Seekers 1: Second Nature: David Mack.
Running Time: 1 hour 32 minutes 15 seconds
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The writing trio of David Mack, Kevin Dilmore, and Dayton Ward brought us some of the most memorable 23rd-century adventures with their Vanguard series. While the story of Starbase 47 has concluded, the exploratory missions of the Endeavor and the Sagittarius continue on in the new series Star Trek: Seekers. Capturing the fun and wonder of The Original Series with a modern sensibility, Seekers returns readers to the strange new worlds that made Star Trek so popular from the start.
In this episode of Literary Treks we’re joined by David Mack to learn more about the first book, Second Nature, along with the background story of how Seekers was born. We find out how the new series differs from Vanguard, how he and the team of Dilmore and Ward decided who would write which ship, how the first story turns TOS on its head, and more. We also discuss matters of faith and the challenges of writing captains that are not simply pseudo-Kirks.
In our news segment we judge the upcoming Ships of the Line book by its cover, debate digital versus print for the second volume of the Gold Key comics restoration, and even take some Hot Wheels for a spin.
News
New Ships of the Line book cover revealed (2:52)
IDW’s Gold Key Archives, Volume 2 due out in October (8:09)
Feature: David Mack
Based On an Imaginary TV Shows (16:18)
How Does Seekers Differ from Vanguard? (28:53)
Divvying Up Ships and Storylines (34:36)
Turning TOS On Its Head (41:30)
The Needs of the Many and Matters of Faith (47:15)
Writing Captains (52:37)
Bringing Together Different Writing Styles (57:28)
Evolving Klingons in the 23rd Century (59:48)
The Future of Seekers (1:03:00)
What’s Next for David? (1:09:44)
Closing (1:15:33)
Hosts
Matthew Rushing and Christopher Jones
Guest
David Mack
Production
Matthew Rushing (Editor and Producer) Norman C. Lao (Executive Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Charlynn Schmiedt (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Will Nguyen (Content Manager) Ken Tripp (Associate Producer) Will Nguyen (Associate Producer) Brandon-Shea Mutala (Associate Producer) Bruce Gibson (Associate Producer)
David Mack: Firewall. We discus the background of the story, writing in the Picard timeline, Seven’s emotions, an anchor, getting in the way, new characters, the spy element, staying true, the framing device, production, making the map, what’s next for David and our final thoughts.
The Art of the Impossible. We discuss the Cardassian and Klingon conflict, the juxtaposition, Curzon, many characters, other things, our ratings and final thoughts.
The Sundered. We discuss characters on the cover, the Neyel, the Tholians, responsibility, communication, connections, our ratings and final thoughts.
Derek Tyler Attico: The Autobiography of Benjamin Sisko. We discuss the framing device, the family, Academy years, early career, Curzon, filling in more details, in the Celestial Temple,, ending with Benny, one last question, where to find Derek and our final thoughts.
John and Maria Jose Tenuto: Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan: The Making of the Classic Film. We discuss their Star Trek history, passion, Gene Roddenberry, a new captain, many scripts, an unsung hero, surprises, what to put in the book, never surpassed, favorite part, where to find them online and our final thoughts.
Making it So. We discuss his early life, theater life, leading to Picard, left out, Star Trek work, other movies, Star Trek Picard, further stories our ratings and final thoughts.
Cast No Shadow. We discuss unpacking Valeris, Spock's small role, unpacking the conspiracy, fueling hate, Elias Vaughn's first mission, one last question, our ratings and final thoughts.
The Buried Age. We discuss Picard's buried age, failure, the Manroloth, the science, setting up TNG, our ratings and final thoughts.
Rebels: The Liberated. We discuss the natives, the Liberated, the past, how bad was it, our ratings and final thoughts.
Dayton Ward: Somewhere to Belong. We discuss the setting, the Xaheans, storylines, mental health, writing with shows in production, the spore drive, writing advanced tech, movie night, the legacy, what's next and our final thoughts.
Dark Matters: Shadow of Heaven. We discuss Paris and Chakotay, Janeway, Jekri, Harry's bad luck, interluding character, our ratings and final thoughts.
Rebels: The Courageous. We discuss Sisko and his group's story, the Defiant, Jadzia and Julian, an Orb experience, our ratings and final thoughts.
Dark Matters: Ghost Dance. We discuss Paris and Chakotay, the Entity, the Romulan story, meanwhile on Voyager, Harry is in love again, our ratings and final thoughts.
John Jackson Miller: The High Country. We discuss the timeline, the genesis, an event novel, as utopia's turn, willful blindness, everyone is trapped, you can't stop time, technology, use of characters, everything means something, what's next for John and our final thoughts.
Rebels: The Conquered. We discuss Emissary's Sanctuary, a strange mission, perspective, Quark has a point, Dax in command, the Founders, tone, our ratings and final thoughts.
Dark Matters: Cloak and Dagger. We discuss the needle's eye, the Shepherds, a mysterious character, disappearing act, it's short, bedfellows, our ratings and final thoughts.
David Mack: Harm's Way. We discuss working Vanguard back in, aftermath, is a beautiful lie beautiful, Spock, respect, the prime directive, the Klingons, just say no, the future and our final thoughts.
Enterprise: The First Adventure. We discuss the first mission, Kirk, Spock, Rand, Uhura, first contact, the Klingons, the vaudeville company, our ratings and final thoughts.
Ship of the Line. We discuss back story, another gap, Madred, the Klingon villain, Picard's journey, Bateson's journey, Riker, diversity, it just ends, jargon, our ratings and final thoughts.
Star Trek: First Contact: The Making of the Classic Film. We discuss the presentation, after Generations, story points, new Enterprise, new Borg, finding a director, or ratings and final thoughts.
Warped. We discuss early DS9, a Bajoran coup, a license of freedom, the truth will set you free, a spiritual side, the voices our ratings and final thoughts.
Second Self. We discuss the structure, living with the past, history, gritty, complexity of life, plain simple Garak, hope, hypocrites, our ratings and final thoughts.
New Earth: Challenger. We discuss Kirk and Spock, Uhura and McCoy, the criminal element, the USS Peleilu, a new starship, coexist, bringing all things together, our ratings and final thoughts.
Federation. We discuss it being a monumental book, Cochrane, war, Thorsen, connecting the universe, bringing the generations together, our ratings and final thoughts.
New Earth: Thin Air. We discuss a new problem, bluffing, a sickness, the solution, a death, our ratings and final thoughts.
Daedalus's Children. We discuss the timeline question, writing style, an alternate universe, losses and gains, lasting peace, getting home, our ratings and final thoughts.
New Earth: The Flaming Arrow. We discuss following up, a new threat, Kirk's romance, making "friends", no follow up, our ratings and final thoughts.
Daedalus. We discuss back with Enterprise, through the ringer, what happened, interesting parts, what will you do to survive, Trip's romance, the last revelation our ratings and final thoughts.
New Earth: Rough Trails. We discuss Chekov, the romance, barbarians at the gate, no big three, a hard life, power and profit, our ratings and final thoughts.
The Left Hand of Destiny: Book Two. We discuss why Ezri is here, family, Klingon sickness, the enemy, a second coming our ratings and final thoughts.