STAR TREK: SAREK

Chronologically, this latest offering from the self- replicating Star Trek industrial production line follows the events of the movie Star Trek: The Undiscovered Country and focuses on the Vulcan Ambassador Sarek, who, as all Trekkies know, is Mr. Spock's father. As Amanda, Spock's human mother, lies dying, Sarek is called away on yet another dangerous and difficult mission involving the Klingon Empire—how could a Star Trek novel not involve the Klingons?—and Captain Kirk's last surviving relative, nephew Peter. For Trekkies, this is all no doubt fascinating and essential; for others, it's impossible to take seriously. How are you supposed to visualize the characters? Youthful and spry, as they were in the TV series? Or, 25 real-time years later, beset by gray hair, wrinkles, and jowls, as they all too clearly appear in the movies?