Excalibur

Excalibur (2001) — Peter David (Pocket Books)
ISBN: 0743410645
Condition: Used (heroically scuffed) — as sold by Crappy Old Books

At some point, someone at Pocket Books said, “What if Star Trek but… weirder?” and Peter David said, “Hold my raktajino.” The result: Excalibur, a Star Trek: New Frontier adventure in which the crew of the USS Excalibur prove that space is not only vast and dangerous, but also strangely determined to ruin their week.

This is Star Trek with the safety rails off. Expect sharp banter, emotional whiplash, tragic moments, and at least one scene where you think, “Wait… they’re allowed to do that?” Peter David gleefully juggles character drama, cosmic stakes, and the occasional narrative sucker punch, all while reminding you that the universe does not owe anyone—especially Starfleet officers—a quiet life.

In Excalibur, there are captains haunted by their past, officers with more issues than a Federation therapist could reasonably bill for, and a ship that has seen just enough disaster to qualify for its own counselling sessions. Old enemies and new weirdness collide, loyalties are tested, and you’re never entirely sure who’s going to make it out emotionally intact. (Spoiler: not you.)

This particular copy comes to you courtesy of Crappy Old Books, where the books may be tired, but the drama inside is still fresh and devastating:

• The cover may show light wear, as if it’s survived a minor skirmish with a backpack, a coffee spill, or a badly organised house move.

• The spine is likely creased just enough to prove someone once read this in long, guilty-pleasure stretches instead of doing whatever they were supposed to be doing.

• Corners may be gently rounded, like a starship that’s bounced off reality a few too many times.

Inside, however, the story remains gloriously intact: pages present, words in order, no missing scenes where the universe ends on page 173 and resumes on 176 with no explanation. At worst, you may encounter the ancient runes of a previous reader’s faint pencil mark, probably placed at a moment of maximum chaos.

Buying this Used copy has certain… advantages:

• Authentic “I’ve been through things” aesthetic – perfect for a series that specialises in emotional damage in space.

• Pre-distressed credibility – nothing says “serious Star Trek fan” like a book that looks like it has accompanied you through several bad life choices and at least one delayed train journey.

• Ethically chaotic – you are reading about a starship called Excalibur in a book sold by Crappy Old Books. That’s not just reading; that’s committing to a bit.

Ideal for:

• Star Trek: New Frontier fans who enjoy their Trek with extra snark, angst, and narrative risk-taking.

• Readers who delight in found-family chaos, deeply flawed heroes, and the occasional “they did WHAT to that character?” moment.

• Anyone who wants to remember a time when tie-in novels were allowed to go off the rails in the most entertaining possible way.

Adopt this Used copy of Excalibur and give it a new shelf to haunt. The ship may be fictional, the pages may be pre-loved, but the feelings? Oh, those are brand new every time.

Keep browsing: See more Science-Fiction books Other books by Peter David