2025 Novel Releases

[Procutus]

^

Not an unreasonable assumption. Either way, I'm a big fan of David's writing (loved Harm's Way) so I'll be adding this to my reading list for this year.

 

[DGCatAniSiri]

If I were to guess I'd say they're withholding the blurb for now because it contains information which could be considered a spoiler for the third season. But that's strictly baseless speculation on my part.

It was just a couple of weeks ago that David Mack announced a successful draft conclusion on Blue Sky, so it might just be that the blurb just hasn’t been finalized yet on that basis.

 

[David Mack]

It was just a couple of weeks ago that David Mack announced a successful draft conclusion on Blue Sky, so it might just be that the blurb just hasn’t been finalized yet on that basis.

This is the closest to correct explanation. I tried to write a non-spoilery blurb, but it’s difficult to properly tease a story if you can’t mention any of its salient elements.

 

[David cgc]

^ Reminds me of how, IIRC, The Latter Fire's blurb was about a plot element that was basically the equivalent of the first part of the first act of a classic Simpson's episode, a total red herring that was nearly immediately discarded after it opened the door to the real plot. Something like "Captain Kirk is under investigation for violating the Prime Directive when an alien-of-the-week returns with superior technology!" Nope, turns out he didn't do anything wrong, all that technology obviously came from somewhere else and that's what the book's about.

 

[Procutus]

This is the closest to correct explanation. I tried to write a non-spoilery blurb, but it’s difficult to properly tease a story if you can’t mention any of its salient elements.

David, any chance that you could drop us just a bare hint of what Ring of Fire is about, without spilling too many beans?

 

[David Mack]

David, any chance that you could drop us just a bare hint of what Ring of Fire is about, without spilling too many beans?

I already got yelled at once this week by CBS for answering fan questions about an upcoming project instead of letting PR control the release of information. (Consequently, my and Kara’s Subaru getting T-boned was only the second-worst experience of my week.) Not making that mistake again.

 

[Allyn Gibson]

Consequently, my and Kara’s Subaru getting T-boned was only the second-worst experience of my week.

Dude! I hope you (plural) are okay! Cars can be replaced, people cannot...

I was t-boned by a drunk driver on Memorial Day 1998. I'm not sure I've been right since.

 

[Procutus]

Not making that mistake again.

I don't blame you. My condolences on the accident and I hope you both are okay.

 

[Smiley]

I hope everyone is okay, David. Car accidents are scary and shake you up, even if the physical injury is minimal.

Until we get the official word, I will assume that the book is about jewelry saboteurs or a space circus act.

 

[David Mack]

Dude! I hope you (plural) are okay! Cars can be replaced, people cannot...

I was t-boned by a drunk driver on Memorial Day 1998. I'm not sure I've been right since.

We’re both fine. Kara was driving; I wasn't in the car. The impact happened at what I'm told was relatively low speed. No one reported being hurt at the scene, and so far that still seems to be the case — no delayed-reaction whiplash or anything we're aware of. And the good news is that the other driver was determined to be 100% at-fault, so his insurance is covering all the costs of repairing the damage to our vehicle and providing us with a rental car while our Subaru is in the shop. Not great, but not as bad as it might have been.

 

[Christopher]

We’re both fine. Kara was driving; I wasn't in the car. The impact happened at what I'm told was relatively low speed. No one reported being hurt at the scene, and so far that still seems to be the case — no delayed-reaction whiplash or anything we're aware of. And the good news is that the other driver was determined to be 100% at-fault, so his insurance is covering all the costs of repairing the damage to our vehicle and providing us with a rental car while our Subaru is in the shop. Not great, but not as bad as it might have been.

That is good news all around. (Except for the other guy.)

 

[Denise]

We’re both fine. Kara was driving; I wasn't in the car. The impact happened at what I'm told was relatively low speed. No one reported being hurt at the scene, and so far that still seems to be the case — no delayed-reaction whiplash or anything we're aware of. And the good news is that the other driver was determined to be 100% at-fault, so his insurance is covering all the costs of repairing the damage to our vehicle and providing us with a rental car while our Subaru is in the shop. Not great, but not as bad as it might have been.

Thank goodness the other person had insurance. Around here in south Louisiana, it seems like almost every other accident is a hit and run (husband's vehicle was rear-ended in December; driver signaled him to pull over into the car wash, then sped off.

 

[David Mack]

Thank goodness the other person had insurance. Around here in south Louisiana, it seems like almost every other accident is a hit and run (husband's vehicle was rear-ended in December; driver signaled him to pull over into the car wash, then sped off.

I‘m sure there’s a fair bit of that up here in the NYC area. That’s part of why Kara and I made sure our insurance policy has coverage to protect us in case of an incident involving an uninsured driver (or an unwitnessed hit-and-run).

 

[tenmei]

The cover for Ring of Fire is up on Amazon UK if anyone's interested.

 

[starball]

Not to forget a few words about what the novel is about...

 

[The Wormhole]

Here's the blurb for Ring of Fire, courtesy of Canadian Amazon:

A new adventure based on the thrilling Paramount+ TV series Star Trek: Strange New Worlds!

When murder and sabotage imperil the time-sensitive and top-secret mission of a team of civilian scientists, Starfleet deploys Captain Christopher Pike and the Enterprise crew to Kathara Station, a classified research facility located above the accretion disk of a black hole.

Lieutenant Commander Una Chin-Riley soon discovers the station’s director, Valkeya, is hiding secrets—but so is Captain Pike, who many years earlier visited this same black hole on a mission that went tragically wrong, and whose consequences have haunted him ever since.

Caught in the crossfire on the station are Science Officer Spock, Nurse Christine Chapel, and Security Chief La’An Noonien-Singh, whose romantic entanglements old and new threaten to unravel their bonds of friendship.

As enemies converge upon the station, can Valkeya and Pike both atone for the mistakes of their pasts in time to avert a tragedy? With time running out, the survival of Kathara Station, the USS Enterprise, and dozens of innocent lives hinges on their acts of contrition…

 

[Procutus]

Awesome! Looking forward to getting my hands on this in August.

 

[David cgc]

Here's the cover, to save you the Google:

 

[Procutus]

One of the things that intrigued me in the description was about 'romantic entanglements, old and new, threaten to unravel their bonds of friendship'. I wonder if this just pertains to Spock and Chapel, or if this story will further examine La'an's feelings for Lt. Kirk? (assuming this story takes place after Kirk's second-season appearances).

 

[Ronald Held]

Can Mr. Mack reveal the earth date for RoF?