Oblivion

Summary

 * From the book jacket:
 * In 1893 a time-traveling Jean-Luc Picard encountered a long-lived alien named Guinan, who was posing as a Human to learn Earth's customs. During this "first encounter," Picard saved Guinan's life, a favor she would never forget.


 * Five centuries later, Captain Picard, now commander of the Starship Enterprise, brought Guinan aboard as the ship's bartender. The hope was that her wisdom and inner peace would provide a moral grounding for Picard's crew as they experienced the dangers of space.


 * Because he hadn't yet made his trip through time, Picard had no knowledge of his nineteenth-century meeting with Guinan.


 * But he did remember a different first encounter with the mysterious El-Aurian - a tumultuous adventure in which Picard and Guinan would risk their lives in a maze of interplanetary intrigue, with the future of the known universe at stake.


 * This is the story of that fateful meeting, and of a Guinan very different from the woman we think we know - a person wracked by pain and longing, shaken to the roots of her soul.


 * A Guinan who yearns for oblivion.

Memorable Quotes
''She stared at Picard a moment longer, as if caught in some strange kind of inertia. Then, in a voice as weary and defeated as her eyes, she said, "You've got hair."''

''It was a bizarre observation, to say the least. "Apparently so," he responded.''

''The woman's eyes narrowed. "You don't remember...?" Her voice fell like a wounded bird.''

''The captain looked at her. "Remember what?"''

''Her brow puckered. "No," she said with something like resignation. "Of course you don't."''

Background Information

 * This book explains much of the backstory for the friendship of Picard and Guinan.
 * In the episode Guinan tells Ro Laren that "a very long time ago I got into some serious trouble too, and I mean serious, and I'd probably still be there, if I hadn't trusted one man." This book explains what Picard did to help Guinan.
 * During their mission, Picard and Guinan encounter a younger Enabran Tain, who shall go on to become the father of Elim Garak, a prominent recurring character in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.

Characters

 * Jean-Luc Picard : Captain of the USS Stargazer
 * Guinan
 * Gilaad Ben Zoma : First officer of the Stargazer