The Best of Star Trek: The Next Generation

by Michael Jan Friedman, John de Lancie, Gene Roddenberry

The Best of "Star Trek: The Next Generation" &reg is an omnibus volume gathering four stories from the DC Comics "Star Trek: The Next Generation" series. Includes "Survivors, " "The Lesson, " "The Gift, " and "Thin Ice." It includes an introduction by Jeri Taylor, the Executive Producer of "Star Trek": The Next Generation."

Genres: Star Trek, Graphic Novels, Science Fiction, Comics

192 pages, Paperback

First published March 7, 1994

About the author

Michael Jan Friedman is an author of more than seventy books of fiction and nonfiction, half of which are in the Star Trek universe. Eleven of his titles have appeared on the New York Times Best Seller list. Friedman has also written for network and cable television and radio, and scripted nearly 200 comic books, including his original DC superhero series, the Darkstars.

Reviews

[Corey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Serafin's Survivors - The Enterprise rescues a group of survivors from a planet in the midst of destruction, all of them ostensibly suffering from a debilitating disease. When the group beams aboard, among them a former lover of Geordi's, they appear in perfect health. Is all as it seems? Predictable Trek, entertaining, but nothing special. 3 Stars

The Lesson - Counselor Troi eases Dr. Crusher's fears of aging while Riker guest lectures Wesley's History Class and both have something to teach the other. Low key stories that explore the friendships between the crew. 3.5 Stars

The Gift - Q offers Picard a chance to see how his life would be different if his brother(who was alive on the TV series) had not died at a young age. Written by Q himself, John De Lancie, this one's okay with a somewhat misguided ending and is a little darker than I think a Q story should be. 2.5 Stars

Thin Ice - The Enterprise answers a distress call from a battered Federation ship trapped by powerful AI controlled ships in a far off sector out of Federation space. This holds particular weight for Riker who has a personal history with the captain of the vessel. A moving , thrilling story, that further deepens Riker's character. 4.5 Stars

While I have a hard time believing this is truly the best of the series, this is a decent sampler of the TNG comic and contains at least one great story.

[Ian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Four stories from the DC Comics era of Star Trek: TNG, including one featuring Q and written in part by Q himself, John de Lancie.
An old flame of Geordi's puts the crew of the Enterprise-D in jeopardy, Counsellor Troi helps Doctor Crusher confront her fears about ageing, Q shows Captain Picard an alternate world where his brother Claude becomes a tyrant and the Enterprise has to rescue the USS Marco Polo, captained by a figure from Riker's past.

The characters and situations in this book feel very authentic to the source material, something which is not always true of Trek comics, and these really did read like stories that could unfold on the TV series. Predictably, due to de Lancie's involvement, the relationship between Q and Picard in particular felt very believable.

The only reason I've not rated this book higher is that these stories are all fairly short affairs which don't individually get chance to develop much depth. But as an expansion of TNG this book should be enjoyable to any fan.

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[SamB · Rating 3 out of 5]

A diverting read, definitely in the upper end of the Star Trek graphic novels/comics I've read. Some of the gender politics leave a little to be desired though - you have a female Captain who only joined Starfleet because she was horny for Riker, and a whole story that hinges on Crusher being sensitive about her age.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wasn't fond of the first story. Very OOC. Second story was a bit OOC, as well as being rather meh. Third story was interesting, even though it was written prior to season 4 and completely contradicts Picard's established family backstory now. The last story was very well done, the best of the four.

[Eric · Rating 4 out of 5]

My reading has slowed down lately, as I've been digesting some rather heavy work, so I picked up this compilation of Star Trek: TNG comics. Pretty light reading, all in all. Nothing absolutely fantastic (besides a pretty good Q story), but good Sunday afternoon reading.