Taking Recommendations!

Dentari · Posted Wed 01 Oct, 2014 11:17 PM

Having recently been interested in making my first foray into Star Trek novels I have decided to come here for support! I figured this is the best place to get advice and guidance when it comes to literary works. I'm taking recommendations on what book and/or series I should pick up as a good starting point. I would prefer it not to be too jarring - as my first Trek book I would prefer it if the cast and surmise as is present in the TNG, DS9 and VOY TV series isn't completely thrown out of the window or re-imagined!

I'm all for new approaches and new additions to the crews as seen on TV, but as a starting point I want the transition from what I know of the TV series to flow comfortably into whichever book I eventually choose. I want to ease into it! Are there any specific books which come to mind which meet my, perhaps overly strict, requirements?

NeoTrident · Posted Thu 02 Oct, 2014 8:20 AM

I'll recommend something from TNG as in my own experience there have been better novels there. There is a lot to choose from so a few questions;

Do you want a novel set within the series or after?
Do you want a novel set before or after Nemesis?
Is there any type of plot you would wish to avoid i.e time travel?
Short or long, a series of novels?

However some random recommendations, click the links for the blurbs:
Gullivers Fugitives: Shortest of the recomendations and set during season one and has a very interesting premise.
Imzadi: A bumper novel that involves Time Travel and the relationship between Riker and Troi, don't let the time travel aspect put you off its a great book.
Genesis Wave: A three part novel that follows the Enterprise-E in a quadrant wide catastrophe involving the Genesis Device from The Wrath of Khan.
A Time To...: A series of nine books by multiple authors, it details the events leading to Star Trek Nemesis, each two books is an individual story. Widely considered the best series of book novels.

Dentari · Posted Thu 02 Oct, 2014 11:50 AM

Do you want a novel set within the series or after?

Can't say I have a preference!

Short or long, a series of novels?

I'd likely prefer a long series. I enjoy getting caught up in huge stories.

Out of your recommendations I have to say that Genesis Wave and A Time To... are really calling to me. Also, what sort of books are there which focus on Voyager, both after and during their time in the Delta Quadrant? I get the feeling that, if well written, they could be particularly interesting reads.

Dentari · Posted Thu 02 Oct, 2014 12:37 PM

Also, a follow up question:

Where is the best place to get clean and well looked after physical copies of the A Time To... books? I prefer physical copies over the readily available kindle ones I'm seeing on amazon.

NeoTrident · Posted Thu 02 Oct, 2014 1:14 PM

I would use ebay and look for sellers that have uploaded their own images.

A Time to... is a good place to start, the first two are not my favourites but overall its an exceptional series.

For Voyager, personally I have not enjoyed the post series books but Dark Matters was quite good, its a trilogy set during the show and follows on from "Eye of the Needle".

Dentari · Posted Thu 02 Oct, 2014 2:07 PM

Originally Posted by NeoTrident

I would use ebay and look for sellers that have uploaded their own images.

Oh the joys of purchasing books on ebay. Where 'good' means 'bad' and 'fair' means 'illegibly marked, highlighted and coverless'.

Thanks for the help, Neo. I'll let you know what I think once I've found a nice copy.

Silynn · Posted Thu 02 Oct, 2014 2:09 PM

Yes, definitely recommend "A Time to..." as a good start. It is with the TNG crew plus some other familiar character which really helps you settle into things.

I got my copies off Amazon. Though, some I had to go through the marketplace. However, had no issues and very happy to have the physical and very good condition copies... even after three readings.

Dentari · Posted Thu 02 Oct, 2014 2:22 PM

Originally Posted by Silynn

I got my copies off Amazon. Though, some I had to go through the marketplace. However, had no issues and very happy to have the physical and very good condition copies... even after three readings.

Haha. Just finished ordering my copy of A Time to Be Born in very good condition via Amazon marketplace. I'm pretty excited for it to arrive - from my perspective it's just a huge untapped vein of Star Trek material I am yet to enjoy.

I've heard good things about A Stitch in Time by Andrew J Robinson. Anyone here read that?

merTYol · Posted Thu 02 Oct, 2014 11:32 PM

I would suggest the Enterprise books if you like that. It starts with the end of the series at the Death of Tucker all the way to First years of the Federation.

The Good That Men Do > Star Trek: Enterprise: Kobayashi Maru > Star Trek: Enterprise: The Romulan War: Beneath the Raptor's Wing > Star Trek: Enterprise: The Romulan War: To Brave the Storm > Star Trek: Enterprise: Rise of the Federation: A Choice of Futures > Star Trek: Enterprise: Rise of the Federation: Tower of Babel

is the order i read the books. and they p.much follow each other.

(If you are not in to Enterprise. i could Suggest the Destiny series. but that is kinda parallel with the whole Typhon Pact series.

Dentari · Posted Sat 04 Oct, 2014 5:56 PM

Look what arrived in the post today...

I'll let you know what I think after I've made my way through the first chapter!

Dentari · Posted Tue 07 Oct, 2014 12:55 AM

I'm a third of the way through A Time to Be Born now and can now confidently state that I will be reading this particular book series in its entirety. The book is well written, the characters act as you would expect and the story is really intriguing.

Thanks for recommending this series, folks. I'm ordering the next book now so that I won't have to wait once I've finished the current one!

My only minor issue (which is to do with the first chapter) can be summed up thusly:

NeoTrident · Posted Tue 07 Oct, 2014 8:14 AM

Originally Posted by Dentari

I'm a third of the way through A Time to Be Born now and can now confidently state that I will be reading this particular book series in its entirety. The book is well written, the characters act as you would expect and the story is really intriguing.

Thanks for recommending this series, folks. I'm ordering the next book now so that I won't have to wait once I've finished the current one!

My only minor issue (which is to do with the first chapter) can be summed up thusly:

Excellent!

Unfortunately that particular character will feature prominently through the first two books but clear sailing from there on!

Dentari · Posted Tue 07 Oct, 2014 12:14 PM

Yeah I kind of figured that this particular characters presence is key to the plot. I don't really mind that much anyway, still a damn good read. The next book should arrive before the weekend hopefully. If not then I'll start suffering from the symptoms of withdrawal.

NeoTrident · Posted Tue 07 Oct, 2014 12:44 PM

Imagine what it was like for the rest of us who had to wait a month for the next release...

Dentari · Posted Tue 07 Oct, 2014 12:51 PM

That really would have pushed me over the edge. I don't envy any of you. Saying that I'll probably regret having binge read them when I put down the final book. :p

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