Star Trek fans should really check out this Kickstarter by author Stephen Fender. Stephen is a published author with a pretty neat hobby; he likes to write Star Trek ‘fan fiction’. And he is working on a series of new Trek novels set during The Four Years War.
What is Star Trek: The Four Years War?
The Four Years War was a protracted conflict between the United Federation of Planets and the Klingon Empire, which took place roughly ten years prior to the events depicted in Star Trek: The Original Series.
The entire war was outlined in a supplement for the FASA version of Star Trek: The Role Playing Game. While the supplement goes into some detail concerning battles, tactics, and political motives, it is lacking a great deal.
Being an avid fan of military history, I felt that this was a great project to test my abilities at novel writing. Thus, in 2011, this series was born.“
The Kickstarter is to raise money to have the books professionally edited and printed. The pledge levels are set at about the right price, ranging from killer bargain to very fair. He has nearly completed the third book, and for a $30 pledge you can get the finished 4 book set mailed to you early next year. You can also support the project and receive the first 3 as eBook versions for only a $3 pledge.
With Star Trek: Axanar having released it’s prelude and having had a very successful Kickstarter for the main film, there is a high awareness of The Four Years War right now among Trek fans. So, it should be stressed that the storyline Mr. Fender is using in his books will almost certainly be very different than that of Axanar.
As quoted above, The Four Years War will use the Role-Playing game as their basis, with other sources used to flesh out the storyline. One thing this opens up for fans is the chance to be included as a Captain or such of one of the many ships used in the books. You can check out the Kickstarter page to see which pledge levels include naming a Captain or a ship…or more.
And of course there are stretch goals, the first of which has already been unlocked. Supporters of this project donating $20 or more will be receiving custom patches like these to the right. Upcoming stretch goals will likely unlock even more patches as well.
Personally, I like just about everything about this project. The very idea of new Trek is always exciting and this promises to be so much more than fan-fiction. We fans are usually lucky to get a couple of new fan films each year (and they are getting better), but here is something even more engrossing for die-hard fans. Four new Trek books…what fan does not like that idea?
You can get more info on the project and stay up to date by visiting these official sites:
The Four Years War on Facebook
The Four Years War Kickstarter
www.stephenfender.com
Trek fans looking for something to read, to tide them over until The Four Years War is edited and released early next year might try another Trek novel by Stephen Fender, his first novel actually.
Star Trek: The Next Generation – Pirates Cove
More information can be found here.
Moby is not affiliated with Stephen Fender or Kickstarter. STAR TREK and all related marks, logos and characters are owned by CBS Studios Inc. This production, the promotion thereof and/or any exhibition of material created by the production are not endorsed or sponsored by or affiliated with CBS/Paramount Pictures or the STAR TREK franchise.
Thank you, CBS.
