Enigma

This was a surprisingly good adventure story set during Capt. Picard's first command. I had expected it to be "The Adventures of Young Picard," but Picard plays a relatively passive role in the story. He spends most of his time in his ready room receiving reports and brooding about an admiral who's determined to strip him of his command.

The real hero of the book is the Stargaszer crew as a whole. Picard's first officer plays the most prominent role, but the ensemble is the star. Friedman is very good at briefly sketching characters and making you care what happens to them. They're not just extras who flit on and off the stage. Friedman's Starfleet is made up of intelligent, capable, resourceful people who are out there exploring the galaxy and fighting the good fight. He makes you want to find the nearest recruiting station and sign up!