Star Trek: Discovery: The Way to the Stars

by Una McCormack

8 hours and 33 minutes

English language

Published Jan. 8, 2019 by Simon & Schuster Audio.

ISBN:: 978-1-5082-6775-1

(7 reviews)

Despite being an inexperienced Starfleet cadet, Sylvia Tilly became essential to the USS Discovery finding its way back home from the Mirror Universe. But how did she find that courage? From where did she get that steel? Who nurtured that spark of brilliance? The Way to the Stars recounts for fans everywhere the untold story of Tilly’s past.

It’s not easy being sixteen, especially when everyone expects great things from Tilly. It’s even harder when her mother and father are Federation luminaries, not to mention pressing her to attend one of the best schools that the Federation has to offer. Tilly wants to achieve great things—even though she hasn’t quite worked out how to do that or what it is she wants to do. But this year, everything will change for Tilly, as she about to embark upon the adventure of a lifetime—an adventure that will take her ever closer …

5 editions

Elena. reviewed Star Trek: Discovery: The Way to the Stars by Una McCormack (Star Trek: Discovery, #4)

Tilly's way to the stars

4 stars

When I was asking my fedi friends for cozy Trek novel recommendations, this was one of the books recommended to me. I was a bit skeptical about the book because of Tilly's not so good relationship with her mother. Something that I have struggled with all my life as well, I did not want to read a story about it. I feared it would be really uncomfortable and upsetting. I was reassured that that was not a big focus of the book (and it really isn't), so I got the audio book of it and... was a sobbing mess for the first part of it. LOL

So it did not start out very cozy and happy for me at all. LOL Part of that was due to how Tilly's mother behaves towards her, but a big part of it was due to how Tilly struggles at her school. I saw myself in her so much. I cried for Tilly as much as I cried for myself. (Reading Trek novels has been very revelatory, cathartic, and therapeutic for me recently. 😅)

The rest of the book, which is the majority, was a lot of fun. I really enjoyed watching Tilly find her confidence, which she puts to the test in the end when she confronts her mother about her plans for the future. I loved her grandparents a lot. Salla, the engineer she meets, was a great character as well. I also liked Ms Keith, the teacher. I just realise, Tilly meets a number of women to mentor her or help her out, where her mother can't.

This is a pretty low stakes, fun book. And if you aren't quite so easily upset about all the things that went wrong in your childhood and youth as I am, you shouldn't be sobbing so much either. Tilly has been one of my top favourite Trek characters and this book only confirmed that. I am very glad I finally read/ listened to it. Thank you, friends, for recommending it to me! 🙂

That I consider January LaVoy to be the queen of audiobook narration is no secret. This book is just another reason in a long list to support that.

Una McCormack talked to Literary Treks about the book. Worth a listen, as always.

#StarTrek #StarTrekDiscovery #StarTrekNovels #StarTrekBooks #TrekLit

Lois reviewed The Way to the Stars by Una McCormack (Star Trek: Discovery, #4)

Review of 'The Way to the Stars' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

I still haven't watched Discovery yet, but when I was looking for the next book to listen to, I decided to go for the next Discovery novel. I figure that while this particular adventure or events may not be official canon (the books used to never count in that regard), I still figured this would give me a good idea as to this character. And I liked it, even identifying a little bit with her with certain things. The biggest thing I probably had to get used to was the narrator - I'm far more used to her from various Star Wars novels, so the idea of hearing her talk about Starfleet and the like was a little unusual. ;)