When Star Trek first debuted in 1966, no one expected it to become a global phenomenon. The original show was cancelled after three seasons and it was only thanks to the success of reruns starting in 1969. By the late 1970s, those rebroadcast episodes were playing in over 150 domestic markets and 60 international markets. This widespread coverage helped the show gain cult momentum. Without new episodes, Trekkies had to seek out other ways to continue their love for the characters. This led to Star Trek conventions, where fans showed up in the thousands all over the world.
The newfound popularity led to a rebooted animated series and several movies. Then, in 1987, Paramount decided to try taking the USS Enterprise back to television, this time under the helm of Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation. Set approximately a century after Captain James T. Kirk captained the ship, The Next Generation builds on the enemies and worlds on the original series while expanding even further into the far reaches of space.
Star Trek: The Next Generation averaged more than 20 million viewers, exceeding even the most popular shows of the time, and consistently ranked in the top ten among other dramas. It received numerous Emmy Awards, won two Hugo Awards, and a Peabody Award for excellence in television programming. In addition to expanding the story into films, dozens of novel tie-ins were published starting in 1994.
If you love the show but have never gotten into the books, or weren’t sure where to start, we’ve got you covered. Here are eight of the most compelling adventures that Captain Jean-Luc Picard and the crew of the USS Enterprise went on as they explored the final frontier.
Our Favorite Star Trek: The Next Generation Books
Blaze of Glory
The USS Enterprise has been assigned to help planet K’Trall find their way forward after living under barbaric suppression for years. But their freedom is tenuous, especially when a rogue ship starts attacking Federation shipping lines. Captain Jean-Luc Picard and his crew will do everything to protect the planet from these raids.
Only, the planet has its own dark secrets to protect, secrets that could bring back the tyrannical rule they just escaped. Captain Picard has to find a way to through the web of lies and save billions of people before time runs out.
Ship of the Line
When the USS Enterprise took its first voyage, it was under the helm of Captain Morgan Bateson. Captain Bateson was one of the only men at the time who could see the threat of the Klingon Empire. Seizing his opportunity, Bateson takes the Enterprise on a mission to stop the impending Klingon Strike.
But when a Klingon with a vendetta against Bateson gets in the way, Captain Jean-Luc Picard is forced to step in. Will he take control of the Enterprise and stop disaster from striking? Or will he step aside and let the new generation take the ship towards a new destiny?
Contamination
When famed scientist Lynn Costa is murdered in one of the USS Enterprise’s science labs, the crew is stunned. Her work was highly respected, earning the highest honors in the Federation. Captain Jean-Luc Picard wants justice. He assigns Lt. Worf and Counselor Deanna Troi to investigate. The two quickly find themselves in an intricate web of lies, betrayal, and worse. There’s an assassin on the loose, and they want revenge. The only question is, how far will they go to get it?
The Last Stand
The USS Enterprise is on a routine mapping mission when they stumble on a culture on the brink of warp drive technology. But just as the crew starts surveying the planet, thousands of ships approach out of nowhere. An alien force is heading directly for them and they’re determined to stop the development of the warp drive before it’s too late.
Captain Jean-Luc Picard only has days to find a solution that will save millions. The only problem is, if he succeeds, he may unleash a new threat on the Federation.
Nightshade
Planet Oriana is dying. After two centuries of civil war, the people have destroyed the vegetation, ruined the breathable air, and dwindled the population to nearly nothing. Now, the warring factions want peace. But right when Captain Jean-Puc Picard and the USS Enterprise crew sit down to negotiate, things start to go wrong. Some of the people don’t want peace—no matter the cost. And when Captain Picard is accused of murder, it’s up to Lt. Worf and Counselor Troi to quickly unravel the truth before time runs out.
The Forgotten War
Years ago, legendary Starfleet Captain Lucien Murat disappeared in the middle of a battle with the alien forces of Tarn. Generations later, Captain Jean-Luc Picard finds himself in the middle of negotiations with the same alien race. The negotiations are delicate and become strained when the USS Enterprise finds the descendants of Murat and his crew on a planet. They’ve been stranded this whole time and continue waging war that ended decades ago. The discovery puts the survivors lives at risk, but even worse, they threaten to reignite a new war. Captain Picard and his crew have to find a way to salvage peace before it’s too late.
Greater Than the Sum
On a routine mission, the Starship Rhea came across some unusual findings. A cluster of carbon-based planets seem to be the source of quantum energy that’s been rippling through space. The crew makes contact with the unusual lifeforms on the planet, but before they can make progress, they’re attacked by a former Federation ship now controlled by the Borg.
To stop the assimilation of the planets and crew, the beings activate a quantum slipstream and transport the Rhea crew to safety. Now, the Borg ship is cut off from the rest of their fleet. For the safety of the Federation, the Borg cannot be allowed to rejoin their collective and gain access to the quantum technology. Captain Jean-Luc Picard is called in to stop the Borg no matter what.
Infection
The first year of the USS Enterprise’s ongoing mission is derailed when a virus threatens the population of Archaria III. Thousands of lives are at risk, and the tension escalates into rising violence as the people try to stop the spread of the deadly disease. Data and Natasha Yar investigate the true origins of the viral outbreak while Dr. Crusher struggles to find a cure. But when Counselor Deanna Troi succumbs to the plague, time runs out. The crew desperately tries to find a cure before they lose Counselor Troi for good.
Featured image: Picard / YouTube
