In a surprising twist within the realms of science fiction literature, renowned Star Wars author Timothy Zahn may be considering a leap into the Star Trek universe.
According to a report by Bleeding Cool, Zahn and IDW Publishing’s Star Trek editor Heather Antos engaged in a noteworthy discussion during the recent Fan Expo Canada. During a panel focused on Star Wars, Antos inquired if Zahn would be interested in crafting new narratives set in the Star Trek universe. Zahn expressed a willingness to discuss this post-panel.
Timothy Zahn’s journey as an author began with the publication of The Blackcollar in 1983. Over the decades, Zahn has contributed a substantial body of work that includes novels, short stories, comic books, and graphic novels. Gaining prominence in the Star Wars franchise since the early 1990s, he is perhaps best known for the iconic Thrawn Trilogy. To date, Zahn has authored 16 novels within the Star Wars canon, alongside numerous additional stories. Most recently in 2023, he served as a story consultant for the live-action Ahsoka streaming series.
Heather Antos has played a pivotal role in leading IDW Publishing’s efforts to explore the richly layered Star Trek franchise. Under her guidance, the publisher has launched several compelling story arcs, including Star Trek: Lore War. This summer, fans have eagerly anticipated three new series, such as Star Trek: Red Shirts featuring writer Christopher Cantwell and artist Megan Levens, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds – The Seeds of Destruction by Robbie Thompson and artist Travis Mercer, and Star Trek Voyager: Homecoming crafted by writers Susan and Tilly Bridges with artist Ángel Hernandez.
Earlier this year, Antos elaborated on Star Trek: Red Shirts in an interview with CBR, highlighting the darker humor of the series’ variant covers. “For me, that line of covers was like, ‘If everyone knows Red Shirts die…’ I think Chris Cantwell and I did the research, and I think the oldest Red Shirts live to be 45, or something like that, if they’re lucky,” Antos noted. “And they’re very grizzled at 45! And it’s like, ‘How do you recruit people to be this role that you know you’re probably gonna die, in a very terrible way?’ So I wanted to do these military propaganda posters, that I think really came across. They’re super fun, and I really enjoyed them.”
As this potential collaboration develops, fans of both franchises are left to ponder the exciting stories that could emerge from this crossover of creative talent.
Based on reporting by CBR.com. Read the full story at CBR.