Penname: Samuel Pengraff [Contact]
Real name: Ken Hancock
Member Since: 13 Mar 2009
Membership status: Member
Bio: Having made a narrow escape from the computer industry in 2006, I could finally afford the Trek DVDs I'd been ogling for years and, most of all, had the time to truly appreciate them. I quickly discovered that, as much as I'd previously considered Star Trek the most intelligent science fiction genre there was, I�d still been giving it short shrift. It is very simply the largest body of high quality creative work ever made. A larger and more deeply layered internal universe than Lord of the Rings; more inventive than even Mozart�s astounding body of work, Star Trek is our generation�s greatest bequest to the future.

I�ve always had a fascination with the written word, but never considered writing my own stories until I ran across some of Alara Rogers� Q stories back in 2007. Wow. Allowing their imaginations to freely explore the limitless landscape that is Star Trek, authors like Alara have soared where no one had gone before, and I was inspired to pick up my figurative pen and try my hand at something creative. �Naturally� � as Tuvok would say � I flopped, but not terribly so. Thanks to some kind souls bearing kind words, I was encouraged to keep trying.

So that�s my story, save for one small expression of gratitude.

I�m probably not ascribing credit properly, nor completely, but in my opinion the greatest single creative work on Ad Astra is the site itself. Designed by an excellent Trek fan fiction writer of her own accord, Steff Watson has created a very functional site that has attracted some of the finest Trek writers in fandom. We owe her plenty for providing us a place where like minds can congregate, cooperate and compete, where truly gifted writers can provide much needed advice to promising up and comers, and where artists can receive well intended and constructive criticisms of their work. Who knows which of these will be writing for Paramount someday, on some as yet unimagined new Star Trek series?

So, enjoy these pages of light. May they inspire you to far greater accomplishments.

Engage.

Gender: male
Beta-reader: Yes
[Report This]
Stories by Samuel Pengraff
Summary:

An intelligent and peaceful species, the Trill had enjoyed the guidance of the Phedian race for many years, benefactors that had pledged themselves to the reformation of the Trill civilization. When a terrible event occurred, one that would test their resiliency as a species, a leader arose. Would the Trill have the wisdom to learn from loss? The courage to remember it?

A Trill origin story.


Chapters: 1    Table of Contents
Categories: Deep Space Nine
Characters: None
Genre: Drama
Warnings: Character Death
Series: None
Completed: Yes    Word count: 4207    Read Count: 1086
[Report This] Published: 30 Jul 2013 Updated: 30 Jul 2013
The Devil We Know by Samuel Pengraff    Rated: K    Liked  Reviews (9
Summary:

When forced to choose between the almost certain conquest of the Federation and a disease that could end all human civilization, the director of Cold Station One gambles, and gambles big.


Chapters: 1    Table of Contents
Categories: Enterprise, Next Generation
Characters: Ensemble Cast - TNG
Genre: Action/Adventure
Warnings: None
Series: None
Completed: No    Word count: 7787    Read Count: 1778
[Report This] Published: 04 Aug 2011 Updated: 04 Aug 2011
The Necklace by Samuel Pengraff    Rated: K    Liked  Reviews (7
Summary:

The strain of carrying McCoy’s katra takes its toll upon Spock, who begins to take on some of McCoy’s traits. It is a great learning experience for Spock, one that isn’t truly complete until his Kolinahr training is abruptly ended by the V’ger entity.


Chapters: 1    Table of Contents
Categories: Original Series
Characters: Ensemble Cast - TOS
Genre: Drama
Warnings: Character Death
Series: None
Completed: Yes    Word count: 8182    Read Count: 2188
[Report This] Published: 21 Apr 2011 Updated: 21 Apr 2011
The Unwethian Shaft by Samuel Pengraff    Rated: K    Liked  Reviews (4
Summary: Past Featured Story

The Bor’jun were an honest people, turned out from generations of proud, trusting and loyal stock. Hamarr, daughter of Anvil and Herra, was raised lovingly and though afflicted with a disability as a child was as fine an example of her culture as could be found among the people of her day.

But it is an all-too common failing that such honest folk can sometimes too easily bestow their trust upon those that have not truly earned it, those they mistakenly call friend.

******


Chapters: 2    Table of Contents
Categories: Enterprise
Characters: Ensemble Cast - Multiple
Genre: Action/Adventure
Warnings: Character Death
Series: None
Completed: Yes    Word count: 9970    Read Count: 3955
[Report This] Published: 23 Mar 2011 Updated: 23 Mar 2011
As if Rain for Resurrection by Samuel Pengraff    Rated: K+    Liked  Reviews (7
Summary:

For much of his life James T. Kirk believed he carried a burden of shame, one that cast a shadow of prejudice over four generations of his family. But the release from this shame, and his full flourishing as a man, did not dwell in the hands of others. It lay in him.

Recommended Preliminary Viewing: TOS, “Where no Man has Gone Before.”

I would like to express my undying gratitude for the superb feedback and valued critique I received from KayCee and Lil Black Dog. Thank you, lovely ladies, you are the solar wind in my Starship's sails.


Chapters: 1    Table of Contents
Categories: Original Series
Characters: Ensemble Cast - TOS
Genre: Drama
Warnings: Character Death
Series: None
Completed: Yes    Word count: 2231    Read Count: 1672
[Report This] Published: 19 Feb 2011 Updated: 19 Feb 2011
The Raft by Samuel Pengraff    Rated: K    Liked  Reviews (6
Summary:

James T. Kirk, as Captain of the Enterprise NCC-1701-A, is called back to San Francisco for a memorial service marking the death of a lifelong friend, Transporter Chief Lewis Maitland.

A story about the transformative, healing power of stories.


Chapters: 1    Table of Contents
Categories: Original Series
Characters: Ensemble Cast - TOS
Genre: Drama
Warnings: Character Death
Series: None
Completed: Yes    Word count: 5535    Read Count: 1900
[Report This] Published: 16 Dec 2010 Updated: 16 Dec 2010
Summary:

In the spirit of fun and adventure I humbly extend a challenge to the many fine writers of Ad Astra: Write a story that is within the universe of Unsung Heroes. It’s a round robin event organized as an open series meaning that you can post your own stories to the series, the various stories adding together like the chapters of a book. Prequel, sequel, TNG mirror universe – the galaxy’s the limit!

The instructions are simple. Read Star Trek HQ first and then come up with your own story that plays within the same ‘virtual sandbox’. Some good ideas for additional stories might be: ‘What did Amy do next?’, or, ‘What happened to Doctor Dunmore when he returned to Starfleet Command?’

And what of our new enemy? Although little is known about him, his powers of creation and destruction are very real. Originating from an entirely new faction of the Borg, it appears that the collective has changed its views on the importance and role of the individual. Can this Borg Homunculus – this drone that is not a drone – spawn entire new cubes faster than Starfleet can scream retreat?

If you send an email to pengraff@telus.net and request The Unsung Heroes Technical Guide I’ll send you some important information on how the technology that tried to save Commander Worf worked. Your story does not need to use any of this technology – it’s available merely as technical backstory that you might find useful.

I hope it’s as much fun for you as it has been for me!


Chapters: 3    Table of Contents
Categories: Next Generation
Characters: Ensemble Cast - TNG
Genre: Action/Adventure
Warnings: Character Death
Series: Star Trek HQ : Episode 6 : Unsung Heroes
Completed: Yes    Word count: 19801    Read Count: 6774
[Report This] Published: 28 Oct 2010 Updated: 05 Nov 2010
Summary: Commander Worf and the Borg Homunculus remain trapped within the storage cube as Fleet Captain Picard is dispatched on an urgent mission to Epsilon Eridani.
Chapters: 7    Table of Contents
Categories: Next Generation
Characters: Ensemble Cast - TNG
Genre: Drama
Warnings: None
Series: None
Completed: Yes    Word count: 14052    Read Count: 16052
[Report This] Published: 27 Sep 2010 Updated: 27 Sep 2010
The Irony of Sacrifice by Samuel Pengraff    Rated: K+      Reviews (2
Summary: Past Featured Story

Starfleet International 2009 Short Story Contest fifth place prize winner.

The road to Starfleet is filled not so much with heroes but rather with those affected by them.
Chapters: 1    Table of Contents
Categories: Deep Space Nine
Characters: None
Genre: Action/Adventure
Warnings: None
Series: None
Completed: Yes    Word count: 3805    Read Count: 1540

[Report This] Published: 09 Sep 2010 Updated: 09 Sep 2010
Summary: The only survivor of the Borg MuSpace Sphere carries out a one-man assault on planet Earth.
Chapters: 7    Table of Contents
Categories: Next Generation
Characters: Ensemble Cast - TNG
Genre: Drama
Warnings: Character Death
Series: None
Completed: Yes    Word count: 14405    Read Count: 17228
[Report This] Published: 25 Apr 2009 Updated: 25 Apr 2009
My Father, My Son by Samuel Pengraff    Rated: K      Reviews (6
Summary:

With the Defiant still in orbit, a visitor from the planet below has secretly beamed up to give Odo something that he had always denied himself.


Chapters: 1    Table of Contents
Categories: Deep Space Nine
Characters: Odo
Genre: Drama
Warnings: None
Series: None
Completed: Yes    Word count: 808    Read Count: 2659
[Report This] Published: 10 Apr 2009 Updated: 10 Apr 2009
Summary: The Enterprise-E still under repair, Fleet Captain Picard is assigned a strategically important First Contact mission.
Chapters: 7    Table of Contents
Categories: Next Generation
Characters: Ensemble Cast - TNG
Genre: Drama
Warnings: Character Death
Series: None
Completed: Yes    Word count: 12036    Read Count: 20217
[Report This] Published: 09 Apr 2009 Updated: 09 Apr 2009
Summary: Starfleet headquarters has been destroyed and temporary headquarters have been established in Nevada. The Federation might believe they destroyed the Borg MuSpace Sphere, but it was merely called away on other business – business on the planet Romulus.
Chapters: 7    Table of Contents
Categories: Next Generation
Characters: Ensemble Cast - TNG
Genre: Drama
Warnings: Character Death
Series: None
Completed: Yes    Word count: 12956    Read Count: 17512
[Report This] Published: 28 Mar 2009 Updated: 29 Mar 2009
Summary: Commander Madden learns a valuable lesson about what it means to be a Captain.
Chapters: 1    Table of Contents
Categories: Next Generation
Characters: Ensemble Cast - TNG
Genre: Drama
Warnings: None
Series: None
Completed: Yes    Word count: 313    Read Count: 1521
[Report This] Published: 27 Mar 2009 Updated: 27 Mar 2009
Summary: Reginald Barclay is about to make a discovery that will dramatically reshape Starfleet, but Dr. Nells Yannsen’s research has the potential to change the very nature of existence.
Chapters: 7    Table of Contents
Categories: Next Generation, Crossovers
Characters: Ensemble Cast - TNG
Genre: Action/Adventure
Warnings: Character Death
Series: None
Completed: Yes    Word count: 14241    Read Count: 18464
[Report This] Published: 21 Mar 2009 Updated: 21 Mar 2009