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Star Trek Novels/Author advice

Started By:
Silynn, Mon 21 Mar, 2011 9:01 PM
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    #1
    I will admit, I'm not too knowledgeable about the Star Trek universe. However, with the vast amount of time I have played Star Trek Online... I will say that my curiosity has been perked.

    Currently, my only experience of the Star Trek universe is mostly from TV (Enterprise, bits of Voyager/TNG/DS9) and the movies (lastest JJ Abrams, Generations, First Contact, and the 3rd ToS movie with the whales and San Francisco).

    Thus, I can identify the main characters and might know a little of their story. But that is about it. Sadly, I know more about the Star Wars universe, having read many of those series and stories.

    So... to you experts, what authors or titles would you suggest to a budding Star Trekkie?

    Preferences that I like are stories that go more into the characters than into techno-babble. I know that Star Trek is full of technical and true scifi stuff, I tend to just gloss over that and focus on characters.

    Smile
    Silynn
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    #2
    I'd suggest the Homecoming books by Christine Golden, definitely.
    Maybe the Star Trek: Titan books?

    Noram
    "There's a point where we needed to stop and we have clearly passed it. But let's keep going and see what happens..."
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    #3
    If you enjoy The Next Generation I would strongly recommend the "A Time To..." Series of books, these take place between Star Trek Insurrection and Star Trek Nemesis and act as a far better send off then Nemesis did by filling in the blanks explaining why most of the crew went their seperate ways.

    The "Destiny" Trilogy written by David Mack (who was interviewed in our latest Herald) is also well worth a read. This takes place post Nemesis and is a crossover involving The Next Generation, Titan (Riker's ship that he takes command of following Nemesis) and Enterprise (not exactly a spoiler). This might be a good introduction to the books as it is still quite recent and does a good job of setting the scene for what the Star Trek universe is like after the Dominion War. Without wanting to give away any spoilers the trilogy results in some rather large changes to the Trek universe. There are three TNG books I would read before the Destiny books if possible, again I don't want to give spoilers but they lay the ground work pretty well but the key events are recapped briefly within the Destiny books.

    If you have the time and the money I would strongly recommend the following in the order listed, I've included the ISBN for all of them to make them easier to find.

    ---POST DOMINION WAR---

    TNG A Time to Be Born ISBN 0743491491
    TNG A Time to Die ISBN 0743467663
    TNG A Time to Sow ISBN 0743482999
    TNG A Time to Harvest ISBN 0743482980
    TNG A Time to Love ISBN 0743462858
    TNG A Time to Hate ISBN 0743462890
    TNG A Time to Kill ISBN 0743491777
    TNG A Time to Heal ISBN 0743491785
    TNG A Time for War, A Time for Peace ISBN 0743491793

    ---NEMESIS MOVIE---

    TNG Resistance ISBN 0743499557
    TNG Before Dishonor ISBN 1416527427
    TNG Greater Than The Sum ISBN 1416571329

    Destiny Gods of Night ISBN 1416551719
    Destiny Mere Mortals ISBN 1416551727
    Destiny Lost Souls ISBN 1416551751

    TNG Losing the Peace ISBN 1439107866

    There are also Voyager and DS9 re-launch novels although these are only worthwhile if you really liked these shows. Both series have lost a lot of main characters though so it might be hard to get in to. With Voyager only a few of the original crew are left such as Chakotay, Paris and Kim, with DS9 only Kira, Dax, Bashier, Nog and Quark are still around (although Ro from TNG is added as a main character).
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    #4
     –  Last edited by Firestorm; Mon 21 Mar, 2011 10:37 PM.
    Unlike Star Wars, the Star Trek expanded universe isn't canon and until recently there wasn't even an effort to make the books/comics/games fit in even with each other.

    But this has changed recently with the relaunch series and others. I would thus only recommend the following:

    VOY Relaunch (i.e. Post-Endgame)
    TNG Relaunch (i.e. Post-All Good Things)
    DS9 Relaunch (i.e. Post-What You Leave Behind)
    ENT Relaunch (i.e. Post These Are the Voyages)

    In terms of the TNG Relaunch there is a 9 part series leading up to Nemesis called "A time to..." and the rest are Post-Nemesis.

    Sadly there is not a TOS Relaunch series (related to Kirk et al) in the Expanded Universe canon, however, if you are looking for good Kirk novels, then I would recommend the "Shattnerverse" series. They are defiantly not-canon, but are still really good.

    There are also several related series that are not based on the TV shows, but are still "canon" in terms of the Expanded Universe. They are:

    Star Trek: Titan
    Star Trek: Gorkon
    - This is a good one because its set on a Klingon ship so its different from all the others.
    Star Trek: Vanguard
    - These are based in the TOS-era and are set on a Starbase, but has nothing to do with Kirk et al.
    Star Trek: New Frontier
    Star Trek: Corps of Engineers

    There are three (current) cross over series which cross over some or all of the above series:

    Gateway Saga
    Destiny
    Typhon Pact (thanks to Chris for reminding me about this one)

    Finally there are several "one-off" novels bases in this same "canon expanded universe" they are:

    Articles of the Federation
    A Singular Destiny
    (thanks to Chris for reminding me about this one)
    A Stitch in Time
    - This novel is debatable as canon due to the author having little to do with the authors of the above works but it otherwise "fits in" to cannon as is a good look at Post-War Cardassia.
    The Lives of Dax
    - This novel is debatable as canon due to some contradictions with known canon, such as TOS-era Romulans not having Warp Drive, which they clearly do in Enterprise and the Enterprise novels.

    You can also count pre-relaunch novels (i.e. books set during the TV series run) as canon in the expanded universe if they are written by any of the authors of the above novels (such as the Voyager: String Theory trilogy). The Enterprise novels are a particularly good example of these "canon pre-launch" novels. I would highly recommended all the ENT novels, they are excellent.
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    #5
    Don't forget the Typhon Pact crossover series but definately not before Destiny or Losing the Peace.
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    #6
    Don't forget the Typhon Pact crossover series but definately not before Destiny or Losing the Peace.

    By the way did I mention our lovely EXCLUSIVE interview with Star Trek author David Mack which you can find HERE? The answer to that question is YES I did mention our lovely EXCLUSIVE interview with Star Trek author David Mack which you can find HERE but since it is pretty cool I felt I had better just double check that I did mention our lovely... you get the point.
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    #7
    Ah, yeah, the Typhon Pact I forgot about them. :p. The third crossover series. Losing the Peace is a post-Destiny TNG novel isn't (I haven't read it), dealing with the aftermath?
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    #8
    Losing the Peace takes place immediately after Destiny and ends right before the Typhon Pact, A Singular Destiny is also well worth reading before the Typhon Pact books as that effectively kicks off the Typhon Pact series.

    Losing the Peace has pretty much no action what so ever it is all about the characters starting to realise the scale of the events from Destiny, carefully worded to avoid spoilers lol

    A Singular Destiny also doesn't have much action but is very clever and ties up one important lose end from Destiny and uses it to kick off the Typhon Pact series.

    Currently, my only experience of the Star Trek universe is mostly from TV (Enterprise, bits of Voyager/TNG/DS9) and the movies (lastest JJ Abrams, Generations, First Contact, and the 3rd ToS movie with the whales and San Francisco).
    Just so you know Silynn that was actually the 4th TOS movie.

    TOS Movies
    The Motion Picture
    The Wrath of Khan
    The Search for Spock
    The Voyage Home
    The Final Frontier
    The Undiscovered Country

    TNG Movies
    Generations (ok it starts TOS but is mainly TNG so it goes in this list)
    First Contact
    Insurrection
    Nemesis

    And of course the JJ movie which if you read the backstory (Countdown comic series) starts in the TNG era (a long time after Nemesis but pre-Star Trek Online) and goes back to act as a TOS prequel in an alternate reality.

    Hope none of my lists have scared you... lol
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    #9
    Indeed, if want to get down to basics, then you could always try and watch all the TV Series and Movies you haven't seen. Tongue Out
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    #10
    I don't generally read the novels, but Titan I feel should be the next Star Trek Series, or at least they should make a mini series for ST: Countdown, which is considered full canon.

    Rambling at 1:50 am is no good. Sad
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    #11
    I havn't read many Trek books myself, but I did enjoy the Invasion series about 15 years ago. It's a crossover between the four eras TOS TNG DS9 and VOY, with the same enemy appearing in each novel.

    As I havn't read these since I was a child my judgment on them might be questionable, but I did find them enjoyable!

    First Strike, by Diane Carey (Pocket Books, 1996) ISBN: 9780671540029
    The Soldiers of Fear, Kristine Kathryn Rusch and Dean Wesley Smith (Pocket Books, 1996) ISBN: 9780671541743
    Time's Enemy, L.A. Graf (Pocket Books, 1996) ISBN: 9780671541507
    The Final Fury, Dafydd ab Hugh (Pocket Books, 1996) ISBN: 9780671541811
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    #12
    Wow. Thanks. I think I will start with "A Time to..." series. At least the first book or two.

    The Titan series does look very good too. I always liked William Riker.

    Now to see if I can find them on Amazon. Smile

    Ah... the 4th Movie, The Voyage Home. I don't know why but I recall seeing that on TV the most. Must be something with the rights or what not, as they (the TV networks) never show the others. No matter, though kind of 'campy' I did enjoy the movie a lot. Still do. Never gets old. I think it is just the ease and way the old crew all play off one another.

    The only downside, is I tend to get into books... which might hit my STO time. Smile

    Thanks!
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    #13
    I picked up the first two books (TNG A Time to Be Born ISBN 0743491491 & TNG A Time to Die ISBN 0743467663), and started "Born" Saturday.

    Suffice to say, I'm nearly done with it as I couldn't put it down. It is engaging and the characters are full of color and depth. I almost wish I had the TNG on DVD, so I could see some visuals. But I only had the first three TNG movies. So put in First Contact.

    I'll have to get the rest of the series now, as I know I want to finish it! Smile

    Chris, everyone, thank you for the wonderful advice and suggestions!
    Silynn
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    #14
    I did enjoy the Invasion series about 15 years ago. It's a crossover between the four eras TOS TNG DS9 and VOY, with the same enemy appearing in each novel.
    The Invasion series I did enjoy but I must confess I never read the Voyager one.

    The Titan series does look very good too. I always liked William Riker.
    I always liked Riker as well but I was quite disappointed with the Titan series. I think I've had the first... six books? And only found two enjoying, the first one because I thought the idea of Titan was pretty cool and Orion's Hounds because it re-introduces the 'Star Jellies' (the alien from 'Encounter at Farpoint') and the Crystaline Entities. I think my disappointment came from the list of characters, Titan has the most diverse crew ever seen in Star Trek with a number of non-humanoid crew members, because the majority of its characters have never been seen before it is quite hard to visualise them, they also have some very alien names which can make it difficult to remember who is who especially since the characters aren't particularly well fleshed out, again I think this is mainly because the bulk of them are all new. Unlike the post Nemesis TNG where there are new characters but they are introduced a bit more gradually and you have enough old favourites that there is consistancy Titan's cast is just a bolt out of the blue, having a very alien cast is a good idea but in practice I found it made it difficult to get in to and some of the characters I found to be a bit hard to take seriously, the counsellor is a teddy bear, the chief medical officer is a dinosaur, I think it is one of the science officers is a giant spider etc etc.

    I picked up the first two books (TNG A Time to Be Born ISBN 0743491491 & TNG A Time to Die ISBN 0743467663), and started "Born" Saturday.

    Suffice to say, I'm nearly done with it as I couldn't put it down. It is engaging and the characters are full of color and depth.
    I'm glad you are liking them so far, with a number of the Star Trek books I have read some of the sub-plots I find to be a bit tedious and I just want to rush through them until I can back to one of the plotlines I am enjoying within the novel, with the 'A Time To...' series I can't remember a single bit I didn't like, I love how the books come in pairs allowing them to really spend time on the story rather than rushing it through and I think the characters are really well done, I would have loved for these stories to have been used as scripts for Star Trek but I think beyond Patrick Stewart the cast wouldn't have been up to acting them out so well, that is not to say the casts of Star Trek were bad (although some actors weren't as good as others) it is just that the characters as depicted in this book series are just so rich and engaging that I couldn't see many of the actors being able to deliver the same level of performance.
    ChristopherHalsey
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    #15
    Well, finished the first two books. Excellent and wonderful story. A great introduction into the Star Trek novels. It is funny that I even revisited the Galaxy bridge on one of my ships in STO to just take in the visualizations better. Smile

    I think my disappointment came from the list of characters, Titan has the most diverse crew ever seen in Star Trek with a number of non-humanoid crew members, because the majority of its characters have never been seen before it is quite hard to visualise them, they also have some very alien names which can make it difficult to remember who is who especially since the characters aren't particularly well fleshed out, again I think this is mainly because the bulk of them are all new.
    I totally understand and see that. As I posted in another thread, asking for advice on some good Star Trek wiki-type sites. I did find a few and they helped some. Alien races, if they aren’t in STO or were in one of the TV shows… I’m totally lost. Like the Androssi or Ontailians… I pictured them as Feret-like humans and monkey-furred octopus! Suspicious

    I am also sure I’m totally pronouncing some of these names incorrectly. But I guess it is Star Trek. It’s like they get some of the names from the STO random name generator. That thing really produces some very bizarre names.

    As for the fleshing out of new characters, I see that as well. Christine Vale played a big role in the first two books. But even after the two books, she still didn’t seem very fleshed out to me. She had a big part in #2, but still… I just saw a kind of a Tasha-clone. She was faceless for the most part. The original crew/main characters… excellent on their depth for the most part. Of course, it is soooo easy to visualize them. At times, I suspect I even heard Patrick Stewart’s voice in my mind as I read Picard’s passages.

    …Titan's cast is just a bolt out of the blue, having a very alien cast is a good idea but in practice I found it made it difficult to get in to and some of the characters I found to be a bit hard to take seriously, the counsellor is a teddy bear, the chief medical officer is a dinosaur, I think it is one of the science officers is a giant spider etc etc.
    Well, I guess I’ll see how the first book goes and see if it holds my interest enough. I’m thinking I should read the Destiny series next then. Smile

    A teddy bear as a counselor? A dinosaur for a doctor? A giant spider? Sounds like a Zoo! Where are all the vulcans, trills, catians, bolians, and other popular STO races! Smile

    I'm glad you are liking them so far, with a number of the Star Trek books I have read some of the sub-plots I find to be a bit tedious and I just want to rush through them until I can back to one of the plotlines I am enjoying within the novel, with the 'A Time To...' series I can't remember a single bit I didn't like, I love how the books come in pairs allowing them to really spend time on the story rather than rushing it through and I think the characters are really well done, I would have loved for these stories to have been used as scripts for Star Trek but I think beyond Patrick Stewart the cast wouldn't have been up to acting them out so well, that is not to say the casts of Star Trek were bad (although some actors weren't as good as others) it is just that the characters as depicted in this book series are just so rich and engaging that I couldn't see many of the actors being able to deliver the same level of performance.
    Among the best things that I enjoy from the novels (1, 2, and now 3…) are the more indepth look at the characters. That’s the thing I always liked about reading the book after seeing a movie. The special and god-like access to the inner thoughts of the characters. On the movie/TV screen it is hard to truly convey that. So yes, actors would have a hard time portraying the book on the big screen.

    Also the subtle hints, and small details are able to be played out better allowing you to fully explore some things that would otherwise be ‘cut’ from a TV episode or movie due to time/film constraints. In a novelized story, you have less restrictions as it is your imagination.

    I read the prologue and author’s dedication. In the 3rd book, the authors thank a lot of people and mostly state that they are honored to write/produce this story as they themselves are Star Trek fans… and that they are writing “for the fans”. We all know that movies/TV cater more to the almighty dollar/pound/yen/mark/etc. The show may have excellent writers/cast/directors who truly love the stories… but if the producers and executives aren’t making money, they will soon be out of a job.

    Firefly is a perfect example of that. A beautifully written and executed show… yet it wasn’t generating the money that the executives wanted, thus was canceled. Sad
    Silynn
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