History Literature / StarTrekTheLostEra

** Christopher L. Bennett uses ''The Buried Age'' to seamlessly reconcile the longstanding contradictions between the 'threatening', militaristic characterization of Ferengi in early TNG and their later, now-familiar corporate depiction from [=DS9=]. Before [[Recap/StarTrekTheNextGenerationS1E8TheBattle the Battle of Maxima]], the Ferengi Alliance becomes aware of the Federation. As detailed under CultureClash, they understandably think that a civilization built entirely upon a post-scarcity economic structure and shuns profit is either lying through their teeth...or ''completely'' batshit crazy and dangerous. In response, Grand Nagus Zek orders a military buildup and sanctions the spread of the malicious rumors that the ''Enterprise''-D will hear come "Encounter at Fairpoint" (like how the Ferengi supposedly eat their competitors). Zek's intention is that when the Ferengi Alliance inevitably makes contact with the UFP again, it'll be from a position of strength.
*** Bennett also uses Zek's pre-Federation Fist Contact policies to fill in the longstanding plot hole of how the UFP could have had no knowledge of the Ferengi given what [=DS9=] subsequently reveraled about the extent of the Alliance's commerical dealings throughout the Alpha and Beta Quadrants. In additon to the aformentiond malicious rumors, Zek also offered incentives (read: bribes) to new customers and existing clients to keep shtum about their dealings with the Alliance. The Ferengi also relied on intermediaries and audio-only negotiations to build up their mystique and not tip their hand to the UFP too soon.

* LiteralMetaphor: In ''The Buried Age'', Picard recalls an incident where a temporal anomaly had "[[LampshadeHanging quite literally]] blown the ''Stargazer'' into the middle of the next week".

* HeroesWantRedheads: It might not be a coincidence that Ariel is mentioned to have red hair, and Picard falls in love with her.

** Towards the end of ''The Art of the Impossible'', Curzon concedes he made this mistake with the Raknal V situation when he took a page out of the Organians' playbook. He thought using the Sherman's Planet scenario that had worked during Federation-Klingon conflict was a perfect solution. What Curzon didn't consider until it was too late was that while that kind of competitive solution worked for the Klingon mindset, it ''didn't'' work for the ''Cardassian'' mindset. It only provoked resentment towards the Klingons ''and'' the Federation and is largely responsible for the Union's hostile relations with the two powers in the 16 years since.

** ''The Buried Age'' nicely reconciles the longstanding contradictions between the 'threatening', militaristic characterization of Ferengi in early TNG and their later, now-familiar depiction from [=DS9=]. Before [[Recap/StarTrekTheNextGenerationS1E8TheBattle the Battle of Maxima]], the Ferengi Alliance becomes aware of the Federation. As detailed under CultureClash, they understandably think that a civilization built entirely upon a post-scarcity economic structure and shuns profit is ''completely'' batshit crazy and dangerous. In response, Grand Nagus Zek orders a military buildup and sanctions the spread of the malicious rumors that the ''Enterprise''-D will hear come "Encounter at Fairpoint" (like how the Ferengi supposedly eat their competitors). Zek's intention is that when the Ferengi Alliance inevitably makes contact with the UFP again, it'll be from a position of strength.

* KlingonPromotion: Adding to the unfairness of it all, Azetbur's killer then becomes chancellor himself. The only consolation is his backer eventually does the same to him eventually.

* HasTwoMommies: There are several same-sex couples with children in this series. They include a pair of female scientists in ''The Buried Age'' and two male parents on one branch of the Paris family in ''Serpents Among the Ruins''. As well as these human examples, there's a female Romulan who is briefly mentioned to have an adult son, and a wife.

* NoodleIncident: As in [=TNG=] proper, much mention is made in ''The Buried Age'' of Picard's first encounter with Guinan, how it woke her up after her HeroicBSOD after the loss of El-Aurian and her time in the Nexus, but whatever it was that happened goes unspecified.

* FixFic: ''Serpents Among the Ruins'' and ''The Art of the Impossible'' in tandem reconcile the longstanding Continuity Snarl about Azebetur succeeding Gorkon as the Klingon Chancellor in ''Film/StarTrekVITheUndiscoveredCountry'' despite TNG's [[Recap/StarTrekTheNextGenerationS4E26S5E1Redemption ''Redemption'']] previously establishing Klingon women are barred from the High Council. [[spoiler: After Azebetur is assassinated by Ditagh and his fellow reactionaries, they unsurprisingly begin dismantling her entire political legacy. They also use Azebeteur's tenure and policies as an excuse for legally barring Klingon women from ever again serving on the High Council. K'mpec does not rescind the band upon becoming Chancellor and it remains in place through his and subsequently Gowron's administrations.]]

** ''The Buried Age'' nicely reconciles the longstanding contradictions between the 'threatening', militaristic characterization of Ferengi in early TNG and their later, now-familiar depiction from [=DS9=]. In the aftermath of [[Recap/StarTrekTheNextGenerationS1E8TheBattle the Battle of Maxima]], the Ferengi Alliance becomes aware of the Federation. As detailed under CultureClash, they understandably think that a civilization built entirely upon a post-scarcity economic structure and shuns profit is ''completely'' batshit crazy and dangerous. In response, Grand Nagus Zek orders a military buildup and sanctions the spread of the malicious rumors that the ''Enterprise''-D will hear come "Encounter at Fairpoint" (like how the Ferengi supposedly eat their competitors). Zek's intention is that when the Ferengi Alliance inevitably makes contact with the UFP again, it'll be from a position of strength.

* KickTheDog: In order to free some of her fellow Manraloth in a hurry once she's rumbled, Ariel fast-forwards the process, killing several local lifeforms Picard had been trying to preserve, as well as leaving all the non-essential sentients (read: non-Manraloth) inside behind. Picard notes that her protestations about doing it for some greater good ring a little hollow with that, since she clearly didn't get their okay on that one.

* NoSell: The Manraloth are a race of talkers, good at using their silver tongues at persuading just about anyone around to their way of thinking. Until they encounter someone who ''listens'', namely Guinan. They try several times to ply her, and it just doesn't work, because Guinan's listening skills means she can pick up on the underlying intent of their words.
* NoSocialSkills: Part of Data's problem gelling with other Starfleet personel is that he doesn't have any social skills, often interrupting any conversation he manages to be a part of to ask any question that flits into his mind, derailing the conversation then and there.

* {{Foreshadowing}}: In ''The Buried Age'', Picard's musings on cybernetics are an example of ironic foreshadowing; it's still several years before he meets the Borg.

* MindRape: In a sense, the Manraloth are capable of this; they aren't actually telepathic, but their experience as mediators and communicators is so extensive that just by talking, Ariel not only inspires some Starfleet officers to express dissatisfaction with exploration over the idea of simply getting handed all the answers, but even makes Picard forget that he was ever in love with her [[spoiler:until Data 'reminds' Picard of his past feelings by exactly quoting Picard's previous words]].

* MindRape: Uramtali does this, quite brutally, to several people, including a child.