Essential Star Trek Novels That Even Non-Trekkers Should Read

JWolf · December 10 2012, 11:31 PM

I cannot say that this is an all inclusive list or even a correct list, but it is out there so have a read.

http://io9.com/5967305/essential-sta...es-should-read

Jarrod · December 10 2012, 11:53 PM

I think that this article would be more successful if it were not primarily consisted of novels which have not seen the light of day, let alone publication, in over a decade.

David Mack · December 10 2012, 11:56 PM

It doesn't feature even a single book published in the last 11 years. I guess it's true what one angry fan wrote in a review of my novel A Time to Heal — I killed Star Trek fiction.

bfollowell · December 11 2012, 12:08 AM

David Mack wrote:

It doesn't feature even a single book published in the last 11 years. I guess it's true what one angry fan wrote in a review of my novel A Time to Heal — I killed Star Trek fiction.

David, if you killed Star Trek fiction, then I wish you were a serial killer!

- Byron

Relayer1 · December 11 2012, 12:34 AM

There's a couple on there that I'd put amongst the best of Treklit, and a few I wouldn't.

Either way, I don't think any of them would find an audience (or appreciation) outside of Trekkies/ers, regardless of quality.

Sky · December 11 2012, 12:42 AM

What? No Strangers from the Sky? No Spock's World? And instead Stephen, the laughing Vulcan man of magic?

JWolf · December 11 2012, 12:59 AM

bfollowell wrote:

David Mack wrote:

It doesn't feature even a single book published in the last 11 years. I guess it's true what one angry fan wrote in a review of my novel A Time to Heal — I killed Star Trek fiction.

David, if you killed Star Trek fiction, then I wish you were a serial killer!

- Byron

I am a cereal killer.

Bishop76 · December 11 2012, 01:03 AM

I still like current Trek fiction, but it is a little bit tough to get into for casual readers. I can see why they cut it off once it started getting more serialized.

WarsTrek1993 · December 11 2012, 01:16 AM

The Buried Age is a novel that should be on that list! I'd say it should be read by anyone who's just starting to watch TNG.

Sho · December 11 2012, 02:26 AM

I don't really think an age cut-off is much of an issue with an article like this. It's natural that you end up listing "time-tested" stuff.

Markonian · December 11 2012, 02:32 AM

Sho wrote:

I don't really think an age cut-off is much of an issue with an article like this. It's natural that you end up listing "time-tested" stuff.

But 11 years is a bit much, isn't it? Even Destiny is old by now, Imho.

BTW, are you going to open a rate/review thread for Federation: The First 150 Years?

bbailey861 · December 11 2012, 02:36 AM

I forced myself to read both the article and this thread a couple of times. My initial reaction was 'how could you leave out X and X and X', essentially mirroring Mr. Mack's thoughts. Perhaps though, the biggest issue I have is that I just think the list is too limited. There are just too many books out there, spanning decades of work, to keep it at a dozen. I don't believe there was any malice in the choices, any desire to leave out or disregard any current author's work. While picking a dozen books out of hundreds is a daunting task, I think for a Star Trek novice, the choices represented are not bad ones and I certainly respect Anders reasoning that she gives for choosing those particular reads. There are simply many more books out there that could be added to the list.

Allyn Gibson · December 11 2012, 02:57 AM

My first reaction to the list was, "This list is awful." Then then I thought hard about the question the headline asked, and I rephrased it in a way that took into account the target audience -- "What Star Trek book do you give to a non-Star Trek fan?" Once I internalized that, the reasoning behind some of the choices made sense to me -- they're either historically significant books (like Spock Must Die!), books by authors people outside the Star Trek ghetto have heard of (Ford, Duane, Haldeman, PAD), books for Twihards (Imzadi), or books set in the present day (Eugenics Wars). On those terms, the two I found most questionable were Prime Directive and A Stitch in Time. I still don't really like the list, but the list isn't for me -- nor anyone reading this thread. It's for the Not-We, and in those terms, it's serviceable.

Sho · December 11 2012, 03:04 AM

Markonian wrote:

BTW, are you going to open a rate/review thread for Federation: The First 150 Years?

Oh hm ... not to hijack the thread, but: Should I? I guess I wasn't really going to because I figured I missed the boat already, with there being a vibrant discussion thread already, and I'm not really sure it fits into the ranking comparison-wise since it'd be the first non-novel ... ho-humm. Need more opinions!

Daddy Todd · December 11 2012, 04:29 AM

Sho wrote:

Markonian wrote:

BTW, are you going to open a rate/review thread for Federation: The First 150 Years?

Oh hm ... not to hijack the thread, but: Should I? I guess I wasn't really going to because I figured I missed the boat already, with there being a vibrant discussion thread already, and I'm not really sure it fits into the ranking comparison-wise since it'd be the first non-novel ... ho-humm. Need more opinions!

I vote no. Keep the polls exclusively for novels (possibly other fiction, like anthologies, if Pocket ever gets back into publishing some.)

December 10 2012, 11:31 PM	#1
JWolf Commodore Location: Massachusetts, USA	Essential Star Trek Novels That Even Non-Trekkers Should Read I cannot say that this is an all inclusive list or even a correct list, but it is out there so have a read. http://io9.com/5967305/essential-sta...es-should-read __________________ Jon

December 10 2012, 11:53 PM	#2
Jarrod Ensign	Re: Essential Star Trek Novels That Even Non-Trekkers Should Read I think that this article would be more successful if it were not primarily consisted of novels which have not seen the light of day, let alone publication, in over a decade.

December 10 2012, 11:56 PM	#3
David Mack Writer Location: New York, NY	Re: Essential Star Trek Novels That Even Non-Trekkers Should Read It doesn't feature even a single book published in the last 11 years. I guess it's true what one angry fan wrote in a review of my novel A Time to Heal — I killed Star Trek fiction. __________________ ~ David Mack \| "Where were you when the page was blank?" — Truman Capote Join me on Facebook & Twitter

December 11 2012, 12:34 AM	#5
Relayer1 Commodore Location: The Black Country, England	Re: Essential Star Trek Novels That Even Non-Trekkers Should Read There's a couple on there that I'd put amongst the best of Treklit, and a few I wouldn't. Either way, I don't think any of them would find an audience (or appreciation) outside of Trekkies/ers, regardless of quality. __________________ Soon oh soon the light, Pass within and soothe this endless night, And wait here for you, Our reason to be here...

December 11 2012, 12:42 AM	#6
Sky Captain Location: Bavaria!	Re: Essential Star Trek Novels That Even Non-Trekkers Should Read What? No Strangers from the Sky? No Spock's World? And instead Stephen, the laughing Vulcan man of magic? __________________ there is no other wisdom and no other hope for us but that we grow wise.

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December 11 2012, 01:03 AM	#8
Bishop76 Fleet Captain Location: Wisconsin	Re: Essential Star Trek Novels That Even Non-Trekkers Should Read I still like current Trek fiction, but it is a little bit tough to get into for casual readers. I can see why they cut it off once it started getting more serialized. __________________ Pain or damage don't end the world. Or despair, or fucking beatings. The world ends when you're dead. Until then, you got more punishment in store. Stand it like a man... and give some back.

December 11 2012, 01:16 AM	#9
WarsTrek1993 Captain Location: The Final Frontier, TX	Re: Essential Star Trek Novels That Even Non-Trekkers Should Read The Buried Age is a novel that should be on that list! I'd say it should be read by anyone who's just starting to watch TNG.

December 11 2012, 02:26 AM	#10
Sho Fleet Captain Location: Berlin, Germany	Re: Essential Star Trek Novels That Even Non-Trekkers Should Read I don't really think an age cut-off is much of an issue with an article like this. It's natural that you end up listing "time-tested" stuff. __________________ TrekLit review threads, sorted by average score (discussion thread).

December 11 2012, 02:36 AM	#12
bbailey861 Vice Admiral Location: Kingston, ON	Re: Essential Star Trek Novels That Even Non-Trekkers Should Read I forced myself to read both the article and this thread a couple of times. My initial reaction was 'how could you leave out X and X and X', essentially mirroring Mr. Mack's thoughts. Perhaps though, the biggest issue I have is that I just think the list is too limited. There are just too many books out there, spanning decades of work, to keep it at a dozen. I don't believe there was any malice in the choices, any desire to leave out or disregard any current author's work. While picking a dozen books out of hundreds is a daunting task, I think for a Star Trek novice, the choices represented are not bad ones and I certainly respect Anders reasoning that she gives for choosing those particular reads. There are simply many more books out there that could be added to the list.

December 11 2012, 02:57 AM	#13
Allyn Gibson Rear Admiral Location: South Pennsyltucky	Re: Essential Star Trek Novels That Even Non-Trekkers Should Read My first reaction to the list was, "This list is awful." Then then I thought hard about the question the headline asked, and I rephrased it in a way that took into account the target audience -- "What Star Trek book do you give to a non-Star Trek fan?" Once I internalized that, the reasoning behind some of the choices made sense to me -- they're either historically significant books (like Spock Must Die!), books by authors people outside the Star Trek ghetto have heard of (Ford, Duane, Haldeman, PAD), books for Twihards (Imzadi), or books set in the present day (Eugenics Wars). On those terms, the two I found most questionable were Prime Directive and A Stitch in Time. I still don't really like the list, but the list isn't for me -- nor anyone reading this thread. It's for the Not-We, and in those terms, it's serviceable. __________________ "When David Marcus cited the great thinkers of history -- "Newton, Einstein, Surak" -- Newt Gingrich did not make his list." -- 24 January 2012 allyngibson.net