An Orion slave girl is first seen (actually, the human woman Vina altered to look as an Orion slave girl) in "The Menagerie, Part II" (TOS) (which is a flashback, of course, to the previously filmed but much later released first "Star Trek" pilot episode, "The Cage" (TOS)). The first time an actual Orion slave girl is seen is Marta in "Whom Gods Destroy" (TOS).
Chronological reading notes/summary (written on 9/16/04):
     Archer and Trip are mistaken as smugglers while leaving an alien planet. Captured, they find themselves aboard a prison transport ship on the way to the penal colony on the planet Canamar. T'Pol convinces a local official that they have made a mistake and arranges for Archer and Trip's release. Before this can happen, however, two prisoners take control of the prisoner transport ship. Archer finds himself at the helm of the transport, aiding the escaped prisoners while secretly looking for an opportunity to diable them and/or alert help to their location.

"The Crossing" (ENT episode)
General Notes: Archer states that they are 150 lightyears from Earth in this episode (of course, that might be an estimate). Trip says he's been to Tarpon Springs, Florida, and snowsailing in New Zealand, both with his girlfriend, Lisa, during his out-of-body experiences. He says he was also both with his dad and riding alongside Hopalong Cassidy. The ship's complement is given in this episode as eighty-three, including T'Pol and Dr. Phlox. Also, a good portion of the crew is forced to hide out in a nacelle catwalk again, as then did previously in "The Catwalk" (ENT). It is said that the catwalk is shielded by an osmium alloy.
Chronological reading notes/summary (written on 9/17/04):
     Enterprise is pursued and captured (swallowed into a hugh bay) by an enormous unknown alien ship. Soon, starting with Trip, members of the crew are replaced in their own bodies by non-corporeal beings. The beings say they are explorers, but they continue to take over crewmembers despite Archer's protests. Discovering that the catwalk gives them protection from the aliens, the non-possessed crew retreats to its safety. T'Pol discovers the aliens true intentions, and Dr. Phlox (who the aliens can not possess due to his Denobulan physiology) is a key player in the risky plan to kill all of the possessed members with gas, wait for the aliens to evacuate their bodies, and then revive them. An okay enough episode. The opening sequence with the huge alien ship swallowing Enterprise is pretty impressive (although it's not long, since it's the episode's "teaser"). Overall, the plot is pretty unremarkable. Seems a whole lot like a TNG-type plot. Matter a fact, I can't think of any reason this story couldn't be done just as well with that cast of characters (and, while not exactly the same, was done in "Lonely Among Us" (TNG) and "Power Play" (TNG), among others).

"Savior" (ENT short story, Strange New Worlds VI, 2003)
Chronological reading notes/summary (written on 7/22/06):
     Read this one back on September 1, 2004, so my memories are going to be a bit fuzzy about this one. Here are some notes I jotted down write after reading it, however: [In "Savior" (by Julie Hyzy)], "Archer attempts to prevent time-traveling manipulation that would prevent a Christ-like figure on an alien world from being martyred and therefore sowing the seeds for a Christian-like religion to form, as history says it should have. I recall not caring for this story very much. Probably due to its religious implications. (No time frame given in story.)" (Placement here based on timeline given in Star Trek: Voyages of the Imagination book (2006).)

2153

"Judgment" (ENT episode)
General Notes: First chronological appearances of a Klingon tribunal chamber and Rura Penthe (both first seen in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (TOS)). The Duras seen here as commander of the D-5 Klingon battlecruiser Bortas in the flashback scenes (he has been demoted to "second weapons officer" by the time of the trial due to his disgrace at losing to Archer and company in combat) is most likely an ancestor of the powerful House of Duras first scene in "Sins of the Father" (TNG). This Duras is seen next in "The Expanse" (ENT). Other Klingon elements first seen here chronologically: the delicacies of targ (first seen as a live animal in "Where No One Has Gone Before" (TNG) and as a source of food in "A Matter of Honor" (TNG)) and blood wine (first seen, and mentioned by name, in "Gambit, Pt. II" (TNG)?), and the use of Klingon pain sticks (first seen in "The Icarus Factor" (TNG)). Finally, during his defense of Archer, Kolos refers to Archer's previous encounters with the Klingons in "Broken Bow" (ENT) and "Sleeping Dogs" (ENT). (Note: No date is given in this episode. However, the following episode, "Horizon" (ENT) reports a date of January 10, 2153. I'm therefore conjecturing that "Judgment" takes place just after the start of the year 2153, although it could have just as easily taken place in late December 2152.)
Chronological reading notes/summary (written on 9/18/04):
     Episode begins with Archer standing trial in a Klingon tribunal for allegedly aiding the escape of rebels fleeing the Klingon Empire. Archer gets a crash course in the Klingon justice system when his "advocate", Kolos, does not even try to defend him in court. He convinces Kolos, who remembers the days when the Klingon courts were about justice, to make a strong case for Archer's innocence upon their return to the tribunal for Archer's sentencing. The result of Kolos's eloquent defense is that Archer is still found guilty but his death sentence is commuted to banishment at the penal colony on Rura Penthe for life. Kolos objects and is likewise sent to Rura Penthe for one year. T'Pol dissuades her crewmates from attempting a rescue attempt while Archer (and Kolos) are being transferred to Rura Penthe, using instead her connections with certain Klingon officials (from T'Pol's time as Vulcan Minister of Security) to stage a rescue after Archer and Kolos arrive at Rura Penthe. Kolos, however, chooses to remain and stay out his sentenced time, even though many do not survive a full year there. An enjoyable enough episode but not particularly noteworthy. Not a whole lot new here as this is a case mainly of Archer discovering things already revealed to Star Trek viewers in earlier stories (particularly Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (TOS)). Confrontations with Klingons almost always make for at least somewhat enjoyable episodes, however, and I liked the way the actual confrontation was shown (two different ways) in flashback, making yet another Starfleet ship vs. Klingon ship battle a side element to the story rather than a primary one. Archer does learn a bit about the Klingon caste system from Kolo, that there are types other than the warrior caste. Kolos, obviously, works in the legal system, and he tells Archer that his father was a teacher and his mother a biologist.

"Horizon" (ENT episode) - January 10, 2153 (Starlog date)
General Notes: It is stated again in this episode that Enterprise has traveled over 150 lightyears. Mayweather says they have also discovered twenty-two inhabited worlds in this time, which he says has been eighteen months. The episode opens with Mayweather once again relaxing in Enterprise's "sweet spot", an area of the ship where the artificial gravity does not cover, allowing for zero gravity (first seen in "Broken Bow" (ENT)). Archer says that he hasn't been to the "sweet spot" since they launched. Archer tells Mayweather that, prior to joining Starfleet, he considered joining the merchant marine and signing on aboard a cargo ship. He also tells Mayweather that one year prior to their launch he was looking at helm officer applicants and having trouble deciding. A recommendation from Mayweather's father was quite convincing. Mayweather actually discussed leaving the Horizon and applying for Starfleet with his mother "four years ago" (or two and one half years prior to launch). As of this episode, Tuesday is Enterprise's regular "movie night". While talking with his mother, Mayweather refers to events that occured in "Catwalk" (ENT) and "Minefield" (ENT). T'Pol compares the reactions of the villagers in the movie Frankenstein to those of the humans after making first contact with Vulcans in Star Trek: First Contact (TNG).
Chronological reading notes/summary (written on 9/25/04):
     When Enterprise's course happens to pass close to that of his old ship's, the Horizon, Mayweather asks for a short leave to visit. Sadly, he discovers that his father has died a few months prior to his visit. Travis's brother, Paul, is now acting captain. There is tension between Mayweather and his brother, partially because Paul has always felt that Travis abandoned them when he joined Starfleet. This tension causes Paul to refuse any aid Travis offers, even when they are confronted by a group of pirates who have been attacking fellow cargo ships. When Paul's plans to escape or offer to surrender their cargo fail (the pirates insist on seizing their ship as well), Paul assents to accepting Travis's help in overcoming the pirates. Meanwhile, back aboard Enterprise, T'Pol is reluctant to join the others in a viewing of the movie Frankenstein. She finally gives in. To her surprise, she finds several parallels between the film and the humans' behavior when they first made contact with the Vulcans. She remarks that she might show this film to Soval to help him understand humans better. This makes Archer speculate that maybe his and Trip's pressuring T'Pol to see Frankenstein perhaps wasn't such a good idea. I liked this episode, particularly the Travis-Paul scenes. I felt the actors played this relationship very well, and the actor who played Paul was convincing in the role. I felt, on the other hand, that Archer had no particular business pressuring T'Pol to see the movie. (Trip, who generally likes to hassle T'Pol, I can see, but not Archer, at least not at this point in the series.)

"The Breach" (ENT episode)
General Notes: A tribble is seen here for the first time chronologically (Tribbles were first seen, of course, in "The Trouble with Tribbles" (TOS). It has been over three hundred years since the last actual conflict between the Denobulans and Antarans, yet this Antaran says he is the first to see a Denobulan in six generations. The rift between Phlox and his youngest son, Metis, was initiated by Metis's anti-Antaran sentiments. The two haven't spoken to each other for ten years at the time of this episode. Oh, and Mayweather is somehow quite skilled at rock climbing. Pretty impressive for a man raised as a "space boomer" aboard a deep space cargo ship. He did get himself injured rock climbing earlier on Risa in the episode, "Two Days and Two Nights".
Chronological reading notes/summary (written on 9/25/04):
     Archer is asked to aid in the retrieval of several Denobulan geologists studying caverns deep underground on a planet undergoing a very violent civil war. While Trip, Reed, and Mayweather make their way down to the scientists with climbing gear, Enterprise comes to the aid of a ship fleeing the planet that has taken on serious damage. Among the injured is an Antaran. As Archer finds out, there are a few hundred years of "bad blood" between the Denobulans and the Antarans. The Antaran refuses to allow Phlox to treat him. Archer orders Phlox to treat him against his wishes, but Phlox's Denobulan medical ethics do not allow him to do so (the will of the patient is of chief importance and "Hippocritus was not Denobulan" he tells Archer). Archer convinces Phlox that he must at the very least try to convince the Antaran to change his mind, leading to a gradual yet eventual agreement between the two to put their hostility for each other aside for moment. A rather classic Star Trek episode in many ways. One, it has the familiar (yet effective) element of a character having to confront his or her prejudiced feelings. Also, this episode has a conventional A-B plot structure, although (granted) in this case both plots center around Denobulans.

"Cogenitor" (ENT episode)
General Notes: Archer says that no Earth ship has ever gotten any closer than ten lightyears to a hypergiant star before. Trip tells the congenitor that he's managed to get Enterprise up to warp 5.1. The Vissian chief armory officer asks Reed if the Enterprise torpedoes have photonic warheads (i.e., "photon torpedoes") and Reed is unfamiliar with those. When asked by the Vissian captain about a particular manuever, Archer says he learned it bodysurfing off the north shore of Oahu (Hawaii).
Chronological reading notes/summary (written on 9/25/04):
     Archer and crew make first contact with a ship of Vissian scientists while studying a rare hypergiant star. While Archer and the Vissian captain take a small vessel deep into the star's troposphere (out of communication with the ship), Trip becomes quite interested in a Vissian couple's "cogenitor". Vissians are tri-gendered, and cogenitors are needed to reproduce. Trip feels that the cogenitor is being mistreated, however. Secretly, he teaches the cogenitor to read and shows the cogenitor around Enterprise. He is found out, and told he is no longer welcome aboard the Vissian ship. The cogenitor smuggles aboard Enterprise and informs Trip that "she'd" like to stay on Enterprise. Archer returns to face a difficult decision, whether or not to grant the cogenitor asylum. Reluctantly, he agrees to return the congenitor to "her" people. After parting ways, Archer and Trip learn the true consequences of Trip's meddling in the Vissians' affairs. Archer receives a communique from the Vissian ship informing him that the cogenitor has committed suicide. A very strong episode in that it is one of those that assuredly provokes conversation among fans, on both sides of the issue. While Trip felt he was doing the right thing, he was interfering in another culture and using his own conceptions of right and wrong to judge the Vissians. Obviously, he saw the cogenitor being treated much as black slaves were in the pre-Civil War United States, as property. He even goes as far as to teach "her" to read, just as some slaves were secretly taught. However, he should have realized that there was no way the congenitor would be able to escape the restrictions upon "her" by Vissian society, and that convincing the cogenitor otherwise was setting "her" up for a fall. Nonetheless, while his anger is genuine, I think Archer goes a bit too far in his dressing Trip down in the end of the episode. Yes, Archer was very upset with Trip, and he probably felt that Trip needed the harsh words. In the end, however, Archer and Trip are friends as well as officers, and Archer should have been able to see the pain Trip was going through even without the added insult of Archer's words. (Of course, all is forgotten by the next episode, or at least, not mentioned again.)

"Regeneration" (ENT episode) - March 1, 2153 (Starlog date)
General Notes: Follow-up story to the 2063 sequences in Star Trek: First Contact (TNG). Archer refers to a commencement speech given by Zefram Cochrane at Princeton where Cochrane revealed the involvement of cybernetic beings from the future attempting to prevent his historic first warp flight, and the future humans who came to his aid. Archer said that he later recanted his story, and T'Pol said that Cochrane was known for telling fanciful stories and frequently "being intoxicated" (which he was in Star Trek: First Contact). Dr. Phlox makes reference to the Bynars, who are first seen in "1100101" (TNG). In the end, T'Pol tells Archer that the "cybernetic beings" (Archer and crew never hear the name, "The Borg") were successful in transmitting the location of Earth to a place "deep in the Delta Quadrant". They say that it would take a signal two hundred years to reach there. Archer muses that they may have merely delayed the problem until "the 24th century" (which is later proven correct). This sequence is interesting for a couple reasons. One, it makes for a sort of temporal causality loop. The Borg first met the humans and Starfleet in "Q Who?" (TNG) in the year 2365. They went back in time in 2373 in Star Trek: First Contact to the year 2063. Now, we find out that these Borg from Star Trek: First Contact sent a message in 2153 to the Borg of that period, telling them about the humans. So, had the Borg received the signal by the time Q introduced them to the humans in 2365? It is uncertain. The signal should have been received by the Borg in the Delta Quadrant by then. Guinan, however, reported that the humans should not have encountered the Borg until much later. So I guess, until more details are revealed in future stories, the effects of the signal sent in 2153 are speculative at best. Second, this discussion reveals that the names first used in the "Star Trek: The Next Generation" for the four "quadrants" of the universe (Alpha, Beta, Gamma, and Delta), were being used as far back as the time of the "Enterprise" series (here, 2153).
Chronological reading notes/summary (written on 10/18/04):
     A team of arctic researchers discovers two Borg drones frozen in the ice along with the wreckage of their crashed ship. The two drones soon awake, assimilate the researchers, and take off in the reseach team's transport craft towards Borg space. Their path crosses that of Enterprise's, so Archer and crew are sent to stop the "cybernetic beings" (the Borg) and rescue the researchers. When they confront the Borg, however, they find that the Borg have upgraded the capablities of the stolen transport. Still, the Enterprise crew is able to drive off the Borg, rescuing two Tarkellians the Borg were in the midst of attacking. The Tarkellians, however, have already been injected with Borg nanites, beginning the assimilation process. They inject Dr. Phlox with Borg nanites, and sabotage the ship's warp relays before Archer finally orders them ejected into space. This sabotage puts Enterprise in a very vulnerable position when confonted once again by the Borg. Archer and Reed transport over to the Borg ship and do a bit of sabotaging of their own, setting explosives which destroy the Borg ship. And Phlox is finally able to destroy the Borg nanites in his system with a high dosage of radiation. In the end, T'Pol reveals that the Borg were successful in relaying a message to their people far in the Delta Quadrant, however: the location of Earth.
     This episode had continuity train wreck written all over it, what with the fact that Starfleet did not "meet" the Borg until "Q Who?" (TNG), over two hundred years after this episode takes place! However, it turns out that "Regeneration" is a pretty good episode, and tying the Borg that appear in this episode to Star Trek: First Contact (TNG) addresses most of the continuity questions. I mean, it follows that these Borg drones could have survived crash landing on Earth in Star Trek: First Contact and remained active at some level in suspended animation all those years in the arctic ice. Once active again, they behave just as Borg should, assimilating and seeking out the other Borg of this time period. The Enterprise crew is able to defeat the Borg here because we're talking about only a small handful of Borg in a Borg-modified human transport ship. There's no way Archer and crew could take on an actual Borg ship, but this scenario is realistic. Ok, here are my questions/concerns, however. One, aren't some sort of files from this encounter still available in Picard's era? I mean, granted, the "cybernetic beings" never say they are the Borg by name in this episode, but their appearance and vitals are on file, scanned by the arctic research team, as would be some tactical information about their technology, one would think, gathered from their encounter with the Enterprise. And two, about that not saying they are the Borg thing. What's up with that? I mean, I know why it was written that way. To keep the "Next Generation" "first" encounter with the Borg continuity valid. However, the Borg always say, "We are the Borg," before going on to the "you will be assimilated, resistence is futile" stuff. So it seems kind of weird that they don't say it here. Shoot, this entry is getting too long. One other thing I wanted to point out: Really cool, cinematic, shot of Enterprise approaching the Borg transport for the first confrontation. Enterprise flies in low over the "camera", forboding orchestral music swells. A really cool shot.

"First Flight" (ENT episode)
See Also: 2143 - flashbacks to Archer's time in NX program
    2150 - Archer is chosen as captain of the Enterprise
General Notes: Present day (2153) portions of episode. Archer learns that A.G. Robinson was killed climbing Mount McKinley. According to T'Pol, Starfleet regulations prohibit the captain from leaving the ship unaccompanied. In the end, it is suggested that the dark matter nebula Archer and T'Pol discovered by named the Robinson Nebula (after A.G. Robinson). Starship Enterprise history: Archer and Robinson were grounded for three months following their unapproved test in 2143; the Vulcans insisted that they run simulations for "over a year" after that; "eight months later" (2145?) Commander Duvall broke warp three in the NX-Delta; "five years later" (2150?) they "laid the keel for Enterprise".
Chronological reading notes/summary (written on 10/19/04):
     Archer's excitement over possibly discovering a large "dark matter nebula" is severely diminished when he gets a message from Admiral Forrest that his old friend, Captain A.G. Robinson, has been tragically killed in an mountain climbing accident. Hoping to get off by himself in the shuttlepod investigating the possible dark matter nebula, Archer reluctantly allows T'Pol to accompany him. On the mission inside the shuttlepod, Archer tells T'Pol how he and Robinson had both been in the NX program years ago, trying to be the first to "break the warp two barrior".
     Most of this episode takes place in 2143, flashbacks relaying the story Archer is telling T'Pol in the present (2153). A very good episode. By the end of this season, "Enterprise" had finally strung together several pretty enjoyable episodes ("Regeneration", "First Flight", "Bounty", and "The Expanse"). The relationship between Archer and Robinson is particularly well played by the actors, as is the sense of frustration and urgency Archer feels when it seems the program might be put on hiatus by Starfleet (at the urging of the Vulcans) and his father's engine design rejected.

Daedalus (ENT novel, 2003)
Other Dates: 2139 - flashbacks to Tucker's time working on the Daedalus Project.
     2140 (October 5) - flashbacks to Tucker's time working on the Daedalus Project.
General Notes: Part one of two. According to note given at start of book takes place immediately prior to "Bounty" (ENT). Continues in Daedalus’s Children (ENT) (Stern, 2004).
Chronological reading notes/summary (written on 7/22/06):
     Sorry, no detailed comments about Daedalus (Dave Stern, 2003) at this time. According to my notes, I finished reading this back on February 25, 2004. Unfortunately, I never got around to making an entry for it here and now, over two years later, I remember very little about the book. Here's what I recall. The book focuses primarily on Trip (Commander Tucker). Matter a fact, aside from Hoshi, I don't think we see the rest of the Enterprise crew for the entire book past chapter three (book two of this "duology", Daedalus's Children, brings Archer and the rest of the crew back into the story). The story deals with warring alien factions in an alternate universe that Tucker and Hoshi find themselves thrust into and the surprising reappearance of one of Tucker's early mentors, one whom Tucker had presumed dead for many years. I recall that I enjoyed both Daedalus and Daedalus's Children quite a bit (easily my favorite "Enterprise" novels written up to this point). Stern quickly proved himself to be the primary "Enterprise" novelist, at least in my own eyes. Further, here are the bare bone notes I made back when I finished reading Daedalus: "Fourth original "Enterprise" novel. Book one of two (continues in Daedalus's Children). While investigating an anomaly, the ship and its entire crew except for Trip and Hoshi are captured by the Denari. Trip and Hoshi manage to escape in the Suliban cell ship (captured previously in an episode of the television series ["Broken Bow" and "The Communicator"]). They soon find themselves, however, in the midst of a long running rebel uprising against the tyranical dictator and his government who have taken their ship and comrades captive. Trip is hesitant to help the rebels until he discovers a long thought dead mentor of his has been another long time captive of the Denari government, and that captured Starfleet technology led to the desparate situation the Denari are now in."

Daedalus's Children (ENT novel, 2004)
General Notes: Part two of two. Continued from Daedalus (ENT) (Stern, 2003). According to note given at start of book takes place immediately prior to "Bounty" (ENT).
Chronological reading notes/summary (written on 7/22/06):
     Sorry, no detailed comments about Daedalus's Children (Dave Stern, 2004) at this time. According to my notes, I finished reading this back on January 23, 2005. Unfortunately, I never got around to making an entry for it here and now, over two years later, I remember very little about the book. Here's what I recall. The book picks up where Daedalus leaves off. Furthermore, it goes back and fills readers in on what's been happening to Archer and the rest of the Enterprise crew since being separated from Trip and Hoshi and being taken captive by the Denari. I recall that I enjoyed both Daedalus and Daedalus's Children quite a bit (easily my favorite "Enterprise" novels written up to this point). Stern quickly proved himself to be the primary "Enterprise" novelist, at least in my own eyes. Further, here are the bare bone notes I made back when I finished reading Daedalus's Children : "Fifth original "Enterprise" novel (series logo becomes "Star Trek: Enterprise", following change made to television series title). Book two of two (continues from 2003's Daedalus). The crew of the Enterprise is trapped in an alternate dimension and divided. Their ship is captured, and most of the crew is in an alien prison. Archer must find a way for he and his crew to escape, retake their ship, and return to their own dimension before dying (they are unable to eat the food in this parallel universe without getting sick). While doing so, Archer hopes to avert a bloody civil war."

"Bounty" (ENT episode) - March 21, 2153 (Starlog date)
General Notes: First appearance chronologically of the Tellarites (the voice of a Tellarite freighter captain was heard earlier on "Enterprise" in "Dead Stop".) The Tellarites first appeared in "Journey to Babel" (TOS). This episode refers to events which occured in "Judgment" (ENT), and is the first instance where someone attempts to cash in on the bounty on Archer's head for escaping from the Klingon prison on Rura Penthe (it will happen again in "The Expanse" (ENT)). There is another reference to "Orion slave girls" in this episode (they were referred to earlier in "Canamar" (ENT).) An Orion slave girl is first seen (actually, the human woman Vina altered to look as an Orion slave girl) in "The Menagerie, Part II" (TOS) (which is a flashback, of course, to the previously filmed but much later released first "Star Trek" pilot episode, "The Cage" (TOS)). The first time an actual Orion slave girl is seen is Marta in "Whom Gods Destroy" (TOS). Dr. Phlox refers again to the tenant of Denobulan medical ethics which prohibits him from treating a patient against his or her will (first mentioned in "The Breach" (ENT). And, of course, the first time we see pon farr (which is triggered prematurely in T'Pol in this episode by the alien microbe) was in the classic "Amok Time" (TOS).
Chronological reading notes/summary (written on 10/19/04):
     Another fun episode. Archer is kidnapped by a Tellarite who plans to turn Archer in to the Klingons (Archer now has a bounty on him for escaping from the prison on Rura Penthe). Archer ultimately is able to convince the Tellarite to not turn him in. An escape plan is then set in motion which will allow Archer's crewmates to rescue him from the Klingons without the Klingons suspecting the Tellarite of whelching on their deal. The "B" story of this episode is completely unrelated to the Archer-Tellarite one, and deals with Dr. Phlox and T'Pol being quarantined in decon due to their contracting a contagious alien microbe while on shore leave. The microbe sets off T'Pol's pon farr (mating cycle) early, making for a rather uncomfortable situation for Phlox. While the T'Pol-pon farr sub-plot could have possibly been handled in an interesting way under other circumstances, in this instance it was rather cumbersome and not all that interesting because it kept interrupting the Archer-Tellarite main plot.

"The Expanse" & "The Xindi" (ENT episodes)/The Expanse (novelization, 2003) - ("The Expanse" - April 24, 2153)
General Notes: Novelization adapts both episodes. Beginning of the Xindi War story arc that ran for all of "Enterprise's" third season.
Chronological reading notes/summary: (written on 7/22/06):
    Sorry, no detailed comments about The Expanse novelization (J.M. Dillard, 2003) at this time. According to my notes, I finished reading this back on January 30, 2005. Unfortunately, I never got around to making an entry for it here and now, over two years later, I remember very little about the book. What I do recall is that it is a pretty straight adaptation of the two episodes. It does that job reasonably well but isn't particularly memorable otherwise. Further, here are the bare bone notes I made back when I finished reading The Expanse : "Earth is savagely attacked by an alien probe which burns a huge trench from Florida to Mexico, killing millions. The Enterprise is recalled home because of the attack. Trip learns that his sister is most likely dead (her death is shown in the prologue here). Archer learns from the Suliban's leader from the future that an alien race named the Xindi are behind the attack and are preparing a weapon capable of destroying the Earth entirely. Soon, the ship has been refitted and the crew is off on their new mission: to locate and prevent the Xindi from attacking the Earth again. Their destination: a dangerous area of space called the Delphic Expanse, a place even the Vulcans and Klingons are wary of entering. Other story elements: the Klingon, Duras, continues to hound Archer, confronting the Enterprise crew twice (seen in "The Expanse" episode), and Archer and company risk dealing with a shady mining foreman to discover the location of the Xindi homeworld from one of the foreman's workers who happens to be Xindi (seen in "The Xindi" episode)."

"Anomaly" (ENT episode)

"Earthquake Weather" (ENT short story, Strange New Worlds VII, 2004)
Chronological reading notes/summary (written on 7/22/06):
    Read this one back September 5, 2004, so my memories are going to be a bit fuzzy about this one. Here are some notes I jotted down write after reading it, however: [In "Earthquake Weather" (by Louisa M. Swann)], "Soon after entering the Delphic Expanse (at the start of the television series' Xindi war arc), Trip is still having trouble sleeping. He ascribes his feelings to how animals often act just before an earthquake, detecting an immenent chaotic event. Suddenly, everyone on board except Trip falls asleep and he must what has caused it and how to wake his crewmates." (Placement here based on timeline given in Star Trek: Voyages of the Imagination book (2006).)

"Extinction" (ENT episode)

"Rajiim" (ENT episode)

2159

"Dead Man's Hand" (DS9 short story, Legends of Dax, 1999)
General Notes: Story is set during the third year of the Romulan Wars, first mentioned in "Balance of Terror" (TOS). This story presents Tobin Dax as the first humanoid ever to be transported. This is contradicted however by later stories which make use of the transporter prior to this, notably Forgiveness (TNG comic book graphic novel) (2052) and the "Enterprise" television series (2151- ). The Romulans at this time do not have warp technology, although they have been at war with Earth for two years. This is also apparently contradicted in Starfleet: Year One (released as a serial novel just after "Dead Man's Hand" in 1999-2000 and taking place in 2161). The Earth Command (see notes in Starfleet: Year One entry as to why not "Starfleet" and the Year One/"Enterprise" continuity problems) ships in that novel are capable of warp, making one presume that the Romulan ships are as well or else the war would be over pretty quickly. Also, the Romulans seen in "Enterprise" (first in "Minefield" (ENT), which takes place in 2152) seem to be warp capable as well.
Chronological reading notes/summary (written on 6/16/01):
     "Dead Man's Hand" (Jeffrey Lang). 2159, Star Trek time. This one deals with Tobin Dax (second host for the Dax symbiote). It is in the third year of the Federation-Romulan war, and Tobin and Skon (future father of Sarek, grandfather of Spock) find themselves on a Federation research vessel attacked by Romulans. Interestingly enough, two pieces of Federation technology (both of which the Romulans do not have at this time) play important roles in this story: warp drive and transporters.

2161

Starfleet: Year One (serial novel, 1999-2000; single novel/collected edition, 2002)
General Notes: This novel begins in the final year of the Earth-Romulan War (a.k.a. "The Romulan Wars"), first mentioned in "Balance of Terror" (TOS). It presents the end of the war and the birth of the Federation and Starfleet. The following are details which seemingly contradict those later established by the television series "Enterprise" (see reading notes below for more on this). (1) The primary starships used by "Earth Command" and Starfleet's initial fleet are Christopher 2000 class warships. Their top speed is given as warp two. The brand new Daedalus (first of the new line of vessels designed specifically for Starfleet use)* boasts speeds of up to warp three. Enterprise NX-01 (in "Enterprise") is a warp five starship. Since "Enterprise" begins ten years earlier (2151) than Year One, the top speeds given in Year One seem incorrect by comparison. (2) The very fact of when "Starfleet" was founded is contradictory. For many years, it has been conjecture (based on what little had been previously established in the various Star Trek series) that the Federation and Starfleet had been founded at the same time. Year One follows this assumption, using the events of the Earth-Romulan War as the impetus for the Federation (to attempt to prevent such a war from happening again) and Starfleet (to be prepared to defend Earth and the Federation if it does). Then "Enterprise" came along and established that a purely Earth-based Starfleet had been established a decade prior to the Federation's founding in 2161. Now, one can assume that these are in reality two different "Starfleets", however to do so one must gloss over many seemingly inconsistent details (no mention of a previous Starfleet in Year One, using "Earth Command" instead during the Earth-Romulan War, the differing levels of technology, and the contrasts between the decidedly military tone of Earth Command vs. the more balanced military/science-exploration mission of earlier Starfleet in "Enterprise", among others). Year One also seemingly contradicts a detail from "Dead Man's Hand" (DS9 short story). In that story, which takes place in the third year of the "Romulan Wars" in 2159, it is stated that Romulans do not possess warp technology. While not outright contradicted by anything said in Year One (that I can recall), it seems unlikely that the events described in Year One concerning the role of the Romulans in the war could have been performed by a pre-warp society (how would they have been able to encroach upon Federation space if not able to travel faster than the speed of light?). Other details: The President of Earth in 2161 is Lydia Littlejohn. The first director of Starfleet is Chinua Abute. T'Pau is the highest ranking official in the Vulcan planetary government (an older T'Pau is later seen in 2267 in "Amok Time" (TOS)). It is announced that Vulcans Skon and T'Lara have given birth in 2161 to a son named Sarek. (Sarek of course will sire Spock. Sarek was first seen in "Journey to Babel" (TOS), and Skon is seen prior to this chronologically in the aforementioned short story, "Dead Man's Hand" (DS9). The Stiles brothers here (Jake and Aaron) are ancestors of the Lt. Stiles serving aboard the Enterprise NCC 1701 in 2266 in "Balance of Terror" (TOS). The "Underwood's Theory of Parallel Development" is similar to the "Hodgkins Law of Parallel Planet Development" first seen in "Bread and Circuses" (TOS). Tractor beams, theoretical at this time, are first proposed for Starfleet vessels. (Note: While initially not available on Earth Starfleet vessels on "Enterprise", they are not considered as purely theoretical on that series as Archer and company early on encountered alien races that already utilized said technology). * Notes about the Daedelus-class ship: class first mentioned by name and some historical details given in "Power Play" (TNG); model (based on early Enterprise 1701 design sketches by Matt Jefferies) seen on monitor display on "Deep Space Nine". (That's enough details I think...if you want more, read the book!)
Chronological reading notes/summary (written on 7/18/03):
     It is important to first note that this novel by Michael Jan Friedman was written and released prior to the start of the "Enterprise" television series in the fall of 2001. It and "Enterprise" both take place in the until then largely unexplored area of the early years of Starfleet and the Federation ("Enterprise" starting in 2151 and Starfleet: Year One taking place in 2161). Since Friedman was unaware of the direction "Enterprise" would be taking, much of Year One (especially technical details such as starship specs) is contradicted by "Enterprise". According to the "canon" vs. "non-canon" rule, "Enterprise" (a live action television series and therefore "canon") supersedes contradictory details in Year One (a licensed Star Trek novel, therefore "non-canon"). That does not mean that one should skip reading Year One because it does not jive with "Enterprise", just that he/she should be aware going in that this is more or less another view of Star Trek's early years, just as one might see Federation (TOS/TNG) and Strangers from the Sky (TOS). (There is a disclaimer on the first page of the collected edition reading "STARFLEET: YEAR ONE is unrelated to the events depicted in the television series ENTERPRISE."). This novel was first released in serial form in the back of Pocket's paperback Star Trek novels, from August 1999 through July 2000. It was then collected as a single paperback novel in early 2002. The collected edition is slightly expanded from the original serialized version. Friedman has said that he added a known character (although quite a bit younger than we last saw her) in the updated version, presumably meaning T'Pau in chapter nine (I don't know for certain as I did not read the serialized version).
     Now, on to the story! In a nutshell, after the defeat of the Romulans, a new "Federation" of planets is created between Earth and her closest allies (Vulcan, Andor, and Tellar among others) in hopes of preventing another such war from occurring (and if so, to ensure defense for member worlds). An outgrowth of the Federation is a new space force known as "Starfleet". Two factions wage an internal war over the future direction of the Starfleet. One faction is the military establishment, while on the other is made up of the researchers and scientists who wish Starfleet to be more of a research-based organization. Six captains are chosen to lead the first Starfleet vessels (former Earth Command Christopher 2000 ships), three representing each side. One of these captains will ultimately be chosen to command the first of a new class of starship designed specifically for Starfleet--the Daedalus. It is felt that whoever wins this prize will determine what direction the fledgling Starfleet will ultimately take, military or science/research.
     I really liked this book, particularly the way Friedman spread things out between many characters. The captains (Hagedorn, Matsura, Aaron Stiles, Shumar, Cobaryn, and Dane) are of course the focal characters, and Friedman makes each one interesting and different. In the background are the "movers and shakers", each with his or her own agendas, planting the seeds for the organizations that will one day develop into the Federation and Starfleet that future officers such as James Kirk and Jean-Luc Picard will serve centuries later. I definitely recommend this book to all Trek fans (just don't allow the discrepancies with "Enterprise" to ruin your enjoyment of it).

2237

"Yesteryear" (TAS episode, 1973)/"Yesteryear" (TAS adaptation, 1974)
See Also: 2269 - [frame story with Guardian of Forever - Stardate 5373.4].
General Notes: Spock travels back in time via Guardian of Forever and interacts with himself at age seven.
Chronological reading notes/summary:
     [None. Have not viewed/read yet. Currently positioned with other 2269 stories (which is when the frame story of "Yesteryear" occurs).]

2245

"Old Souls" (DS9/TOS short story, Legends of Dax, 1999)
General Notes: Story takes place at Old Miss (Oxford, Mississippi). Story takes place nearly 85 years after the founding of the Federation. At this time, Trills kept their symbiotic nature secret from other races. Emony Dax is described as a "three-time latinum medallist" from the ‘24 (2224) Olympics on Aldebaran. Although son of a doctor, McCoy at this time had not decided to be the same. Aiding treatment of a wounded Trill has an impact on him. It was first revealed that the two had met later in "Trials and Tribble-ations" (DS9).
Chronological reading notes/summary (written on 6/16/01):
     "Old Souls" (Michael Jan Friedman). (Interestingly enough, I skipped over for the moment one MJF entry, Starfleet: Year One, and the very next thing to come up on my chronological list was another story by Friedman.) Trek year: 2245. This one shows us how Emony Dax (third Dax host) met a young (almost eighteen-year-old) Leonard McCoy, as mentioned by Jadzia Dax in "Trials and Tribble-ations." An interesting thing about this story is that it tries to patch up a bit of Trek continuity by stating that (at this time) Trills kept their symbiotic relationship hidden from other races (I assume aside from the Vulcans, who they had met first according to the earlier story, but that's just a guess on my part). This would explain why no one knows about the Trill symbiotes when they first showed up TNG's "The Host".
     Of the three ["First Steps", "Dead Man's Hand", and "Old Souls"], I think I like MJF's "Old Souls" best (but I liked all three). One thing, I'm a sucker for writers who throw in Trek aliens and other Trek elements in the background as MJF does (a good portion of this story takes place at a multi-alien gymnastics competition...the humans don't do so well, by the way). [Personally, I also thought it was cool that the story took place at Old Miss (Oxford, Mississippi) because I've actually been there! My grandmother lives just an hour away in a very small town named Bruce, Mississippi. I think this is the first time I've read a Trek story that takes place somewhere I've actually been before.]
     Of the other two, it's a bit of a balance. I like the plot of "Dead Man's Hand" a bit better than "First Steps." However, I like the characters a bit better in "First Steps". Rusch gives us an interesting look into the (early) politics of Trill concerning alien contact.
     Well, I'm excited now. "Old Souls" (with a young McCoy) brings me officially into TOS territory!

Final Frontier (TOS novel ("Giant" novel), 1988)
See Also: 2267 - [Framing story] Takes place immediately after "City on the Edge of Forever" (TOS).
General Notes: Captain April back story. Takes place prior to the Enterprise’s first five-year mission.
Chronological reading notes/summary:
     [None. Currently positioned with other 2267 stories (which is when the frame story of Final Frontier occurs).]

2246

"Though Hell Should Bar the Way" (short story, Enterprise Logs, 2000)
General Notes: Captain’s log at beginning of story gives date of October 10, 2246. Story ties in with incident at Tarsus IV (Governor Kodos, see "The Conscience of the King" (TOS)). The Enterprise’s maximum safe cruising speed is warp seven (breaking Starfleet speed records of the time). It is "slightly more than a year" into the Enterprise’s first five year mission. April contemplates the creation of a new system of "stardates." Kor commands a D-6 Klingon battle cruiser (the Kut’luch). Starfleet had first encountered the Klingons "a few decades" prior to this story. Enterprise weapons: lasers and fusion torpedoes. Kruge is from Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (TOS). (April's crew in this story: Lorna Simon, Dr. Sarah Poole April, Carlos Florida, Dr. Laurence Marvick, Michelle Roberts, Spirit Claw Sanaway, and Issac Soulian.)
Chronological reading notes/summary (written on 6/20/01):
     "Though Hell Should Bar the Way" (Greg Cox, Enterprise Logs, 2000). Trek year: 2246 (log actually gives date of October 10, 2246). This is a fun little story giving us look at April and his crew. They are racing towards Tarsus IV to relieve the famine there (tying the story in with the "Conscience of the King" TOS episode). On the way they are confronted by a Klingon ship commanded by Captain Kor. Also aboard the Klingon ship is a young officer named Kruge (Star Trek III: The Search for Spock).
     I don't have much to say about this one aside from that I enjoyed it. One interesting thing is that Captain April considers suggesting some system of "stardates" to Starfleet Command since traditional time-keeping has problems in space.

2248

Starfleet Academy: Crisis on Vulcan (TOSya novel #1, 1996)
General Notes: Story is set prior to Spock entering Starfleet Academy in 2249. April's crew here contradicts the Diane Carey crew featured in "Though Hell Should Bar the Way", which takes place two years prior to this novel, and in the back story portions of Best Destiny (TOS), which takes place one year following it. The crew here: Christopher Pike (first officer), Ledrick Bann, Ricard Cheyney, Michael Daron, Selena Niles, Chief Engineer Powell, and Asst. Engineer Welborne. It is shown in this novel for the first time (chronologically) that there is some dissent on Vulcan to their relations with humans and/or the Federation (explored in more detail in Spock’s World (TOS)), and (more importantly) that Spock is the first Vulcan accepted to Starfleet Academy. Pike states that the Intrepid (the Starfleet vessel with an entirely Vulcan crew, introduced in "The Immunity Syndrome" (TOS)) was contributed by Vulcan to the Federation. At this time, no Vulcan had every mind melded with an alien. Spock decides to join Starfleet Academy instead of Vulcan Science Academy.
Chronological reading notes/summary (written on ???):
     Crisis on Vulcan (Star Trek: Starfleet Academy #1, young adult series) (Brad and Barbara Strickland, 1996) Trek year: 2248.
     This short novel has some problems. The story is fine, and the authors handle the character interaction (especially between Spock and his parents) quite well.
     The problematic thing is that they ignore the Enterprise crew (under Captain April) established earlier by Diane Carey (in 1988's Final Frontier and 1992's Best Destiny), choosing to create characters of their own.
     Taking this book by itself, this isn't too much of a problem. However, tying it together with the other books/stories (as I am here) makes it a discrepancy. If there were no other Captain April stories after this one chronologically, one could assume that April simply has a new crew. However, the April portions of Best Destiny occur one year after this one, and back on board are all of the Carey characters.
     Skipping this problem for the moment, one interesting choice is in making Christopher Pike Captain April's first officer in this story. This presents the first meeting of Spock and Pike, and Pike encourages Spock to join Starfleet Academy. (By the way, it is conceivable that April switched first officers. In "Though Hell Should Bar the Way", First Officer Lorna Simon is described as an aging officer who might retire soon. In Prime Directive, she's back as first officer, but April tells George Kirk that "she's been out policing missions between Federation colonies". So Pike's presence here is not out of the question continuity-wise, although the rest of April's crew is.)
     Another interesting thing is that this may be chronologically the first instance of the "Spock is the first Vulcan in Starfleet" idea (more specifically "the first Vulcan in Starfleet Academy" in this book). Of course, this book was released in 1996, so it was simply following on earlier accounts, none of which seem to have originated on screen.
     The plot is a pretty standard one. Sarek finishes up negotiations on a troublesome peace treaty in a system wanting to join the Federation. He and Spock are transported aboard the Enterprise back home, giving Spock the opportunity to see non-Vulcans in action. The ship is attacked and Spock saves the day with his alien computer skills (almost a Wesley Crusher-kind of situation except for with Spock it's not quite as annoying).
     Back on Vulcan Sarek decides to send Spock off to the Vulcan Science Academy early to try to set him back on the proper Vulcan track. Soon, however, Spock is recalled to Vulcan when his mother is attacked and it becomes apparent that someone is out to get Sarek out of vengeance.
     It all ties back of course to the factions involved in the peace treaty Sarek oversaw. And Spock's future enters into things again when Captain April (communicated through Pike) informs Spock that he thought so highly of how the Vulcan handled himself on the Enterprise that he submitted Spock for admittance at Starfleet Academy. (One other nitpick: Captain April is not depicted here as he is in the Carey books. Here he comes across as something of a old grouch, not as the more kindly professor type of personality more or less created by Carey.)

2249

Best Destiny (TOS hardcover novel, 1992)
See Also: 2293 - [framing story, takes place soon after Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (TOS)].
General Notes: Captain April/George Kirk back story.
Chronological reading notes/summary:
     [None. Currently positioned with other 2293 stories (which is when the frame story of Best Destiny occurs).]

2250

"Starfleet Academy!" (Star Trek Annual #2) (DC Comics, 1991)
General Notes: Kirk first enrolls at Starfleet Academy. Kirk first meets in this story Gary Mitchell, Carol Marcus, Matthew Decker (as Kirk’s instructor), Ben Finney (Dean of Students) Kyle, and Uhura. Chronologically our first look at the Kobayashi Maru test (Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (TOS)). Other cross-references: Ruth and Finnegan are from "Shore Leave" (TOS), Ben Finney from "Court Martial" (TOS).
Chronological reading notes/summary (written on 6/23/01):
     Star Trek Annual #2 ("Starfleet Academy!") (DC Comics, 1991) (Peter David-writer, James W. Fry, Curt Swan and Arne Starr-artists) Trek date: 2250.
     This is, I suppose, the first real attempt to show the academy days of Kirk (or any other TOS character). It comes in a period where David was no longer writing the monthly DC Trek comics (Howard Weinstein was) but was still contributing occasional projects (advertised in this issue as upcoming is Star Trek: The Next Generation: The Modala Imperative; it also states that Vendetta (TNG) would be hitting the shelves in one month).
     I'm sure some of this stuff has been contradicted since but it is still interesting. Kirk first meets several people here: Gary Mitchell, Carol Marcus, Matthew Decker (his instructor), Ben Finney (Dean of Students at the Academy), Finnegan, and (most importantly perhaps to fans) Uhura (although she does not play a major role in the story).
     When Kirk arrives (after a brief scene with his brother Sam in Iowa), he is committed to doing well at the academy. As a result, he comes across as stiff and a bit of a know-it-all to his fellow cadets. In contrast, Mitchell (who has a photographic memory) has a very casual attitude about everything. Of course, Kirk and Mitchell end up as roommates.
     Other elements of the story include Kirk meeting Carol Marcus at a party and a subplot of someone apparently having cheated on an exam. When this starts to pull the class apart, Kirk takes it upon himself to investigate who could have done it.
     It is an enjoyable story. Both artists do a fine job, although their styles do not exactly mesh (Fry had to drop out part way through due to other commitments, doing only twenty pages). Fry has a nice fresh comics style, while seasoned professional Swan (the Superman artist for many fans) brings has a clean style of his own.
     The only thing that bothered me was that David's take on Carol Marcus seems a bit off at times. I guess I'm just not accustomed (from her later appearance chronologically in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan) to seeing her flirting so much and so blatantly with Kirk. Kirk also comes across as a bit *too* stiff and serious here compared with his more impulsive portrayal in books such as Carey's Best Destiny and the very next entry below.
     Still, I would recommend this as one of the few single-issue comics which fans should definitely search out due to it's subject matter (along with the annuals in DC's previous Star Trek (TOS) series which present the stories behind the beginning and end of Kirk's first five year mission, and the excellent Star Trek: Debt of Honor graphic novel).
     (Oh, we also get to see Kirk's girlfriend Ruth here. She was introduced in "Shore Leave".)

Starfleet Academy: Aftershock (TOSya novel #2, 1996)
General Notes: Story is set soon before Starfleet Academy’s winter break in 2250 (Kirk’s freshman year, McCoy and Spock’s sophomore). McCoy is a transfer student, therefore a bit older than his classmates. McCoy first meets Kirk and Spock (separately) in this novel. Chronologically earliest reference to McCoy’s fear of transporters. Mentions that most Vulcans in Starfleet serve aboard the Intrepid. Discrepancy between story and accompanying art show the Nightingale (a Starfleet medical) ship both as a Miranda- and Daedalus-class starship (a problem either way since the Star Trek Encyclopedia states that Daedalus-class ships were retired from service in 2196 and a Miranda-class one is not seen until 2285 in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (TOS). One minor character is named Berthold, perhaps an intended connection with the "berthold rays" seen in "This Side of Paradise" (TOS).
Chronological reading notes/summary (written on 6/23/01):
     Aftershock (Star Trek: Starfleet Academy #2, young adult series) (John Vornholt, 1996). Trek year: 2250.
     I enjoyed this one a bit better than Crisis on Vulcan, probably because I always enjoy reading McCoy-Spock stories.
     This story takes place just before the winter break of McCoy and Spock's second year at the academy and Kirk's first (meaning it must take place soon or immediately after the DC comics Star Trek Annual #2 above since that story deals with Kirk taking an exam, assumedly his semester one; on the other hand Kirk could have been taking a mid-term type exam halfway through his first term, but that still would have been prior to this story).
     We see McCoy first meet both Kirk and Spock here, although separately. McCoy meets Kirk while playing a late night game of football with other cadets. The two end up in hot water with the superintendent after they crash into a secure area.
     As punishment they are told to join service clubs. Kirk is assigned to kitchen duty (after which we do not see Kirk again), while McCoy joins the Disaster Relief Service Club. This forces him to miss going home during the semester break which upsets him greatly.
     He is teamed with a Vulcan cadet named Spock and a human named Lisa Donald. Right from the start McCoy and Spock are at it, Spock's logical and literal style infuriating McCoy.
     After training, they are hastily called to a planet undergoing massive earthquakes. While rescuing victims, Spock begins to suspect that the "aftershocks" are not natural. Once it is discovered that they are being artificially induced, the three are off to solve that mystery as well.
     A fun read. The only thing which really took me out of the story for a moment was a discrepancy between the story and the accompanying illustrations. The text states that the ship they travel in is a Miranda-class one, but the illustration on the facing page (and on the cover) shows a Daedalus-class one. Apparently the writer and artists were not on the same page here. (I checked the Star Trek Encyclopedia and either choice is problematic. The Daedalus-class was retired from service in 2196, and of course the Miranda class did not show up for the first time until 2285 in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan.)

2251

Starfleet Academy: Cadet Kirk (TOSya novel #3, 1996)
General Notes: Story takes place one year after Aftershock (TOS) and Spock mentions meeting Christopher Pike "a few years ago" (in Crisis on Vulcan (TOS)). Chronologically, it is the first time Kirk, Spock, and McCoy are all three together at the same time, and the first time Kirk and Spock meet (McCoy met both Kirk and Spock separately in Aftershock). Dr. Richard Daystrom ("The Ultimate Computer" (TOS)) is spoken of but does not appear in this story.
Chronological reading notes/summary (written on 9/26/01):
     Cadet Kirk (Star Trek: Starfleet Academy #3, young adult series) (Diane Carey, 1996). Trek year: 2251.
     Well, the classic triumvirate is finally united in this story--although McCoy met both Spock and Kirk separately in Aftershock, all three come together for the first time here. Ensigns Spock and McCoy report to a shuttle heading to a science conference at Colony Cambria. In command of said shuttle is Cadet James T. Kirk on his first solo space mission. Kirk is a real stickler for regulations, coming immediately into conflict with McCoy (who only later recalls his earlier incident with James Kirk in Aftershock, the late night football game which cost him his winter break that year).
     On the way, the shuttle is ambushed and the three find themselves fighting off would be kidnappers. You see, a very important person, Dr. Richard Daystrom ("The Ultimate Computer" (TOS)), was supposed to have been on that shuttle but had to take another one instead (much to Cadet Kirk's disappointment) due to altered orders.
     This is an interesting little story which allows us to view how these very different characters would naturally feel about each other initially, and for us to start to see their emerging respect for each other by the story's end. They are not quite friends yet, but the seeds are definitely sown here. And Kirk first starts to realize that to succeed in Starfleet he will need to balance his adherence to regulations with what his instincts tell him to do.

My Brother's Keeper #1: Republic (TOS novel #85) - Stardate unknown
See Also: 2265 - [Chapters 1-5, plus last chapter] Stardate 1313.8, immediately after "Where No Man Has Gone Before" (TOS).
Chronological reading notes/summary:
     [None. Have not yet read. Currently positioned with other 2265 stories (which is when the frame story of Republic occurs).]

2252

Vulcan's Glory (TOS novel #44, 1989)
General Notes: No other name is given for Number One, but she is said to be from Ilyria, and that she is a "genetically perfect being." Dr. Boyce had served with Pike for four years at the time of this story. The book does not state exactly when Pike first took command of the Enterprise (2251 according to the Star Trek Chronology), but it does state that it had been four years since he had last been to Areta, and two and a half years since he met Janeese on Earth (between Enterprise missions, another reason why this story should probably take place later than 2252). Janeese and Pike ended their relationship during another of Pike's leaves just prior to this book.
Chronological reading notes/summary (written on 9/26/01):
     Vulcan's Glory (Star Trek #44) (D.C. Fontana, 1989). Trek year: 2252.
     Vulcan's Glory is a wonderful story for Spock and/or general Vulcan fans. Fontana does a wonderful job with the early scenes on Vulcan, particularly those between Spock and his parents and Spock and T'Pring. From there the novel breaks into a rather typical three-prong tale but remains a very good read.
     The book starts out with Spock on a brief leave before being assigned to the Enterprise. During this leave, Spock is called by his father to return home to settle things with his betrothed, T'Pring. Spock does so, but continues to delay marrying T'Pring due to his Starfleet commitments.
     He then reports to the Enterprise, meeting Captain Christopher Pike and his fellow crewmates. Their first mission is to return to a planet Pike had visited earlier named Areta and to check on diplomatic developments there between the three primary factions (desert nomads, townspeople, and radiation-altered mutants). They are briefly taken off of this course however by clues to the location of a long-lost Vulcan artifact called the "Vulcan's Glory" (a large emerald). Ironically enough, the gem is found at Areta, and soon after Pike beams down on his diplomatic mission.
     From there the story breaks into three directions: Pike dealing with trouble among the clans originated by a Romeo and Juliet style pairing of the son of a prominent townsman and the daughter of a nomad chieftain, Spock's romantic feelings for a fellow Vulcan science officer, and the presence of a murderer aboard the Enterprise who steals the Glory.
     I would recommend this book to any TOS fan, especially those of the pre-Kirk crew (there aren't too many Pike novels out there as you know, and this is one of the first ones written).
     However, I feel I should mention the inevitable inconsistencies with the other books which were later released yet which take place in this same time period. At the beginning of Vulcan's Glory, Spock has just completed a tour aboard the Artemis, where he served as third officer under a Captain Daniels. Later in the book, Number One tells Pike more about Spock from his service record. She says that Spock applied to Starfleet Academy himself (later contradicted by Crisis on Vulcan (TOS), which indicats that Captain April submitted Spock's application without Spock's knowledge).
     Here's where things get a bit dicey. Number One says that Spock entered the Academy at the age of sixteen, majored in science and computer technology, and graduated at age nineteen. "He did the two years in the accelerated Vulcan course and one year in the required cadet working cruises aboard various ships. Once commissioned, he served for three years as assistant science officer on a space cutter in Sol system. Two years ago, he was promoted to lieutenant (j.g.) and has been serving as third officer and science officer on the Artemis --long-range cruises" (37-38).
     Obviously, this does not jive with the timeline presented in the "Starfleet Academy" young adult books, which themselves are based on the official (if not "canon") Star Trek Chronology. According to the Chronology, Spock entered the Academy in 2249 (Crisis on Vulcan occurs just prior to this in 2248). The Chronology then states that Spock started serving (as an Academy cadet) under Pike on the Enterprise in 2252, three years later. The "Starfleet Academy" books work within this framework (although Spock is already an ensign in Cadet Kirk). Fontana, however presents a picture of Spock serving three years at the Academy and then five more years in space before being assigned to Enterprise, pushing this story back to 2257.
     On the one hand, Fontana's version of events makes more sense practically. It would be odd for even Spock to make third officer of the Artemis virtually immediately after graduating from the Academy and second officer of the Enterprise one year later. On the other hand, sorting out continuity is not my purpose here. Rather, making my way chronologically through the Star Trek saga is, noting these little inconsistencies as I go for others to ponder.
     Other interesting notes: No other name is given for Number One, but she is said to be from Ilyria, and that she is a "genetically perfect being" (apparently the Federation's laws against genetic engineering do not extend to Ilyria). Dr. Boyce had served with Pike for four years at the time of this story. I don't recall the book stating when Pike first took command of the Enterprise (2251 according to the Chronology), but it does state that it had been four years since he had last been to Areta, and two and a years since he met Janeese on Earth (between Enterprise missions, another reason why this story should probably take place later than 2252). Janeese and Pike ended their relationship during another of Pike's leaves just prior to this book.
     The issue of couples aboard starships is addressed a couple times in this book. On page eighty-six, Chief Engineer Caitlin Barry tells Number One, "There are married couples in command posts on other ships," and when Number One discovers that Spock and T'Pris were romantically involved she reflects upon how Starfleet had "no strong rules on fraternization between officers" (157).
     On other thing I found interesting was that in this book it is said outright that starships carry extra dilithium crystals while I know for a fact that other books have stated otherwise. I can't recall which book at the moment (possibly Federation, since I read that not too long ago?), but at one point Kirk was thinking about how he always requested a back-up supply of crystals but Starfleet informed him that one set should be enough for standard voyages (obviously they hadn't been keeping up with Kirk's "standard" missions).
     Oh, I almost forgot to mention that Lieutenant (j.g.) Montgomery Scott first arrives aboard the Enterprise in this story as well (starting some turmoil himself with his "engine-room hooch").

"31st Century"

"Shockwave, Pts. I & II" (ENT episode)/Shockwave (novelization, 2002)
See Also: 2152 - Main portion of story.
General Notes: Portion of story in which Archer is taken forward in time by "Daniels", creating an alternate, desolate future. Timeline presumably returns to normal upon Archer's return to 2152.
Chronological reading notes/summary:
     [See main entry under 2152.]