By Space Young Adult fiction, the final frontier.
Fans of the J.J. Abrams reboot of Star Trek (at least, the younger ones) will be psyched to know that the new book series Starfleet Academy will fill their minds with the untold stories of James T. Kirk and his motley crew of star-trekking compatriots, almost long enough to keep them sated until Star Trek II comes out.
The best part, at least for me, is the covers. They look like someone took promo pictures of the cast members, as well as a few from Lost and Glee, photoshopped them together, and slapped a filter on to make it look like they painted it. Particularly amusing are Chris Pine and his serious case DSL’s on the cover of The Delta Anomaly and everything about the cover to The Gemini Agent, from Anton Yelchin’s “hand caught in the cookie jar” expression to Pine’s concerned profile to the inexplicable appearance of Glee cast member Lea Michele. The covers to these types of books are usually cheesy, but I’ll be damned if Starfleet Academy isn’t already a goldmine of hilarity.
Laugh with me after the jump, as well as read the synopses for the first two books and the release dates of the last three books (the first two are in stores now).
[Via /film]
STARFLEET ACADEMY #1
Title: The Delta Anomaly
Author: Rick Barba
Publication Date: November 2, 2010
Plot: After a rough week at Starfleet Academy, James T. Kirk and his friends blow off steam at San Francisco’s hottest new club. Their good times come to a screeching halt, however, when one of the cadets is attacked by someones who seemingly appears out of thin air.
Bones and his medical team save the cadet’s life, but they uncover the horrifying consequences of the attack. Meanwhile, Starfleet’s investigation reveals the assailant is actually a brutal serial killer from the past–a mysterious entity known only as the Doctor. Who is the Doctor, and why has he returned after disappearing more than twenty years ago?
At the urging of Commander Spock, Cadet Uhura is called to decipher a message from the Doctor. Spock has no idea that by enlisting Uhura’s help, he has placed her firmly in the Doctor’s sights.
Before long Kirk, Uhura and Bones are caught up in the Doctor’s dangerous web as they race against time to stop the killer before he strikes again.
STARFLEET ACADEMY #2
Title: The Edge
Author: Rudy Josephs
Publication Date: December 28, 2010
Plot: A new beginning – but the same old problems.
Jim Kirk arrives at Starfleet Academy ready to take on whatever challenges arise. Most new beginnings mean you get to start with a clean slate, but Kirk quickly discovers that he is already infamous among his classmates. Thanks to his bravado and boasting that he’ll finish the four-year program in three, they’ve already made up their minds about kind of rival he is… and how they will beat him.
The Academy’s program is extremely rigorous and uncompromising. The students are the best and the brightest, and the school demands total commitment from them – physically and mentally. Kirk is ready for it all, but he didn’t expect that some cadets will do anything to ensure they succeed at the Academy, no matter the cost.
He soon finds that his best friend, McCoy, is one of the main suspects in an Academy misconduct investigation for crimes that could cost the lives of his classmates. Kirk is determined to clear McCoy’s name and unmask the dark side of Academy life – before it’s too late.
STARFLEET ACADEMY #3
Title: Gemini Agent
Author: Rick Barba
Publication Date: June 28, 2011
Plot: TBA
STARFLEET ACADEMY #4
Title: The Assassination Game
Author: Alan Gratz
Publication Date: September 13, 2011
Plot: TBA
STARFLEET ACADEMY #5
Title: TBA
Author: TBA
Publication Date: January 3, 2012
Plot: TBA