Star Trek New Frontier Gods Above

Captain Mackenzie Calhoun has often been accused of playing God, but he has never faced off against real gods—until now. As Captain Kirk did before him, Calhoun has encountered beings of unnatural power and abilities verging on godhood, and who claim to be the very individuals who inspired the Greek, Roman, Norse, and, other pantheons from Earth culture. These beings say that all they want is our worship, and in return for it will provide us with a peaceful galaxy-wide paradise of perfect health and endless pleasure. When the Federation, in the person of Captain Calhoun and the crew of the U.S.S. Excalibur, refused their offer, the resulting battle left Morgan Primus dead and Lieutenant Mark McHenry, whose own powers over time and space had proved to be substantial, in a limbo beyond death. Now, with a wounded ship and an injured crew, Captain Calhoun, along with Captain Shelby and the crew of the Trident, must face these god-like beings once again, with the fate of galactic civilization at stake.

Captain MacKenzie Calhoun was not always destined for Starfleet. Look back twenty years... A hardened killer, at nineteen years old he is already a leader of men: the maverick teenage figurehead of the revolt that will free his home planet from alien domination. But what will he do when his only goal -- his struggle to overthrow the Danteri rule -- is achieved? Discovered by Captain Picard of the USS Stargazer, who detects in him the seeds of possible greatness, he is given a choice which will change his life forever. Under the guidance of Jean-Luc Picard, he abandons the route that can only lead to an early death on his home world. Instead he chooses to enrol at Starfleet Academy, a place utterly opposed to the values of independence and rebellion he learned as a youth. The road from raw recruit to Starfleet Officer has never been rougher. And Mackenzie Calhoun's journey is never less than fascinating, told here as only Peter David can tell it.

As Lieutenant Mark McHenry hovers in a twilight state between life and death, and a mysterious, bearded one-eyed man moves ghost-like through the ship with his own esoteric agenda, Captain Mackenzie Calhoun and Commander Elizabeth Shelby go head to head over the growing problem on Danter. There, the god-like creatures known only as 'The Beings' are building an increasing power base, and the question is whether they are potentially the greatest ally or the greatest threat that the Federation has ever known. When more aggressive races such as the Thallonians enter into the mix, threatening to send the entire galaxy spiralling into war over the miracle food called Ambrosia, only the starships Excalibur and Trident -- with the aid of Ambassador Spock -- can stave off a conflict that could crack apart the Federation.

Captain Calhoun and the crew of the "U.S.S. Excalibur" are on Thallon when their sensors detect strange vibrations coming from beneath the surface of the planet.

In this New Frontier novel, the crew of the U.S.S. Excalibur find themselves thrust into another universe—and must find a way home by any means. Following the dramatic events of After the Fall, Captain Mackenzie Calhoun and the crew of the U.S.S. Excalibur find themselves catapulted headlong into another universe, far from the New Thallonian Protectorate and Sector 221-G...a place where an ancient war rages between two powerful alien races. But Calhoun has no intention of staying here for very long and, adopting the time-honored philosophy of "the enemy of my enemy is my friend," takes it upon himself to somehow (and by any means necessary) persuade one side or the other to help him and his crew get back home. Meanwhile, the shadow of war has fallen over the New Thallonian Protectorate, and an embattled Si Cwan faces growing treachery as he attempts to maintain his tenuous hold on power. With Starfleet and the Federation declaring Sector 221-G temporarily off-limits, Admiral Elizabeth Shelby and Captain Kat Mueller decide to take matters into their own hands, ignoring orders by trying to find some way of getting to the Excalibur, presuming there is any Excalibur to get to. But they never count on the most unexpected of allies—an old friend whose shifting loyalties are about to be put to the ultimate test even as a growing cataclysm looms....

"When Star Trek first premiered in 1966, viewers were shown a window into an amazing new sci-fi universe. That vision has lasted and grown for decades after - and it was fulfilled by the creativity of this legendary show's talented art directors, prop masters, and set decorators. Star Trek would not have been the same without the Burke and Origami chairs, sculptures and other decorative arts, and props used on-set. These items would not even exist, were it not for various designers of the midcentury modern movement, such as Pierre Paulin, Joe Colombo, Paul McCobb, Warren Platner, and Milo Baughman. Authors Dan Chavkin and Brian McGuire invite you on a journey throught the original series. Together, they illustrate in depth how Midcentury Modern design gave rise to the feel and aesthetic of Star Trek. Detailed, expert examination of key episodes shows how these highly influential design movements are nigh-inseparable from Star Trek -- and how they helped to shape one of the greatest visions of the future."--Back cover.

Readers join Captain MacKensie Calhoun, Commander Shelby, Dr. Selar, and the rest of the crew of the "U.S.S. Excalibur" as they explore strange new worlds, seek out new life and boldly go where no one has gone before!

The continuing voyages of the Starship Excalibur! Many years ago, a bizarre alien life-form known as the Black Mass consumed and destroyed an entire solar system in what was then the Thallonion Empire. Now the Black Mass has returned and its target is Tulan IV, homeworld of the fearsome Redeemers. Faced with near-certain destruction the Overlord of the Redeemers is forced to turn to an unlikely ally: Captain Calhoun and the Starship Excalibur. Busy coping with the return of his rebellious son, Calhoun is none too eager to come to the aid of his despotic enemy, but when innocent lives are threatened he has no choice but to confront the unstoppable Black Mass. But how can one starship turn back a force capable of consuming entire suns?