136. Into the Trekiverse (Q-Squared)

FIRST: After we recorded this episode, we learned that Peter David is recovering from a series of strokes, along with a mild heart attack. His wife is raising money for his medical bills, and if you enjoy our coverage of his work, please consider throwing a few bucks their way.

Anika and Liz hop some timelines and read pages 1-105 (paperback edition) of Q-Squared by Peter David, and along the way, discuss…

• Our first encounters with the novel
• A brief overview of Picard/Crusher shipping in the official tie-ins
• They don't make tie-in novels like they used to
• We come to this with pre-existing opinions about Peter David
• Getting into the alternate universe set-up of Track A: Captain Jack Crusher, Commander Picard, Dr Howard, Nurse Geordi, POW!Riker and Vigilante!Worf
• This book gets deeper into Jack Crusher's personality than any other TNG-related material, and, uh, yikes
• Peter David writes a GREAT Riker
• Listen to Where's Beverly's Hallowe'en episode for Liz's "Beverly is a space witch" theory
• The perpetual widowhood of Beverly Crusher
• Canon timeline Deanna is a punchline and it's not funny
• "This novel makes me feel things, and I appreciate that."