The Last Best Hope

Star Trek: Picard

By: Una McCormack

Narrated by: Robert Petkoff

Length: 11 hrs and 42 mins

Publisher's Summary

An original novel based on the new Star Trek TV series!

A thrilling novel leading into the new CBS series, Una McCormack’s The Last Best Hope introduces you to brand-new characters featured in the life of beloved Star Trek captain Jean-Luc Picard—widely considered to be one of the most popular and recognizable characters in all of science fiction. 

©2020 Una McCormack (P)2020 Simon & Schuster Audio

Star Trek by people who don't get Star Trek

This is an odd book. It feels like an episode of Picard dragged out into a 12 hour audiobook. There are baffling choices made by the characters, and science presented that make no sense with what has come before in the universe. This book will not satisfy hardcore fans, and isn't exciting enough to entice casual fans. Robert Petkoff gives a master performance, but the content provided for him isn't great.

For some reason, the Romulan Star Empire is completely incapable of managing their own affairs and require the Federation to rescue them, begrudgingly. The only people that seem interested in the rescue are Picard and his small group of confidants, the Federation doesn't want to help and the Romulan's would rather blow up... Seems illogical, and like it should have been better planned out by the story planners.

When this book isn't blundering through it's out of touch depiction of the characters, species, and Star Trek universe built over decades of tv and movies, it's trying to shove contemporary political opinions down your throat. Star Trek has always been political to an extent, but this book is so ham-fisted in it's approach it completely pulls you from the story. You'll be gleaning some enjoyment out of the meager story presented and then suddenly someone wearing a PETA shirt bursts out of a closet and decks you in the face, yelling "animals have feelings too!" as they run off, only to return the next time you start getting into the story and throw an uppercut into your jaw.

This book is completely unnecessary, save your time and money and read a plot synopsis or spoiler filled review online.

My Favorite Story - Spoiled with foul language

Star Trek is one of my all-time favorites. From old-school Kirk to this new Picard, there has always been a few curse words—say from Dr McCoy “Bones,” but why litter this story (which had always been family oriented), with all the “Fxxx” word. I’m really disappointed!

Awful, bleak, and full of profanity.

Why publish such a dreadful misuse of the series? Profanity, lack of cohesiveness. Entirely depressing and without a redeaming feature.

dystopia / Utopia

Roddenberry's vision of a utopian future is truly dead. If this was not a Star Trek book it would be a fine, if not depressing, novel about how selfish tribalism trumps humanitarian secular humanism. But this is STAR TREK; where tribalism, xenophobia, and selfish self-interest should be things of the past. But instead this book posits a future frighteningly like today.
And because of this the tone and characterization of the characters we know so well through STAR TREK THE NEXT GENERATION is off. Picard is handled like a slightly arrogant man who is past his prime and seeking some new way to distinguish himself (this does get better throughout the course of the book).Geordi's internal monologue is full of expletives (in fact the entire book is littered with them) And [slight spoiler] he endorses a plan regarding Androids that, with his past experience, I believe he would never support.
New characters don't fare much better either. Picard's new first officer has a [spoiler] tragically spiraling plot line both personally and professionally. And Bruce maddox's doctoral pupil is the definition of a simpering weak-willed woman whose only purpose in life is to adore the brilliant man in her life while being his Muse. This is especially offencive, not only because it's a terrible stereotype, but also because it does not reflect the character as she is portrayed in STAR TREK PICARD (I am 4 episodes in as of this reviews).
This is a fine book if you're looking for sci-fi closer to BATTLESTAR GALACTICA. But if you're looking for anything remotely aspirational look elsewhere.

What a waste

This is just a waste of time. The plot summary is all one needs to read, there is nothing more interesting in the rest of this. Nice performance, but he's obviously bored, too. Even as a spin up to the new series it is a waste of time...we get more relevant content between the lines in the first episodes than in this whole blob of blather. Recommend not wasting money or credits on this thing.

Extremely Boring

This is extremely boring and unimaginative. 12 hours of describing office setups, setting up meetings and putting together ship construction plans. Great. Where’s the story?

The narrator has has a very monotone voice with random attempts at imitating Picard’s accent. Good in theory, ends up sounding like a 12 year old.

Overall just terrible, just like the new Picard show.

Essential reading for all ST:TNG fans

This deep dive into post-Nemesis Trek is what I've been waiting 17 years for :)

A Great Companion to the Series

This is an excellent prequel to Star Trek Picard and fills in a lot of the gaps between Nemesis and the current series. I am left wanting more to be sure. The major characters are well developed and the storyline is focused on the Romulans. There is still the great mysteries which I hope the series (or other books) will uncover and explore.

Excellent!

I now feel properly prepared to watch the new series on CBS All Access. Fills in timeline.

Probably worth it if you are watching the show

A lot in the TV show Picard which has not been explained (at least up to now) does get back story and context. I think the show will be easier to understand and maybe more enjoyable knowing why the characters are the way they are and the histories they have with each other.
I'm not sorry that I bought it but I never found myself engrossed in the story.

The Back Story To The Series - Perfect

This book gives you the almost full backstory to the series - almost as it deals with Picard mainly so what happens on Mars is not gone into so sorry all no answers given as to why, hopefully we will find out in the Picard series or in another book. Almost up to the start. Just missed out the intervening years while he was in France.

If you love the Picard series this book is a must read and if you are not so bothered about it but like Star Trek in general then this is a must as it’s set in the Star Trek Universe.

A great book - I listened to it in one sitting.

One of the best TV tie-ins I’ve ever read

Fantastic writing that captures the characters so well. It gives you a sense of the huge task ahead of them and the politics involved along the way. Gripping, thoughtful and moving with some very strong resonances for our times. And the performance of the audio is brilliant, particularly Picard’s voice and manner. This is a fantastic book, hugely recommended that gives great insight into the TV series.

A good preview into the tv series

A good story which Leeds well into the new Star Trek Picard TV series. It flashes out the Picard’s life between his years on the Enterprise and the start of the Season One of Picard and well worth listing to.

Page turner

Hard to switch this off. A brilliant book, brilliantly read. Fills in a lot of the back story to the Star Trek Picard TV the series.

very engaging 🤗

what can i say, its star trek at its best. i read it after 2 episodes of picard and filled me in on the missing pieces without spoilers.

Beautiful accompaniment

I listened to this in tandem with the tv series. It is a well structured companion to the show, fleshing out the story and the people. Very little spoils the other, though when it does, it is sadly inevitable given the content of the overarching story. Robert Perkoff was wonderful to listen to. His Picard impersonation was almost perfect and he vocally capture atmosphere well. The story itself was compelling and frustrating for all the right reasons.

decent filler

fills in a bit of back story, but necessarily pulls all punches. Read well, but no-one can replace Patrick Stewart

Good story and well read but....

*** Potential spoilers if you haven't watched the TV show ***
Being a big TNG fan I was always going to be keen to watch the new Picard TV show. When I also heard there was a book that aligned with the story arc of this show I thought I'd better give it a go. After all, it would be good to get a better understanding of the events that caused the Mars tragedy and why Picard left Star Fleet.

However, this is where the book doesn't deliver. Don't get me wrong. The core story is good with some interesting and well written characters, but if you are expecting answers to big questions like what happened with the Mars attack, this book won't tell you anything over and above the TV show. The Mars event, Picard's resignation etc, all happen in the last chapter or two of the book.

It's a tough one to review. Maybe I had the wrong expectations for the book. But like I said it is a good story but not one for filling in the unknowns from the TV show.

incredibly well done

The performance was excellent and perfectly mirrored the well written story. a great set up to the show that is surprisingly better than the plot of the picard show. Any treckie needs this book.

A Box Ticking Excercise.

A great narrative from Robert Petkoff as always but the story was extremely predictable, perhaps the author was constrained by the Star Trek and Picard timeline.