When Gene Roddenberry decided to set Star Trek: The Next Generation in the 24th Century, long after the Original Series, it left some pretty big gaps in Star Trek history, gaps which are now being ably and delightfully filled by Simon and Schuster's Lost Era series of novels.

"The Sundered" by Michael A. Martin and Andy Mangels gave us a tale of Captain Sulu's Excelsior, "Serpents Among the Ruins" by David George III detailed the Tomed Incident which resulted in decades of Romulan isolationism and now "The Art of the Impossible: The Lost Era 2328-2346" by Keith R.A. DeCandido explores 18 years of political intrigue and maneuvering amongst the Klingons, Cardassians, Federation and Romulans.

With "The Art of the Impossible," Simon and Schuster is so far three-for-three with the Lost Era series in terms of generating the kind of Star Trek excitement both new and old fans are craving. Featuring characters such as Colonel Worf ("Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country") and Curzon Dax (Jadzia's predecessor as the Dax Trill host), "The Art of the Impossible" is a solid and engaging read. DeCandido manages to pull off the trick of writing a novel that will satisfy the Star Trek purists and continuity junkies out there but would also appeal to readers who can't rattle off the names and dates of Star Trek history.

The book's not only a page-turning, exciting adventure, but it fits in with Star Trek continuity and broadens the scope of the science-fiction franchise much the same way the great episodes do. I found myself reminded of the Klingon Civil War of TNG and the best moments of the Dominion War on DS9. If you liked those episodes, then "The Art of the Impossible" should be at the top of your reading list.

[Paul]