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Star Trek: Gateways #1
One Small Step
Scattered throughout the galaxy are Gateways capable of transporting matter and energy across unfathomable distances. Left behind by a long-vanished civilization, these mysterious portals offer a means of exploration -- or conquest -- many times faster than warp travel. The technology responsible for the Gateways has been lost for at least ten millennia, but that doesn't mean it can't be found again.... Having defeated the hostile computer program guarding an abandoned Kalandan outpost, Kirk and his crew are exploring the artificial planetoid in hopes of discovering the secret of an ancient apparatus that has hurled the "Starship Enterprise(TM) " over nearly a thousand light-years. Unfortunately, the reactivated Gateway has attracted the attention -- and avarice -- of various alien explorers, including a mysterious race who claim to be none other than the enigmatic Kalandans themselves
237 pages, Paperback
First published July 31, 2001
About the author
Susan Wright
38 books90 followersSee also S.L. Wright
Susan Wright (aka S.L. Wright) is a USA Today Bestselling author of more than two dozen novels and nonfiction books. She writes New Adult Contemporary Romance novels, as well as Urban Fantasy, Fantasy, Science Fiction and Star Trek novels, and has been published by Pocket Books, Penguin Group, St. Martin’s Press and Kensington.
Susan Wright (aka S.L. Wright) is a USA Today Bestselling author of more than two dozen novels and nonfiction books. She writes New Adult Contemporary Romance novels, as well as Urban Fantasy, Fantasy, Science Fiction and Star Trek novels, and has been published by Pocket Books, Penguin Group, St. Martin’s Press and Kensington.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
July 22, 2018
3.5 stars.
March 5, 2012
One of the more aggrivating books in the Gateways series, this book takes place immediately following the Star Trek TOS episode "That Which Survives." To summarize the episode, the Enterprise discovers a planet that is the same size as Earth's moon and looks habitable, but is very young, its age is only a few thousand years old. It turns out that the planet is an outpost of a dying civilization called the Kalandans. A young woman, Losira, appears and tries to kill the various Enterprise crew memebers, even though her disposition indicates she doesn't want to. The landing party discovers that the planet is deserted and Losira is a holograpic representation of the defense computer, whose parameters were set by the last survivor of the Kalandan's, who also happens to be the flesh and blood version of Losira. This is where the book begins. The outpost sent out a massive energy spike when it sent Enterprise almost 1000 lightyears away from the planet and this attracted the attention of the Klingon's and a group of scavenging aliens interested only in technology who are impersonating the Kalandans. What makes this book aggrivating is that the story doesn't resolve itself until the final book in the Gateways saga and many of the storylines introduced are somwhat unexciting.
January 30, 2012
A pretty disappointing beginning to the Gateways series. A sparse plot, poor characterizations, and plotlines that go nowhere really turned me off. I really hope the rest of the series is a huge improvement. As far as the series as a whole goes, the separate publication of the ends of each of the stories is a little annoying, and strikes me as a ploy to get more money out of me. I can only hope the stories are worth it, but that really doesn't seem to be the case with One Small Step.
Full review: http://treklit.blogspot.com/2012/01/o...
Full review: http://treklit.blogspot.com/2012/01/o...
November 8, 2020
A nice pick up from the episode.
January 15, 2018
An interesting enough beginning to this mini-series of books, though I wish there weren't so many pages of tedious technobabble (why bother with plot or characterisation when you can fill endless paragraphs with made-up bits of computer guts?). On the bright side, Wright's alien threat, the Petraw, are really fun. To be honest, I enjoyed them more than the Enterprise crew! There's so much conflict and back-biting and scheming going on within the Petraw ship that it livens up the story no end.
May 17, 2019
Great story. The cliffhanger ending would have been annoying if I hadn't already purchased the rest of the series. I went immediately to Gateways #7 to finish the story. I'll pause #7 until I finish reading #2 and then go back for it's ending. Silly way of setting up a series of books. Glad I didn't read the first one and then have to wait a year or so for #7 to be published so I could find out what the heck happened.
June 9, 2024
I don't know. There wasn't anything too exceptional about this one and it raised continuity questions more than anything - like introducing quantum torpedoes like 80-90 years before.
If the Petraw are supposed to be the main antagonists this whole series I am a little worried for where this is going as they are kind of stupid. Although them being an alien species that is more about acting and performance to achieve their goals is a little interesting but not enough to raise them up to a new level.
I did appreciate that it is a direct continuation of a TOS episode and I think that's probably my favourite part about Star Trek novels is that aspects, ideas and story threads that are dropped during the series are picked up elsewhere and given more depth. However this is just a middling one.
And yes, Sulu's shoulder hurts... whenever he shows up we got the reminder! Oh right! That's key!... yeah not so much.
If the Petraw are supposed to be the main antagonists this whole series I am a little worried for where this is going as they are kind of stupid. Although them being an alien species that is more about acting and performance to achieve their goals is a little interesting but not enough to raise them up to a new level.
I did appreciate that it is a direct continuation of a TOS episode and I think that's probably my favourite part about Star Trek novels is that aspects, ideas and story threads that are dropped during the series are picked up elsewhere and given more depth. However this is just a middling one.
And yes, Sulu's shoulder hurts... whenever he shows up we got the reminder! Oh right! That's key!... yeah not so much.
March 1, 2018
So, I mean, there's nothing WRONG with this book, but it just ... it felt more like a sequel to an episode of TOS that I don't remember (which it for certain is) than an opening to a massive crossover. Were the Iconian gateways even in here? Not sure, since I stopped reading about a third of the way in. It's not that it's dull, it's just ... OK, yeah, it's pretty dull. I just kept asking myself, do I care what comes next?
Not really.
The writing is fine, but the plot itself just held zero interest for me.
Not really.
The writing is fine, but the plot itself just held zero interest for me.
March 10, 2019
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It has all the elements of a good Star Trek episode. A science problem for Spock, a series of hot women for Kirk as well as some people to fight, and a few good reasons for McCoy to be emotional. I had a little bit of trouble with the alien species, just in that they may not have been as well thought out as I would have liked, but that didn't detract from the overall experience of the book at all. Can't wait for the next one in the series.
October 14, 2020
A good Star Trek story, which gets the tone right. The shortcomings are basically those of the original series (e.g. sexism) but it wouldn't ring true to the original if it wasn't like that.
The story itself is good and the new alien cultures introduced work.
The ending leaves a big loose end but that's to be expected when a story is part of a series. I might read another one day.
The story itself is good and the new alien cultures introduced work.
The ending leaves a big loose end but that's to be expected when a story is part of a series. I might read another one day.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 22, 2018
Decent story starting an arc
Starts at the end of an original series episode, I don't recall the name. (Girl's touch kills people) Ends in a cliffhanger of course(book two is also TOS). I look forward to reading book two in series of seven.
Starts at the end of an original series episode, I don't recall the name. (Girl's touch kills people) Ends in a cliffhanger of course(book two is also TOS). I look forward to reading book two in series of seven.
July 12, 2019
This is one pretty dreadful for a huge crossover series starter. Too little plot, plodding pacing, and some odd characterizations doom the novel. Read over half of it before I just had to set it aside.
August 17, 2019
Very good
I like how this book weaved in a story based on an original series episode it was very cleverly done. Entertaining and am looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
I like how this book weaved in a story based on an original series episode it was very cleverly done. Entertaining and am looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
March 20, 2022
This was an unnecessary extension to one of my least favorite episodes from the original series. Overall the story does not seem to connect in any significant way to the subsequent books in the series.
April 29, 2022
totally blown away
Fantastic read from beginning to end then I discovered I’ve finished it ahhhh frustrating as you know what I did not realise I only had the first part omg. What a great read
Fantastic read from beginning to end then I discovered I’ve finished it ahhhh frustrating as you know what I did not realise I only had the first part omg. What a great read
July 18, 2018
Good Start
I enjoy Star Trek stories that have time travel themes. This story had a good plot that involved different aliens and crazy technology.
I enjoy Star Trek stories that have time travel themes. This story had a good plot that involved different aliens and crazy technology.
March 30, 2021
Worth your time. This takes place after the end of TOS "That Which Survives. " I found it very entertaining. Very well written.
June 3, 2021
I enjoyed this first entry in the Gateways series, though it was fighting against the feeling of an episode running overlong.
3.5/5 Fun and Trekky, if a bit sluggish for such a short book.
3.5/5 Fun and Trekky, if a bit sluggish for such a short book.
September 19, 2022
I honestly don't know how this was published.
Read
August 4, 2023The story ends in a cliff hanger. To get the conclusion you need to read the matching story in What Lay Beyond (Gateways)
January 27, 2024
A very interesting idea for a new species and well written. Characters were pretty true to the TV series, but perhaps too gullible.
July 29, 2018
TOS to the max..... but more than TOS in the series.
This kicks off a multi-volume series of Trek adventures, covering multiple eras. Came into my library thanks to a the current back-list ebook special (all 8 books for $.99 each). I missed these when they first came out, so it's an interesting addition to my books.
This one covers the aftermath of "That Which Survives," and features a sneaky race that impersonates Losira's people, solely to swipe whatever technology they can acquire. Ends with a cliffhanger - a good way to keep you coming back to the series to find out what happens.
This kicks off a multi-volume series of Trek adventures, covering multiple eras. Came into my library thanks to a the current back-list ebook special (all 8 books for $.99 each). I missed these when they first came out, so it's an interesting addition to my books.
This one covers the aftermath of "That Which Survives," and features a sneaky race that impersonates Losira's people, solely to swipe whatever technology they can acquire. Ends with a cliffhanger - a good way to keep you coming back to the series to find out what happens.
April 1, 2021
***If you only care about the Original Series crew, you don’t need to read the other stories and can skip ahead to ‘What Lay Beyond’.
This book literally starts before the end of the Star Trek (Original Series) Season 3’s Episode 17- That Which Survives. In fact if you watch the episode first, which might help you imagine the setting and people anyway, you can probably skip the first two chapters.
Despite the fact I’m not generally an original series fan, it’s not a bad story at all and seems to be the beginning of something very exciting. I already have the other six books of this series on my bedside table, which is good because this one doesn’t really have an ending, so you can’t read it as a stand alone story as such. At least not if you want to know what happens following the big, important thing at the end of the book.
As with all of the Star Trek Universe books that I have read, the writers have caught the characterisations really well, even to the fact that Kirk and Spock were both a bit snotty on the episode. The biggest issue I have is that there is a lot of techno jargon, which frankly makes me cross eyed!
I am very keen to see where it is all going and may not even take my usual two days off between books, before moving on to the next (Star Trek: Challenger (Gateways) - Chainmail). It will be interesting to discover a new crew. I just hope I don’t have to dig through loads of other books for this next one to make sense, like I have had to with the DS9 books that follow on from the end of that TV series, which is technically the only reason I am reading the Gateway books. It’s almost impossible to keep up with the entire universe as the books overlap and follow on, some with massive cliffhangers.
Don’t start reading this unless you are prepared to put in a lot of commitment, it’s a seven book serial and you may not recognise a lot of the characters.
This book literally starts before the end of the Star Trek (Original Series) Season 3’s Episode 17- That Which Survives. In fact if you watch the episode first, which might help you imagine the setting and people anyway, you can probably skip the first two chapters.
Despite the fact I’m not generally an original series fan, it’s not a bad story at all and seems to be the beginning of something very exciting. I already have the other six books of this series on my bedside table, which is good because this one doesn’t really have an ending, so you can’t read it as a stand alone story as such. At least not if you want to know what happens following the big, important thing at the end of the book.
As with all of the Star Trek Universe books that I have read, the writers have caught the characterisations really well, even to the fact that Kirk and Spock were both a bit snotty on the episode. The biggest issue I have is that there is a lot of techno jargon, which frankly makes me cross eyed!
I am very keen to see where it is all going and may not even take my usual two days off between books, before moving on to the next (Star Trek: Challenger (Gateways) - Chainmail). It will be interesting to discover a new crew. I just hope I don’t have to dig through loads of other books for this next one to make sense, like I have had to with the DS9 books that follow on from the end of that TV series, which is technically the only reason I am reading the Gateway books. It’s almost impossible to keep up with the entire universe as the books overlap and follow on, some with massive cliffhangers.
Don’t start reading this unless you are prepared to put in a lot of commitment, it’s a seven book serial and you may not recognise a lot of the characters.
January 9, 2016
I want to start this review off by saying that I love the concept of the Gateways series. I think that the idea and the story about the gateways is amazing, and when I heard about it I felt that it was right up my alley. Because of that it didn't take me all that long to decide that I would read all of the Gateways books and not just the Voyager book.
So as some of you might have guessed this is the first book I've read about the crew from the original Star Trek series. I've recently seen it for the first time and therefore had a fresh memory of the episode, That Which Survives, that this book spins off from. I liked that episode and I loved the episode The City on the Edge of Forever which the technology with the gateways reminds me of. So I like the story in this book, and I also feel like the writer has captured the characters in a believable way. It's interesting to follow Kirk and his crew as they become acquainted with the people who claim to be the Kalandans, whom the gateways belong to, and try to solve the mysteries that come their way.
I'm looking forward to getting to see how it all ends in the last book and, of course, to read all the other stories about the gateways leading up to that last one where it all will (hopefully) be sorted out.
So as some of you might have guessed this is the first book I've read about the crew from the original Star Trek series. I've recently seen it for the first time and therefore had a fresh memory of the episode, That Which Survives, that this book spins off from. I liked that episode and I loved the episode The City on the Edge of Forever which the technology with the gateways reminds me of. So I like the story in this book, and I also feel like the writer has captured the characters in a believable way. It's interesting to follow Kirk and his crew as they become acquainted with the people who claim to be the Kalandans, whom the gateways belong to, and try to solve the mysteries that come their way.
I'm looking forward to getting to see how it all ends in the last book and, of course, to read all the other stories about the gateways leading up to that last one where it all will (hopefully) be sorted out.
November 21, 2012
I started this as a way to get back into my New Frontier reading groove (as that series crosses into the Gateways storyline), but this may have been a mistake. I'm beginning to have the sneaking suspicion that each story in Gateways will ultimately have little to do with each other. As for this book, it was a little on the weak side and hard to follow in parts. I'm also not happy about the way the concluding portion of the book is contained in "book 7" of the series. Not happy at all with this marketing ploy, so much so it bleeds over at least on this first part. I will not be reading the Challenger portion of the story until after I have read Star Trek: New Earth. Maybe I'll be happier with the conclusion in "book 7."
September 28, 2014
This is the kickoff of another series that goes through all the various Star Trek novel series. Fittingly, it starts with Kirk and the original Enterprise, following up on the classic "City on the Edge of Forever" episode, and offering an explanation of what the Guardian actually is.
It's a good story, drawing on some original series lore but telling its own tale. Wright has a good feel for the characters, and has their voices down well. The action is good and enjoyable, and well plotted.
It's a good fun read for Star Trek fans, and sci fi fans in general.
It's a good story, drawing on some original series lore but telling its own tale. Wright has a good feel for the characters, and has their voices down well. The action is good and enjoyable, and well plotted.
It's a good fun read for Star Trek fans, and sci fi fans in general.
August 14, 2014
I hope this is not a sign of the rest of the Gateway series. The plot was rather thin. Given the amount of technical analysis it could have been half as long.
It seems to me rather stupid of Kirk to open a gateway to Earth when the technology was unknown. Also, since he did that, it rather begs the question of why Picard knew nothing of this event in the TNG episode Contagion.
So an average beginning. Maybe the next will be better.
It seems to me rather stupid of Kirk to open a gateway to Earth when the technology was unknown. Also, since he did that, it rather begs the question of why Picard knew nothing of this event in the TNG episode Contagion.
So an average beginning. Maybe the next will be better.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 7, 2014
This takes place immediately after an episode of the classic series. Kirk, McCoy and Sulu are stuck in an underground science station of alien orgin, because of a virus. They are also keen to find what technology is held there. This is a fun enough adventure, could have been a tv show, but it does end on a cliffhanger. I liked the alien species who were con artist, they were well done. A good read.
March 24, 2015
How do I rate a book like this? It read like a TV episode, even the characters felt compatible with their TV counterparts. It was a quick, easy read but there was nothing literarily excellent about the read. It was formulaic but exciting. I enjoyed it, it gave me exactly what I wanted but didn't engage me at all. So it ends up at a three but maybe deserves a four if enjoyment is the only criteria.
November 30, 2020
Great idea for a mini-series, the Iconian gateways. But, unfortuately, this book is average at best. One thing that it excels at, is placement. It does a great job of using an episode (That Which Survives) as a lead-in. It takes place immediately after. But, I think it's a little slow and dull. I do not regret the reading though.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews