Literary Treks 74: Kelp Cakes In the Morning / by Trek fm

Mission Gamma: This Gray Spirit.

Running Time: 1 hour 22 minutes 53 seconds
Download / RSS / Send us a message / Discuss the show / Support Trek.fm

When Deep Space Nine premiered, the stated goal of the Starfleet presence on the station and the purpose Sisko’s mission was to prepare Bajor for Federation membership. As the series went on, this came close to happening once; but a warning from the Emissary put the issue on the back burner. Then the Dominion War happened. With all of that now in the past—and with other loose ends from What You Leave Behind either wrapped up or at least addressed—Mission Gamma sets Bajor back on a course for Federation membership and provides DS9 with a new TOS-like initiative to seek out new life and strange new worlds.

In the episode of Literary Treks hosts Matthew Rushing and Christopher Jones continue our look at Mission Gamma with the second book, This Gray Spirit. We discuss Ezra’s search for her place in the line of Dax hosts, Shar’s continued struggle with his place in the unique Andorian reproductive crisis, and how the Yrythyan society of the Gamma Quadrant could hold the keys for solutions to both. We also explore the legacy of Ziyal, the intricacies of Bajoran-Cardassian-Federation political, and what it means to be part of the Federation. Plus, we decide whether kelp cakes are a good choice for breakfast and find out why much of the book feels like it takes place inside a Gaylord hotel.

In our news segment we judge Lust’s Latinum Lost and Found by its cover, check in on The Trek Collective’s interview with Star Trek: Seekers artist Rob Caswell, and state the case for the USS Titan being part of the Official Starships Collection.

News

Lust’s Latinum Lost and Found cover revealed (3:04)
The Trek Collective interviews Seekers artist Rob Caswell (9:47)
Help get the USS Titan into the Official Starships Collection (11:20)

Feature: This Gray Spirit

Initial Thoughts (23:20)
Do We Want Strange New Worlds from DS9? (29:07)
The Yrythny Caste System and the Defiant Visita Costco (36:07)
Political Games of Bajor, Cardassia, and the Federation (43:32)
What Does It Mean to Be Part of the Federation? (55:32)
Finding Ezri Dax (59:34)
An Andorian Soap Opera? (1:04:48)
Final Thoughts (1:10:14)
Closing (1:14:24)

Hosts

Matthew Rushing and Christopher Jones

Production

Matthew Rushing (Editor and Producer) Norman C. Lao (Executive Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Charlynn Schmiedt (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Will Nguyen (Content Manager) Ken Tripp (Associate Producer) Will Nguyen (Associate Producer) Brandon-Shea Mutala (Associate Producer) Bruce Gibson (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.