| Cover image. | |
| Author: | David Gerrold |
| Publisher: | Pocket Books |
| Series: | Pocket TNG |
| Published: | October 1987 |
| Pages: | 192 |
| Year: | 2364 |
| Stardate: | 41150.7 |
| Reference #: | ISBN 0671652419 |
The extraordinary novel based on the television episode.
Summary
- From the book jacket
- Captain's log, stardate 41254.7. The USS Enterprise is en route to Cygnus IV -- the edge of the known galaxy. There, we will rendezvous with the ship's new first officer and the other command personnel and proceed with our mission: discover the truth about Farpoint Station, a starbase facility built by the inhabitants of Cygnus IV, a starbase of unparalleled size and complexity... and infinite mystery.
- And the success or failure of this, our first mission together, may well determine the course of human exploration across the galaxy for centuries to come...
- Excerpts of copyrighted sources are included for review purposes only, without any intention of infringement.
Background
This novelization of the episode "Encounter at Farpoint" was written by TNG production staff contributor David Gerrold, although some of the concepts and backstory he introduced in the book were later contradicted by episodes made after his departure from the series. The story was based on the script by D.C. Fontana and Gene Roddenberry (who also created the series).
Characters
- Jean-Luc Picard
- Starfleet captain. Picard's age is given as 55 in this book although later canon dates suggest he is more like 59 or so.
- William Riker
- Starfleet commander from USS Hood, newly assigned as Enterprise-D first officer. Riker spent three years as second officer of USS Yorktown before spending two years as first officer of USS Hood. In one scene, Riker tells Wesley to call him "Bill". This is one of two novels where Riker is called Bill, the other is "Ghost Ship".
- Data
- Android Starfleet lieutenant commander. Data had previously served on three other starships, and each of his promotions had come with commendations from his commanding officers.
- Beverly Crusher
- Starfleet commander, CMO of Enteprrise.
- Deanna Troi
- Tasha Yar
- Worf
- Geordi La Forge
- Wesley Crusher
- Q
- Leonard H. McCoy
- Admiral.
- Torres (Lieutenant)
- Miles O'Brien
- O'Brien's part was only referred to as "conn" in the book and episode.
- Zorn
- The Mandarin bailiff (illusory humans)
- Robert DeSoto
- Mark Hughes
- Starfleet ensign.
- Ismail Asenzi
- Assistant CMO on Enterprise. Dr. Asenzi took Torres to sickbay.
- Hidalgo
- Starfleet admiral.
- Joanna McCoy
- Joanna also appeared in the novel "Crisis on Centaurus".
- Barton
- Starfleet commander to whom La Forge and Hughes report. Riker's order for La Forge to join the away team superceded Barton's orders. It wasn't specified if Barton was a lieutenant commander, but it is a possibility.
- Celeste
- Close personal acquaintance of Jean-Luc Picard who had perished an uncertain amount of time prior to taking command. Picard recalled it had been the last time he had seriously thought of romantic relationships.
- James T. Kirk
- 23rd century Starfleet rear admiral who had begun the tradition of newly-assigned commanding officers boarding ships named Enterprise by shuttlecraft. Picard mused that many didn't remember that the tradition had been started because of a major transporter malfunction at the time.
Commander Reasons
Dr Asenzi
Blake
References
| First in series | Novels Pocket TNG |
Next novelization: Unification |
| Next novel: Ghost Ship |