Star Trek: Voyager — Distant Shores
{5/5} “Neelix may have been the nominal morale officer, and Tom Paris was clearly the life of the party hereabouts… but as she watched the crew interact, Marika sensed that Harry Kim was the true heart of Voyager, a stalwart, gentle, optimistic anchor keeping the crew from losing faith or growing embittered, as their counterparts on Equinox had.” (from “Brief Candle”)
Star Trek: Voyager — Distant Shores edited by Marco Palmieri, published in 2005
In “Isabo’s Shirt” Chakotay receives a gift from Janeway that makes him think she’s ready for a romantic relationship. In “Eighteen Minutes” the Doctor works in a hospital, and cares for a woman and her child, as he spends years on Tahal-Meeroj. In “The Secret Heart of Zolaluz” Seven is rescued by a woman who’s ostracized because of a disease. In “Talent Night” the crew puts on a talent show, and B’Elanna sees something in Tom that she didn’t see before.
Voyager fans will find these stories fit perfectly into, and in between, the episodes they love. The stories aren’t action packed, but more emotionally satisfying.
Your favourite characters all get their time to shine. And even a character you didn’t know you needed to hear from again — Marla Gilmore, who joined Voyager from the Equinox.
B’Elanna and Kes didn’t spend much time together onscreen, so it’s nice to see them together in “Winds of Change.” Most stories take place in the Delta Quadrant — except for “Letting Go,” which is the story of Mark, Janeway’s boyfriend, and his experiences after learning that Voyager has disappeared.
Stories are by such authors as Christopher L. Bennett, Kirsten Beyer, Ilsa J. Bick, Keith R.A. DeCandido, Jeffrey Lang, and James Swallow.
This is the 3rd book I’ve read edited by Palmieri. He was the editor of the Star Trek book line for a while.