I was never all that enamoured with Deanna Troi as a character, though I must admit that she has really grown on me of late. This is largely down to the superlative handling of her by a few different ‘post-finale’ authors, most notably Christopher L Bennett, whose first contribution to the Star Trek: Titan series is an empathic slobberknocker that typifies the range’s ideals.True to the Titan spirit, Bennett’s narrative is driven by non-humanoid species. This novel revisits the space-borne “star jellies” that we first met on the Enterprise-D’s maiden voyage and the colossal crystalline entities that laid waste to Data’s native colony, making these “Cosmozoans” part of a vast and delicate spatial ecosystem that is being stage-managed by a race of “whalers” – a state of affairs that Captain Riker cannot allow to stand. Turning to his half-Betazoid diplomatic officer / spouse for telepathic assistance, Titan’s bold captain takes it upon himself to completely reshape an entire region of space.
Bennett does a splendid job of balancing characterisation and plot, with each complementing the other beautifully. In sharing her mind and soul with the star jellies, Troi is forced to relive her recent telepathic rape at the hands of the Reman Viceroy in Nemesis, while at the same time trying to help Tuvok manage his own extrasensory demons. This is then counterpointed by Vale’s doubts about Riker’s judgement when it comes to his wife, and Riker’s realisation that his judgement is affected – though not necessarily for the worse. The synergy is delectable.
The remainder of the Titan crewmembers are also much better rounded here than they have been previously, with Bennett finally getting past the gimmicks of their respective species and to the heart of them. Here we read about the nanoprobe “infested” cyborg whose commanding officer is taking out his “Borg issues” on him; the Tellerite counsellor whose patients grow to respect his almost preposterously antagonistic style; the Pahkwa-thanh chief medical officer who will happily chew off an enemy’s forearm, only to diligently reattach it hours later. Even those we know well such as Tuvok are afforded new depth when, overwhelmed, he attacks the frail Melora - a development that forces both of them to take stock of their respective issues in a way that’s far from clichéd, but still quintessentially Trek.
Perhaps the most impressive thing about Orion’s Hounds though is its lack of presumption. Bennett dares to challenge the unassailable notion that the Federation is beyond reproach, but not in an obvious Insurrection kind of way. The plot that unfurls here forces Titan’s captain to take a hard look at blind eyes that date back to Farpoint; perhaps even earlier.Orion’s Hounds is a subtle and enthralling piece of work that takes the ideals of the first two Titan novels and builds a fascinating story around them, rather than on top of them. It rewards long-standing fans by weaving together threads from a number of fascinating, but all too exceptional, Next Generation stories, challenging preconceptions and beliefs all the while. A stunning book in every sense.
