Thursday, 2 October 2014

This Month: October 2014

It's quite a packed month of Star Trek releases, with two Q stories, one of which is one of the five comic book releases this month, plus no fewer than thirteen starship models in one form or another on the way, and a whole lot more. Continue below for a look at new Star Trek stuff coming this October:

Prose

This month's novel, Acts of Contrition, which is available already, is the latest in Kirsten Beyer's Voyager relaunch series, and the second part of a trilogy which began earlier this year in Protectors. Here's the blurb:
Admiral Kathryn Janeway has now taken command of the Full Circle Fleet. Her first mission: return to the Delta Quadrant and open diplomatic relations with the Confederacy of the Worlds of the First Quadrant, a civilization whose power rivals that of the Federation. Captain Chakotay knows that his choices could derail the potential alliance. While grateful to the Confederacy Interstellar Fleet for rescuing the Federation starships from an alien armada, Voyager’s captain cannot forget the horrors upon which the Confederacy was founded.

More troubling, it appears that several of Voyager’s old adversaries have formed a separate and unlikely pact that is determined to bring down the Confederacy at all costs. Sins of the past haunt the crew members of the Full Circle Fleet as they attempt to chart a course for the future. Will they learn much too late that some sins can never be forgiven…or forgotten?

For the second month in a row, we're also getting an ebook novella. Rudy Josephs' Q Are Cordially Uninvited... takes us back a few years back from the "present" in the TNG books, to tell the story of Jean-Luc Picard and Beverly Crusher's wedding, which as the title subtly hints at, has a certain uninvited guest. This novella is due out in just a few days time.
The wedding of Captain Jean-Luc Picard to Doctor Beverly Crusher was a small, private affair overseen by the mayor of La Barre, France, and witnessed by the groom’s sister-in-law and the mayor’s wife. At least, that’s what the happy couple always told their friends. On the anniversary of that blessed day, however, Worf and Geordi La Forge manage to coax the real story out of the pair, to discover a tale of mythical treasure and a lost civilization in the Delta Quadrant. It all begins when the omnipotent being Q crashes the festivities, declaring himself best man and bringing along an unwilling guest as a surprise for the groom.

Comics

Of this month's five releases from IDW, three are entirely new comics. Q's second appearance of the month comes in the fourth part in the six-issue nuTrek/DS9 crossover story, The Q Gambit, which is also the thirty-eighth issue in the nuTrek ongoing series. As ever Mike Johnson has written this nuTrek tale, while Tony Shasteen continues his work on this story arc's artwork.
The Star Trek event of 2014 continues in Part 4 of “The Q Gambit!” Captain Kirk and the crew of the USS Enterprise find themselves in a true no-win scenario thanks to the mischievous Q! Trapped in a dark future, at the mercy of the mighty Dominion, this adventure might prove to be their last! Don't miss this all-new story produced in association with STAR TREK writer/producer Roberto Orci!

October also sees the fifth and final part in the comic book adaptation of Harlan Ellison's original teleplay for The City on the Edge of Forever. Scott and David Tipton finish up adapting said script, with painted art from J.K Woodward.
The final act of Harlan Ellison’s Hugo and WGA Award-winning Star Trek teleplay! Is James T. Kirk willing to sacrifice the woman he loves, to save the universe as he knows it?! You may have seen the episode, but you only think you know how it ends! From the mind of literary legend Harlan Ellison!

The final all-new comic of the month is the third issue in John Byrne's bimonthly photo-comic series, New Visions. Cry Vengeance is set to give us the return of the Doomsday Machine, as well as a new robotic character.
John Byrne continues his new Star Trek photonovel adventures with two tales for the price of one, as the crew of the Starship: Enterprise faces a menace three millions years in the making, plus something more recent but no less deadly. Presenting a follow-up to the classic episode "The Doomsday Machine," as well as “Robot,” a brand-new tale of murder and mystery.

Another New Visions release this month comes in the form of the first omnibus book for the series, which will collect three stories:
Here's the cover for the omnibus:


A second omnibus is also due this month. Although originally solicited for September publication, its actual release has just drifted over into October. And that book is Gold Key Archives, Volume 2 - Like the first book in the series released earlier this year, this new omnibus brings some of the oldest Star Trek comics back to life like never before, with new colouring making them more vibrant than even the original publications.


You can see a few preview pages from this book in a previous report. These are evidently being well received, as a third book in the series is already set for release next February.

Other books

Also out this month is the latest issue of the Star Trek Magazine (UK #178, US#51):
It's another 50th anniversary milestone for Star Trek, as we mark a half-century since production began on original pilot episode, 'The Cage.' The Official Star Trek Magazine looks back at the making of this landmark episode, from the very first scenes shot on stage 16 at Desilu Studios, Culver City, in November 1964. We've also got exclusive interviews with Voyager actor Garrett Wang, and effects supremos Ken Ralston and Craig Reardon. There's also original fiction from Star Trek Online, and we investigate the mysterious Section 31 in regular fiction feature 'A Novel Approach', plus all the latest news, reviews, and competitions!
This month was also set to see the release of the new Ships of the Line book, but that has been pushed back to December publication now, so that leaves just one more book coming in October - Well, it does at least if you live in Europe, which is where the new Star Trek Pop-Ups book will be arriving first; North American pop-up fans need to wait another month for publication there.

The book features seven pop-ups designed by Courtney Watson McCarthy, with text from Paula Block and Terry Erdmann explaining the scenes from across the prime-timeline.
A legendary sci-fi epic as you’ve never seen it before—including the Klingon Bird of Prey, the Bride of Chaotica, and the Enterprise herself, all literally bursting off the page.

Star Trek is one of the most enduring franchises in Hollywood entertainment history. Part of the public consciousness since 1966, it spans the worlds of television and the movies and counts millions of fans worldwide. Now Star Trek Pop-Ups delivers seven iconic Star Trek moments in a new way—popping off the page in three dimensions. From the original USS Enterprise in flight to the dreaded Borg cube from The Next Generation and beyond, here is an unforgettable series of alien encounters and thrilling action scenes, featuring memorable moments from Deep Space Nine, Voyager and Enterprise. Bursting with energy and ingenuity, Star Trek Pop-Ups will capture the imaginations of fans young and old. 7 pop-ups and 25 illustrations, all in color

Check out my previous books report for preview images of four of the pop-ups in the book.

 Toys and Models

A more fiddly form of pop-up starships is also due this month, in the form of four new metal model kits from Fascinations. The new Star Trek Metal Earth range includes the  USS Enterprise, USS Enterprise-D, Klingon Bird of prey, and Vor'cha class, all made from laser etched steel, or will be made once you assemble them from the metal sheets. (Note the Enterprise pictured here has been incorrectly assembled, it can be built with the nacelles in the correct position.)



Another three ships this month come from Eaglemoss' Official Starships Collection. The Nausicaan fighter and Romulan warbird Valdore are already in the hands of UK subscribers, while issue thirty-three, the Danube class runabout USS Orinoco should be out by the end of the month. Of course collectors in other parts of the world will have to wait a bit longer, with the US getting these three next, in November and December.




UPDATE: Also now confirmed for the end of the month, in the UK at least, is the third over-sized special issue in the series, the USS Vengeance.


More ships are also coming in the form of gaming miniatures in Wizkids' Attack Wing game. Wave eight, out this month, includes the USS Enterprise-E, the Maquis Raider Val Jean, and the Borg's "Queen Vessel Prime".


Still not had enough ships? Well there are another three coming in the new DS9 themed model kit collection from AMT. The latest in their Cadet Series (which is consistently at 1:2500 scale), the new set includes the USS Defiant, USS Saratoga, and a Galor class.


Also new is Bif Bang Pow's Captain Picard bobble-head:


Big Bang Pow have also produced the new range of Star Trek/The Big Bang Theory retro action figures. All the main characters are represented, and available now, except for Penny, who has been delayed until January.


And entirely at the other end of the collecting spectrum, there's the new TR-590 Mark IX  science tricorder replica from Roddenberry:


Another prop was also expected this month, DST's new Search For Spock phaser, however than has now been moved back to January release.

Homewares

A more practical display piece comes in the form of Icon Heroes Star Trek title book-ends:


There's always a good selection of Star Trek stuff for the home, and this month will also see the release of new retro TOS shot glasses from Icup, and a metal lunch tin from Aquarius.


German Language

Finally back to books and very much going full circle, German readers have two releases from Cross Cult this month: The first of Kirsten Beyer's Voyager relaunch novels, Projekt Full Circle (aka Full Circle) and fourth Corps of Engineers ebook Interphase I (or, Interphase, Book One...) from Dayton Ward and Kevin Dilmore.


And that, is all, for now. But there are almost always new bits and pieces announced throughout any given month, which I shall of course report on as they appear. You can find out more about all these items, and everything else out this year, with links to all my previous coverage on my schedule page.

Entertainment Earth
at 22:13
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