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Marie1 · April 26 2009, 08:40 PM

Miscellany

Q. Do I need to read book X before book Y?
A: No. Unless it's a trilogy or something where you will probably want to read the related novels, the books can be read on their own, and will have sufficient explanations for you to follow along with the story. For instance, you don't technically need to read up to follow the events of the Destiny Trilogy. I didn't, though I did find that those novels tweaked my curiosity, and after I went back and read some of the TNG books leading up to Destiny that I had passed over before. Similarly, you don't need to read anything else to understand all of A Singular Destiny, but when you skip novels, expect at least a few spoilers for the previous ones.

Try to avoid asking this question in the forum as there is a plot forming to suggest you read A Tale of Two Cities or Don Quixote or Journey to the West etc. as a ploy to force people into broadening their literary horizons. If that happens... I can lend you Don Quixote but be warned- it's huge! Also, Rosalind could send you Journey to the West in Chinese, so nothing gets lost in translation.

Q. What happened to the Strange New Worlds anthologies/short fiction contests?
A. Volume 10 was the last, thanks to a decreasing level of sales for these books. Apparently they were never a money-maker and have only gotten worse.

Q. What happened in Stargazer: Oblivion on pages 72, 74, 195, and 197?
A. The first printing has an error that means some text is omitted on these pages. The full text can be found on the SimonSays site. The novel can also be purchased as an eBook, but the errors were correct so the reprints are okay. Margaret Clark, editor of Stargazer, says: "Look at the copyright page, you know that page you blow by it's got the Paramount mountain and Gertude (the Pocket logo has a name, like who wouldn't?) the 1 should be missing and the first number should be a 2. This is the second printing the printing errors were corrected on this edition."

Q. What's a good source of information on Star Trek novels?
A. Well, TrekBBS's TrekLit forum of course, but if you didn't know that, you wouldn't be here, would you? Other key TrekLit links:

-- Steve Roby's The Complete Starfleet Library: http://www.well.com/user/sjroby/lcars/index.html
-- Memory Beta: The Non-Canon Star Trek Wiki: http://startrek.wikia.com/wiki/Main_Page
-- The Star Trek Comics Checklist: http://homepage.mac.com/mmtz/stcomix/
-- 8of5's Guide to the Trek Collective: http://8of5.blogspot.com/

Q. Where can I find author annotations for the various books? These continuity references are drowning me!
A. Memory Beta has your back: http://startrek.wikia.com/wiki/Author%27s_annotations.

April 26 2009, 08:40 PM	#7
Marie1 Rear Admiral Location: Alpha Centauri	Re: ~Star Trek Books FAQ Latest Edition~ Miscellany Q. Do I need to read book X before book Y? A: No. Unless it's a trilogy or something where you will probably want to read the related novels, the books can be read on their own, and will have sufficient explanations for you to follow along with the story. For instance, you don't technically need to read up to follow the events of the Destiny Trilogy. I didn't, though I did find that those novels tweaked my curiosity, and after I went back and read some of the TNG books leading up to Destiny that I had passed over before. Similarly, you don't need to read anything else to understand all of A Singular Destiny, but when you skip novels, expect at least a few spoilers for the previous ones. Try to avoid asking this question in the forum as there is a plot forming to suggest you read A Tale of Two Cities or Don Quixote or Journey to the West etc. as a ploy to force people into broadening their literary horizons. If that happens... I can lend you Don Quixote but be warned- it's huge! Also, Rosalind could send you Journey to the West in Chinese, so nothing gets lost in translation. Q. What happened to the Strange New Worlds anthologies/short fiction contests? A. Volume 10 was the last, thanks to a decreasing level of sales for these books. Apparently they were never a money-maker and have only gotten worse. Q. What happened in Stargazer: Oblivion on pages 72, 74, 195, and 197? A. The first printing has an error that means some text is omitted on these pages. The full text can be found on the SimonSays site. The novel can also be purchased as an eBook, but the errors were correct so the reprints are okay. Margaret Clark, editor of Stargazer, says: "Look at the copyright page, you know that page you blow by it's got the Paramount mountain and Gertude (the Pocket logo has a name, like who wouldn't?) the 1 should be missing and the first number should be a 2. This is the second printing the printing errors were corrected on this edition." Q. What's a good source of information on Star Trek novels? A. Well, TrekBBS's TrekLit forum of course, but if you didn't know that, you wouldn't be here, would you? Other key TrekLit links: -- Steve Roby's The Complete Starfleet Library: http://www.well.com/user/sjroby/lcars/index.html -- Memory Beta: The Non-Canon Star Trek Wiki: http://startrek.wikia.com/wiki/Main_Page -- The Star Trek Comics Checklist: http://homepage.mac.com/mmtz/stcomix/ -- 8of5's Guide to the Trek Collective: http://8of5.blogspot.com/ Q. Where can I find author annotations for the various books? These continuity references are drowning me! A. Memory Beta has your back: http://startrek.wikia.com/wiki/Author%27s_annotations.