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Star Trek: The Original Series
[ { BURNING DREAMS (STAR TREK: THE ORIGINAL) [ BURNING DREAMS (STAR TREK: THE ORIGINAL) ] BY BONANNO, MARGARET WANDER ( AUTHOR )JUL-13-2010 PAPERBACK } ] by Bonanno, Margaret Wander (AUTHOR) Jul-13-2010 [ Paperback ]
A Star Original Series adventure!Before James T. Kirk, another captain stood on the bridge of the U.S.S. Enterprise , spearheading its mission of exploration into the uncharted reaches of the galaxy. He was a man driven to perfection, a brooding soul whose haunted eyes reflected the burden of the impossible standards he set for himself, and for whom his longtime science officer, Spock, one day would risk everything. Yet, little is truly known about the enigmatic Christopher Pike, the events that defined him...or the secrets that consumed him. From the embers of his early childhood among Earth's blossoming interstellar colonies, to the terrifying conflagration that led him back to the world of his birth; from the mentor who would ignite young Chris's desire to return to the stars, to the career he blazed in Starfleet that would end in supreme sacrifice—the path of Pike's astonishing life leads through fire again and again. But even amid the ashes of Talos IV, the forbidden world on which he would live out the remainder of his days, the dreams smoldering still within his aging, radiation-ravaged breast fan the flames of Pike's spirit to accomplish one final task...
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First published August 1, 2006
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About the author
Margaret Wander Bonanno
35 books46 followersMargaret Wander Bonanno was an American science fiction writer, ghost writer and small press publisher. She was born in New York City. She wrote seven Star Trek novels, several science fiction novels set in her own worlds, including The Others, a collaborative novel with Nichelle Nichols, a biography, and other works.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
June 3, 2022
fills in so many blanks
This is so great. Pike has intrigued us since any Trek fan first saw the menagerie. It is a fitting coda and exploration of his life and many missions . Strange New Worlds fans will adore this novel, and dare I say all of the Pike novels and comic books.
This is so great. Pike has intrigued us since any Trek fan first saw the menagerie. It is a fitting coda and exploration of his life and many missions . Strange New Worlds fans will adore this novel, and dare I say all of the Pike novels and comic books.
June 29, 2019
A touching novel that explores the life of Christopher Pike with a depth not achieved by any other work featuring this character. While some parts seem a bit on the melodramatic side of things, for the most part, Burning Dreams is a wonderfully written biography of what has become one of my favorite characters in Trek. It doesn't completely mesh with what we've come to know as canon with Pike's portrayal in Discovery, but that doesn't make it any less worth reading. Bonanno does an excellent job bringing this character to life from just one prior appearance in canon. Definitely recommended!
Full review: https://www.treklit.com/2019/06/burni...
Full review: https://www.treklit.com/2019/06/burni...
February 19, 2021
A telepathic request to return to Talos IV causes Ambassador Spock to once more risk everything for his former Captain, Christopher Pike.
Bonanno's 'Burning Dreams' serves as a biography of the enigmatic Captain Pike, with some nice references to his past literary adventures.
Bonanno's 'Burning Dreams' serves as a biography of the enigmatic Captain Pike, with some nice references to his past literary adventures.
September 1, 2022
Oh my! I’m in the middle of writing two other book reviews but I can’t ignore a personal-take on this book. I just can’t. Ms. Wander Bonanno has succeeded in giving the legendary Captain Christopher Pike an epic tale, one that easily rivals, and in many ways surpasses the one(s) better known to Trekkies; those tales of course being Captains Kirk and Picard.
For many years Star Trek pretty much ignored Pike. It’s anyone’s guess as to why. Maybe people thought more diverse avenues needed further exploration so we had Captain Benjamin Sisko and Captain Kathryn Janeway. We even had identity-bending, early trans-exploration with Jadzia Dax and more recently, we had the somewhat tragic love of Paul Stamets and Dr. Culber.
Any expanded storylines about a white, straight man just seemed passé by comparison. That’s not to discount any of the diverse viewpoints. They too have value, but to ignore Pike was also a grave oversight.
Without Pike, there would not have been a Kirk. No Kirk also means no Sisko, Janeway, Dax, Seven-of-Nine etc.
So finally Pocket Books commissioned Ms. Bonanno to fill in some of the blanks. And here I have to point out that this book’s publication predates the recent Strange New Worlds series by nearly 18 years. I thought it best to make this clear in case some readers come to this book with the Anson Mount portrayal and plotting in mind.
Bonanno essentially begins “at the end.” As long-established in Trek canon, Pike is permanently disabled (as in Quadriplegic-level injury) during a training expedition with new Starfleet cadets. He is exposed to lethal levels of gamma radiation while rescuing and saving the lives of several of his cadets. In the original TV series episodes The Menagerie, Spock kidnaps Pike and commandeers the Enterprise to bring his former Captain to Talos IV, where 13 years earlier, Pike had been held captive by the Talosians in an attempt to pair him with a human woman named Vina. (Vina was severely injured when the spacecraft she was on, along with a group of scientists, crashed on Talos IV).
The book opens after events shown in The Menagerie, with Pike and Vina being reunited and able to live out a fuller life together with the aid of powerful illusions created by the Talosians. The first several pages are filled with details about Pike’s first reactions to “being whole” again, spending time with Vina and the two learning to love each other.
Then the novel takes a turn into new territory, recounting in detail Pike’s formative years as a boy in Mojave with a single mother and then a major adjustment when she marries a prominent scientist, Heston Prescott. Whether this was intentional on Bonanno’s part or not, “Heston” has the swagger and annoying bravado of classic Hollywood actor Charlton Heston. The only thing he lacks is a membership in the NRA and overt “pro-gun” slogans.
Although at first Heston seems to be kindly toward young Chris, the courtesy and warmth don’t last long — particularly when Heston’s plans to stabilize parts of their new colony planet’s tectonic plates goes from bad to worse. He becomes physically and verbally abusive to Chris, forces him to help out in dangerous situations, and sets up events that ultimately lead to the death of Chris’s mother in a house fire. Young Chris burns his hands in a futile but desperate attempt to save his mother. In addition, nearly all of the horses and livestock the family brought to the colony to aid with future food production and environmental aid also perish — except a gangly little colt named Tango that Star Trek fans will remember as Pike’s “vision horse” in the country picnic scene in the unaired pilot from 1965.
This event understandably marks Chris for life in a psychological manner. Even when his new adoptive father, Charlie (one of the former “hands” on the family ranch) assures Chris it was not his fault, it remains a painful wound. It also seems to be part of the origin for why Adult Pike as a Captain is so hard on himself and almost obsessive in his pursuit to make sure all goes according to plan. Bonanno cites a particular famous quote uttered by Doctor Boyce in the pilot episode, where he tells Pike: “ Chris, you set standards for yourself no one could meet. You treat everyone on board like a human being except yourself.”
Part of Pike’s drive may also stem from his stepfather’s cruel criticisms — about being lazy, a know-it-all etc. Adult Chris can’t sit still for any length of time, almost as if he still seems to think he must put in quadruple the effort to prove the accusations incorrect.
Bonanno then takes us along for a recounting of Chris’s early career in Starfleet. We see him reluctantly but firmly stage a mutiny against one of his first commanding officers, a corrupt and thuggish Captain Kamnach who almost begins a war with a newly encountered alien race. Although Pike is not censured during the Court Martial, nor his career ruined, he is unable to pursue a budding romantic relationship with a Communications officer, Hana Flowers. She tells him it’s because she could never forgive herself for not siding with him during the mutiny.
Failed romance or failed love is a recurring theme throughout Pike’s story. His proposal of marriage to a beautiful alien diplomat is even turned down just two weeks before his fateful encounter on the training ship.
If Bonanno’s narrative has any flaws, it’s the narrow focus on Vina as “the one and only.” I say this only because it forces Bonanno to malign other women characters that Pike works with or shows interest in. Cases in point include not just the aforementioned Hana, but also Yeoman Colt and Number One (both from the original pilot episode). Number One, in particular, gets an undeserved “bad rap.” She is highly intelligent, and there’s nothing wrong with that. In the pilot, she actually pulls off a great trick on the Talosians by arming a phased to self-destruct if they don’t release Pike.
In Bonanno’s book, she’s reduced to “the computer” stereotype that Vina labels her with in the pilot episode. I thought this was egregious. Of course the plot must end with Pike and Vina, but don’t trash Number One! Maybe another reason she and Pike couldn’t be a match was the potential minefields involved in a romantic liaison between a commanding officer and a subordinate? After all, this is really why Picard and Dr. Crusher never form an attachment, at least in part.
Her treatment of Yeoman Colt is even worse, at one point characterizing her as “seeming to live in a constant hormonal haze.” Ridiculous. She is sent to fill the post left by another crew member killed on a previous mission. Starfleet is very military. There is no way they would put her in such a position if she were too immature and unable to maintain a level of professionalism on the bridge.
Aside from being unfair mostly to Colt and Number One, the rest of the novel is great. Bonanno sets up Pike’s self-sacrificing quality very well, not just with his attempt to save his mother from a fire but also during a First-Contact mission where he ends up being taken prisoner by a reptilian-like race.
The ending? Perhaps just as bittersweet as The Menagerie but this time Pike and Vina, their dreams and life experiences lead to the revitalization of Talosians society itself. How many can claim that as a legacy?
For many years Star Trek pretty much ignored Pike. It’s anyone’s guess as to why. Maybe people thought more diverse avenues needed further exploration so we had Captain Benjamin Sisko and Captain Kathryn Janeway. We even had identity-bending, early trans-exploration with Jadzia Dax and more recently, we had the somewhat tragic love of Paul Stamets and Dr. Culber.
Any expanded storylines about a white, straight man just seemed passé by comparison. That’s not to discount any of the diverse viewpoints. They too have value, but to ignore Pike was also a grave oversight.
Without Pike, there would not have been a Kirk. No Kirk also means no Sisko, Janeway, Dax, Seven-of-Nine etc.
So finally Pocket Books commissioned Ms. Bonanno to fill in some of the blanks. And here I have to point out that this book’s publication predates the recent Strange New Worlds series by nearly 18 years. I thought it best to make this clear in case some readers come to this book with the Anson Mount portrayal and plotting in mind.
Bonanno essentially begins “at the end.” As long-established in Trek canon, Pike is permanently disabled (as in Quadriplegic-level injury) during a training expedition with new Starfleet cadets. He is exposed to lethal levels of gamma radiation while rescuing and saving the lives of several of his cadets. In the original TV series episodes The Menagerie, Spock kidnaps Pike and commandeers the Enterprise to bring his former Captain to Talos IV, where 13 years earlier, Pike had been held captive by the Talosians in an attempt to pair him with a human woman named Vina. (Vina was severely injured when the spacecraft she was on, along with a group of scientists, crashed on Talos IV).
The book opens after events shown in The Menagerie, with Pike and Vina being reunited and able to live out a fuller life together with the aid of powerful illusions created by the Talosians. The first several pages are filled with details about Pike’s first reactions to “being whole” again, spending time with Vina and the two learning to love each other.
Then the novel takes a turn into new territory, recounting in detail Pike’s formative years as a boy in Mojave with a single mother and then a major adjustment when she marries a prominent scientist, Heston Prescott. Whether this was intentional on Bonanno’s part or not, “Heston” has the swagger and annoying bravado of classic Hollywood actor Charlton Heston. The only thing he lacks is a membership in the NRA and overt “pro-gun” slogans.
Although at first Heston seems to be kindly toward young Chris, the courtesy and warmth don’t last long — particularly when Heston’s plans to stabilize parts of their new colony planet’s tectonic plates goes from bad to worse. He becomes physically and verbally abusive to Chris, forces him to help out in dangerous situations, and sets up events that ultimately lead to the death of Chris’s mother in a house fire. Young Chris burns his hands in a futile but desperate attempt to save his mother. In addition, nearly all of the horses and livestock the family brought to the colony to aid with future food production and environmental aid also perish — except a gangly little colt named Tango that Star Trek fans will remember as Pike’s “vision horse” in the country picnic scene in the unaired pilot from 1965.
This event understandably marks Chris for life in a psychological manner. Even when his new adoptive father, Charlie (one of the former “hands” on the family ranch) assures Chris it was not his fault, it remains a painful wound. It also seems to be part of the origin for why Adult Pike as a Captain is so hard on himself and almost obsessive in his pursuit to make sure all goes according to plan. Bonanno cites a particular famous quote uttered by Doctor Boyce in the pilot episode, where he tells Pike: “ Chris, you set standards for yourself no one could meet. You treat everyone on board like a human being except yourself.”
Part of Pike’s drive may also stem from his stepfather’s cruel criticisms — about being lazy, a know-it-all etc. Adult Chris can’t sit still for any length of time, almost as if he still seems to think he must put in quadruple the effort to prove the accusations incorrect.
Bonanno then takes us along for a recounting of Chris’s early career in Starfleet. We see him reluctantly but firmly stage a mutiny against one of his first commanding officers, a corrupt and thuggish Captain Kamnach who almost begins a war with a newly encountered alien race. Although Pike is not censured during the Court Martial, nor his career ruined, he is unable to pursue a budding romantic relationship with a Communications officer, Hana Flowers. She tells him it’s because she could never forgive herself for not siding with him during the mutiny.
Failed romance or failed love is a recurring theme throughout Pike’s story. His proposal of marriage to a beautiful alien diplomat is even turned down just two weeks before his fateful encounter on the training ship.
If Bonanno’s narrative has any flaws, it’s the narrow focus on Vina as “the one and only.” I say this only because it forces Bonanno to malign other women characters that Pike works with or shows interest in. Cases in point include not just the aforementioned Hana, but also Yeoman Colt and Number One (both from the original pilot episode). Number One, in particular, gets an undeserved “bad rap.” She is highly intelligent, and there’s nothing wrong with that. In the pilot, she actually pulls off a great trick on the Talosians by arming a phased to self-destruct if they don’t release Pike.
In Bonanno’s book, she’s reduced to “the computer” stereotype that Vina labels her with in the pilot episode. I thought this was egregious. Of course the plot must end with Pike and Vina, but don’t trash Number One! Maybe another reason she and Pike couldn’t be a match was the potential minefields involved in a romantic liaison between a commanding officer and a subordinate? After all, this is really why Picard and Dr. Crusher never form an attachment, at least in part.
Her treatment of Yeoman Colt is even worse, at one point characterizing her as “seeming to live in a constant hormonal haze.” Ridiculous. She is sent to fill the post left by another crew member killed on a previous mission. Starfleet is very military. There is no way they would put her in such a position if she were too immature and unable to maintain a level of professionalism on the bridge.
Aside from being unfair mostly to Colt and Number One, the rest of the novel is great. Bonanno sets up Pike’s self-sacrificing quality very well, not just with his attempt to save his mother from a fire but also during a First-Contact mission where he ends up being taken prisoner by a reptilian-like race.
The ending? Perhaps just as bittersweet as The Menagerie but this time Pike and Vina, their dreams and life experiences lead to the revitalization of Talosians society itself. How many can claim that as a legacy?
February 17, 2013
Although I enjoyed getting to know the previous captain of the Starship Enterprise a bit better, some aspects fell a bit flat. The author makes a point of drawing a contrast between Pine and Kirk, yet they struck me as more similar than dissimilar: young men heavy with the burden of command, quick to action, with a love for women and horses. I suspect when Roddenberry's first pilot was canned, he recast the role but didn't rewrite the character description — hence the similarities.
The story also bounced around across multiple time periods. Originally the story is framed as a flashback of Pine's life as he relates it to Vina, shortly upon Spock returning him to Talos IV. But this device is eventually dropped, and we never see present-day Pine again — what happened to him? Even within a single chapter, it wasn't unusual to start with the end of that vignette then back up to how Pine got there — and then end with a tease of what the implications would be years later. It struck me as an inconsistent narrative.
Overall, it was a fun, pulpy action book, but not one that did much to expand my awareness or appreciation of the Star Trek universe.
The story also bounced around across multiple time periods. Originally the story is framed as a flashback of Pine's life as he relates it to Vina, shortly upon Spock returning him to Talos IV. But this device is eventually dropped, and we never see present-day Pine again — what happened to him? Even within a single chapter, it wasn't unusual to start with the end of that vignette then back up to how Pine got there — and then end with a tease of what the implications would be years later. It struck me as an inconsistent narrative.
Overall, it was a fun, pulpy action book, but not one that did much to expand my awareness or appreciation of the Star Trek universe.
December 7, 2007
Very disappointing read. It seems as though the author was playing it very safe with the material to not break with the established Trek continuity. A a result, we learn absolutely nothing about Christopher Pike. What little detail there is seems to be extremely drawn out speculation based on what we've already seen in "The Menagerie/The Cage".
I understand the need to stay true to the Star Trek mythos, but sometimes you need to take chances and add to the universe. I learned nothing about one of the potentially most interesting characters in Star Trek.
I understand the need to stay true to the Star Trek mythos, but sometimes you need to take chances and add to the universe. I learned nothing about one of the potentially most interesting characters in Star Trek.
April 13, 2012
I have read a fair amount of ST:TOS fiction and this book gave an interesting insight into Christopher Pike.
Although there is a lot of content there, I did not feel it kept my enthusiam throughout the novel. I enjoyed knowing more of the back story leading up to the events at Talos IV, but there did not seem to be enough 'action' like in some of the good Trek novels I've read.
That is why I rated this as 'ok'.
Definitely worth the read for people interested in other characters beside the original crew.
Although there is a lot of content there, I did not feel it kept my enthusiam throughout the novel. I enjoyed knowing more of the back story leading up to the events at Talos IV, but there did not seem to be enough 'action' like in some of the good Trek novels I've read.
That is why I rated this as 'ok'.
Definitely worth the read for people interested in other characters beside the original crew.
May 29, 2017
Completely apocryphal but extremely well done. As far as I'm concerned, this is the canon of Captain Christopher Pike's life.
May 30, 2024
The "Who is Christopher Pike" book. Full disclosure: possible rating inflation owing to the sheer awesomeness that is Strange New Worlds and the way Anson 'The Silver Fox' Mount dominates my appreciation of the character. Longer review to follow.
Longer review for those whose attention spans have not been destroyed:
Decades ago, then-Commander Spock risked a court martial to bring his former captain, Christopher Pike, to Talos IV, in hopes that it would allow Pike to escape his body, so ruined by delta radiation. Now Spock is returning, called to Talos for reasons unknown beyond his loyalty to Pike. In Burning Dreams, Margaret Bonanno offers readers a chance to get to know the man who inspired so much loyalty and devotion from Spock and others. We meet him as a young lad on a frontier planet, grooming horses on a volcano-based homestead, and follow him through adversity and tragedy -- growing through his pain to become Starfleet's finest. Although I was predisposed to like this because Anson Mount's performance of Pike has thoroughly impressed me, Bonanno's ending added a wonderful final flourish that does real justice to the character of Pike as a whole. Although this was written a decade before Strange New Worlds was created around Anson Mount's masterful interpretation of Pike, SNW fans as well as classic Trek fans will find it a great read, as it establishes certain aspects of his background later used by other authors, and creates a version of Pike quite consistent with SNW's character.
Most of the story is framed in Pike & Vina's growing relationship upon his original return to Talos IV: now, he is a guest rather than a captive, and the two humans -- both suffering from ruined bodies, both freed from them by the Talosians' telepathic abilities -- can now begin to get to know one another, no longer distracted by Pike's need to find a way to escape the Talosians' cage. They both begin sharing their pasts, though in this narrative we're mostly hearing from Pike. We learn that his mother was an architect and his stepfather a geoengineer, making a home for themselves near the base of a volcano. Theirs was a frontier world, a colony world, peopled by a mix of Federation normies as well as neo-Luddites. One character, a horse groomer, proves to be a vital character in Pike's life after disaster befalls-- and it is he who puts Pike on the path to Starfleet. From here, we witness Pike's growth as a young officer, standing fast on principle and growing in the estimation and affection of his peers. One of the longer section involves Pike being surprised and captured by some reptilian aliens, which cements Spock's affection for him. Although my estimation of this book is partially inflated because of how much I've grown to like Pike, this was a solid story and the ending was superb.
Longer review for those whose attention spans have not been destroyed:
Decades ago, then-Commander Spock risked a court martial to bring his former captain, Christopher Pike, to Talos IV, in hopes that it would allow Pike to escape his body, so ruined by delta radiation. Now Spock is returning, called to Talos for reasons unknown beyond his loyalty to Pike. In Burning Dreams, Margaret Bonanno offers readers a chance to get to know the man who inspired so much loyalty and devotion from Spock and others. We meet him as a young lad on a frontier planet, grooming horses on a volcano-based homestead, and follow him through adversity and tragedy -- growing through his pain to become Starfleet's finest. Although I was predisposed to like this because Anson Mount's performance of Pike has thoroughly impressed me, Bonanno's ending added a wonderful final flourish that does real justice to the character of Pike as a whole. Although this was written a decade before Strange New Worlds was created around Anson Mount's masterful interpretation of Pike, SNW fans as well as classic Trek fans will find it a great read, as it establishes certain aspects of his background later used by other authors, and creates a version of Pike quite consistent with SNW's character.
Most of the story is framed in Pike & Vina's growing relationship upon his original return to Talos IV: now, he is a guest rather than a captive, and the two humans -- both suffering from ruined bodies, both freed from them by the Talosians' telepathic abilities -- can now begin to get to know one another, no longer distracted by Pike's need to find a way to escape the Talosians' cage. They both begin sharing their pasts, though in this narrative we're mostly hearing from Pike. We learn that his mother was an architect and his stepfather a geoengineer, making a home for themselves near the base of a volcano. Theirs was a frontier world, a colony world, peopled by a mix of Federation normies as well as neo-Luddites. One character, a horse groomer, proves to be a vital character in Pike's life after disaster befalls-- and it is he who puts Pike on the path to Starfleet. From here, we witness Pike's growth as a young officer, standing fast on principle and growing in the estimation and affection of his peers. One of the longer section involves Pike being surprised and captured by some reptilian aliens, which cements Spock's affection for him. Although my estimation of this book is partially inflated because of how much I've grown to like Pike, this was a solid story and the ending was superb.
January 19, 2026
Really enjoyed!
This is my second ST book, which I have read, part of the TOS Series of novels. These are quickly becoming my comfort reads when I need something light after a long day of getting my brain fried like catfish on a skillet at work. But these books are by no means simple. The writing was excellent and engaging, not too simple but not complex. It hit a sweet spot for me.
I'm glad I was able to watch SNW and DIS before finishing this novel, as I've been able to get a well-rounded appreciation of Pike's characterization between the newer series and the original. This novel was published in 2006, long before the new SNW and DIS, so the canon doesn't always line up in some areas, as the later TV series introduces characters and events in Pike's life that aren't mentioned in earlier novels. Still, this novel does a great job at fleshing out Pike as a man and captain, driven by empathy and self-sacrifice for others through his relationships with other characters such as Charlie, his mother, and his crew, as I understand, at a time in ST's stories where Pike was not fully fleshed out past his initial appearances in TOS "The Menagerie" and the original pilot.
The Talosian plot initially confused me until I researched and realized it was a direct follow-up to the original TOS character's plotline, in which he meets Vina and then later is involved in the accident that would change his physical body forever. All I have to say is everyone needs a friend like Spock. I hope that if I am ever incapacitated in a freak accident, my best friend will defy General Orders to take me to a race of aliens that will create an illusion for me to live out the rest of my days with a hot blonde woman, free from my body's incapacitation. It was nice that the Talosians also got a happy ending, and I see it as a metaphor: a strong will and desire for purpose inspire others to go beyond the addictive nature of illusions and begin rebuilding their lives.
One thing I did enjoy about the newer TV series (SNW and DIS) is that they make Pike aware of his fate through a vision he sees on a Klingon spiritual planet. This adds depth, in my opinion, to the choices he makes during his captaincy of the Enterprise, embracing sacrifice and accepting your fate without pity for yourself, while still making an impact on the Galaxy itself and becoming something larger than yourself, and fulfilling a destiny.
Overall, reading this simultaneously with watching SNW and DIS truly gave me a greater appreciation for Pike and ST as a whole. I see why he embodies Starfleet's ideals, and I am hopeful that there will be more media featuring his character in the near future.
"You're a Starfleet captain. You believe in service, sacrifice, compassion, and love. No. I'm not going to abandon the things that made me who I am because of a future... that contains an ending I... I hadn't foreseen for myself."
This is my second ST book, which I have read, part of the TOS Series of novels. These are quickly becoming my comfort reads when I need something light after a long day of getting my brain fried like catfish on a skillet at work. But these books are by no means simple. The writing was excellent and engaging, not too simple but not complex. It hit a sweet spot for me.
I'm glad I was able to watch SNW and DIS before finishing this novel, as I've been able to get a well-rounded appreciation of Pike's characterization between the newer series and the original. This novel was published in 2006, long before the new SNW and DIS, so the canon doesn't always line up in some areas, as the later TV series introduces characters and events in Pike's life that aren't mentioned in earlier novels. Still, this novel does a great job at fleshing out Pike as a man and captain, driven by empathy and self-sacrifice for others through his relationships with other characters such as Charlie, his mother, and his crew, as I understand, at a time in ST's stories where Pike was not fully fleshed out past his initial appearances in TOS "The Menagerie" and the original pilot.
The Talosian plot initially confused me until I researched and realized it was a direct follow-up to the original TOS character's plotline, in which he meets Vina and then later is involved in the accident that would change his physical body forever. All I have to say is everyone needs a friend like Spock. I hope that if I am ever incapacitated in a freak accident, my best friend will defy General Orders to take me to a race of aliens that will create an illusion for me to live out the rest of my days with a hot blonde woman, free from my body's incapacitation. It was nice that the Talosians also got a happy ending, and I see it as a metaphor: a strong will and desire for purpose inspire others to go beyond the addictive nature of illusions and begin rebuilding their lives.
One thing I did enjoy about the newer TV series (SNW and DIS) is that they make Pike aware of his fate through a vision he sees on a Klingon spiritual planet. This adds depth, in my opinion, to the choices he makes during his captaincy of the Enterprise, embracing sacrifice and accepting your fate without pity for yourself, while still making an impact on the Galaxy itself and becoming something larger than yourself, and fulfilling a destiny.
Overall, reading this simultaneously with watching SNW and DIS truly gave me a greater appreciation for Pike and ST as a whole. I see why he embodies Starfleet's ideals, and I am hopeful that there will be more media featuring his character in the near future.
"You're a Starfleet captain. You believe in service, sacrifice, compassion, and love. No. I'm not going to abandon the things that made me who I am because of a future... that contains an ending I... I hadn't foreseen for myself."
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 24, 2023
Burning Dreams by Margaret Wander Bonanno
Finally! Probably the best Star Trek novel I’ve read this year! And one that still works a bit with current canon! Christopher Pike has been getting a lot more love lately with Discovery and Strange New Worlds but this is probably the best piece of media so far related to him. In this book, we learn the thick and thin of his life, how he became the person he is, what his philosophy is and so on. It’s done in such a masterful way, I enjoyed it very much.
I’ve read Strangers in the Sky and I enjoyed it somewhat up until the second half of the book at least. But here, Bonanno really wrote a great book, through and through and it was constient thoughout. It was a little jarring jumping back and forth between various parts of Pike’s life, but in the end with him and Vina’s love, Talos IV lived again and that’s what made this book truly great. Without Pike, there would have been no Kirk, Picard, Sisko or Janeway. He was the OG and it was great to see him get some love here. It makes want to read more stories about him (I’ve already read the Rift by Peter David). Anyway, 8/10 book.
Finally! Probably the best Star Trek novel I’ve read this year! And one that still works a bit with current canon! Christopher Pike has been getting a lot more love lately with Discovery and Strange New Worlds but this is probably the best piece of media so far related to him. In this book, we learn the thick and thin of his life, how he became the person he is, what his philosophy is and so on. It’s done in such a masterful way, I enjoyed it very much.
I’ve read Strangers in the Sky and I enjoyed it somewhat up until the second half of the book at least. But here, Bonanno really wrote a great book, through and through and it was constient thoughout. It was a little jarring jumping back and forth between various parts of Pike’s life, but in the end with him and Vina’s love, Talos IV lived again and that’s what made this book truly great. Without Pike, there would have been no Kirk, Picard, Sisko or Janeway. He was the OG and it was great to see him get some love here. It makes want to read more stories about him (I’ve already read the Rift by Peter David). Anyway, 8/10 book.
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September 4, 2020I've always had a fascination for Captian Pike. I remember watching the TOS back when I was like 10 and, when The Menagerie came on, I was sooo confused. Pre internet, I had no idea what this was- why did Spock look different? Who is Pike? Have I missed the Pike episodes? That kind of thing. Reading about the pilot years later, and how the show changed from his pilot to Shatner's, was super interesting to young trekkie me. Then, Discovery came out and floored me with the incropration of Pike. What a great character.
And I found this book, which does a great job of not only bringing Pike back into the Star Trek pantheon, but expands on his past, his future, and provides a great closure to that classic episode. Well written, with the POV of multiple interesting characters. Even has a Sulu cameo! It's good stuff, and the ending made me want to watch Discovery again, materialize on the bridge, sidle over to the captain's chair, squeeze his shoulder, and let him know it'll all be okay. For real- watch TOS, then Discovery, and then read this book.
And I found this book, which does a great job of not only bringing Pike back into the Star Trek pantheon, but expands on his past, his future, and provides a great closure to that classic episode. Well written, with the POV of multiple interesting characters. Even has a Sulu cameo! It's good stuff, and the ending made me want to watch Discovery again, materialize on the bridge, sidle over to the captain's chair, squeeze his shoulder, and let him know it'll all be okay. For real- watch TOS, then Discovery, and then read this book.
March 14, 2018
Out of the hundreds of Star Trek television episodes that have been produced viewers only got to see Christopher Pike once. But despite that lack of detail the author has managed to fashion a complex and engrossing biography of the character, examining his life before, during, and after that fateful mission to Talos IV as shown in "The Cage" (or more properly "The Menagerie parts 1 and 2"). We are also introduced to some interesting original people and places in the Star Trek Universe along the way. Everything works here and it all fits together so well you could easily feel this novel, this life path, had been planned out by Gene Roddenberry right from the beginning. Highly recommended reading.
June 10, 2020
I have always been fascinated by the character of Captain Pike as featured in the original rejected pilot episode of Star Trek played by the late Jeffrey Hunter and later of course reedited to appear in the original series first season as the two part story, The Cage. This novel gives the back story of this tragic figure, heading towards his horrific accident which leaves him in the state we see in the TV show. It jumps around a bit, to Spock's present, to the past when Spock was serving under Pike and as far back as Pike's childhood detailing the events that shape this man. Probably not for everyone, but I really enjoyed it.
October 14, 2020
I enjoy Margaret Wander Bonanno’s take on the Trek universe, and this was an interesting journey. I didn’t love a few segments as much as the whole, but it’s a nicely woven story and an interesting look at Captain Pike. When I first watched The Menagerie as a kid, I thought the segments with Pike were exciting and fun. It’s great to get a continuation of Pike’s experience on Talos IV and a look at his early years as well.
January 11, 2021
Very well written and paced book. Enjoyed it very much.
Not much to recommend it to a non-Star Trek fan, but that’s fine. It’s not like you pick up a book about Christopher Pike because you don’t know who that is or the franchise that birthed the character.
The characters are real and interesting, and the story is satisfying without being overlong. If you’re a Trek fan, I very much recommend it.
Not much to recommend it to a non-Star Trek fan, but that’s fine. It’s not like you pick up a book about Christopher Pike because you don’t know who that is or the franchise that birthed the character.
The characters are real and interesting, and the story is satisfying without being overlong. If you’re a Trek fan, I very much recommend it.
December 23, 2024
I rarely see a Christopher Pike novel so when I do, it is an almost insant purchase. This novel did not disappoint. Before Strange New Worlds, Trek fans got little about this Captain who was consigned to a wheel chair and brought to Talos IV. This novel does a wonderful job of giving depth and breadth to this character. Adds dimension and helps the reader to understand the inner workings of this brillant and brave Captain. A must read for any Trek fan.
May 27, 2021
Margaret Wander Bonanno gör ett mycket bra arbete med denna bok. Mycket återblickar och även om de ibland gör det svårt att minnas i vilken tidsera jag som läsare befann mig så är boken ett mycket bra redskap för att förstå kommendör Pike. Jag rekommenderar den verkligen!
January 7, 2024
Thoroughly enjoyed this book, “Strange New Worlds” rekindled my interest in Pike from “The Cage” from the original series. There is a lot of pre and post Pike story in the book, not sure if it’s considered “canon,” but I felt it was a great goodbye to a great fictional character.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 20, 2018
Simply excellent!
a good look into the life of 2nd captain of the Enterprise and a hopeful epilogue for Ambassador Spock after the death of Kirk.
a good look into the life of 2nd captain of the Enterprise and a hopeful epilogue for Ambassador Spock after the death of Kirk.
December 23, 2020
Most excellent. I enjoyed this one much like I enjoyed Crucible: McCoy because the story is about the person, the human, and not the technology. Those always make the best ST stories for me.
February 10, 2024
Nicely written by Margaret Wander Bonanno. Ties the loose ends up from The Cage and The Menagerie. Completes the entire story of the life of Christopher Pike. Excellent fiction.
July 23, 2012
Burning Dreams is a Star Trek The Original Series novel primarily featuring Captain Christopher Pike from the original Star Trek pilot The Cage.
That is the one reason to be honest that makes this novel fascinating to read as it delves deep into the character of Christopher Pike turning him into a fully realised character which makes you wish that you had seen more of the character than we did in the original tv series rather than the actual plot of the novel which isn’t half as interesting.
As a bit of a Star Trek fan I really enjoyed this book but I can't imagine that it would interest you at all if you weren't familiar with the original Star Trek pilot and the two part first season story The Menagerie, which this is basically a sequel of.
As it goes the book is well written enough and does have some quite exciting and sometimes emotional scenes (regarding the past of the character of Christopher Pike) but I am not sure would be enough to keep a non-Trek fan reading the book until the end.
That is the one reason to be honest that makes this novel fascinating to read as it delves deep into the character of Christopher Pike turning him into a fully realised character which makes you wish that you had seen more of the character than we did in the original tv series rather than the actual plot of the novel which isn’t half as interesting.
As a bit of a Star Trek fan I really enjoyed this book but I can't imagine that it would interest you at all if you weren't familiar with the original Star Trek pilot and the two part first season story The Menagerie, which this is basically a sequel of.
As it goes the book is well written enough and does have some quite exciting and sometimes emotional scenes (regarding the past of the character of Christopher Pike) but I am not sure would be enough to keep a non-Trek fan reading the book until the end.
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April 17, 2022With Star Trek Strange New Worlds on the Horizon, I thought I should give this another shot. I've read some of the other Pike-featuring books (like in the Captain's Table Series and Vulcan's glory) but don't really get a fell for the man.
It's a semi-biography of Captain Christopher Pike, the original captain of the Enterprise, created by Gene Roddenberry for the aborted pilot, 'The Cage'. Despite there not being much character development in his only TOS appearance, his character has fascinated fans for decades, so much so Pike became a mentor character to Kirk in the 'Kelvin' movies.
So is it any good? I think it is - MWB rarely produces a sub-par Trek novel, and this is no exception. A detailed family backstory and a tragic upbringing all add plenty of light and shade to his character and you see his steely anger evidenced in his solo appearance more than once.
I don't know whether any of the past events depicted in this book will be referenced in the new series (I doubt it), but it sits nicely in my head canon regardless.
It's a semi-biography of Captain Christopher Pike, the original captain of the Enterprise, created by Gene Roddenberry for the aborted pilot, 'The Cage'. Despite there not being much character development in his only TOS appearance, his character has fascinated fans for decades, so much so Pike became a mentor character to Kirk in the 'Kelvin' movies.
So is it any good? I think it is - MWB rarely produces a sub-par Trek novel, and this is no exception. A detailed family backstory and a tragic upbringing all add plenty of light and shade to his character and you see his steely anger evidenced in his solo appearance more than once.
I don't know whether any of the past events depicted in this book will be referenced in the new series (I doubt it), but it sits nicely in my head canon regardless.
September 23, 2012
I confess I made a mistake in reading this book. Lots of Star Trek books can be read in snippets, and that is what I did with much of this one. Please don't make that same mistake. When you get ready to read this, set aside some extended reading times so you can take in large hunks at a time.
Bonanno did a great job writing. She incorporated the Pike with whom we are familiar from several earlier incarnations, not just from The Cage. She couldn't include everything, but a minor character, a throw-away line, a mood at an appropriate plot point, a motivation at another plot point; it was all so very well integrated.
Yet through it all we had Bonanno's filling in the blanks, and we had the Talosian's dreams. The reader has to truly pay attention. That is why reading in snippets simply does not work.
Bottom line: One of the best Star Trek novels.
Bonanno did a great job writing. She incorporated the Pike with whom we are familiar from several earlier incarnations, not just from The Cage. She couldn't include everything, but a minor character, a throw-away line, a mood at an appropriate plot point, a motivation at another plot point; it was all so very well integrated.
Yet through it all we had Bonanno's filling in the blanks, and we had the Talosian's dreams. The reader has to truly pay attention. That is why reading in snippets simply does not work.
Bottom line: One of the best Star Trek novels.
December 8, 2016
Bonanno clearly put a lot of thought into dissecting the character of Christopher Pike and finding the motives behind his actions in The Cage and those alluded to in The Menagerie.
The pacing at the beginning is a tad slow, but the story is still compelling with enough seeds of foreshadowing sown to keep the intrigue going. Along the way there is plenty of the kinds of speculation on human development and alien life that are the hallmark of Star Trek.
The nods toward other Pike novels and the Early Voyages comic book series are greatly appreciated, as are the mentions of real world people and their tragedies that inspired the writer.
The ending is far from expected, but so usefully open that I hope she can use it for a future story.
The author certainly succeeds here in her goal "to write the definitive Pike novel."
The pacing at the beginning is a tad slow, but the story is still compelling with enough seeds of foreshadowing sown to keep the intrigue going. Along the way there is plenty of the kinds of speculation on human development and alien life that are the hallmark of Star Trek.
The nods toward other Pike novels and the Early Voyages comic book series are greatly appreciated, as are the mentions of real world people and their tragedies that inspired the writer.
The ending is far from expected, but so usefully open that I hope she can use it for a future story.
The author certainly succeeds here in her goal "to write the definitive Pike novel."
September 5, 2011
Bonanno is a wonderful writer who really fleshes out the character of Christopher Pike (one of my favorite Trek characters) with a more literary take on the Star Trek story, allowing the characters to breathe and develop naturally. She also has a way of perfectly capturing the voices of established characters like Spock, while giving us whole new characters to fall in love with, including her penchant for strong female characters in the Star Trek universe (I loved seeing Number One in command yet again, Pike's first officer, though I would really like to see her tackle the character head on, perhaps with her own story).
March 21, 2008
The untold story of Christopher Pike, the Captain of the Enterprise seen in the original pilot, "The Cage," which was later incorporate into the two part Original Series epidose, "The Menagerie." Framed as the story of his life as told to Vina on Talos IV, the novel interwove different times and jumped back and forth between narratives. Not only does the reader discover what happened to Captain Pike before first arriving at Talos IV, but we also discover what happened in the interim and what he accomplished after arriving at Talos IV for the second time.
April 19, 2013
A definitive account of James Kirk's predecessor as captain of the starship Enterprise. I wasn't very taken with the post-Talos siege plot on the planet of the snakes...but the rest of the book was a superb look at the life of Chris Pike, shedding fascinating light on one of "Star Trek's" most enigmatic characters. A novel that mixes strong character work with epic ideas as to the qualities that humanity brings to the wider universe.
December 6, 2011
Really good book, by probably my favorite Star Trek author. Very creative take on a character who was only in the unaired pilot episode, creating a whole life story with nods to other ST novels and shows. As always, Bonnano crafts a good novel, not just a good ST novel. There's one episode toward the end that goes a little long for my taste, but overall this is great.
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