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Star Trek: Slings and Arrows #6
Enterprises of Great Pitch and Moment
A new Federation President has been elected, and his first order of business is to attempt to restore the alliance with the Klingon Empire. To that end, he sends Captain Picard to Deep Space 9, in the hopes that Picard's relationship with Chancellor Gowron might lead to a normalization of relations.At first, things go well, as Gowron agrees to meet with Picard and Captain Sisko of DS9 on a neutral planet -- but when their runabout is shot down, it's up to Commanders Worf and Data to find out the truth before their captains are killed!
80 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2004
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August 14, 2022
Summer 2022 Reading Entry #12. "Enterprises of Great Pitch and Moment" ("Star Trek: The Next Generation: Slings and Arrows, Book 6: Enterprises of Great Pitch and Moment") by Keith R.A. DeCandido (2008). The sixth of a six-book series of ebooks (still not available in print form as of this time) released in 2007-2008 as part of Pocket Books' commemoration of the twentieth anniversary of the "Star Trek: The Next Generation" television series.
Each of the books in this series is written by a different author (or team of authors), and they all take place in the first year of service of the U.S.S. Enterprise-E (so, following the film "Star Trek Generations", in which the Enterprise from the tv series, NCC-1701-D, was destroyed, and prior to the following film, "Star Trek: First Contact", in which its replacement, the Enterprise NCC-1701-E, was introduced).
I will say right off the bat that I really enjoyed this installment in the "Slings and Arrows" series. Easily my favorite of the six, and if I had to say "if you can only read one book in the series", this would one hundred percent be it.
Part of it is that Keith R.A. DeCandido is one of those authors whose works (his Star Trek tie-in writing especially) very rarely disappoint. Truthfully, I've bought many more of his books over the years than I have so far had the opportunity to read yet but that's still a plus in my book as I know I still have so many really great reads of his to get to. Sadly (and frustratingly), the editorial powers that be at Simon & Schuster (the publisher of the official Star Trek novels) for unknown reasons haven't had DeCandido back to write a Star Trek tie-in novel since 2009 ("A Singular Destiny"), which is a crime shame. C'mon, Margaret Clark and Ed Schlesinger (and any one else who is editing the Star Trek novels at Simon & Schuster (formerly under their Pocket Books imprint, now under their Gallery Books one), get with the program! I know you already have lots of really good authors writing for you right now and only so many new novel slots per year, but DeCandido is one of your best authors and did a ton of work for you between 2000 and 2009, and now you haven't had him back in thirteen years! It really is a mystery to me as to why that is, and it should be rectified soon. (It's not like he doesn't *want* to write any more Star Trek novels.)
Anyway, as I said, I loved "Enterprises of Great Pitch and Moment", and large because it's one of those wonderful "crossover" stories between characters from usually separate series. Me being a lifelong comic book reader, I have always loved "team-ups" and "crossovers".
Here, we pick up with Picard and the Enterprise-E as they arrive at space station Deep Space 9 (the journey to which was briefly seen in the previous book, "Slings and Arrows Book 5: A Weary Life" by Robert Greenberger; these two books occur concurrently with each other, "A Weary Life" detailing Will Riker, Geordi La Forge, and Padraig Daniels' away mission to intercept a Maquis equipment transfer, which is why none of those characters are present in this book).
As seen on episodes of "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" that take place around this same time, the Federation and the Klingon Empire have been in a state of hostilities with each other at the same time that the Dominion is threatening the entire quadrant (and, also out there, is the ever looming threat of the Borg).
One of the Federation's priorities is to resume their peaceful mutually beneficial relationship with the Klingons. To which, they have received a communique from a high ranking admiral in the Klingon Defense Force that Chancellor Gowron wishes to meet with Captains Jean-Luc Picard and Benjamin Sisko. Having worked with both of those particular Starfleet captains in the past, he will meet only with them and in person at a location deep in the dangerous area of space known as the Badlands (which is rife with powerful and erratic plasma storms; the Badlands is the region where the Starfleet vessel, the U.S.S. Voyager, had just recently been lost in).
Picard and Sisko both suspect it is a trap but still know that it is a risk they have to take if it can restore peace between them and the Klingons. So the two of them board Deep Space Nine runabout and venture off together to their meeting with Gowron. Which gives us the first real instance of Picard and Sisko having to interact with each other very much since their very awkward meeting in the first episode of "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" (titled "Emissary"), in which Picard gives then Commander Sisko his orders to take command of the station orbiting the non aligned world of Bajor, and Sisko confronts Picard with the knowledge that they had in actuality already met prior to that, "In battle" (Sikso having been the first officer of the U.S.S. Saratoga when it was one of the vessels sent to try to stop the Borg at Wolf 359, the assimilated Picard as "Locutus" leading the Borg against them; Sisko's wife, Jennifer, being on of the many who died in that battle).
Sisko and Picard begin their long journey in the runabout still very awkward with each other but gradually become more comfortable in each other's presence (first keeping conversations to details of their current mission and instances involving Starfleet officers that both have worked with like Chief O'Brien and Worf). But, eventually, their history with each other and with the Borg does come up, too. As does the realization, when they arrive at the Badlands, that, indeed, things are not as they had been led to be in regards to their planned meeting with Gowron. Almost immediately, Picard and Sisko find themselves in a dire situation where they must count on each other to survive long enough for help (in the form of the U.S.S. Enterprise-E under the command of Lt. Commander Data) to arrive.
Not wanting to into any more specifics than that, plot wise, I do want to say that "Enterprises of Great Pitch and Moment" also gives us an excellent "epilogue" scene. Namely, the much needed moment when Captain Sisko and his officers at Deep Space 9 are informed that a fleet is being mobilized to defend against another Borg invasion, and that the U.S.S. Defiant has been assigned to join that fleet. But under the command of Worf, not Sisko. Sisko, in a scene very much like what we saw in the film "Star Trek: First Contact", is ordered to remain at the station, along with the rest of this senior staff, as he is deemed too personally involved with the Borg (having had lost his wife to them at Wolf 359) to be in command of their most powerful warship in another battle against them. Angry, Sisko realizes, however, that orders are orders and wishes Worf well as the Klingon prepares to depart. Sisko also brings up a list of the ships assigned to the defense of Earth and takes note that Picard and the Enterprise-E have also been purposely sent away from the action (as seen in "First Contact"). Sisko muses that both he an Picard have essentially been "benched" as Starfleet prepares once more to make a defensive stand against the Borg. (And we all know how that ended up in regards to Picard and the Enterprise-E.)
Again, I highly recommend "Enterprises of Great Pitch and Moment" to fans of both "Star Trek: The Next Generation" and also "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine". DeCandido is an expert at capturing the voices of just about any established Star Trek character (and the actor portraying them) and does so again here with Picard, Sisko, Worf, Dax, Data, et al. He is also one of the top "Klingon authors", having written stories featuring the Klingons extensively (including the short lived "I.K.S. Gorkon" series, the only Star Trek novel spin-off series entirely focused on Klingon characters). I gave this book four out of five stars on GoodReads.
(Summer 2022 Reading Entries: #1: "Star Trek: Avenger" by William Shatner (1997; novel); #2: "Batman vs. Ra's Al Ghul" by Neal Adams (2019-2021, six-issue comic book limited-series; 2021 collected hardcover edition); #3: “Superman: Birthright” by Mark Waid, Leinil Francis Wu, and Gerry Alanguilan (twelve-issue comic book limited series; 2003 to 2004; read on DC Universe Infinite, also available in hardcover and softcover editions); #4: "Star Trek: The Next Generation: Slings and Arrows Book 1: A Sea of Troubles" by J. Steven York and Christina F. York (2007); #5: "The Orville Season 1.5: New Beginnings" by David A. Goodman and David Cabeza (2019, four issue comic book limited series; 2020 collected trade paperback edition); #6: "Star Trek: The Next Generation: Slings and Arrows, Book 2: The Oppressor's Wrong" by Phaedra Weldon (2007); #7: "Superman: Secret Origin" by Geoff Johns, Gary Frank, and Jon Sibal (2009-2010, six-issue comic book limited series; 2019 "Deluxe Edition" collected hardcover edition); #8: "Star Trek: The Next Generation: Slings and Arrows, Book 3: The Insolence of Office" by William Leisner (2007); #9: "Star Trek: The Next Generation: Slings and Arrows, Book 4: That Sleep of Death" by Terri Osborne (2008); #10: "Star Trek: The Next Generation: Section 31: Rogue") by Andy Mangels and Michael A. Martin (2001); #11: "Star Trek: The Next Generation: Slings and Arrows, Book 5: A Weary Life" by Robert Greenberger (2008); #12: "Star Trek: The Next Generation: Slings and Arrows, Book 6: Enterprises of Great Pitch and Moment" by Keith R.A. DeCandido (2008); #13: "The Story of Marvel Studios: The Making of the Marvel Cinematic Universe" by Tara Bennett (2021) (two volume slipcased hardcover set; book one read June 12-July 24; starting on book two next now, in mid August).
This will be the end of my posting these reviews specifically as "Summer 2022 Reading Log" entries (which is why I'm going ahead and including the "Making of Marvel Studios" on the final completed list now since I started it in the June and have finished reading the first half of it). It's now the middle of August and I, a high school teacher, am now back back to work at students here are back to school (so, for me at least, "Summer 2022" is officially over.)
Each of the books in this series is written by a different author (or team of authors), and they all take place in the first year of service of the U.S.S. Enterprise-E (so, following the film "Star Trek Generations", in which the Enterprise from the tv series, NCC-1701-D, was destroyed, and prior to the following film, "Star Trek: First Contact", in which its replacement, the Enterprise NCC-1701-E, was introduced).
I will say right off the bat that I really enjoyed this installment in the "Slings and Arrows" series. Easily my favorite of the six, and if I had to say "if you can only read one book in the series", this would one hundred percent be it.
Part of it is that Keith R.A. DeCandido is one of those authors whose works (his Star Trek tie-in writing especially) very rarely disappoint. Truthfully, I've bought many more of his books over the years than I have so far had the opportunity to read yet but that's still a plus in my book as I know I still have so many really great reads of his to get to. Sadly (and frustratingly), the editorial powers that be at Simon & Schuster (the publisher of the official Star Trek novels) for unknown reasons haven't had DeCandido back to write a Star Trek tie-in novel since 2009 ("A Singular Destiny"), which is a crime shame. C'mon, Margaret Clark and Ed Schlesinger (and any one else who is editing the Star Trek novels at Simon & Schuster (formerly under their Pocket Books imprint, now under their Gallery Books one), get with the program! I know you already have lots of really good authors writing for you right now and only so many new novel slots per year, but DeCandido is one of your best authors and did a ton of work for you between 2000 and 2009, and now you haven't had him back in thirteen years! It really is a mystery to me as to why that is, and it should be rectified soon. (It's not like he doesn't *want* to write any more Star Trek novels.)
Anyway, as I said, I loved "Enterprises of Great Pitch and Moment", and large because it's one of those wonderful "crossover" stories between characters from usually separate series. Me being a lifelong comic book reader, I have always loved "team-ups" and "crossovers".
Here, we pick up with Picard and the Enterprise-E as they arrive at space station Deep Space 9 (the journey to which was briefly seen in the previous book, "Slings and Arrows Book 5: A Weary Life" by Robert Greenberger; these two books occur concurrently with each other, "A Weary Life" detailing Will Riker, Geordi La Forge, and Padraig Daniels' away mission to intercept a Maquis equipment transfer, which is why none of those characters are present in this book).
As seen on episodes of "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" that take place around this same time, the Federation and the Klingon Empire have been in a state of hostilities with each other at the same time that the Dominion is threatening the entire quadrant (and, also out there, is the ever looming threat of the Borg).
One of the Federation's priorities is to resume their peaceful mutually beneficial relationship with the Klingons. To which, they have received a communique from a high ranking admiral in the Klingon Defense Force that Chancellor Gowron wishes to meet with Captains Jean-Luc Picard and Benjamin Sisko. Having worked with both of those particular Starfleet captains in the past, he will meet only with them and in person at a location deep in the dangerous area of space known as the Badlands (which is rife with powerful and erratic plasma storms; the Badlands is the region where the Starfleet vessel, the U.S.S. Voyager, had just recently been lost in).
Picard and Sisko both suspect it is a trap but still know that it is a risk they have to take if it can restore peace between them and the Klingons. So the two of them board Deep Space Nine runabout and venture off together to their meeting with Gowron. Which gives us the first real instance of Picard and Sisko having to interact with each other very much since their very awkward meeting in the first episode of "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" (titled "Emissary"), in which Picard gives then Commander Sisko his orders to take command of the station orbiting the non aligned world of Bajor, and Sisko confronts Picard with the knowledge that they had in actuality already met prior to that, "In battle" (Sikso having been the first officer of the U.S.S. Saratoga when it was one of the vessels sent to try to stop the Borg at Wolf 359, the assimilated Picard as "Locutus" leading the Borg against them; Sisko's wife, Jennifer, being on of the many who died in that battle).
Sisko and Picard begin their long journey in the runabout still very awkward with each other but gradually become more comfortable in each other's presence (first keeping conversations to details of their current mission and instances involving Starfleet officers that both have worked with like Chief O'Brien and Worf). But, eventually, their history with each other and with the Borg does come up, too. As does the realization, when they arrive at the Badlands, that, indeed, things are not as they had been led to be in regards to their planned meeting with Gowron. Almost immediately, Picard and Sisko find themselves in a dire situation where they must count on each other to survive long enough for help (in the form of the U.S.S. Enterprise-E under the command of Lt. Commander Data) to arrive.
Not wanting to into any more specifics than that, plot wise, I do want to say that "Enterprises of Great Pitch and Moment" also gives us an excellent "epilogue" scene. Namely, the much needed moment when Captain Sisko and his officers at Deep Space 9 are informed that a fleet is being mobilized to defend against another Borg invasion, and that the U.S.S. Defiant has been assigned to join that fleet. But under the command of Worf, not Sisko. Sisko, in a scene very much like what we saw in the film "Star Trek: First Contact", is ordered to remain at the station, along with the rest of this senior staff, as he is deemed too personally involved with the Borg (having had lost his wife to them at Wolf 359) to be in command of their most powerful warship in another battle against them. Angry, Sisko realizes, however, that orders are orders and wishes Worf well as the Klingon prepares to depart. Sisko also brings up a list of the ships assigned to the defense of Earth and takes note that Picard and the Enterprise-E have also been purposely sent away from the action (as seen in "First Contact"). Sisko muses that both he an Picard have essentially been "benched" as Starfleet prepares once more to make a defensive stand against the Borg. (And we all know how that ended up in regards to Picard and the Enterprise-E.)
Again, I highly recommend "Enterprises of Great Pitch and Moment" to fans of both "Star Trek: The Next Generation" and also "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine". DeCandido is an expert at capturing the voices of just about any established Star Trek character (and the actor portraying them) and does so again here with Picard, Sisko, Worf, Dax, Data, et al. He is also one of the top "Klingon authors", having written stories featuring the Klingons extensively (including the short lived "I.K.S. Gorkon" series, the only Star Trek novel spin-off series entirely focused on Klingon characters). I gave this book four out of five stars on GoodReads.
(Summer 2022 Reading Entries: #1: "Star Trek: Avenger" by William Shatner (1997; novel); #2: "Batman vs. Ra's Al Ghul" by Neal Adams (2019-2021, six-issue comic book limited-series; 2021 collected hardcover edition); #3: “Superman: Birthright” by Mark Waid, Leinil Francis Wu, and Gerry Alanguilan (twelve-issue comic book limited series; 2003 to 2004; read on DC Universe Infinite, also available in hardcover and softcover editions); #4: "Star Trek: The Next Generation: Slings and Arrows Book 1: A Sea of Troubles" by J. Steven York and Christina F. York (2007); #5: "The Orville Season 1.5: New Beginnings" by David A. Goodman and David Cabeza (2019, four issue comic book limited series; 2020 collected trade paperback edition); #6: "Star Trek: The Next Generation: Slings and Arrows, Book 2: The Oppressor's Wrong" by Phaedra Weldon (2007); #7: "Superman: Secret Origin" by Geoff Johns, Gary Frank, and Jon Sibal (2009-2010, six-issue comic book limited series; 2019 "Deluxe Edition" collected hardcover edition); #8: "Star Trek: The Next Generation: Slings and Arrows, Book 3: The Insolence of Office" by William Leisner (2007); #9: "Star Trek: The Next Generation: Slings and Arrows, Book 4: That Sleep of Death" by Terri Osborne (2008); #10: "Star Trek: The Next Generation: Section 31: Rogue") by Andy Mangels and Michael A. Martin (2001); #11: "Star Trek: The Next Generation: Slings and Arrows, Book 5: A Weary Life" by Robert Greenberger (2008); #12: "Star Trek: The Next Generation: Slings and Arrows, Book 6: Enterprises of Great Pitch and Moment" by Keith R.A. DeCandido (2008); #13: "The Story of Marvel Studios: The Making of the Marvel Cinematic Universe" by Tara Bennett (2021) (two volume slipcased hardcover set; book one read June 12-July 24; starting on book two next now, in mid August).
This will be the end of my posting these reviews specifically as "Summer 2022 Reading Log" entries (which is why I'm going ahead and including the "Making of Marvel Studios" on the final completed list now since I started it in the June and have finished reading the first half of it). It's now the middle of August and I, a high school teacher, am now back back to work at students here are back to school (so, for me at least, "Summer 2022" is officially over.)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 24, 2015
The character moments between Sisko and Picard are the true shining gems in this story by the always on-point Keith DeCandido. An excellent wrap-up to what has been a pretty good series for the most part. I have been reading a lot of DeCandido's work lately, and this is a writer who needs to have more new Trek fiction published. Come on Pocket Books, give this guy a contract for a new Star Trek novel already! I'm missing my dose of DeCandido awesomeness!
Full review: http://treklit.blogspot.com/2015/05/S...
Full review: http://treklit.blogspot.com/2015/05/S...
August 28, 2016
By far the best in this miniseries. Picard and Sisko go on a mission together and, while stranded, break through the barriers forged by the Borg. It's a great character piece and setup for First Contact.
February 18, 2026
A crossover featuring my two favorite captains, Jean-Luc Picard and Benjamin Sisko, undertaking a desperate covert mission to convince Chancellor Gowron to reinstate the Khitomer Accords during the Dominion War?
If that sentence alone isn't enough to convince you to read this novella, then let me hasten to add that it features a ton of great character interactions between the two captains, as well as with O'Brien, Worf, Kira, Dax, Data, and Nog.
The only reason this story isn't 5/5 stars is that the climax of the story is itself a little lackluster.
If that sentence alone isn't enough to convince you to read this novella, then let me hasten to add that it features a ton of great character interactions between the two captains, as well as with O'Brien, Worf, Kira, Dax, Data, and Nog.
The only reason this story isn't 5/5 stars is that the climax of the story is itself a little lackluster.
January 28, 2018
Easily the best book in the series, though I'm not sure if that's down to the good author or the fact that the story here is the most interesting. Teaming Sisko up with Picard is great and they get to air out some of their problems that the shows/films were never able to deal with. DeCandido also manages to write them well and capture the characters well.
The ending leads directly into the film Star Trek: First Contact and manages some pleasant continuity.
The ending leads directly into the film Star Trek: First Contact and manages some pleasant continuity.
January 13, 2025
A potential peace treaty between the Federation and the Klingon Empire leads Captains Picard and Sisko into the Badlands, where the two men come to terms with their terrible shared past.
A fitting conclusion to the 'Slings and Arrows' series, which explores a friendship between two remarkable leaders. A thoughtful piece, which brings readers right to the beginning of 'Star Trek: First Contact'.
A fitting conclusion to the 'Slings and Arrows' series, which explores a friendship between two remarkable leaders. A thoughtful piece, which brings readers right to the beginning of 'Star Trek: First Contact'.
July 3, 2018
Picard and Sisko are sent on a mission to try and get the Klingons in an alliance with the Federation. This is an interesting story as it allows those 2 characters time to resolve their differences due to the borg. It is mainly a Picard story, but also adds some depth to Sisko too. A good read.
October 18, 2018
The only problem with these books is the occasional lack of a space between words
July 2, 2021
I really enjoyed the Slings and Arrows serial set. A decent series that was tightly written and no nonsense in approach. This last book in the series was good...not great...but good.
July 10, 2021
It wrote like an Episode. Second best book in the series, in my opinion.
March 28, 2025
The last e-novella in the Star Trek: The Next Generation: Slings and Arrows six part series. It happens parallel to the next to last book. Nothing much happens or is explained in this book. Really, I am surprised it was this long. In short, Jean-Luc Picard and Benjamin Sisko go on a mission that involves Klingons in the Badlands.
January 22, 2010
I read this in a single day. It is the enterprise crew mixed with DS9 crew. The story was fast moving, funny in the way I expect from NG. The only part I didn't like is the start of a new story in the last 2 pages that just hung there waiting... I would have preferred a clean finish, I hate Cliff-hangers
January 12, 2013
Although yet again the English was spotty in places, which really goes to show Pocket's lack of consideration to their ebook line at this period, the story itself was engaging and the psychology very good indeed. I especially liked how the last two story dovetailed and the interplay between both captains was pretty nice as well.
Want to Read
July 25, 2010It's a worthwhile, but quite short story about Captain Jean-Luc Picard and Captain Benjamin Sisko who try to renew the alliance with the Klingon Empire, but find themselves trapped on a cold planet while their fellow crew man try to rescue them.
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