Star Trek: The Next Generation: The Lost Era: The Buried Age [Kindle Edition]

Christopher L. Bennett (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Jean-Luc Picard. His name has gone down in legend as the captain of the U.S.S. Stargazer and two starships Enterprise. But the nine years of his life leading up to the inaugural mission of the U.S.S. EnterpriseTM to Farpoint Station have remained a mystery -- until now, as Picard's lost era is finally unearthed.

Following the loss of the Stargazer and the brutal court-martial that resulted, Picard no longer sees a future for himself in Starfleet. Turning to his other love, archaeology, he embarks on a quest to rediscover a buried age of ancient galactic history...and awakens a living survivor of that era: a striking, mysterious woman frozen in time since before the rise of Earth's dinosaurs. But this powerful immortal has a secret of cataclysmic proportions, and her plans will take Picard -- aided along the way by a brilliant but naive android, an insightful Betazoid, and an enigmatic El-Aurian -- to the heights of passion, the depths of betrayal, and the farthest reaches of explored space.

About the Author

Christopher L. Bennett is the author of two previous works of Titan fiction, the novel Star Trek: Titan: Orion’s Hounds and the short story "Empathy" in the Star Trek: Mirror Universe: Shards and Shadows anthology. He has also authored such critically acclaimed novels as Star Trek: Ex Machina, Star Trek: The Next Generation: The Buried Age, and Star Trek: The Next Generation: Greater Than the Sum, as well as the alternate Voyager tale Places of Exile in Myriad Universes: Infinity’s Prism. Shorter works include Star Trek: SCE #29: Aftermath and Star Trek: Mere Anarchy: The Darkness Drops Again, as well as short stories in the anniversary anthologies Constellations (original series), The Sky’s The Limit (TNG), Prophecy and Change (DS9), and Distant Shores (VGR). Beyond Star Trek, he has penned the novels X-Men: Watchers on the Walls and Spider-Man: Drowned in Thunder, and is also developing original science fiction novel concepts

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Format: Kindle Edition
• File Size: 653 KB
• Print Length: 450 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1416537392
• Publisher: Pocket Books/Star Trek (June 26, 2007)
• Sold by: Simon and Schuster Digital Sales Inc
• Language: English
• ASIN: B000SBTWKA
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #86,599 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Good Bridge., June 25, 2007

By 

Kevin T. McGuinness (Virginia, United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Buried Age (Star Trek: The Next Generation) (Mass Market Paperback)

Just finished reading this book and I think it's a good bridge between the end of the "Stargazer" series and the beginning of "Next Generation". Be warned, this review is chock full of spoilers.

There are good scenes with several Star Trek characters early in their Starfleet careers. Picard meets Data years before his Enterprise assignment, encouraging him to assert himself and advance his career. Within this timeframe, Picard also meets up with Troi. Upon their first meeting, she disobeys an order from an admiral so as not to betray Picard. I liked this, as she seems to have a lot more backbone than is initially portrayed in "Next Generation". There is also an interesting cameo by a young Kathryn Janeway and the revelation that Picard attempted to recruit her for his crew on Enterprise.

Some interesting facets about Picard emerge as well. One passage explains how Picard's approach of asking for opinions came from a short stint of teaching archaeology in the years following the loss of the Stargazer. Another passage shows a much-darker Picard heading up a tactical division of Starfleet. In fact, Picard's story takes him down many avenues I didn't expect and shows just close he was at times to NOT taking his place on the Enterprise.

I also recommend reading "The Valiant" and "Oblivion" from the "Stargazer" series. While "Buried Age" stands well on its own, these two other books will give you some good backstory.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Completely changes everything., December 8, 2007

By 

adamczar (Ypsilanti, MI United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Buried Age (Star Trek: The Next Generation) (Mass Market Paperback)

I don't usually post reviews but feel I should after reading this book. It's by far the best Star Trek fiction I've ever read. The author's grasp of scientific concepts and understanding of Picard's psyche and the entire Star Trek universe comes together so perfectly, it actually made me want to rewatch all of the Next Generation from the very beginning, with a brand new understanding of the motivations behind everything. It could have worked as 3 or 4 separate novels (that's how in depth it is), but this "condensed" version of Picard's missing years is a great read.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A rare glimpse into one of Star Trek's lost chapters...., July 28, 2007

By 

M. Bent (Vermont) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Buried Age (Star Trek: The Next Generation) (Mass Market Paperback)

This is an excellent addition to the Star Trek series, illustrating the origins and motivations of one of the seris most celebrated figures, Captain Jean Luc Picard. Bennett does a fine job portraying Picard's struggles with doubt and his shaken confidence, interweaving both episodes of the hit Star Trek: TNG TV series and the expanded universe of the novel line. A dark but uplifting tale of Picard's voyage of self discovery in becoming the man who will one day captain the Enterprise, and thereby explore so much more. An entertaining and informative read, well worth purchasing, that rounds out an already full and rich personality. Bennett has a masterful grasp of the characters and characterizations involved, and has written a fine addition to the trek universe.