Greg Cox on Identity Theft: Chekov, Kirk, and the Cost of Peace

This week on The Clonestar Podcast, Jodi Pickens sits down with veteran Star Trek author Greg Cox to discuss his latest novel, Identity Theft, written to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Star Trek: The Original Series.Set across two pivotal eras, Identity Theft revisits the legacy of Captain James T. Kirk and the USS Enterprise, while placing Pavel Chekov at the heart of a political mystery that questions how fragile peace really is. What once seemed like effortless diplomacy on the planet Voyzr begins to unravel, revealing old resentments, hidden agendas, and a dangerous plan waiting decades to be triggered.In this conversation, Greg talks about:• Writing Chekov as a central point-of-view character• Exploring the long-term consequences of “easy” peace• Balancing classic TOS voices with later-era continuity• Crafting a story that honours Trek’s past while questioning its ideals• What it means to write Star Trek at a milestone anniversaryThoughtful, timely, and deeply rooted in Trek’s moral core, Identity Theft is a story about identity, memory, and the uncomfortable truth that peace must be actively protected. This is a must-watch for fans of classic Trek and Star Trek novels alike.