Since Time for Yesterday is noted as a sequel to Yesterday's Son does thatean they have to be read in order? I don't yet have a copy of the former (bought today but could be a couple of months til it arrives). I do have plenty of other Star Trek books to read. So, should I skip it and come back later? No spoilers please.
I highly recommend you be patient. The second novel is a continuation of the first. And they are awesome. RIP, A.C.
Just in case you need a second opinion, you really should read Yesterday's Son first. Especially as you have plenty of other Trek books to read, I'd strongly recommend waiting. A couple of months before delivery? That's brutal. There is an ebook version available.
I read them backwards; Time for Yesterday was one of the first Star Trek novels I read, and then about two years later I found a copy of Yesterday's Son. I don't recall having any difficulty following TfY.
I bought a lot of 19 books and had them delivered to my brother who lives in NY but I live in Israel. Otherwise, the postage is prohibitively expensive. So, need to wait until someone can bring them for me. Definitely worth it cos I managed to fill in a big space in my collection (Pocket books 2-17 plus a couple others).
Good luck with expanding your collection! As to the original question: I tend to go with Borgboy's opinion. Wait until you have both novels and pick a stand-alone novel instead.
I find myself jealous, here. These novels are on my list of those that I wish I could read again for the first time, I enjoyed them that much.
Great books, disappointing that AC never got to write the planned follow-up. Personally, I say wait for the first book before reading the second. You can follow easily enough, but it will make a lot more sense and have more impact if you read in order. Lots of references and follow-ups in the second book, so without them, it's not quite as satisfying. You could watch TWOK without having seen Space Seed and not get lost, but isn't it a better experience if you have seen the episode first? Plenty of other fun old numbered books to work through, don't spoil this set
Yesterday son should be read first .Both books are really good. I'm sorry A.C. Crispin didn't write a sequel to continue Time for Yesterday left.off. You may also like her novel Sarek too it's a really good look at Spock and Sarek's complicated relationship as father and son . The story takes place shortly after Star trek The undiscovered country.
I'm going to bend the topic here a bit: If you have or can get it, Crucible: McCoy Provenance of Shadows is, in my humble opinion, The best work in Trek Lit. Again, I envy your journey!
To the OP: If Spock and Vulcans are especial interests, I recommend Diane Duane's Spock's World. It's like two novels in one, where you can follow the various vignettes from Vulcan's history, or the main story (will Vulcan secede from the Federation?), or read them both together (they're in alternating chapters). But I echo the view that A.C. Crispin's novels should be read in the proper order. The reader doesn't get the full effect of some scenes otherwise.
Sore point. Ms Crispin did propose a three-part continuation, but was several years late delivering what amounted to about half the proposed length on the first new instalment. The commissioning editor had moved on and the project died there.
To me Spock World was three time periods of Vulcan the warlike the of logic birth and Spock and Kirk and the book tells us thathat T'Pau is Spock's grandmother and she gives Amana her soul for safe keeping and by doing so shows her support for being in the Federation
Are you sure about T'Pau being Spock's grandmother in SW? I could swear she was Sarek's aunt or cousin.
I also read Time for Yesterday first. And then later found the the book that preceded it. Just as you say, I don't recall anything about T'Pau being Spock's grandmother specifically. Her significance in Spock's World, besides being an important leader of the Vulcan people, was she was the oldest mother of the family that Spock and Sarek were a part of (they were descended from Surak).
Sarek was there he thought T'Pal was going to pass her soul and Amana , Spock , Kirk , and Dr.McCoy too. Sarek had knelt down too do the transfer but T'Pau said no and call for Amana to come T'Pau and said my daughter you will receive my soul. T'Pau said if Vulcan wish to leave the Federation her life knowledge would leave with Amana and Federation people if Vulcan was to leave the Federation. T'Pau was the most respected Vulcan sent Surak the father of Vulcan Logic.
Spock's mother is Amanda. SPOILERS: http://memory-beta.wikia.com/wiki/Spock's_World Of course, later novels undo the death. "Reports of my death are exaggerated." Also, although the Rihannsu novels had their timelines tweaked, regarding the placement of a second Kirk 5YM (or extended mission) on the Enterprise, for their revised publications, neither "The Wounded Sky" nor "Spock's World" have been altered.
I would echo what others have said - read the books in order. I first read these books in the 80's, maybe 25 years ago. I envy that you are getting to read these for the first time. These two are among my favorite novels of any genre. AC Crispin had a magnificent way with words and imagery. Here is another thread discussing these novels, careful though, there is some information in there that could possibly be considered spoilers. https://www.trekbbs.com/threads/yesterdays-son-time-for-yesterday.282655/