Star Trek The Next Generation: A Time to Sow »

Dayton Ward served for eleven years in the U.S. Marine Corps before discovering the private sector and the piles of cash to be made there as a software engineer. He got his start in professional writing by placing stories in each of Pocket Books’ first three Star Trek: Strange New Worlds anthologies. He is the author of dozens of Star Trek novels, many written in collaboration with coauthor Kevin Dilmore. He recently penned a tie-in to the cult classic television series The 4400, and is currently at work on a new Star Trek novel to be released in Fall 2010.

Though he currently lives in Kansas City with his wife, Michi, he is a Florida native and still maintains a torrid long-distance romance with his beloved Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Readers interested in contacting Dayton or learning more about his writing, or who simply need proof that their website is cooler and better looking, are encouraged to venture to his Internet cobweb collection at daytonward.com.

On the cusp of their epic battle with Shinzon, many of Captain Jean-Luc Picard's long-time crew were heading for new assignments and new challenges. Among the changes were William Riker's promotion to captain and his new command, Riker's marriage to Counselor Deanna Troi, and Dr. Beverly Crusher's new career at Starfleet Medical. But the story of what set them on a path away from the Starship Enterprise has never been told.

Until now.

More than two centuries ago, the Dokaalan sent an unmanned probe into the void, bearing a distress call for anyone who could save their doomed world. But the message reached Federation space too late to save the planet or its people.

Or so it was believed....

Generations later, Captain Jean-Luc Picard and the crew of the Enterprise-E are stunned to discover the last of the Dokaalan — now only a colony fighting to stay alive in a decrepit asteroid mining complex. Although their home planet was destroyed long ago, the survivors hope to someday transform a nearby planet into a new home for their people. But bitter divisions exist among the Dokaalan, sowing the seeds of sabotage and terrorism — and placing Picard and the Enterprise in the middle of an escalating crisis that can only lead to total destruction!

Hugh Flick, Jr. - KLIATT

This third installment in a new Star Trek series begins a new adventure in which the Enterprise is sent on an exploratory mission to a distant part of the galaxy. Although they only expect to find the remains of a long-dead civilization, they discover a group of people who have survived the cataclysm that destroyed their home planet. Unfortunately there is a mysterious enemy who is sabotaging their efforts to terreform another planet in their solar system. This enemy, which has the technology to take on the appearance of anyone they wish to imitate, has infiltrated the civilization. As this installment ends, enemy agents have incapacitated Data and have taken the form of some key Enterprise personnel. (Star Trek). KLIATT Codes: JSA—Recommended for junior and senior high school students, advanced students, and adults. 2004, Simon & Schuster, Pocket Books, 316p., Ages 12 to adult.