Review by Frank Plowright
This anthology is pretty well a case of doing what it says on the tin, with fourteen different stories collected covering a dozen different alien species as featured in Star Trek. If the Klingons and Romulans are duplicated is anyone going to mind? It combines in pocket format what was originally released as Star Trek: Alien Spotlight Volume 1 and Volume 2 along with three stories issued since their 2010 publication, which accounts for the second look at the Klingons.
The contributions are set in different eras and within them different times during Star Trek continuity. The Vulcan story features Spock early in his Enterprise career annoying the crew with his remorseless logic in tragic circumstances, Q pops aboard the later Enterprise to plague Picard and we learn how Cardassian Garak and Major Kira once worked together. Some creators place their subject in what’s essentially a solo story, such as Paul D. Storrie and Len O’Grady with Andorian Commander Sharad confronting schisms on his home planet, while other aliens serve the role of villains, or as part of an ensemble cast.
Follow the links for more detailed reviews, but the first volume is stronger than the second, with series highlights being John Byrne’s clever Romulans story, and Andrew Steven Harris and Sean Murphy’s Next Generation-era look at the Borg. Too much of the second volume fails to hit the spot, with the best by default being J. K. Woodward’s art on a Klingon story. It should be noted, though, that the colouring has been revisited on several stories, generally brightened, without a single case where the original muted colouring has been improved. Woodward’s art suffers especially.
The three stories not in the previous collections are all longer than the earlier material, starting with the writing team of Collin Kelly and Jackson Lanzing spotlighting Klingon Empire founder Kahless. He returns from a spell in the desert to spread his newfound sense of honour among a disjointed collection of warlords. It’s an opportunity for some spectacular art from Timothy Green II, so it’s rousing and atmospheric, but light on plot. Is the ancient Klingon civilisation based on Afghanistan?
Ferengi bar owner Quark stars in Christina Rice’s story, which is a sequel to an episode of the Deep Space Nine TV show. She investigates the dispiriting rules of Ferengi society with regard to women within a well plotted comedy drama that’s a collection highlight, not least due to Andy Price’s art. Mis-shaped bodies occasionally appear, but Price has a flair for dramatic layouts, draws good cast likenesses and gives life to the odd looking Ferengi. Charlie Kirchoff’s bright colours suit the tone. Quark’s family dynamics play out amusingly, and as ever, his nose for profit trumps ethics.
Deep Space Nine’s themes also prompt the final inclusion looking at the Trill, a tiny symbiotic entity that bonds with human hosts, giving them the memories and skills of previous hosts. In Vanna Breel’s case, though, the symbiosis doesn’t appear to have taken. Jody Houser’s chooses a path not considered in the TV show, creating a clever mystery for a new host. Hendry Presetya’s art has spectacle, but can be stiff.
All three additional tales rank among the best in the collection, meaning that even at the smaller size it’s a better package than either of the original volumes.
