Star Trek: New Frontier

Production

John J. Ordover noted that in the mid-nineties, Star Trek novels could not have inherent continuity or significant changes; characters could not die, change, or leave. He devised New Frontier to create a serialized, internally consistent series set in the Star Trek universe. Peter David recalled that Paramount believed fans would have little interest in a Star Trek series not stemming directly from the television shows, but David was given their blessing with the caveat that several characters from The Next Generation be included. Ordover stated that David created Mackenzie Calhoun on his own, and David said Ordover came up with the USS Excalibur and told him which characters to use, after which David fleshed out the concept and created the original characters.

The first four novels were published in paperback novella format in 1997, similar to the release of The Green Mile by Stephen King. An omnibus followed in 1998, and later novels were mass-market paperback. The anthology No Limits (2003) was trade paperback. WildStorm published a graphic novel in 2000, written by David with artists Mike Collins and David Roach. IDW Publishing released a five-issue comic book miniseries in 2008, also by David, with artist Stephen Thompson.

As of 2015, twenty-four novels, a short story anthology, and two graphic novels had been published, along with several short stories and related works by other writers. Characters and settings from New Frontier have appeared in other Star Trek novels, most by David, and have been included in crossovers such as The Captain's Table (1998), Double Helix (1999), Gateways (2000), The Lost Era (2003), and the Mirror Universe anthologies. A short story by David was anthologized in Tales of the Dominion War (2004). The most recent installment, The Returned (2015), was published as a three-part ebook exclusive by Pocket Star.

Premise

The Thallonian Empire, once a dominant force, crumbled after a revolt, throwing Sector 221-G into chaos. Starfleet responded by sending the USS Excalibur under Captain Mackenzie Calhoun to show a presence and assist with the fallout. The cast blends characters from The Animated Series, The Next Generation, Peter David’s Starfleet Academy novels, and original creations, written in an ensemble style like a TV show. The main figures are Calhoun, Commander Elizabeth Shelby, and Vulcan doctor Selar.

Calhoun, originally named M'k'n'zy of Calhoun, is a Xenexian, a human-like species with purple eyes. His people were oppressed by the Danteri, and he led their successful revolution before turning twenty. After a hallucinatory vision of Captain Jean-Luc Picard, who later visited him, Calhoun left his world for Starfleet.

He quit after a dispute following his captain’s death on the USS Grissom, but Picard convinced him to return, giving him command of the Excalibur. His cowboy style frustrates colleagues like Shelby and Captain Jellico, but he gets results. Peter David noted that Commander Quentin Stone from his 1991 novel A Rock and a Hard Place was an unintentional early version of Calhoun.

Elizabeth Shelby first appeared in the TNG two-parter "The Best of Both Worlds," played by Elizabeth Dennehy. She served on the Excalibur under Captain Korsmo before the series and had a romantic history with Calhoun from Starfleet Academy. When New Frontier began, she was his first officer, their relationship platonic. She later married Calhoun, became captain of the USS Trident, and eventually an admiral commanding Bravo Station, which oversees Sector 221-G.

Reception

Katherine Trendacosta of io9 said New Frontier filled a gap in the Star Trek universe that was not previously apparent, while being fun and smartly written, though she noted the character Calhoun is so perfect he feels like a stealth parody of a Mary Sue. Dan Gunther, reviewing Cold Wars (2001), stated that David has a solid handle on his characters.