Literary Treks 298: Utopia is a Series of Choices / by Matthew Rushing

Una McCormack: The Last Best Hope.

lt-298-th-widescreen.jpg

Running Time: 1 hour 17 minutes 4 seconds
Download / RSS / Send us a message / Discuss the show / Support Trek.fm

Since the debut of Star Trek: Picard earlier this year, fans have been enjoying the continued adventures of Jean-Luc Picard as he delves into the mystery of Dahj and Soji, the android daughters of his former shipmate, Lt. Commander Data. However, many things have changed since Star Trek Nemesis and the year in which Picard is set. How did we get from there to here?

In this episode of Literary Treks, hosts Dan Gunther and Bruce Gibson welcome Una McCormack, author of Picard: The Last Best Hope to the show. We discuss the process of writing the novel, the social issues it deals with, the threat of the breakup of the Federation, the research led by Dr. Amal Safadi, the crew of Picard's new ship, the Verity, the revenge of the synths, a melancholy ending, and wrap up with what Una is currently working on and where she can be found online.

In the news segment, we judge the upcoming Star Trek: Discovery: Die Standing by its cover and back-cover blurb, and report on the pending sale of Simon & Schuster. We also respond to feedback from The Babel Conference for Literary Treks 297: A Palm Punch with No Follow Through.

News

DIS: Die Standing Cover (00:02:57)
ViacomCBS Selling Simon & Schuster (00:06:39)
Listener Feedback (00:10:09)

Feature: Una McCormack

The Process (00:12:21)
Social Issues (00:21:30)
Federation Secession (00:26:21)
Critical Findings Remain Secret (00:32:10)
Admiral Picard (00:41:37)
A Melancholy Ending (00:46:27)
U.S.S. Verity Crew (00:52:40)
Revenge of the Synths (00:57:03)
Close to Canon (01:02:51)
Hollow Men and More (01:04:57)
Final Thoughts (01:08:17)

Hosts

Dan Gunther and Bruce Gibson

Guest

Una McCormack

Production

Bruce Gibson (Editor and Producer) Dan Gunther (Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Ken Tripp (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Ken Tripp (Associate Producer) Brandon-Shea Mutala (Associate Producer) Justin Oser (Associate Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Greg Rozier (Associate Producer) Jeffery Harlan (Associate Producer) Casey Pettitt (Associate Producer)

More Recent Episodes of Literary Treks…
Literary Treks 382: Una By Una
Literary Treks 382: Una By Una

Una McCormack: Asylum. We discuss starting the book, timelines, the Academy storyline, lectures, and interesting friendship, the mystery, themes, writing the SNW crew, references, using talents, heartbreak, a fun note, where to find Una and our final thoughts.

Literary Treks 381: Everybody Dies
Literary Treks 381: Everybody Dies

The Nanotech War. We discuss the book not being numbered, first impression, first contact, B’Elanna and Seven’s arcs, putting everything back in the box, wrapping up with our ratings and final thoughts.

Literary Treks 380: The Old Issue
Literary Treks 380: The Old Issue

Catalyst of Shadows. We discuss an Uhura story, Crusher vs Pulaski, the rest of the cast, other characters, the mystery, trauma, flashbacks and timelines, plus our ratings and final thoughts.

Literary Treks 379: The Series’ Dad
Literary Treks 379: The Series’ Dad

Deny Thy Father. We discuss the story, the connective tissue, as snapshot, a change, political thrillers, big action, how it all turns out, cameos, Star Trek stories, ratings and final thoughts.

Literary Treks 378: Lots of True Crime Podcasts
Literary Treks 378: Lots of True Crime Podcasts

Greg Cox: Lost to Eternity. hey discuss, being back with a new book, the genesis of the book, Saavik, a new species, the antagonist, bringing it together, writing 2024, no Past Tense, approvals, what’s coming up and final thoughts.

Literary Treks 377: Already Unlikeable
Literary Treks 377: Already Unlikeable

Well of Souls. They discuss their expectations, kind of being in it, other characters, the structure, doing too much, ending with their ratings and final thoughts.

Literary Treks 376: I Didn’t Know I Needed That
Literary Treks 376: I Didn’t Know I Needed That

Dayton Ward: Pliable Truths. We discuss the genesis of the book, Picard’s struggle, similar themes and true evil, an inconvenient truth, the O’Briens, cameos, the Oceanside, capital Qs, the end, where to find and what’s next plus our final thoughts.

Literary Treks 375: It Clicked
Literary Treks 375: It Clicked

Comics Catch Up. They discuss being new to Star Trek comics, Picard’s Academy, The Scorpius Run, Sons of Star Trek, Star Trek, Star Trek: Defiant, wrapping up and their final thoughts.

Literary Treks 374: Retreating Into Themselves
Literary Treks 374: Retreating Into Themselves

The Art and Making of Star Trek: Picard. We discuss a new show, kicking off the story, had it been done before, seasons 1-3, is anything missing, our ratings and final thoughts.

Literary Treks 373: Rogue Nation
Literary Treks 373: Rogue Nation

David Mack: Firewall. We discus the background of the story, writing in the Picard timeline, Seven’s emotions, an anchor, getting in the way, new characters, the spy element, staying true, the framing device, production, making the map, what’s next for David and our final thoughts.

Literary Treks 372: The Ties That Bind
Literary Treks 372: The Ties That Bind

The Art of the Impossible. We discuss the Cardassian and Klingon conflict, the juxtaposition, Curzon, many characters, other things, our ratings and final thoughts.

Literary Treks 371: Frenemies
Literary Treks 371: Frenemies

The Sundered. We discuss characters on the cover, the Neyel, the Tholians, responsibility, communication, connections, our ratings and final thoughts.

Literary Treks 370: A Father Talking to His Son
Literary Treks 370: A Father Talking to His Son

Derek Tyler Attico: The Autobiography of Benjamin Sisko. We discuss the framing device, the family, Academy years, early career, Curzon, filling in more details, in the Celestial Temple,, ending with Benny, one last question, where to find Derek and our final thoughts.

Literary Treks 369: Kirk's Joker
Literary Treks 369: Kirk's Joker

John and Maria Jose Tenuto: Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan: The Making of the Classic Film. We discuss their Star Trek history, passion, Gene Roddenberry, a new captain, many scripts, an unsung hero, surprises, what to put in the book, never surpassed, favorite part, where to find them online and our final thoughts.

Literary Treks 368: Set the Stage
Literary Treks 368: Set the Stage

Making it So. We discuss his early life, theater life, leading to Picard, left out, Star Trek work, other movies, Star Trek Picard, further stories our ratings and final thoughts.

Literary Treks 367: The Anakin Skywalker of the Series
Literary Treks 367: The Anakin Skywalker of the Series

Cast No Shadow. We discuss unpacking Valeris, Spock's small role, unpacking the conspiracy, fueling hate, Elias Vaughn's first mission, one last question, our ratings and final thoughts.

Literary Treks 366: Helicopter Parents of the Galaxy
Literary Treks 366: Helicopter Parents of the Galaxy

The Buried Age. We discuss Picard's buried age, failure, the Manroloth, the science, setting up TNG, our ratings and final thoughts.

Literary Treks 365: A Huge Side Quest
Literary Treks 365: A Huge Side Quest

Rebels: The Liberated. We discuss the natives, the Liberated, the past, how bad was it, our ratings and final thoughts.

Literary Treks 364: Traditional Adventure
Literary Treks 364: Traditional Adventure

Dayton Ward: Somewhere to Belong. We discuss the setting, the Xaheans, storylines, mental health, writing with shows in production, the spore drive, writing advanced tech, movie night, the legacy, what's next and our final thoughts.

Literary Treks 363: Ensign Never Finds Love
Literary Treks 363: Ensign Never Finds Love

Dark Matters: Shadow of Heaven. We discuss Paris and Chakotay, Janeway, Jekri, Harry's bad luck, interluding character, our ratings and final thoughts.

Literary Treks 362: There's Always A Bigger Fish
Literary Treks 362: There's Always A Bigger Fish

Rebels: The Courageous. We discuss Sisko and his group's story, the Defiant, Jadzia and Julian, an Orb experience, our ratings and final thoughts.

Literary Treks 361: Find Out Next Time on Archies Comics
Literary Treks 361: Find Out Next Time on Archies Comics

Dark Matters: Ghost Dance. We discuss Paris and Chakotay, the Entity, the Romulan story, meanwhile on Voyager, Harry is in love again, our ratings and final thoughts.

Literary Treks 360: Wagon Train to the Stars
Literary Treks 360: Wagon Train to the Stars

John Jackson Miller: The High Country. We discuss the timeline, the genesis, an event novel, as utopia's turn, willful blindness, everyone is trapped, you can't stop time, technology, use of characters, everything means something, what's next for John and our final thoughts.

Literary Treks 359: A Planet of Children
Literary Treks 359: A Planet of Children

Rebels: The Conquered. We discuss Emissary's Sanctuary, a strange mission, perspective, Quark has a point, Dax in command, the Founders, tone, our ratings and final thoughts.

Literary Treks 358: The Bad Shepherd
Literary Treks 358: The Bad Shepherd

Dark Matters: Cloak and Dagger. We discuss the needle's eye, the Shepherds, a mysterious character, disappearing act, it's short, bedfellows, our ratings and final thoughts.

Literary Treks 357: Was Nancy Reagan Right?
Literary Treks 357: Was Nancy Reagan Right?

David Mack: Harm's Way. We discuss working Vanguard back in, aftermath, is a beautiful lie beautiful, Spock, respect, the prime directive, the Klingons, just say no, the future and our final thoughts.

Literary Treks 356: Boldly Babysitting
Literary Treks 356: Boldly Babysitting

Enterprise: The First Adventure. We discuss the first mission, Kirk, Spock, Rand, Uhura, first contact, the Klingons, the vaudeville company, our ratings and final thoughts.

Literary Treks 355: A Pain in the Command Seat
Literary Treks 355: A Pain in the Command Seat

Ship of the Line. We discuss back story, another gap, Madred, the Klingon villain, Picard's journey, Bateson's journey, Riker, diversity, it just ends, jargon, our ratings and final thoughts.

Literary Treks 354: Give Us More
Literary Treks 354: Give Us More

Star Trek: First Contact: The Making of the Classic Film. We discuss the presentation, after Generations, story points, new Enterprise, new Borg, finding a director, or ratings and final thoughts.

Literary Treks 353: Exchanged the Truth for a Lie
Literary Treks 353: Exchanged the Truth for a Lie

Warped. We discuss early DS9, a Bajoran coup, a license of freedom, the truth will set you free, a spiritual side, the voices our ratings and final thoughts.