For fans who haven't quite gotten into the swing of the pre-Kirk era of Captain Archer's Enterprise, the only place where the Star Trek universe they've known and loved for years exists is on the pages of Simon & Schuster's Star Trek books. In the last few years there have been great books that stack up well against any of the finest episodes and movies, such as the "Eugenics Wars" novels by Greg Cox, the Martok novels by J.G. Hertzler and Jeffrey Lang, and now the "Lost Era" series.

Filling in the gaps in Star Trek history between The Original Series and The Next Generation, the "Lost Era" novels feature familiar characters and depict historical situations referenced in later years. "Serpents Among the Ruins" by David R. George III is the second novel in the series (each novel stands alone, so while they're all worth reading, you don't have to read them in order), and features the U.S.S. Enterprise-B, captained by John Harriman.

The novel depicts the events and history surrounding the Tomed Incident, referred to in the TNG episode "The Neutral Zone," as the reason that the Romulans broke off all contact with the Federation for decades.

Aside from nicely depicting the Star Trek universe of 2311, 18 years after the presumed death of Captain Kirk (see "Star Trek Generations"), the novel is a page-turning, delightful read for die-hard fans and dabblers alike. The inclusion of characters like Demora Sulu and Klingon Chancelor Azetbur will please continuity buffs; the history that takes place in this era is every bit as fascinating and rich as anything in TOS or TNG.

For fans pining for the "good old days" of Star Trek, "Serpents Among the Ruins" is a great addition to the Trek mythology.

[Paul]