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''Q-Squared'' (full title '' Star Trek: The Next Generation – Q-Squared'') is a non-canon ''
Star Trek ''Star Trek'' is an American science fiction media franchise created by Gene Roddenberry, which began with the Star Trek: The Original Series, series of the same name and became a worldwide Popular culture, pop-culture Cultural influence of ...
'' novel by
Peter David Peter Allen David (September 23, 1956 – May 24, 2025), often abbreviated PAD, was an American writer of comic books, novels, television, films, and video games.Buxton, Marc (March 29, 2014)"From 'Future Imperfect' to '2099': Peter David's Grea ...
. It spent five weeks on the
New York Times bestseller list ''The New York Times'' Best Seller list is widely considered the preeminent list of best-selling books in the United States. John Bear, ''The #1 New York Times Best Seller: intriguing facts about the 484 books that have been #1 New York Times ...
in 1994. ''Q-Squared'' was released in July 1994 as one in a series of "Giant Novels" for the ''Star Trek'' line from
Pocket Books Pocket Books is a division of Simon & Schuster that primarily publishes paperback books. History Pocket Books produced the first Paperback#Mass market paperback, mass-market, pocket-sized paperback books in the United States in early 1939 and ...
. Although the novel was primarily based on and around the characters of '' Star Trek: The Next Generation'', this book was particularly notable for bringing together the characters of Q from ''Star Trek: The Next Generation'' and Trelane from '' Star Trek: The Original Series''.


Plot

Trelane, who first appeared in the original ''Star Trek'' episode "
The Squire of Gothos "The Squire of Gothos" is the 17th episode of the Star Trek: The Original Series season 1, first season of the American science-fiction television series ''Star Trek: The Original Series, Star Trek''. Written by Paul Schneider (writer), Paul Sc ...
", is revealed to be a member of the
Q Continuum Q is a fictional character, as well as the name of a race, in ''Star Trek'', appearing in the '' Next Generation'', '' Deep Space Nine'', '' Voyager'', '' Lower Decks'', and ''Picard'' series and in related media. The most familiar Q is portraye ...
. He taps into the power of the Continuum and uses this ability to tamper with time and reality, resulting in the intersection of three different parallel universes which are also referred to as time "tracks". Track A is a universe in which
Beverly Crusher Beverly Crusher is a fictional character in the ''Star Trek'' franchise, played by Gates McFadden. Debuting in the television series '' Star Trek: The Next Generation'', McFadden appeared in every season, except for the second, as well as its ...
's husband
Jack Jack may refer to: Places * Jack, Alabama, US, an unincorporated community * Jack, Missouri, US, an unincorporated community * Jack County, Texas, a county in Texas People and fictional characters * Jack (given name), a male given name, incl ...
never died, and now serves as captain of the ''Enterprise'' with
Jean-Luc Picard Jean-Luc Picard is a fictional character in the ''Star Trek'' franchise, most often seen as the commanding officer of the Federation starship . Played by Patrick Stewart, Picard has appeared in the television series '' Star Trek: The Next Gene ...
as his first officer; in this universe, Jack's son Wesley died as a boy and Jack and Beverly divorced. Track B is the traditional universe depicted on ''Star Trek: The Next Generation''. Track C is akin to the more militaristic alternate universe shown in the ''Next Generation'' episode "
Yesterday's Enterprise "Yesterday's Enterprise" is the 63rd episode of the American science fiction television series '' Star Trek: The Next Generation''. It is the 15th episode of the third season, first airing in syndication in the week of February 19, 1990. Set ...
", in which the Federation is at war with the Klingons. Q, who had been charged with the task of "
mentoring Mentorship is the patronage, influence, guidance, or direction given by a mentor. A mentor is someone who teaches or gives help and advice to a less experienced and often younger person. In an organizational setting, a mentor influences the perso ...
" Trelane (a task each "adult" Q must accept at least once for an "adolescent" Q), enlists the help of Picard and the crew of the ''Enterprise''-D in the three different
timelines A timeline is a list of events displayed in chronological order. It is typically a graphic design showing a long bar labelled with dates paralleling it, and usually contemporaneous events. Timelines can use any suitable scale representing t ...
in order to teach Trelane discipline, and eventually, to stop him from destroying the fabric of the universe by collapsing the alternate universes together. When the tracks begin to merge, the characters from separate universes begin to appear to one another, sometimes with disastrous results. The Tashas of Track A and C encounter each other, with Tasha-A reacting with amazement at her C counterpart's harsh appearance; Jack Crusher confronts his ex-wife about the affair she is having with Track-A Picard; during the argument, which Track-B Picard witnesses, she is accidentally killed; additionally, members of Track C attempt to kill Worf, and believe all the members of the crew from the other two universes are really Klingon impostors. Eventually, Q manages to overpower Trelane and the universes are once again separated, though not always perfectly (at the end of the novel, Track-A Data appears to be stuck in Track C). Q also spends part of the novel lost in time and space, trapped by the barrier around the galaxy; this relates to the original series episode "
Where No Man Has Gone Before "Where no man has gone before" is a phrase made popular through its use in the title sequence of the original 1966–1969 ''Star Trek'' science fiction television series, describing the mission of the starship ''Enterprise''. The complete int ...
".


Parallel universes

The plot of this novel continually shifts among three different parallel universes, or 'Tracks', each identified by a letter: * Track B is the normal Star Trek universe. * Track A is a variation of the Trekverse, with several differences: **
James Kirk James Tiberius Kirk, often known as Captain Kirk, is a fictional character in the ''Star Trek'' media franchise. Originally played by Canadian actor William Shatner, Kirk first appeared in ''Star Trek'' serving aboard the starship USS ''Enterp ...
's middle initial is R (as shown in the original series episode "
Where No Man Has Gone Before "Where no man has gone before" is a phrase made popular through its use in the title sequence of the original 1966–1969 ''Star Trek'' science fiction television series, describing the mission of the starship ''Enterprise''. The complete int ...
", which apparently takes place in the Track A universe as James Kirk's middle initial is usually T). ** Jack Crusher, who did not die under Picard's command, is commanding officer of the ''Enterprise''-D. He and Beverly are divorced; their son Wesley died in an accident while still a toddler. **
Geordi La Forge Geordi La Forge ( ) is a fictional character who appeared in all seven seasons of the American science fiction television series '' Star Trek: The Next Generation'' and its four feature films as well as the third season of '' Star Trek: Picard ...
is a nurse in sickbay with cloned eye implants instead of his
VISOR A visor (also spelled vizor) is a surface that protects the eyes, such as shading them from the sun or other bright light or protecting them from objects. Nowadays many visors are transparent, but before strong transparent substances such a ...
. **
Jean-Luc Picard Jean-Luc Picard is a fictional character in the ''Star Trek'' franchise, most often seen as the commanding officer of the Federation starship . Played by Patrick Stewart, Picard has appeared in the television series '' Star Trek: The Next Gene ...
, broken in rank by a
court martial A court-martial (plural ''courts-martial'' or ''courts martial'', as "martial" is a postpositive adjective) is a military court or a trial conducted in such a court. A court-martial is empowered to determine the guilt of members of the mili ...
after his failure to defend the ''Stargazer'' at Maxia, is ''Enterprise'''s first officer. He and Beverly become romantically involved, with disastrous results when Jack discovers their affair. **
Data Data ( , ) are a collection of discrete or continuous values that convey information, describing the quantity, quality, fact, statistics, other basic units of meaning, or simply sequences of symbols that may be further interpreted for ...
is a "human-oid" (a positronic brain in an organic body), and is engaged in an ongoing affair with
Tasha Yar Natasha "Tasha" Yar is a character that mainly appeared in the first season of the American science fiction television series '' Star Trek: The Next Generation''. Portrayed by Denise Crosby, Yar is chief of security aboard the Starfleet sta ...
. **
William Riker William Thomas "Will" Riker is a fictional character in the ''Star Trek'' universe appearing primarily as a main character in '' Star Trek: The Next Generation,'' portrayed by Jonathan Frakes. Throughout the series and its accompanying films, ...
and
Kira Nerys Kira Nerys ( ) is a fictional character in the American science fiction television series '' Star Trek: Deep Space Nine'' (1993–1999). She was played by actress Nana Visitor. The character is from the fictional planet Bajor, a world which has ...
have been prisoners of the Romulan Star Empire for several years. Riker and
Deanna Troi Deanna Troi is a main character in the science-fiction television series '' Star Trek: The Next Generation'' and related TV series and films, portrayed by English actress Marina Sirtis. Troi is half-human, half- Betazoid, and has the psionic a ...
were married prior to his capture, and have a son who has never met his father. **
Worf Worf, son of Mogh is a fictional character in the ''Star Trek'' franchise, portrayed by actor Michael Dorn. He appears in the television series ''Star Trek: The Next Generation'' (''TNG''), seasons four through seven of ''Star Trek: Deep Space ...
was not adopted by a Federation couple; instead, he was raised in the Klingon Empire as a warrior. He rescues Riker and Kira and kills their Romulan overseers. * Track C is a variant of the "Klingon war" timeline as seen in "
Yesterday's Enterprise "Yesterday's Enterprise" is the 63rd episode of the American science fiction television series '' Star Trek: The Next Generation''. It is the 15th episode of the third season, first airing in syndication in the week of February 19, 1990. Set ...
", but one in which the ''Enterprise''-D came across the ''Enterprise''-C several hours after it passed into the future, and thus could not be sent back to Narendra III in 2344 to prevent the war with the Klingons (the rift had closed and the ''Enterprise''-C's crew were all dead). In addition, the final chapter of the book is called 'Derailment', in which the various realities coalesce into a single timeline. This chapter ties all of the plots visited over the length of the book together, concluding with Q's final confrontation with the now-deranged Trelane.


Q connections

The role of Q was originated by
John de Lancie John Sherwood de Lancie, Jr. (born March 20, 1948) is an American actor, best known for his role as Q in various ''Star Trek'' series, beginning with '' Star Trek: The Next Generation'' in 1987 and leading up to the third season of '' Star Tre ...
in the first episode of ''Star Trek: The Next Generation'', "
Encounter at Farpoint "Encounter at Farpoint" is the pilot episode and series premiere of the American science fiction television series '' Star Trek: The Next Generation'', which premiered in syndication on September 28, 1987. It was written by D. C. Fontan ...
". John de Lancie also provided the reading of the novel in the
audiobook An audiobook (or a talking book) is a recording of a book or other work being read out loud. A reading of the complete text is described as "unabridged", while readings of shorter versions are abridgements. Spoken audio has been available in sch ...
edition.
Peter David Peter Allen David (September 23, 1956 – May 24, 2025), often abbreviated PAD, was an American writer of comic books, novels, television, films, and video games.Buxton, Marc (March 29, 2014)"From 'Future Imperfect' to '2099': Peter David's Grea ...
previously wrote the novel '' Q-in-Law'' for
Pocket Books Pocket Books is a division of Simon & Schuster that primarily publishes paperback books. History Pocket Books produced the first Paperback#Mass market paperback, mass-market, pocket-sized paperback books in the United States in early 1939 and ...
. This novel also featured the main character of Q and was based in the continuity of ''Star Trek: The Next Generation''.


Cultural references

In one sequence of the novel, Trelane brings to life the character of
Winnie the Pooh Winnie-the-Pooh (also known as Edward Bear, Pooh Bear or simply Pooh) is a fictional Anthropomorphism, anthropomorphic teddy bear created by English author A. A. Milne and English illustrator E. H. Shepard. Winnie-the-Pooh first appeared by ...
, who was originally created by
A. A. Milne Alan Alexander Milne (; 18 January 1882 – 31 January 1956) was an English writer best known for his books about the teddy bear Winnie-the-Pooh, as well as children's poetry. Milne was primarily a playwright before the huge success of Winnie-th ...
and is perhaps best known through the
film A film, also known as a movie or motion picture, is a work of visual art that simulates experiences and otherwise communicates ideas, stories, perceptions, emotions, or atmosphere through the use of moving images that are generally, sinc ...
s,
television series A television show, TV program (), or simply a TV show, is the general reference to any content produced for viewing on a television set that is broadcast via over-the-air, satellite, and cable, or distributed digitally on streaming plat ...
, and
merchandise Merchandising is any practice which contributes to the sale of Product (business), products ("merch" colloquially) to a retail consumer. At a retail in-store level, merchandising refers to displaying products that are for sale in a creative w ...
produced by
Disney The Walt Disney Company, commonly referred to as simply Disney, is an American multinational mass media and entertainment industry, entertainment conglomerate (company), conglomerate headquartered at the Walt Disney Studios (Burbank), Walt Di ...
. In the universe of Track A, the
bartender A bartender (also known as a barkeep or barman or barmaid or a mixologist) is a person who formulates and serves alcoholic or soft drink beverages behind the Bar (establishment), bar, usually in a licensed bar (establishment), establishment as ...
in
Ten-Forward USS ''Enterprise'' (NCC-1701-D), or ''Enterprise''-D, to distinguish it as the fifth Federation vessel with the same name, is a fictional starship in the ''Star Trek'' media franchise. Under the command of Captain Jean-Luc Picard, it is the ...
is named Caryn Johnson, replacing the usual character Guinan. In real life, Caryn Johnson is the birth name of
Whoopi Goldberg Caryn Elaine Johnson (born November 13, 1955), known professionally as Whoopi Goldberg (), is an American actor, comedian, author, and television personality.Kuchwara, Michael (AP Drama Writer)"Whoopi Goldberg: A One-Woman Character Parade". ...
, who played Guinan on ''Star Trek: The Next Generation''.


See also

* ''
I, Q ''I, Q'' is a 1999 ''Star Trek'' novel by John de Lancie and Peter David. Set in the '' Star Trek: The Next Generation'' fictional universe, the novel depicts Q joining forces with Captain Jean-Luc Picard and Lieutenant Commander Data to save ...
'' * '' Q-in-Law'' * '' Star Trek: The Q Continuum''


References


External links

* Pocket Books' listings for the book i
eBook
an
eAudio
formats. {{Star Trek publications 1994 American novels Novels based on Star Trek: The Next Generation Novels by Peter David Pocket Books books