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When Jean-Luc Picard fails his entrance exam to Starfleet Academy, all his plans for the future are gone. Then a chance to re-apply to the Academy arises, and Jean-Luc must use all his skills to pass the challenging tests.
111 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 1995
118 people want to read
About the author
Brad Strickland
135 books107 followersWilliam Bradley Strickland (b. 1947) is the author (or co-author) of over 60 novels and over 60 pieces of short fiction and poetry.
Born in New Hollard, Strickland earned his Ph.D. in American literature from the University of Georgia. He has taught English courses at the University of Georgia, Oglethorpe University, Truett-McConnell College, and, since 1987, at Gainesville State College.
His first novel was 1986's To Stand Beneath the Sun, followed quickly by the books in the Jeremy Moon trilogy.
Strickland has shared co-author credit on many of his books: with his wife, Barbara, on stories in the Star Trek and Are You Afraid of the Dark? properties; and with the late author Thomas Fuller, books in the Wishbone series, involving the popular Jack Russell Terrier from the Public Television series of the same name. Strickland and Fuller also collaborated on numerous original works, including the Pirate Hunter series, the Mars: Year One series, and the comedic mystery for adults, The Ghost Finds a Body.
After the death of John Bellairs, Strickland was approached by John’s son, Frank, to complete the two books his father had already started; these unfinished manuscripts became The Ghost in the Mirror and The Vengeance of the Witch-Finder. Strickland also wrote two books based on brief plot outlines left by Bellairs: The Drum, the Doll and the Zombie and The Doom of the Haunted Opera. Beginning in 1996, Strickland has kept Bellairs' legacy alive by writing the further adventures of Johnny Dixon and Lewis Barnavelt. Books in the corpus include The Hand of the Necromancer (1996); The Tower at the End of the World (2001); The House Where Nobody Lived (2006); and his most recent title, The Sign of the Sinister Sorcerer (2008).
In 2001, Strickland won received the Georgia Author of the Year Award, Children's/Young Adult Division, for When Mack Came Back, set in WWII-era Georgia. Strickland says the story "is based on the farm owned by [his] grandfather, where [I] often visited when [I] was a child." Kong: King of Skull Island was released in 2005, an illustrated tale by Strickland, author John Michlig, and fantasy artist Joe DeVito that serves as both a prequel and sequel to the epic story of the legendary ape.
Strickland is an active member of the Atlanta Radio Theatre Company, where he writes and performs in numerous audio drama projects. He was awarded the ARTC Lifetime Achievement Award in 2006. He is married to the former Barabara Justus and has two grown children.
Born in New Hollard, Strickland earned his Ph.D. in American literature from the University of Georgia. He has taught English courses at the University of Georgia, Oglethorpe University, Truett-McConnell College, and, since 1987, at Gainesville State College.
His first novel was 1986's To Stand Beneath the Sun, followed quickly by the books in the Jeremy Moon trilogy.
Strickland has shared co-author credit on many of his books: with his wife, Barbara, on stories in the Star Trek and Are You Afraid of the Dark? properties; and with the late author Thomas Fuller, books in the Wishbone series, involving the popular Jack Russell Terrier from the Public Television series of the same name. Strickland and Fuller also collaborated on numerous original works, including the Pirate Hunter series, the Mars: Year One series, and the comedic mystery for adults, The Ghost Finds a Body.
After the death of John Bellairs, Strickland was approached by John’s son, Frank, to complete the two books his father had already started; these unfinished manuscripts became The Ghost in the Mirror and The Vengeance of the Witch-Finder. Strickland also wrote two books based on brief plot outlines left by Bellairs: The Drum, the Doll and the Zombie and The Doom of the Haunted Opera. Beginning in 1996, Strickland has kept Bellairs' legacy alive by writing the further adventures of Johnny Dixon and Lewis Barnavelt. Books in the corpus include The Hand of the Necromancer (1996); The Tower at the End of the World (2001); The House Where Nobody Lived (2006); and his most recent title, The Sign of the Sinister Sorcerer (2008).
In 2001, Strickland won received the Georgia Author of the Year Award, Children's/Young Adult Division, for When Mack Came Back, set in WWII-era Georgia. Strickland says the story "is based on the farm owned by [his] grandfather, where [I] often visited when [I] was a child." Kong: King of Skull Island was released in 2005, an illustrated tale by Strickland, author John Michlig, and fantasy artist Joe DeVito that serves as both a prequel and sequel to the epic story of the legendary ape.
Strickland is an active member of the Atlanta Radio Theatre Company, where he writes and performs in numerous audio drama projects. He was awarded the ARTC Lifetime Achievement Award in 2006. He is married to the former Barabara Justus and has two grown children.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
September 6, 2015
One of the best Starfleet Academy books about Picards Academy entrance exams.
January 20, 2014
Barbara & Brad Strickland have written a beautiful book about young Jean-Luc Picard who has failed to reach his dream of joining Starfleet. As we know, he gets another chance, and this is the story of how the road from deep disappointment to success was trevelled, and how this experience helped to form the wise man we all have gotten to know.
This is a simple story, but it has great character insight and strong prose to convey it effectively.
This is a simple story, but it has great character insight and strong prose to convey it effectively.
January 10, 2025
This is the most unadventurous of the Starfleet Academy books that I've read so far, and I think that's why I like it the best. The others are deeply unrealistic in what they put their protagonists through, but this one is actually relatable. Picard has failed in his first attempt at entering the Academy; it's a rigorous testing process and he does well... but not well enough. His failure is difficult to deal with, but worse is the attitude of his (deeply unpleasant) father, who insists that his younger son should stay on the family vineyard. Picard wants none of it, but going against his father's wishes may estrange them both forever.
It's more a family drama than a science fiction story, although there is one (fake) holodeck battle as part of the testing. The inability of the Picard sons to tell their dad where to get off is frustrating, but again, as I said, relatable. It feels like a story that could happen, as opposed to the other Academy books, which are less convincing.
It's more a family drama than a science fiction story, although there is one (fake) holodeck battle as part of the testing. The inability of the Picard sons to tell their dad where to get off is frustrating, but again, as I said, relatable. It feels like a story that could happen, as opposed to the other Academy books, which are less convincing.
January 22, 2020
This was the best of the series so far. It had a lot more depth and told an interesting, formative tale from Picard's youth.
We take a deep dive into all things Next Generation in a special episode of the All the Books Show: https://soundcloud.com/allthebooks/ep...
We take a deep dive into all things Next Generation in a special episode of the All the Books Show: https://soundcloud.com/allthebooks/ep...
January 3, 2015
This follows Picard's journey to enter starfleet academy. His brother and father are against his application. The father wants him to continue in the wine business after him. This is a decent story that fleshes out some of Picards back story that was hinted at in the show. The illustrations are nice but I dont really see a young Picard in them. A good read.
July 3, 2016
These books have been expectedly simplistic to date. Starfall was a pleasant surprise, bringing a deeper introspection instead of relying upon storybook action. Mr. Strickland proved himself to be an excellent writer, even with early-age fiction. It was a pleasure to read.
September 10, 2016
Suspense builds with every page as you wait to see if Picard will pass his entrance exam into Starfleet Academy or if he will instead live the life of a farmer on the family vineyard.
For TNG fans, this tells some background on Picard's family. Short easy read.
For TNG fans, this tells some background on Picard's family. Short easy read.
June 22, 2010
My favorite book from this series, wonderful for anyone who ever felt that there should be more to life.
June 17, 2017
To help celebrate Captain Picard Day, decided to look back to the days when he took his first steps from being Jean Luc from Labairre, France to Cadet Picard
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November 7, 2018Another most interesting book of the series and another favortie as Picard finally makes it in to the academy, but is going against his hardest test of commanding and making desicions in order to avoid his father and also face his biggest fear, the fear of failing.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews