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Star Trek: The Badlands #1
The Badlands, Book One of Two
Located dangerously near the Cardassian border, the unstable region of space known as the Badlands has long been a hazard to interstellar navigation, characterized by violent plasma storms and other even stranger phenomena. Many starships have faced destruction there, including at least two incarnations of the Starship Enterprise...
James T. Kirk braves the perils of the Badlands to confront a Romulan Bird-of-Prey that has entered Federation space in pursuit of a fleeing smuggler. But trespassing Romulans may be the least of Kirk's problems when the mysterious forces at work in the Badlands threaten both his ship and his crew!
A generation later, Jean-Luc Picard faces the same phantom menace when he commands his Enterprise into the Badlands on a mission vital to Federation-Cardassian relations. With Will Riker's life on the line, and the entire ship in jeopardy, it's up to Lieutenant Commander Data to determine the true nature of the Badlands' hidden danger!
James T. Kirk braves the perils of the Badlands to confront a Romulan Bird-of-Prey that has entered Federation space in pursuit of a fleeing smuggler. But trespassing Romulans may be the least of Kirk's problems when the mysterious forces at work in the Badlands threaten both his ship and his crew!
A generation later, Jean-Luc Picard faces the same phantom menace when he commands his Enterprise into the Badlands on a mission vital to Federation-Cardassian relations. With Will Riker's life on the line, and the entire ship in jeopardy, it's up to Lieutenant Commander Data to determine the true nature of the Badlands' hidden danger!
271 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published December 1, 1999
About the author
Susan Wright
37 books98 followersSee also S.L. Wright
Susan Wright is a USA Today Bestselling author of more than two dozen published novels and nonfiction books. She writes Speculative fiction, Fantasy, Science Fiction and Star Trek novels, and has been published by Pocket Books, Penguin Group, and St. Martin’s Press.
Susan Wright is a USA Today Bestselling author of more than two dozen published novels and nonfiction books. She writes Speculative fiction, Fantasy, Science Fiction and Star Trek novels, and has been published by Pocket Books, Penguin Group, and St. Martin’s Press.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
January 30, 2025
Star Trek: The Badlands is the first book of a two-part series featuring two of the four Star Trek television properties: The Original Series (TOS) and The Next Generation (TNG). The first half of Book One involves an attempt at finding a smuggler near the Badlands by the original crew, and the second half relates a tale about the Cardassian Obsidian Order and their interest in Data.
Both stories do a pretty good job of communicating the vastness and majestic beauty of the stellar phenomena transpiring there while using the overarching peril inherent with an unknown space cast along in diametric contrast with a story involving a known enemy. In TOS the enemies are Romulan and the Cardassians for TNG.
The stories may have been better suited in their own four-book miniseries simply because Star Trek shows may be episodic, but they are part of a larger operatic structure. I would have liked more. I have the second book which I fully intend to review a little later this year. I'm pretty certain, I will feel the same about the stories there. Wright did a fine job.
Both stories do a pretty good job of communicating the vastness and majestic beauty of the stellar phenomena transpiring there while using the overarching peril inherent with an unknown space cast along in diametric contrast with a story involving a known enemy. In TOS the enemies are Romulan and the Cardassians for TNG.
The stories may have been better suited in their own four-book miniseries simply because Star Trek shows may be episodic, but they are part of a larger operatic structure. I would have liked more. I have the second book which I fully intend to review a little later this year. I'm pretty certain, I will feel the same about the stories there. Wright did a fine job.
August 27, 2020
An exciting crossover between the original series and The Next Generation. I can't wait to see what happens in the next book!
October 2, 2023
2023 Review 72. Star Trek The Badlands Book 1 by Susan Wright
Page Count : 271
This is a fantastic opening to a 2 book crossover series spanning all 4 of the series that existed at the time this book was published.
The Badlands are a large area of plasma storms which has only been seen in numerous Star Trek Deep Space Nine episodes and the 1st Star Trek Voyager episode, Caretaker.
This book is split into 2 separate stories, the 1st in The Original Series era and the 2nd in The Next Generation era.
The 1st story focuses on the original USS Enterprise NCC-1701 and their assignment to find an information smuggler at coordinates located near the Badlands. The Enterprise's crew are unaware of the plasma storm's existence when they are assigned so of course Mr Spock is naturally "fascinated" by the storm and spends a lot of time studying.
Their mission is complicated by the arrival of a Romulan Bird of Prey soon behind the smuggling ship but disaster strikes and the Romulan ship explodes.
Captain Kirk and his crew have a number of issues to deal with before they can complete their mission.
This story is according to the book set a few months after the series episode The Enterprise Incident in which the Enterprise steals a cloaking device from the Romulans.
The 2nd story focuses on the USS Enterprise NCC-1701-D and is set immediately after the episode "Ensign Ro" which introduces Ro Laren as a bridge officer on the ship.
The Enterprise D has been assigned by Starfleet to investigate the interior of the Badlands using a shuttlecraft and while investigating it, Riker and Data, are intercepted by a Cardassian warship after a strange radiation damages the shuttle's systems.
During their time on the Cardassian ship, Riker becomes ill and upon their return to the Enterprise, he blames the Cardassians for doing something to him and vows to find out what they did.
At the same time, the Cardassians have got two "observers" from the Obsidian Order on the ship while the Enterprise continues its survey of the Badlands sector. The "observers" begin to cause trouble on the ship, but during this the same strange radiation (which damaged the Enterprise's shuttle) returns and injures the crew.
Data manages to come up with a theory about might cause the strange radiation but isn't able to a definate cause to what is doing so but does gather a large amount of information which he supplies to Starfleet to aid future surveys of the area.
This is definitely a book that I will read again in the future and I can't recommend it enough.
This is my 2nd book finished during the #greatspaceread
5*
*****
Page Count : 271
This is a fantastic opening to a 2 book crossover series spanning all 4 of the series that existed at the time this book was published.
The Badlands are a large area of plasma storms which has only been seen in numerous Star Trek Deep Space Nine episodes and the 1st Star Trek Voyager episode, Caretaker.
This book is split into 2 separate stories, the 1st in The Original Series era and the 2nd in The Next Generation era.
The 1st story focuses on the original USS Enterprise NCC-1701 and their assignment to find an information smuggler at coordinates located near the Badlands. The Enterprise's crew are unaware of the plasma storm's existence when they are assigned so of course Mr Spock is naturally "fascinated" by the storm and spends a lot of time studying.
Their mission is complicated by the arrival of a Romulan Bird of Prey soon behind the smuggling ship but disaster strikes and the Romulan ship explodes.
Captain Kirk and his crew have a number of issues to deal with before they can complete their mission.
This story is according to the book set a few months after the series episode The Enterprise Incident in which the Enterprise steals a cloaking device from the Romulans.
The 2nd story focuses on the USS Enterprise NCC-1701-D and is set immediately after the episode "Ensign Ro" which introduces Ro Laren as a bridge officer on the ship.
The Enterprise D has been assigned by Starfleet to investigate the interior of the Badlands using a shuttlecraft and while investigating it, Riker and Data, are intercepted by a Cardassian warship after a strange radiation damages the shuttle's systems.
During their time on the Cardassian ship, Riker becomes ill and upon their return to the Enterprise, he blames the Cardassians for doing something to him and vows to find out what they did.
At the same time, the Cardassians have got two "observers" from the Obsidian Order on the ship while the Enterprise continues its survey of the Badlands sector. The "observers" begin to cause trouble on the ship, but during this the same strange radiation (which damaged the Enterprise's shuttle) returns and injures the crew.
Data manages to come up with a theory about might cause the strange radiation but isn't able to a definate cause to what is doing so but does gather a large amount of information which he supplies to Starfleet to aid future surveys of the area.
This is definitely a book that I will read again in the future and I can't recommend it enough.
This is my 2nd book finished during the #greatspaceread
5*
*****
September 4, 2026
I think I made a mistake here. See, I read the first duology book where they combined several Star Trek series into one super epic FIRST. Keith R.A. DeCandido was able to do so much with so little. He had a villain with a perhaps. A huge cast, a vast epic mystery set over a vast length of time and everyone remaining in character. You can antagonists who might not always be as such... and heroes who might not be in the right.
And at least in book one of this duology... you get none of that. Instead of two crews carrying one story over a vast time scale, you get two separate but somewhat connected with straightforward antagonists, that feel more like 'variations on a theme' rather than a big event that seems worth of a Star Trek crossover. It's made worse by the way Wright wrote Riker. He seemed like a much younger, petulant character. Which does not make sense for a story set in TNG's fifth season. It would barely work for a first season Riker. You know how that kind of behavior would work GREAT for... Tom Paris. It's not like the first story in book two is going to be a Voyager story... Oh... WAIT.
But the worst offense is the time wasted on internal thought processes that was NOT from the character's actual point of view. Show.. not tell. And the narrator supposedly showing us the world from the villains point of view but having them still being judgmental of their own behavior. Sorry... no. Very few people think of themselves as the villain. ESPECIALLY Cardassians.
Oh and Cheesehead Christ, Susan Wright is one to complain in her text about Data stating the obvious (on at least two occasions) in what is a glorified novella. That's like the the collapsed star with a mass above the Roche's Limit calling space black.
Still I plan on finishing Badland because as bad as it is... it is sort of the Plan Nine from Outer Space of Star Trek novels.
And at least in book one of this duology... you get none of that. Instead of two crews carrying one story over a vast time scale, you get two separate but somewhat connected with straightforward antagonists, that feel more like 'variations on a theme' rather than a big event that seems worth of a Star Trek crossover. It's made worse by the way Wright wrote Riker. He seemed like a much younger, petulant character. Which does not make sense for a story set in TNG's fifth season. It would barely work for a first season Riker. You know how that kind of behavior would work GREAT for... Tom Paris. It's not like the first story in book two is going to be a Voyager story... Oh... WAIT.
But the worst offense is the time wasted on internal thought processes that was NOT from the character's actual point of view. Show.. not tell. And the narrator supposedly showing us the world from the villains point of view but having them still being judgmental of their own behavior. Sorry... no. Very few people think of themselves as the villain. ESPECIALLY Cardassians.
Oh and Cheesehead Christ, Susan Wright is one to complain in her text about Data stating the obvious (on at least two occasions) in what is a glorified novella. That's like the the collapsed star with a mass above the Roche's Limit calling space black.
Still I plan on finishing Badland because as bad as it is... it is sort of the Plan Nine from Outer Space of Star Trek novels.
August 25, 2017
One book, two stories. Each one has its own complete plot, but with an interwoven commonality to the two of them in the form of the "Badlands." Those who watched the series Deep Space 9 and Voyager will recognize this place as the home of the Maquis.
First the reader is taken back in the TOS era where Kirk and crew are off to stop a smuggler and recover plans about Romulan weapons. All the trademark TOS stuff is here, and the story is tightly woven with both Romulans and Klingons. But the big mystery here is why are all the crew members getting sick with radiation poisoning? There's no real answer, just the ending of the scenario with the smuggler and a "Let's get out of here."
Next, the TNG Enterprise is off doing some exploring. Target: Badlands. Ensign Ro is here in all her angry glory, which comes out full force when Riker and Data are taken in by a Cardasian ship. Subsequently, two Cardasians come to the Enterprise for a visit, bringing back a sick Commander Riker. Data determines the cause of the sickness once the Enterprise D is hit just like the original one was. The Cardasians are sent back to their ship, and the Enterprise heads off on another mission. One aspect of the mystery of the Badlands has been solved, but only a small fraction of it.
More to come in the second book of the two book series.
First the reader is taken back in the TOS era where Kirk and crew are off to stop a smuggler and recover plans about Romulan weapons. All the trademark TOS stuff is here, and the story is tightly woven with both Romulans and Klingons. But the big mystery here is why are all the crew members getting sick with radiation poisoning? There's no real answer, just the ending of the scenario with the smuggler and a "Let's get out of here."
Next, the TNG Enterprise is off doing some exploring. Target: Badlands. Ensign Ro is here in all her angry glory, which comes out full force when Riker and Data are taken in by a Cardasian ship. Subsequently, two Cardasians come to the Enterprise for a visit, bringing back a sick Commander Riker. Data determines the cause of the sickness once the Enterprise D is hit just like the original one was. The Cardasians are sent back to their ship, and the Enterprise heads off on another mission. One aspect of the mystery of the Badlands has been solved, but only a small fraction of it.
More to come in the second book of the two book series.
April 22, 2020
The late 90's seems to be the pinnacle of bad Trek novels. The premise of this series is interesting in that it arches the four series, but Susan Wright does a rather slipshod job of doing so. Maybe it's because everything feels disjointed, there's no culmination to plots, just a bunch of characters bumbling around as if it's leading into something only to peter out before it gets there.
The first part takes place with TOS crew, with the tensions of Starfleet, Romulan, and Klingon factions posturing over a strange sector of space that is pouring our radiation sickness. Or at least, it should have been. But the Romulans are dealt with early on, and the Klingons are just kind of ... there. So ....
A hundred years later, right after Ensign Ro joins the crew of the Enterprise-D, Riker and Data are taken onboard a Cardassian vessel after their shuttle is disabled while surveying the Badlands sector. The Cardassians stare at Riker having radiation sickness, stare at Data for being an android and then some Cardassians come over to the Enterprise to stare at Data while they survey the sector. And then the ship gets radiation poisoning and there's a brief section where Keiko O'Brien is worried about the radiation effecting her baby.
I'm not expecting this to tie together well in the next half.
The first part takes place with TOS crew, with the tensions of Starfleet, Romulan, and Klingon factions posturing over a strange sector of space that is pouring our radiation sickness. Or at least, it should have been. But the Romulans are dealt with early on, and the Klingons are just kind of ... there. So ....
A hundred years later, right after Ensign Ro joins the crew of the Enterprise-D, Riker and Data are taken onboard a Cardassian vessel after their shuttle is disabled while surveying the Badlands sector. The Cardassians stare at Riker having radiation sickness, stare at Data for being an android and then some Cardassians come over to the Enterprise to stare at Data while they survey the sector. And then the ship gets radiation poisoning and there's a brief section where Keiko O'Brien is worried about the radiation effecting her baby.
I'm not expecting this to tie together well in the next half.
August 25, 2026
This was a bit different as far as Trek novels go... 1st, it was really two novella, one with the Original Crew, and on with the Next Generation. They both end up in the same place for different reasons... and apparently the Badlands is a thing in a few DS9 episodes (the other book has a DS9 story and a Voyager story, not sure how that last one works).
It was a fun compare and contrast with the tech levels, and, unlike most authors, Wright doesn't create her own Ensign or Lieutenant to be the main character that we never see again like many do.. this just feels like a regular episode of each of the two series in turn.
She DID create some fun bad guys, which is the way to go... they don't ever have to show up again to make sense. This is just the sort of interesting, low stakes sort of adventure one needs in between big giant events (which tend to dominate everything these days)
It was a fun compare and contrast with the tech levels, and, unlike most authors, Wright doesn't create her own Ensign or Lieutenant to be the main character that we never see again like many do.. this just feels like a regular episode of each of the two series in turn.
She DID create some fun bad guys, which is the way to go... they don't ever have to show up again to make sense. This is just the sort of interesting, low stakes sort of adventure one needs in between big giant events (which tend to dominate everything these days)
February 18, 2024
Well if I were just rating the Original Series story it would be two stars. That story was bland, boring and went nowhere - literally. Then the author was like, oh I guess the story needs to end now and it did.
The Next Gen story took a while to find its legs and then became a decent story by the end with the author remembering that both of these stories needed to tie together so they did. I am assuming the Cardassian angle gets more explored in the next book but we'll see. Probably when the author remembers to tie the story together at the end of each and they will.
I found the story a bit meandering and the descriptions focusing on what each character was wearing and less on the situation itself kind of... dumb. Being reminded that Data was an android seemed redundant as well. For a pair of stories starting a "suspense-filled saga", I was a little underwhelmed.
The Next Gen story took a while to find its legs and then became a decent story by the end with the author remembering that both of these stories needed to tie together so they did. I am assuming the Cardassian angle gets more explored in the next book but we'll see. Probably when the author remembers to tie the story together at the end of each and they will.
I found the story a bit meandering and the descriptions focusing on what each character was wearing and less on the situation itself kind of... dumb. Being reminded that Data was an android seemed redundant as well. For a pair of stories starting a "suspense-filled saga", I was a little underwhelmed.
November 24, 2022
Two fairly interesting novellas from two different eras of Trek. Susan Wright had an excellent grasp on the TOS characters and a lesser but still good take on the TNG crew. She also gave a real feel for the progress of tech from the 23rd to 24th centuries. However, I really did not feel much empathy for Riker as he gave off ‘crazy admiral’ vibes (despite only being a commander 😉) after his illness hit and became obsessed with blaming the Cardassians and paying them back in kind. However he didn’t go full crazy and was able to reign in the darkness with Data’s help. I found this book almost by accident so not sure if I’ll ever read the concluding novel, but if I ever see it at a reasonable price I’ll snap it up.
June 30, 2023
The book is 23 years old. I found both volumes used. I'm sure there is Star Trek that makes moot this entire story. Susan Wright is fine.
All that said. I don't know what is the point of the first volume? I mean textually its Star Trek babble (treknobabble), I know. But its not THAT interesting a mystery it is just Treknobabble.
I understand technically I am halfway through the story there is a whole other volume to read. But generally speaking halfway through any Star Trek story you understand what the hell its about.
Anyway the story is fine for a Star Trek novel.
I don't note when I start books, so I have no idea how long this took me. I put it down for days.
All that said. I don't know what is the point of the first volume? I mean textually its Star Trek babble (treknobabble), I know. But its not THAT interesting a mystery it is just Treknobabble.
I understand technically I am halfway through the story there is a whole other volume to read. But generally speaking halfway through any Star Trek story you understand what the hell its about.
Anyway the story is fine for a Star Trek novel.
I don't note when I start books, so I have no idea how long this took me. I put it down for days.
February 17, 2022
Ziemlich viele Logiklöcher und auch das 'Politische' drumrum war einfach nur unnötig.
Aber mal ehrlich, wenn man einen Weltraumbereich untersuchen soll, wieso stellt man nicht vorher ein Dossier mit ALLEM Bekannten über den Bereich zusammen? Dann hätte das Meiste des zweiten Teils weggelassen werden können.
Aber mal ehrlich, wenn man einen Weltraumbereich untersuchen soll, wieso stellt man nicht vorher ein Dossier mit ALLEM Bekannten über den Bereich zusammen? Dann hätte das Meiste des zweiten Teils weggelassen werden können.
December 18, 2021
3.5 stars
2 stories based around an area of space known as The Badlands. First story features the original crew and 2nd story features Next Generation, so not really the crossover I was expecting. Both stories OK but didn't really go anywhere.
2 stories based around an area of space known as The Badlands. First story features the original crew and 2nd story features Next Generation, so not really the crossover I was expecting. Both stories OK but didn't really go anywhere.
October 13, 2017
Not bad - we'll see how book 2 finishes the tale.
July 17, 2020
I enjoyed the 2nd half dealing with The Next Gen crew, the Original, first half was fairly dull. Skip to the middle!
July 11, 2021
A fast moving book that is actually two separate short stories about starships Enterprise and the Badlands, involving a mysterious shared experience for each.
August 19, 2021
This was a good read. Both parts were enjoyable. I liked how they tied together.
February 24, 2024
Two good Star Trek stories, one from the Original Series era, the other from the Next Gen era. But be aware that since this is Book One of Two, all your questions will not be resolved!
July 6, 2024
Surprisingly easy to get through, though perhaps not quite as eventful as one might expect. I think I preferred the TOS half over the TNG half.
April 7, 2025
Mediocre. Hoping that book 2 brings the story to a satisfying conclusion.
January 24, 2014
I used to read a lot of Star Trek novels when I was a kid, but I hadn't picked one up in a long time until somebody gave me a small stack of them they'd uncovered while moving into a new place.
I'm probably a lot less critical of these books than I would be others because I have such a soft spot for anything to do with the Trek franchise. This one isn't very weighty, and really it's just two novellas--one from the TOS era and one from TNG--that have no real link other than they're both set in the Badlands, that remote, plasma-storm infested area of space familiar to DS9 fans. Still, it was a fun read and any chance to spend a little time on the Enterprise, especially with the TNG crew, is welcome.
Book 2 of this series should be interesting, as it encompasses both DS9 and Voyager.
I'm probably a lot less critical of these books than I would be others because I have such a soft spot for anything to do with the Trek franchise. This one isn't very weighty, and really it's just two novellas--one from the TOS era and one from TNG--that have no real link other than they're both set in the Badlands, that remote, plasma-storm infested area of space familiar to DS9 fans. Still, it was a fun read and any chance to spend a little time on the Enterprise, especially with the TNG crew, is welcome.
Book 2 of this series should be interesting, as it encompasses both DS9 and Voyager.
November 14, 2012
Although not especially deep or thought-provoking (even for a Star Trek novel), I enjoyed this one. Two novellas, the first set in Captain Kirk's era, the second in Captain Picard's, each involving an adventure in the Badlands, a mysterious and unstable region in space noted for its plasma storms.
I really liked revisiting a few favorite races of mine. Kirk must uncover the truth behind the destruction of a Romulan ship and a female Romulan smuggler. Picard has to deal with the Cardassians and their fantastically complex internal politics (including the Obsidian Order!)
Good stuff. Looking forward to the second book in the duology, which delves into Voyager and DS9.
I really liked revisiting a few favorite races of mine. Kirk must uncover the truth behind the destruction of a Romulan ship and a female Romulan smuggler. Picard has to deal with the Cardassians and their fantastically complex internal politics (including the Obsidian Order!)
Good stuff. Looking forward to the second book in the duology, which delves into Voyager and DS9.
July 2, 2015
The Enterprise is sent to intercept some secret plans near the badlands. Something goes wrong and people become ill. Years later, another Enterprise is mapping the badlands and gets caught up with Cardassians, who want Data. Two interesting little stories, the 2nd one gripped me more than the 1st one. There was just something not quite geling with the first one, cant quite put my finger on it. A good read.
February 5, 2011
A potential fascinating set of stories, exploring the early days of the dangerous plasma phenomenon that was first introduced in the Star Trek-Voyager pilot episode. Unfortunately, these two stories are FAR from fascinating...they're actually very tame and slightly disappointing. Only Susan Wright's solid writing style keeps things moving. Will volume 2 be any better...?
July 25, 2011
This was a frustrating read for me, containing good writing but an unimportant and meaningless plot that got nowhere.
Compensating for the lack of plot there was the fact that Ro has always been one of my favorite characters and she has a prominent role in the second part of the book, which pretty much saves the day.
Compensating for the lack of plot there was the fact that Ro has always been one of my favorite characters and she has a prominent role in the second part of the book, which pretty much saves the day.
Read
June 22, 2020A series-spanning 4-part story about The Badlands seems like a good idea, especially since it's referenced as such a navigational and scientific menace in DS9 and Voyager. However, it simply seems odd to create a bit of backstory on the phenomenon that ties in TOS and TNG. The stories are fine enough, even if the TOS part feels very incomplete.
May 7, 2013
Breezed through this one in about an hour, maybe 90 minutes. All I can say is this: I really missed an opportunity to be a craptacular Trek novelist too.
May 9, 2015
2000 grade B
Series book BD1
Multi-genre Trek
Series book BD1
Multi-genre Trek
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews