Summary

Our seventh anthology features originalStar Trek, Star Trek:The Next Generation, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Star Trek: Voyager, and Star Trek: Enterprisestories writtenby Star Trek fans, for Star Trek fans!Featuring new stories by new writers and a few contest veterans,Strange New Worlds VIIspans the entireStar Trekuniverse from the original days of Captain Kirk and throughout the tenures of Captains Picard, Sisko, and Janeway and back in time again to Archer. Each of these unforgettable stories explores the past and future ofStar Trekfrom many different perspectives.This year's contributors include Kevin Lauderdale, Kevin Killiany, Christian Grainger, Paul J. Kaplan, Muri McCage, Pat Detmer, Gerri Leen, Julie Hyzy, Kelly Cairo, John Coffren, Scott Pearson, Jeff D. Jacques, Jim Johnson, Anne E. Clements, Russ Crossley, Susan S. McCrackin, Catherine E. Pike, G. Wood, Annie Reed, Louisa M. Swann, Brett Hudgins, Amy Sisson, and Frederick Kim.

Author Biography

Considered one of the most prolific writers working in modern fiction, USA TODAY bestselling writer, Dean Wesley Smith published far over a hundred novels in forty years, and hundreds of short stories across many genres. He currently produces novels in four major series, including the time travel Thunder Mountain novels set in the old west, the galaxy-spanning Seeders Universe series, the urban fantasy Ghost of a Chance series, and the superhero series staring Poker Boy. During his career he also wrote a couple dozen Star Trek novels, the only two original Men in Black novels, Spider-Man and X-Men novels, plus novels set in gaming and television worlds.

John J. Ordover previously edited and oversaw the Star Trek franchise licensed novels. He is also the co-creator of many Star Trek spin-off series.

Paula M. Block (with Terry J. Erdmann) have jointly written two previous Star Trek: Deep Space Nine ebook novellas: Rules of Accusation and Lust’s Latinum Lost (and Found). Their most recent nonfiction work, Labyrinth: The Ultimate Visual History, was the recipient of the Independent Publisher Book Awards’ 2017 bronze medal for best coffee table book. They also are the co-authors of the nonfiction titles Star Trek Costumes: Five Decades of Fashion from the Final Frontier, Star Trek The Original Topps Trading Card Series, Star Trek The Next Generation 365, Star Trek The Original Series 365, Star Trek 101, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Companion, The Secrets of Star Trek Insurrection, The Magic of Tribbles, and Star Trek: Action! Their additional titles include Monk: The Official Episode Guide and The 4400 Companion. While director of licensed publishing for Paramount Pictures, Paula was co-editor of Pocket Books’ short story series Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. They live in Southern Oregon with their two collies, Shadow and Mandy.

Contents IntroductionDean Wesley SmithSTAR TREKWhales Weep Not [Third Prize]Juanita NolteOne Last AdventureMark Allen and Charity ZegersMarking TimePat DetmerAncient HistoryRobert J. MendenhallBum Radish: Five Spins on a Turquoise ReindeerTG TheodoreA Piece of the PieG. WoodSTAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATIONThe Soft Room [Second Prize]Geoffrey ThorneProtecting Data's FriendsScott William CarterThe Human FactorRuss CrossleyTribble in ParadiseLouisa M. SwannSTAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE FabricationsBrett HudginsUrgent MatterRobert J. LaBaffBest Tools AvailableShawn Michael ScottSTAR TREK: VOYAGERHomemadeElizabeth A. DunhamSeven and SevenKevin HoseyThe End of NightPaul J. KaplanHidden 230Jan StevensWidow's WalkMary Scott-WiecekENTERPRISESaviorJulie HyzyPreconceptionsPenny A. ProctorCabin E-14Shane ZeranskiSPECULATIONSOur Million-Year Mission [Grand Prize]Robert T. JeschonekThe BeginningAnnie ReedContest RulesAbout the Contributors

Supplemental Materials

What is included with this book?

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Excerpts

Introduction

Dean Wesley Smith

Every year for the past seven years I have looked forward to October and readingStar Trek® short stories by the very talented, very smart fans of the shows. I have often said that as aStar Trekfan, I have the best job in the world, and the hardest. And again this year, that proved to be true. I had to pick just twenty-three stories out of the boxes and boxes of wonderful stories that poured into the contest. The wonderful part was reading them all, the hard part was picking just twenty-three.

But now this book of stories is in your hands, and I need help from all youStar Trekfans out there. I need you to write one or two or three or moreStar Trekshort stories, following the rules in the back of this book, and send them in by October 1, 2004. Why am I putting out a call for even more stories than I normally get? Simple. Many of the fans who have been sending me stories and trying to get into this contest for the last six or seven years have sold too many stories. This contest, by its rules, has a limit of only three professionally published short stories by the deadline of the contest. That's why you might see the same name two or three years running, or scattered over the years, and then that author is disqualified from sending in any more. As you might have noticed, many of them are still writingStar Trek,only over in the novels. Authors like Ilsa Bick, Dayton Ward, Christina York, and others. They started here and then eliminated themselves with too many sales, leaving room for new writers to join the fun.

On a fewStar Trekboards in different locations, people have pointed out to me this year that a very large number of the writers I have bought once or twice can no longer be in the book again. And this includes this year's Grand Prize winner, Julie Hyzy, who has been sending in stories regularly for five or six years now. She and many others have "graduated," as they say on the boards.

And as an editor, that scares me, which is why I need all of your help. Come on, haven't you been watching an episode, seen a detail, and thought, "Wow, that would make a wonderful story?" Well, I need you to write that story this next year and send it in. I give every story the exact same chance at being in the book, and if you write a great story, it will make it in.

What kind of stories am I looking for? My best suggestion on that question, which I get a lot, is to read this volume, and then go find copies of the previous volumes of this anthology. Not only will you have a wonderful reading experience, but by the time you are done reading all seven of the books, you will have a very good sense of the stories that have made it intoStrange New Worldsover the years.

So pass the word. Tell otherStar Trekfans that the cutting edge of theStar Trekworld is right here, in the short stories in these volumes, stories written by fans like you. Tell your friends, tell the other members of your starship crews, maybe challenge other writers in your writers' group, then sit down and write a story or two and send them in. You'll discover that the writing is a lot of fun, and if one of your stories makes it into the book, you'll have added to theStar Trekuniverse and be aStar Trekauthor. And trust me, the only thing more fun than readingStar Trekis being aStar Trekauthor.

This is your chance. Enjoy the reading, then get to the writing.

Excerpted from Strange New Worlds VII by Paula M. Block, John J. Ordover, Dean Wesley Smith
All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.