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Best Destiny

• View history

• 1 Introduction
• 3.1 Characters
• 3.2 Locations
• 3.3 Starships and vehicles
• 3.4 Races and cultures
• 3.5 States and organizations
• 3.6 Science and technology
• 3.7 Ranks and titles
• 3.8 Other references
• 4.1 Related media
• 4.2 Background
• 4.4.1.1 Translations
• 4.5 External links

Introduction [ ]

Summary [ ].

In the past, some forty-five years earlier, the reader is introduced to a young Jimmy Kirk. At 16 years old, he embodies every parent's worst fears: he is brash, rebellious, impulsive, cocky, and reckless. He is first seen leading a group of similarly rebellious (and criminal) youths on a barely-considered scheme to "escape" from Iowa, sign onto an ocean-going freight vessel as underage deckhands (itself illegal), and make their fortune somewhere in South America. Even at this young age, it is clear that Jimmy is a leader, but he is completely directionless. His father's long absences on Starfleet assignments and his own experiences on Tarsus IV have made him angry and violent, as well as impatient for the right to make his own decisions and live his own life.

Eventually, after Jimmy talks his way aboard a freight ship along with his "gang", the ship is stopped by the authorities and boarded by a Starfleet security team, one of which turns out to be Jimmy's father, George. Predictably, George is extremely unhappy with his son and forcibly returns him to the family farm in Iowa. Once there, however, he is at a loss for how to straighten his son out. It is clear that Jimmy's mother, Winona, can no longer handle him, but George's continuing commitments to Starfleet will inevitably keep him in deep space. Fearing that his son is on the road toward becoming a career criminal and ne'er-do-well, George briefly considers resigning from Starfleet until Winona suggests that he call in some old favors and take Jimmy into space with him.

Warming to the idea, George contacts his old friend, Robert April, and arranges to take Jimmy into space on a routine assignment to the planet Faramond. A new archaeological dig is about to get under way there, and April has been asked to break ground. More than that, April has arranged not only to take George and Jimmy with him to Faramond, but to do so aboard the still cutting-edge U.S.S. Enterprise . Although Jimmy displays his usual rudeness and lack of respect for authority on the trip up from the Earth's surface, April displays an uncommon patience and understanding for his godson, even as George experiences continuing frustration. Nevertheless, even Jimmy is impressed by his first view of Enterprise .

References [ ]

Characters [ ], locations [ ], starships and vehicles [ ], races and cultures [ ], states and organizations [ ], science and technology [ ], ranks and titles [ ], other references [ ], appendices [ ], related media [ ].

• TAS episode " The Counter-Clock Incident "
• TOS novel Final Frontier
• TOS movie Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country

Background [ ]

This is a sequel to Carey's previous TOS novel, Final Frontier , which chronicled a previously untold adventure of Captain Robert April, Commander George Samuel Kirk Sr. (the father of James T. Kirk), and the newly constructed Constitution-class U.S.S. Enterprise .

This novel actually consists of two separate stories: one set in the past and featuring April, George Kirk, and a 16 year-old Jimmy Kirk; the second is set soon after the events of Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country .

• The framing story is completely removed from the Audiobook adaptation by the author, leaving only the backstory of young James Kirk and George Kirk/Robert April.

Connections [ ]

Timeline [ ], translations [ ], external links [ ].

• Best Destiny article at Memory Alpha , the wiki for canon Star Trek .
• 1 ISS Enterprise (NCC-1701)
• 3 Ferengi Rules of Acquisition

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Table of Contents

About the book, about the author.

Diane Carey is the bestselling author of numerous acclaimed Star Trek® novels, including  Final Frontier ,  Best Destiny ,  Ship of the Line ,  Challenger ,  Wagon Train to the Stars ,  First Strike ,  The Great Starship  Race ,  Dreadnought! ,  Ghost Ship ,  Station Rage ,  Ancient Blood ,  Fire Ship ,  Call to arms ,  Sacrifice of Angels , and  Starfleet Academy . She has also written the novelizations of such episodes as  The Way of the Warrior ,  Trials and  Tribble-ations ,  Flashback ,  Equinox ,  Decent ,  What You Leave Behind , and  End Game . She lives in Owasso, Michigan

Product Details

• Publisher: Pocket Books/Star Trek (July 27, 1999)
• Length: 416 pages
• ISBN13: 9780671041113

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Star Trek: Best Destiny (Adapted)

• By: Diane Carey
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• Length: 2 hrs and 51 mins
• 4.4 out of 5 stars 4.4 (85 ratings)

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Publisher's summary

As James T. Kirk prepares to retire from a long and illustrious Starfleet career, events in a distant part of the Federation draw him back to a part of the galaxy he had last visited as a young man, a mysterious world called Faramond whose name takes Kirk on a journey back to his youth.

At 16, Kirk is troubled, estranged from his father, and has a bleak future. However, a trip into space with Kirk's father, George, and Starfleet legend Captain Robert April changes James Kirk's life forever, when a simple voyage becomes a deadly trap. Soon Kirk and his father find themselves fighting for their lives against a vicious and powerful enemy.

Before the voyage ends, father and son will face life and death together, and James T. Kirk will get a glimpse of the future and his own Best Destiny.

• Original Recording Audiobook
• Categories: Science Fiction & Fantasy

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Bring me home...

• By R. J. Thorne on 07-15-17

By: Brendan Reichs

• Narrated by: Kirby Heyborne, Emily Rankin, Paul Boehmer
• Length: 13 hrs and 10 mins
• Performance 4.5 out of 5 stars 146
• Story 4 out of 5 stars 147

It's been happening since Min was eight. Every two years, on her birthday, a strange man finds her and murders her in cold blood. But hours later, she wakes up in a clearing just outside her tiny Idaho hometown - alone, unhurt, and with all evidence of the horrifying crime erased.

What is Nemesis?

• By Joanna on 04-23-17

By: Melissa Landers

• Narrated by: Amanda Dolan
• Length: 9 hrs and 44 mins
• Overall 4 out of 5 stars 237
• Performance 4.5 out of 5 stars 213
• Story 4 out of 5 stars 213

Solara Brooks needs a fresh start, someplace where nobody cares about the engine grease beneath her fingernails or the felony tattoos across her knuckles. The outer realm may be lawless, but it's not like the law has ever been on her side. Still, off-world travel doesn't come cheap; Solara is left with no choice but to indenture herself in exchange for passage to the outer realm.

Better than expected

• By Jessica Jones on 04-17-16

• Serengeti Series, Book 0

By: J. B. Rockwell

• Narrated by: Elizabeth Wiley
• Length: 12 hrs and 47 mins
• Overall 4.5 out of 5 stars 93
• Performance 4.5 out of 5 stars 89
• Story 4 out of 5 stars 89

Black Ops - the intelligence arm of the Meridian Alliance Fleet came calling with an offer Henricksen couldn't refuse: a ship - an entire squadron of ships, actually - and crew to command. A chance to get back to the stars. Too bad he didn't ask more questions before accepting the assignment. Too bad no one told him just how dangerous this particular skunkworks project was. They call the ship the RV-N: Reconnaissance Vessel-Non-combat, Raven for short. A stealth ship - fast, and maneuverable, and brutal as hell.

• By Jean on 12-03-17

Star Soldier

• Doom Star, Book 1

By: Vaughn Heppner

• Narrated by: Ely Miles
• Length: 10 hrs and 52 mins
• Overall 3.5 out of 5 stars 326
• Performance 3.5 out of 5 stars 299
• Story 4 out of 5 stars 291

It’s survival of the fittest in a brutal war of extinction! Created in the gene labs as super soldiers, the Highborn decide to replace the obsolete Homo sapiens. They pirate the Doom Stars and capture the Sun Works Ring around Mercury. Now they rain asteroids, orbital fighters and nine-foot tall drop troops onto Earth in a relentless tide of conquest. Marten Kluge is on the receiving end. Hounded by Thought Police, he lives like an ant in a kilometer-deep city.

Good book and the series only gets better!

• By ApplesOverOranges on 08-23-13

Black Star Renegades

By: Michael Moreci

• Narrated by: Dan Bittner
• Length: 11 hrs and 45 mins
• Overall 4 out of 5 stars 101
• Performance 4.5 out of 5 stars 93
• Story 3.5 out of 5 stars 93

Cade Sura holds the future of the galaxy in his hands: the ultimate weapon that will bring total peace. He didn't ask for it, he doesn't want it, and there's no worse choice to wield it in all of space, but if he doesn't, everyone's totally screwed. The evil Praxis kingdom is on the cusp of having every star system under its control, and if that happens, there'll be no contesting their cruel reign. Especially if its fanatical overlord, Ga Halle, manages to capture Cade and snag the all-powerful weapon for herself.

Physics please.

• By Ijw on 03-12-18

Altered Carbon

By: Richard K. Morgan

• Narrated by: Todd McLaren
• Length: 17 hrs and 10 mins
• Overall 4.5 out of 5 stars 15,140
• Performance 4.5 out of 5 stars 12,319
• Story 4.5 out of 5 stars 12,307

In the 25th century, humankind has spread throughout the galaxy, monitored by the watchful eye of the U.N. While divisions in race, religion, and class still exist, advances in technology have redefined life itself. Now, assuming one can afford the expensive procedure, a person's consciousness can be stored in a cortical stack at the base of the brain and easily downloaded into a new body (or "sleeve") making death nothing more than a minor blip on a screen.

• By Jake Williams on 09-22-07

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What listeners say about Star Trek: Best Destiny (Adapted)

• 4.5 out of 5 stars 4.4 out of 5.0
• 4.5 out of 5 stars 4.5 out of 5.0
• 4.5 out of 5 stars 4.3 out of 5.0

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Audible.com reviews, amazon reviews.

• Overall 5 out of 5 stars
• Performance 5 out of 5 stars
• Story 5 out of 5 stars

Abridged would be more accurate than Adapted

For an audio book adaptation this focuses primarily on the highlights of the full novel. To me it tells the story, but misses on some of the key parts of the story from the full novel. That being said, James Doohan narrating, combined with some musical score and SFX makes up for the shortening, this is why I still give it a solid rating. I would honestly love to hear a full novel reading, performed by William Shatner, since he would likely be the best cast member to narrate it with James Doohan being gone....

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• PettyDon2578

Abridged book but still good

Most of the abridged Star Trek books leave out too much material to make a good story. However, this is still a good story. The entire story is still better but the adapted version is all Audible carries.

1 person found this helpful

• Overall 4 out of 5 stars
• Performance 4 out of 5 stars
• Story 4 out of 5 stars

A great adventure for a young James T. Kirk

Would you listen to Star Trek: Best Destiny (Adapted) again? Why?

I used to have this story on casset but it got chewed up in the player. I like this story because it features a young James Kirk having problems with his father and trying to figure out who he is. When his father takes him on a mission with Captain Robert April that turns into a dangerous struggle against pirates, young Kirk learns the meaning of loyalty and friendship. This will ultimately make him the man he will become, a starship captain.

What did you like best about this story?

You get to see the relationship between Kirk and his father and learn more about Kirks past.

What about James Doohan’s performance did you like?

As always James Doohan does a great job as narrator. He brings the characters to life and draws you into the story.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

This was one of my favorite stories. I enjoyed listening to it many times.

Any additional comments?

This is a sequel to Final Frontier, featuring George Kirk (James Kirks father) and Captain Robert April. (Also narrated by James Doohan).

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As James T. Kirk prepares to retire from a long and illustrious Starfleet career, events in a distant part of the Federation draw him back to a part of the galaxy he had last visited as a young man -- a mysterious world called Faramond whose name takes Kirk on a journey back to his youth. At sixteen, Kirk is troubled, estranged from his father, and has a bleak future. However, a trip into space with Kirk's father George and Starfleet legend Captain Robert April changes James Kirk's life forever, when a simple voyage becomes a deadly trap. Soon Kirk and his father find themselves fighting for their lives against a vicious and powerful enemy. Before the ...

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A Review of Diane Carey’s Best Destiny

Discussion in ' Trek Literature ' started by Cake Is Eternal , Mar 27, 2022 .

Cake Is Eternal Lieutenant Commander Red Shirt

I’m seeing that the trends in leadership in modern Star Trek... Saru and Anson Mount’s Pike, for example... are closer to the nurturing, wise, gentle leadership depicted in “Best Destiny” than they are to the “cowboy diplomacy” of past portrayals of leadership. Thoughtful discussion very much encouraged. https://warpfactortrek.com/humble-servant-leadership-a-reflection-on-best-destinys-captain-april/  

Reanok Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

Best Destiny is one of my favorite novels by Diane Carey with Captain April and George Kirk and his son trying to get along better and is well written.  

Jedi Marso Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

Read this one more years ago than I care to admit, and remember enjoying it a lot.  

Desert Kris Captain Captain

When you are referring the idea of a more gentle, nurturing style of leadership, is that in regard's to Robert April as captain of the Enterprise? I approached Best Destiny as more of a sequel to Final Frontier, a novel that I have a lot of nostalgic affection for, than the premise of young James Kirk's first adventure in space. From what I gather, the idea of characters Robert April and George Samuel Kirk (James Kirk's father) is that they are, in spirit, two halves of what is perfected in James T. Kirk. Robert April has the bookish, self-reflective, philosophical angle; but maybe a little indecisive or slow to make decisions. George Kirk is the military side of things, tactical and impulsive; but perhaps sometimes inflexible. This is just a rough impression from memory. Best Destiny is great from the standpoint of bringing back these two characters, and playing out the idea of two halves of a personality, and putting James Kirk in the mix, both of them in the room and having an influence on him in the middle of a crisis (and there's a sense of romanticizing of the idea of Kirk as we know him being born in battle, played out spiritually in Best Destiny and literally in the 2009 movie). Conceptually it's a great idea, and a natural, organic progression from Final Frontier. Advertising it for general ST fans and ST readers as Kirk's first adventure in space is a great way to present it as it's own individual book, even though it follow on from previous material by the same author.  

Desert Kris said: ↑ When you are referring the idea of a more gentle, nurturing style of leadership, is that in regard's to Robert April as captain of the Enterprise? I approached Best Destiny as more of a sequel to Final Frontier, a novel that I have a lot of nostalgic affection for, than the premise of young James Kirk's first adventure in space. From what I gather, the idea of characters Robert April and George Samuel Kirk (James Kirk's father) is that they are, in spirit, two halves of what is perfected in James T. Kirk. Robert April has the bookish, self-reflective, philosophical angle; but maybe a little indecisive or slow to make decisions. George Kirk is the military side of things, tactical and impulsive; but perhaps sometimes inflexible. This is just a rough impression from memory. Best Destiny is great from the standpoint of bringing back these two characters, and playing out the idea of two halves of a personality, and putting James Kirk in the mix, both of them in the room and having an influence on him in the middle of a crisis (and there's a sense of romanticizing of the idea of Kirk as we know him being born in battle, played out spiritually in Best Destiny and literally in the 2009 movie). Conceptually it's a great idea, and a natural, organic progression from Final Frontier. Advertising it for general ST fans and ST readers as Kirk's first adventure in space is a great way to present it as it's own individual book, even though it follow on from previous material by the same author. Click to expand...

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• Best Destiny

As James T. Kirk prepares to retire from a long and illustrious Starfleet career, events in a distant part of the Federation draw him back to a part of the galaxy he had last visited as a young man, a mysterious world called Faramond whose name takes Kirk on a journey back to his youth.

At sixteen, Kirk is troubled, estranged from his father, and has a bleak future. However, a trip into space with Kirk's father George and Starfleet legend Captain Robert April changes James Kirk's life forever, when a simple voyage becomes a deadly trap. Soon Kirk and his father find themselves fighting for their lives against a vicious and powerful enemy.

Before the voyage ends, father and son will face life and death together, and James T. Kirk will get a glimpse of the future and his own best destiny .

• Diane Carey

Diane Carey (born 1954) is an author of historical fiction and science fiction who is perhaps best known for her work in the Star Trek franchise. She is the co-creator, with John J. Ordover, of the spin-off series, Star Trek: New Earth , and its continuation series, Star Trek: Challenger .

Among her other Star Trek novels are the original series books Star Trek: First Frontier , Starfleet Academy , the Starfleet Academy novel Cadet Kirk , the Star Trek: The Next Generation novel Ghost Ship , and the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine novelization of the two-part episode "The Way of the Warrior."

• Star Trek: The Original Series

Star Trek: The Original Series consists of 36 total books. The current recommended reading order for the series is provided below.

Main series Star Trek Related series Star Trek: The Original Series (numbered novels) Related series Star Trek: Starfleet Academy Related series Star Trek: The Original Series: The Eugenics Wars Related series Star Trek: The Janus Gate Related series Star Trek: The Original Series: Errand of Vengeance Related series Star Trek: The Original Series: Errand of Fury Related series Star Trek: The Original Series: Crucible Related series Star Trek: Seekers

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Monday, January 8, 2018

Best destiny.

As James T. Kirk prepares to retire from a long and illustrious Starfleet career, events in a distant part of the Federation draw him back to a part of the galaxy he had last visited as a young man, a mysterious world called Faramond whose name takes Kirk on a journey back to his youth. At sixteen, Kirk is troubled, estranged from his father, and has a bleak future. However, a trip into space with Kirk's father George and Starfleet legend Captain Robert April changes James Kirk's life forever, when a simple voyage becomes a deadly trap. Soon Kirk and his father find themselves fighting for their lives against a vicious and powerful enemy. Before the voyage ends, father and son will face life and death together, and James T. Kirk will get a glimpse of the future and his own best destiny.

• Podcast: Literary Treks 171: James T. Jerk
• Star Trek: The Next Generation #1: Ghost Ship  (1991)
• Star Trek: The Next Generation: Ship of the Line  (1997)
• Star Trek #89: New Earth, Book One of Six: Wagon Train to the Stars  (2000)
• Star Trek #90: New Earth, Book Two of Six: Belle Terre  with Dean Wesley Smith (2000)
• Star Trek #94: New Earth, Book Six: Challenger  (2000)
• Gateways, Book Two: Star Trek: Challenger: Chainmail  (2001)
• "Exodus" from Gateways, Book Seven: What Lay Beyond  (2001)

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Star Trek: Destiny

• View history

Set in February 2381 , the trilogy is a crossover event featuring characters from Star Trek: The Next Generation , Star Trek: Deep Space Nine , Star Trek: Voyager , Star Trek: Titan and, as announced by Marco Palmieri , " elements from Trek 's past, coming together in an ambitious tale that will shape the future of the Star Trek universe. "

An omnibus edition , collecting the trilogy in a single trade paperback, was released in March 2012 .

• 3 Background information
• 4 External link

Summary [ ]

• Gods of Night
• Mere Mortals
• Omnibus edition

Background information [ ]

• The trilogy was announced at the Shore Leave convention in July 2007 . Mack began drafting the first novel, Gods of Night , in the same month, and began work on each subsequent part immediately after delivering its predecessor. The draft manuscript for Lost Souls , the final novel, was completed in April 2008 .
• The fallout from the events of Destiny is chronicled in A Singular Destiny ( Keith R.A. DeCandido ), Over a Torrent Sea ( Christopher L. Bennett , Star Trek: Titan ), Full Circle ( Kirsten Beyer , Pocket VOY ), Losing the Peace ( William Leisner , Pocket TNG ) and Star Trek: Typhon Pact novels like Rough Beasts of Empire and Zero Sum Game . USS Voyager related event repercussions continue in Unworthy and subsequent Beyer novels.
• Star Trek: Picard and Star Trek diverge significantly from the Destiny trilogy. Star Trek Online also ignores the events of the trilogy.

External link [ ]

• Star Trek: Destiny at Memory Beta , the wiki for licensed Star Trek works
• 2 ISS Enterprise (NCC-1701)

Giant Freakin Robot

The Worst Star Trek Movie Has Some Of The Best Franchise Moments Ever

Posted: May 1, 2024 | Last updated: May 2, 2024

Star Trek is a franchise that often deals with paradoxes–heck, Picard once saved all of humanity just by wrapping his bold noggin around such a paradox and impressing Q. For fans, the biggest paradox is the fact that some of the franchise’s best moments are hidden inside the worst movie. That’s right: if you can look past the slapstick humor and the whole “Kirk fights God” thing, Star Trek V is filled with one great personal moment after another for our favorite crew.

Kirk And The Mountain

For example, everybody remembers how goofy Spock’s Iron Man rocket boots are, but his opening scene with Kirk is otherwise perfect. The aging captain climbing a mountain without safety gear is perfectly in character, and as an added bonus, it led to the great “Shatner Of the Mount” video (seriously, go look it up). Plus, there has always been something profound about Kirk’s subsequent declaration that he’s known he will die alone, a statement made more profound by the fact that he is unmarried and has recently lost his only child.

The Camping Trip

Honestly, the entire camping scene in Star Trek V perfectly distills the spirit of The Original Series, and our trio of core characters–Kirk, Spock, and McCoy–are all in rare form. It’s hard not to grin as the two humans try to teach the incredulous Vulcan to sing “Row, Row, Row Your Boat,” and that grin only gets bigger as you hear Spock call the favorite human campfire snack a “marshmelon.” Again, though, things veer toward the morbidly profound when Kirk speculates that the trio spend their shore leaves together because they don’t have families like others do (sadly oblivious to the fact that his found family is right in front of him).

Other parts of Star Trek V give us invaluable insight into these characters and their background. For example, Sybok has become something of a fandom punchline, but the very fact that some Vulcans refuse logic altogether was, as a certain science officer might say, “fascinating.” Spock having a secret sibling also gave us insight into his character and laid the groundwork for both The Next Generation and Discovery, each of which confirmed Spock had another sibling that audiences had never heard of before (we still don’t know who his unnamed brother was that Picard mentioned in passing).

McCoy’s Secret

We also get some heartbreaking details about Dr. McCoy’s life in Star Trek V. Thanks to Sybok, he experiences the painful memory of euthanizing his elderly father because the man was suffering from a terrible disease. That disease was cured soon after, leaving McCoy with the lingering fear his father might have lived a long life–later, the elderly McCoy’s cameo in The Next Generation pilot would prove just how long humans could live, adding more pain to the memory of his father’s passing.

Kirk’s Pain

Speaking of pain, one of the most fascinating moments in Star Trek V is when Captain Kirk refuses Sybok’s offer to remove his own inner pain, shouting “I don’t want my pain taken away–I need my pain!” You don’t have to be Counselor Troi to see how revealing this is: Kirk is a man driven by his own trauma who has devoted his life to easing the pain of others. Removing that pain would effectively put countless others at risk by taking away a big part of what makes Kirk such an effective starship captain (as Spock once noted, his “first, best destiny”).

A Bad Movie With A Few Great Moments

I would never look another fan in the eye and tell them that Star Trek V is a great movie–everything from the crazy plot to the broad humor to the slapshod direction drags far too many scenes down. Hidden inside this cinematic stinker, however, are some of the best character moments in the franchise making it worth a rewatch.

And who knows? If you’re full of regrets while the credits roll, maybe you can get Sybok to take away the unique pain that comes from watching a film directed by William Shatner.

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Screen Rant

Sister wives: "emerald dream": meri's best green outfits after glam weight loss transformation.

Sister Wives star Meri Brown looks fabulous in green. In fact, green may be the celeb's best shade. It suits her coloring to perfection.

• Meri Brown shines in green outfits that complement her golden complexion. That shade makes her look radiant and fresh.
• After leaving Kody, Meri is embracing a new chapter in her life - she's looking glamorous and carefree in fresh green hues.
• Meri's journey to self-discovery and happiness involves detaching from toxic relationships, taking control of her destiny, and appreciating her own beauty.

Nature’s first green is gold, Her hardest hue to hold. - Nothing Gold Can Stay (Robert Frost)

Sister Wives star Meri Brown loves wearing green outfits. Whether she chooses forest green, icy lime or rich, vibrant emerald, she glows. Since Meri has a golden complexion, the warmer shades of green are perfect for her - in fact, they really bring out her natural beauty. While Meri also looks pretty in pink, yellow and red, green seems to be her magic color. Now that Meri's happier after leaving Kody (and focusing on herself), she looks so fresh and rested. In fact, Meri seems like a different woman.

Sister Wives season 19 's on the horizon, and Meri and the rest of the cast will be filmed mourning the loss of Garrison Brown, who passed away when he was only 25 years old. He sadly took his own life. Offscreen, after the series' 18th installment, the show's stars are reeling. The loss they've suffered is so great. All must find ways to move on despite crushing heartbreak. Meri is doing her best.

Sting /YouTube

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Meri brown looks radiant in a forest green hoodie, meri brown looks really glamorous lately.

Meri was jovial while holding a plant that she found during a shopping trip. While she talked about her treasure, she wore a cute forest green hoodie featuring some appliqued flowers. Meri loved her new find because of the little planter it came in. The vase is painted with the words: "I will survive."

Meri has survived plenty . She's been through the wringer due to so many long years with Kody. In her marriage-turned-spiritual union, she tried to make things work, but there was one massive obstacle standing in her way. That was Kody's passion for Robyn Brown. While Meri and Robyn were friends, they don't seem to hang out now.

Meri was fairly close with Robyn, and even took her along when she wanted to tell Kody that she was moving to Utah. However, Robyn was ultimately the catalyst for a trio of failed marriages.

Meri never really asserted herself in the relationship. She didn't have a lot of power over Kody and what little sway she held dwindled as time passed. Kody and Meri spent less and less time together - their emotional distance was too great. The decision to leave Kody was a smart one as he'd already left her in every way that mattered.

Now, Meri fights her own battles, and she seems to be happier than she was before. Instead of hoping and wishing for a real marriage, she was finally able to detach. That kind of detachment can be extremely helpful. Meri's in charge of her own destiny now and the choices she makes are hers alone. She plans her moves rather than waiting for a patriarch to value her. It's a different dynamic that's actually adding a lot of beauty to Meri's life. She's free, and by experiencing this type of emotional liberation, she is able to really branch out.

Meri Brown Looks Gorgeous In Soft Pistachio

Meri brown's professional look is so polished.

Meri looked lovely in a light green jacket. It was on the warmer end of the green spectrum and an extremely flattering choice for her. Under the jacket, she wore a tank top in pale pink. This combination highlighted her smooth skin and light blue eyes. However, her smile was her best accessory. Meri looks gorgeous in the shot posted above. She seems very carefree while hanging out with her friend. Single life appears to be treating her well.

Meri's learned how important it is to let go.

In the post shown above, Meri talked about moving to the next level. It's about confronting problems, finding solutions and believing in oneself. For a long time, Meri didn't seem to really love herself. That might have been a misconception, but she often appeared timid and meek. She wouldn't stand up for herself while the Sister Wives cameras rolled. Watching her interact with Kody could be almost painful. He would put her down, and Meri would just sit there taking it .

Peace at any price isn't worth the pain that it brings. Meri should have been more confrontational with Kody but that train has sailed, as Austin Powers would say. However, other women can learn from her mistakes.

She's not an angry woman - Meri prefers it when people are pleasant. That being said, there were times when Kody deserved to be told off. For example, when he suggested that she live in a "barndominium," as per the show, he really crossed a line. He wanted to store possessions in the converted barn - stuff he didn't have room for in his home with Robyn. When he said that Meri should also occupy that space, he was putting her on a par with a cast-off motorcycle, or some rarely-used gardening tools. Romantic it was not.

Meri Brown's Light Olive Top Brings Out Her Pale Blue Eyes

Green is one of meri brown's best colors.

The photo above, as per Meri at Instagram, is definitely an amazing picture. Meri has really never looked better . She was always an attractive woman, but even in her early days with Kody, when she wasn't too miserable in the relationship, she didn't look this good. It's amazing that she's getting better in every way in her 50s. In this picture, she looks years or even decades younger. Meri's a Capricorn and, according to traditional astrology, this is a Sun sign that ages in reverse.

It's true that a lot of Capricorn celebrities age very well. Kevin Costner is an example of a Capricorn native who looks much the same as he always did. Other famous Capricorns who've seemingly found the fountain of youth are Jared Leto (he always looks really young), Denzel Washington, Michelle Obama and Dolly Parton.

Meri Brown Rocked A Green Blazer In Las Vegas

Meri brown hung out with some special people.

Meri painted the town red while wearing a vibrant green jacket. While hanging out in Sin City, she spent time with a couple of guys, Hunter and Logan Brown, who made her smile. For eons, Meri was trapped in a loveless marriage. She's probably quite cynical about men at this point, but her male relatives are so important to her. Meri has male friends and relatives who seem respectful and kind.

Yes, Kody treated Meri badly, but nice guys do exist. Meri seemed quite content as she posed with his kids in Las Vegas. Hopefully, she'll find the right man one day. Even if she doesn't, she has plenty to live for. Women who give men a lot of power over their lives often regret doing so. If things fall apart and a woman is too dependent, it can be difficult. Meri's experienced this firsthand.

Meri tried again with Amos Andrews , but that was a rebound relationship. They were together for just four months. When that relationship ended, she was upset, but she quickly rallied. Meri was preparing to hatch a business plan - when her online community launches, it could change her whole life. Before, her fortunes were largely tied to Kody. This venture is hers alone, just like her bed and breakfast. Neither venture is about the patriarch.

Meri Brown Didn't Look As Happy In The Past

Meri brown seemed downcast in this older pic.

Meri has always tried to make the best of things. However, in the past, quite often, a tinge of melancholy showed. She was brave but sometimes she was sad. She had good reason to be down in the dumps. Her marriage was a nightmare and no matter what she did, Kody wouldn't provide her with even the most basic level of affection. It was beyond him. In the post above, Meri wore a duller shade of green that wasn't as flattering or fun. She was curvier, and her pose seemed less confident and bold.

Kody was so hard on women. His exes didn't look their best in the latest season. They looked totally exhausted. There was no color in their cheeks, they didn't seem like they exercised much... they appeared to be depressed. It's like he was draining their energy.

Now, all three exes look amazing. Sister Wives ' Christine Brown is fit, and her new marriage makes her really happy. Janelle's lost 100 pounds and while she's suffering the loss of her son, she's honoring his memory online. See a touching video featuring Garrison above. Meri's as honest and goodhearted as ever. She also looks wonderful, like she spent weeks at a ritzy spa.

Single or partnered, Sister Wives ' Meri's figuring out her life. She's moving towards what makes her happy. She loves work, her friends, and her dog, Zona. Meri is thinking big but also keeping it simple. While the poet Robert Frost said that "nothing gold can stay," Meri's achievements, and the ones who really care about her, are things that will stand the test of time.

Sources: Meri Brown /Instagram, Meri Brown /Instagram. Meri Brown /Instagram, Meri Brown /Instagram, Meri Brown /Instagram, Sting /YouTube

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Published Apr 25, 2024

WARP FIVE: Sonequa Martin-Green on the Gift of Michael Burnham

The Star Trek: Discovery actress walks us through 'Face the Strange,' her love of the franchise, fandom, and more!

SPOILER WARNING: This article contains story details and plot points for the fifth season of Star Trek: Discovery.

Getty Images / StarTrek.com

For the fifth and final season of Star Trek: Discovery , Michael Burnham finally gets to settle in and soak in the thrill of an epic chase with the galaxy’s biggest threat (the Dark Matter Anomaly) behind her.

Ahead of season’s premiere, StarTrek.com sat down for an intimate conversation with series star and executive producer Sonequa Martin-Green where we discussed what the franchise means to her, being surrounded by the fandom, the first half of the final season, and more!

Facing Michael Burnham’s Legacy

"Face the Strange"

StarTrek.com

In the latest episode, " Face the Strange ," Michael Burnham, Rayner, and Paul Stamets are stuck in a time loop after fugitives Moll and L'ak plant a time bug on the U.S.S. Discovery . The episode allows fans to revisit pivotal moments across the series' first four seasons and Captain Burnham to face herself, literally, as she stands before the mutineer who was offered a second chance to serve the Federation.

Burnham reflects on that moment in the episode telling her first officer, "The first time I walked onto this bridge, it took every ounce of strength I had not to turn around and run right back off. I respected Starfleet too much to believe I deserved to be here after what I had done." As Rayner notes, Burnham has to be "the only person in Starfleet to ever captain a ship that [they] first boarded as a prisoner."

"That’s one of my favorite episodes of the entire show," Martin-Green shares. "We get to see old Burnham, and that interaction, I feel that it was a gift. It was a gift that the writers gave me, and it was a gift that they gave Burnham. It really means a lot to me because you see this woman falling forward, you see this woman going through the necessary trouble to grow. And you can almost forget where Burnham started, when you look at where Burnham ended, when you look at where I ended up as Michael."

"That right there, that episode gives context," states Martin-Green. "For me, doing it, and then being able to see it in Post, you see it. You see the progression right there in front of your face. That was just one of the best gifts that we could have given to Michael Burnham. It champions the permanent change that is a tenet to our story because every character can do that. Every character could look back and see who they were in Season 1 and see the growth, see the distance that they’ve traveled. It was representative of one of our cornerstones."

The Changing of the XO Guard

"Under the Twin Moons"

Following Discovery 's first run-in with Moll and L'ak on Q’Mau in " Red Directive ," Saru steps down as Burnham’s first officer in " Under the Twin Moons ," allowing the captain to extend a second chance to the gruff Antares captain, Rayner .

Reflecting on Burnham’s relationship with Saru, who served alongside her on the Shenzhou , before their history aboard Discovery , and his decision to take a new position with the Federation, Martin-Green says, "That was such a heartbreaking moment for Burnham."

"The relationship between Burnham and Saru is just one of my favorite things about Star Trek: Discovery ," she continues. "That brother and sister, they will always be unified. Their relationship was refined with fire and carved in stone, if you will. Him going off to fulfill his own destiny is necessary, honestly, for Burnham's development and maturation. Having him as a guide, a shepherd, and a big brother in a lot of ways gave me as Burnham a sense of security and a sense of peace. And so those things are going to have to be found from within. It's that process of growth. Saru has also, he's matured to that place. He has transformed. He has morphed into this confident, fearless leader and legend with his people. It’s really beautiful because you see these people actualizing. You see these people literally stepping into who they were meant to be and doing it together. They couldn't have done it without each other."

Ushering in a New Era

With the conclusion of Star Trek: Discovery , the series star has had ample time to reflect on the journey these past seven years. As Michael Burnham took us to the 32nd Century, Sonequa Martin-Green took Star Trek to uncharted territory ushering a new modern era for the franchise when Star Trek: Discovery debuted in 2017, 12 years after Star Trek: Enterprise went off air.

Looking holistically, Martin-Green imparts, "We all knew that this franchise has made an impact on our society. We knew that we needed to do it justice, and we were all passionate about that and there was no ego. We knew that we had a great responsibility and a great duty ahead us. And so it is thrilling."

"It's thrilling to be able to be a part of something that has already made an impact, that's already solidified in the consciousness of society," she adds. "It's also great to play these characters, to bring these characters to life that are brand new and fresh. It was great and fulfilling to be able to tell a serialized story, to be able to be the most diverse Trek ever, and to be able to go beyond where any Trek had gone before, even from a timeline perspective. It's really thrilling and fulfilling as an artist, as an actor, as a human being, for me as a Black woman. Also, to be brutally honest, as a Christian, as a wife and mother. It's been a blessing."

What Star Trek Means to Sonequa Martin-Green

"Jinaal"

Executive producer and showrunner Alex Kurtzman, speaking exclusively to StarTrek.com , shared that in the run up to the production of the series, they were lucky to come across Martin-Green, "It's that beautiful thing. We had been looking for so long for the right Michael Burnham. And it's that miracle moment that you always wait for when you're in a casting process where just the right person shows up and starts saying the lines, and you go, 'That's my Michael Burnham.' That's what we got with her just out of the gate."

On taking on the role, Martin-Green recalls, “I remember saying really early on that, to me, Star Trek was a call to rise. And I still feel that way.”

“Now here we are almost seven years later after I first said that,” Martin-Green concludes. “And I can attest that it has been true. It has allowed me to grow in my own understanding of who I am. It's emboldened me to express myself more authentically. It's encouraged me to understand my worth and my value and that it is intrinsic. It's inherent. It's not something I need to fight for. All of those things have really deepened in me from being a part of this. And I've heard countless stories. I've had the blessing of hearing countless stories of people saying a version of that as well because of this franchise and because of Discovery specifically. So to me, it's still that call to rise, even if that rise is rising to who you really are and what you're really here to do.”

The Beauty of Her Fandom Experience

Star Trek: The Cruise

As Discovery readies itself for its final journey, Martin-Green sees the Discovery family extending beyond the cast and crew, to the fandom.

"It's really transcendent, honestly, being a part of the franchise," she shares. "And I had an interesting experience because when I came into the franchise, I knew of it peripherally, but I didn't know it intimately. And we were a family on Discovery ."

"And then over the years, I've come to understand all the different families that make up the franchise, the audience being part of it, being the extended family," notes Martin-Green. “And now here on [ Star Trek: The Cruise VII], my first time doing the full cruise. And now that we're done with Discovery , I feel like now I can see it more clearly. Hindsight is 20/20, and I feel that I have a more objective point of view now and I'm getting to understand these families that make up the franchise in a brand-new way. It's almost like being separated from it is allowing me to be a part of it like never before. In a weird way. It's kind of beautiful though."

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Christine Dinh (she/her) is the managing editor for StarTrek.com. She’s traded the Multiverse for helming this Federation Starship.

Star Trek: Discovery Seasons 1-4 are streaming exclusively on Paramount+ in the U.S., the UK, Canada, Switzerland, South Korea, Latin America, Germany, France, Italy, Australia and Austria. Seasons 2 and 3 also are available on the Pluto TV “Star Trek” channel in Switzerland, Germany and Austria. The series streams on Super Drama in Japan, TVNZ in New Zealand, and SkyShowtime in Spain, Portugal, Poland, The Nordics, The Netherlands, and Central and Eastern Europe and also airs on Cosmote TV in Greece. The series is distributed by Paramount Global Content Distribution.

Some planets 'death spiral' into their stars and scientists may now know why

"It's exciting to have discovered a plausible solution to this mystery."

Scientists may have discovered why the orbits of some planets decay, ultimately leaving these worlds to "death spiral" into their stars. This discovery may help astronomers spot which planets in star systems are doomed die a fiery death, and when.

Recent research had revealed that as many as one in 12 stars may have cannibalized one of their own planets, but what remained unknown is quite what caused these planets to plunge into their stellar parents in the first place. Now, however, an investigation by an international team of scientists has revealed the mechanism causing some planets to "take the plunge." 

In particular, scientists concentrated on the decaying orbits of hot Jupiters , a class of planets that exist so close to their stars they are blisteringly hot and complete orbits in periods of a few Earth days to just a few Earth hours. 

The team focused on a specific hot Jupiter called WASP-12b , located around 1,400 light years from Earth. As soon as 3 billion years from now, this planet could slam into its star. The team discovered that the magnetic field of the star WASP-12, which this planet circles, is dissipating gravitational energy, causing the orbit of this doomed planet to decay.  

Related: 1 in 12 stars might have swallowed a planet

"Our study provides a new way — involving magnetic fields deep inside the star — for gravitational tides to act in extrasolar planetary systems, and which appears able to neatly explain the decaying orbit of WASP-12b," team member and Leeds University scientist Adrian Barker said in a statement . "It's exciting to have discovered a plausible solution to this mystery."

Sun-like stars making waves for doomed exoplanets

In arrangements between stars and hot Jupiters, both bodies are subjected to powerful tidal forces that transfer orbital energy from the planets to tidal waves within the star. When these waves dissipate, the net result is the planet has lost orbital energy. That causes the planet's orbit to decay, bringing it closer to the star.

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Yet even this can't explain WASP-12 b's orbital decay, which will see it plunge into its yellow dwarf star in just a few years. Rather, the new research suggests another factor is at play; strong magnetic fields in WASP-12 seem to dissipate orbital energy pretty efficiently. This would also happen in other sun-like stars , the team says.

As the tidal waves within such stars move inward, they crash into magnetic fields and are themselves converted into magnetic waves that ripple outwards, eventually dissipating.

"What is really interesting about this mechanism is that it only starts after the star has reached a certain age. At the moment, the only planet we know for certain to be spiraling into its star — and in the far future, possibly being destroyed — is WASP-12b," Nils de Vries, research team member and a scientist at Leeds University, said in the statement. "With this new insight, we might actually be able to predict when certain planets will start that process, and our findings will help guide observational astronomers wanting to witness orbital decay."  

—  Doomed egg-shaped exoplanet is death-spiraling into its star

—  Scientists catch real-life Death Star devouring a planet in 1st-of-its-kind discovery

—  Star blows giant exoplanet's atmosphere away, leaving massive tail in its wake

Of course, Barker and colleagues were indeed able to use their findings to estimate how quickly the orbits of hot-Jupiter planets around sun-like stars will decay. They then compared these results with recent observations. 

They think some stars close to the sun may be good future targets in the hunt for hot Jupiter planets on decaying orbits. Finding these would help astronomers learn more about the magnetic mechanism that spells doom for some planets, and refine Barker and colleagues' timeline measurements even further. 

The team's research is published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters.

Join our Space Forums to keep talking space on the latest missions, night sky and more! And if you have a news tip, correction or comment, let us know at: [email protected].

Robert Lea is a science journalist in the U.K. whose articles have been published in Physics World, New Scientist, Astronomy Magazine, All About Space, Newsweek and ZME Science. He also writes about science communication for Elsevier and the European Journal of Physics. Rob holds a bachelor of science degree in physics and astronomy from the U.K.’s Open University. Follow him on Twitter @sciencef1rst.

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