And so I went back over the pages I’d already written and took notice of those references that I’d already made. The number already exceeded my expectations, and so I decided to go for it. I listed every single TOS episode-from the three seasons of the Original Series, to the two years of animated adventures, and through the seven feature films-and I began noting my exclusive references to each. In the end, I found a way to bring up every single episode, animated adventure, and film in a unique way. That is, a reference to, say, Lieutenant Kevin Riley would not be an example of such a reference because that character appeared in two episodes, “The Naked Time” and “The Conscience of the King.” On the other hand, an allusion to Governor Kodos of Tarsus IV would constitute such a reference, since that character (and planet) occurred only in the latter of those two episodes.

After I finished writing the three novels, I wondered-as I always do-how they would be received by the readers. I felt that I had once again defied expectations, but perhaps even more so than usual with my unorthodox stories. Would they work? Would readers be able to accept and enjoy what I had written?

I didn’t know at that point, and as I sit putting these words down, I still don’t. But I like challenging myself, and I hope that readers will enjoy the challenge I’ve set them as well, asking them to put aside any preconceived notions they might have about this trilogy and simply going along for the ride with an open mind. The Star Trek characters you all know and love are here, though perhaps in different settings and situations than you might have imagined. I’ve tried to take Kirk and Spock and McCoy on personal journeys, and I sincerely hope that you’ve enjoyed taking those journeys with them-and with me. For opening the pages of these books-as well as those of my other works-I thank you. A writer is nothing without readers. My whole purpose in putting pen to paper or pixels to screen is to reach people I don’t even know, to offer brief moments of enjoyment in their lives, perhaps even occasionally to enrich them or to make them think, to connect with them on some level. I hope I’ve done that, and I am grateful to all of you for allowing me that opportunity.

Until next time…

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

In each of my last five novels, including the other two in the Crucible trilogy, I have commenced my acknowledgments by thanking my editor, Marco Palmieri. Well, nothing’s changed. As a writer, I could not be more fortunate than I have been in working with Marco. He is so very good at his craft, and it is always a pleasure to have him toiling by my side. I consider him both an ally and an asset in my professional life, and a friend in my personal life. In so many ways, for so many reasons, Marco is simply the best.

I would also like to thank John Picacio, the talented artist who produced the beautiful triptych comprising the three covers for the Crucible books, Provenance of Shadows, The Fire and the Rose, and The Star to Every Wandering. His art speaks for itself, and if you’d like to see more, check out John’s website, johnpicacio.com, or his new book, Cover Story: The Art of John Picacio. I had the good fortune of meeting John and spending some time with him at and after a recent convention, and he could not have been nicer or more friendly.

I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge the contributions of two men without whom this trilogy would not have been possible. During the tumultuous 1960s, Gene Roddenberry created Star Trek, and with it, a stage on which to tell stories of alien civilizations in the future, stories that actually addressed important societal issues on present-day Earth. On that stage, Harlan Ellison crafted his serious and poignant “The City on the Edge of Forever,” an episode that, even when I watch it today, causes me to experience chills during its heartrending climax. I am privileged to be allowed to write within Mr. Roddenberry’s now-vast universe, and doubly so to coax my own tales out of Mr. Ellison’s masterful story. At the same time, I wish to acknowledge all of the people who have contributed to the considerable creation that is Star Trek-from the production assistants, to the costumers, to the camera operators, to the writers and producers and directors, to each and every behind-the-scenes or onscreen individual who added to this wonderful mythos. I salute you.

Thanks also to Alex Rosenzweig, who once more came through for me with some critical Star Trek research. In this case, I am particularly grateful to him because he did so on such short notice. While some might think that details of the Trek universe are easy to find, that’s not always the case, and especially not with respect to the subtle or complex pieces of information that I often seek. For The Star to Every Wandering, Alex graciously saved me a great deal of time and effort when I faced an impending deadline.

On a very personal note, I want to thank Mary and Bill Dunlap for their love and support through the years. We’ve shared many adventures together-from taking a tour of the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York, to attending Jeanette and Rich Thomas’s blowouts on their vineyard in Lodi, California, from embarking on a manic cab ride through London, England, to experiencing a wild game on a soccer field that had been converted into a baseball diamond on a military base in the middle of the woods in Balashikha, Russia-and I certainly hope that we have many more. Mary and Bill are among my very favorite people in the world, and I always look forward to our time together.

Thanks too to Victoria and John Ratnaswamy for their friendship. John and I have also had our fair share of escapades over the years-from meeting a ship’s captain somewhere in the Caribbean Sea, to making astronaut Jim Lovell’s acquaintance at his son’s restaurant in Lake Forest, Illinois, from visiting a mock-up of space station Freedom in Southern California, to participating in a pair of space shuttle mission simulations at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama-and I trust that we have more to come. I adore Victoria and John, and I feel privileged to have them and their three wonderful children, Alec, Julia, and Lily, in my life.

I also wish to thank Kathy Golec for her long comradeship. We did time in the trenches together, and I managed to make it through relatively unscathed, at least in part due to her presence there with me. Kathy is a bright, vibrant woman whom I am lucky to count as a friend.

I also want to thank the United States Submarine Veterans, and in particular the men of Tang Base. Only a small percentage of the U.S. Navy serve as submariners, and they are indeed a unique breed. I am honored to be an associate member of Tang Base, and I have Walter Ragan to thank for inviting me aboard. Walter himself “rode the vents,” and I love listening to his stories about that time. He is a man of honor and integrity whom I treasure.

Thanks to Anita Smith for her constant love and support. Quick to smile and laugh, always willing to lend her assistance with anything, she is a pleasure to be around. Anita is a very special woman, somebody who improves my life simply by being in it.

I want to express my appreciation to Jennifer George as well. Her love and support never waver, and she makes my life not only easier and better in so many ways, but more fun too. I think the world of Jen, and I respect and admire her more than words can say.

Thank you to Patricia Walenista too. A touchstone for me, she is a woman of great character-not to mention being something of a character as well. Energetic and fun, supportive and loving, she is one of the most important people in my life.

Finally, I want to thank the universe at large for Karen Ragan-George. As many times as I have sung Karen’s praises, both in the pages of my books and in my personal life, there are simply not enough melodies, not enough refrains, to do so sufficiently. Still, I can say that since Karen and I met, everything is different. All she asks of me is that wherever she goes, I go too, and I know that she’ll always stand by me, come what may. Oh, and hers are the sweetest eyes I’ve ever seen.