Step Into Chaos

Quest for Tomorrow #3

by William Shatner

After defeating the dreaded Hunnza fleet, Jim Endicott wants a "normal" life. But his wish is not to be, for a new and even more terrible conflict is stirring. Earth's former ally, the Alba Packlord, suspects that humans are about to "Leap"--transcend to another level of existence in a process that will sweep away star systems, laying waste to the universe. To eliminate the human threat, the Packlord has made a secret alliance with the Hunnza--but not if the mysterious immortal known as the Outsider can stop them using Jim as a weapon. First, though, the Outsider has to find his embittered hero. Distraught over the death of his father, Jim has plunged deep into the underground, where danger of another kind lurks in the shape of a girl as bad as she is irresistible. But the Packlord will stop at nothing to succeed, including assassination. Jim's only hope for survival lies in making the Leap himself: taking the step into chaos that will save humankind or turn the universe into a graveyard of burned-out stars.

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction, Science Fiction Fantasy

400 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 6, 1999

About the author

William Shatner is the author of nine Star Trek novels, including the New York Times bestsellers The Ashes of Eden and The Return. He is also the author of several nonfiction books, including Get a Life! and I'm Working on That. In addition to his role as Captain James T. Kirk, he stars as Denny Crane in the hit television series from David E. Kelley, Boston Legal -- a role for which he has won two Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe.

Reviews

[Bryn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sorry I just couldn’t get into it came across like a movie I watched sometime ago maybe I’ll try another day so at the moment it’s going on my unread shelf

[Gregory Faccone · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you have been enjoying the series up to now, you might as well continue with this entry, just do not expect the same level of satisfaction as book one was able to deliver. The Quest for Tomorrow universe is getting bigger, and a bit stranger, but not necessarily in a good way. Of course, every series needs to grow beyond its launch, and for someone as unusually gifted as its protagonist, Jim, that can be a challenge. I admire Shatner's gusto to “boldly go” larger on the plot scale in a big way.

I generally enjoyed this series less as it went along. It was not entirely because the stories grew less strong, but because the series moved farther from the dynamic that so resonated in book one. Jim and his ability to see patterns, his big, unwieldy pistol, and his competent parents. Okay, the parents were killed off in book one, but even so it seems their temperance that could live on in Jim is fading. I enjoy writing a competent mother and father in my series, and I think such things add depth to a protagonist and lift us higher as a culture.

Protagonist Jim, a once a hopeful, naive, talented up-and-comer who felt held back by his immediate circumstances. Sound familiar? It's indeed similar to legendary protagonist Luke Skywalker. Luke grows mightily in the original three movies, but even by Return of the Jedi, still retained some of his boyish charm and farm raised wholesomeness. Jim seems to have lost some of that appeal. He is still fun, and can wield his super-pistol like Luke and his saber, but an intangible element has been lost.

Quest for Tomorrow: Step Into Chaos is not high fiction. Faced with hard choices for the series, this one hits and misses the mark, but is still worth reading for fans.

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm a fan of William Shatner so I decided to pick up his pre-Star Trek novels that he writes now. This is the third in the series of the Quest for Tomorrow.
This book wasn't as fun as the second entry, but certainly took a huge story turn at the end of this book. I'm still digesting if I like this turn of events, but it was an interesting and unexpected ending for this book. It also does make you think about some important ideas about what is life and how we define it.
These concepts are certainly prescient now that we are in the midst of AGI (Artificial General Intelligence). Is an AI alive?
That said, I'm interested in seeing where Shatner this story over the next two novels in this series. At this point his possibilities are endless.

[Mark Hartman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting continuation of the Quest For Tomorrow. Jim is at a crossroads getting drunk and feeling lost. The story extends beyond the sol system into further reaches of space. Short book and interesting but I like the second book the best. Not sure if this was originally meant as a trilogy. It feels like it. But the series continues on for two more books.

[Larry Holshu · Rating 3 out of 5]

The third of four in the series, I believe. Not as well written. All over the place and really doesn't tie things in will well but still a good book. Just started the fourth book and so far it is back to the same grade as the first 2. Time will tell.

[Joel]

william shatner? I know what you are thinking, but he is actually a very good sci fi writer.