Novelizations worth reading

[Divine]

I hear "Far Beyond the Stars" is a good Novelization. Are there any other novelizations that are worth reading?

 

[Rosalind]

Star Trek II and III

 

[HIj'Qa]

ditto
ST II Wrath of Khan, adds much needed backstory for Sulu and
ST III Search for Spock adds dimention to the Klingons

 

[ShinRa Actual]

I'll third the movie novelizations. TMP is worth it if only because of whatever direct input Roddenberry had on it. VI Also adds a few minor plot points.

 

[donners22]

VI killed the Spock/Valeris mindmeld scene, IMO.

 

[Allyn Gibson]

TMP is worth it if only because of whatever direct input Roddenberry had on it.

That "direct input" would be that Roddenberry was the one to actually write it.

 

[Therin of Andor]

TMP is worth it if only because...

... it got me into Star Trek fandom.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and playing the soundtrack in the background, then went off to see the actual movie. About five times.

Perhaps the wrong way to do it, but perfect for me!

 

[Christopher]

I'd recommend Diane Carey's novelization of VGR: Flashback. Like all novelizations of hourlong episodes, it contains about 50% new material, including a neat Kes subplot (always nice to see more from this underutilized character). Best of all, it expands on the climax and makes it dramatic, meaningful, and character-driven rather than just "the Doctor techs a virus to death."

VI killed the Spock/Valeris mindmeld scene, IMO.

I think it improved it, because it rejected the premise that Spock would do something that grossly violates telepathic ethics and was tantamount to rape.

 

[LightningStorm]

Not Trek, but by a Trek author: Resident Evil: Genesis by KRAD

 

[bok2384]

I'd recommend Diane Carey's novelization of VGR: Flashback. Like all novelizations of hourlong episodes, it contains about 50% new material, including a neat Kes subplot (always nice to see more from this underutilized character). Best of all, it expands on the climax and makes it dramatic, meaningful, and character-driven rather than just "the Doctor techs a virus to death."

VI killed the Spock/Valeris mindmeld scene, IMO.

I think it improved it, because it rejected the premise that Spock would do something that grossly violates telepathic ethics and was tantamount to rape.

Agreed about Flashback, definitely one of my favorite novelizations. I also liked the novelization of Relics, because that expanded the info on the Dyson Sphere and had a nice subplot involving a lower decks character, Darrin Kane, who was seen in the episode as the officer who showed Scotty to his quarters.

 

[Nerdius Maximus]

TMP is worth it if only because of whatever direct input Roddenberry had on it.

That "direct input" would be that Roddenberry was the one to actually write it.

I need to dig that one up and read it again. Remember the part where it's implied that Kirk has a boner when the Ilia android appears naked in the sonic shower, then quickly chastises himself? Classic Kirk.

 

[Christopher]

More like classic Roddenberry...

 

[Greg Cox]

The main thing I remember from the TMP novelization is the footnote insisting that Kirk and Spock are simply friends, not lovers.

As a young and naive fan, not yet aware of the existence of the slash fiction, I found that footnote rather puzzling . . . .

 

[Chris3123]

The novelization for Relics tells what happened on the Jenolen, and shows us who Franklin is.

 

[Worf2DS9]

I've always enjoyed reading the novelizations because of the way they expand what we've seen on screen, and the added stuff created or resurrected that we didn't see -- kinda like reading an "extended edition" of the episode or movie.

I remember enjoying Diane Carey's novelizations of the Dominion War episodes that opened the 6th season, Jeri Taylor's "Unification" and Michael Jan Friedman's "All Good Things..." Carey's "Trials and Tribble-ations" was fun too.

 

[Reanok]

I like all the previous Startrek novels mentioned Way of the warrior had some nice scenes with all the characters like Garak and Quark the coversation about Starfleet and rootbeer was well done. O'Brien and Worf were nicely portrayed in this book too.

 

[ShinRa Actual]

TMP is worth it if only because of whatever direct input Roddenberry had on it.

That "direct input" would be that Roddenberry was the one to actually write it.

For some reason I thought there were rumors that Alan Dean Foster ghostwrote it, but I wasn't sure either way.

I remember enjoying Diane Carey's novelizations of the Dominion War episodes that opened the 6th season

That's a good set, too.

In general, a novelization will always hold more material than the movie/episode it's based on...it just depends on the author (and the original story) on if it's good additions.

 

[KRAD]

For some reason I thought there were rumors that Alan Dean Foster ghostwrote it, but I wasn't sure either way.

Those rumors came about due to a) Foster's "In Thy Image" pitch for Star Trek: Phase II being one of the bases for TMP's plot, and b) the fact that ADF did ghost write the Star Wars novelization two years earlier. But Roddenberry wrote the TMP novel himself. (If nothing else, the styles are completely different, and Roddenberry's prose style is somewhat klutzy as one would expect from a first-time novelist.)

IMO, one of the Star Trek novels ever written of any kind was Vonda N. McIntyre's novelization of The Search for Spock. The movie itself was mediocre, but Vonda's prose interpretation was simply magnificent.

 

[Ryan Thomas Riddle]

But Roddenberry wrote the TMP novel himself. (If nothing else, the styles are completely different, and Roddenberry's prose style is somewhat klutzy as one would expect from a first-time novelist.)

Not just from "first-time" novelist, but from someone who hadn't written a great deal of prose material. Science-fiction author Robert J. Sawyer uses the novel as an example of "clunky" writing.

Unfortunately, the novelization of ST:TMP is by none other than Gene Roddenberry (and it's so clunky, unlike the Star Wars novelization, which is putatively by George Lucas but was actually written by Alan Dean Foster, that I'm inclined to believe Roddenberry really did perpetrate it). How does Roddenberry portray this climactic moment in the book version? Just by reprinting the dialog, without any real description:

Kirk turned to the helm. "Take us out of orbit, Mr. Sulu."
"Heading, sir?" DiFalco asked.
Kirk indicated generally ahead. "Out there. Thataway."
​

Now, let's see how that might have been handled better. Remember, a scene in any book has to carry all the emotional freight on its own; it's not supposed to be a mere transcript of something people have already seen:

Jim returned to the center seat. It wasn't his old chair, but he would have to get used to it. He heard the whirring of the little motors in the chair's ergonomic back as it nestled into his spine.

He knew everyone on the bridge was waiting for what he would do next; it was his ship, at last and again, and he was back where he belonged. Ahead of him, he could see the backs of Sulu and DiFalco's heads, and between them —

between them, the stars, steady, untwinkling, beckoning.

Jim's heart was pounding. He allowed himself a moment to gain composure, then gave the familiar order. "Mr. Sulu, ahead warp one."

Sulu's voice was filled with excitement, with anticipation. "Warp one, sir," he acknowledged, while sliding the master velocity control on his helm console forward. The deckplates immediately began to vibrate, and a growing hum filled the air.

Chief DiFalco half-turned in her seat to look back at Kirk. "Heading, sir?"

Jim was still caught up in the beauty of the cosmos. He leaned forward, and his voice dropped to almost a whisper. "Out there," he said.

He glanced to his right; Scotty [sic - I think he meant Spock] was standing beside him, eyebrows raised.

Jim couldn't quite suppress the grin that was growing across his face. He was back, and the adventure was just beginning. He flipped his hand nonchalantly ahead.

"Thataway . . ."

http://www.sfwriter.com/ow12.htm
​

IMO, one of the Star Trek novels ever written of any kind was Vonda N. McIntyre's novelization of The Search for Spock. The movie itself was mediocre, but Vonda's prose interpretation was simply magnificent.

She gave TSFS an epic feeling that was sorely absent from the actual movie.

 

[Reanok]

Vonda's The Search For Spock I really liked the it explored more depth to the characters and what a dangerous situation they were in the after math of TWOK was well written.