String Theory (novels)

String Theory is a trilogy of novels set in the Star Trek universe. Book one, "Cohesion", was written by Jeffrey Lang; book two, "Fusion", by Kirsten Beyer; and book three, "Evolution", by Heather Jarman. The story takes place between seasons four and five of the "" television series (i.e. between episodes "Hope and Fear" and "Night"). As with all the spin-off works, these novels are not part of the Star Trek canon.

Cohesion

"Spirits unbroken by the failed promise of the U.S.S. Dauntless, Captain Kathryn Janeway's indefatigable crew continues their odyssey of discovery through an enigmatic region of the Delta Quadrant, encountering a system inhabited by a species that, according to known physical laws, shouldn't exist.

These unusual beings, the Monorhans, hover near the edge of extinction; technology from the Starship "Voyager" promises life. Janeway, compelled by the aliens' plight, dispatches Seven of Nine and Lieutenant B'Elanna Torres to the Monorhan homeworld. But an unexpected shock wave crashes the shuttle carrying Torres and Seven, catapulting Voyager into a place beyond the fabric of space-time.

As B'Elanna and Seven wage an interpersonal war, "Voyager" struggles to prevail on an extradimensional battleground against an indefinable enemy. But fate has determined that one is inexorably linked to the other: the insurmountable chasm separating Voyager from her lost crew members must be bridged...or all will perish."

The following is an excerpt from the book:

"There is absolutely no way in hell I'm going to let you stick any of that Borg crap in me!" Torres said. "Your little bugs - swimming through my bloodstream?! Forget it!"

"You would retain your individuality, Lieutenant, not become a member of a collective. You couldn't because there is no collective here." Seven of Nine stopped then considered, realizing that she was not being completely accurate. "Actually, that is not true: we would be the collective - a collective of two."

"You say that like somehow I'd find it reassuring. Amazing. No, Seven. Absolutely not. I won't even consider it."

"Then quite likely all these people will die."

"Lowering her head, Torres hissed softly, "How long will this take?"

"Not long," Seven replied. "But it would be best if you were unconscious for the procedure. You are a very difficult person, Lieutenant. Lie down now."

"I know," Torres said, lying back on the floor. "It's just that I really don't like you at all. No offense."

"Seven leaned down over Torres and unconsciously flexed a muscle in her forearm. A minuscule gap opened between Seven's wrist bone above the cuff, and an assimilation tubule snaked out from it like a tiny black tongue. Seven touched the tube to Torres's neck, and the engineer grew quiet. "None taken," Seven said."

Fusion

"The disruption in the space-time continuum caused by the creation of the "Blue Eye" singularity continues: Thread by thread, the fabric slowly frays and peels away, breaking down barriers between dimensions. As the lines between realities blur, the consequences cascade.

"Voyager" pursues Tuvok to a long-dormant space station, a place of astonishing grandeur and wonder. Ancient almost beyond imagining, the city seduces the crew with the promise that their greatest aspirations might be realized. Such promise requires sacrifice, however, and the price of fulfilling them will be high for "Voyager".

Unseen sentries, alarmed by "Voyager"'s meddling in the Monoharan system, send emissaries to ascertain Janeway's intentions. Unbeknownst to the captain, she is being tested and must persuade her evaluators that their contention -- that Voyager poses a threat to the delicate web of cosmic ecology -- is baseless. And failure to vindicate her choices will bring certain retribution to her crew."

The following is an excerpt from the book:

"It's possible we have an intruder on board," Janeway said. "B'Elanna discovered that the artifact given to me by the4 Monorhans when we left the planet, the Key to Gremadia, is actually made up of living sporocystian remnants. They are currently resonating, similar to the way the Caretaker's remains did when we encountered Suspiria. We haven't ruled out the possibility that another Nacene might be nearby."

"That adds a decidedly unsavoury piece to the puzzle," The Doctor observed."

"I agree. Keep me informed, Doctor. I'll be on the bridge," the captain said, following him out of his office."

"The Doctor halted in their approach to Naomi's biobed, where Phoebe stood over the girl. Turning to Janeway, he asked, "Captain, who is this woman?"

"Is that supposed to be a joke, Doctor? You know my sister," Janeway replied, gesturing toward Phoebe."

"Captain...I..." the Doctor stammered, and blinked out of existence."

Evolution

"A wake of destruction and loss threatens the "U.S.S. Voyager" as Chakotay assumes command. Grief over Janeway's impending death coupled with anxiety brought on by the disappearance of Paris, Kim, and the Doctor forces the crew to take increasingly dangerous actions in order to assure their own survival.

But "Voyager" doesn't fight alone: behind the lines, powerful forces have allied to give the starship aid. Toward this end, a familiar nemesis -- the cosmic meddler Q -- sends Paris and Kim on a perilous journey. Elsewhere, the Doctor, trapped in a dimension alien to human understanding, reunites with an old friend to help secure the fates of those he's left behind.

Yet the conflict raging in the Monorhan system is merely a surface manifestation of more serious turmoil; the true struggle is rooted in the universe's very foundation. Standing at the eye of this maelstrom is "Voyager", whose crew may hold the fate of all."

The following is an excerpt from the book:

"The Doctor floated in black so thick no sensation could penetrate. He tried moving his limbs, opening his eyes, seeking to touch, and failed to discern if his holographic body still existed. None of his programmed senses functioned as he was accustomed, and yet he knew he was someplace because he existed. When he was deactivated aboard Voyager, his sentience simply stopped -- a suspended pause -- until he was reactivated and his lifeline continued. Here and now, he knew only himself, as if the sum total of his existence had been reduced to self-awareness, nothing further. Not even his vast database could provide a reference point. Or had he even retained a connection to his database? He couldn't say for certain. So many of his thoughts were blurry and unfocused. He imagined his current state had much in common with what patients experienced post-anesthesia: aware, but not awake; cognizant of one's body, yet disconnected from it. Whatever force had ripped him from Voyager had sent his holomatrix into a state of shock, though the Doctor didn't know how that was possible."

Things To Look For

Cohesion

*B'Elanna and Seven of Nine will begin to form the basis of a true friendship when they are forced to work closely together while crashed on Monorha.

Fusion

*The inspiration for Captain Proton, Tom's favourite holodeck program, will be revealed.
*The Nacene, the species that the Caretaker is a member of, will play an important role in the story.
*Another opportunity for "Voyager" and her crew to make it home fast will be discovered.

Evolution

*Look for the old character Q, who will return in the beginning of the book and play an important role in the story.
*An old friend of the Doctor's will return.

External links

* [http://www.psiphi.org/cgi/upc-db/0743457188.html Psi Phi's Star Trek Books Database]
* [http://www.simonsays.com/content/index.cfm?sid=44 Simonsays.com Star Trek Book Database]