SYNOPSIS :

One hundred years ago, four crew members of the U.S.S Enterprise crossed the dimensional barrier and found a mirror image of their own universe, populated by nightmare duplicates of their shipmates. Barely able to escape with their lives, they returned, thankful that the accident which had brought them there could not be duplicated, or so they thought. But now the scientists of that empire have found a doorway into our universe. Their plan is to destroy from within, to replace a Federation Starship with one of their own. Their victims are the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-D, who now find themselves engaged in combat against the most savage enemies they have ever encountered, themselves.

SYNOPSIS :

Years before they served together on board the U.S.S. Enterprise, Commander William Riker and ship's counselor Deanna Troi had a tempestuous love affair on her home planet of Betazed. Now, their passions have cooled and they serve together as friends. Yet the memories of that time linger and Riker and Troi remain Imzadi - a powerful Betazoid term that describes the, enduring bond they still share. During delicate negotiations with an aggressive race called the Sindareen Deanna Troi mysteriously falls ill and dies. But her death is only the beginning of the adventure for Commander Riker, an adventure that will take him across time, pit him against one of his closest friends, and force him to choose between Starfleet's strictest rule and the one he, calls Imzadi.

SYNOPSIS :

The Devil's Heart is a legendary object of unsurpassed power and mystery. Worlds that believe in magic consider it Darkness's mightiest talisman; and worlds of science consider it a lost artifact of some ancient and forgotten race. Some say the Heart enables its possessor to control people's minds and to amass wealth enough for a dozen lifetimes, while others think it capable of raising the dead, perhaps even changing the flow of time itself. But to all, the location of this fabled object has remained a mystery, until now. An isolated archaeological outpost has suddenly stopped responding to repeated requests for information. Sent to discover why, the U.S.S. Enterprise crew finds a devastated outpost and a dying scientist, whose last words fall on disbelieving ears: the Devil's Heart has been found. As the quest for the Heart unfolds, Captain Jean-Luc Picard discovers that beyond all the legends and age-old secrets lies an awful truth: whoever holdsthe Devil's Heart possesses power beyond imagining.

Of the 35 or so Star Trek the Next Generation books I have read these are three of the best. Imzadi shows us the start of Riker and Troi's relationship as well as connecting us to a past original episode -- "The City on the Edge of Forever" and The Guardian of Forever. Commander Riker will risk everything to save Deanna and possibly return their universe to its correct time line.

Dark Mirror not only connects us to an original episode but continues the storyline in this century. It gives a twist on all of the characters we have come to know so well. Just as the original episode showed us the darker side of Kirk and his crew -- Dark Mirror will show the alter egos of the current crew of the USS Enterprise and how they will be defeated by themselves.

The Devil's Heart spans time and space in a story that has connections to the Preservers and The Guardian of Forever. This is truly an epic tale told on a grand scale. I have read this book 2 or 3 times and highly recommend it. It would make a great Star Trek mini-series if they followed the book and did not butcher the story line.

Star Trek Memories will answer many questions about the original show that you have not thought to ask. It is especially interesting to see the evolution of the show when you look at the episodes in the order they were made. All of us have seen them in reruns in no particular order. For example the Yomen Janice only appeared in 13 episodes. This is a must read for any Trek fan.