David Mack: Ring of Fire.

With fewer Star Trek series currently on TV, it's the novels that keep us boldly going. These stories bridge the gaps between episodes and explore what happens when the cameras aren't rolling — deepening our connection to the characters and giving us new adventures to imagine. It's an exciting time to see how writers expand the universe we know and love.

In this episode of Literary Treks, hosts Casey Pettitt and Jonathan Koan chat with author David Mack about his Strange New Worlds novel, Ring of Fire. They dive into the book's ensemble of characters, high-action set pieces, Spock delivering a memorable beatdown, and Pike's continued growth as a captain.

In the news segment, the hosts judge a book by its cover and share their thoughts on two new-ish comics.

News
Judge a Book by its Cover (03:15)
Omega Comic (10:19)
Section 31 Comic (12:52)

Feature: David Mack
Remembering Margaret (18:30)
Within the Confines (28:06)
Project Azorian (31:13)
An Ensemble Story (36:10)
Crafting the Mystery (42:35)
Pike's Lesson (48:50)
Set Pieces (53:51)
Spock Gives a Beatdown (1:01:26)
Pelia and Scotty (1:04:26)
Ortegas as Number One (1:10:05)
Wrapping Up with David (1:14:55)
Closing (1:19:12)

Hosts
Casey Pettitt and Jonathan Koan

Guest
David Mack

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

Gateways: What Lay Beyond.

Back in late 2001, Pocket Books published the most epic crossover event to date: Gateways. With six novels spanning the eras from The Original Series to Voyager, the series brought together multiple authors to tell stories utilizing the gateways created by the mysterious Iconians. And the hook for the series was that each story was to end with a cliffhanger, culminating in one giant hardcover with six short stories to conclude the series.

In this episode of Literary Treks, hosts Casey Pettitt and Jonathan Koan discuss the final book, What Lay Beyond. They discuss the good, the bad, and the ugly, and talk about their vision for the series were it to be written today. Also covered is The Lore War comics, the concluding crossover between the Star Trek and Star Trek: Defiant comics from IDW.

News
The Lore War Comics (03:24)

Feature: What Lay Beyond
A TOS Story (19:03)
Casey Rambles About Challenger (25:45)
Jonathan is Angry About DS9... (29:43)
...but a Happy Camper with Voyager (37:14)
Jonathan Blows Casey's Mind (42:25)
New Frontier Character Work (43:31)
TNG Tying Everything Up (49:28)
Can We Cut Gateways Some Slack? (56:17)
A Little Too Much Freedom (01:00:11)
Star Trek Timeline (01:04:57)
Goofy Corps of Engineers Story (01:06:20)
Final Thoughts (01:09:27)
Wrap Up (01:13:54)

Hosts
Jonathan Koan and Casey Pettitt

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

Interview with Star Trek: Khan writers Kirsten Beyer and David Mack.

Legacy isn't reserved for heroes. Some characters leave a mark not through their nobility, but through the incredible shadow they cast. Few exemplify this better than Khan Noonien Singh. Decades after his first appearance, Khan continues to shape the Star Trek universe - his presence echoing through generations of stories, creators, and fans alike. His legacy raises a fascinating question: what happens when a villain becomes just as iconic, just as influential, as the heroes they oppose?

In this episode of Literary Treks, hosts Jonathan Koan and Casey Pettitt speak with Star Trek: Khan writers Kirsten Beyer and David Mack. They talk about the writing process, casting and recording, making it sound like Star Trek, allegory, the mind of a villain, and much more!

Feature: Kirsten Beyer and David Mack
Genesis of Khan Podcast (02:58)
Writing for Audio (05:29)
Collaboration (06:47)
Nick's Vision (07:41)
Late Night Episode Breaks (09:50)
Podcast vs Audiobook (12:00)
Production Involvement (14:40)
Nick's Vision (again) and Canon (15:56)
Sounds Like Star Trek, Sounds Like Khan (17:00)
Recording and Casting Marla (19:46)
Allegory and Villains (21:23)
Just Trying to Tell a Good Story (28:30)
A Contained Narrative (33:09)
Give Us More Stories! (33:58)
Wrap-up (36:11)
Closing (38:59)

Hosts
Jonathan Koan and Casey Pettitt

Guest
Kirsten Beyer and David Mack

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

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