''Star Trek: The Q Continuum'' is an omnibus edition of a three novel miniseries written by
Greg Cox, based on the television series ''
Star Trek: The Next Generation''. The novels explore the history of the multi-dimensional being
Q prior to his introduction in the 1987 episode "
Encounter at Farpoint
"Encounter at Farpoint" is the pilot episode and series premiere of the American science fiction television series '' Star Trek: The Next Generation'', which premiered in syndication on September 28, 1987. It was written by D. C. Fontana ...
". The
Science Fiction Book Club
Bookspan LLC is a New York–based online bookseller, founded in 2000.
Bookspan began as a joint endeavor by Bertelsmann and Time Warner. Bertelsmann took over control in 2007, and a year later, sold its interest to Najafi Companies, an Arizo ...
released a similar edition with a different cover in 1998, also titled ''The Q Continuum''.
The edition is part of the ''Star Trek: Signature Edition'' (2003–04) series, published by
Pocket Books
Pocket Books is a division of Simon & Schuster that primarily publishes paperback books.
History
Pocket Books produced the first mass-market, pocket-sized paperback books in the United States in early 1939 and revolutionized the publishing ...
. Included, is an interview of Cox by
Kevin Dilmore.
Production
''The Q Continuum'' trilogy was conceived by
John J. Ordover
John J. Ordover Is a New York Area stand-up comic, and is the American founder and chief executive officer of JJO Marketing, a digital art gallery owner, and is best known for being an editor at Pocket Books from 1992 to 2003 overseeing the ''Star ...
at Pocket Books.
Cox lamented he was uncertain he had "nine-hundred pages" in him when offered the project. He accepted the task after rewatching all the episodes featuring Q.
Cox said, in ''
Voyages of Imagination
''Voyages of Imagination: The Star Trek Fiction Companion'' (2006) is a reference work by Jeff Ayers published by Pocket Books. The book contains entries on the production and publication of ''Star Trek'' tie-in novels published from 1967 to 2006 ...
'' (2006), the poetry included in the novels was written by Karen Palinko.
Several printings included a facsimile signature from the author.
The edition includes ''Q-Space'', ''Q-Zone'', and ''Q-Strike'', which were originally published as ''
The Next Generation
Next Generation or Next-Generation may refer to:
Publications and literature
* ''Next Generation'' (magazine), video game magazine that was made by the now defunct Imagine Media publishing company
* Next Generation poets (2004), list of young ...
'', Books 4749.
Plot summary
A Betazoid scientist, Lem Faal, claims to have found a way to penetrate the Galactic Barrier. The ''
Enterprise
Enterprise (or the archaic spelling Enterprize) may refer to:
Business and economics
Brands and enterprises
* Enterprise GP Holdings, an energy holding company
* Enterprise plc, a UK civil engineering and maintenance company
* Enterpris ...
'' is sent to offer aid. They return to Delta Vega, where
Gary Mitchell was transformed in a god-like being after exposure radiation from the barrier in "
Where No Man Has Gone Before
"Where No Man Has Gone Before" is the third episode of the first season of the American science fiction television series, ''Star Trek''. Written by Samuel A. Peeples and directed by James Goldstone, it first aired on September 22, 1966.
In t ...
". After gaining an understanding of Faal's technology, Capt.
Picard orders the ''Enterprise'' to the barrier.
Q appears, warning Picard and Faal against breaking the barrier.
When asked why they should stop, Q takes Picard on a journey to the distant past—a young Q's distant past. With Riker in command, the ''Enterprise'' is attacked by the Calamarain, non-corporeal lifeforms introduced in the episode "
Deja Q
"Deja Q" is the 13th episode of the Star Trek: The Next Generation (season 3), third season of the American science fiction on television, science fiction television series ''Star Trek: The Next Generation'', and the 61st episode of the series ove ...
". Faal plots to complete his barrier breaking test, regardless of the consequences, eager to make his mark on the Universe.
While on his journey with Q, Picard discovers the truth: the barrier was constructed to protect the galaxy from a malevolent, near-omnipotent, entity known as 0. The entity had remorselessly ravaged several worlds 600,000 years prior. It had also tortured the Calamarain, almost compressing them all into a single point, before being stopped by the young Q.
A small portion of 0's consciousness had passed through the barrier a few years prior, and merged with Faal. He was promised immortality in exchange for opening the barrier. After 0 entered the galaxy, Q, other members of the Q Continuum, and the Calamarain, join forces to defeat it.
Contents
All novels written by
Greg Cox:
* ''Q-Space'' (1998)
* ''Q-Zone'' (1998)
* ''Q-Strike'' (1998)
* ''A Look Inside 'The Q Continuum' with Greg Cox'', by
Kevin Dilmore
Reception
The omnibus was called "a marvelously funny and enlightening visit to the ''Star Trek'' universe" by reviewers at Readers Read. Fraser Ronald of SFReader, said the omnibus was "a more satisfying experience" than previous
''The Next Generation'' films, or many episodes of
''Enterprise'', but there were caveats to issuing a full recommendation.
Cox responded to a fan question on
TrekBBS about the omnibus with: "I remember writing
he novels
He or HE may refer to:
Language
* He (pronoun), an English pronoun
* He (kana), the romanization of the Japanese kana へ
* He (letter), the fifth letter of many Semitic alphabets
* He (Cyrillic), a letter of the Cyrillic script called ''He'' ...
a trillion years ago."
See also
*
Encounter at Farpoint
"Encounter at Farpoint" is the pilot episode and series premiere of the American science fiction television series '' Star Trek: The Next Generation'', which premiered in syndication on September 28, 1987. It was written by D. C. Fontana ...
*
Deja Q
"Deja Q" is the 13th episode of the Star Trek: The Next Generation (season 3), third season of the American science fiction on television, science fiction television series ''Star Trek: The Next Generation'', and the 61st episode of the series ove ...
*
All Good Things...
*
I, Q
''I, Q'' is a 1999 '' Star Trek'' novel by John de Lancie and Peter David. Set in the '' Star Trek: The Next Generation'' fictional universe, the novel depicts Q joining forces with Captain Jean-Luc Picard and Lieutenant Commander Data to save ...
*
Q-Squared
''Q-Squared'' (full title '' Star Trek: The Next Generation – Q-Squared'') is a non-canon '' Star Trek'' novel by Peter David. It spent five weeks on the New York Times bestseller list in 1994.http://www.hawes.com/1994/1994-07-24.pdf
''Q- ...
*
Q-in-Law
''Q-in-Law'' is a 1991 science fiction novel by American writer Peter David, part of the '' Star Trek: The Next Generation'' saga. It features Lwaxana Troi and Q. The book was ignored by the ''Star Trek'' office at Paramount, and apparently pu ...
References
External links
*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Q Continuum, The
Novels by Greg Cox
Novels based on Star Trek: The Next Generation