Literary Treks: A Star Trek Books and Comics Podcast

John and Maria Jose Tenuto: Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan: The Making of the Classic Film.     Coming off the heals of Star Trek: The Motion Picture it was not a forgone conclusion that there would be a sequel yet since its release in 1982 the mystique around the second Star Trek movie has only grown. 

In this episode of Literary Treks hosts Matthew Rushing and Casey Pettitt welcome John and Maria Jose Tenuto to discuss their new book, Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan: The Making of the Classic Film. We discuss their Star Trek history, passion, Gene Roddenberry, a new captain, many scripts, an unsung hero, surprises, what to put in the book, never surpassed, favorite part, where to find them online and our final thoughts. 

For the news section we discuss the Holo-ween mini series as well as Star Trek #13.   News Holo-ween Comic Series (00:02:48) Star Trek #13 (00:07:44)                 

Feature: John and Maria Jose Tenudo Star Trek History (00:12:00) Passion (00:16:58) Gene Roddenberry (00:21:47) A New Captain (00:25:36) Many Scripts (00:28:57) Unsung Hero (00:32:53) Surprises (00:37:06) What to Put in the Book (00:44:00) Never Surpassed (00:51:07) Favorite Part (01:08:51) Where Online (00:14:49) Final Thoughts (01:17:54)          

Hosts Matthew Rushing and C Bryan Jones 

Guests  John and Maria Jose Tenuto

Production Matthew Rushing (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Greg Rozier (Associate Producer) Casey Pettitt (Associate Producer)

Making it So.     When people think of Star Trek, there are actors names that immediately come to mind and one of the first is Patrick Stewart for his portrayal of Captain Jean-Luc Picard.

In this episode of Literary Treks hosts Matthew Rushing and Casey Pettitt talk about Patrick Stewart's memoir, Making it So. We discuss his early life, theater life, leading to Picard, left out, Star Trek work, other movies, Star Trek Picard, further stories our ratings and final thoughts. 

In a monster news section we have a contest announcement,  some sad news, two book announcements, a comic announcement, then review Star Trek #12, Shax's Best Day, Defiant #8, Motion Picture Echos #5, The Scorpious Run #2 and Picard's Academy #1.   News Contest (00:02:17) Sad News (00:04:24) Pliable Truths (00:05:12) Lost To Eternity (00:10:16)                 Sons of Star Trek (00:13:58) Star Trek #12 (00:18:32) Shax's Best Day (00:22:35) Defiant #8 (00:24:52) Motion Picture Echos #5 (00:29:03) The Scorpious Run #2 (00:32:22) Picard's Academy #1 (00:35:43)

Feature: Making it So   Something Interesting (00:42:58) Early Life (00:47:21) Theater Life (00:52:55) Leading to Picard (01:00:51) Left Out (01:04:37) Star Trek Work (01:07:29) Other Movies (01:12:05) Star Trek Picard (01:15:28) Further Stories (01:26:07) Ratings (01:29:22) Final Thoughts (01:31:56)       

Hosts Matthew Rushing and Casey Pettitt 

Production Matthew Rushing (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Greg Rozier (Associate Producer) Casey Pettitt (Associate Producer)

Cast No Shadow.     The fallout of the conspiracy that Kirk and his crew uncover in The Undiscovered Country is not something that we get to see on screen, thankfully the books exist.

In this episode of Literary Treks hosts Matthew Rushing and Casey Pettitt talk about Cast No Shadow. We discuss unpacking Valeris, Spock's small role, unpacking the conspiracy, fueling hate, Elias Vaughn's first mission, one last question, our ratings and final thoughts. 

In the news section we review Star Trek #11, Defiant #7 and a new Strange New Worlds comic, The Scorpius Run.   News Star Trek #11 and Defiant #7 (00:02:53)  Strange New Worlds: The Scorpius Run #1 (00:06:25)               

Feature: Cast No Shadow Unpacking Valeris (00:12:41) Spock's Small Role (00:26:08) Unpacking the Conspiracy (00:31:49) Fueling Hate (00:39:23) Elias Vaughn's First Mission (00:45:12) One Last Question (00:49:28) Ratings (00:52:35) Final Thoughts (00:55:00)        

Hosts Matthew Rushing and Casey Pettitt 

Production Matthew Rushing (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Greg Rozier (Associate Producer) Casey Pettitt (Associate Producer)

The Buried Age.     Jean-Luc Picard's life is so much more than his time on the Enterprise, in fact he had a whole lifetime of events that helped forge the man we saw on screen in The Next Generation.

In this episode of Literary Treks hosts Matthew Rushing and Casey Pettitt talk about Lost Era novel, The Buried Age. We discuss Picard's buried age, failure, the Manroloth, the science, setting up TNG, our ratings and final thoughts. 

The news is jam-packed with goodies as we talk about licensing news, a cover reveal and then review Dog of War #4, The Motion Picture Echos #3, Star Trek #10, Star Trek Defiant #5 and Day of Blood #1.   News Licensing News (00:03:35) Cover Reveal (00:07:45) Dog of War #4 (00:10:20) The Motion Picture Echos #3 (00:15:20) Star Trek #10 (00:21:57) Star Trek Defiant #5 (00:27:11) Day of Blood #1 (00:31:50)                 

Feature: The Buried Age Picard's Buried Age (00:37:56) Failure (00:49:59) The Manroloth (00:57:32) The Science (01:10:29) Setting Up TNG (01:15:32) Ratings (01:25:14) Final Thoughts (01:27:31)          

Hosts Matthew Rushing and Casey Pettitt 

Production Matthew Rushing (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Greg Rozier (Associate Producer) Casey Pettitt (Associate Producer)

Rebels: The Liberated.     The revelations finally come in the final book in this trilogy, how the Tiffnaki came to be on the planet and just who the Liberated are that have taken over Emissary's Sanctuary.

In this episode of Literary Treks hosts Matthew Rushing and Casey Pettitt talk about end of the Deep Space Nine trilogy Rebels with The Liberated. We discuss the natives, the Liberated, the past, how bad was it, our ratings and final thoughts. 

There is a lot of news as we discuss an audiobook and new book announcement, discuss comics and canon, then review Star Trek #9 and The Motion Picture: Echoes #2.   News New Audiobook (00:03:04) New Book Announcement (00:04:50) Comics and Canon (00:08:30) Star Trek #9 (00:11:21) The Motion Picture: Echoes #2 (00:15:20)                 

Feature: The Liberated The Natives (00:18:40) The Liberated (00:27:31) The Past (00:32:38) How Bad Was It (00:35:40) Ratings (00:38:30) Final Thoughts (00:40:12)         

Hosts Matthew Rushing and C Casey Pettitt 

Production Matthew Rushing (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Greg Rozier (Associate Producer) Casey Pettitt (Associate Producer)

Dayton Ward: Somewhere to Belong.     The crew of the U.S.S. Discovery was hurled into the 31st century and it left a lot of lingering questions for fans as season 4 picked up with everyone seeming to be completely fine with the massive change in their lives.

In this episode of Literary Treks hosts Matthew Rushing and Casey Pettitt welcome author Dayton Ward to talk about his new book, Somewhere to Belong that fills in the gaps between seasons 3 and 4 of Star Trek: Discovery. We discuss the setting, the Xaheans, storylines, mental health, writing with shows in production, the spore drive, writing advanced tech, movie night, the legacy, what's next and our final thoughts. 

In the new we review the annual issue of the Star Trek comic.   News Star Trek Annual 2023 (00:03:31)           

Feature: Dayton Ward The Setting (00:10:58) The Xaheans (00:16:42) Storylines (00:25:16) Mental Health (00:27:59) Writing With Shows in Production (00:34:22) The Spore Drive (00:40:06) Writing Advanced Tech (00:47:33) Movie Night (00:51:13) The Legacy (00:54:04) What's Next (00:56:35)         Final Thoughts (01:03:46)

Hosts Matthew Rushing and Casey Pettitt 

Guest  Dayton Ward

Production Matthew Rushing (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Greg Rozier (Associate Producer) Casey Pettitt (Associate Producer)

Dark Matters: Shadow of Heaven.     The crew of the U.S.S. Voyager is on one of the most important missions they have ever been given as the fate of every galaxy hangs in the balance and Harry once again finds love in all the wrong places. 

In this episode of Literary Treks, hosts Matthew Rushing and Casey Pettitt talk about the final book in the Star Trek: Voyager, Dark Matters trilogy, Shadow of Heaven. We discuss Paris and Chakotay, Janeway, Jekri, Harry's bad luck, interluding character, our ratings and final thoughts.

In the news section we discuss a lot of comics starting by celebrating the Eisner Awards nominations then reviewing Dog of War #2, The Motion Picture: Echoes #1, Star Trek #7, Day of Blood: Prelude, Defiant #3 and Star Trek #8.   News Eisner Awards Nominations (00:03:33) Dog of War #2 (00:04:41) The Motion Picture: Echoes #1 (00:08:15) Star Trek #7 (00:13:16) Day of Blood: Prelude (00:17:40) Defiant #3 (00:20:58) Star Trek #8 (00:24:35)                

Feature: Shadow of Heaven   Paris and Chakotay (00:29:53) Janeway (00:37:37) Jekri (00:39:50) Harry's Bad Luck (00:46:28) Interluding Character (00:48:02) Ratings (00:51:23) Final Thoughts (00:54:25)       

Hosts Matthew Rushing and Casey Pettitt 

Production Matthew Rushing (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Greg Rozier (Associate Producer) Casey Pettitt (Associate Producer)

Rebels: The Courageous.     Deep Space Nine is no longer under Starfleet's care as the Bajorans take running the station for a test drive, while Sisko and the crew of the Defiant find themselves in a no-win Prime Directive scenario on one of the strangest worlds you'll ever read about for Star Trek.

In this episode of Literary Treks hosts Matthew Rushing and Casey Pettitt talk about the second book in the Deep Space Nine trilogy Rebels, The Courageous. We discuss Sisko and his group's story, the Defiant, Jadzia and Julian, an Orb experience, our ratings and final thoughts. 

In the news we talk about post Picard literature, then we review Star Trek #6, Defiant #2, The Illyrian Enigma #4 and The Dog of War #1.       News Post Picard Literature (00:02:56) Star Trek #6 (00:13:03) Defiant #2 (00:18:02) The Illyrian Enigma #4 (00:22:01) The Dog of War #1 (00:28:31)            

Feature: The Courageous Sisko and Crew (00:34:05) Jadzia, Julian and the Defiant (00:37:59) An Orb Experience (00:45:01) Ratings (00:45:01) Final Thoughts (00:54:09)      

Hosts Matthew Rushing and Casey Pettitt 

Production Matthew Rushing (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Greg Rozier (Associate Producer) Casey Pettitt (Associate Producer)

Dark Matters: Ghost Dance.     The crew of the U.S.S. Voyager finds itself tasked with one of the most interesting missions they've had as they try to find a way of ridding the universe of the mutated dark matter.

In this episode of Literary Treks hosts Matthew Rushing and Casey Pettitt talk about Dark Matters: Ghost Dance. We discuss Paris and Chakotay, the Entity, the Romulan story, meanwhile on Voyager, Harry is in love again, our ratings and final thoughts. 

In the news we have a new comic announcement plus our reviews of Resurgence #5, Star Trek #5 and Star Trek: Defiant #1.      News Comic Announcement (00:03:51) Resurgence #5 (00:06:01) Star Trek #5 (00:10:22) Star Trek: Defiant #1 (00:14:06)                 

Feature: Dark Matters: Ghost Dance Paris and Chakotay (00:18:17) The Entity (00:28:46) The Romulan Story (00:32:35) Meanwhile on Voyager (00:37:49) Harry is in Love Again (00:43:43) Ratings (00:45:24) Final Thoughts (00:47:49)        

Hosts Matthew Rushing and Casey Pettitt 

Production Matthew Rushing (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Greg Rozier (Associate Producer) Casey Pettitt (Associate Producer)

John Jackson Miller: The High Country.     One of the joys of a new Star Trek series is when the literature is able to fill in gaps and create new adventures for the crew.

In this episode of Literary Treks hosts Matthew Rushing and Casey Pettitt are joined by author John Jackson Miller to talk about his new book, the first Strange New Worlds novel, The High Country. We discuss the timeline, the genesis, an event novel, as utopia's turn, willful blindness, everyone is trapped, you can't stop time, technology, use of characters, everything means something, what's next for John and our final thoughts. 

In the news we have a new issue of The Illyrian Enigma to review!   News The Illyrian Enigma #3 (00:03:17)                 

Feature: John Jackson Miller The Timeline (00:09:53) The Genesis (00:16:12) An Event Novel (00:33:16) As Utopia's Turn (00:38:46) Willful Blindness (00:44:01) Everyone is Trapped (00:46:01) You Can't Stop Time (00:52:34) Technology (01:04:12) Use of Characters (01:11:10) Everything Means Something (01:13:28) What is Next for John (01:17:19) Final Thoughts (01:23:12)       

Hosts Matthew Rushing and Casey Pettitt 

Guest  John Jackson Miller

Production Matthew Rushing (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Greg Rozier (Associate Producer) Casey Pettitt (Associate Producer)