After portraying James T. Kirk onscreen for nearly three decades, William Shatner bid farewell to the role in 1994’s Star Trek Generations. What Klingons, Romulans, Gorns, Khan, and false gods had all failed to do, Tolian Soran had somehow managed to achieve: killing Jim Kirk. Following Kirk’s death, Pocket Books continued the captain’s story in novels by William Shatner and Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens, known colloquially as the “Shatnerverse.” The first book, The Ashes of Eden, resonated with fans, and DC Comics adapted it as a comic one-shot illustrated by Steve Erwin and Jimmy Palmiotti.

Also included in this volume are Star Trek Specials #2–3, featuring the return of several fan-favorite authors: Kevin J. Ryan, Steven H. Wilson, Michael Jan Friedman, and Mark A. Altman. These issues provide gripping sequels to two classic episodes, “The Tholian Web” and “Operation: Annihilate!”; feature the return of Kirk’s nephew Peter, along with his two brothers; and bring together Spock’s film-era protégés, Saavik and Valeris—who don’t get along as well as he might have hoped.