The Lost Era: The Buried Age

Really filled in the gap of what Picard did before the Enterprise.

This imaginative and complex story about a part of a familiar character’s life that’s only obliquely referred to in the series is well worth the read. One reads the acknowledgments and sees the care and breadth of Bennett’s research, yet he is also a spellbinding and meticulous storyteller. There are reasons for everything he says, and there are no loose ends, no superfluous additions of characters or places just to fit them in, and no actual hero worship (so tempting when dealing with an icon like Picard). At one point, I was a bit miffed at Bennett’s portrayal of Picard in a less-than-flattering light: as vindictive or obsessive. But Bennett’s skill at keeping it real made me want to find out how his protagonist was going to evolve into the character in TNG, and Bennett does so with kindness, depth and understanding.

I don’t read a ton of ST novels, and, frankly, many have vaguely disappointed. I am glad I read this one.

This is an EXCELLENT prequel to TNG, and creatively retcons many things you see on the series that wouldn’t otherwise make sense. It takes you from Picard’s final day aboard the Stargazer right up to his first day on the Enterprise, and it is an INCREDIBLE ride. This book is adding to a list of novels that are starting to convince me that Star Trek novels are better than the TV series or movies. You won’t regret this read.