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Alan Dean Foster
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The Unsettling Stars (Star Trek) Kindle Edition

by Alan Dean Foster (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.2 out of 5 stars 549 ratings
An original novel based on the thrilling Star Trek movies directed by J.J. Abrams!

Taking place in an alternate timeline created when the Starship Kelvin was destroyed by a Romulan invader from the future, this bold new novel follows Captain James T. Kirk and an inexperienced crew commandeering a repaired U.S.S. Enterprise out of spacedock for a simple shakedown cruise. When a distress call comes in, the Enterprise must aid a large colony ship of alien refugees known as the Perenorean, who are under siege by an unknown enemy. But Kirk and his crew will find that the situation with the peaceful Perenorean is far more complicated than they bargained for, and the answers as to why they were attacked in the first place unfold in the most insidious of ways…
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  1. Print length
    303 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Pocket Books/Star Trek
  4. Accessibility
    Learn more
  5. Publication date
    April 14, 2020
  6. File size
    1.6 MB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Alan Dean Foster’s work to date includes excursions into hard science fiction, fantasy, horror, detective, western, historical, and contemporary fiction. He has also written numerous nonfiction articles on film, science, and scuba diving and produced the novel versions of many films, including such well-known productions as Star Wars, the first three Alien films, Alien Nation, and The Chronicles of Riddick. Other works include scripts for talking records, radio, computer games, and the story for the first Star Trek movie. His novel Shadowkeep was the first ever book adaptation of an original computer game. In addition to publication in English his work has been translated into more than fifty languages and has won awards in Spain and Russia. His novel Cyber Way won the Southwest Book Award for Fiction in 1990, the first work of science fiction ever to do so.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

An original novel based on the thrilling Star Trek movies directed by J.J. Abrams!

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07X3M6QK3
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Pocket Books/Star Trek
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ April 14, 2020
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1.6 MB
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 303 pages
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1982140618
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 out of 5 stars 549 ratings

About the author

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Alan Dean Foster

Alan Dean Foster

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Alan Dean Foster's work to date includes excursions into hard science-fiction, fantasy, horror, detective, western, historical, and contemporary fiction. He has also written numerous non-fiction articles on film, science, and scuba diving, as well as having produced the novel versions of many films, including such well-known productions as "Star Wars", the first three "Alien" films, "Alien Nation", and "The Chronicles of Riddick". Other works include scripts for talking records, radio, computer games, and the story for the first "Star Trek" movie. His novel "Shadowkeep" was the first ever book adapation of an original computer game. In addition to publication in English his work has been translated into more than fifty languages and has won awards in Spain and Russia. His novel "Cyber Way" won the Southwest Book Award for Fiction in 1990, the first work of science-fiction ever to do so.

Foster's sometimes humorous, occasionally poignant, but always entertaining short fiction has appeared in all the major SF magazines as well as in original anthologies and several "Best of the Year" compendiums. His published oeuvre includes more than 100 books.

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
549 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book well-written and appreciate its excitement. However, the pacing receives negative feedback, with several customers describing it as too quick at the end and extremely boring.

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ExcitementWriting qualityPacing
5 customers mention "Excitement"5 positive0 negative

Customers find the book exciting, with one review highlighting its thrilling narrative and another noting how it combines quintessential Star Trek elements with Foster's unique style.

"...This story has all of the excitement, thrills, and sense of humor that the Original Series always had." Read more

"As always, Alan Dean Foster's books are compelling. I couldn't put it down, until I was so sleepy nothing could keep me awake...." Read more

"Interesting concept. Ended very quickly after spending lots of time on certain parts of the story...." Read more

"A very interesting story but the ending was a bit unsatisfying as it summed everything up too neatly and too quickly." Read more

3 customers mention "Writing quality"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the writing quality of the book well-executed, with one customer noting its pleasant tone.

"...I really loved this book. It was well-written. The tone of the book was nice, and the pacing was good...." Read more

"Good author but bad book, within first chapter it is all about the most annoying behaviors of the characters in the new JJ Abrams uverse of Star Trek..." Read more

"Well written..." Read more

6 customers mention "Pacing"0 positive6 negative

Customers find the pacing of the book unsatisfactory, describing it as too quick at the end and extremely boring.

"...it's a story that needed to be told or maybe one that was a little too thin with plot." Read more

"...However, it took me forever to finish this book. I kept putting it down and picking it up hoping the story progressed...." Read more

"...It is extremely boring and takes forever to develop. The climax was ho-hum at best and there is no energy at all to the story...." Read more

"A very interesting story but the ending was a bit unsatisfying as it summed everything up too neatly and too quickly." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Aaron & Klarissa
    5.0 out of 5 stars A new story in a new universe
    Reviewed in the United States on September 8, 2024
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    This was the first book I read/listened to from the J.J. verse, and it was pretty good, a race that sees and fixes problems. They mean we'll, but they seem to make new problems.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Lab Rat
    4.0 out of 5 stars Too Quick at the End
    Reviewed in the United States on May 13, 2020
    Format: Audible AudiobookVerified Purchase
    OK...call me weird, but I like the Kelvin Timeline AND I liked this book. I especially liked the bit (Spoiler Alert) with them picking up an old Earth space probe in flight. (Little did they know they saved the Earth once again.) I’ve only given it 4 stars because of the ending. I felt it was rushed and could have been thought out a little better. So, Spock saves the day again because of his unique half-alien physiology. 🥱 I don’t believe that he was the ONLY non-human on board and hence the ONLY one who could still have been effective. Also, Kirk’s character didn’t seem quite right to me. He’s a strategic genius and should have been able to piece together all the different observations and realize the danger sooner, instead of being so ambivalent to their new “friends.” Still...I liked the book and am glad I bought it. There’s my 2 cents worth.
    18 people found this helpful
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  • April V
    5.0 out of 5 stars Reboot Star Trek
    Reviewed in the United States on September 5, 2020
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    I have always been a huge fan of the Original series of Star Trek. And I was beyond excited when JJ Abrams rebooted the series. This story has all of the excitement, thrills, and sense of humor that the Original Series always had.
    5 people found this helpful
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  • Chris Haynes
    3.0 out of 5 stars Disappointed
    Reviewed in the United States on August 20, 2020
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Let me start by saying I like the Kelvin timeline and love Alan Dean Foster but this book was a big disappointment. It seems like the book was written as a YA novel because the situation and the writing, especially the dialog, was very simplistic. As an example:

    "Everything seems to be under control, Captain. There is only one thing that troubles me."

    Kirk idly glanced up. "What is it, Mister Spock? Something we've overlooked in dealing with the Perenoreans?"

    Kirk's response did not need that second question. Either the author is being overly simplistic for a younger audience or he's padding the word count to hit a length quota. I could point out a lot of other examples of this kind of dialog.

    I also believe the author had a scene with every combination of characters to talk about how the Perenoreans were learning the Standard language really fast without the use of universal translators. It got tedious, fast.

    Another thing that got old quickly was how the characters were really dumb when it was convenient. One main character would describe weird behavior by the Perenoreans and the other main character would be quick to dismiss or excuse the behavior without asking any of the obvious questions that would arise when talking about the weird behavior of a species you've never met before.

    There were some really good parts in this book but overall I thought it was just OK. I'm hoping the next book set in the Kelvin timeline is better.
    17 people found this helpful
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  • A. N.
    5.0 out of 5 stars A Fun Read
    Reviewed in the United States on August 21, 2021
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    I'm one of those Trek people that likes ALL Star Trek. I like the Kelvin timeline, as well, and I wanted to read the books as soon as I realized that there were some. I got this one when it was on sale, so it immediately jumped the line to be my next Star Trek read (I've always got one queued up to read).

    I really loved this book. It was well-written. The tone of the book was nice, and the pacing was good. The new aliens were interesting, and I absolutely did not see the "twist" ahead of time. I figured out what was going on right along with the characters. I also didn't figure that ending out ahead of time, either, so that was fun!

    I'll read others from this timeline in the future, but I'm glad I started with this one!
    4 people found this helpful
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  • Jeremy
    4.0 out of 5 stars It's fine
    Reviewed in the United States on June 10, 2020
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    This book started off well but sort of came to a standstill in the middle until the end where it picked back up. The characters felt true to the movie characters but I'm not sure it's a story that needed to be told or maybe one that was a little too thin with plot.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Frances J. Jessup
    5.0 out of 5 stars Not just another Star Trek
    Reviewed in the United States on May 3, 2020
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    As always, Alan Dean Foster's books are compelling. I couldn't put it down, until I was so sleepy nothing could keep me awake. I am definitely a fan of his.
    Be sure to order this one....
    6 people found this helpful
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  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Hmmm
    Reviewed in the United States on April 18, 2020
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Interesting to see this verse developed more and look to more but also the state of the Federation build up to prevent another Vulcan as well if any other Dreadnought class ships or warily Excelisor as a result.
    4 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Nowhen Man
    5.0 out of 5 stars An enjoyable new Trek
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 3, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    What I liked about this book is that it revolved around a very simple yet deceptively clever idea, something that the original TV series always did very well. However, the book is set in the Kelvin timeline and this was my first dip into tie-in literature set in that universe. I must admit that it was a little odd at first. When I see the names Kirk, Spock and McCoy on the printed page I automatically visualise the television actors, so I had to make a little bit of an effort to 'see' the alternate universe counterparts in my mind's eye, but it eventually clicked.

    One problem I have with a lot of Star Trek tie-in novels is that too many of them are sequels to TV episodes that don't really cry out for sequels (probably because the authors have no ideas of their own so have to retread other people's ideas). This book is not like that, it's not a tick-box exercise in referencing things from the past, this is a new adventure for a young and relatively inexperienced version of characters we love. Having enjoyed this one, I think I shall have to try some more Kelvin universe fiction.
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  • Mercedes B�strin
    5.0 out of 5 stars The Unsettling Stars
    Reviewed in Germany on May 8, 2020
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Habe lange drauf gewartet, dass sich die Abenteuer auch in Roman Form fortsetzen!! War das Warten wert!
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  • Amazon Customer
    4.0 out of 5 stars A fun read
    Reviewed in Canada on April 14, 2020
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    There’s not a whole lot of Kelvinverse material out there, so I was so happy this was coming out.

    The conflict in this was interesting, because it’s not the typical “OMG VIOLENCE!” Thing. I liked the originality of it.

    I liked the interpersonal relationships developing between the crew, as this was early in their journey. My favourite bits were the Spock and Uhura stuff, and then McCoy needling Spock about how obvious they were.

    It’s pretty short and a quick read, but fun.
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  • Dena Edwards
    5.0 out of 5 stars Unsettling Aliens
    Reviewed in Australia on September 5, 2022
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    I haven’t read this particular author before. He did a great job with this original Star Trek story. The aliens were far more disruptive than what I originally thought.
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  • a*********a
    5.0 out of 5 stars Read the whole book in one sitting, just can't stop till I finished the book
    Reviewed in Singapore on June 28, 2020
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    I read this story in one sitting. I can't stop till I'm finished. I'm a fan of Kelvin timeline. It was nice to see that Kirk started to think of others and their future as the new captain of the Enterprise. Any wrong move will cause not just him, but the future of the crews of the Enterprise. The aliens introduced in the book gave me conflicting thought whether what one thought is good, is it good to the others? There is not right or wrong. Not even Federation can determine what is good or what is bad.

    I get it when Kirk is unable to perform at his optimal condition as he has too much to think of since he had all the new responsibilities to shoulder and it is probably overwhelming for a new captain. I find it rather odd that the new "friends" can deal with all the crews of the Enterprise except Spock whom they needed to come back with a countermeasure against him maybe he is the only alien among the crew. Quite believable to have Spock save the day at this stage since Spock should be one of the most experienced crews on the ship.

    Nice book overall. I will recommend to fans of the Kelvin timeline.
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