Blog Prompt #13 – What’s Star Trek?

Blog Prompt #13 – What’s Star Trek? To go along with this month’s AOS selection, here are some questions to chew on, since so many people feel that the JJ Abrams universe somehow is not Star Trek. What does it mean to you when a story is described as being Star Trek? What are the characteristics? Is there a bright line between Trek and not-Trek? Bonus questions! What are some of your favorite explorations of AOS on Ad Astra? How do you think these stories would change if they took place in TOS or one of the other series? We got responses! False Bill said, It’s Trek but not as we know it jespah asked, What’s Star Trek? You are always welcome to join us on the forums! Be sure to check out the Archive! Welcome! Since its founding in early 2009, the Ad...

Boldly Reading Book Club #4 – Indiscriminate Dust

Boldly Reading Book Club #4 – Indiscriminate Dust Our next Boldly Reading Book Club selection is Niobium’s Indiscriminate Dust . The story is rated K+. Introducing Indiscriminate Dust It’s after Star Trek: Into Darkness, and the Alternate TOS crew is on its mission of exploration. The landing party is on an unnamed planet. There are numerous ruins, of dubious structural integrity. Spock, as in both TOS and AOS, finds himself holding Captain Kirk back a little, from just jumping in. But at least, this time, Kirk holds himself back. And then he and Uhura find a second location, which is more structurally stable. Looking inside, though, they find something else. Whoa. Let’s back up a second. The planet is deserted, seemingly utterly bereft of intelligent life....

Blog Prompt #12 – Writing Canon Species

Blog Prompt #12 – Writing Canon Species One of the most recognizable aspects of Star Trek is the proliferation of canon alien species. In the United States, Canada, Australia, England, Germany and France in particular, and probably in a lot of other parts of the world, you’d be hard-pressed to find an adult who had never, ever heard of a Vulcan. Most people can probably even provide tidbits like the “live long and prosper” wish, or even perform the salute. Star Trek, in particular the Original Series, is recognizable around the world, and one of the reasons is the indelible canon alien species. Klingons are almost as well-known, although their devotion to honor is more of a TNG bit of canon and, as such, isn’t quite as well-known globally....

Blog Prompt #11 – To AU, or not to AU?

Blog Prompt #11 – To AU, or not to AU? This week’s prompt comes to us from SL Walker, who writes – To AU or not to AU, that is the question! Do you like writing alternate universes? Branching your characters off and seeing where a different path goes? Where do you start, and how do you go about it? We’ve got responses! FalseBill replied with #11 – To AU, or not to AU trekfan offers To AU or not to AU Templar Sora’s contribution is Alts jespah’s answer is Alternate Universes You are always welcome to join us on the forums! Be sure to check out the Archive! Welcome! Since its founding in early 2009, the Ad Astra Star Trek Fanfiction Archive strives to bring you quality fanfics without any of the headaches. Our community of authors...

Boldly Reading Book Club #3 – ST Restoration Volume I – Redemption

Boldly Reading Book Club #3 – ST Restoration Volume I – Redemption Our next Boldly Reading Book Club selection is Captain Sarine’s ST Restoration Volume I – Redemption. The story is rated T. Introducing Redemption It is 10 years since the end of the Dominion Occupation. The Alpha and Beta Quadrants are fractured, the powers of the former centuries broken and seemingly powerless. The United Federation of Planets has been destroyed, replaced by a much more fragile Federation of Allied Worlds. Yesterday’s friends have become today’s enemies, while yesterday’s enemies may yet become today’s friends. Launched into this volatile new order, the USS Redemption is the flagship of a new age. Captained by a half-human, half-Romulan former freedom fighter, the...

Blog Prompt #10 – Character Sexuality/Relationship Mixes

Blog Prompt #10 – Character Sexuality/Relationship Mixes We see it all the time. Boy meets girl. Boy loses girl. Etc. etc. etc. Lather, rinse, repeat. But that’s not what always happens in real life. Sometimes, boy meets boy. Or girl meets girl. Or someone wants to change genders. Or someone is attracted to more than one gender. Plus, in canon, there are relationships that cross species lines, and there are marriages that are between more than two individuals. IDIC According to a 2011 Williams Institute study, about 3.5% of the United States identifies as gay, lesbian or bisexual. If the percentage holds true, then the NX-01, which had 83 crew members, would have had three gay, lesbian or bisexual persons on board. The Enterprise-E, a Sovereign class, which...

Book Club Choice #2 Author Q&A

Book Club Choice #2 Author Q & A Once again, we find ourselves sitting in a book-lined library, a crackling fire nearby (none of the books are on fire), a tray of lovely canapés nearby. I am sitting here with Michael Garcia and we’re here to talk about Agamemnon. Q: Why an Expanded Universe? How does this story fit in with your own plans for your universe? Is this a corner, or more of a cornerstone?   A: I think in order to answer that, I have to talk a little bit about why I wrote Agamemnon in the first place. Just prior to writing The Quarterdeck Breed, I had finished writing The Misadventures of January McKenna, which was an alternate universe novella about a young ensign starting her career right as the entire universe is yanked out from under...