Inception
Inception is a Pocket TOS novel written by S.D. Perry and Britta Dennison. Published by Pocket Books, it was first released in . 

The novel features the relationships between James T. Kirk and Carol Marcus, and Spock and Leila Kalomi, and is set prior to the five-year mission.

Summary 
From the book jacket
As man expands beyond explored space, the need to find a way to make inhospitable planets hospitable grows greater. One young biologist, Carol Marcus, has a project that she is convinced can reshape planets. She puts together a team of young, committed scientists who dare to dream as she does: of a Federation remade so hunger is eradicated, where every world can be reshaped into a paradise. The belief that all things are possible, that man can strive to conquer space not with force but with science, is shared by James Kirk, a young Starfleet officer and her lover.

Leila Kalomi, a renowned botanist, is looking for a new direction. After hearing about Marcus's project, she applies for a position. She finds Carol's passion contagious, and a chance encounter with the Enterprises science officer, Spock, convinces her to join Project: Inception.

Four people just trying to find the balance between their careers and their personal lives, trying to make the right choice not just for themselves but for the betterment of all mankind. The choices they make will rewrite the history of the Federation and change forever how man explores space.

Background information 
 Inception was the first collaborative effort between Perry and Dennison (although their contributions to the Star Trek: Terok Nor series were published earlier).
 The novel was originally commissioned and written during the early stages of production on the Kelvin timeline , which led to the manuscript being set aside until it was determined whether the film would affect the timeline. ()
 The novel was formally announced – with Perry as sole author at the time – at the Shore Leave convention on .
 An extract from the novel appeared in .

Cover gallery

Characters
Inception Team
 Carol Marcus – head of the Inception project
 John "J.C." Carington – Molecular Biologist
 Tamara Irwin – Particle Physicist
 Richard Dachmes – Statistician and Systems Programmer
 Leila Kalomi – Botanist
 Ben "Mac" MacCready – Particle Physicist
 Alison Simhbib – Geologist
 Gabriel
 Eric

Immutable Foundation/Redpeace
 Thadeus Kent – leader of Redpeace
 Don Byers
 Tom Cady 
 Karen Dupree – biologist
 Preston Sadler – lawyer
 Merle

Kraden Interplanetary Research
 Alvin Repperton – head of Kraden
 Aaron Thiel
 Troy Verne

USS Mizuki
 Captain Olin
 Commander James T. Kirk
 Doc Evans
 Ensign Emily Rushe – Sciences division
 Ensign Tom Christianson – Security officer

USS Enterprise
 Captain Christopher Pike
 Number One
 Lieutenant Commander Spock
 Yeoman J.M. Colt
 Chief medical officer Philip Boyce

USS Aloia
 Lieutenant Young – Chief engineering officer
 Lieutenant Grathe – Science officer

Whole Earth
 Josh Swanson

Miscellaneous
 Jessica Kent – Thadeus Kent's deceased wife
 Adam – Leila Kalomi's ex-boyfriend
 Paul Marshall
 Dr. Bernard Ellroy – a Federation astrobiologist
 Sarah Roth – member of Federation Science Council
 Lieutenant Almanza – Starfleet engineer

Referenced
 Ben Yothers – Starfleet Intelligence
 Captain Garrovick
 Sharon – lab technician that Gary Mitchell set Kirk up with at Starfleet Academy
 Ruth – one of Kirk's girlfriends his senior year 
 Janice Lester
 Alan Scots – discovered nitrilin
 Professor Bonner

External link 
 

cs:Inception
Novels