Great accompaniment to the new show

The story before Star Trek : Picard, this book fills in the gaps regarding the Romulan relief mission, who Raffie and Elnor are and how they came into Picard’s life and more. As always, Robert Petkoff’s performance is first rate.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Space Filler

Fills in a whole load of blank spaces that happens before Star Trek Picard, so it becomes a lot more understandable about why Picard has left Star Fleet

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Great Star Trek knowledge

Great story, the author clearly knows their Star Trek subject matter. Thoroughly enjoyed the performance, Looking forward to the next book.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

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.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

6 people found this helpful

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.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

5 people found this helpful

worth it

this book gives good insight into the Picard series. worth a read for all trekies

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Excellent companion to a brilliant series!

'The Last Best Hope' by Una McCormack is an excellent companion to the recent series 'Star Trek: Picard' which premiered earlier this year. A big fan of 'Star Trek' for many years, I have seen absolutely everything considered as 'canon' by the purists; indeed, I have watched some episodes and films so many times that I often think I am in them! Yet this is the first 'Star Trek' novel I have ever read. A greatly appreciated birthday present, Una McCormack's work certainly did not disappoint!

The story starts and ends with an extremely contemplative, even brooding, Jean-Luc Picard at his old family home in La Barre, France.
"I am useless!" he concludes.
"What am I for?" he solemnly asks himself. At the end of the story, we experience the bleakness and desperation of a man whose life's work has always been to make a difference, and with sadness, we reflect upon that moment in 'Generations' when, in the Nexus, he urges an ageing James T. Kirk to "...come back with me! Make a difference again!" At this point in Picard's life, however, it is all over, and the biggest preoccupation for him and his dog, Number One, is what to do with their time. Of course, having seen 'Star Trek: Picard', we know that there is more to come after all!

The plot develops throughout the early to mid 2380s, focusing on the all-consuming Romulan rescue mission, mounted by Starfleet prior to the supernova which will completely destroy the Empire. The author's descriptions of the preparation and execution of the mission, the logistical challenges, the political intrigue within the Romulan Empire (effectively cutting off their collective nose to spite their collective face) and even opposition in the ranks of the Federation with some worlds even threatening secession (shades of 2016 in the UK, I would suggest) provide additional context for the TV series. The mission is, of course, led by the newly-promoted Admiral Picard - but not aboard the Enterprise! He is faced with the prospect of commanding a new ship, Verity, and working with a new crew and, in particular, his 'XO', Raffi Musiker. She is not at all intimidated by him, challenges him when he needs it and keeps him grounded. He appreciates her candour, although he wishes her language were more sensitive at times (actually, the 'F bomb' is dropped several times throughout the novel, even by Romulans, a development we have come to associate with the newer incarnations of 'Star Trek'). Their friendship is one of the real positives in the story.

We seasoned fans of the franchise, whilst embracing the unknown, are nonetheless grateful to McCormack for her occasional references to older, more familiar 'Trek': Geordi Laforge joining Picard on the mission in a key role at Utopia Planitia on Mars and featuring prominently in the story; Worf assuming command of the Enterprise E, despite objections from Captain Kirsten Clancy because of his actions on Soukara where he puts the safety of his wife, Jadzia Dax, before the mission (a reference to the 'Deep Space Nine' Season 6 episode 'Change of Heart'); mention of the state of Cardassia Prime in the immediate aftermath of the Dominion War and virtual destruction by the Jem'Hadar. Finally, which of us is not moved by Picard's brief conversation with Ambassador Spock as the Vulcan leaves Romulus to escape the impending disaster?

At this point, I should like to pay a special tribute to Robert Petkoff who reads the audiobook quite beautifully, giving a more than passable rendering of Patrick Stewart's inflections in the process.

I am not wholly convinced that this book could be read on its own by someone not initiated into the 'Star Trek' universe, though I stand to be corrected on this point. What I can say for certain is that 'Star Trek: Picard - the Last Best Hope' provides a little more depth and insight into the characters, goals, missions and technology of Starfleet and the Federation for those of us who already find this 24th Century, quasi utopian world so appealing. Una McCormack has, through this novel, inspired me to read more of the 'Star Trek' novels; whilst these may not be 'canon', they are nevertheless 'Star Trek' if this is anything to go by - and that is good enough for me!

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Excellent prequel to Picard the TV series

An interesting well thought out storyline. Connecting STNG to the current time line. my only reservation is that the book abruptly comes to an end. could it have benefited from an investigation into why the synthetics did what they did? could there have been a spin off plot left there. Could JL have gone renegade to save more lives? I don't know. Nevertheless I enjoyed thoroughly.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

great intro to the Picard TV series

This explains a lot about the run up to the Picard TV series.

The series starts with the androids running amok and killing all on the mars shipyards. this explains how them robots came into existence and introduces us to the characters.

A great listen for any Picard fans.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Awesome prequel

Love love love this! Brilliant introduction to the new Picard series. Now I need to watch it again 👍
Great narration too 😀

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!