“It is possible to commit no mistakes, and still lose. That is not a weakness. That is life.” —Captain Jean-Luc Picard
“The Last Best Hope,” by Una McCormack, is a prologue to Star Trek: Picard. As all good science fiction does, the novel holds a mirror up to social issues and current events, such as the rise of nationalism, climate change, and the refugee crisis.
Deeply concerned with the cracks in institutions and the voices of the marginalized, this is A Very Brexit Novel. Although some readers consider this book, and the series Picard, too dark, gritty, and disillusioned for the optimistic view of the future that Star Trek has always represented, it is important to note that utopia must be worked for and earned.
Cast of Characters
This novel adds narrative to stories we only know from the show through a few lines of exposition. I found the characters’ stories to be the most compelling aspect of the novel.
We get to see the glory days of Raffi and Picard’s relationship. The deepening mutual appreciation, the loving partnership, and the confidence grow between them throughout their years of working together. And finally, the very first cracks appear in the relationship that has sustained them through a gruelling five-year mission.
Against the grey background of Romulan secrecy and intrigue, the Qowat Milat sisters, and especially Zani, shine like stars. The last view of their home before they are relocated is one of autumnal melancholy but adds so much beauty to the culture of the warrior nuns.
It is wonderful to see Geordi LaForge find a cherished friend and colleague in the feisty, fearless Commander Estella MacKenzie. She becomes a true partner in work on Mars as they build the rescue armada. It is heartbreaking in the end that although Geordi was off-world at the time of the Mars attack, MacKenzie was not, and Geordi lost a dear companion.
Aspects of Greek Tragedy
The novel has all the elements of a classic Greek tragedy such as Antigone. Let’s explore some of those.
The hero of classic Greek tragedy is always an extraordinary person, an individual of stature, usually royalty or military. Picard is known as a “great man.” We see him accept a promotion, from Captain to Admiral and assume command of a fleet.
The hero is caught in the web of tragic circumstances. The novel tells the story of the Romulan supernova and the synth attack on Mars that ended the relief effort. No matter what Picard does, he cannot escape the web of those tragic circumstances.
The situation must become irretrievable. There is no way out. The Romulan scientist whose job it is to report upon the data regarding the imminent supernova is taken by the Tal Shiar and tortured until he recants his findings. With the tragic failure of the Romulan government to act in time to save the lives of their own people, Starfleet can only give so much aid. And just as the Romulans finally cry out for help, the synth attack on Mars destroys all hope for more relief ships and puts an end to the rescue mission.
The Romulan people must meet their fate of death by the supernova; Picard and Raffi must meet their fate of banishment from Starfleet, to which service they have given everything. There is no honourable escape for them; their last-ditch plan is rejected by a broken-spirited Starfleet. This is the great reversal when action produces the opposite of what is intended, and the protagonist, Picard, loses power.
Finally, the hero of a Greek tragedy must show the immense capacity to suffer, a willingness to embrace that suffering, and an acceptance of their fate. The beginning and end of the novel show Picard in just that state.
Definitions of Greek Tragedy
A novel in three acts, the story takes the structure of the tragic rhythm. The life of Jean-Luc Picard grows, from Captain of the Enterprise to Starfleet Admiral in charge of a fleet. It flourishes, growing in friendships with those he commands and serves, and in increasing satisfaction with his work. And finally, it declines as the mission is recalled and he goes into exile at his chateau.
Picard is a tragic protagonist. That is, he concentrates all his energies and passions on one dramatic action, that of heading up the relief effort to save the Romulan race from the supernova. As was the case for so many tragic heroes before him, he spent himself in an effort that ended in defeat. In the end, he gave everything he had to the mission, but his tragic action, his one great mistake, was his resignation from Starfleet. His tragic virtue was an unshakable belief in the ideals of Starfleet; his error was not from weakness, but from the strength of his core beliefs. His tragic flaw was a failure to listen to Raffi, and to the voices within the Federation warning him that the support for the mission was declining.
And finally, the book closes with a tragic resonance. Picard meets his fate; not death, but exile, from the career in Starfleet that has been his life. He was exiled, like Prospero on his island, through circumstances beyond his control. Because he had done everything in his power to save as many lives as he could, there is still honor for Picard. He acted with dignity and determination and tried to do the right thing.
Exodus and Ratings
The novel added richly to my appreciation and understanding of season one of Picard. Although it ended on a heartbreaking and melancholy note, with the destruction of Romulus, the failure of Picard’s mission, and the loneliness and isolation he felt at the chateau in France, there was also a note of hope. After all, without the darkness and sorrow, would the light and joy shine so brightly?
I give this novel five out of five Qowat Milat swords.
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Picard airs on Paramount+ in the United States, and on CTV Sci-Fi Channel and Crave in Canada. Outside of North America, the series is available on Amazon Prime Video
