Captain Kirk is still alive. But shouldn’t he be dead by now? As the old saying goes, “legends never die.”Many fans of the Star Trek phenomenon will recall that Captain Kirk died in the movie “Star Trek: Generations.” So how can he still be with us? Actor and author William Shatner was unwilling to let his character die. Almost immediately after his beloved character passed away, Shatner came up with an idea to resurrect James T. Kirk.Kirk came back to life in 1996 in the pages of the appropriately titled novel “The Return.” Following that effort was “Avenger,” also written by Shatner. The former U.S.S Enterprise captain will not let Kirk retire; a new series has arisen, the Mirror Universe Saga. The first two books in the trilogy, “Spectre” and “Dark Victory,” set the stage for “Preserver,” the latest novel. It has been said by many Star Trek fans that former “captains” should not be allowed to write books. They make a valid point. Shatner is not going to allow his signature character to look like an idiot. Star Trek has been around since 1966, and Captain Kirk has been there since day one. Three years on television followed by appearances in seven movies has made Captain Kirk an American icon. However, Shatner has enlisted the help of two great Star Trek writers, Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens. These two writers help keep the ego of Kirk under control. The Mirror Universe Saga incorporates a little bit of everything Star Trek has to offer. The main premise is based on one of the best remembered Star Trek episodes, “Mirror, Mirror.” In that episode the Enterprise discovered a parallel universe in which Kirk and some of his crew find themselves on a duplicate Enterprise. Simply put, Kirk’s crew is good and the other crew is evil. The same premise is used in the novel.”Star Trek: The Next Generation” characters are also used heavily; Captain Picard and his crew aid Kirk in his mission. References are also made to the other two Star Trek television series.In the novel Kirk faces the only enemy he cannot outwit, himself. Just as Kirk avoided death, his counterpart, known as Tiberius, has done the same.Two historians have discovered that an event will trigger the destruction of the known universe. They have come to one conclusion; James Kirk will be the catalyst of that terror. But with Tiberius around, just which Kirk will it be?Kirk must also deal with the fact that he has recently married and had a child. Will these distractions force him to make a mistake and kill every living being? The answer may lie in an ancient civilization known as the Preservers.The Preservers are thought to be a race so old and advanced that they witnessed the beginning of time. Some historians even believe that the Preservers actually planted the seed to start every culture on every planet. However, no solid proof has ever been found that shows the Preservers even existed. Could this be an elaborate hoax to fool all involved? Or is it the Preservers way to see if life is worth saving?”Preserver” is fast paced and suspenseful. Many genre books, especially those based on a well-known series, tend to be very predictable. This story line breaks that mold. It is easy to become immersed in the narrative and blown away by the action. Star Trek has come a long way in 35 years, and this novel pushes that progression to the limit. Star Trek is a world all its own. Shatner has written his novels in such a way that readers need to be familiar with the phenomenon to understand the plot. Overall, this entire book, as well as the other Mirror Universe books, is well done and exciting. Non-Star Trek fans will most likely wish to sit this adventure out.