Spoilers New reader to Star Trek: Vanguard (some spoilers, but be careful!)

[Damian]

I'm only three books into it, having just finished REAP THE WHIRLWIND but it was great.

When you're done with the actual novels, there is an eBook short story by Dayton Ward - Vanguard: In Tempest's Wake that sort of ties everything up. It's a good end-cap to the series

Yes, I'd highly recommend the e-book short story as well. It's sort of a coda to the series, but as Jakks noted, it's a good story that ties up any loose ends.

I'd also highly recommend the "Seekers" books that take place after Vanguard. There are 4 of those and if you liked Vanguard you'll probably like those too. I'd love to see future "Seekers" books in fact. But sadly I doubt we'll see any future books in that series. There probably just won't be enough room on the S&S schedule for non show related stories.

And it was pretty clear to me when reading Section 31: Control that Dave was paying homage to Person of Interest.

Yeah, I remember on another thread David Mack said as much. I really loved Person of Interest myself. I have to admit I found it a bit scary as well because I can see that actually being prophetic in many ways.

 

[Charles Phipps]

Well, that's a shame. I feel like Star Trek's TV revival would be in better hands if they were taking a Star Wars: Rebels-esque approach to it.

I.e. liberally mine the novels and EU for ideas that are proven and well-developed.

 

[Tuskin38]

There’s also a Mirror Universe Vanguard short story called “The Black Flag" in the mirror universe book ‘Shards and Shadows’

Though I recommend reading it after you finish the Prime Universe stories.

 

[Charles Phipps]

Some Reap the Whirlwind thoughts (I'm not going to spoiler tag them since it's a decade-old series):

I love Reyes falling on his sword because he blames himself for getting the colony destroyed. It makes perfect sense because not only does he blame himself for 13,000 people dying but it's also his ex-wife who he still loves among the dead. I actually think it's almost entirely on her, though.

Jeanine is an arrogant and condescending woman who is every bit as convinced of her righteousness as a typical TNG officer. She wants to keep the Federation off her colony despite the presence of Klingons and doesn't head any of the warnings by her ex-husband Reyes. Reyes can't tell her specifics but she's so full of herself that she throws caution to the wind with horrific results. The fact she's an esper (psychic) makes her feel even more entitled to know people's secrets,

Do you need to know specifics if someone says, "This is horribly dangerous. Don't go." Its like she doesn't understand the concept of classified.

 

[RandyS]

I've had these on my shelf for several years, took the first to the US with me twice intending to start reading, but years later still haven't started.

I will get there eventually.

I'm in the same boat. But in my case, it's because I read alot of other stuff too, not just Star Trek. I also planned to read VANGUARD twice before, but didn't both times because I didn't feel like committing to a series.

I too will get there eventually.

 

[John Clark]

I've had these on my shelf for several years, took the first to the US with me twice intending to start reading, but years later still haven't started.

I will get there eventually.

I picked up the first one at an airport in the US (and ended up getting the rest as they were published when back home)

 

[Charles Phipps]

Just did up my review for Reap the Whirlwind.

My favorite of the books so far.

http://booknest.eu/reviews/charles/1674-startrekharbingerreapthewhirlwind

 

[David Mack]

Just did up my review for Reap the Whirlwind.

My favorite of the books so far.

http://booknest.eu/reviews/charles/1674-startrekharbingerreapthewhirlwind

Thanks for the review. Glad to hear you enjoyed RTW. :-)

 

[JD]

I'm pretty sure Dave has said that the show's Control wasn't based on his. As I said, that kind of computer-watching-everything meme is common in stories about intelligence agencies and government conspiracies, and Section 31 is in that tradition. Heck, there's even a character called Control in Person of Interest, though she's the government spook in charge of the computer surveillance program rather than the computer itself. And it was pretty clear to me when reading Section 31: Control that Dave was paying homage to Person of Interest. Maybe the DSC writers were fans of it too.

The idea of the person in charge of a spy agency also goes back to John La Carre's George Smiley novel. I'm assuming that's what the character in Person of Interest was inspired by.

Well, that's a shame. I feel like Star Trek's TV revival would be in better hands if they were taking a Star Wars: Rebels-esque approach to it.

I.e. liberally mine the novels and EU for ideas that are proven and well-developed.

When it comes to Picard, the people in charge have said they know what the novels have done, so there is a slight chance we could see elements of them adapted there.

There’s also a Mirror Universe Vanguard short story called “The Black Flag" in the mirror universe book ‘Shards and Shadows’

Though I recommend reading it after you finish the Prime Universe stories.

I believe at least one or two MU Vanguard characters also pop up in the expanded version of The Sorrows of Empire.

 

[Christopher]

When it comes to Picard, the people in charge have said they know what the novels have done, so there is a slight chance we could see elements of them adapted there.

Yeah, but only elements at best, I'd expect, not the whole continuity.

 

[Damian]

When it comes to Picard, the people in charge have said they know what the novels have done, so there is a slight chance we could see elements of them adapted there

It'd be nice to see something of the novelverse survive into Picard. The current show runners seem very interested in Section 31, and with "Collateral Damage" coming out and David Mack saying they have a plan, I wouldn't be surprised if some elements of that storyline survive into the Picard show. We all assume, probably rightly, that the destruction of Romulus has some impact on Picard, but that may not be the only thing that has an impact. He's not in Starfleet by the time Picard is supposed to start. So perhaps something about the Section 31 plot has something to do with that.

In fact, if there is one plot thread from the novels I'd wager made it to the new show, it might just be that, the Section 31 angle (not in every detail necessarily-but maybe in broad strokes).

That's of course just my very uneducated guess. I'm looking very forward to reading the book, one because I'm obviously invested in the relaunches and want to see how this story plays out, and two, I'm curious to see if there are any hints about the new Picard show. I'd be surprised if there weren't any at all. And finally, David Mack generally writes some great books, so even if there isn't a single Picard clue in it, I'm sure it will make for a good story .

 

[Tuskin38]

When it comes to Picard, the people in charge have said they know what the novels have done, so there is a slight chance we could see elements of them adapted there.

It seems they gathered all of the story information out there that takes place between Nemesis and and Picard, devs from Cryptic have said CBS also asked for their story material.

 

[Charles Phipps]

It seems they gathered all of the story information out there that takes place between Nemesis and and Picard, devs from Cryptic have said CBS also asked for their story material.

I would be very excited about that because I loved the way they handled the Romulans.

 

[Reanok]

I really like Reap the whirlwind. The whole Vanguard series are great books to read.

 

[mthompson1701]

I bought Harbinger because I liked the cover. The first time I tried to read it I got to chapter 3, and just stopped. I don't knwo why. A few months later I tried to read it again, the same thing happened. The next time I pushed myself to get past chapter 3, and I never looked back. Vanguard is one of my favorite novel series, and I loved Reap the Whirlwind.

Vanguard actually helped me to become a TOS fan again. I had always liked the movies, but never really watched a lot of episodes. I grew up on TNG & DS9, but I liked Vanguard so much that I sat down, and really dove into TOS.

Keep going with it, you're in for a fun ride.

 

[JD]

It'd be nice to see something of the novelverse survive into Picard. The current show runners seem very interested in Section 31, and with "Collateral Damage" coming out and David Mack saying they have a plan, I wouldn't be surprised if some elements of that storyline survive into the Picard show. We all assume, probably rightly, that the destruction of Romulus has some impact on Picard, but that may not be the only thing that has an impact. He's not in Starfleet by the time Picard is supposed to start. So perhaps something about the Section 31 plot has something to do with that.

In fact, if there is one plot thread from the novels I'd wager made it to the new show, it might just be that, the Section 31 angle (not in every detail necessarily-but maybe in broad strokes).

That's of course just my very uneducated guess. I'm looking very forward to reading the book, one because I'm obviously invested in the relaunches and want to see how this story plays out, and two, I'm curious to see if there are any hints about the new Picard show. I'd be surprised if there weren't any at all. And finally, David Mack generally writes some great books, so even if there isn't a single Picard clue in it, I'm sure it will make for a good story .

I can't see them doing anything that direct, that storyline is so tied into the whole Novelverse that's really no way they could do it based on what we got in the Picard museum.
I was thinking of things along the lines of characters, or the way the Andorians or Tholians are presented. Just general concepts, not specific plots or anything like that.
I think the best way to look at it would be how Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Rebels have borrowed things from their books and comics. They've taken characters and things from the books, but changed elements to better fit their version of the Star Wars Universe. I would expect the same kind of thing to happen with Picard if they take stuff from the books or Star Trek Online.
And to get back on topic, I just remembered another Vanguard story some people might not be aware of, SCE: Distant Early Warning. It's one of several 23rd Century flashback's they did, and it follows the crew of the USS Lovell as they help set up the station during it's early days. I haven't read it yet, but I have restarted a read through of the SCE novellas, and I'm planning a reread of Vangaurd. I haven't decided yet if I'll read DEW as part of SCE or Vanguard.