I just finished the “USS Cerritos Crew Handbook” by Chris Farnell, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

The book is formatted to be exactly what the title says, a handbook for new crew, specifically lower deckers, joining the Cerritos. It’s a new update being written by Boimler with entries from several other members of the crew. Except it’s presented as being a shared document with editing notes – mostly from Mariner and Boimler – as well as entries written by Mariner who hacked Boimler’s password after he did not ask her to contribute.

It’s almost certainly the closest thing we’ve gotten to the “TNG Technical Manual” in this new era of Trek production, even though it’s more about the duties and responsibilities of the a junior officer aboard the Cerritos, and the closest thing to technical information in the book is Rutherford’s entry on different tools and what the various coloured stripes on the tricorders mean. There is a complete MSD for the Cerritos, but the writing is too small for my old man eyes.

There’s a lot of jokes, referencing other Trek productions, as well as LDecks. I think Farnell does a good job capturing the voices of the characters he’s portraying here. My only gripe is that Shaxs, my favourite character, was a bit off. Unfortunately, I believe all the art – and to be clear, the thing is mostly pictures – is stills from the show or promotional material, with nothing original to the book.

Anyways! It’s a fun book that can easily be read through in a single sitting. I’d recommend if it you’re looking for something to to enjoy while waiting for season five.