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Dead Endless

(Star Trek: Discovery #6)

Dave Galanter (Goodreads Author)

4.05 · Rating details · 351 ratings · 64 reviews

The U.S.S. Discovery's specialty is using its spore-based hub drive to jump great distances faster than any warp-faring vessel in Starfleet. To do this, Lieutenant Paul Stamets navigates the ship through the recently revealed mycelial network, a subspace domain Discovery can briefly transit but in which it cannot remain. After responding to a startling distress call origin ...more

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Paperback, 304 pages

Published December 17th 2019 by Pocket Books/Star Trek

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· 351 ratings · 64 reviews

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Dec 17, 2019 Jemppu rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

For someone like me, who has found a lot of inspiration from the character of Stamets, and their relationship and (universes transcending) love with Culber, this was such a joyride and an emotional thrill.

Pleasant exploration of number of themes; tying in together bits of canon introduced separately in various media, and featuring lots of complementary thoughts and ideas sprung from those instances, previously mostly existing in the more or less formless realms of personal headcanon. All of whic For someone like me, who has found a lot of inspiration from the character of Stamets, and their relationship and (universes transcending) love with Culber, this was such a joyride and an emotional thrill.

Pleasant exploration of number of themes; tying in together bits of canon introduced separately in various media, and featuring lots of complementary thoughts and ideas sprung from those instances, previously mostly existing in the more or less formless realms of personal headcanon. All of which here rang true to the characters, and in that sense were very supportive and validating of the imagined general psyches of Paul Stamets and Hugh Culber, and great additions to their shared lore.

The story is set harmlessly in a way that disturbs the established canon very little, if at all. Which too made the reading experience that much more relaxing and worry free; not chafing against already accepted facts. Still, not insignificant, but if anything, indeed embellishing some of the formerly introduced history.

I will admit my personal focus on this being - as with the show - first and foremost Stamets, Culber and their shared experience, but other than a fulfilling 'Culmets' narrative, the story also has a dynamic teamwork drive, prominently featuring whole of the established on-screen Disco crew.

Plus, including the one lesser featured character I personally care for most: Justin Straal, Paul's 'fungal bro' and 'hetero lifemate'. Such a delight to have them here, interacting with Paul, Hugh, and the previously unknown crew of USS Glenn, too.

If there was one thing I might've noticed missing, it was some more calm and solitary moment(s), perhaps. The action is instant, and constant, and most all things happen under the watchful eyes of one or more shipmates. However, this is not a thing to despair over; true to the life aboard after all, one would imagine. (And, 'the calm' is where my personal ruminations have always lingered, so, room to easily fill in the quiet between the action is nothing but a relief, too).

I had been waiting for this book both excited as well as anxious (both for the same reason of intense love for the characters), and can happily say that after the fact, of these two, only excitement remains. Excitement, delight, and inspiration (the good and manageable kind, born of sheer "yay").

Heartfelt and beautiful. Thank you, Mr. Galanter, for doing good for our darlings. I am nothing but elated by this.

This came together during the 2nd listen, inspired by a scene. ...more

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Jan 11, 2020 Dawn C rated it really liked it

A complex and very clever account of what actually happened to Hugh Culmets while he was trapped in the spore network. It’s rare that tie-in novels fill gaps of tv shows in any meaningful way but this one did. It also dealt with the Discovery crew’s treatment of the tardigrade, something I disliked on the show and which was left without comment. Lastly, I *loved* the alien species and the crew’s encounter with them, their communication was organic and interesting and even offered a few John Scal ...more

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Dec 20, 2019 Mareike rated it it was amazing

Shelves: scifi

I absolutely hands down love this book. I'm not sure I've ever read a tie-in novel this good.

This book tore at my heartstrings and made me smile and laugh and, finally, had me a second away from full-on crying on a train by the epilogue.

(view spoiler) ...more

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Dec 17, 2019 Gabi rated it really liked it

I have to give this 4 stars, because it is way better than any of the other DSC-novels I've read. Yet still it managed to leave me somehow wanting.

I started with little expectations, because so far I was quite lukewarm on the Discovery tie-in novels. And so I was positively taken with the first chapters. Not only does the story feature Paul Stamets and Hugh Culber, my way most favourite ST characters, Galanter also managed to set the right tone for them (always a tricky task with the writing of ...more

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Dec 15, 2019 Rosie rated it really liked it

Shelves: science-fiction, star-trek, owned

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I'm happy to say I very much enjoyed this story. I was trying to work out where in the Discovery series it would fit, from the general premise of the story and it does indeed slot into it's place as you read.

I love the set up of the Discovery as we come to know it, a very interesting insight into the what ifs and might have beens. Coming from Hugh's perpsective, seeing the subtle differences in the characters lives and how that's changed them in small and large ways.

I can't deny my heart was bo ...more

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Dec 17, 2019 Amanda rated it really liked it

Shelves: owned

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Dec 19, 2019 Krista rated it really liked it

Shelves: books-read-in-2019

A book of Culmets. Brilliant. I loved the sarcasm, the humor, the angst, the love. So good! A fascinating story about Hugh and the network. It gave me all the feels. I'd love to read another Culmets novel!! I definitely plan on reading this one again. ...more

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Dec 31, 2019 Alex Bright rated it really liked it · review of another edition

What a lovely book to end the year with. The author understands and portrays the characters so perfectly, from their mannerisms to their speech patterns. It's beautifully done, and quite honestly it's the closest thing to a "romance" that I've enjoyed in well, ever. I hate romance. I loved this. ...more

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Dec 17, 2019 Rose rated it really liked it

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. So, it's obvious that I'm a big fan of Discovery, but one of the biggest downsides of the serialized format of the show as opposed to an episodic series, is that we often don't get to learn much about the characters on a deeper level. This is where Galanter absolutely shines.

Whether it be the discussion between Rhys and Airiam about the origins of her name, or the dry snarky jokes the bridge crew all make together as they eat lunch, or the deep, heartbreaking conversations between Paul and Hugh, ...more

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Mar 19, 2020 Elowen rated it it was amazing

This was a delight to read, and one of the most enjoyable Star Trek novels I've read so far, which I think is mostly because the story doesn't rely on the familiar characters being already established by the tv series. It does some good character development on its own, focussing on the exploration of Paul and Hugh's relationship and asking interesting philosophical questions, but also offers an entertaining plot that could be straight out of a regular episode. ...more

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Dec 25, 2019 Dee rated it really liked it

Shelves: lgbt, science-fiction, popsugar-2019

I quite enjoyed this book, set in the Star Trek universe, showcasing two of my favorite Star Trek characters, Paul Stamets and Hugh Culber. Dave Galanter captured the voice and mannerisms of these two characters so skillfully and spun a heart-wrenching yet beautiful tale of second chances and first chances. Add a tardigrade and the mycelial plane and you have a story that is hard to put down.

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Dec 23, 2019 Sel rated it it was amazing

Shelves: science-fiction

This was my first Star Trek book and I was not disappointed! I couldn't pass up a book about Stamets and Culber and their relationship. Without giving too much away, the story setting was interesting and unique. I loved all the parts with Stamets and Culber and felt the storyline really touched on the connection that they have. There was some really touching, heartbreaking moments there as well. I also enjoyed the parts with the remaining characters, particular the bridge characters. I know they ...more

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Jan 02, 2020 Sara Gallien rated it it was amazing

Wow! Dave Galanter has written a totally engrossing Discovery book. The (human/kelpian) characters were so real they came to life as I read. He was true to their personalities and histories. I was totally sucked in, unable to put this one down.

It is difficult to write a review without revealing the first spoilery 75 or so pages of the book, so if you want absolutely zero spoilers, stop here. If you're okay with the setup being revealed, continue on.

The setting for this book is a bit confusing a ...more

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Dec 28, 2019 Daniel Kukwa rated it it was amazing

Shelves: star-trek

I was not expecting this at all. An astonishing character piece that will play with all your preconceptions of "Discovery". It manages to be missing episode-style fanwank yet beautifully, at its core, it is also an archetypal "Star Trek" story of exploration and first contact. But even with that, this is the love story of Paul Stamets and Hugh Culber, and Dave Galanter captures their mannerisms, their characters, and their relationship with great beauty. As perfect as "Star Trek" novel as one ca ...more

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Feb 05, 2020 Matt Buck rated it liked it

I enjoyed this once it got going, but it took too long to get there.
(view spoiler) ...more

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Feb 03, 2020 Richard Gray rated it really liked it

Shelves: lgbtqi-plus, tv-tie-ins, science-fiction, star-trek, tv

While I have enjoyed most of the Star Trek: Discovery tie-in novels so far, there has been a regular formula to them. Take one principal character, add a hitherto unseen crisis and a liberal serving of backstory. Which makes Dave Galanter’s DEAD ENDLESS even more exciting for avoiding these tropes, offering up one of the more complex series tie-ins to date.

Having ripped through character profiles for Burnham, Saru, Tilly and even Pike/Spock, this volume finally turns its attention to Lt. Command While I have enjoyed most of the Star Trek: Discovery tie-in novels so far, there has been a regular formula to them. Take one principal character, add a hitherto unseen crisis and a liberal serving of backstory. Which makes Dave Galanter’s DEAD ENDLESS even more exciting for avoiding these tropes, offering up one of the more complex series tie-ins to date.

Having ripped through character profiles for Burnham, Saru, Tilly and even Pike/Spock, this volume finally turns its attention to Lt. Commander Paul Stamets. Being the first openly gay regular character in a Star Trek television series, I asked in my review for The Way to the Stars: “Can we please get the story of Paul Stamets coming out in the 23nd century?” After all, what does that look like in the idealised vision of the future?

Galanter doesn’t take this expected path. In fact, he doesn’t even follow the existing one. Taking place entirely with an alternate universe, it’s one where the Battle of the Binary Stars didn’t end in war and Burnham is now Captain of the Discovery. Troubled by unexplained dreams, Stamets helps guide them through the mycelial network where they encounter two unexpected things: a distress call from an unknown source – and Doctor Hugh Culber.

This is one of those perfect side stories that could have easily been an episode of the show. Galanter cleverly fills in the gaps of what Stamets and Culber (or Culmets if you like) experienced prior to his return (in the excellent second season episode “Saints of Imperfection”) while offering us a new first contact outing that doesn’t impact on the primary continuity. If this were a TV episode it would probably be considered a “bottle show,” one that uses the existing cast and crew on a mostly ship-bound narrative.

Yet one of the primary attractions to this story is that of a star-crossed romance between Culmets. More than simply feeding the fans who ship this already well-rounded screen couple, Galanter crafts a tangible connection between the duo, even if we know that they come from different universes (I’m not crying, by the way: you are crying). The long stretches of dialogue between Ephraim, the space-dwelling tardigrade, and Culber talk about finding your “clearing,” get to the heart of what ‘Trek is about. While it’s literally referring to the pockets of linearity in mycelial space, it’s also an apt analogy for following one’s bliss.

Which is the other thing that Galanter is exceptionally good at: writing in the voices of the established characters. When the first of the Discovery books were released, there wasn’t much to work with in terms of screen reference. (Hell, the show didn’t even establish the names of half of the bridge crew in any overt fashion). Yet as Galanter acknowledges in his afterword, the voices of these actors (especially Anthony Rapp and Mary Wiseman) are pitch perfect on page.

When Star Trek: Discovery returns for a third season in 2020, it promises to have a very different outlook – not to mention a timeline we’ve never seen before. What DEAD ENDLESS demonstrates so well is that it is possible to put this crew in an alternate setting and still retain the core of the characters. Here’s hoping that the new Picard show, and its own tie-ins, doesn’t overshadow the excellent foundations established here. ...more

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Dec 27, 2019 James rated it really liked it

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Dec 27, 2019 Elliot Weeks rated it it was amazing

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Dec 23, 2019 Jaymie rated it really liked it

I was happy to discover for myself that this was not a novelization of the episodes from ST Discovery thanks to (view spoiler) There was a good amount of time spent on their relationship as well as some circular conversations between Culber and a tardigrade. The rest of the story focused on the issues on Discovery and how Starfleet will save the day. It ...more

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Apr 10, 2020 Taaya rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Somewhere around the middle I got lost a bit. When the beings manifested themselves. That was a bit too much to keep track of in, maybe just because I was listening to the audio book. I read a message on my phone and suddenly everything was different within seconds? That was one layer of twists and complications too much for my attention span.
But apart from that I loved the writing and the narration. Especially how Saru was written was just brilliant. Funny, charming, ...
Looking forward to the ...more

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May 28, 2020 Dan rated it it was amazing

Shelves: discovery

Dead Endless is a moving story about characters I love. The story is not what it initially appears to be, but eventually reveals itself to be much more poignant that it would seem at first glance. Dave Galanter is one of my favorite Trek authors, and his writing does not disappoint here. In fact, Dead Endless was my pick for top Star Trek novel of 2019, and it is well-deserved.

Full review (video): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-xDj... ...more

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Aug 07, 2020 Caroline Fosse rated it really liked it

Shelves: lgbt

this book made me wanna scream but in a good way
i also cried and that's just something you need to accept ...more

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Nov 01, 2020 Evelyn rated it really liked it

Shelves: star-trek

3.5 / POOR HUGH!!! Now I just need several more books involving these two in the universe we know. I was glad to be able to pick this up after catching up on the show.

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Feb 02, 2020 Mrklingon rated it really liked it

Shelves: space-opera, star-trek, audiobook, sf

A clever direction - philosophical and mysterious and more!

Galanter gives us the USS Discovery ... but one with CAPTAIN Burnham. A Paul Stamets meeting Hugh Culber ... but not his Hugh. And there's a talking (sort-of) tardigrade. It's a very trippy story - but one that leverages off of ideas and events within the Discovery series in an interesting and engaging way. ...more

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Jan 31, 2020 Christopher rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Dead Endless takes the approach of seeing the primary events unfolding from the perspective of a alternative universe! :D Dead Endless is a great exploration of a universe that went a little different from the regular flavoured one and has surprising incites that impact the normal Prime universe! :D Dead Endless is a net trip around the Mycenial network! :D

Crisp High Five! :D Brilliant and Highly Recommended! :D Get It When You Can! :D

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Jan 26, 2020 Maj rated it really liked it

This was a delightful read. (Am I the only one hoping for more novels set in the "clearing" most of this novel takes place? Please please please make it so! Pun intended.)

The novel gave depth to Paul & Hugh's relationship to which Disco alludes to - frankly, mostly via Rapp & Cruz's wonderful acting, rather than any subtlety on the part of the show's writing.

And in general Dead Endless adds more dimension to pretty much every character.

I loved the aliens - even if the change of tone they ended ...more

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Jan 05, 2020 Rian Monson rated it it was amazing

Shelves: books-i-own, favorites

I can't think of anything else to say about this book, that another reviewer hasn't already stated. Other than I loved the book.

I wasn't sure I was going to, since the others haven't been really that good, maybe because the other characters I wasn't so invested in, or reading about their earlier life is just boring to me, haven't read the one before this one, enterprise war, but at least the books are kind of catching up time wise with the series.
...more

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Dec 21, 2019 Maribel Myers rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Enjoyable

I'm not sure what I expected but I very much enjoyed this book. It was an easy read and fun way to be back in season one DSC and not be at the same time. The author seems to really 'hear' the characters of Paul Stamets & Hugh Culber. I could almost see the actors in my mind's eye and hear them too as I read the book. ...more

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Dec 19, 2019 Beth rated it it was amazing

Shelves: science-fiction, media-tie-in

This book is excellent, and if you're a lifelong fan of Star Trek or a Culmets shipper you're owe it to yourself to read it.
The characters popped off the page, and I heard their voices in my head without having to think about it.
Just have tissues and chocolate handy ...more

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Dec 18, 2019 Kieran McAndrew rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

While delivering much needed medical aid via the mycelial network, the 'Discovery' becomes stranded and Lt. Paul Stamets discovers a man inside the network. A man named Hugh Colber, who seems to know more about Stamets and the 'U.S.S. Discovery' than such a highly classified project should reveal.

'Dead Endless' by Dave Galanter is an interesting novel, which taps into the central characters exceedingly well and uses the mycelial network to its full advantage to create an exciting mission as well ...more

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