I really enjoy Catalyst myself, but most would probably say Burning Dreams, if you like Pike.
I haven't read Unspoken Truth myself yet.
I haven't read Unspoken Truth myself yet.
News R.I.P. - Margaret Wander Bonanno - 2021-04-08
- Thread starter Neroon
- Start date
Burning Dreams is my favorite of the three. Unspoken Truths the weakest, but I have a soft spot toward it because it referenced something I wrote in a completely unexpected way.
It really depends what you're wanting, JD. Here are the reasons to read those three.
Catalyst of Sorrows: Does the Lost Era concept justice, features Uhura and Sisko
Burning Dreams: Best overall of the three, tells a very complete story about Pike's life (obviously not taking Discovery or Strange New Worlds into account)
Unspoken Truth: Has Saavik and showcases how well nonlinear storytelling can be done (the connections and transitions between times are masterfully done and not confusing)
Catalyst of Sorrows: Does the Lost Era concept justice, features Uhura and Sisko
Burning Dreams: Best overall of the three, tells a very complete story about Pike's life (obviously not taking Discovery or Strange New Worlds into account)
Unspoken Truth: Has Saavik and showcases how well nonlinear storytelling can be done (the connections and transitions between times are masterfully done and not confusing)
I was interstate when I heard the sad news of the passing of MWB (aka Garamet). Her "Strangers from the Sky" was an amazing novel, one of only a few Trek novels that I have read more than twice. And, despite it being greatly abridged, the audio version of "Strangers..." is also a triumph!
More than ten years after the "Probe" debacle, I was able to download "Music of the Spheres" from her website. I was then in regular online conversation with Garamet. MWB told me how she was so poor when writing "Strangers..." that she could not afford her own copy of the Goldsteins' "Star Trek Spaceflight Chronology", so made several trips to her local bookshop to memorise crucial dates and the logs of the Vulcans that set off the adventure in the novel.
I was one of her readers at Psi Phi BBS who encouraged her to contact Pocket Books' then-editor, Marco Palmieri, to clarify that she was not actually "blacklisted". Marco invited MWB to submit a pitch for the "Lost Era" series that was under development at the time. Soon, along came "Catalyst of Sorrows". And several more Trek books!
We shared a great series of in-jokes regarding the man she affectionately called "my Romulan": Jack Donner, aka Subcommander Tal. I was even able to take him to breakfast in Sydney in 2007, on his way to Brisbane for a Trek convention.
It was very special to share a bond with someone like MWB, who put so much of herself into her books and her online friendships. I shall miss her!
Subcommander Tal in Sydney by Ian McLean, on Flickr
Subcommander Tal, cloaked by Ian McLean, on Flickr
Jack Donner and Therin of Andor, disguised, in Brisbane by Ian McLean, on Flickr
More than ten years after the "Probe" debacle, I was able to download "Music of the Spheres" from her website. I was then in regular online conversation with Garamet. MWB told me how she was so poor when writing "Strangers..." that she could not afford her own copy of the Goldsteins' "Star Trek Spaceflight Chronology", so made several trips to her local bookshop to memorise crucial dates and the logs of the Vulcans that set off the adventure in the novel.
I was one of her readers at Psi Phi BBS who encouraged her to contact Pocket Books' then-editor, Marco Palmieri, to clarify that she was not actually "blacklisted". Marco invited MWB to submit a pitch for the "Lost Era" series that was under development at the time. Soon, along came "Catalyst of Sorrows". And several more Trek books!
We shared a great series of in-jokes regarding the man she affectionately called "my Romulan": Jack Donner, aka Subcommander Tal. I was even able to take him to breakfast in Sydney in 2007, on his way to Brisbane for a Trek convention.
It was very special to share a bond with someone like MWB, who put so much of herself into her books and her online friendships. I shall miss her!
Subcommander Tal in Sydney by Ian McLean, on Flickr
Subcommander Tal, cloaked by Ian McLean, on Flickr
Jack Donner and Therin of Andor, disguised, in Brisbane by Ian McLean, on Flickr
RIP
Licensing and contract issues would make that impossible, unfortunately. Eaglemoss also doesn't *create* or *adapt* comics, they just reprint them.
I did post a link to the ePub version I created from her original Word file. So you can get it if you want just by finding my post in this thread.
Strangers from the Sky is a good book. I remember telling her once online that I read it in basically one sitting on a flight from L.A. to Tokyo back in the summer of '89, when I was on my way to meet the USS Midway in Japan for my first class midshipman cruise.
A few Trek books form part of what I consider my 'head canon'. Strangers is one of them, and AFAIC, it's the definitive account of real first contact between Earth and Vulcan.
May Margaret Rest in Peace.
A few Trek books form part of what I consider my 'head canon'. Strangers is one of them, and AFAIC, it's the definitive account of real first contact between Earth and Vulcan.
May Margaret Rest in Peace.
There are people I regret never having met. Today, another big one is added to the list.
I remember how long it took me to find out that Garamet was the Margaret Wander Bonanno that I had read as a kid in the Meijer book section waiting for my parents to get groceries. I've kept her books since, they're the few that have survived the many moves I've had to make in the 30 odd years since.
I think she's one of the many posters here who helped me reshape my world view, by simply showing me things the way they were. She changed my mind not with strength, but with care. It was her power, may she rest in it.
I remember how long it took me to find out that Garamet was the Margaret Wander Bonanno that I had read as a kid in the Meijer book section waiting for my parents to get groceries. I've kept her books since, they're the few that have survived the many moves I've had to make in the 30 odd years since.
I think she's one of the many posters here who helped me reshape my world view, by simply showing me things the way they were. She changed my mind not with strength, but with care. It was her power, may she rest in it.
Thank you
I know I am like two months late, but I just read the news (I have been so far out of the Star Trek loop for a long time now). I remember when @daedalus5 invited her to the board, it was such an exciting moment to get to interact with a real life trek author!
I recall Margaret being a good sport and active participant in the Trek Lit forum when I was moding it circa 2002-5. And I loved her writing a lot. She really did have a way with words that engrossed you.
I even emailed her a couple of years back to asked politely if she could resend me a copy of Music of the Spheres ('cause it has been at least 16 years or so since I had a copy of it). I reread it and it just brought back so many memories. Not just of classic trek and classic trek lit, but of being in my early 20s and relatively carefree and living the ex-pat lifestyle.
I did hope to eventually meet her one day (at least get back to the States at some point for a Con). Well alas, and God Speed.
I recall Margaret being a good sport and active participant in the Trek Lit forum when I was moding it circa 2002-5. And I loved her writing a lot. She really did have a way with words that engrossed you.
I even emailed her a couple of years back to asked politely if she could resend me a copy of Music of the Spheres ('cause it has been at least 16 years or so since I had a copy of it). I reread it and it just brought back so many memories. Not just of classic trek and classic trek lit, but of being in my early 20s and relatively carefree and living the ex-pat lifestyle.
I did hope to eventually meet her one day (at least get back to the States at some point for a Con). Well alas, and God Speed.
Doctor Garamet Jen-Saunor, referenced in MWB's own "Strangers from the Sky".
And a Narisian space program test pilot, Garamet, in "Engines of Destiny" by MWB's colleague, Gene DeWeese.