Early Praise for The Trek Continues

"I loved the new book! 'The Fairy' = hilarious. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I loved the new Sarah stories. They really were soul mates, two very different and brilliant people that were very good for each other. And cats. Cats are the best. I especially enjoyed the history of UCI. I was so glad the Anteater won the competition for mascot. I graduated from there in 1981 and worked in the Physics Department as a draftsman while studying Comparative Literature. The UCI campus was very much not user friendly when it was first built. Chet was spot on about the mud. Loved the bit about Hycon Engineering. Sounds like a fascinating time. Thank you, Chet, for writing these stories.
--Marilyn Scott-Waters, Writer and Illustrator, reader of both books in the new series 
Her works include: The Toymaker: Paper Toys That You Can Make Yourself; Haunted Histories; The Search For Vile Things.

"I had to keep turning the page to see what would happen next! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I really enjoyed the first book, and the new stories in The Trek Continues -- such fun to read! I just had to keep turning the pages to see what was going to happen.  That scorpion...it almost got his toes! I like in this one that there's more science...and the dog, and cats, chasing each other. I could just see it. Makes me miss my cats. And I loved the new Star Trek story. That last story…ah that is beautiful…Sarah was amazing. And the highlight of his life. And after the trauma of losing her, he goes on with other stories…hopping all over the place. I forgive him for hopping…he’s a good storyteller. Interesting…we get into his mind and how it works…I like it…I guess I like him. He leads an interesting life…of his own making. Maybe people should make more out of their lives…thinking about that.
— Mary Kenner, Associate Editor, RKEdit, retired Clinical Laboratory Scientist II, reader of both books in the series 

"I give it 10/10!  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I wholeheartedly recommend this book for anyone who has a keen interest in human nature, a curiosity about the work of rocket scientists and a hearty appetite for adventure! Once I started reading, I found myself smiling and chuckling throughout, and so riveted I was unable to put the book down…The style of writing is equal parts engaging, vividly imaginative and humorous. I’m impressed by the realism and richness and depth of the unique insights The Trek Continues imparts to the reader. 
-- Ella Bennett, Writer and Activist, UK, new reader of Treks Beyond The Great Potato books   Read more 👇

Ella Bennett's Full review

When a friend introduced me to the latest book in his trilogy, The Trek Continues: More Memoirs of a Rocket Scientist (2025) — with such an intriguing title and my not being familiar with his work — I was unsure about what to expect. However, once I started reading, I found myself smiling and chuckling throughout, and riveted to the extent I was unable to put the book down. Indeed, I read the 364 page book in two sittings because Chester’s memoirs are a delightful read, at once captivating, and transporting the reader through the milestones of his career as a rocket scientist as he recounts his remarkable adventures, relationships and achievements.
 
Adventure, camaraderie, resilience and perseverance are the main themes of The Trek Continues. The style of writing is equal parts engaging, vividly imaginative and humorous. Chester writes with a clarity that transports the reader to the scene, heart and nuances of each milestone, relationship and adventure, as if the reader were experiencing them first-hand. The structure of the book is thematic - part adventure, part relationships — with each part drilling down into an assortment of fascinating titles and the detail of their accompanying memoirs — each of which delivers a suspenseful and satisfying read that leaves you wanting more.
 
What impresses me most about these memoirs is the degree of realism with which they are written and the richness and depth of the unique insights The Trek Continues imparts to the reader, into pursuits, domains and relationship dynamics that for many people would otherwise be too daring to attempt or simply unfamiliar and inaccessible. For Chester to have shared them with us in his latest book is a rare gift which in no way disappoints. I give it 10/10! I wholeheartedly recommend this book for anyone who has a keen interest in human nature, a curiosity about the work of rocket scientists and a hearty appetite for adventure!

-- Ella Bennett, Writer and Activist, UK, new reader of Treks Beyond The Great Potato books

Praise for Book 1, From The Potato to Star Trek & Beyond

 
"I wholeheartedly recommend this book with 5 full stars, shining brightly!      ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Great read. Some thoughts and reminiscences from a well lived (and slightly worn) life!
I’m sincerely glad that I read this book! The first page left me with a lump in my throat. The final page left me (literally) with tears in my eyes...He is so compelling that by the time he is telling us about his father, mother, and grandfather’s hernia, I’m committed and genuinely care about them, and I found myself rooting for their success even though they have already been gone by the time the book was written...He also describes the ‘potato’, but not until you’re 66% through the book, and it is the absolute LAST thing that you could possibly imagine it to be...The book is genuine, it is honest, and it is him!...I will never watch 'The Tholian Web' again without thinking about an orbital rocket defense network, how many mirrors and how much gas it takes to make a laser, or the dangers of hidden rocks and waterfalls in a river again...And I appreciate that...
Read full review by Thaddeus Tuffentsamer, Daily Star Trek News. Also an Amazon Vine Voice Review.


"In his captivating memoir, "From The Potato to Star Trek and Beyond," Chester L. Richards invites readers on a rollercoaster ride through a life that defies convention. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Richards, a seasoned rocket scientist, shares a series of enthralling stories that not only detail his experiences with the unpredictable and the extraordinary but also serve as a testament to the resilience of the human spirit. The title of the book itself, which combines seemingly unrelated concepts like potatoes and Star Trek, alludes to the wide variety of experiences that take place inside its pages. Richards skillfully crafts a story that flows from almost fatal meetings with "The Potato" to unplanned contacts with Gene Roddenberry, the man responsible for creating Star Trek. The commonplace and the remarkable are juxtaposed to produce a lively and captivating story that has readers flipping pages with eagerness.
Read full review by Deb Patrick, TheBookReview.com

"Wisdom of Space and Time  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Author Richards' memoir is classic storytelling through the eras. I liked the black and white photos of iconic moments coloured by the words and my imagination. I wanted to know the author beyond his external stories and he delivered his inner fears and triumphs quenching my curiosities about his life motives. I recommend this book.
--Tom Dutta, Host The Quiet Warrior Show, TedTalks speaker, Author, Business Consultant

"What a beautiful book!   ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I returned to Solvang yesterday, following a three week absence, to find a copy of Chet's book. I could hardly wait to read it, and started flipping through some of the stories immediately. A modern epic!
Jeffery J. Puschell, Ph.D. Chief Scientist, Space Systems, Raytheon Intelligence & Space Division, AIAA Fellow   (American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics), SPIE Fellow    (Society of Photo Instrumentation Engineers), NASA ESTO IRIS Principal Investigator

"A Riveting Journey of a Rocket Scientist's Memoirs ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Not only is "From The Potato to Star Trek and Beyond" a memoir, but it's also an ode to a life well lived and proof that any experience—no matter how difficult—can be seen as an adventure. Chester L. Richards encourages readers to consider their own travels, discovering delight in the act of storytelling and motivation in the face of hardship. For those who are in search of a story that defies convention and provides an insight into the remarkable life of a rocket scientist who dared to go where few others have ventured, this memoir is a must-read.   Read full review

 MORE PRAISE FOR BOOK 1, From the Potato to Star Trek and Beyond

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