Star Trek: The Higher Frontier
{4.5/5} “Seems to me that you can’t learn that much from someone who’s already like you. That might just be why we’re out here exploring strange new worlds instead of ordinary old ones.”
Star Trek: The Higher Frontier by Christopher L. Bennett, published in 2020
When many Aenar are killed on Andoria by unknown attackers, Captain Kirk is asked to take Dr. Miranda Jones and Ambassador Kollos there to help. While on Andoria Spock gets a chance to work with Thelin, who was the Enterprise’s first officer in an alternate timeline. Spock investigates the possibility that the attack was from off world, while Chekov investigates Andorian extremist groups. Uhura works with the surviving Aenar to try to protect them.
In addition to the regulars Saavik, Captain Terrell, and Christine Chapel all make appearances.
In addition to having a great story, it also forms fascinating connective tissue between Star Trek: The Motion Picture and Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. Bennett has written in this time period before in several books.
It’s about people whose powers of telepathy have increased, and people who are upset about it.
I’ve read 12 books by Bennett. I previously reviewed Star Trek: The Next Generation — The Buried Age.