Getting back in - Check my reading order?

[robinson]

I was a fervent reader of the post-Nemesis TNG and DS9 books through Destiny, Typhon Pact, and The Fall, but lapsed after TNG: Takedown and Armageddon's Arrow. In TNG, too many books were ending with last-minute suprise-reveal ties to TOS episodes I wasn't familiar with, and the DS9 timeline got confusing -- some books were after The Fall but then Missing or something was during The Fall, etc.

I've had a hankering to come back after a couple of years. I'm inclined to skip Prey -- it doesn't seem like it significantly moves the TNG storyline like Destiny or other crossovers, and I'm not interested in the TOS or Titan materials (no offense, like what you like, just not my cup of tea). For DS9, I'm OK with the Section 31 books (which, don't spoil it for me, but I think something big happens there), but I think probably my confusion would be lessened if I stick with the David George books and not the Una McCormack ones (again, no offense, but I'm more interested in the station than in Dr. Polaski, etc.).

So, having been pretty current up to TNG: Armageddon's Arrow, I'm thinking I'll read (or re-read):

ST: S31: Disavowed
ST: S31: Control
ST: TNG: Headlong Flight
ST: TNG: Hearts and Minds
ST: The Fall: Revelation and Dust
ST: DS9: Sacraments of Fire
ST: DS9: Ascendance
ST: DS9: Long Mirage
ST: DS9: Gamma: Original Sin

Thanks for bearing with me. Does that seem like an OK reading order and will I be missing anything big without Prey?

 

[MadeIndescribable]

I can't say about the order you've got there as it's been a while since I read those (although did read The Fall as a complete miniseries) but am currently reading Prey 3 and haven't come across anything particularly game changing narrative-wise so far anywhere within the trilogy.

 

[ryan123450]

Busy morning so all I have time to say is check out my website. The link is in my signature.

 

[Jinn]

the DS9 timeline got confusing -- some books were after The Fall but then Missing or something was during The Fall, etc.

Well, Sacraments of Fire started pretty much directly after Revelation and Dust, but ends after The Missing which itself is set after "The Fall". The following DS9 book Ascendance starts after Sacraments of Fire and ends after Force and Motion (although only the epilogue of Ascendance is actually set after Force and Motion) and from there on it's basically all the DRG3 DS9 books, Enigma Tales is set waaay later (in 2388). Okay, nevermind I see where the confusion comes from

I think probably my confusion would be lessened if I stick with the David George books and not the Una McCormack ones (again, no offense, but I'm more interested in the station than in Dr. Polaski, etc.).

That's understandable, but in my experience the McCormack books are a lot better than the DRG3 ones.

So, having been pretty current up to TNG: Armageddon's Arrow, I'm thinking I'll read (or re-read):

ST: S31: Disavowed
ST: S31: Control
ST: TNG: Headlong Flight
ST: TNG: Hearts and Minds
ST: The Fall: Revelation and Dust
ST: DS9: Sacraments of Fire
ST: DS9: Ascendance
ST: DS9: Long Mirage
ST: DS9: Gamma: Original Sin

Thanks for bearing with me. Does that seem like an OK reading order and will I be missing anything big without Prey?

Well, timelinewise I would put the two TNG books after the DS9 stuff, and Disavowed should fit between Ascendance and The Long Mirage, but reading them back-to-back before the DS9 books should also work. Just make sure to not read the TNG books before the S31 books, because spoilers

 

[Steve Roby]

There’s always publication date as a sorting option.

 

[TheUsualSuspect]

Looks like a pretty sensible order to me. As others have noted, it's not strictly chronological, but I don't think there's any major crossover issues as long as you read the two S31 books first. Headlong Flight does tie in a bit to the TOS era, but not really any specific episode. You might not be aware, but Hearts and Minds is a relatively loose sequel to two earlier TOS novels by Dayton Ward. I don't think it would be terribly confusing to read it without having read those, though.

Happy reading!

 

[MadeIndescribable]

Hearts and Minds is a relatively loose sequel to two earlier TOS novels by Dayton Ward. I don't think it would be terribly

Don't suppose you'd happen to know which? I've pretty much only read 24th C and Ent relaunch novels, and wouldn't mind giving some TOS a try at some point.

 

[Avro Arrow]

Don't suppose you'd happen to know which? I've pretty much only read 24th C and Ent relaunch novels, and wouldn't mind giving some TOS a try at some point.

From History's Shadow and Elusive Salvation.

 

[Jbarney]

Well, Sacraments of Fire started pretty much directly after Revelation and Dust, but ends after The Missing which itself is set after "The Fall". The following DS9 book Ascendance starts after Sacraments of Fire and ends after Force and Motion (although only the epilogue of Ascendance is actually set after Force and Motion) and from there on it's basically all the DRG3 DS9 books, Enigma Tales is set waaay later (in 2388). Okay, nevermind I see where the confusion comes from


That's understandable, but in my experience the McCormack books are a lot better than the DRG3 ones.


Well, timelinewise I would put the two TNG books after the DS9 stuff, and Disavowed should fit between Ascendance and The Long Mirage, but reading them back-to-back before the DS9 books should also work. Just make sure to not read the TNG books before the S31 books, because spoilers

Wow...spoken like a Timeliner.

 

[ryan123450]

My thoughts exactly.

 

[robinson]

Thanks all -- I appreciate the info and advice. Not to start a thing, but the fact that Headlong Flight ties back to TOS and Hearts and Minds is related to two other novels is all what knocked me out of Star Trek book reading in the first place. Sometimes it's too complicated -- but I am interested in current inter-book relations, like S31: Control leading into TNG: Hearts and Minds. Thanks again!

 

[Dayton Ward]

The TOS connection in Headlong Flight is passing, at best, and I wrote Hearts and Minds so that reading the other two books was not necessary.

 

[thribs]

I use the Shastix reading order. Haven't had any issues with it so far.
http://www.shastrix.com/books/star-trek-reading-order.php