The Underrated Star Trek Series That Brings Back Fan-Favorite Characters

Originally, Star Trek: New Frontier was developed by editor John Ordover to solve a vexing problem for Trek writers: the relative lack of continuity. Back in the ‘90s, each Star Trek book was its own separate adventure that couldn’t make any major changes to the continuity or lore. Ordover gambled that not only would publisher Simon & Schuster give the green light to an ongoing series with its own continuity but that fans would flock to a series following the adventures of a new starship and its maverick captain.

Fortunately, he was correct. Written by Peter David (already considered one of the best Trek authors when the series debuted in 1995), Star Trek: New Frontier released a whopping 24 books, two graphic novels, and a short story anthology.

Fans got a kick out of new characters like Mackenzie Calhoun, a warlord turned Starfleet captain who had turned in his comm badge but must reluctantly return to service. But the series also had a built-in appeal to fans of The Next Generation because several side characters from that show become main characters in these books.

The most prominent of these characters is Commander Shelby. She was introduced in The Next Generation episode “The Best of Both Worlds” as a Borg expert gunning for Riker’s job as first officer of the Enterprise. She didn’t get the job (at least, not for long), but Star Trek: New Frontier brings Shelby in as the first officer of the Excalibur and a former love interest of Captain Calhoun. She shines as a by-the-book officer who bounces off her captain’s improvisational style, and their dialogue really helps flesh her character out.

Another great TNG side character who gets an expanded role in these books is Dr. Selar. In the show, this Vulcan medical assistant only appeared in three episodes, but the character enjoys outsized popularity because she is portrayed by Trek royalty Suzie Plakson (she also played a female Q on Voyager, the Andorian Tarah in Enterprise, and Worf’s baby daddy K’Ehleyr on The Next Generation).

In Star Trek: New Frontier, Selar is the chief medical officer aboard the Excalibur who eventually develops a most illogical relationship with the most improbable of characters.

Rounding out the list of familiar characters in the main crew is Robin Lefler: this Ashley Judd character is best remembered for helping save the Enterprise alongside Wesley Crusher in The Next Generation episode “The Game.”

In Star Trek: New Frontier, she is the chief operations officer on the Excalibur who later falls in love with a deposed royal. While she’s the last familiar face who is part of the core characters, we also get small cameos from other TNG alumni, including one-time Riker antagonist Jellico. 

If you want to see why Star Trek: New Frontier has been a hit with fans for decades, you can order an ebook omnibus of the first four novellas from Simon & Schuster. We have to warn you, though: after you fall in love with these books, you’ll forever regret these characters never got their own TV show.

But after you binge Picard for the umpteenth time, it’s good to know that you have dozens of new stories to read when you want to return to the cozy blanket of The Next Generation nostalgia.